Oct 21 PTA General Assoc. Meeting – 6:30PM Click Here
Oct 23 Check-in with the Superintendent – 3:30PM Register Here
Oct 26 ELAC Meeting – 4:00-5:00PM Register Here
Nov 6 End of 1st Trimester – Minimum Day
ROARS
· Shreyas N. - Rm. 8
· Elody F. - Rm. 11
· Ahrom A. - Rm. 9
· Joseph K. - Rm. 10
· Aisling N. - Rm. 4
· Noah M. - Rm. 17
· Johann N. - Rm. 1
· Jiana T. - Rm. 15
· Niyah K. - Rm. 1
· Finley F. - Rm. 9
Message from our principal:
Hello Landels Families!
I would like to take the time to thank all of our Landels community members for supporting each other through distance learning. It really does take a team and we are using our tools to help one another; especially our empathy and patience tools! It really becomes difficult when you are used to interacting with each other in person and now are trying to build relationships virtually from student to student, teacher to student and families to community. As I visit ZOOM meetings, receive feedback emails and talk to our teachers, I can see and hear stories how we are figuring out how to build these relationships. It is different but it is happening! This makes me happy and proud as these relationships are the building blocks of learning!
Please share your stories and/or pictures of how you’ve been using your tools to build relationships at home, on ZOOM or in general. We would love to hear from you!
Heidi Galassi
Strategic Plan: We need your input!
As you know, our district is working on a new Strategic Plan. The new six-year Strategic Plan 2027 will be completed and aligned with two cycles of the District’s 3-year Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and will build on and expand the former plan’s successes and areas of need for students.
In September, parents and staff members completed a district wide survey. This input, in addition to a strategy session with 60 representative stakeholders, resulted in a strategic plan framework that shows five major goal areas and the general outcomes and themes in each. Our next step in the process is to provide two more opportunities for our parents, teachers, and communities to give input in the planning process. We really want and need to hear from you. Here are two ways that you can provide us feedback on the Strategic Plan:
· Please take a few minutes before Friday, October 16, and click on this link to review the framework and reply to the survey with your ideas or items that you feel are missing. The survey is managed by a third-party consultant. All responses will go directly to them and will be anonymous.
Digital Citizenship
Our children are using internet-enabled devices every day for entertainment and for school work. But are they using them safely and appropriately?
To help them learn about tech safety and responsibility, students will participate in one lesson per month on Digital Citizenship. MVWSD will be using Nearpod to enable teachers deliver the Digital Citizenship lessons with content from Common Sense Media. Many parents are familiar with Common Sense media, a non-profit that provides independent age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music.
The lessons are divided into age-appropriate levels - primary, intermediate and middle school - with interactive content. Some of the topics students will cover are identity theft, safe searches, privacy, cyberbullying, and appropriate communication.
Parents can view examples of lessons at Common Sense Media, under the “educators” tab: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship
A message from our Landels 5th grade safety team
Hello Landels Lions!
I hope you have been collecting your recyclable items at home to create art or science projects, because on Monday, October 5th, you can start submitting your creations on your grade level Padlet link! You can make anything you want with any recyclable item that you find- paintings, sculptures, murals, experiments, and so much more! Have your families check their emails or the Landels Facebook page for more information about different types of recyclable items, the link to the Padlet, and more! The Padlet closes on October 30th, so you have lots of time to create amazing things! We can't wait to see!
Padlet Link
A message from our Landels 5th grade activities team
Thanks to all who have shared their favorite book! I am really enjoying getting ideas with all your pictures and videos on our padlet. We are going to keep this padlet open so keep sharing!
Favorite book/Spirit Day Padlet
Technology Support
If you are having problems with the chromebook, you can contact the Tech department via email [email protected] or phone (650) 526-3252.
MVWSD News
Online Parenting Toolkit by Yale Professor Dr. Kazdin
It’s difficult to be a parent right now. Everyday Parenting is a free, online course developed by parenting expert, Dr. Alan Kazdin. In this course, you will learn techniques supported by the highest quality science for improving your child’s behavior, increasing your child’s compliance with your requests, and strengthening your relationship with your child.
Please click here to access the FREE course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/everyday-parenting?utm_source=YALE&utm_medium=institutions&utm_campaign=202004-Group-EP-Crittenden-Middle-School
*While we believe it can be helpful to families, this resource is not directly affiliated with MVWSD.
Together We Are a Better MVWSD: Special edition: ELECTION!
Mountain View Whisman School District embraces its role in establishing its commitment to equity in our district. As part of our "Together We Are a Better MVWSD" series, here is a special edition on the Nov. 3 election.
Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life. Many people in countries around the world do not have the same freedom, nor did many Americans in centuries past. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is important to exercise your rights. We celebrate the upcoming election cycle by publishing materials for teachers and parents that promote civic engagement amongst students and give resources to parents about how to secure their participation in this year's election. Both the links and QR codes will take you directly to the recommended resources.
For a closer look at this graphic, please see attached flyers or https://www.mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD
How you can protect yourself from COVID: Face masks
Wearing a face mask greatly reduces the chance that you and the people around you will come into contact with respiratory droplets that contain the COVID-19 virus. How you wear and clean masks are huge factors in their effectiveness. Our own MVWSD school nurse Melanie gives important tips in this video. Please review and practice with your family.
Face masks and social distancing video
Police Interactions, Race and “The Talk:” A Panel Discussion
Date: Thursday, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m. on Zoom: http://mvw.sd/talk
For Black children, the “talk” about how to interact with police is a rite of passage. Join MVWSD for a panel discussion with parents, the Mountain View Police Department and other leaders about what this means for policing for all of our children and families in our community and schools.
For more information about how MVWSD is working to support equity in our community, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD
MVEF is proud to help bring Living Classroom to all of our school campuses.
Living Classroom brings environmental education for students in elementary and middle school. Living Classroom started teaching students on 9/8 and taught 62 online lessons in September.
Living Classroom continues to maintain the school gardens for when garden-based outdoor learning can return to MVWSD, making education come alive and deepening students' connection with nature. Living Classroom lessons empower the next generation by growing environmental champions, inquisitive learners, and healthy eaters. There are over 200 lessons planned for the fall in our schools.
Your donations to MVEF bring Living Classroom to every school in MVWSD! Donate today! https://www.mvef.org/donate
“Enriching the Learning Experience” Symposium
The Santa Clara County Office of Education Parent Engagement team is pleased to announce our FREE virtual event "Enriching the Learning Experience: Vision for 2020 and Beyond" which will be held from 10:00am to Noon on Saturday, Oct 17 and 24, 2020. Together with 6th District PTA, we are putting together a Parent Engagement symposium for parents, students, pre-service teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, and liaisons to focus on student success. We have lined up a number of dynamic speakers and 10 workshops each day of the symposium. Here's a sneak peak of our workshops:
Dr. Joyce Epstein, professor of education and director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University. She has over one hundred fifty publications, including School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, 4th edition (2019). Her Keynote will address school administrators in the area of parent engagement and her Workshop will address teachers and how they can involve parents in homework.
Ruby Ibarra, local bay area COVID-19 researcher and hip-hop recording artist. Her Keynote will address parents and share her inspiring story of how to channel obstacles into opportunities. She will present a Spoken Word Writing Workshop for students!
Gene Luen Yang, graphic novelist of American Born Chinese, Secret Coders, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Superman. In 2016, he was the Library of Congress's 5th National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature; he was also the recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant in that same year. His workshop for teachers will address adopting a rich, diverse reading curriculum for the classroom.
A Financial Literacy Workshop series “Understanding Debt and How to Improve Your Credit Score,” “Rebuilding After a Financial Crisis,” and “Learning the Value of a Dollar” by Excite Credit Union will give good money management tips for students and adults alike.
Registration is open! Visit “Enriching the Learning Experience” event Website to see all 10 workshop descriptions, speaker bios, and registration form.
October 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
October 19, 7:30 pm - Decoding Dyslexia meeting on Zoom. Melissa Baten Caswell, PAUSD board trustee and parent of dyslexic child. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElc-iprDgiGtNHAaoHhQzOLq_q8qMjndCW
October 24 10am - 12 pm - IEP Goals & Progress Monitoring Webinar Presented by Disability Rights California and organized by Palo Alto CAC. Topics: – IEP Process -Your Rights at an IEP Meeting -Goals & Objectives – FAPE and LRE -Related Services -Assistive Technology -Transition Services/Vocational Services Zoom link at cacpaloalto.org
PTA News
Next PTA Meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 PM
https://yougov.zoom.us/j/9219374478, dial in available at (669)-900-6833
Join our new communication tool, Konstella
We wanted to invite you to join our new communication tool, Konstella. For returning parents, this replaces Simply Circle. For new parents, this tool will allow you to receive communications from the PTA as well as from other parents in your room. You can choose how and when you would like to receive updates after signing up. Being a member of the PTA is not required. You can join using this link: https://www.konstella.com/cd/GNJQU9
Thank you!