The Dolphin Whistle
February 7, 2018, Issue 23
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL LAMBERT
In a week in a half it will be Winter Break already! Please use some of the break time to help your child read books they like. Reading together with your child is one of the best ways to enjoy reading and here are some tips so you can have fun reading together:
- Let your child choose the book.
- Read right before bedtime or naptime when children are not quite so energetic.
- Tell a story from the pictures in the book.
- Ask your child to ask YOU questions about the story.
I hope you enjoy this family time and that everyone returns rested and ready to learn!
Best regards,
Theresa Lambert
Principal Mariano Castro Elementary
Calendar of Upcoming Events
2/7 Wednesday - School Site Council (SSC) meeting 5:00pm - 6:30pm Staff Lounge
2/8 Thursday - CA/MI FEI Parent Classes 6:00pm - 8:00pm - Staff Lounge
2/8 Thursday - State of the District 6:30pm - 8:30pm Crittenden Auditorium
2/10 Saturday - English Classes for parents 9:30am - 12:00pm Staff Lounge
2/13 Tuesday - ELAC & LCAP meeting 6:00pm - 7:30 MUR
2/15 Thursday - CA/MI FEI Parent Classes 6:00pm - 8:00pm - Staff Lounge
2/15 Thursday - Personal Award Assembly 8:00am - 9:00am MUR
2/15 Thursday - Castro Movie Night 6:00pm - 8:00pm MUR
2/16 Friday - Field Trip Hidden Villa Farm 8:30am - 11:30am RM's 9 & 13
2/16 Friday - End of Second Trimester Minimum Day, Dismissal 11:55am
February 19 thru February 23 No School ~Winter Break~
2/27 Tuesday - Principal's Coffee 8:00am - 9:00am Staff Lounge
3/1 Thursday - CA/MI Project Cornerstone 8:00am - 9:30am Staff Lounge
3/1 Thursday - CA/MI FEI Parent Classes 6:00pm - 8:00pm - Staff Lounge
3/7 Wednesday - School Site Council (SSC) meeting 5:00pm - 6:30pm Staff Lounge
3/8 Thursday - CA/MI FEI Parent Classes 6:00pm - 8:00pm - Staff Lounge
3/9 Friday - Field Trip Mission Santa Clara 8:45am - 12:40pm RM's 12 & 16
FROM THE DISTRICT
Mountin View Parent U: Parenting in the Age of Technology: Protecting our Children In An Age of Access
Wednesday, Feb. 7th, 6:30-8pm, Graham Middle School MUR
Presenters: my digital TAT2This workshop will explore:*Rapid change in technology and how our children are using social media
*Strategies for supporting and staying connected to our children
*Interactive discussion, videos, and real life scenarios to help parents show children how to navigate, self-regulate, slow down and think before they act.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Come early to connect with resources!Provided:
Interpretation (Spanish support)
Child care
Transportation (Bus departs from Castro Elementary and Crittenden Middle at 6 p.m. and returns at 8:30 p.m.) Register here
We want to hear from you! LCAP survey and meeting
Parents; We want to hear from you! LCAP survey and meeting
The District is beginning its annual process of updating the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). This input collected will guide the update of our District plan for the 2018-19 school year.We invite you to learn more about the LCAP process:
Mariano Castro, Tuesday 2/13, 6:00pm - 7:30pm, MUR
Parents, we want to hear from you: Please click below to give input through March 2 in a survey about the plans' goals. (Using a laptop/desktop computer or a tablet is recommended. Formatting may not be as readable on mobile devices). If you would like a paper copy, please come to the office.Parent Survey:
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4165244/MVWSD-LCAP-Parent-Guardian-Survey-2018
More information found here: https://www.mvwsd.org/about/district_plans/lcap_lcff
LEAD TESTING
Students health and safety is very important to us. Recent national events concerning the quality of public drinking water, especially for our youngest citizens, have raised awareness. For that reason, the District proactively contacted the City of Mountain View this summer and fall, and requested tests of all of the school district’s water fountains for lead. Beginning in 2019, all California schools constructed or modernized before 2010 will be required to test school water systems for lead (A.B. 746). Casto’s water supply tested negative for lead. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our school.
Change to 5th grade Music Progress Reports:
The main ways you can help your student succeed in band or strings is to ensure he/she brings his/her instrument and supplies to music class each week and practice at home regularly. We look forward to sharing their musical progress with you at the spring Gala concerts at CSMA. Concert details will be provided soon!
Local Resource Guide for Learning Challenges
Do you need help finding summer camps to fit your child's needs? Recreational opportunities that are accepting and inclusive? Therapists, advocates, tutors? Please check out SELPA1CAC's Local Resource Guide! at www.selpa1cac.org or tinyurl.com/localresourceguide. We are always interested in updates and additions, let us know how we can make the Guide for useful!
Wed. Feb. 7, 2018, 7PM-9PM Santa Rita Elementary School
Better Communication with Your Teen, DBT w/Michael Fitzgerald, SELPA 1 CAC Parent Education Event
Michael Fitzgerald, Executive Director of Behavioral Health Services at El Camino Hospital will discuss the benefits of DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy). Learn why DBT is so effective and how parents can use the concept to have better communication with their teens. “Sometimes parents are unaware of how their teens are reacting to their verbal and nonverbal cues…at times teens don’t feel validated by their families...teens crave acceptance…parents can learn to avoid phrases that reinforce negative self images...both parents and teens can learn how to communicate more positively.”
DBT combines cognitive behavioral techniques for emotion regulation with concepts of mindful awareness, distress tolerance and acceptance.
MVWSD’s Preschool Program
Now, more Mountain View families are eligible for MVWSD’s preschool program, due to recent changes at the state and county level.
Through the Santa Clara Child Care Subsidy Pilot, the income eligibility ceiling for those applying for our free preschool program is now $71,065/year (a family of 4). Additionally, children who have their third birthday on or before December 1st (as opposed to September 1st) can now enroll in preschool, though priority enrollment for 4 year olds has not changed.To make it even easier, families no longer have to re-certify or re-apply to the preschool program and prove income eligibility requirements in their child's second year of preschool. Their initial application will remain valid for 24 months, without worry that income changes could affect their child’s preschooling.
The highly-rated MVWSD Preschool is currently enrolling for a few remaining spaces for 2017-18 and accepting applications for the 2018-19 school year. Enrollment for 2018-19 will begin in March. See www.mvwsd.org/preschool for applications and details.Join us for dessert and dancing at the MVEF Gala on Saturday, February 10th.
We hope to see you this Saturday at the Winter Gala and Auction! Dinner tickets have been snapped up, but tickets are still available for the dessert and dancing portion of the evening. Tickets are $40 if purchased by February 8th or $50 at the door. Our silent auction is shaping up to be one of our best, with dinner for 4 at the firehouse, amazing summer camps, tickets to cultural events throughout the Bay Area, VIP Tesla tours, floral arrangements, and dazzling morganite earrings, just to give you a preview. MVEF raises funds to support every child at every school. So grab your valentine or a group of friends and help us meet our fundraising goal with an evening of fun and fundraising! Learn more at mvef.org
Let's Talk
A chance to ask questions and share ideas, resources, and support with other parents of students with IEPs, 504s, learning differences, mental health challenges, etc.
All are welcome, participants must respect confidentiality.
Parent Chat
Are you concerned about the emotional well being of your child? Come to Parent Chat, peer to peer support for parents of teens. Hosted by the Mental Health Subcommittee of SELPA 1 CAC.