05.05.2021
Dear Stingray Parents and Guardians,
Our entire school staff feels so appreciated and loved this week! A sincere thank you to all our families in finding creative ways and to go above and beyond to make sure that each of our staff members know that they are appreciated. We are so thankful for all you do and your partnership!
Stevenson Community Meeting - Stevenson and Theuerkauf Site Lighting
Please join Principal Santiago, Dr. Westover (CBO), and Theuerkauf Principal, Ms. Williams, on Tuesday, May 17th at 4pm to hear information and provide feedback about site lighting upgrades that will take place at each site. Please use this link to register and attend.
Sincerely,
Ryan Santiago
Principal, Stevenson Elementary
School Announcements
-i-Ready Assessments (Repeat Information)
-School Site Council Meeting
-ELAC Meeting
-5th Grade Electives
-5th Grade Promotion Update
-Community Check-In with the Superintendent
-Technology Support (Repeat Information)
-Apoyo Tecnológico (Información se Repite)
i-Ready Assessments (Repeat Information)
At the end of each school year, our teachers provide assessments to students so we can see how each student has progressed throughout the year and also prepare for next school year. As you may have read in the latest MVWSD district communication, as a result of the pandemic, MVWSD now has the flexibility to choose the most viable testing option for our students. The California department of education state testing will not be administered this school year for our 3rd-8th grade students. As a result, we will be administering i-Ready tests in math and language arts. We will be using our i-Ready diagnostic assessments for Reading and math to monitor and report student progress instead of the CAASPP English Language Arts and Mathematics tests. I-Ready diagnostics are aligned to the California Common Core State Standards.
All k-5th grade students will be taking the i-ready assessments on the following dates:
◆i-Ready Reading Diagnostic will be provided on 5/11 with make-up days on 5/13 and 5/14.
◆i-Ready Math Diagnostic will be provided on 5/18 with make-up days on 5/20 and 5/21.
Our roomies will be provided the assessment in-person and zoomies will take the assessment from home. A friendly reminder to our Zoomie parents that families are not to help with proctoring the assessment for their students. Students will log in to their Zoom session with their class. Teachers will be able support and monitor in real time your child’s participation in the assessment using Securly and Zoom.
Below are some tips and reminders you may find useful to help prepare your child for the virtual diagnostic assessment:
◆The assessment is adaptive, some questions might be easy and 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 when asked by the teacher
◆Please do not help your child during the assessment
◆Encourage your child to stay steady, focused, and do his/her best.
Middle School Electives (5th Grade)
It is the time of year when our incoming middle school students choose their electives for next year. Our middle schools are currently working to provide quality offerings that we hope will pique students’ interests and a great complement to our core academics. We are requesting each child's top 5 interests so that we can provide at least one of his/her top choices.
These electives are all subject to staffing, student interest and COVID safety guidance. Your child’s preference will help us plan and schedule courses for next year.
Please visit https://www.mvwsd.org/MSelectives for course catalogs and selection directions. All 5th-7th graders will preference their course electives online through Powerschool through May 7, 2021.
Fifth Grade Promotion
Our staff and parents are excitedly planning for our fifth grade promotion! Due to the many restrictions of holding an in-person event as outlined by the California Department of Public Health, we will be celebrating the accomplishments of our fifth grade students and families virtually. Please stay tuned as we finalize our plans over the next week. Parents of fifth grade students will be receiving formal communication that will provide details, including the dates and times, on the virtual promotion ceremony and other information end of year celebrations to acknowledge our amazing fifth grade students.
School Site Council (SSC) Meeting
Join Stevenson’s next School Site Council meeting next Wednesday, May 12th at 3:30pm. We will meet virtually. If you would like to join us, please use this link to register in advance of the meeting.
English Language Advisory (ELAC) Meeting
Join Stevenson’s next School Site Council meeting next Thursday, May 13th at 5:00pm. We will meet virtually. If you would like to join us, please use this link to register in advance of the meeting.
