Important Dates to Remember
Jan 24-Feb 10 Open Enrollment for 2023/2024 Register here
Feb 7 5:30 pm Parent University: Living Our New “Normal” - Register here
Feb 8 6 pm PTA Meeting - Staff room
Feb 10 Dr. Rudolph Community Check-in, 3:30pm - Register Here
Feb 13 3:15 pm School Site Council Meeting
Feb 17 End of 2nd Trimester – Minimum Day
Feb 20-24 Winter Break – No School
March 10 Report cards will be sent home electronically
March 13 Teacher Service Day – No School
March 23 Open House
March 24 Spring Pictures
Roar Recognitions
Aastik K. Room 18
Aiden R. Room 13
Alex P. Room 7
Alex S. Room 16
Arya D. Room 8
Brooklyn C. Room 6
Cruz S. Room 17
Evetta W. Room 1
Jackson C. Room 4
Jedidiah S. Room 2
Josiah W. Room 16
Logan Y. Room 18
Milagros A. Room 11
Ruby S. Room 14
Sebastian R. Room 18
Violet P. Room 3
Vivaan S. Room 10
Yuhi Y. Room 5
Landels News
Hello Landels Families,
February is Black History Month. At Landels, we are kicking off Black History Month with a school scavenger hunt where students learn about various influential Black individuals. Thank you to Ms. Bea for organizing. It’s important to recognize and celebrate the significant achievements of Black individuals. I encourage you all to start discussions with your children at home as well. You can start by asking the following questions. Why is there a Black History Month? How can we celebrate Black history all year? Why is it important to celebrate Black history all year long? I appreciate your partnership and support in making our community inclusive.
5th promotion date
Each year we look forward to celebrating with families as our 5th grade students are promoted to middle school. This year, the 5th grade promotion date is Monday, June 5. We will share more specifics about the celebration as details are available.
We want to hear from you! LCAP survey
The District is beginning its annual process of updating the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). This input collected will guide the update of our District plan for the 2023-24 school year. Look for a meeting at your school to learn more about the LCAP process.
We want to hear from parents, staff members and students (grade 4-8)! Before Feb. 17, please click on your unique survey link sent to your email. Your responses are confidential. Students in grades 4-8 and staff members will also be taking the LCAP survey.
More information found here: https://www.mvwsd.org/LCAP
Thank you!
Pieter Dolmans
Absence and Tardies
Regular and prompt attendance at school is expected and essential for your child’s best education. You can help your child be successful at school by making sure he/she arrives on time. Instruction begins first thing in the morning. If your child arrives after 8:15, he/she is tardy and must stop in the office for a tardy slip so he/she is not marked absent. To report any absence, please call the 24-hour attendance voicemail line at 650- 526-3520, press 2 before 9:00am each day your child is absent or email the office at [email protected].
Excused absences are limited to illness, doctor/dentist and bereavement. If we do not know why your child is absent he/she will be marked unexcused.
LEAP
Discuss the classes below with your student and have him/her sign up in the office if interested.
Paper Circuits (Grades 1-2, max 15 students)
Monday, Feb 6, 3-4pm, Room 13
Learn about electronics by combining art and science to make a circuit using conductive tape and LEDs!
Egypt: Pharaohs, Treasures, Gods (Grades 3-5, max 20 students)
Tuesdays, Feb 7 - Feb28, 3-4:30pm (90 minutes each), Room 15
Egypt -- the Gift of the Nile! Learn about King Tut, the pyramids, and life during the time of the pharaohs!
- Sign-ups open
H.I.T.S. Tennis (Grades 4-5, max 12 students)
Thursdays, Jan 26 - Mar 9, 12:30-1:30pm, Blacktop
Learn the fundamentals of tennis through drills and games, and gain life skills like Honesty, Inspiration, Teamwork, and Sportsmanship.
MVWSD News
Returning students: Enrollment in MVWSD for next year
MVWSD enrollment for next fall for returning students is open.
For CURRENTLY enrolled students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Starting Jan. 24, parents can log on to the PowerSchool Parent Portal to enroll their children for next year. Look for an email in your inbox dated Jan. 24. If you have difficulty signing in to PowerSchool, please contact your school office. For more information, call 650-526-3500 or go to https://www.mvwsd.org/register.
