12.02.2020
Dear Stingray Parents and Guardians,
I hope you and your family had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving Break.
Starting next week, our students will begin the second round of i-Ready Diagnostic Assessments. The week of December 7th, students will begin the Reading Diagnostic and the week of December 14th, students will take the Math Diagnostic. Here are a few friendly reminders about our i-Ready Diagnostic assessments:
- The assessment is adaptive, some questions might be easy and come could be challenging for students at times. It is okay if your child does not know how to answer some of the questions. They can try their best and move on to the next question.
- Remind your children to work out their problems (solve problems on paper) and pace themselves.
- During the Zoom assessment sessions, students will have their camera on and audio ready so the teacher is able to monitor the assessment.
- Please do not help your you child solve or workout the problems during the assessment
- Encourage your child to stay steady, focused, and do his/her best.
Thank you for your support and partnership with our Distance Learning and assessments. Our teachers review i-Ready results, and other classroom assessments, to help determine next instructional decisions to help our students continue to grow in their academics.
Our school district will be providing a virtual i-Ready parent workshop on December 10, 2020 at 5:30-6:30pm. For more information, please see i-Ready blurb below in the School News section.
Sincerely,
Ryan Santiago
Principal, Stevenson Elementary
School Announcements
- i-Ready Parent Workshop
- Stevenson Virtual Book Fair
- Materials Distribution 12/3 & 12/4
- Peot Charles Waters Virtual Poetry Reading (4th and 5th Grade)
- Stevenson - Kindergarten Information Night
- Technology Support (Repeat Information)
iReady Parent Workshop- December 10, 2020
Are you curious about the i-Ready platform and how you can support your student at home?
Please join us for a virtual i-Ready parent workshop on December 10, 2020 at 5:30 - 6:30 PM. This session will provide parents with an overview of i-Ready and answer parents’ frequently asked questions about how i-Ready elevates instruction.
Click here to register. Spanish interpretation is available for this workshop.
We want to answer your questions. In advance of the workshop, please email questions to Ms. Swati Dagar, Interim Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at [email protected] by Friday, December 4, 2020.
Stevenson Virtual Book Fair
Stevenson is hosting a Virtual Book Fair all this week, November 30th to December 4th! All purchases will be shipped directly to you and proceeds will benefit the Stevenson library and classroom collections. Support a local bookstore and your school this winter!
https://www.hicklebees.com/book-fair-stevenson-fall-2020?coupon=StevensonBookFair2020
Materials Distribution
Stevenson is hosting a materials distribution this Thursday, December 3rd and Friday, December 4th. Materials will be available for pick up between 3:00pm and 5:00pm both days. We are excited to send home a variety of Arts Focus and Cooking kits. Note that materials will vary per class.
We will follow the same safety and pick up procedures as previous distributions. See attached for more details.
Poet Charles Waters Virtual Poetry Reading- Wednesday, December 9th at 11:00 am
Peot Charles Waters will have a virtual visit reading poetry with 4th, 5th and 6th grade students. Zoom link will be provided in students’ Google Classroom.
Enjoy some of his work here: https://www.youtube.com/c/CharlesWaterspoetry/videos
Kindergarten Information Night - Stevenson Elementary
Stevenson’s Kindergarten Information Night is on Wednesday, December 16th at 6:00pm. Principal Santiago, as well as teachers and parents, will share information about Stevenson Elementary School’s programs. Please use this Zoom link to register and attend the information night.
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.
If it's not device/hardware related or account related, and more about using a program, please contact Marissa Hamaguchi, Tech Coach, ([email protected]) or call/text (650) 336-5863.
PACT Foundation Updates
Support the PACT Foundation with everyday shopping.
AmazonSmile - Shop on Amazon? You can support the Pact Foundation when you shop via AmazonSmile. Simply select Pact foundation as your charity of choice. Learn more at smile.amazon.com.
