08.17.23
Dear Stingray Parents and Guardians,
We are nearing the end of the first full week of school and it has been a joy to see the students and parents again. In these first weeks, the teachers are including a focus on building classroom community as well as reinforcing clear expectations for routines and procedures. Join us at Back to School Night to hear more about this.
I am linking here the district calendar that shows you when vacations and holidays are for your reference in planning family vacations. Please look at it carefully so that your family vacations match the times when your child is not expected to be in school. Leaving early and taking extra days impacts your child’s instruction and learning, and counts as absences for your child in their official record. If there is an unavoidable extended absence due to a family emergency, contact me to discuss independent study options.
Thank you to the PACT Foundation Social Committee for already hosting two great social events: the School-wide Playdate right before school started and the Parent Coffee on the first day of school. It is heartwarming and a testament to the community spirit at Stevenson to see such great turnouts at these events!
See you Tuesday!
Terri Lambert
Principal, Stevenson Elementary
SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
2023-2024 Stevenson Bell Schedule
August 2023 Lunch Menu
-Back to School Night - Minimum day
-Supporting Maui Wildfire victims
-Follow us now on Twitter and Instagram
-Reporting Absences and Tardies
Back to School Night - Minimum day-11:55 a.m. dismissal
This Tuesday, August 22nd is Back to School Night! Join us at 6:00 p.m. in your child’s room to meet the teacher and hear information about the instructional and parent involvement components of the classroom. There is a repeat session at 7:00 p.m. for those of you that have more than one child.
At 5:30 p.m. PACT Foundation is holding a Committee Fair at the lunch tables and PACT reps will also be at the lunch tables after both sessions to answer any questions you might have about the parent involvement aspect of Stevenson.
Parking and Pedestrian Routes and Required Procedures
Thank you to everyone for refraining from parking in the district office parking lot! There has been a huge decrease in Stevenson families using the district office lot for drop off and pick up. Below is a map of our campus, indicating the entrance gates to be used and the pedestrian routes to come into the front of the school (not crossing through our parking lot).
Maui Wildfire Support - Parent Message
As you are aware, the people of Maui have endured much hardship and tragedy due to the wildfire that swept through the Lahaina area. One of our families originates from Maui; please read her words below.
On Tuesday, August 8, 2023 devastating wildfires due to high winds and dry vegetation caused by Hurricane Dora ravaged the Hawaiian island of my home, Maui. Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate the towns of Lahaina, Kihei and Kula. Of the 3 towns, Lahaina’s wildfire took residence, businesses and tourists by surprise with not enough warning causing the deadliest natural disaster in the US. There are so many casualties (93 and rising) with only 2 being identified and still many missing people that are yet to be reunited with loved ones. My brother and his family were one of the lucky ones to escape the fire in Lahaina and their house spared. However, we have many extended family and friends that have lost their homes, jobs, pets and loved ones. There have been heartbreaking stories of tragedy and amazing counts of heroism that have been shared with one another.
An estimated 2,207 homes, businesses and historical sites destroyed forever.
Lahaina was the capital of Hawaii back in the 1820's before Honolulu and now 200 years of history is gone! Only a few of the historical buildings have survived the fire. With hope, the historical Grandma Banyan tree will survive and regenerate.
Along with making sure all casualties are accounted for; there are flare-ups still to extinguish; dangerous toxins, ashes and contaminated water that is preventing residents from returning to their homes anytime soon. There are many displaced/homeless families that have lost their homes, jobs and businesses. Many displaced residents are staying in shelters, other friends and families who have opened their homes or have been relocated to Oahu. West Maui hotels that were unaffected by the fires will also be providing temporary shelter for fire victims.
What was the first day of school on Tuesday, turned into school cancelled until further notice.
Currently, all school districts are planning to restart the school year on Monday, August 14 with children returning to school on Wednesday, August 16. Four schools will remain closed with 1 elementary school that has been completely destroyed. Students who lost their school in the fires or closed until further notice will have to re-enroll at another school nearby their temporary residence or shelter.
Non-essential travel is strongly discouraged to Maui right now. Especially in West Maui.
In the weeks ahead, the collective resources and attention of the federal, state and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on the recovery of residents who were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses.
Travel to the other Hawaiian Islands, like Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island, are not affected at this time.
Rebuilding Lahaina will take time and many years to recuperate. The island people of Maui are strong and so far have continued to go above and beyond with aloha spirit, care and love as a community in supporting the many victims that have lost their cherished memories, history, traditions and livelihood.