In case you missed it: Incoming 6th grade information night for parents
If you will have a 6th-grader next year, please check these links for the 6th Grade Information Night materials shared at the January 23 meeting.
Crittenden Middle School
Graham Middle School
We want to hear from you! LCAP survey
The District is beginning its annual process of updating the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). This input collected will guide the update of our District plan for the 2023-24 school year. Look for a meeting at your school to learn more about the LCAP process.
We want to hear from parents, staff members and students (grade 4-8)! Before Feb. 17, please click on your unique survey link sent to your email. Your responses are confidential. Students in grades 4-8 and staff members will also be taking the LCAP survey.
More information found here: https://www.mvwsd.org/LCAP
Parent University: Living Our New “Normal”: Tips for Families on How to Thrive Post-Pandemic
Date and Time: Feb. 7, 2023 5:30pm Registration Link: https://mvw.sd/pu020723
The last three years have been difficult on parents and children. How do we keep going and continue to show up to support our families?
Together, we will be able to:
· Identify what the “New Normal” means to us.
· Learn tips and strategies to manage stress and navigate our “New Normal”
· Commit to take one action to address a personal goal
Bond Oversight committee seeks community representatives
The District is seeking qualified persons to serve on the Bond Oversight Committee for the District's Measure T Bond Program.
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].
Link to Application: Bond Oversight Committee
Questions? Please call Dr. Rebecca Westover, Chief Business Officer, at 650-526-3500.
Earned Income Tax Credit Information Act Communication
Based on your annual earnings, you may be eligible to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit from the Federal Government (Federal EITC). The Federal EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. The Federal EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits. In most cases, Federal EITC payments will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, low-income housing, or most Temporary Assistance For Needy Families payments. Even if you do not owe federal taxes, you must file a federal tax return to receive the Federal EITC. Be sure to fill out the Federal EITC form in the Federal Income Tax Return Booklet. For information regarding your eligibility to receive the Federal EITC, including information on how to obtain the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice 797 or any other necessary forms and instructions, contact the IRS by calling 1-800-829-3676 or through its website at www.irs.gov.
You may also be eligible to receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit (California EITC) starting with the calendar year 2015 tax year. The California EITC is a refundable state income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. The California EITC is treated in the same manner as the Federal EITC and generally will not be used to determine eligibility for welfare benefits under California law. To claim the California EITC, even if you do not owe California taxes, you must file a California income tax return and complete and attach the California EITC Form (FTB 3514). For information on the availability of the credit eligibility requirements and how to obtain the necessary California forms and get help filing, contact the Franchise Tax Board at 1-800-852-5711 or through its website at www.ftb.ca.gov.
MVEF Gala Sponsorships are available!
MVEF is currently accepting sponsorship donations for the annual Gala, happening April 29, 2023. With approximately 150 in-person attendees and a goal to raise $100k, the MVEF Gala is an opportunity for residents, district parents, business leaders and community members to come together and support local schools. This year’s event will include dinner, fundraising activities (including a raffle plus live and silent auctions), and community-building.
MVEF offers 4 Gala sponsorship levels to community businesses and individuals. Each level includes different benefits for the sponsoring entity. To learn more and to complete a sponsorship application, click here: https://www.mvef.org/galasponsor
City of Mountain View's Safe Routes program
The City of Mountain View's Safe Routes program is seeking parents to observe the walking environment around schools with the goal of improving safety. There are several walks scheduled for each school, and parents are encouraged to attend. Please view the upcoming dates and sign up here: https://forms.gle/Jm1CphJ4wp5sP5wc8
February CAC Events and Announcements
The Learning Challenges Committee is looking for members!
Are you interested in helping students with learning challenges? This can include students who receive special education services, students with a 504 plan, or any student with a learning challenge.
The Learning Challenges Committee of the Los Altos Mountain View PTA Council (LCC) helps provide teachers and school staff in Mountain View and Los Altos schools with supplies in their classrooms related to learning challenges. We need a variety of parent and student voices to help us best decide how we can help teachers and students about these issues.
Can you attend 2-3 meetings per year to help make these kinds of decisions with the LCC? Please email [email protected]
We need more voices to help students with learning challenges. We need you!
