Dear Quetzal Families,

I really like this quote from Wilbur D. Nesbit, and American Poet who lived during the times of the First World War: "Forever on Thanksgiving the heart will find the pathway home." Living life with gratitude helps us feel in peace and happy. I invite you practice gratitude all year round as it positively affect our physical, emotional, and social well being. Grateful people are more helpful, happier, and optimistic, and at Gabriela Mistral we are very grateful Quetzales!

Parent Conference Information:

Conferences are coming up soon! This is a great opportunity to meet with your child's teachers and learn about their academic progress. You will have time to asks questions and clarify any doubts that you might have. Please mark your calendars: December 5-9, 2022. Dismissal this week will be at 12:10pm, so that our teachers have the time for your conferences. These minimum days will allow us to hold In person or Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences. To sign up for a 20-minute conference time, your teacher will email you tomorrow with a spreadsheet where you can sign up for a time slot. You will be able to select from available time slots between 12:30pm and 4:00pm, each day of the week. If none of these times work for you, please be sure to contact your child’s teacher, directly. The scheduling window will open on tomorrow, 11/18/22 at 3:00pm when you will receive an email from your child’s teacher.

MVWSD is providing at-home COVID-19 testing kits for free to families and staff members so that you can test your child before returning to school on 11/28. Tests will go home by tomorrow afternoon. We appreciate your support in helping our students and staff stay healthy.

I wish you all a fun, safe, and healthy break. Please know that I appreciate each one of you and all the support you bring to our school as well as your partnership in this important educational journey that our students are experiencing.

Have a happy and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Claudia Olaciregui, Principal

November 21 - 25

• Thanksgiving Holiday - No School

• School Site Council Meeting @ 5pm

November 29

• ELAC Meeting @ 6pm

• Parent/Teacher Conferences

December 22 - January 9

• Holiday Recess No School

This is the information Parent U we spoke about yesterday during DELAC:

Parent University Speaker Series: Accessing Your Child’s CAASPP and i-Ready Scores

Date and Time: November 28, 2022, 6-7pm Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu112822

Come and learn how to see your child’s score reports online for the state CAASPP (end of year Math and ELA exams) and for the district i-Ready diagnostic assessments.

To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.

See you Nov. 28!

Please use your free COVID test after Thanksgiving break

MVWSD is providing at-home COVID-19 testing kits for free to families and staff members so that you may test before returning to campus after the Thanksgiving break. A box containing one test will be sent home with each student this week before Friday so that you can test on the weekend of Nov. 26-27 before returning to school on Monday, Nov. 28. Please see this letter for what to do after testing. Thank you for participating in this safety measure to help ensure all of our students and staff stay healthy.

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.

Some of the meeting topics include:

• School Plans for Student Achievement 2022-23

• Wellness Policy Annual Goals Progress Report
  
  

For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees. Please note, there is no Community Check In on Nov. 18.

Parent University Speaker Series: Accessing Your Child’s CAASPP and i-Ready Scores

Date and Time: November 28, 2022, 6-7pm Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu112822

Come and learn how to see your child’s score reports online for the state CAASPP (end of year Math and ELA exams) and for the district i-Ready diagnostic assessments.

To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.

i-Ready Diagnostic 2 Test Scores

Students will take the i-Ready Math and Reading Diagnostic 2 during the week of November 14 - 18. i-Ready is an online program that helps us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth in mathematics and reading. Families can access their student’s i-Ready Reading and Mathematics score through their Powerschool Parent Portal starting December 2, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. Reports are available on the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/ under “Parent Reports” for each of your students.

Better Together Infographic: November

Running from November 1st and November 2nd, Día de los Muertos is this indigenous holiday that originated in southern Mexico and celebrates the remembrance of family members and friends who have died. November also marks the recognition of Native American History month and #BetterTogether's exploration of self-expression. What does it mean to find your voice? How can we uplift the voices of others? Please see the attached flyers or visit http://mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.

It’s “Giving Day Season!”

If your company offers a "giving day" or a special matching program, please let MVEF know and also tell your co-workers that there is a non-profit organization directly supporting the K-8 public schools in Mountain View: MVEF! For more information about what MVEF funds, please click here. To donate directly to MVEF: http://mvef.org/donate

Attention, Googlers!

With Google’s upcoming end-of-year Benevity campaign, Google employees can donate an additional $400 to the non-profit of their choice using the special Google voucher between November 7 - 18. Please encourage your Google co-workers to support local public education by donating their voucher to MVEF!

The View Teen Center: November events

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. The center is open Monday through Friday: 3:30 - 7 p.m. and Saturday: 1 - 6 p.m, and features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! See attached flyer for details about upcoming November events and programs or visit their webpage for more information.

CSA Holiday Sharing Program

Community Services Agency (CSA) is seeking donations of gift cards for their Holiday Sharing Program, to be held December 9-10 and 16-17. This program provides Safeway and Target gift cards to community members in need so they can purchase what they most need to have a joyful holiday season. Last year, CSA served over 3,500 people. You can make a donation online or drop gift cards off at the office during business hours: 204 Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA 94043.

To find out if you qualify to receive gift cards, please call CSA during business hours: 650-968-0836. The receptionist speaks English and Spanish. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message and you will be called back.

Health and Wellness Tip: Improving Mood

Stressful events influence our thoughts (words or images that pop into our mind), feelings (our emotions), and actions (what we do or say). For example, if your childcare falls through, then you might think, “My day is ruined;” you might feel frustrated; and you might act short-tempered with your child, partner, or colleagues. Doing enjoyable activities can prevent stressful events from ruining our day.

Watch this video to learn more about how doing fun activities can make you (or your child) feel better.

To improve your (or your child’s) mood:

1. Track your mood throughout the day (e.g., rate how you feel each morning, afternoon, and evening from 1 = unhappy to 5 = happy).

2. Create a list of activities that you enjoy doing (e.g., painting, exercising, talking to a friend).

3. Plan when you can do one or more of your activities (e.g., scheduling a phone call with a friend for Saturday morning).

4. Do your scheduled activity.

5. Reflect on how you feel after doing your activity (e.g., compare your mood rating before and after your activity).

These tips came directly from the free, online toolkit from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

County MedAssist Program

The MedAssist Program aims to improve health outcomes and medication adherence for select individuals who reside in Santa Clara County. Qualified patients will receive financial assistance in the form of a grant designed to off-set high out-of-pocket expenses for life-saving medications such as anti-diabetics, asthma inhalers, and/or epinephrine auto-injectors. For more information and application, visit medassist.sccgov.org/

13th Annual Spartan Turkey Trot

MVHS Sports Boosters will be hosting the 13th Annual Spartan Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, November 24th at 8:30 a.m. starting at Mountain View High School (3535 Truman Avenue). All proceeds benefit the MVHS athletics department. For more information about this event or to register for the 5K Walk/Run, Kids Run or Spartan Mile, visit SpartanTurkeyTrot.com.

MVHS Spartans Tree Lot

MVHS Sports Boosters will be opening up the Annual Spartans Tree Lot on Friday November 25 at 10 AM for the 2022 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.