Stevenson Stingray News 10.07.2020

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Dear Stingray Parents and Guardians,


Our school district is currently in the process of drafting a new Strategic Plan.  The new six-year Strategic Plan 2027 will build on and expand the former strategic plan’s successes and areas of need for students. We want to ensure this plan builds on the strengths and assets of our school system, while addressing the most promising opportunities to enhance our work. Last month, staff, parents, and students were able to provide input through a survey to start the process of developing our new strategic plan. During the month of October, parents and staff will have multiple opportunities to provide feedback on the Draft Strategic Plan 2027 Framework. Please join me at one of our upcoming community meetings to share your feedback and input.

-
English Language Advisory Committee Meeting - Thursday, October 8th at 5:00pm (Zoom Link)
-
PACT Foundation Board Meeting - Tuesday, October 13th at 5:00pm
-
School Site Council Meeting - Wednesday, October 14th at 4:30pm (Zoom Link)


Sincerely,

Ryan Santiago

Principal, Stevenson Elementary


School Announcements

ELAC Meeting

Materials Distribution (Kindergarten - 2nd Grade)

Community Meeting: Stevenson & Theuerkauf Gates and Fences

SSC Meeting

Health & Safety and Reopening Readiness Checklist

Library Update - ebooks (Repeat Information)

Technology Support (Repeat Information)


English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) Meeting

On Thursday, October 8th at 5pm, Stevenson’s next English Language Advisory Committee will be meeting virtually. At this week’s meeting we will be receiving feedback on MVWSD Draft Strategic Plan Framework. All parents are welcome to attend ELAC meetings. We will also be discussing Reclassification and Stevenson’s school programs and services that support our English learners. We hope that you are able to join ELAC meetings throughout the school year. Please use this link to register in advance of the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.


Materials Distribution (Kindergarten - 2nd Grade)

Stevenson will begin its next round of materials distribution for Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade this Thursday 10/8 and Friday 10/9 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. 


The Materials Station will continue to be available during distribution times for all families to pick up needed miscellaneous items like paper, sharpie, crayons, pencils, etc. This is separate from any item teachers provide as a grade level. 


Community Meeting: Stevenson & Theuerkauf Gates and Fences

The District is in the process of planning to install perimeter controls around our school to keep students safe during the school day. The planned fencing is intended to help secure the school buildings and fields where the children play from unscreened members of the public. Increasing security at all school sites in the District was part of Measure T and was expedited due to COVID.

While we want to secure our campus, we also want to continue to share the fields and playgrounds with community members for use after school hours.

Dr. Rebecca Westover, MVWSD’s Chief Business Officer, will be holding a community meeting on Wednesday, October 7th from 4:00-5:00 pm to present information and to answer your questions. 

Please join us at the Zoom meeting at http://mvw.sd/ThSt. Registration is required.


School Site Council (SSC) Meeting

Our next SSC meeting is Wednesday, October 14th at  4:30pm. The School Site Council helps develop goals and actions for Stevenson’s School Plan for Student Achievement (site plan). At this SSC meeting we will be spending time to review and provide feedback on MVWSD’s Draft Strategic Plan Framework. All are welcome to come to attend SSC meetings.  If you would like to join us, please use this link to register in advance of the meeting.


Health & Safety and Reopening Readiness Checklist

Our district and school continue to update our campus and inform our community with health and safety measures. In the MVWSD News section of this newsletter, you find a video that was created by our district nurses for hand washing. Please visit our District’s Health webpage for more videos and information.   Parents may also access the actions that Stevenson has completed so far with our reopening readiness checklist.


Students can check out ebooks from the Stevenson Library (Repeat Information)

Try this quick video that shows you how to access ebooks through Clever using students’ Chromebooks.

Kids in younger grades will need help. Students will need to know their Google name and password. Need help accessing the ebooks? Please email Mrs. Donahue [email protected].


