September 20, 2024
Dear Stingray Parents and Guardians,
I appreciate all our new parents that have already completed the process for their volunteer badge. We are excited to have volunteers begin the week of Sept. 30th! Please keep in mind when volunteering that communication with your child’s teacher is critical to a volunteer experience that is successful for parents, teachers and above all, for the students. Check the classroom Parent Corner and always feel free to ask for clarification. Thank you in advance for your time and dedication to the Stevenson community! There are many, many parents that have already been dedicating their time to planning events, OLE’s, library help, classroom coordination, after-school enrichment, and serving on the PACT Board and we are grateful also to you for your commitment. The parent Staff Appreciation committee arranged a terrific lunch for staff yesterday; thank you to the parents from 4th and 5th grade who contributed! The staff smiles said it all.
I also appreciate those that arrive early at drop off and those that take the time to wait their turn in the drop off line. Remember to pull as far forward as you can before letting your child out of the car (on the curb side!) and remember to stay in your vehicle to expedite the drop off. Use street parking if your child is not able to exit the vehicle on their own. Your patience and attention to safety is critical for a smooth drop off experience for all students.
Hispanic Heritage Month began this week and our library clerk, Ms. Donahue has already begun activities with the students during their weekly library visit. The focus question during this month for K-2 is Why is it important that we celebrate the differences we all have? and for 3-5 it’s How do people from different Hispanic and Latino backgrounds make our world more interesting and special? These can be great conversation topics at home as well.
Have a great week and celebrate the first day of autumn this Sunday!
Warm Regards,
Terri Lambert
Principal, Stevenson Elementary
IMPORTANT DATES
2024-2025 MVWSD School Calendar
Monday, September 23rd
-ELAC Meeting @ 4:15pm - Zoom Link
-4th Grade Classroom Meeting @ 5pm
-DELAC @ 5:30pm - Castro/Mistral MUR
Tuesday, September 24th
-Picture Day
-3rd Grade Classroom Meeting @ 5pm
-Parent University @ 5:30pm - Zoom link
Wednesday, September 25th
-Kindergarten Social @ 5pm
-Kindergarten Classroom Meeting @ 6pm
SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
2024-2025 Stevenson Bell Schedule
September 2024 Lunch Menu
School Year Calendar - plan your 24-25 vacation using the school vacation times!
Picture Day - Tuesday, September 24th
Mark your calendars for picture day on Tuesday September 24th!
Pre-order today on mylifetouch.com using your Student ID or Picture Day ID: EVT6NCHHQ
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
- Instagram - @stevenson__elementary
- Facebook - @StevensonElem
Reporting Absences
Please call the office at (650) 903-6950 or email Stevenson Attendance [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.
MVWSD News
Parent University: The Science of Reading, Part 2
Date and Time: September 24, 2024, 5:30-7:00pm Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu092424r
In this second part of a two-part series, we will briefly recap part one and continue to learn more about the Science of Reading, particularly the importance of background knowledge and vocabulary for reading comprehension. We will discuss what that means for your child at school, and how you can support them at home. If you missed part one (in which we discussed phonics and word reading), you can watch or listen to the recording at mvwsd.org/parentu
About the speaker: Dr. Cyndee Nguyen is MVWSD’s Director of Early Literacy. She leads district efforts to ensure that all students, especially those of early elementary age, develop into capable and confident readers. Previously, Dr. Nguyen was a teacher and the principal of Bubb Elementary School.
To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session. Can’t make it this time? No problem - we always post the recordings a few days later at mvwsd.org/parentu
Share your ideas about social-emotional learning (SEL) for our students
Parents and staff members, please take a moment to complete a quick survey about social emotional learning by Sept. 30. Your thoughts will provide valuable insights into students' emotional well-being and development. Your feedback will help MVWSD and the SEL Curriculum Committee as they work to select curriculum and activities for students to better support students' social and emotional needs. Additionally, your ideas will be included in plans for how school counselors can support students. Click here for the SEL stakeholder survey .
Join us on our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) journey
We are seeking applicants to join the MVWSD 2024-2025 SEL Curriculum Adoption Committee, where our focus will be Social Emotional Learning curriculum adoption. If you are interested in being a part of this moment in our SEL journey, please complete this application by September 27, 2024. Even if you might be unsure about participation, we encourage you to apply. By applying to the committee you will learn more about the commitment that will be asked of participants.
The SEL Curriculum Adoption Committee is seeking participants from all members of our District community, however it must be primarily composed of MVWSD teachers. We will meet up to 11 times this school year between October and April, including 3 Saturdays. The objective of this committee is to examine stakeholder input, SEL curriculum options, engage in a curriculum pilot, and make recommendation(s) to the Board of Trustees for adoption. Applying neither commits you, nor guarantees a seat on the committee. Following your application, you will be provided with next steps. Apply here: http://mvw.sd/SELCommittee
Join the MVWSD Budget Advisory Committee (BAC)
Are you passionate about education and financial transparency? Do you want to help the district allocate its resources to ensure the biggest benefit for students? The Mountain View Whisman School District announces the formation of its new Budget Advisory Committee, and we need YOU!
