March 20, 2025
Dear Stingray Parents and Guardians,
I wanted to share with you the upcoming schedule for state testing, and a few reminders for taking care during that important time.
Grade-Level Testing Windows
3rd Grade and 4th Grade
-
Practice Testing: April 15-18
-
ELA Testing: April 29-May 2
-
Math Testing: May 6-9
-
Daily Testing Time: Typically 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM or 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
5th Grade
-
Practice Testing: April 15-18
-
Science (CAST) Testing: April 22-25
-
ELA Testing: April 29-May 2
-
Math Testing: May 6-9
-
Daily Testing Time: Typically 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM or 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
What Parents Should Know
-
Tests are generally administered in the morning hours only
-
In most cases, no testing takes place on Mondays
-
Make-up testing is available for students who are absent, though it becomes increasingly difficult for students to make-up more than one segment of any test
-
All classrooms within a grade level test at the same time
-
Each test consists of two parts (except for Science):
How to Support Your Child
-
Ensure your child gets plenty of rest before testing days
-
Provide a healthy breakfast on testing mornings
-
Make sure your child arrives at school on time
-
Encourage your child to do their best, but avoid creating test anxiety
-
Discuss the purpose of testing in a positive, low-pressure way
For specific questions about testing accommodations or individual student needs, please contact your child's teacher.
In service,
Megan Pohlman, Interim Principal
IMPORTANT DATES
2024-2025 MVWSD School Calendar
2025-2026 MVWSD School Calendar
Thursday, March 20th
-MV Public Library Bookmobile @ 12pm
-Board of Trustees Meeting @ 6pm - Zoom Link
Friday, March 21st
-No School - Teacher Service Day
Tuesday, March 25th
-Principal’s Coffee @ 8:10am in Staff Lounge
Wednesday, March 26th
-School Site Council @ 5:30pm - Zoom link
Thursday, March 27th
-Exhibition Night @ 6pm
Monday, March 31st
-Arts Focus City Hall Reception @ 5:30pm
Wednesday, April 2nd
-STEAM Fair in MUR @ 3pm
Thursday, April 3rd
-CSMA Music Concert in MUR
SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
2024-2025 Stevenson Bell Schedule
March 2025 Lunch Menu
School Year Calendar - plan your 24-25 vacation using the school vacation times!
No School - Friday, March 21st
We will have a Teacher Service Day on Friday, March 21st so there will be no school! Enjoy the 3-day weekend! :)
Principal’s Coffee - Tuesday, March 25th
CSMA 2025 Spring Music Concerts
You are invited to see what your students have been learning in their weekly music classes with Ms Sandi from Community School of Music and Arts (sponsored by MVEF).
Your students receive 24 weeks of music a year thanks to CSMA and MVEF and as we finish this year, we would like to invite you to a grade level concert in the Stevenson MUR on Thursday, April 3rd.
1st Grade - 8:25 - 8:50
2nd Grade 9:15 - 9:40
3rd Grade 10:30 - 10:55
4th grade 11:30 - 11:55
Parents who come to watch will need to sign-in in the front office in accordance with the district visitor policy. Because this is a performance, this does not count as volunteer hours.
We hope that you can join us!
You may contact Sandi Juliano with any questions: [email protected]
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
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, March 20. Closed session will begin at 4:30 p.m., and open/public session begins at 6 p.m.
Some of the topics include:
-
Staff Housing Update and Options to Fund Purchase of Land
-
Literacy Update
-
Canopy Partnership at Bubb
-
Second Interim Budget Report
-
Resolution in support of LGTBQ+ students
For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.
MVWSD is updating its math curriculum
As typical with our curriculum cycles, it’s time to review and improve our mathematics program to ensure all students have strong learning opportunities, including acceleration if desired.
MVWSD is launching a two-year process to update math curriculum based on the latest research and best practices for math education. Our math curriculum was last adopted in 2015, and math placement criteria hasn’t been updated since 2021-22. To make this process inclusive, we’re seeking input from students, staff, and parents on math curriculum, instruction, pathways, assessments, and placement.