ShopWithScrip.com Gift Cards - Use gift cards to buy gas, groceries, pet food, and everything else you're already buying - while raising money for the Pact Foundation. Send holiday e-gift cards to teachers, staff, family, friends, colleagues, and clients from over 750 top brands. How does it work? Free mobile app available. Stevenson School's lifetime earnings to date = $14,380.80. Sign up now at ShopWithScrip.com. Enrollment code: 3CL6D25621216
For questions on any of these online programs, contact [email protected].
Stevenson Equity Working Group
We are excited to share that we are launching more intentional efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion this year! We want to create an equity working group and begin to explore these important issues in our own community. We will align with the district efforts, as well as explore our own unique needs, as we discussed at the PACT Foundation board meeting. At the last board meeting, the PACT Foundation adopted the MVWSD Resolution Denouncing Racism and Supporting Equity, Safety, and Well-being of Black People. We really want to be more proactive in our efforts.
Please take a few minutes and fill out this survey if you are interested in getting involved or providing input. We would love to hear from you.
https://forms.gle/Jpzh8GtqCXvPpGct8
Calendar
November 30th- December 4th
Stevenson Book Fair
Thursday, December 3rd
Cafecito with the Superintendent at 5:30pm
LAMV PTA Council and SELPA 1 CAC present Distance Learning Toolkit: Increasing Focus Through a Sensory Lens from 7:00-8:30pm
Thursday & Friday - December 3rd and 4th
Materials Distribution - All grades
Tuesday, December 8th
PACT Foundation Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 9th
Poet Charles Waters Virtual Poetry Reading for 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Students
School kindergarten/new student information night at 6:00PM
Thursday, December 10th
iReady Parent Workshop at 5:30pm
Friday, December 11th
Community Check-In with Superintendent Dr. Rudolph at 3:30pm
Tuesday, December 15th
ELPAC Information Session
Wednesday, December 16th
Stevenson- Kinder Info Night, 6pm http://mvw.sd/STKinder
December 21st- January 1st
Holiday Break- No School
Tuesday, January 12th
ELPAC Information Session
MVWSD News
-Cafecito with the Superintendent on Dec. 3
-Are you in need of formula, diapers, baby wipes, and other essential items?
-Getting Ready for the ELPAC information sessions, Dec. 15 and Jan. 12
-Struggling to help your child with “the new math”?
-Parcel Tax Oversight Committee seeks community representatives
-School meetings coming up in December. Open Enrollment for all MVWSD students starts in January
-Parent University recordings
-Upcoming MVEF Phonathon
-LAMV PTA Council and SELPA 1 CAC present Distance Learning Toolkit: Increasing Focus Through a Sensory Lens
-Winter Wonderland stories
-MVLA holiday tree lot
Cafecito with the Superintendent on Dec. 3
Join us for an informal meeting for Spanish-speaking parents with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Thursday, Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m. Interpretation will be provided. Please register in advance for this meeting here: http://mvw.sd/pB7CP. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Are you in need of formula, diapers, baby wipes, and other essential items?
See attached flyer for details.
Getting Ready for the ELPAC information sessions, Dec. 15 and Jan. 12
The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is administered every year to our English Learner (EL) students. To learn more about this assessment, the role it plays in the education of every EL, and how to help your child prepare, please join us for one of the following meetings:
December 15
5:00-5:30 in English: https://zoom.us/j/92673835582
5:30-6:00 in Spanish: https://zoom.us/j/94603257266
January 12
5:00-5:30 in English: https://zoom.us/j/93307939185
5:30-6:00 in Spanish: https://zoom.us/j/93709174683
Struggling to help your child with “the new math”?
We’ve all been there. Luckily, Parent University and Principal Heidi Galassi are here to introduce you to the Common Core Math Appreciation Club: Heidi joined us last week in a hilarious and engaging session, and we’ve recorded it for your viewing pleasure any time! You’ll learn about the difference between math as memorization and conceptualization, strategies to use to help with word problems, how to have a math conversation with your child, and many more insights. Watch the video (or just listen to it like a podcast) at www.mvwsd.org/parentu
If you haven't been able to attend one of the Parent University nights this year, you can find the recordings all online (in English and Spanish). Listen at your own convenience to these great programs that support parents in supporting their students.