About the BAC: The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) is an essential advisory group that collaborates with the District to review, analyze, and make recommendations about the budget to the Superintendent. The goal is to ensure that the district’s financial decisions align with the strategic plan and meet the needs of our diverse students, staff, and community.
Roles & Responsibilities:
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Review and Analyze: Examine the district’s budget, revenue sources, and expenditures to understand financial trends and projections.
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Provide Input: Offer feedback and recommendations on budget priorities, cost-saving measures that minimize the impact on student learning and staff welfare, and revenue enhancement opportunities.
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Engage: Serve as a liaison between the district and the broader community, sharing information and gathering input from stakeholders.
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Collaborate: Work with other committee members to develop practices that support the district’s educational goals.
Member Makeup: We are seeking a diverse group of members to ensure comprehensive representation across our district, including parents and community members
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Meetings: The BAC will meet quarterly, with additional meetings as needed during the budget season.
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Outside of meetings: Members may be asked to review data and documents, or participate in community engagement outside of regular BAC meetings
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Participation: We ask that members commit to attending at least 75% of meetings and actively participate in discussions and subcommittees.
How to Apply: Complete the online application here by September 23, 2024.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Our awareness raises the visibility of mental health and proactive suicide prevention resources in our community. This year's theme is "There is Help. There is Hope." We share a message of hope and healing, and recognize that everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide.
Suicide Prevention is important every day of the year. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month allows us to shine a special, encouraging light on this topic that affects us all & sends a clear, hopeful message that help is available & suicide can be prevented. Resources are available at our Virtual Wellness Center under the Mental Health tab and your child's school. In times of crisis 988 is a nationwide resource that anyone can text or phone to speak with a crisis counselor.
Great news: MVEF has reached its first milestone with $200k in donations this school year!
Thanks to our generous donors, we’re on our way to our $1.2M goal. These funds will benefit every student in our district. MVEF helps reduce ELA middle school class sizes, covers for middle school coaches, referees, and bus transportation to games, and supports art, music, and environmental science enrichment in elementary schools.
MVWSD relies heavily on MVEF donations because state funding is limited by Prop 13, which restricts property tax revenue growth. MVWSD works closely with MVEF so that additional enrichment is still possible for our students. To learn more, click here. To make a donation, click here.
Also, please save the date for our biggest fundraiser - the Spring Gala:
Saturday, April 26th, from 6-10 pm. More details to come.
PACT FOUNDATION UPDATES
Walkathon Updates
Walkathon is approaching soon on October 18 and now we have a winning logo design to be printed on walkathon t-shirts for all students and staff.
The Walkathon (WAT) Committee received 45+ entries for logo contest, followed by a school-wide student voting for the top 3 Logo designs for this year's walkathon theme of "Stevenson Games".
A total of 452 students voted of which the winning design received 186 votes leading by just 1 vote against the other design option that received 185 votes.
Congratulations to April Lickly & Ilana Kurzer from Room 8 for creating the design and a big Thank you to all the students for their participation in the contest.
Go Stingrays!
Walkathon also has a raffle taking place the same day. Thank you to everyone who contributed so far! We do need your help for donations or to reach out to the local businesses you love/go to for any potential donations.
Here’s the spreadsheet if you are interested in donating to add and comment with any of our names so we can follow-up or arrange to receive the item.
Please note: we will reserve reaching out to bigger businesses/companies for our silent auction fundraiser in the spring.
FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Health and Wellness Fair
You are invited to attend the annual Family Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, September 21, from 1 - 4 p.m. at Mistral Elementary School. The Health Fair is sponsored by Assemblymember Marc Berman's Office in partnership with MVWSD. There will be free groceries and snacks, school supplies and backpacks, diapers, flu shots and much more. Local healthcare professionals will be on-site to offer free health screenings for children and adults. Join in on the family-friendly fun!
City Searching for Volunteers to Serve Community
Recruitment is open for upcoming vacancies on several City boards and committees that weigh in on a wide range of matters. The openings are on the Board of Library Trustees, Environmental Planning, Human Relations, and Parks and Recreation Commissions, and Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory, Downtown, Performing Arts, Senior Advisory, and Visual Arts Committees, and Public Safety Advisory Board. Find more information and the application form at MountainView.gov/Advisors. The link to the application is in each council advisory body webpage. Questions can be directed to the City Clerk’s Office at [email protected] or 650-903-6304. The deadline to apply is Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.
Ravenswood Mayview Flu Vaccine Clinics
Free Community Flu Vaccine Clinics are happening from October 5th through December 7th (schedule is below). You do not have to be a patient of Ravenswood Family Health Network to get your flu shot. Any child ages 3 years and older can receive a flu vaccine at any one of our clinics. See attached flyers or visit https://ravenswoodfhn.org/service/flu/ for more information.
FLYERS
Flu Clinic Flyer