
Quetzal News
January 22 2025
From Ms. O's Desk
Dear Quetzal Families,
I hope this message finds you well and that you had a restful and reflective Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Dr. King’s life and legacy are a testament to the profound impact of courage, our school’s value of the month. His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and nonviolence continues to inspire generations to stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.
Courage was at the core of Dr. King’s actions. Whether it was leading marches, delivering powerful speeches, or advocating for systemic change, he demonstrated the bravery to challenge unjust systems and inspire others to do the same. As educators and parents, we have the opportunity to model this same courage for our students in our daily lives.
Modeling courage doesn’t always require grand gestures. It can be as simple as standing up for a friend, expressing our thoughts respectfully, or trying something new despite uncertainty. These small acts of bravery help our children understand that courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to take positive action despite it.
This week, I encourage all of us to engage in conversations with our children about Dr. King’s legacy and how they can embody courage in their own lives. Share examples from your experiences, highlight moments of bravery you’ve observed in them, and encourage them to recognize acts of courage in others.
As we move forward, let us continue to build a community where courage is celebrated, and every individual feels empowered to make a difference. Together, we can create an environment that fosters growth, inclusion, and the confidence to stand up for what is right.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership in nurturing our students’ development, both academically and as compassionate, courageous individuals.
With gratitude,
Claudia Olaciregui, Principal
MVEF Board Members Needed
Two Board members from MVEF are stepping down as their children transition to high school. If you are interested in being part of this amazing organization that provides music, arts, and Living Classrooms at our school, please let me know. You can contact me at colaciregui@mvwsd.org. The role involves attending one Board meeting per month, usually on the second Tuesday evening from 7–9 PM (2 hours), as well as participating in 1–2 committees. These committees focus on areas such as Major Gifts, Gala, Programs, Marketing, Recruiting, Outreach, and more, with responsibilities evolving each year.
5th Grade News for Middle School
Regardless of their assigned middle school, students who completed 5th grade at Gabriela Mistral Elementary will have the opportunity to take the Spanish History/Social Studies course at Graham Middle School next year.
The Spanish History/Social Studies course is a core academic class offered only at Graham Middle School that follows the grade level standards for Social Studies. This class takes the place of the required social studies class taught in English and uses the district-adopted TCI History Alive! Curriculum.
Stay tuned! Details on how to take the Graham Spanish History/Social Studies class next year will be shared at an upcoming Principal’s coffee with Ms. O and through email.
For now, all 5th grade families should complete the open enrollment process starting Jan 21 to confirm your middle school enrollment for next year. The enrollment system will assign your child a middle school based on your address. More details about how Mistral 5th-graders/incoming Crittenden students can register for the Graham class are to come.
PTA News
All Mistral parents are invited to attend the PTA General Meeting on Wednesday, January 29, at 7pm via Zoom. Learn more about the PTA's budget, programming, and events and how you can be involved.
Calendar
January 22
- Math Night @ MUR 5 to 6:30pm
- Student Registration Help Night @ CA/MI MUR 5 to 7pm
- Read-a-thon
- PTA General Meeting 7pm via Zoom
- Night @ the Library 6 to 7:30pm
- Spirit Day - Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character
DISTRICT NEWS
Grades 5-7: Middle School Elective Student Interest Survey coming on Friday, 1/24
Our middle schools are beginning to develop a list of student elective offerings that are a great complement to our core academics. Our goal is to align electives with students’ interests and teachers’ credentials.
In order to gauge students’ interests, and inform the development of the elective catalog for the next school year, students in grades 5-7 will be asked to complete a survey in class on January 24th. This survey will list some possible elective choice areas for 2025-26 and ask students to indicate their level of interest for each of the choice areas. The purpose of this survey is to gauge student interests. Incoming and current middle school students will not formally request electives until March/April 2025. Please note that students will not be committed to taking the electives they express an interest in. All elective offerings are subject to student enrollment, interest, staffing, and teacher credentialing at the school site.
For more information on the process, and to view last year’s electives catalogs, please click on www.mvwsd.org/MSelectives.
LCAP survey opening on January 27
The District is updating the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). Your responses to the survey will guide the update of our District plan for the 2025-26 school year.
Parents, please click on your unique survey link that will be sent to your email address on Jan. 27. Your survey link is unique to your household and only one parent/guardian can complete it.
