The Dolphin Whistle
March 23- Issue 29
MESSAGE FROM MRS. LAMBERT
Dear Parents,
Open House will soon be here! The date this year is Wednesday, April 6th, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 PM. This is a very important event in school life and our goal is that 100% of families will attend to see their child's work and the teacher. The CSMA Art Show also takes place this day from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the cafeteria.
Mark your calendars!
Best regards,
Theresa Lambert
Principal Mariano Castro Elementary
Wednesday, April 6 is A MINIMUM DAY
Thursday, April 7th will also be a minimum day as usual.
4th-5th Grade Leadership Advantage Training
All fourth and fifth grade students will be participating this spring in the 4 week Leadership Advantage workshop series presented by Jim Wiltens. The fourth grade students participated in the beginning level last year and will be taking the intermediate level this year as 5th graders while this year's 4th graders will take the beginning level series. Last year the students were very enthusiastic and eagerly looked forward to the next class! We are fortunate that Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF) provides the funding for this excellent leadership training.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
3/21 Monday DELAC Meeting, 5:30 PM, DO
3/23 Wednesday PTA General Mtg., 6:30 PM, Staff Lounge
3/24 Thursday 5th Grade Science Academy, Room 41 & 42
3/29 Tuesday Picture Day, MUR
3/30 Wednesday California Academy of Science Field Trip/Room 39
3/31 Thursday Personal Success Assembly, 11:45 AM, MUR
3/31 Thursday 5th Grade Science Academy, Rooms 41 & 42
4/5 Tuesday ELAC Meeting, 6:00 PM, MUR
4/6 Wednesday MINIMUM DAY, students dismissal, 12:25 PM
4/6 Wednesday Open House for all classes, 6:00 PM
4/8 Friday CuriOdyssey Field Trip - 2nd Grad, Rooms: 9 & 11, 8:40 AM
4/11-4/15 Fourth Grade Intersession Classes
4/11 - 4/15 Monday thru Friday, Spring Break
4/18 Monday DELAC Meeting, 5:30 PM, DO
4/20 Wednesday, Free Nutrition Classes: What's on a Label?, MUR, 6:15-7:15 PM
4/21 Thursday, Music in Action Performance, 11:20 AM, MUR
4/21 Thursday, Love the Earth Day, 12:45 - 3:00 PM, Picnic Tables
4/22 Friday, California Theater Center Field Trip, Room 39, 8:30 AM
4/26 Tuesday, Guadalupe River Park Field Trip, Room 24, 8:30 AM
4/28 Thursday, Personal Success Assembly, 11:45 AM, MUR
4/29 Friday, Guadalupe River Park Field Trip, Room 20, 8:45 AM
FROM PTA
Want to serve on the PTA Board next school year? What about lead a PTA Committee?
Hello Castro parents!
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is actively looking for individuals interested in serving on the PTA Board for the 2016-2017 school year. The following positions are available:
President, Vice-President, Secretary, Historian, VP of Events, VP of Membership, and Room Parent Director. We are also looking for parents interested in chairing one of our PTA Committees. There are several committee opportunities available for the new school year. (It looks great on your resume!)
No previous Committee or Board experience is necessary, just a desire to serve the Students, Teachers, and Families of Castro School.
If you are interested in learning more, please contact April Ornelas,ajoymyles@gmail.com (209) 513-0509 or Fernanda Brandt brantnogueira@gmail.com (650) 669-2280
Stop by the Castro Office if you would like to read a description of the duties of each position available.
PTA Meeting on Wed, March 23 at 6:30pm - Save the Date!!
CHAC at PTA Meeting on Wednesday, March 23
CHAC (formerly known as Community Health Awareness Council) has been providing counseling to the Mountain View community for over 40 years. As part of the work at Mariano Castro Elementary and Gabriela Mistral Elementary, CHAC offers counseling to students and their families, as well as parenting classes in both English and Spanish. Valentina Helo-Villegas is the team lead responsible for a group of 5 therapists committed to addressing the needs of the community and its families. She will be on-site presenting her team’s services on 3/23 during the PTA meeting and will be available for questions from attendees.
FROM DISTRICT
MVEF Gala Caps a Successful Fundraising Year
THANK YOU to the parents, teachers, administrators, and community members to came together for the 2016 MVEF Gala & Auction: A Celebration of Teaching on Saturday. Nearly 225 attendees came out to support our schools.
We are particularly grateful to the sponsors who help make this event a success: Greystone West, Microsoft, Synopsys, Keygent, Recology, Heritage Bank of Commerce, Employee Benefits Services, Quattrocchi Kwok Architects, GCA Law Partners LLP, Sonitrol Security, Margaret Abe-Koga, Artik Art & Architecture, EarthBaby Compostable Diaper Service, and Helming’s Auto Repair. And of course, dozens of people helped by selling raffle tickets, picking up donations, helping to prepare items for auction, decorating, setting up, cleaning up, and so much more. Thank you all.
Congratulations also to our raffle winners: Dustin Oxford, Teela Pullman and Kyle Hillebrecht.
At the Gala, MVEF President Adrienne Heiskanen announced that MVEF has exceeded our fundraising goal for 2015-16. On behalf of all district students, MVEF thanks the many families and community members who have supported MVEF this year, and especially the Google Community Grants Fund of Tides Foundation for their generous grant. In addition to our previously budgeted support for arts, music, hands-on science, leadership and garden programs, as well as middle school electives and sports, the Foundation is providing an additional $50,000 for musical instruments and $50,000 for school libraries. Ms. Heiskanen presented Superintendent Dr. Ayindé Rudolph with a ceremonial check for $791,000.
Farm to Lunch Program Getting Rave Reviews!
The Farm to Lunch program, run by Living Classroom, with the support of the Child Nutrition Services program and funded through a grant from the El Camino Healthcare District Community Benefit Program, has already served over 1,500 students at six schools. Over 160 pounds of edible goodies have been harvested thus far. Dishes served have included spinach salad, kale salad, kale chips, stir fried bok choy, roasted turnips and beets and their greens tossed with a vinaigrette, broccoli, and lettuce salad.
All students in the District will have the opportunity to try this fresh produce during their school’s designated day by stopping by the taste testing table during their lunch time.
This new program compliments the garden-based lessons provided to all elementary schools in grades T/K – 4 this year. Living Classroom staff and volunteer docents will provide 540 lessons this school year! Hands-on lessons are conducted primarily outdoors in the native habitat and edible gardens on each campus where important topics in science, math, and social studies are taught and involve students in growing and eating food from the school gardens.
For more information, contact MVWSD Program Manager Mallory Traughber at mtraughber@mvwsd.org and visit www.living-classroom.org.