Important Dates to Remember
Nov 11 Veterans Day - No school
Nov 15 Spirit Day - Pajamas and stuffed animal day
Nov 15 6pm-7:30pm Math Night - MUR
Nov 15 Report cards sent electronically
Nov 20 Picture Retakes
Nov 25-29 Thanksgiving break – No school
Dec 5 Bookmobile
Dec 11 8:20am-9:20am ELAC/Principals Coffee meeting – Staff room
Dec 13 4:30pm-6:30pm Holiday Fair
Dec 16 3-4:00pm School Site Council
Dec 23-Jan 6 Holiday break – No School
Jan 7 Students return to school
Jan 20 Martin Luther King day – No School
Roar Recognitions
Milana P. - Room 1
Celeste C. - Room 2
Julian C. - Room 3
Jade F. - Room 4
Ajay E. - Room 5
Shelby H. - Room 6
Jedi S. - Room 7
Prakram C. - Room 8
Hannah S. - Room 9
Elijah S. - Room 10
Caleb M. - Room 11
Gabe M. - Room 12
Nicolas T. - Room 13
Logan N. - Room 14
Augustus Z. - Room 16
Oliver N. - Room 17
Natalie D. - Room 18
Landels News
Dear Landels Families,
I have some exciting news to share: Due to the passage of Proposition 28, California schools will now receive additional funding for arts and music each year. In addition to our current arts programs, our school will soon have an additional annual budget of approximately $48,000 to spend on more arts and music experiences for students, and we need your ideas!
There will be two main ways to share your thoughts:
1. Please click here for a brief survey about potential future arts programming. (The students and staff will be given similar surveys at school). This survey will be open until December 15.
2. Come and hear more about Prop 28 and give input on this topic at these upcoming meetings:
Principal’s Coffee/ELAC, December 11th @ 8:30am
SSC Meeting, December 16th @ 3pm
PTA General meeting, November 13th @ 7pm
Your input is valued and an important part of our process. To learn more about Proposition 28, click here.
Restrooms: Safety and efficiency projects funded by Measure T
Construction on the long-awaited public restroom project, in partnership with the City of Mountain View and funded through Measure T, will start in November and continue for several weeks.
A prefabricated, standalone toilet building will be installed on campus. The unit will be maintained by the City and may be used after school hours by the public; not by students during the school day. This is an important security measure to ensure adults are not mixing with children in student restrooms. The restroom's design and placement were determined through a community input process held in Spring 2021.
Location: On the southeast side of the field near the gate from Mercy Street.
Timeline: The total construction time is estimated to be November 2024 to January 2025. Building delivery/installation is planned for November and December. Construction has been scheduled to minimize disruptions for students, staff and neighbors. The areas will be secured for the safety of students and adults.
Thank you!
Pieter Dolmans
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 aroundour 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 at least 14 days in advance to discuss a short-term independent studies contract to minimize the impact of missed school days.
Student vision and hearing screenings coming up
Each fall, MVWSD conducts hearing and vision screenings of all students in kindergarten, second-, fifth- and eighth-grade, as California State Law mandates. These screenings will take place at Landels for Kinders on November 21st and 2nd and 5th grades on the 22nd of November.
Parents will be notified in writing if children fail a screening. Parents who do not want their child screened for either vision and/or hearing should send a letter to their child's school each school year indicating that their child is to be excluded, and vision and/or hearing results will need to be provided from their physician.
If you have any concerns about your child’s vision or hearing, please contact your school nurse.
MVWSD News
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Nov. 7. Closed session begins at 4:30 p.m. Open session begins at 6:00 p.m.
Some of the topics include:@
· Contract Process and Update on Canceled Contracts
· Measure T Project List Update
· CAASPP 2024 Data Overview
· Canopy and Sustainability Update
· By-Laws for Staff Housing Oversight Committee and Preliminary Staff Housing Budget
For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.
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. MVWSD serves 2,500 breakfasts and 2,700 lunches each day, on average, throughout our schools. This volunteer commitment is expected to be approximately 10 hours throughout the 2024-2025 school year. The Focus Group may visit schools and taste the meals there. Please enter your information here to express your interest. Questions may be directed to Food Service Director Debbie Austin at [email protected].
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.
Parent University Speaker Series: Understanding Your Child’s Score Reports
Date and Time: December 3, 2024, 5:30-7pm Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu120324r
Understanding your child’s district and state test scores is a key part of building a foundation of excellence. Join Swati Dagar, our Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment as she discusses how to (i) access and interpret score reports and (ii) use the information to engage in a productive partnership with your child’s teacher(s).
To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.
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.
It's Giving Day Season, a perfect time and opportunity to consider including MVEF!
Employees at large companies: If your organization offers a "giving day" or special donation-matching program, let MVEF know ([email protected])! Spread the word to your coworkers that Mountain View Education Foundation (MVEF) is a nonprofit that directly supports public schools from TK-8th grade in Mountain View.