Technology Support (Repeat Information)

If you are having problems with the Chromebook you can contact: [email protected] to create a ServiceNow ticket or call the Tech Department at (650) 526-3252.


PACT Foundation Updates

Walkathon: Stingray Go!

Logo and T-Shirts: Special shout out to the 5th Graders for the awesome logo designs and to the entire school for their logo votes.  Congrats to Arbel Arkin for receiving the most votes!  Visit the WAT Website to purchase additional t-shirts (deadline for ordering is 10/22).


Scavenger Hunts: Staring Monday - October 5, Route 1 will be posted on the WAT Website.  Get ready to have fun over the next six weeks as the WAT team announces a new route each week. This is a great opportunity to have some fun, but allows Stevenson families to participate in a way that is most comfortable with each family.  Please remember to wear masks and follow social distance guidelines.


Why WAT? Creates an opportunity for the Stevenson community to come together (in a socially distanced manner) while all money raised goes directly to teacher appreciation and student activities. Contribute what you can - a little goes a long way.


Questions? [email protected]


PACT Committee Lesson Rotation: 

We are excited to announce that starting in October PACT students will start receiving lessons from some of our parent-led committees. Each month your child will have multiple ImPACT lessons/activities, which focus on social-emotional learning using books and parent-led discussions, during synchronous class time and asynchronous class time. Also, once a month your child will be provided with a lesson kit for either a Garden, Cooking, or STEAM lesson. Teachers will post the parent-led video lessons for children to access on Google Classroom outside of class time.  

(: Lessons to Look Forward To! :) 

1. In class ImPACT lesson: Week of Oct 12 (Week of Oct 19 for 4th/5th graders)

2. Garden lesson: Week of Oct 26, look for materials in the Oct 22-23 distribution


Calendar

Wednesday, October 7th at 4pm - Stevenson and Theurkauf Community Meeting: Fences and Gates

Wednesday, September 9th - MV Parent U: Raising Digitally Resilient Children and Teens during Quarantine

Thursday, October 8th at 5:00pm- ELAC Meeting

October 8th - 9th from 3:00-5:00pm - Materials Distribution

Tuesday, October 13th at 5pm - PACT Foundation Board Meeting

Wednesday, October 14th at 4:30pm - School Site Council Meeting

Monday, October 19th at 5:30pm - DELAC (District English Language Advisory Committee)


MVWSD News


How you can protect yourself from COVID: Hand washing

handwashing video thumbnail Washing your hands is the single most effective way you can protect yourself from germs, like the COVID-19 virus. Our MVWSD school nurse Jennifer gives important tips in this video: https://vimeo.com/464378808.  Please review and practice with your family.


Parent University: Raising Digitally Resilient Children and Teens during Quarantine

Kids are online more than ever in this post-COVID world, with increased use of digital technology for academics, entertainment, and social connection.


Join My Digital TAT2 for a highly engaging and informative webinar at the MVWSD Parent University event on Wednesday, October 7th from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Hear how young people are affected by the latest news, trends, and data from the world of technology. Get tips and strategies for how to teach responsibility and balanced and healthy use of the internet and social media.


NEW ZOOM LINK (no registration required)

 

Recommended for all adults who support youth and want to learn thoughtful and supportive ways to navigate media with children. For more information about My Digital TAT2 and their mission, please visit: www.mydigitaltat2.org


“Enriching the Learning Experience” Symposium

The Santa Clara County Office of Education Parent Engagement team is pleased to announce our FREE virtual event "Enriching the Learning Experience: Vision for 2020 and Beyond" which will be held from 10:00am to Noon on Saturday, Oct 17 and 24, 2020. Together with 6th District PTA, we are putting together a Parent Engagement symposium for parents, students, pre-service teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, and liaisons to focus on student success. We have lined up a number of dynamic speakers and 10 workshops each day of the symposium. Here's a sneak peak of our workshops: 

  

Dr. Joyce Epstein, professor of education and director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University. She has over one hundred fifty publications, including School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, 4th edition (2019). Her Keynote will address school administrators in the area of parent engagement and her Workshop will address teachers and how they can involve parents in homework. 

