Important Dates to Remember
Oct 9 Picture Day
Oct 9 8:20-9:20am Principals Coffee – Staff room
Oct 10 Teacher Service Day – No school
Oct 11 Recess Day – No school
Oct 14 3-4pm School Site Council Meeting
Oct 16 Unity Day – Wear orange
Oct 17 Spirit Day - dress in sports attire
Oct 18 3-6pm Walkathon
Oct 21-25 Parent Teacher Conference Week – Minimum day all week
Oct 28-31 5th grade Science Camp
Oct 31 8:15-8:45 Halloween Parade
Nov 1 End of the trimester – Minimum day
Roar Recognitions
Shivaank S. – Room 1
Rhea A. – Room 2
Sam W. – Room 3
Asher S. - Room 4
Diego G. – Room 5
Dalila I. – Room 6
Emma W. – Room 7
Princess L. – Room 8
Yuhi Y. – Room 9
Drin D. – Room 10
Jonathan SA. – Room 11
Mila M. – Room 12
Joey B. – Room 13
Tegan R. – Room 14
Yainer B. – Room 16
Niyah K. – Room 17
Sofia B. – Room 18
Landels News
Dear Landels Families,
Thank you to our wonderful PTA and all the families that donate for providing our students with field trips, assemblies, Playworks, and many other enriching opportunities. Yesterday, we had an Aztec Dance presentation in honor of Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month. Check out the video on Instagram or Facebook. Our PTA have raised $15k of their $50k goal. Thank you so much for your contributions and see you at the Walkathon on 10/18 starting at 3pm!
Principal’s Coffee
Please join us tomorrow @ 8:20am in the front office for Principal’s Coffee, where Brian White, the District Coordinator of Health and Wellness, will provide a brief overview of the district’s SEL and mental health initiatives. I will also be seeking feedback on the district’s greening initiatives as well as our school site plan.
Conferences
Make sure to check your email tomorrow, October 9th @ 3pm to find out how to sign up for conferences. If you don’t receive an email, please reach out to your child’s teacher or the front office. Conference week is scheduled for October 21st-25th. Every day that week is a minimum day for students (dismissal at 12:10pm).
Unity Day
On 10/16, we will celebrate Unity Day - a day to prioritize safety, wellbeing and inclusivity. Wear orange to show your support! You can find more information here.
Safety Month + Earthquake Drill
October is Safety Month in MVWSD. As you read in last week’s Superintendent’s newsletter, we want to be ready to act when dangerous situations arise. We have already practiced fire drills and soon will practice an earthquake drill and how to react to a dangerous intruder.
Last week and this week, our teachers and staff members will be training on the Incident Command System (ICS) and general emergency procedures. The ICS assigns roles to school staff members so that even scary situations can have well-organized responses.
Earthquake drill: After training, we’ll practice what to do during the districtwide earthquake drill to be held on Oct. 17. Click here to view the video that shows how we approach safety and what an earthquake drill looks like.
We talk with students in age-appropriate ways about what they can expect and why we practice emergency responses. For elementary students we say the most important things to remember if an earthquake happens at school are duck, cover and hold if they feel the ground shake. When it stops, go outside to the field. Stay calm with kid voices off so we can follow adult instructions. In an emergency, we will keep them safe at school until their grown ups can pick them up.
Dangerous intruder: Our schools will review what to do in the event of a dangerous intruder or similar event on campus. The dates for each school’s practice will vary depending on scheduling.
Practice at the elementary schools means students will view an age-appropropriate “dangerous intruder” video (which you may preview here) and talk with their teacher. The video and classroom discussion will encourage children to stay calm, follow directions, and listen to trusted adults. Middle schools will hold similar drills, incorporating new door-locking systems. More details and timeline will come from your principal.
For more details about safety at school, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/safety.
Thank you!
Pieter Dolmans
Interested in volunteering with MVEF?
