Important Dates to Remember
Oct 31 8:15-8:45 Halloween Parade
Nov 1 End of the trimester – Minimum day
Nov 6 Walk and Roll
Nov 7 12:10-1pm - Bookmobile
Nov 11 Veterans Day - No school
Nov 15 6-7:30 Math Night - MUR
Nov 20 Picture Retakes
Nov 25-29 Thanksgiving break – No school
Dec 5 Bookmobile
Dec 16 3-4:00pm School Site Council
Landels News
Hello Landels Families,
This Friday marks the end of the first trimester! Friday, November 1st is a minimum day for students (dismissal at 12:10). Report cards will be sent electronically on Friday, November 15th. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress, you can email your child’s teacher to ask for more details or arrange a meeting. We provide interpretation services when requested.
Cold Weather
It has been chilly in the mornings and the hot summer days appear to be behind us. Please make sure you send your child with appropriate clothing (sweatshirt or jacket) so they stay warm in the mornings. If you’re in need of any clothes, you can reach out to Ms. Bea or the front office. We are in the process of collecting winter clothes for families in need. Thank you for your donations.
Morning Supervision
This is a reminder that morning supervision begins at 7:45am on the blacktop. In order to ensure student safety, please drop off students at or after 7:45am
Halloween Reminder
We will have an optional Halloween costume parade on October 31st at 8:20am (weather permitting). Students who would like to participate may come to school dressed in their costume. The students will parade on the blacktop. If you would like to watch the parade, you will need to sign in at the front office and present your ID. In order to avoid a huge crowd, please sign in and present your ID the day before so we can pre-print visitor passes. Guests are asked to observe the parade from the designated area on the map. We will have an alternative space for any students that do not wish to participate.
Costumes
We encourage students to be creative with their costumes and have fun with the spirit of the holiday. All regular Landels dress code policies apply - please ensure costumes are appropriate and follow the guidelines below:
· No masks outside of the parade. Staff should be able to identify students.
· No pretend “prop” weapons such as guns, knives, or swords. We would like to promote costumes that align with our values of being kind and inclusive.
· Appropriateness – costumes cannot promote violence or be offensive or inappropriate in any way.
Students who wear costumes that do not conform to the costume guidelines listed above will need to call parents to bring a change of clothes.
Thank you!
Pieter Dolmans
Elections: Maintaining positive school climate
On Nov. 5, voters will cast their ballots in a variety of local, state, and federal elections. At times, the rhetoric around these campaigns has become intense and often divisive, and we know that the debates around many of today’s issues can quickly get emotional.
We encourage all members of our school district community to remain respectful and empathetic in our interactions with others. The focus for all of us is on maintaining a safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environment.
We are fortunate that our school district community is made up of people who truly care about, include and support one another.
We emphasize with children that:
· School remains a welcome, safe space for all students (resource: MVWSD diversity is our strength)
· We are focusing on “community” this year through our Better Together program. Community means ensuring that all members of MVWSD feel valued, supported, and connected to one another in an often divided world.
· School is a safe space for talking about feelings with trusted adults, including counselors, teachers, principals, etc.
Education and safety are our top priorities, and we are here foremost to serve students. It is our responsibility to maintain a positive and safe climate learning environment. All school employees will continue to work to provide a positive school climate and a space for respectful exchange of ideas that is mindful of diverse perspectives. Additionally, parents/guardians are key partners for helping to engage students in thoughtful and civil discourse.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your support and partnership.
School counseling at elementary schools
I’d like to take a moment to update you on how we support our students with counseling and mental health services. Here’s how your student may experience these services throughout the school year.
Our school counselor, Caitlin Walsh, plays an important role in supporting our students through the three domains of school counseling: academic, college & career (exploring strengths and interests), and social-emotional. She is actively engaged on campus, often visiting classrooms to lead lessons on topics like Self Management, Relationship Skills, or Problem Solving. Other times she may push into your child’s class to join a class meeting and support community building. She works closely with our School Psychologist, Behavior Analysts, and the Special Education team. Being present and accessible allows her to build strong rapport with our students to better understand their needs.
Although our counselor is available to everyone as a whole school support, she also may meet with smaller groups of students for crisis support, necessary drop-in appointments, targeted small groups, and even a few one-on-one check-in sessions. School-based counseling, whether it’s small group or one-on-one, is meant to be short-term (up to 8 weeks) and work on a specific learning target. The counselor reviews progress and makes recommendations based on student needs. If more support is needed, our counselor can recommend outside support and community resources.
When a student continues to struggle, there is a referral process for these services. Our school has a Coordination of Services Team (COST), consisting of a group of educators, support staff, and admin that work together to find the best ways to assist that student. Any member of staff may refer a student, and COST meetings are convened bi-weekly to review all students who have been referred for review and support. A COST team's recommendations may be assigned to our school counselor, who connects the student with more specialized services. Specialized services are provided by a variety of experts on staff, including School Psychologists and Behavior Analysts. These professionals meet with students in designated areas on campus, separate from the main office, helping to ease anxiety of going to the Principal's office to seek help. School-based counseling services provided through COST referrals will require an intake process and parent or guardian consent.