  

Ruby Ibarra, local bay area COVID-19 researcher and hip-hop recording artist. Her Keynote will address parents and share her inspiring story of how to channel obstacles into opportunities. She will present a Spoken Word Writing Workshop for students! 

  

Gene Luen Yang, graphic novelist of American Born Chinese, Secret Coders, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Superman. In 2016, he was the Library of Congress's 5th National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature; he was also the recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant in that same year. His workshop for teachers will address adopting a rich, diverse reading curriculum for the classroom. 

 

A Financial Literacy Workshop series “Understanding Debt and How to Improve Your Credit Score,” “Rebuilding After a Financial Crisis,” and “Learning the Value of a Dollar” by Excite Credit Union will give good money management tips for students and adults alike.  

 

Registration is open! Visit “Enriching the Learning Experience” event Website to see all 10 workshop descriptions, speaker bios, and registration form. 


Together We Are a Better MVWSD: Together We Are a Better MVWSD: National Coming Out Day

Mountain View Whisman School District embraces its role in establishing its commitment to equity in our district. As part of our "Together We Are a Better MVWSD" series, here is October's topic:


Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or an ally, be proud of who you are and your support for LGBTQ+ equality this Coming Out Day! Every person who speaks up changes more hearts and minds, and creates new advocates for equality. Inspired by National Coming Out Day on October 11th, this month’s calendar provides resources for the MVWSD community around the topic of LGBTQ+ and gender identities. Developmentally appropriate lesson plans have been provided for teachers, while articles and parenting guides appear this month in the parent section of the calendar. Check out the literature section at the bottom of the calendar for age-appropriate literature to support your discussions in school and at-home.

For a look at this month's graphic, please see attached flyer or https://www.mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD

Free supplies for families in need of Formula, Diapers, Baby wipes, and other essential items

See attached flyer for more information. 


Free Student Meals:  *New* Pick up meals for multiple days

Free meals are again available to all children in the Mountain View Whisman School District age 18 and younger. No IDs required. 

Daily breakfast and lunch at all schools, except Stevenson (pickup for Stevenson is at Theuerkauf). Times: 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. at the elementary schools. 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the middle schools. 

Come to Graham Middle School between 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to pick up meals for multiple days. Food items will be different from what is served during daily pickups. On Monday: Pick up for four days. On Friday: Pick up for three days.

Walk, drive or roll up to grab a free meal and go! For menus and information, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/nutrition.


MVEF news: Did you know that your donations to MVEF support CSMA art and music for your student?

Fifth grade art and music started on 9/23! TK-4 art and music started the week before! All TK-4th students will have virtual art and music classes led by a teacher from CSMA. This year 5th grade students chose instrumental music or art with CSMA.  We thank the CSMA teachers for sharing their engaging and FUN talents as well as filling a need for creativity and active learning on Zoom.

MVEF raises money to provide all MVWSD students with an educational experience beyond what is possible with public funding.  Please see the website at https://www.mvef.org/ for more information and to donate online. Please consider joining our team of volunteers or emailing us with any questions at [email protected]. Thank you for your support!


Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Wednesday, October 14th

You can change the life of a student!

Come learn about volunteer opportunities to Mentor high school students and Tutor students in grades K-8  in our Mountain View and Los Altos schools.

Becoming a Mentor or Tutor will add joy to your life and help a student in our local community to a brighter future!

There is no obligation to sign up as a volunteer.  You're welcome to just come and learn more about what we do. 

Please note: Our programs are currently remote and will remain so until students are back in school and the school district permits volunteers in the classroom


All volunteers must be high school graduates.  

Date:             Wednesday, October 14th
Time:           10:00 - 11:00 am
Location:     Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)
Register:   REGISTER ONLINE:
Questions:    [email protected]
Information:  MentorTutorConnection.org

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