We're seeking volunteers for 2024-25 and beyond! MVEF, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, offers an opportunity to gain experience while connecting with local families who have similar interests and priorities.
Opportunities include:
1. School Representative: Represent MVEF at your school site’s events and activities
2. Event Planner: Help organize the Gala, Auction, and other events.
3. Board Member: Serve on the MVEF Board.
Special Skills: Have expertise in automation, data, law, design (visual, graphic, video, website) or more?
4. Please reach out to [email protected] to get involved. We could use your help!
MVEF is the local educational foundation that supports essential programs across MVWSD, with 80% of contributions from local families like you. Consider donating here.
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.
Gift Card Donation
As you may know, there are several families in our district that need help to meet some basic needs. The district is providing meals every day. But some families need more support for providing food, clothes and shoes for their children. There is a critical need for gift cards for these families. If you are able, please consider donating to Safeway, Target or Costco gift card to families in our own district. Thanks so much for your help! Let's show these families how strong and supportive our Landels community really is!
Please bring the gift cards to the office. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Bea, School and Community Engagement Facilitator – SCEF- at[email protected].
Reporting an Absence
School starts at 8:15am and attendance will be taken during class check-in. If your child is absent, please call the attendance line at 650-526-3520 x 2 by 8:30am or email [email protected]. If we do not know the reason for the absence, your child will be marked unexcused. If you are late or you have a dentist or doctor’s appointment during class time, please call the school office.
Name of School: Landels Elementary School
Picture Day: October 9, 2024
Picture Day ID: EVT727473
MVWSD News
Better Together: October
Families come in all shapes and sizes, each one a unique community bound by love, support, and shared experiences. This month #BetterTogether presents the topic “A family is a community”. October is also LGBTQ+ History Month. As we celebrate both of these together, we are reminded of the countless families that have fought for recognition and acceptance, paving the way for a more inclusive understanding of what family means. From single-parent households to multigenerational homes, from same-sex couples to chosen families within the LGBTQ+ community, each family contributes its own special thread to the vibrant tapestry of our society. For more information about Better Together, visit mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.
Parent Involvement Board Policy
Families, thank you for your engagement and involvement with our schools. Our sustained partnership is a big part of our continuous improvement as a district. Per California Department of Education guidelines, here for your review is the most recently updated version of our Board Policy on Parent Involvement. Any questions should be directed to Geoff Chang, Director of Federal, State, and Strategic Programs ([email protected]).
Your employer could help us meet the MVEF goal of $1.2 MM for 2024-25!
Employer matching and grants from local companies are a major source of the funding for MVEF each year. October, November, and December are months when many companies coordinate “giving days” to encourage their employees to make philanthropic gifts to support nonprofits. If your company does this, please consider listing MVEF as a non-profit organization doing good work in your child’s school district nurturing all students’ learning experience and education. Sometimes corporations even offer to double match your contribution for a specific time period. Please check here whether your employer offers a corporate matching program.
For more information about what MVEF does, please click here.
Free COVID tests available to order
US residential households are now eligible to order four free at-home COVID tests from the US Postal Service COVID test order page. Prepare for respiratory virus season and learn how and when to test for COVID-19. Some of the tests shipped may show expired dates on the box—please note the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the expiration dates of the tests being distributed through this program. You can find the full list of extended test expiration dates at the FDA At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests web page.
PTA News
Walkathon
Walkathon is almost here! How's your fundraising going?
Have you shared your student's 99Pledges page on social media, with neighbors, friends and family? Did you stop by the office for a paper form to help you collect offline pledges? Making donations through corporate matching? That's awesome, email us at [email protected] so we can add that to your student's 99Pledges page!
Walkathon FAQ and Volunteer Sign Up
The Walkathon information page is live on the Landels PTA website but if your questions aren't answered there, email us! We are still looking for a few more volunteers, sign up on Konstella if you are able to help. Alumni and extended family are welcome to volunteer or just come cheer your student on!