To learn more about what MVEF funds, look here. For direct donations, click here. Other donation options can be found here. Contributions are tax-deductible, and we’re grateful for your support in nurturing students’ educational journeys!
PTA News
Afterschool Ukulele Class
LPAC (the Landels Performing Arts classes) will focus next session on beginning 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].
Afterschool Class on Ancient Greek & Roman gods: Mon 11/18, 3-4pm
Former Landels teacher Mrs. Hicks is offering a free class on Ancient Greek & Roman gods after school for grades 4-5. Sign up in the office, limited spots available. Room 3.
Diwali Festival at Graham Middle School: Fri, Nov. 8, 5-7:30pm
Please join us for the first Diwali festival at Graham middle school! Yes, Landels families are invited to come and experience the Graham middle school campus to help build bridges between the schools.
· Food: Indian Food Truck, and Pizza for sale
· Desserts: PTA Bake Sale and Chai!
· Activities: Henna, paper crafts, rangoli, and more
· Performances: Graham student performers and guest performers including Stanford Bhangra!
· Door Prizes: Chance to win a gift card to local businesses such as Books Inc or Red Rock Coffee.
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 feel free to sign up, or just come and enjoy the festival! Let’s help bring together older and younger siblings, parents, and teachers to unite the MVWSD community.
PTA Association Meeting: Wed, Nov. 13, 7-8pm
Please note this is the only virtual evening meeting of the year. We chose to schedule one like this in hopes of including people who cannot attend in-person morning meetings. No need to be a member to attend but you must be a member to vote on things. On the agenda: program, leader and budget updates (vote). Check Konstella for the Zoom link.
Books Inc Shopping Night: Fri, Nov. 22, 5-9pm
Join us at Books Inc. Mountain View on Friday, Nov. 22, 5-9pm to buy some great books and support Landels PTA! Location: 317 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA
Save the Date: Winter Holiday Fair: Fri, Dec. 13, 4:30-6:30pm
Please save the date for the Winter Holiday Fair: Friday, Dec. 13, 4:30-6:30pm. Sign up link to be a vendor coming soon!
Thank you to our Dia de los Muertos Volunteers!
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped put together a beautiful Dia de los Muertos celebration. The ofrenda, pan de muerto and hot chocolate, activities, and performance were very special and a wonderful way to bring the community together.
· Congratulations to all our Landels Performing Arts Class dancers and emcees for their excellent performance!
· Thank you to Ms. Dettman’s leadership class students for their hard work setting up and decorating the MUR.
· If you have photos from the event, please add them to the shared album here.
· If you have feedback from the event, please submit this form here.
FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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
MV Public Library: Print Arts Workshop
Join the Mountain View Public Library for a Printmaking Workshop with Calixto Robes on Saturday, November 16 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. You will have the opportunity to create take home print-art with prepared screens. Calixto Robles is a painter and printmaker whose art reflects his Oaxacan heritage. Register here for a start time.
MVLA Speaker Series: BoyMom with Ruth Whippman
Join the next MVLA Speaker Series presentation, “BoyMom: Exploring the Challenges of Raising Men in the Modern Age,” with feminist writer and mother of three boys Ruth Whippman on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 7PM at the Los Altos High School Eagle Theater. Whippman digs into the impossibly contradictory pressures boys now face; and the harmful blind spots of male socialization that are leaving boys isolated, emotionally repressed, and adrift. With wit, honesty, and a refusal to settle for easy answers, Whippman charts a new path to give boys a healthier, more expansive, and fulfilling story about their own lives. Register for this free event here.
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/.
MVHS Tree Lot
MVHS Sports Boosters will be opening up the Annual Spartans Tree Lot on Friday, November 29 at 10 AM for the 2024 season at the Mountain View High School Stadium (3535 Truman Ave.). Spartans Tree Lot offers premium, top-quality trees ranging in size from 3 feet to 12+ feet, holiday decorations, and supplies. In person and online delivery options are available. All proceeds benefit Mountain View High School Athletics. For more information, head to SpartansTreeLot.com.
The View Teen Center: November
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. (Closed Monday, Nov. 11 and Nov. 28-30. Extended hours, 1-6 p.m., Nov. 25-27.), and the center features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, and outdoor area. November events include Thanksgiving-themed activities, an improv class, crafts, and much more. For more information, click here.
Flyers
Parenting Tweens & Teens in the Digital Era - Supporting Dialogue and Strategies for Building Healthy Tech Habits
Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Info Session
MV Public Library:Print Arts Workshop
MVHS Spartan Turkey Trot
MVHS Tree Lot
2024-2025 School Calendar
November Lunch menu
Books Inc Shopping Night: Fri, Nov. 22, 5-9pm