Dear Quetzal Families,

We are looking forward to having you on campus tomorrow at 6pm. This is a great opportunity for our families to visit classrooms and check out the wonderful work our students and teachers have been doing this school year. CSMA will have an art show in our MUR from 5:30-7:30 pm. Please stop by and visit our students' artwork this year. If this is your first time visiting Open House, please know that your child will be showing you around your class, and showcasing the work they have done. You are welcome to come to the classroom any time between 6pm and 7pm. Please use this time to celebrate your child's accomplishment. This is not a time to conference with the teachers. If you do have some questions for the teacher, please schedule a meeting at another time.

Earth Hour - March 25th

Every year, at 8:30pm local time on the last Saturday of March, supporters in over 190 countries and territories unite, taking action on and raising awareness of the issues facing our one home.However, Earth Hour should be EVERY hour of our days. Here are some things you can do to help our planet every day:

• Pick up litter in your local area
• Go for an outdoor walk
• Spread awareness
• Cook a sustainable meal
• Read an article about the environment or ways to take action

Check out this video for more information on Earth Hour.

Science Fair-April 6 from 5pm to 7pm.

For students who registered and want us to help them form a team:

We will have two after-school meetings to help you form teams and complete your project with a volunteer leader. Join us after school on Thursday, March 30, 12:00-2:00 pm or on Friday, March 31, 3:00-5:00 pm to work together on your science fair projects. It will be fun!

For students who registered with their own team or will do an individual project:

Free poster boards are available for pick up in the school office now. Each team (or individual if the student is working alone) gets 1 poster board. Each team will come up with their own project idea. Teams usually meet 2 or 3 times to plan and complete their project. If you need help with project ideas, please check out the PTA website. If you decide to meet at the school after dismissal, all parent volunteers should check in at the Mistral office. You are also welcome to meet with your team at home or at a park. Please remember, do not bring any animals or anything dangerous (e.g. open flames) onto campus. Your poster board can include pictures, photos, drawings, and text to describe your project. Poster boards can be written in Spanish, English, or both languages.

For students who missed the registration deadline, but still want to participate:

You can still sign up! While the deadline has passed for us to help you form a team, you can plan your own individual project or form your own team. Please still complete the online registration and pick up your free poster board from the office.

For everyone:

We invite the whole Mistral community to come visit the Science Fair at the Mistral MUR on Thursday, April 6, from 6-8 pm. You can see the wonderful projects and also participate in a fun Engineering Challenge!

Have a great rest of your week!

Claudia Olaciregui, Principal

March 22

• PTA General Mtg @ 6pm

• Open House @ 6pm

• Lifetouch Spring Pics

April 6

• Science Fair @ 5pm-7pm

Electives selection for grades 5-7 Opens Soon

It is the time of year when our incoming middle school students (grades 5-7) choose their elective courses for next year. All 5th-7th graders should select their course electives online by April 7, 2023 through the PowerSchool portal. Fifth- through seventh-grade parents, please look for an email in your inbox dated March 24 with links to course catalogs and directions. Please talk with your student and then log in to your PowerSchool portal account (either student’s or parent’s) beginning March 27 to help your student select his/her electives. If you have difficulty with PowerSchool, please contact your school secretary. If you have not confirmed your child's enrollment for the 2023-24 school year, elective course selection will not be available.

Get Important Text Messages About Your School!

We send text messages infrequently for the purpose of notifying you of emergencies or with important, time-sensitive information, such as we did this week during the power outages. Make sure you are signed up to receive them. You can subscribe to receive text messages from the District at any time by texting "Y" or “YES" to 67587 using the cell phone number that the District has on record.

Introducing MVWSD Plus+

We are pleased to introduce a new district program that aims to provide qualifying students with enriching summer and after-school care. Two opportunities are coming soon:

+Summer Camp 2023

Summer learning is getting a makeover! +Summer Camp will be hosted at district sites and operated by partners YMCA and Right At School. These full day camps will feature YMCA’s and RAS’s award-winning programs as well as exciting and enriching workshops led by MVWSD teachers, CSMA Art and Music instructors, and Canopy outdoor educators.

+Afterschool for the 2023-24 School Year

Qualifying students will be able to attend Right At School, YMCA, or Beyond the Bell after school clubs free of charge. These programs will support students from the end of the school day until 6pm and full-day during certain school year breaks, such as Thanksgiving week.

Who qualifies?

Students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and/or English Learners. If you have questions or think you may qualify, contact your school office.

For more details, check out our MVWSD Plus+ website and please look for individualized applications by the end of March.

Seeking Members For The Sustainability Task Force

MVWSD is seeking members for a Sustainability Task Force to work on current and future environmental and sustainable practices at our schools and campuses. The goal of the group is to give meaningful feedback to the superintendent and support MVWSD towards achieving its goals of becoming more green in its facilities and practices.

We are seeking a combination of district-level leaders, principals, teachers, staff members, and parents who represent the interests of both elementary and middle schools. Committee members will be expected to attend and participate in meetings held every other month (on average) online during the school year in the evening hours. Applications are due by March 23 and found at this link. More information is at https://www.mvwsd.org/about/committees.

Fuel for the Future: National Nutrition Month

Eat a variety of foods from all food groups.

Eating a variety of foods from different food groups is important for getting all the necessary nutrients our body needs. It’s also a great way to add flavor to our meals, incorporate family traditions during mealtime, and create a balanced and sustainable diet.