Community Check-In with the Superintendent
Please join us for an informal, online conversation with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, May 7, 3:30 p.m. Spanish interpretation is available. Click here to register
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.
Calendar
Thursday, May 6th -MVWSD Board of Trustees Meeting
Friday, May 7th -Community Check-In with the Superintendent - Zoom Link
Tuesday, May 11th -PACT Foundation Meeting at 5:00pm
Wednesday, May 12th -Stevenson SSC Meeting at 3:30pm - Zoom Link
Thursday, May 13th
-Stevenson ELAC Meeting at 5:00pm - Zoom Link
-imPACT Blacktop Discussion at 8:00pm- Zoom link
Tuesday, May 7th -Stevenson Community Meeting - Site Lighting at 4:00pm - Zoom Link
Wednesday, May 19th -MV Parent University: Preparing for High School at 5:30pm
Friday, May 21st -International Dance Party at 3:30pm
Thursday, May 27th -Stevenson School Site Council Meeting at 3:30pm
Friday, May 28th -Minimum Day-End of Trimester: Dismissal at 11:50am
Monday, May 31st -No School- Memorial Day Observed
PACT Foundation Updates
imPACT Blacktop Discussion
The next blacktop discussion will be Thursday, May 13th at 8pm.
Zoom link is: https://pausd.zoom.us/j/92217918911
MVWSD News
-Better Together #MVWSD: Prioritizing Mental Health
-Mental Health Month: Finding your Tools2Thrive
-MV Parent University: Preparing for High School
-For next year’s 6th, 7th, 8th grade students: Middle School electives selection is happening now
-MVEF is hiring: Content Writer
-District Chess Tournament Registration Open
-Unlocking Our Inner Strengths with CHAC: Registration for free May events available
-El Camino Health Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
-MVLA Speech & Debate Summer Camp
Better Together #MVWSD: Prioritizing Mental Health
This month's #BetterTogether infographic features tools and resources to help all those who work, learn, and partner with MVWSD to prioritize mental health and wellness. No one ever needs to be alone in their struggles. Together we can prioritize mental health and wellness. Click here to view this month’s calendar or visit https://www/mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD
Mental Health Month: Finding your Tools2Thrive
Last week we identified topics that can help you build your own set of #Tools2Thrive which include recognizing and owning your feelings; finding the positive after loss; connecting with others; eliminating toxic influences; creating healthy routines; and supporting others.
When it comes to your feelings, it can be easy to get caught up in your emotions as you’re feeling them. Most people don’t think about what emotions they are dealing with but taking the time to really identify what you’re feeling can help you to better cope with challenging situations. It’s ok to give yourself permission to feel. By looking for opportunity in adversity or finding ways to remember the good things about who or what we’ve lost, we can help ourselves to recover mentally and emotionally. Access a Mental Health America Tips for Success to learn more.
For each of us, the tools we use to keep us mentally healthy will be unique. But Mountain View Whisman School District wants everyone to know that mental health challenges and conditions are real, and recovery is possible. Finding what works for you may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes. By developing your own #Tools2Thrive, it is possible to find balance between work and play, the ups and downs of life, and physical health and mental health – and set yourself on the path to recovery.
Discover your #Tools2Thrive by listening to Renee Jain and Dr. Shefali Tsabary discuss our superpowers we are born with and how to transform our biologically natural anxiety so that we are empowered by it. You can access this 18 minute conversation in English at NPR How To Help Your Kids Reframe Their Anxiety — And Reclaim Their Superpowers
MV Parent University: Preparing for High School
Date: May 19, 2021, 5:30 p.m. Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/osiVT
Is there a rising high school freshman in your home? Do you want to learn a bit more about the habits, traits, and skills students should develop to be ready for high school? Join us at our final Parent University session of the year as we meet members of staff and students at the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District to hear them talk about this ever-important topic!
To submit questions prior to the event, please click here. We will do our best to address your question during the session.
And if you missed any of our content this year, have no fear: www.mvwsd.org/parentu has recordings of all of our Parent University sessions this year!
