Quetzal News

Dear Quetzal Families,

Thank you so much for attending our Back to School Night! It was wonderful to see our families united with us as one big community. As I mentioned, Kristen Jones wisely said, "Community is the foundation to success." We are all looking forward to working together this year as a team to ensure our students receive high-quality first instruction in both Spanish and English. As always, we are #BetterTogether!

I also wanted to share a bit more information about the new members of our Mistral community. Please help me welcome them to our team:

• Mrs. Tostado - Kindergarten Teacher-Mrs. Tostado has taught grades 2 through 8, and she has developed a deep appreciation for the unique energy and curiosity that young learners bring to the classroom. It’s incredibly rewarding to introduce them to the world of learning. She was born in Orange County and raised in Mexico City. These experiences have shaped her appreciation for diverse cultures. She is a proud mother of two daughters and a grandmother to two wonderful grandchildren. Welcome to Mistral!
• Mrs. Herrera - Third-Grade Teacher: Blanca brings 27 years of diverse educational experience to our team. Her roles have included being an elementary classroom teacher (bilingual Spanish), instructional coach, site principal, coordinator of online learning, and director of instructional technology. With such a wealth of knowledge and a wide range of skills, she is committed to promoting student learning and success. She is thrilled to return to bilingual education, and we are excited to have her with us!

• Mr. Rodriguez- Fourth-Grade Teacher: Chris lives in San Jose but is originally from San Mateo and has lived in the Bay Area his entire life. He is Guatemalan and a first-generation college graduate. He attended San Francisco State University and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies, with an emphasis on elementary teaching preparation. Welcome to Mistral! We are excited to have you as part of our team.

• Mrs. Noll- Special Education Teacher: Mrs. Noll comes to us with a strong background in special education. She graduated from King's College in Northeast Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education and have been dedicated to teaching special education for the past six years. She brings a wealth of experience as a specialized academic instruction teacher, inclusion teacher, and resource teacher. We are so happy to have you with us!
• Mr. Okunnuga- Counselor: Jasen is deeply committed to creating an enriching, inclusive, and supportive environment for every student. As a father of elementary-aged children, he understands the profound impact that the right support and positive interactions can have on a child's development. Jasen brings a wealth of experience to our community. Before becoming a school counselor, he spent many years in human services, assisting families in various ways. Originally from Los Angeles, Jasen has fully embraced the Bay Area and all its wonderful offerings.
• Mr. Vargas- School Community Engagement Facilitator-Ronald is excited to serve the Mistral community in this important role. Born and raised in Mountain View, Ronald attended the MVWSD school system and knows our community well. He earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University and has previously worked at Bubb and Crittenden as an At-Risk Intervention Supervisor. Ronald is eager to connect with everyone, so feel free to visit him in the Mistral office. He looks forward to meeting you all!

Please join me at the our first school wide Cafecito with Ms. O. this Wednesday, September 4, at 8:30am at the Solar Panel Tables. A friendly reminder: Labor Day is coming up, and there will be no school on Monday. I hope you enjoy a wonderful long weekend!

Warm regards,

Claudia Olaciregui, Principal

Support the Mistral PTA! The Mistral Parent Teacher Association funds many activities at Mistral, including field trips, after school classes, and events. Learn more about the PTA on our website and make a donation today! We are looking for parent volunteers to help with PTA programs on campus. Sign up HERE or email mistralpta@gmail.com to help with Assemblies, Events, Fundraising, Spirit Wear Sales, Math Enrichment, and more!

August 30

• Spirit Day-Crazy Hat Day

September 2

• Labor Day-No School

September 4

• Cafecito with Ms. O @ Solar Panel Lunch Tables @ 8:30am

• School Site Council Orientation Meeting for New Members & Principals @ 5pm

• ELAC Potluck @ MUR 4:30pm

DISTRICT NEWS

No MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Due to preparations for Elementary School Back to School Night and afterschool staff development, there will be no MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 28 (a minimum day for students). MVWSD+ families, thank you in advance for making other arrangements. This affects all Right At School programs, all Beyond the Bell programs, and the district-paid YMCA programs. Please note that due to contractual reasons, parent-paid YMCA programs will still operate. All programs resume as normal on Thursday, August 29.

For more information, please contact plus@mvwsd.org or call (650) 526-3500 x1061.

School meals are free, but fill out the EzSchool Meals application to help you and your school

MVWSD will continue to provide free meals this year to all students as part of California’s universal meal program.

However, parents need to reapply for the Free and Reduced Price Meals program now for this school year. If you think you could qualify (qualifying income levels listed here), we ask you to apply at EzSchool Meals to help MVWSD receive additional funding to support students who are in need, and may help your family. If your child is eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals, your family could get medical benefits, housing benefits, utilities benefits and more. Qualifying is one factor in your child’s eligibility for free MVWSD after school care and summer camp.

The more applications your school gathers at the start of each school year, the more additional funding it can receive for all kinds of programs. If you are currently out of work, you may qualify and help your school, regardless of your financial situation. Apply at https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ or call your school office.