February CAC Events
SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. We are ALL having learning challenges right now, and CAC and LCC are here to help. If you have questions about learning challenges and special education needs, email [email protected] or check out www.selpa1cac.org
We encourage families to learn about the sensory needs all children: Try a Sensory Diet
General Parent/Community Meeting
February 6, 9 am
with Special Ed. Directors & Staff, Zoom at 9:00 am for LCC and 9:20 am for CAC. We will be planning for the year, discussing upcoming programs and discussing distance learning and learning challenges. For our agenda, please join our Google group, https://groups.google.com/g/selpa1cac. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAudO2vrjIsHdP4dzX05kdxoMH8eGZm3VWb
Parent Chat
February 14, 10 am
Are you concerned about the emotional well-being of your child? Peer to peer support for parents of teens with mental health challenges. Every second Tuesday of the month at 10 am on Google Meet. Meeting is for 1 hour only due to Google Meet limitations. Contact [email protected] for invite.
Missed our Parent Education events last year?
We have a YouTube channel with many of our past events including last year’s Inclusive Fun Fair for summer camps and recreational activities, Anxiety and Depression in Children with Learning Challenges, SMART Goals and IEP Troubleshooting, and more. Channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuy7IcVz-4LTDxv2Jaq13nw
Health and Wellness Parenting Tip: Screen Time
Managing your child’s screen time is beyond a difficult task. Technology overuse is ranked as the No.1 fear parents have for their children, but it shouldn’t be. Effective communication and implementing little changes about technology use and screen time in the household can make a difference and improve the bond with your child.
Here are some changes that can be made:
1. Don’t monitor, mentor! Try to understand the media that your child uses. Know the difference between different social media platforms and different video games. Notice your child’s behavior and emotions when they engage in their screen time. Be a sounding board for your child.
2. Look for the good in your child’s interests. Your child consuming media is not as different as you consuming something on TV. Your child may have built communities and a space for them to express themselves. You may feel distanced from your child, but that’s a normal part of growing up.
3. Work together to make changes as a family. Make sure that the rules created are being followed not only by your child but also by you as well. Some ways you can implement change in the household would be:
1. Banning devices at mealtime
2. Taking phones away at night
3. Imposing more chores; brings a source of self-esteem to get things done and to be valued in the family
4. Introducing new interests; setting a goal during the summer for your child to reduce screen time and to add a new hobby
5. Implementing screen-free whole-family activities such as board games, going on trips, or even a walk to the ice cream shop
6. Ask your child to monitor their mood while playing video games; this can help with developing self-regulation skills
7. Suggest other activities with their interests; For example, if your child likes fantasy video games, suggest that they’ll probably like fantasy books.
Dealing with a child immersed in their screen time is an all-too-common experience for parents. However, if you want your child to engage less in screen time, following through with these changes can make a big difference not only in your child’s life but your life.
To learn more parenting tips click here.
These tips came directly from the free online website NPR: Life Kit.
Silicon Valley Reads Program
Silicon Valley Reads is a community engagement program that features books and an annual theme to bring people together by providing more than 100 free, public events each year in February and March. Events for all ages include author talks, book clubs, art/music events, community activities, arts and crafts, movies, and creative events or activities based on the theme each year. For more information and event details, visit siliconvalleyreads.org/home/Pages/default.aspx.
MVLA Parent Math Night
MVLA will be hosting their Math Night for parents on February 16, 2023 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Staff will share information about the high school math pathways and math preparation for college and beyond, in addition to the computer science and engineering pathways. Register for the webinar here.
City of MV Parent’s Night Out: Feb. 11
The City of Mountain View is hosting a Parent’s Night Out on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM at the Mountain View Community Center. Need a night off? Drop your kids off and treat yourself to a parent's night out. You can feel good leaving your child in a safe, fun environment complete with games, art projects, pizza, and a big-screen movie. Register here.
PTA News
Call for Board Nominees
The Landels PTA is looking for nominees for our 2023-2024 Board. All positions are 1 year terms and our nominating committee looks forward to talking with you about them and helping you learn more. If you're interested, or want to learn more, please complete the following survey: https://forms.gle/Syj5m9G9wipEeo8b9
Flyers
Parent University: Living Our New “Normal”: Tips for Families on How to Thrive Post-Pandemic
February CAC Events and Announcements
MVLA Parent Math Night
Lunch Menu February
Landels PTA Meeting Schedule 2022/2023