Walkathon Fundraising Participation Contests
PTA creates different fundraising contests to help get the students excited about gathering donations. This year's contests and prizes are:
1. If 50% of your student’s classroom gathers at least one pledge each, the class earns 10 extra minutes of recess. (Pledges of ANY amount ($1, $5, $10) count!)
Status update: We’re close, but nobody’s at 50% yet. Room 6 is at 47%, Rm 1 at 40%, Rm 3 at 38%
2. If 100% of your student’s classroom gathers at least one pledge, the classroom gets to play a minute-to-win-it game with Mr. Dolmans and the other challenge winners.
3. The top 4 Classrooms in earnings get their teacher $125 dollars to spend at Linden Tree Books to help build up their classroom library.
Current Leaders: 1.Stevenson, 2.Risano, 3.Perazzo, 4.Lynch
4. Students with $500 or more in donations will have their name added to our 2024 Walkathon Champions Trophy! They will also have the opportunity around 4pm at the Walkathon to dump a bucket of ice water on the Principal AND enter a raffle for prizes including gift cards to: Spartan Sports Camp, Kona Ice, Baskin Robbins and afterschool enrichment classes like Code for Fun and Lando.
Status Update: 7 students will have their names on the trophy when it is unveiled later this week!
Relax with friends at Dia de los Muertos Movie Night: Fri 11/1
Come hang out with friends Landels Dia de los Muertos Family Fun Movie Night! Free to attend!
· 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”
This will be a relaxing and easy night since some families will be tired from Halloween the night before. Enjoy a night off from cooking and some hang out time with Landels families.
FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Walden West: Autumn Adventure 2024
Join the entire Walden West Community for an Autumn Adventure in the woods on Saturday, October 12 from 9am - 12 pm at Walden West! It is a great way for families to see Walden West if they have not been to science camp yet or to revisit their favorite spots if they have already attended. It will be fun for all ages with hiking, nature activities, garden time, food, music, and more! For tickets and ways to be involved, visit https://givebutter.com/wwf-autumn-adventure.
MVLA Speaker Series: Never Enough with Jennifer Wallace
Join the next MVLA Speaker Series presentation, “Never Enough: Mattering as a Solution to Toxic Achievement Pressure,” with author Jennifer Wallace on Wednesday, October 30th at 7PM at the Crittenden Middle School Auditorium. In this eye-opening talk, Wallace investigates the deep roots of toxic achievement culture, explores its harmful impact on our kids, and delivers the powerful solution: mattering, the psychological concept of feeling like you add value and are valued regardless of your external achievements. Wallace provides a practical mattering framework that parents and educators can use to tackle achievement pressure at home and in the classroom. Register for this free event here.
Free Parent Training for Families of Children with Disabilities
The Community Advisory Committee and Department of Developmental Services are hosting parent training this year. There will be interpretation available through DDS in Spanish, Vietnamese, and ASL. See below for details:
Who's Who in Serving Our Little Ones
Planning and Strategies for Kids Ages 3 to 5
For more information, contact [email protected] or [email protected]
Thursday, November 14, 2024
6-7pm on Zoom
Register here: https://bit.ly/DDSTraining2
Stay Tuned for 2025 Topics: Ages 5 to 14 & 14 to Adulthood
Volunteer with Mentor Tutor Connection
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. To learn more about Mentor Tutor connection, please email [email protected] or visit mentortutorconnection.org.
The View Teen Center: October
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. (Adjusted Hours: Oct. 10-11 & Oct. 21-25, 1-6 p.m.), and the center features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, and outdoor area. October events include Halloween-themed activities, art classes, a Bike to Boba, and much more. For more information, click here.
Flyers
Free Parent Training for Families of Children with Disabilities
Volunteer with Mentor Tutor Connection
The View Teen Center: October
Walden West: Autumn Adventure 2024
2024-2025 School Calendar
October Lunch menu
Picture Day