Parent University: The Science of Reading, Part 1 of 2

Date and Time: September 10, 2024, 5:30-7:00 pm Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu091024r

Reading is fundamental. But how do we best teach children to do it? And how do we support them at home? In this two-part series, we will uncover the “Science of Reading”, how our new district curriculum is based on this science, and how parents can translate the science into practical routines and strategies at home.

About the speaker: Dr. Cyndee Nguyen is MVWSD’s Director of Early Literacy. She leads district efforts to ensure that all students, especially those of early elementary age, develop into capable and confident readers. Previously, Dr. Nguyen was a primary grade teacher and the principal of Bubb Elementary School.

To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.

Parent U: District Orientation recordings available

Recordings of the Parent University District Orientation presentation are available in English and Spanish. To register in advance for future Parent U meetings, visit mvwsd.org/ParentU.

MVEF - Who we are and why we matter - Please donate!

The Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF) is a volunteer-driven non-profit dedicated to funding innovative programs for all students in the MVWSD district.

Thanks to your donations, MVEF provides your child with a competitive, well-rounded education. School funding covers salaries, facilities, and core academics, while MVEF funding enhances the learning environment with art, music, environmental science, middle school athletics, and additional English teachers, reducing class sizes by over 20% in middle school.

To maintain these programs, MVEF seeks donations from parents and community members. The suggested amount per student is $1,100, also payable as a recurring monthly payment, but every donation is meaningful. All donations are tax-deductible. Visit mvef.org for more information and to donate. Thank you for your support!

Living Classroom: MVWSD Volunteer Information Meetings

Living Classroom is a non-profit organization that provides hands-on, garden-based lessons to MVWSD students in TK through 6th Grade. We welcome parent volunteers to help with our lessons in their children's classrooms, but we are also seeking volunteer docents who would like to be trained to teach our lessons throughout the school district. If you are interested in becoming a Living Classroom docent, please attend one of our upcoming information meetings:

Thursday, August 29th, 2024, 9:15-10:15 am; or

Friday, August 30th, 2024, 1:00-2:00 pm

Both meetings will be held in Conference Room C, MVWSD Office, 1400 Montecito Avenue, Mountain View. Please contact Susan Harder at susanh@living-classroom.org if you have questions or would like further information.

FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

MV Public Library: Upcoming Parent Programs

Parenting Program: Individualized Education Program: Thursday, September 5, 2024, Time: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm. Matthew Torres, an IDEA Specialist from the San Andreas Regional Center, will expertly guide parents through the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process. Gain insights to support and enhance your advocacy for your child. This program is perfect for parents new to the IEP process and seasoned advocates, offering practical tools and knowledge to navigate and champion your child's educational journey. Register in advance for this online meeting.

Calmer Connections: Supporting the Anxious Child: Thursday, September 19, 2024, Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. With a warm and compassionate approach, Liat Justin, LCSW, supports countless families navigating the challenges of childhood anxiety. Liat empowers parents with the tools and strategies needed to increase their child's emotional well-being. Suitable for parents of children and teens. Register in advance for this online meeting.

Announcing the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series for 2024-25

The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series is thrilled to unveil our speaker line-up for the 2024-25 school year! Local and nationally recognized experts will lead parents in conversations about wide-ranging topics, including navigating the evolving cultural landscape around sex, parenting in our high-achievement environment, exploring the difficulties of parenting boys in contemporary society, learning about a case study in racism at a local high school, and making informed decisions about higher education. View the 2024-25 speaker line-up at https://mvlaspeakerseries.org/.

Mountain View Citywide Garage Sale

The Mountain View Citywide Garage Sale is back! Join hundreds of residents holding garage sales on Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15. This event helps keep reusable items out of the landfill to conserve natural resources.

Seller registration is open until September 4. Sellers may choose to participate on only one day or both days of the sale. Online and printed address lists will show which day(s) each participating seller is open.

For shoppers, a new online map will allow you to filter garage sales by dates open and items listed, as well as other enhanced features to help shoppers plan which homes to visit for the event.

Sellers can register their Mountain View homes for the sale and shoppers can access the map at MountainView.gov/GarageSale.

The Learning Challenges Committee is looking for members!

Are you interested in helping students with learning challenges? This can include students who receive special education services, students with a 504 plan, or any student with a learning challenge.

The Learning Challenges Committee of the Los Altos Mountain View PTA Council (LCC) helps provide teachers and school staff in Mountain View and Los Altos schools with supplies in their classrooms related to learning challenges. We also can host parent education events, meet with special education administrators and more. We need a variety of parent and student voices to help us best decide how we can help teachers and students about these issues.

An introductory meeting about the LCC will be held on Zoom on Tuesday 9/3 at 7:30 pm. Register here

Our Learning Challenges Support Group will meet on Zoom on Tuesday, 9/17 at 10 am Register here

Can you attend 2-3 meetings per year to help make these kinds of decisions with the LCC? Please email LCCMVLA@gmail.com

We need more voices to help students with learning challenges. We need you!