An outpouring of love and support for Maui has also been coming in from all over the world. Volunteers and aid groups have mobilized to help feed and shelter those who have been affected. Many of you have asked how you can support Maui. Here is some guidance of reputable organizations that you may support or consider to help.
Hawaii Community Foundation -The Hawaiʻi Community Foundation started a Maui Strong Fund to support residents affected by the wildfires, which firefighting crews continue to battle in Lahaina, Pulehu/Kīhei and Upcountry areas.
Maui Food Bank -Maui Food Bank is a conduit for donated food and other essential items for the purpose of disaster relief.
Maui United Way - Addresses Maui’s most vital needs through the impact areas of Education, Income (sustainability) and Health. Maui United Way is accepting donations to its Maui Fire and Disaster Relief fund
Hawaii Red Cross - Disaster workers from the American Red Cross are in Maui, providing support in all the shelters.
Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation - PSHF is partnering with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education to support our public school communities impacted by the destructive wildfires on Maui.
Salvation Army Maui - Salvation Army emergency disaster teams have been activated on Maui
Maui Hub - 100% of funds raised through this program are given to folks in need, or their service providers, in the form of Maui Hub store credit.
Project Hawaii - Helping unsheltered children and families
Maui Humane Society - Protect and save the lives of Maui’s animals, accepting all in need, educating the community, and inspiring respect and compassion towards all animals. Providing aid and emergency kits to animal owners and fire victims
Thank you for your time in reading this and for your considered support for my island home of Maui.
Mahalo and Aloha,
Leanne Palmer
Forever Maui girl
And Mama to Alec(5th) and Nia(2nd)
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
- Instagram - @stevenson__elementary
- Facebook - @StevensonElem
Reporting Absences
Please call the office at (650) 903-6950 or email Renae Rhodes at [email protected] and Kass Madrid at [email protected] to report an absence or late arrival. Provide the following information: date of absence, student’s name, grade and room number, reason for absence, name and relationship of the person reporting the absence.
PACT FOUNDATION UPDATES
COMMITTEE FAIR and BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT:
On Tuesday, August 22 there are three important events happening, so please be sure to mark your calendars and have at least one-adult from your family attend these events :)
Stevenson families will be learning about the 3 ways they support the school. They will learn about 1) classroom volunteer hours, 2) classroom jobs, and 3) committee jobs.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22
COMMITTEE FAIR: 5:30pm at the school picnic tables under the solar panels.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: 6:00- 6:55pm in your child's classroom, 7:00- 7:40 pm in your other child's classroom
PACT Parent Q & A Session: after BTSN session 1, from 7 to 8pm at the school picnic tables. Feeling confused? Stop by and talk to parents that can answer your questions and help you find a meaningful way to connect with our school!
CALENDAR
2023-2024 MVWSD School Calendar
Thursday, August 17th
-Board of Trustees Meeting @ 6pm - Zoom Link
Friday, August 18th
-Community Check-In @ 3:30pm - Register here
Tuesday, August 22nd
-Minimum Day for all students - No afterschool programs
-Back to School Night @ 6pm
Wednesday, August 30th
-School Site Council Orientation for members and Principals @ 5pm - Zoom link
Monday, September 4th
-No School - Labor Day \
MVWSD News
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, August 17 at 6:00 p.m.
Some of the topics include:
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Response to City of Mountain View's Fiscal Report on North Bayshore Master Plan
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Environmental Sustainability Advisory Council Progress
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Monta Loma Fencing Choice
For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.
Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday, Aug. 18
Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Aug. 18 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/CC818. Mark your calendars for all upcoming community check ins! A list of dates and login information is here.
District orientation
Recordings of last week’s Parent University District Orientation presentation are now available in English and Spanish. To register in advance for future Parent U meetings, visit mvwsd.org/ParentU.
School meals are free, but fill out the EzSchool Meals application to help you and your school
MVWSD will continue to provide free meals this year to all students as part of California’s universal meal program.
However, parents need to reapply for the Free and Reduced Price Meals program now for this school year. If you think you could qualify (qualifying income levels listed here), we ask you to apply at EzSchool Meals to help MVWSD receive additional funding to support students who are in need, and may help your family. If your child is eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals, your family could get medical benefits, housing benefits, utilities benefits and more. Qualifying is one factor in your child’s eligibility for free MVWSD after school care and summer camp.
The more applications your school gathers at the start of each school year, the more additional funding it can receive for all kinds of programs. If you are currently out of work, you may qualify and help your school, regardless of your financial situation. Apply at https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ or call your school office.
Looking for an afterschool program? Read on to see if your child qualifies for MVWSD+!