Please join the upcoming ThoughtExchange to share your thoughts from March 26 – April 4. This online survey will be open to all staff, parents, and students in grades 4-8. Additionally, there will be focus groups for more in-depth discussions with staff, students and parents. Your input matters!
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum: We Want Your Input!
As part of our shared commitment to ensuring the best for our students, we are inviting the MVWSD Community (teachers, staff, families) to review and provide feedback on the pilot curricula. Your perspective matters, and we’d love for you to join us at one of the following community review sessions:
SEL Curricula Review
Location: MVWSD District Office - Conference Room C
1400 Montecito Ave., Mountain View, CA 94043
March 20, 2025
Session 3: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Session 4: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
These sessions are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the SEL programs being considered, share your insights, and engage in the important work of shaping the future of our district’s approach to social-emotional learning. If you are unable to attend these sessions and are interested in reviewing the curricula, please email Karin Jinbo ([email protected]). For information, please see this webpage.
District Film Festival: April 1
Please join us for the third annual District Film Festival, "Spotlight on Solutions," at 6:30 pm on April 1 at the Graham Middle School Auditorium. All students in grades K-8 were eligible to enter short films that explore real-world problems and showcase inspiring solutions. During the festival, the films that are selected as finalists will be screened and awards given. We are excited to see the results of students and their teachers implementing research, science and technology for this important issue. Please RSVP at this link.
Graham Musical: The Pirates of Penzance Jr
Raise the anchor and prepare to set sail as Graham Middle School presents The Pirates of Penzance Jr! You can see the show on March 21st and 22nd at 7:30 pm and March 23th at 2:00 pm at the Graham Middle School Auditorium. Join us for this classic Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, a hilarious, rollicking adventure with something for everyone -- Leap Year misunderstandings, the dynamic love of Frederic and Mabel, the Major General's classic pattersong, and of course, piracy. Join us, and you're guaranteed to have a great time! Tickets are available for purchase here.
Crittenden Musical: Willy Wonka Jr.
The delicious adventures of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation by Crittenden Middle School of Roald Dahl's fantastical tale. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film, in addition to a host of fun new songs, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka JR. is a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight everyone's sweet tooth. The show will run from Mar 28th - Mar 30th. Purchase digital tickets here or at the door 30 minutes before the show.
Better Together: March
March is Women's History Month at Mountain View Whisman School District! This special month celebrates the vital contributions, achievements, and influence of women throughout history and in contemporary society. This month, our #BetterTogetherMVWSD initiative highlights "Serving our community/Sirviendo a nuestra comunidad." Community service strengthens our connections, builds empathy, and creates meaningful change through collective action. Join us as we explore how we can work together on projects to make a positive impact in our community. For more information about Better Together, visit mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD.
Earth Hour
From 8:30 pm local time on 22nd March, WWF’s Earth Hour, the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement, returns for its 19th edition with the ‘Biggest Hour for Earth’ in support and celebration of our planet. Earth Hour serves as a beacon of positivity, hope, and inspiration to rally as many people as possible in over 180 countries and territories.
Since its creation in 2007, Earth Hour has been known for its “lights off” moment. As landmarks and homes across the world switch off, supporters are also invited to symbolically switch off and 'Give an hour for Earth’, spending 60 minutes doing something - anything - positive for our planet.
Earth Hour invites everyone, everywhere to find the most enjoyable ways to give an hour for Earth. Whether it is cooking a sustainable meal at home, catching a nature documentary, taking a mindful walk through the woods to bask in nature and feel the earth, or engaging in a home scavenger hunt to identify and swap out unsustainable products with eco-friendly alternatives, there are myriad options to choose from. Check https://www.earthhour.org/take-part/give-an-hour for more.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE MVEF SPRING GALA - JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION!
Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 06:00-10:00 pm | Los Altos Community Center
This year, we are celebrating a big milestone - 40 years of MVEF - A Celebration of ERAS celebrating our legacy of Empowering Students from Gen X to Gen Alpha.
