Important Dates to Remember
Dec 4-8 Parent Teacher Conference Week – Minimum days all week – Dismissal at 12:10pm
Dec 8 3:30-4:30pm Community Check-In – Zoom
Dec 11 3:15pm – 4:15pm School Site Council Meeting - Zoom
Dec 11-15 5th grade Walden West Science Camp
Dec 13 8:30-9:30am Principals Coffee – Staff room
Dec 15 Spirit Day – Bring your favorite stuffed animal
Dec 19 4-6pm Winter Holiday Fair
Dec 25-Jan 8 Holiday Break - No school
Jan 9 Students return to school
Jan 10 6:30-7:30pm Landels School Info Night - Zoom
Jan 15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day – No school
Jan 17 8:15-9:30am ELAC Meeting – ELPAC information
Jan 18 6:30-7:45 Parent U Extension: Parenting in the Digital Era
Jan 22 Open Enrollment for current and new students - Register
Jan 24 8:30-9:30 Principals Coffee – Staff room
Feb 16 End of 2nd Trimester – Minimum day
Feb 19-23 Winter Break – No school
Roar Recognitions
Benjamin B. – Room 18
Caleb M. – Room 17
Chia-Chi H. – Room 4
Daniel Z. – Room 8
Deisy H. – Room 11
Elise D. – Room 14
Ethan O. – Room 9
Everett W. – Room 7
Kellan H. – Room 13
Kina W. – Room 6
Lola M. – Room 12
Mathew G. – Room 1
Parker H. – Room 5
Russel C. – Room 16
Sonzal P. – Room 2
Tharan J. – Room 10
Landels News
Hello Landels Families,
Thank you for your participation in conferences this week. It’s a great opportunity to check in on progress and set goals for the remainder of the year. Speaking of goals, one of our school goals this year is to improve our average daily attendance (ADA). Last year at this time, we had 93.6% ADA. I am happy to report that our ADA is currently at 95.2%, which means that you are doing your part to help your child be successful! Great job getting them to school on time every day! Let’s keep it going so we can reach our goal of 97% ADA. I know we can do it!
On this note, as the winter holidays approach, we want to remind you that students will continue important lessons and it is important that they attend school each day so they don’t miss out. This is also an exciting time with school performances and other fun activities that you don’t want your child to miss out on. Make sure that they are at school every day so they can take part.
Thinking ahead…
We know many families enjoy traveling during the holiday break. As a reminder, the winter break is December 23- January 8. Please ensure you do not take your child out of school before that time. Please ensure they are back at school on Tuesday, January 9.
Thank you for your continued support!
Pieter Dolmans
Short-Term Independent Studies
If you are planning on scheduling family vacations, please make every effort to schedule around our instructional calendar. You can also find minimum days outside our regularly scheduled early release Thursdays for scheduling appointments for your scholar. If your plans include your child missing 3-14 days of school, please notify the front office to discuss a short-term independent studies contract to minimize the impact of missed school days.
Gift Cards
Dear Landels families,
The holidays are almost here, a time to spend with family and friends, to eat a nice dinner or two, to celebrate in different ways. However, for some of our families in need, this is a difficult and stressful time. We are asking for donations of gift cards (Gas, Safeway, Target, Walmart) to provide to some of our families. Please consider buying a gift card and dropping it off in the Landels office. We really appreciate our wonderful and generous community! We’ll be collecting gift cards until Friday, December 22nd.
MVWSD News
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 6:00 p.m.
Some of the topics include:
· Board Policy: Use of School Facilities
· Approval of Joint Use Agreement with the City of Mountain View
· Reimagining Castro Elementary Plan Scope
· Equity Scorecard: Pilot and Future Use
For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.
Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday, Dec. 8
Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Dec. 8 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/CC128.
Open Enrollment for 2024-25 starts in January
In January, the Mountain View Whisman School District will be opening student enrollment for next fall.
For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 22 to February 9.
For families enrolling NEW students: Please check www.mvwsd.org/register for details about virtual school information meetings held in January (http://mvw.sd/meetings), how to locate your neighborhood school, how to explore school options and the four steps to register during the enrollment period held January 22 to February 9.
Better Together: December
Join us in celebrating Human Rights Day on Sunday, December 10th. As a school community, let's empower young minds to embrace diversity, challenge biases, and stand up for justice. This special day is a perfect opportunity to engage in conversations with our kids about the importance of equality and respect for all. Together, we can shape a world where every voice is heard and every person is treated with kindness. For more information about Better Together, visit mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD.
MVEF Update: Save us a Call
The amount donated to MVEF so far this year is slightly less than in previous years. MVEF volunteers will soon be reaching out directly to inform our community about the need for donations each year. You can save us a call by donating today! Visit mvef.org/donate today!
This year, community donations to MVEF are providing:
· More than 8,500 Art4Schools lessons in 130 TK-5th Grade classrooms.
· Over 17,000 Music4Schools lessons in 170 TK-5th Grade Classrooms.