In some cases, students may have more specific or intensive needs. They might approach a counselor themselves, or their teacher or a parent may refer them. When this happens, our counselor conducts an intake process to assess the student’s needs. If a student requires services beyond what our school counselor can provide, school counselors then work with the family to support them connecting to community resources including the County Behavioral Health warmline, and to other services based on their insurance coverage.
Previously, we worked with CHAC for school-based counseling, but have transitioned to each school having our own full-time school counselor. As we use school based counseling we are seeing more flexibility and effectiveness in the support we can offer. By staffing School Counselors at MVWSD, we are better prepared to provide prevention and intervention for all students. Having counselors right here on campus allows us to know our students better, connect them with the support they need, and help coordinate services and referrals.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to prioritize the well-being of every student in our community.
Math Festival
6:00-7:30pm Friday, November 15, 2024 - MUR
Please join us for our math festival at Landels Elementary School. This is an opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate the joy of math.
The mission of Julia Robinson Math Festival (jrmf.org) is to help all students build confidence, joy, and a positive identity around math. The students and their families will explore a variety of fun, hands-on, Common Core-aligned math puzzles and games.
We will have a food truck selling food starting at 5pm.
Winter Clothes Donations
It's finally time to get the warm clothes out of the closet! If you find items that are too small for your kids, or you just don't want them anymore, please bring them to the Landels office and we will find them a good home. Baby and adult clothes are also needed.
Clean and gently used clothes only, please. Nothing with stains or permanent damage. We will donate these items to families in need in our community. We will be collecting donations until Friday, November 15, 2024. Thank you!
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 3-15 days of school, please notify the front office to discuss a short-term independent studies contract to minimize the impact of missed school days.
MVWSD News
Drafts available: Single Plans for Student Achievement
Each year, our schools create Single Plans for Student Achievement (SPSAs or “site plans”) that guide the work for the coming year. These plans help us prioritize programs and strategies that will best serve our students. In the fall, elected parent representatives from School Site Councils and English Language Advisory Committees work with principals and school staff members to create a draft that is reviewed and approved by the MVWSD Board of Trustees. Parents and staff members may give feedback through Nov. 15 to their principal and elected parent representatives to SSC and ELAC. You may review the draft plans here.
Parenting Tweens & Teens in the Digital Era - Supporting Dialogue and Strategies for Building Healthy Tech Habits
Date and Time: November 19, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Registration: mvw.sd/pu111924r
My Digital TAT2 returns to Parent University with updated topics! This workshop will empower parents with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of raising tech-savvy, digitally responsible children. We will address common tech issues such as texting dilemmas, online friendship drama, and the “Sephora Kids” phenomenon. You’ll also learn a helpful strategy called The Digital Loop that can help you and your family build awareness around each person’s tech use.
To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your questions during the session.
Members needed: MVWSD Child Nutrition Focus Group
MVWSD's Child Nutrition Services Department is seeking parents and staff members to join a series of thoughtful discussions about food nutrition and delivery throughout our school district. This volunteer commitment is expected to be approximately 15 hours throughout the 2024-2025 school year. Please enter your information here to express your interest. Questions may be directed to Food Service Director Debbie Austin at [email protected].
Better Together: November & December
As we enter the vibrant months of November and December, our school community embarks on a meaningful journey exploring the rich tapestry of cultures that make our community unique and special. During these months, we focus on three important themes that help us understand and celebrate our differences while building stronger connections with each other: Celebrating diverse communities while acknowledging Native American Heritage Month and Special Education Awareness Month. Through these themes, we'll discover that our differences aren't just something to accept – they're something to celebrate. Together, we'll learn how understanding and appreciating each other's unique qualities makes our entire community better. For more information about Better Together, visit mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD.
The MVEF Textathon and Phonathon are just around the corner! Help us skip the call or text by donating today.
In early November and December, MVEF volunteers will be reaching out to MVWSD families who haven't yet donated, to remind them how crucial their contributions are. Each year, these donations help sustain essential programs for all MVWSD students, such as art, music, and environmental science in elementary schools, and smaller class sizes, sports coaches, referees, transportation to games, and extracurricular activities in middle schools.
Around 80% of MVEF's funding comes from generous families like yours. Every donation, no matter the amount, helps enrich education for every student. Make a difference today by visiting mvef.org/donate. Remember donations are tax-deductible! Thank you for your ongoing support of MVEF!
PTA News
Dia de los Muertos Movie Night: Fri 11/1
Learn about the rich and vibrant traditions of Dia de los Muertos through crafts, cultural display, performance, and the movie “Coco”.
· Friday, November 1st in the MUR
· 5:00 pm, Food trucks (self-pay), Dia de los Muertos activities and treats (free)
· 5:30 pm, Short show from our Performing Arts class
· 5:45 pm, the movie “Coco”
If you would like to help with this festival, please sign up here.