Past topics:
- Mental Health Awareness and Resources
- Distance Learning Support Resources
- Increasing Student Engagement with Literacy from Home
- Raising Digitally Resilient Children and Teens during Quarantine
- Supporting Students at Home with Math
https://www.mvwsd.org/parentu
Parcel Tax Oversight Committee seeks community representatives
The District is seeking two individuals to serve on the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee for the Measure B Parcel Tax.
Representatives monitor, provide oversight, and ensure accountability to the funds received by the District, including an annual report to the Board regarding the actual uses of such funds.
Applications can be mailed to: Mountain View Whisman School District, Attn: Dr. Rebecca Westover, Chief Business Officer, 1400 Montecito Ave, Mountain View, CA 94043 or emailed to [email protected]. Applications are due December 11th at 2:00 pm.
Application: http://mvw.sd/PTOC
Questions? Please e-mail Dr. Rebecca Westover, Chief Business Officer, at [email protected]
School meetings coming up in December. Open Enrollment for all MVWSD students starts in January
School and District information meetings are coming up in December. Please visit www.mvwsd.org/register for a list of these events and for login information.
- School kindergarten/new student information nights are online on December 9 at 6:00 p.m. for all elementary schools, and include choice school information.
- If your child turns 5 years old between September 2 – December 2, 2021, he/she may qualify for transitional kindergarten. TK info night is December 16 at 5:00 p.m online.
- If you are interested in the District's choice schools, information nights are:
Gabriela Mistral: Dual Spanish/English Immersion: December 15 at 6 pm
Stevenson: Parent Child Teacher: December 16 at 6 pm
Choice schools will also have information at the elementary schools’ info nights (6 p.m. Dec. 9).
For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 18- 22.
For NEW students: Open Enrollment is from January 11 through Feb. 5, 2021 online. You can register your child for the 2021-22 school year when online registration opens here: www.mvwsd.org/register
Parent University recordings
If you haven't been able to attend one of the Parent University nights this year, you can find the recordings all online (in English and Spanish). Listen at your own convenience to these great programs that support parents in supporting their students.
Past topics:
- Mental Health Awareness and Resources
- Distance Learning Support Resources
- Increasing Student Engagement with Literacy from Home
- Raising Digitally Resilient Children and Teens during Quarantine
- Supporting Students at Home with Math
Upcoming topics:
- Health and Wellness (Jan 20)
- Special Education (Feb 24)
- Mental Health (March 17)
- Middle School Readiness (April 28)
- High School Readiness (May 19)
https://www.mvwsd.org/parents/parent_university
Upcoming MVEF Phonathon
Our Phonathon is coming up in December and we would love you to save us both a call!
We hope this serves as a gentle reminder to donate to MVEF today and support your child and every child in the district! The majority of our funding comes from donations from parents like you!
Make a difference, save us both a call and donate today at mvef.org/donate.
LAMV PTA Council and SELPA 1 CAC present Distance Learning Toolkit: Increasing Focus Through a Sensory Lens
Thursday December 3, 7-8:30 PM. A talk with Lisa Kaplan Shanaan, MS OTR/L TMHP
How do you stay engaged? How do you calm down when excited, or pep up when you are zoned out? You may know your own body and the tricks that work for you, but children are still working this out. It is especially difficult to learn self-regulation when involved in distance learning on screens for hours a day. Come learn from Lisa Kaplan Shaanan, an occupational therapist and trainer, who has been working with children birth thru 18 years old for more than 30 years. She will recommend tools and techniques useful to help all children discover their best ways to self-regulate and really learn and stay engaged during the Zoom school day.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/distance-learning-toolkit-increasing-focus-through-a-sensory-lens-tickets-128302360815
Winter Wonderland stories
The Mountain View public library is holding winter wonderland story time on December 10. Please see attached flyer for details
MVLA holiday tree lot
MVLA is holding its annual holiday tree lot this year. See the attached flyer for information.