A student qualifies for the free MVWSD+ afterschool program if one or both of the following conditions are true:
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The student is an English Learner (EL). EL status is established via the results of the Initial ELPAC exam, which is being administered to certain students in August and September. Results are usually available within two weeks of the completion of testing. If you have questions about the Initial ELPAC exam, please contact Leticia Corcoran at [email protected].
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The student qualifies for free or reduced price lunches based on federal income guidelines. At this time, lunch for all children is free, but this may not always be the case. To fill out the application for free or reduced lunch, please go to ezmealapp.com. Qualifying students’ data is collected at the state level and usually appears in the district’s data system within two weeks. If you have questions, please contact your school office.
Soon after a student’s EL or Free/Reduced Lunch Status changes to indicate he/she qualifies for MVWSD+, you will receive an email from the MVWSD+ Team inviting your child to enroll.
For questions or troubleshooting, please reach out to [email protected] or Jennifer Nunez at (650) 526-3500 x1061.
No MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Tuesday, August 22
Due to preparations for Elementary School Back to School Night and afterschool staff development, there will be no MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Tuesday, August 22 (a minimum day for students). MVWSD+ families, thank you in advance for making other arrangements. This affects all Right At School programs, all Beyond the Bell programs, and the district-paid YMCA programs. Programs resume as normal on Wednesday, August 23.
For more information, please contact [email protected] or call (650) 526-3500 x1061.
MVEF needs your support!
The Mountain View Educational Foundation works collaboratively with the community to raise funds for programs essential to a well-rounded education for all Mountain View Whisman School District students. In the elementary schools MVEF donations fund Art, Music, and Science Enrichment; in the middle schools MVEF donations fund English Language Arts teachers, stipends for clubs, coaches and buses for athletics teams, and supplement performing arts programs. To download a copy of the 2023 informational flyer, visit this link. These flyers with donation information will be coming home with students -- keep an eye out for yours! To donate today, visit www.mvef.org/donate
Living Classroom seeking Docents!
Do you enjoy spending time with kids and being outdoors? Volunteer with Living Classroom to teach fun, engaging STEM-based lessons in your local MVWSD school! No prior teaching experience is necessary. For more information on our volunteer program, please visit: https://www.living-classroom.org/get-involved.html or email [email protected].
Parks and Rec to host park input community meetings
Help the City imagine the future of Mountain View Parks and Recreation by joining one of four Community Meetings to kick off the Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan: August 21 and August 22 (Two meetings will be held in person at the Mountain View Community Center, and two meetings will be exclusively online via Zoom). All meetings will provide interpretation services in Spanish, Mandarin and Russian. Childcare and light refreshments will be available for the in-person meetings. Visit ImagineMVParks.com or see attached flyers for more information.
Hazardous Household Waste Drop Off event on Aug 26
The City will be hosting a Hazardous Household Waste Drop Off event on Aug 26, 2023. It is a free event for residents of Santa Clara County to safely dispose of unwanted household hazardous wastes, including paint, batteries, electronics, auto fluids, pesticides, garden chemicals, propane tanks, fluorescent and LED lightbulbs, household cleaners and more. See the attached flyer.
Housing and Eviction Help Center
The City of Mountain View's Rent Stabilization Program runs the Housing and Eviction Help Center (HEHC) at the MV Public Library to provide housing-related support to the community, including information about housing programs and legal resources. These services are available on 1st and 3rd Thursdays (walk-ins welcome or virtually at mountainview.gov/housinghelpclinics) from 6 - 8 p.m. For more information, see flyers attached or visit mountainview.gov/evictionprevention.
Notice: National School Lunch / School Breakfast Programs
The Mountain View Whisman School District announces its policy for serving meals to students under the National School Lunch / School Breakfast Programs for the 2023-24 school year.
All students will be served lunch and breakfast at no charge at the following site: Mariano Castro Elementary School.
Additionally, all students will be served lunch and breakfast at no charge through California’s Universal Meals Program (Universal Meals) at the following sites:
Bubb Elementary, Crittenden Middle, Graham Middle, Amy Imai Elementary, Landels Elementary, Gabriela Mistral Elementary, Monta Loma Elementary, Stevenson Elementary, Theuerkauf Elementary, Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary.
For additional information please contact: Deborah Austin, Director of Food Service, 1701 Rock St., Mountain View, CA 94043, 650.903.6965, [email protected].
While the program will offer free Universal Meals for all students, households will continue to be able to complete an application for free and reduced-price meals, which may support the school district’s local education funding and could also qualify the family for additional benefits. Click here for free and reduced price eligibility guidelines and for more information on applying.
Non Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(2) Fax: 202-690-7442
(3) E-mail: [email protected]
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.