Over the past 40 years, MVEF has made a lasting impact and we are excited to celebrate this milestone while continuing to provide vital resources for our local schools and students.
This lively community building event includes dinner, silent and live auctions, DJ, raffle and student performances!
GET YOUR GALA TICKETS WHILE THEY ARE STILL AVAILABLE!
Get your Early Bird ($140) or First Time Attendee ($125) tickets here until March 25th!
General Admission Tickets will go up to $165 after March 25th.
LAST CALL FOR AUCTION ITEMS AND HOST AUCTION PARTIES!
Do you have a vacation home? Do you like throwing parties for kids or adults? Do you have extra tickets for a concert or event? Do you have extra wine bottles to donate?
This annual event usually raises over 10% of our annual fundraising goal of $1.2M to support programs across MVWSD.
Great auction donations include:
-
Vacation home stays
-
Themed party experiences for adults or kids
-
Event tickets (sports, concerts, etc.)
-
Bottles of wine for the "wine wall"
-
Professional Services
-
Merchandise, etc.
Donate Gala auction items here. We appreciate your support!
PACT FOUNDATION UPDATES
PACT Players Needs Help from our Stevenson Community
We are looking to borrow the following items for the school play:
-A ladder to reach 18'
-Room dividers/privacy screens
-A small wooden table/chair
-A trumpet
-Stuffed or plastic chickens
-Please check this list for more, and leave a comment if you have the item: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_pvEKa8T3Ijpr69TxUrHtGNJ-KxEZBB5epCcR6iF3Fc/edit?usp=sharing
Work Day for the School Play – Friday, March 21st!
We don’t have school on 3/21, so let’s take advantage of the time to Get Stuff Done in the MUR for our school play! This event is open to our entire school community! Even if your child isn’t in the show, you’re welcome to lend a hand!
We have a long list of tasks to complete for the production, including making props and sets, painting, moving items to the storage shed, sewing costumes, and more. Whether you can spare an hour or stay the whole time, your help will make a big difference!
Details:
-
Date: Friday, March 21st
-
Time: 9 AM – 3 PM (Come when you can!)
-
Childcare: Available 10 AM – 2 PM (for school-aged kids of parents actively working in the MUR.)
-
Task List & Sign-Up: Click here for the Google Spreadsheet Please bring any supplies/materials if possible, or just come ready to lend a hand!
Childcare Info:
-
Childcare is available for parents working on play-related tasks.
-
Children are welcome to assist but must remain under your supervision, or they can be in the childcare room.
-
This is not a drop-off childcare service, you cannot leave your child and drive away. It is specifically for parents who are helping in the MUR with tasks for the play. Kids need to be school-aged (kinder-5th grade). Younger children are welcome to be in the MUR with you.
If you plan to come, please sign up in advance so we know how many people to expect.
Thank you for your support! Many hands make light work!
Upcoming FUNdraisers!
Oren's Hummus - this Tuesday 3/18 from 3-10pm - make sure you bring a physical copy of the flyer (attached to this newsletter)
FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
MVLA Parent Ed Speaker Series: How to Find the Right College
Join MVLA Parent Ed on Tuesday, April 1 at 7 PM at the MVHS Spartan Theatre (3535 Truman Avenue) for an insightful presentation on “How to Find the Right College”. A panel of four experts in college recruiting, applications, and admissions will share valuable strategies for identifying great programs and reducing the stress of the application process. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain expert advice and make informed decisions about your college search. Register for this free event here.
City of Mountain View Nature Photography Contest, Earth & Arbor Day 2025
The City of Mountain View is excited to announce the launch of the second annual
Earth & Arbor Day Nature Photography Contest! Submit your photograph that depicts the beauty, biodiversity, and resilience of the environment in and around Mountain View. The Earth and Arbor Day photo contest is open to all Mountain View community members, including people who live, go to school, and work in the City and their families. Submit your photo by April 1 at 11:59 p.m. For more information and to submit, visit https://collaborate.mountainview.gov/photocontest.
FLYERS
Photo Contest Flyer
The Pirates of Penzance