· Over 500 Living Classroom lessons for all students in TK-6th grade.
· Environmental Science lessons and field trips for all 4th and 5th graders.
· Additional English Language Arts teachers to reduce the average class size in grades 6-8.
· Supplemental funding for Performing Arts, Music, and Athletics Teams in grades 6-8.
When we achieve our fundraising goals, we can do even more for our students!
December CAC and LCC Events
SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. 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
Parent Chat
December 12, 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.
What’s in an IEP? Advocating for your child
Presented by Gabriela Torres, Managing Attorney and Leah Kang, Senior Attorney
Fri, Jan 19, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm , Register to get your Zoom link
Join Palo Alto CAC and Disability Rights California virtually to learn what is Specially Designed Instruction and how the use of Supplementary Aids and Services can help children with disabilities achieve their education satisfactorily in the general educational environment according to LRE provision of IDEA. Flyer Questions? [email protected]
The View Teen Center: December
The View Teen Center is a free facility in Mountain View (263 Escuela Ave) for all Mountain View and Los Altos 6th - 12th grade students. Drop-in hours are Monday - Friday, 3:15 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays, 1 - 6 p.m. (on no school days or minimum days, The View Teen Center is open 1-6 p.m.), and the center features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! See attached flyer for details about upcoming events and programs in December or visit their webpage for more information.
Letters to Santa
This holiday season, all children who are residents of Mountain View can put together their wish lists and letters and send them to Santa! In return, Santa will mail a letter back! Letters will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 8. There are two ways for Santa to receive letters: 1) Drop off in Santa’s mailbox located at the Mountain View Community Center (201 S. Rengstorff Avenue) or 2) Mail letter to: City of Mountain View Recreation Division c/o Santa Claus P.O. box 7540, Mountain View, CA 94039. Don’t forget to include a return address! For more information, contact [email protected].
MV Public Library: Parenting Program
Join the MV Public Library for a book club discussion of Never Enough by Jennifer Wallace on Wednesday, January 17 on Zoom from 12:00pm - 1:00pm or in person from 7:30pm - 8:30pm. Read the book or listen to interviews with the author. Then join either meeting to discuss the effects of achievement culture on youth and ways to help teens feel that they matter and are valued. Registration is required.
PTA News
Books Inc. and Asian Box Fundraiser Night
This Friday, December 8 from 5pm - 9pm, visit Books Inc. Mountain View to do some holiday shopping! The store will donate a portion of the sales back to Landels PTA.
Then, head over to Asian Box Mountain View to grab some dinner! 20% of all sales will benefit Landels PTA. Online code: FUND20MV. Event is 11am - 9pm.
Winter Holiday Fair: Tue Dec 19, 4-6pm
This is an annual community event hosted by your PTA where students and families can sell their homemade crafts, art, jewelry, tasty treats, and more. There will be musical entertainment, opportunities for holiday photos with Lanny and door prizes - everything your family needs to get into the spirit of the holidays, grab some last minute holiday gifts, and get ready for winter break.
Vendor spots are filling up! To be a vendor, please sign up for a table by December 15th at the latest, using our online form: https://forms.gle/8FRpGaQy3FwUQefo9 or through the paper sign up sheet in the office. Most vendors will sell items priced between $0.50 and $15. Being a vendor is a great way for your student to earn some extra money for the holiday season and try out running their own business. Questions? [email protected]
PTA needs volunteers for the holiday fair: sign up here!
After School Enrichment Classes
Registration available for winter 2024 after school classes at Landels (Jan. 16th - Mar. 28th). See this link or Konstella announcements for registration! There are still a couple of spots available for grades 1-2 art on Wednesdays!
Want foreign language classes? The PTA is happy to bring after school language classes to Landels if you would like. Please help us to know our parents’ wishes here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkuh4UOdUkLxXmBNNIshFoz_rq8Mf6O_PvpkD0oWqeR7zthQ/viewform?usp=sharing
Want to help ensure classes are accessible-to-everyone? The PTA would like to be able to offer at least some programs to all students at some discount or free of charge. If you would like to support our efforts to be able to do so, please make a tax-deductible donation using the link below. https://landelspta.square.site/product/donate-to-landels-pta/65
Any donations do not affect your registration or priority for enrollment for this trimester or any future programming.
Join the Lunar New Years planning group!
As part of our “Family Fun Night” series, we will be celebrating Lunar New Years at Landels this February. We need volunteers to be part of the planning committee! If you would like to help plan the party, or even just want to contribute a few ideas, please contact Anna Botelho at [email protected].
Flyers
MVHS Tree Lot
Letters to Santa
December CAC and LCC Events
The View Teen Center: December
MV Public Library: Parenting Program
What’s in an IEP? Advocating for your child
Parent U Extension: Parenting in the Digital Era
LEAP
Landels Winter Holiday Fair
Afterschool Enrichment Classes
Asian Box Fundraiser Night
Books Inc. Fundraiser Night
December Lunch Menu
2023-24 School Calendar