MyPlate.gov (MiPlato en español) is a nutrition guide developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help people make healthy and balanced food choices. It provides guidance on the types and amounts of food we should eat to meet our daily nutritional needs.

Crittenden Middle School Spring Musical: Matilda JR.

Crittenden Middle School proudly presents the story of a girl who dreams of a better life, and the children she inspires. This show will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson. Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR. is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Showtimes:

Friday, March 24th – 7:30 pm: http://ow.ly/qLRI50NcySz

Saturday, March 25th – 7:30 pm: http://ow.ly/ghOL50NcySx

Sunday, March 26th – 2:00 pm: http://ow.ly/XKZ850NcySw

Performances will be held in the Crittenden Middle School Auditorium, 1701 Rock Street.

Parental Guidance Note: This show may not be appropriate for children under the age of 7.

Tickets may be purchased in advance online (see the links on the attached flyer) or by dropping off your payment and order form at the Crittenden Front Office, no later than Monday, March 20th at 2:30pm. If shows are not sold out in advance, tickets will be available for purchase at the Box Office 30 minutes prior to showtime. See the attached Ticket Order Form for details on pricing and online ticket purchases.

Graham Middle School Spring Musical: Moana Jr.

Get ready to set sail on a musical adventure with "Moana Jr."! Featuring beloved songs like "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome", this musical is a must-see for fans of all ages!

The students, staff, and parents have been working so hard for months to present the best performance. Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of "Moana Jr." on stage!

Tickets are now available for purchase here. The show information is as follows:

Graham Middle School Auditorium

March 24th and 25th 7:30 pm

March 26th 2:00 pm

Adult Ticket: $15

Student Ticket: $10

Parent University: Preparing for Middle School

Date and Time: April 4, 2023 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu040423

Nervous about middle school? We get it! Change can be daunting, but it can also lead to amazing new experiences. Join us to learn how to support your children as they prepare for the next stage in their academic and social lives. We will feature a panel of staff and students from Crittenden and Graham who will offer lots of wisdom and details about grades six, seven, and eight. See you there!

To submit your questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions.

Living Classroom: Docent Training Date Change

Do you enjoy spending time with kids and being outdoors? Volunteer with us to teach fun, engaging STEM-based lessons in your local school! Living Classroom teaches science by using our school gardens as our classroom. No prior teaching experience is necessary. Bring a friend and join the fun!

Come to our training sessions from 9am-12pm in Heritage Park, 771 Rengstorff Ave. in Mountain View:

March 27, 2023 (3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Lessons)

April 17, 2023 rescheduled from March 6, 2023 (Kinder & 1st Grade Lessons)

For more information, visit www.living-classroom.org or contact susanh@living-classroom.org.

Health and Wellness Parenting Tip: Anxiety Curve

Stress is a subjective sensation and is commonly misunderstood as a negative feeling. However, it’s not always bad. Of course, stress differs among all individuals, and stress management is no one-size fits all solution either. A study found that low-to-moderate stress has been found to benefit individuals in terms of resiliency, decreasing their chance of distress. This was tested with the anxiety-performance curve in mind.

Here is a visual of the anxiety-performance curve:

Anxiety-performance curve shows that performance and arousal — that is, stress and motivation — rise in tandem to an optimal level called eustress (think of it as the “sweet spot” for stress). Additional stress beyond that peak tips into distress and impaired performance.

Here are some ways to utilize the anxiety curve when you are going into distress:

1. Set realistic goals and deadlines. Consider what you realistically can get done.

2. Seek out a challenge that interests you. This can be related to your career, an exercise goal, or a hobby. Make sure it gives you the motivation to engage.

3. Setting time-sensitive goals. Setting time-sensitive goals ensures you are accountable to others, which is an excellent way to engage that stress “sweet spot.”

To learn more, click here.

These tips came directly from the free online website of Big Think, reviewed by Kevin Dickinson.

March 2023 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 selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com or check out www.selpa1cac.org

We encourage families to learn about the sensory needs all children: Try a Sensory Diet

Behavioral Panel of Experts - Challenging Behaviors and Strategies at different ages

Presented by SELPA 1 CAC / Palo Alto CAC

Wednesday March 22, 7 pm on Zoom

Does your child have behavioral challenges at school and at home?

Behavior is communication. Join the CAC and expert panelists from CAPTAIN and PENT for a presentation on strategies to help with behaviors at different ages. Although CAPTAIN is focused on those students with autism spectrum concerns, these insights are suitable for all students. Have a specific question - submit your question ahead of time to our panel here: Questions for the Panel

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkduCurTorHNSOp-szKwNTJdpzNXprqunq

Missed our Parent Education events last year?

We have a YouTube channel with many of our past events including last year’s Inclusive Fun Fair for 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

CTE Summer Exploration Program

Limited spaces are available for CTE’s Summer Exploration program (June 5 - 29) for students grades 7 - 12. The program is interactive with a "learn by doing" focus and students experience hands-on learning on STEAM topics. Classes include Animation, Fashion Design & Textile Art, Film & Video Production, Medical Assisting, Medical Science/Health Careers, and Veterinary Science. Registration opens in April. For more information, visit www.SVCTE.org or contact Kiran Grewal at kgrewal@metroed.net.

Find Your Fit: Teen Career Day

The View Teen Center is hosting a career day for students on Saturday, March 25 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Find Your Fit: Teen Career Day is a wonderful opportunity to gain perspective about different industry careers and network with professionals regarding potential jobs and internships! This FREE event is open to students in 6th-12th grade. Register in advance here.