Your responses are confidential. Students in grades 4-8 will also be taking the LCAP survey. More information found here: mvwsd.org/LCAP
Open Enrollment for 2025-26 starts January 21
The Mountain View Whisman School District will be opening student enrollment for next fall on January 21.
- For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 21 to February 7.
- For families enrolling NEW students: Please check www.mvwsd.org/register for how to locate your neighborhood school, how to explore school options and the four steps to register during the enrollment period held January 21 to February 7.
- Transitional Kindergarten Info Meeting: Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m.
Meeting link: http://mvw.sd/TK122. Click here to watch a video about TK and learn about our programs for young learners: mvwsd.org/kinderready
- For Fifth-Grade Families: Middle School Info Night on January 22, 2025
Please join us at this fun and informative virtual event. It is an opportunity for you and your fifth-grader to learn about middle school life next year as sixth-graders. You will have the opportunity to hear from our principals, learn about classes, hear tips on how to be successful at middle school and ask any questions you may have. Students are encouraged to attend!
Crittenden at 5:30 p.m. Meeting link: http://mvw.sd/CR0122
Graham at 6:30 p.m. Meeting link: http://mvw.sd/GR022
MVWSD Student Film Festival
K-8 students are invited to participate in the upcoming District Film Festival! The theme is Spotlight on Solutions: explore a problem and highlight a thoughtful solution that inspires change or brings hope. Films should be created on WeVideo, a video editing platform in Clever. Your child may be doing an in-class project, but they are also welcome to complete one at home. Films are due March 7th, check out this flyer for more info!
MVEF - JOIN US FOR OUR VIRTUAL "MVEF INFO SESSION” ON ZOOM!
Want to learn more about MVEF? Join our Board Members and School Representatives to learn about MVEF’s role, how it differs from PTAs, Prop 28, and more. Bring your questions - we’d love to hear from you!
Monday, January 27, 2025 | 07:00-07:45 pm | Register here.
MVEF IS SEEKING NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES
Are you passionate about public education, our local community and want to make an impact in our community? Or do you have any recommendations for board members from your community or the district community?
MVEF is actively recruiting new Board members or School Representatives! Learn more here or email valerie@mvef.org for any interest! If you recommend anyone, our recruiting committee will follow up with candidates directly.
FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
City of MV Lunar New Year Celebration
Celebrate the rich traditions of the Lunar New Year on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mountain View Community Center! This multicultural event will showcase traditional performances, hands-on crafts, engaging games, community booths, and a diverse array of delicious offerings from food trucks. Join us for a day of cultural celebration and connection with the community!
The View Teen Center: January
The View Teen Center is a free facility in Mountain View (263 Escuela Ave) for all Mountain View and Los Altos 6th - 12th grade students. Drop-in hours are Monday - Friday, 3:15 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays, 1 - 6 p.m. (Adjusted hours: Jan. 24: 3:15-6 p.m.), and the center features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, and outdoor area. January events include an MLK Day of Service, a book club, cooking classes, crafts, and much more. For more information, click here.
MVLA Speaker Series: Accountable with Dashka Slater
Join the next MVLA Speaker Series presentation, “Accountable: The True Story of a Local Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives it Changed,” with Dashka Slater on Tuesday, February 4 at 7PM at the Mountain View High School Theater. Join the author for a discussion of the propulsive and thought-provoking true story about the revelation of a racist social media account that changes everything for a group of high school students and begs the question: What does it mean to be held accountable for harm that takes place behind a screen? Register for this free event here.
Silicon Valley Reads 2025 Program
Silicon Valley Reads is a community engagement program that features books and an annual theme to bring people together by providing more than 150 free, public events each year in February and March. The 2025 theme is "Empowering Humanity: Technology for a Better World." We will learn from those on the forefront of the AI movement, explore ways in which technology impacts our daily lives and future, address questions related to ethics, and discuss how we can create a positive impact using the tools that are rapidly becoming accessible to each of us. For the featured books for adults and children and 2025 calendar of events, visit https://www.siliconvalleyreads.org/.
SCCOE Tobacco Use Prevention Education
Join the SCCOE Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program for a bilingual event on the harmful effects of vaping and cannabis on adolescent health. This session will provide you with essential knowledge and resources to guide and support your children in making informed decisions. Learn strategies for starting conversations about these issues and connect with other parents dedicated to fostering a healthier environment for our youth. Sessions will be held at 5:30pm on January 28, February 6, April 2, and April 9. See flyer for more details or contact Alison Medeiros at AMedeiros@sccoe.org.