For next year’s 6th, 7th, 8th grade students: Middle School electives selection is happening now
It is the time of year when our incoming middle school students choose their electives for next year. Our middle schools are currently working to provide quality offerings that we hope will pique students’ interests and a great complement to our core academics. We are requesting each child's top 5 interests so that we can provide at least one of his/her top choices.
These electives are all subject to staffing, student interest and COVID safety guidance. Your child’s preference will help us plan and schedule courses for next year.
Please visit https://www.mvwsd.org/MSelectives for course catalogs and selection directions. All 5th-7th graders will preference their course electives online through Powerschool through May 7, 2021.
MVEF is hiring: Content Writer
Mountain View Educational Foundation is Hiring a Content Writer to Help MVEF foster growth, optimize outreach, reach a wider audience, persuade the reader, and inspire action through the power of the written word.
Can you get people excited about the work that MVEF is doing? Do you write compelling, engaging and meaningful content in a concise newsletter, post web page or direct mail? Are you a superb storyteller that can capture people’s hearts and communicate the data? Is your style personable, specific, and easy to read?
MVEF needs a writer with these skills to enhance communication, marketing, and fundraising letter solicitations. The ideal candidate will help MVEF communicate with donors and parents, meet current fundraising goals, find new funding, spread awareness, and help donors understand the full impact of their donation.
This is a flexible, part time position. We need you to write Bi-monthly (sometimes monthly) updates for newsletters, website, and/or social media to keep supporters, donors, and volunteers educated about the impact on the community. We also need help with back to school marketing presentations and fundraising letters for all levels of donations.
Please send questions, email and/or resume to [email protected]
District Chess Tournament Registration Open
Registration is now open for the 18th Annual MVWSD Interscholastic Chess Tournament, to be held online again due to COVID-19 on Sunday, May 16, from 12:00 to 5:00. The registration form and complete instructions can be found at tinyurl.com/mvwsdchess, and the deadline is May 14. Any questions can be sent to Mark Ruzon, tournament director, at [email protected].
Unlocking Our Inner Strengths with CHAC: Registration for free May events available
CHAC has opened registration for their free virtual workshops in May, which focus on unlocking our inner strengths and supporting mental wellness. You are welcome to join for any or all events. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30pm, with optional 30-minute Q&A from 7:30 to 8pm.
May 5: From Puppies to Paintings! Creative Ways to Build Lasting Connections
May 12: Self-Empowerment Through Expression: The Crucial Role of Mental Wellness in Motivating Tomorrow’s Leaders
May 19: Parenting Teens Doesn’t Have to be Painful!
May 26: Self-Care & Support Across Diverse Communities
For more information about each session and to register in advance, head to: https://funraise.org/give/Community-Health-Awareness-Council/a25a1482-56ef-448d-80f1-c36132be901c/.
El Camino Health Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
El Camino Health is continuing to administer free COVID-19 vaccines – by appointment – for those aged 16 and up who live or work in Santa Clara County. Vaccines are administered at El Camino Health’s Sunnyvale Clinic Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Visit elcaminohealth.org/schedulevax to make an appointment.
See attached flier for information and scheduling assistance available in Spanish and Mandarin. If you need assistance scheduling an appointment online, please call 408-871-7460, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The County of Santa Clara announced that most County Health System vaccination sites will accept drop-ins for COVID-19 vaccines. Same-day appointments and some drop-in locations across the county are available at sccfreevax.org.
MVLA Speech & Debate Summer Camp
The Mountain View - Los Altos High Schools Speech and Debate Team is holding our annual summer camp from June 14–18 and June 21–25! The camp will be completely virtual, and students will learn about fundamental concepts in speech and debate in order to help them become more persuasive speakers and stronger critical thinkers. Additionally, we’re offering three different courses to accommodate for different skill levels and allow students to build off of their existing knowledge. For more information about pricing and registration, visit our website at mvlasdcamp.org.