

Quetzal News
January 29 2025
From Ms. O's Desk
Dear Quetzal Families,
As we step into February, we want to extend our warmest wishes to all who celebrate the Lunar New Year! This special occasion is a wonderful opportunity to recognize and appreciate the rich traditions, history, and values that different cultures bring to our community. At Mistral, we cherish the beauty of diversity and strive to create an inclusive environment where all cultures are acknowledged and celebrated.
Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate Black History Month throughout February. This is an essential time to honor the achievements, history, and contributions of African Americans. Our students will engage in meaningful activities and learning experiences that highlight the importance of inclusion, equity, and respect for all. We encourage families to take part in conversations at home that support this learning and help foster a deeper understanding of the diverse world around us.
Additionally, we kindly ask parents to complete the LCAP survey that was shared via email on Monday, January 27th. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping our school's goals and focus, as well as contributing to the District Plan for the 2025-2026 school year. Your input helps ensure that our decisions align with the needs of our students and community. I want to invite you to join us at our upcoming Cafecito with Ms. O, ELAC, and SSC meetings. These meetings will provide insight into our LCAP and our school's Dashboard, giving you a deeper understanding of our school's progress and areas of focus. Your engagement and participation are crucial to our success.
Lastly, if you have not yet registered your child for the next school year, we urge you to do so as soon as possible. Accurate enrollment numbers are essential for our planning, ensuring that we can provide the best possible experience for all students.
Thank you for being a vital part of the Mistral community. We appreciate your support and commitment to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and thriving school environment.
Warm regards,
Claudia Olaciregui, Principal
Principal, Gabriela Mistral Elementary
We need volunteers!
We will have the art show at our Open House event on 3/27. Art Show volunteers are a vital part of this event and an excellent volunteer opportunity for those who are only available for one or two days of volunteering a year. If you can help us out, please complete Art Show Volunteer Form.
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 27 - February 7th
- Read-a-thon
- PTA General Meeting 7pm via Zoom
- Registration Help Night @ Castro/Mistral MUR 5pm -7pm
- Night @ the Library 6 to 7:30pm
- Spirit Day - Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character
- School Site Council Meeting @ 5pm
- 5th Grade Cafecito @ 8:15am - Room 21
- ELAC Cafecito @ 8:30am - Room 21
- End of 2nd Trimester - Minimum Day Dismissal @ 11:55am
DISTRICT NEWS
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Jan. 30. Closed session will begin at 4:30 p.m., and open/public session begins at 6 p.m.
Some of the topics include:
Health and Wellness: Mental Health Continuum
Superintendent’s Search
Travel Policy
Acknowledging Black History Month
For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.
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 ends February 7
The Mountain View Whisman School District’s open enrollment ends February 7.
- 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.
If you missed the virtual elementary school info nights last week for neighborhood and choice schools, recordings and presentations are available on the school websites. Click on the links to each school's page below: Bubb, Castro, Imai, Landels, Mistral, Monta Loma, Stevenson, Theuerkauf, Vargas
There's help if you need it! In person registration help nights: (Sign up here to attend any of the help sessions: http://mvw.sd/help)
* Vargas Elementary (220 N. Whisman Rd) January 30, 2025 @ 5-7 p.m.
* Theuerkauf Elementary (1625 San Luis) February 5, 2025 @ 5-7 p.m.
MVWSD Preschool Program: Apply now for August
Explore our flexible, low-cost and convenient options for all families in our high-quality preschool program. Preschool offers affordable tuition and an 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. class, in addition to extended/full-day class until 3 p.m. and part-day (3 hour) classes.
Our preschool offers age-appropriate early math, language, literacy and science inquiry instruction, as well as social-emotional development. Children who will be 3- or 4-years old are eligible (Minimum age: 3 years old by December 1, 2025. Maximum age: 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025.)
Learn more at these parent meetings:
January 29 @ 4:00 pm (English) Zoom link: http://mvw.sd/PK129
February 6 @ 4:00 pm (Spanish) Zoom link: http://mvw.sd/PK26
Preschool is currently located near Castro/Mistral Elementary Schools (1850 Latham St.) and Theuerkauf Elementary (1625 San Luis Ave.)
For more info go to www.mvwsd.org/preschool or call 650-526-3560.
MVEF - SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR SPRING GALA ON SAT., APRIL 26TH, FROM 6-10 pm!
Join Us to Celebrate 40 Years of MVEF!
Four decades of empowering students and strengthening our community - let's celebrate together! Save the date for an evening of fun, entertainment, inspiration and connection.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for ticket info and more event details. It’s a great chance to unwind, connect with friends and other community members to support our students. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 06:00-10:00 pm | Los Altos Community Center
MVEF IS SEEKING NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES!
Do you care deeply about public education and want to make a meaningful impact in our community? Or do you know someone who would be a great fit for MVEF?
We are actively recruiting Board Members and School Representatives to join our team!
Interested or have a recommendation?
Learn more here.
Email valerie@mvef.org to express interest or share recommendations.
Our recruiting committee will connect directly with all candidates.
Together, we can strengthen our schools and community!
FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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 February 6, April 2, and April 9. See flyer for more details or contact Alison Medeiros at AMedeiros@sccoe.org.