Afterschool Watercolor Class: Mon 11/4, 3-4pm
Former Landels teacher Mrs. Hicks is offering a free watercolor class after school for grades 4-5. Sign up in the office, limited spots available. Room 3.
Mendocino Farms: Wed 11/6
Looking for a dinner idea? How about Mendocino Farms?
401 San Antonio Road #64, Mountain View, CA 94040
Wed 11/6 from 2pm to close
Order online for pickup or delivery using the promo code GIVEBACK or show the flyer in restaurant, and they’ll donate 30% back to Landels PTA.
Diwali Festival at Graham Middle School: Fri 11/8
We want to build community connection between Landels elementary and Graham middle school to bridge the gap for all our students as they grow within our district.
Please join us for the first Diwali festival at Graham middle school!
· 5 - 6:30: Activities such as rangoli, henna, and paper crafts
· 6:30 - 7:30: Performances from Graham students and special guests.
· There will be food for sale from food trucks, and the PTA will be selling desserts and chai.
· This is a festival for the whole family, parents may bring siblings for everyone to celebrate together.
· If you are able to volunteer at the festival or contribute to the bake sale, it would be greatly appreciated.
Let’s help bring together older and younger siblings, parents, and teachers to unite the MVWSD community.
Got Ukulele?
LPAC (the Landels Performing Arts classes) will be focusing next session on learning how to play the ukulele! Classes will be afterschool Fridays from December 6 to Feb 7 (minus holiday break), with performance on Feb 14. If your child is interested in learning to play ukulele, please have the student (not parent) fill out the application here. This class will be capped at 10 students. If needed, we will prioritize 3 - 5th graders.
If you have a ukulele at home that you would be willing to let the children play on, please contact [email protected].
FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
City of MV: Día de Muertos
Join the City of Mountain View to celebrate Día de Muertos at Civic Center Plaza on November 2 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to the celebration of memories and a ritual that “encourages remembering over forgetting.” Learn about these festivities and delight with the ofrendas and altars decorated with Cempasúchitl flowers, or marigolds, papel picado, sugar skulls, and a myriad of colors created and inspired by community members. The event will feature live performances and children’s activities. Learn more at MountainView.gov/Dia-de-Muertos.
Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Info Session
Mentor Tutor Connection is actively recruiting volunteers for our mentoring (high school students) and tutoring (K-8 students) programs located in Los Altos and Mountain View public schools. We will be hosting a Volunteer Information Session on November 13th at 12pm, over Zoom. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our programs and ask any questions. Help shape a brighter future for students in our local community!
To register for the Volunteer Information Session or to learn more about MTC, please email [email protected] or click here.
Learning Challenges events for Fall 2024
For local coverage of issues related to learning challenges and special education, please check out the Learning Challenges Committee http://learningchallenges.lamvptac.org/
For broader coverage, look into the Northwest SCC SELPA CAC
Who’s Who is Serving Our Little Ones? - Planning and Strategies for Children 3-5
From Department of Developmental Services and Palo Alto CAC
November 14, 6-7 pm on Zoom. Register: http://bit.ly/DDSTraining2
Evening Let’s Talk Parent Support group
November 19, 7 pm on Zoom.
IEP/504 support group. Have questions about the process to get help for your child? Have an IEP but are not sure how to make changes? Need to vent? This is your confidential group. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtfu2hrj0pG9zqGFeTzEnqs1U7cVxTcfl-
Learning Challenges Committee Meeting
December 3, 7:30 pm on Zoom
The LCC is working on providing a support group for parents, and planning to create a wish list for teachers throughout Mountain View and Los Altos for classroom supplies to support sensory needs. Would you like to help? Other ideas to support students and families with learning challenges? Join us here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUld-usrj8tEtNskynSpmorDiYZNt9_KAgq
Morning Let’s Talk Parent Support group
December 19, 10 am on Zoom.
IEP/504 support group. Have questions about the process to get help for your child? Have an IEP but are not sure how to make changes? Need to vent? This is your confidential group. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrduupqD0vEtSpweFX71KvNAcKW8Csy4D3
Missed past Parent Education events?
We have a YouTube channel with many of our past events including the recent talk on Assistive Technology, info on 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
MVHS Spartan Turkey Trot
MVHS Sports Boosters is proud to host the 15th Annual Spartan Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning (Thursday, November 28, 2024) at the Mountain View High School Track (3535 Truman Ave, Mountain View, CA). People of all ages are encouraged to participate in the 5k Run & Walk and the Spartan Mile (1-mile). Kids are welcome to participate in the 5k and/or Spartan Mile + the 60/400 yd dash races (aka kids races). All proceeds benefit the MVHS athletics department and supporting teams/clubs. Register at https://www.spartanturkeytrot.com/.
Flyers
City of MV: Día de Muertos
Parenting Tweens & Teens in the Digital Era - Supporting Dialogue and Strategies for Building Healthy Tech Habits
Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Info Session
MVHS Spartan Turkey Trot
Mendocino Farms: Wed 11/6
2024-2025 School Calendar
October Lunch menu
November Lunch Menu