Dear Quetzal Families,

Happy Easter and Spring break to all! I hope you that you and your family have a safe and restful break. Some of us think of Easter as a time of change and new beginnings. Changes are difficult, and it's important that we prepare for them with a growth mindset. Here are some tips you can use and teach your child at home when we are going through some kind of change:

• Remember that most changes are good.
• Try to let go of the past and avoid thinking of how things used to be.
• Take time to create new goals.
• Surround yourself with positive people.
• Learn to meditate.
• Create a vision board
• Remember all the things you are grateful for.

MVEF provides so many amazing extra educational experiences for our students. It is so great to see our students engage in Living Classrooms, sing, and work on different art activities. Please join us at their Gala Night on April 25th.You can purchase tickets @ https://bit.ly/2023-MVEF-Gala.

If you can't attend this wonderful event, you can still support the foundation via de Silent Auction and Raffle: https://www.mvef.org/2023-gala-raffle. Check out the online/silent auction item preview at https://bit.ly/mvefsilentauction

PLEASE READ (Grades 3-5)

After Spring Break, grades 3-5 will start CAASPP Testing. At Mistral, our students will start holding practice tests the week of April 17-21. Students will test in ELA on April 25-28 and Math on the week of May 2-5. Our 5th grade students will have their science test the week of May 10-12.

Testing will take place from 8:30 am to 10:15 am. It is EXTREMELY important that our students are on time every morning during those weeks. Please avoid scheduling appointments during these times. We truly appreciate your support on this matter!

Below are some tips you may find useful to help prepare your child for the CAASPP assessment:

• Explain to your child that it is important to do their his/her very best.

• Provide positive reinforcement and encourage your child each day.

• Keep the test in perspective. We want students to do their best, but please make sure they understand that it is only one test. Remind them that if they are doing their best, you are very proud of them.

• Make sure your child gets an ample, normal amount of sleep the night before the test.

• Make sure to arrive on time each day.

• Eat a nice, healthy breakfast.

• Keep a positive attitude about testing around your child. Remind them that this is a time to show what they know.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Have an amazing Spring Break!

In partnership,

Claudia Olaciregui, Principal

April 6

• Science Fair @ 5pm-7pm in our MUR

• Spring Break No School

• Parent Workshop (Making life with kids easier) for Kinder/1st Grades @ 7pm-Link

April 20

• Cafecito with Ms. O @ 8:30am in person (MUR)

April 24-May 5

• 3rd to 5th Grade State Testing (CAASPP)

April 26

• School Site Council @ 7pm

• Día del Niño Celebration @ MUR 3pm

April 30

• Día del Niño Celebration @ 11am to 1pm in the blacktop

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, April 6 at 6:00 p.m.

Topics include:

• Action Day Plus School Update on Community Outreach

• Enrollment and Choice Lottery Update

For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.

Spring break (April 10-14) and Test Kits

MVWSD is on spring break April 10-14. School and District Offices will be closed. Have a safe and restful time away!

Please remember to administer the free at-home COVID test kit to your child on April 16, before returning to school on Monday, April 17. If your child has symptoms or a positive result, he/she must stay home. Please check this link for specific instructions.

Electives Selection for Grades 5-7 Closes Friday

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 log in to your PowerSchool portal account (either student’s or parent’s) 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.

Be Sunwise: Sunny days are ahead. Protect your skin.

While some exposure to sunlight can be enjoyable, too much can be dangerous. Take these steps to protect yourself and your children - who are often outside daily.

Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin using a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Reapply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.

Traveling during spring break? Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand that reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.

MVEF News

On April 21, 2021 MVEF and the Crittenden Middle School PTA will be co-hosting a welcome potluck for incoming 6th graders and new students who enrolled during the current school year. To register, please click here: https://bit.ly/3Zy4QH1

Tickets to the MVEF Gala are still available! Ticket sales end 4/23 or when they are sold out. To purchase Gala tickets, click here: https://bit.ly/mvefGala2023

MVEF Gala Raffle Tickets are now on sale! Need not be present to win. Click the link below to view raffle items. Email aisha@mvef.org to purchase raffle tickets. https://bit.ly/2023-Gala-Raffle

MVEF still needs to raise an additional $240k to achieve the goal of $1.2MM by June 30, 2023. If you haven't made a donation yet during the current school year, please donate ASAP to help your school site achieve the goal to get an average of 10 new donors per school by April 15! Donations of any amount are meaningful in helping to reach the goal! Click here to see ways to donate.

District Chess Tournament Registration Open

The 20th Annual MVWSD Interscholastic Chess Tournament will be held on Sunday, April 30th, from 11:30am to 5:30pm at Bubb Elementary. Students from all MVWSD schools are welcome to join and enjoy an afternoon of friendly competition and camaraderie! The registration form and instructions can be found at tinyurl.com/mvwsdchess, and the deadline for registration is April 29. Any questions can be sent to Jonas Klittmark, tournament director, at mvwsdchess@gmail.com.

Health and Wellness Parenting Tip: Praise

It is natural for us to pay attention to behaviors that are irritating, worrisome, or make us want to disappear from embarrassment. Usually, when our child is calm, quiet, and self-entertained, we breathe a sigh of relief. However, this inadvertently teaches our child that they can get our attention by being disruptive. The good news is that we can reverse this pattern by paying attention to our child’s positive behaviors.

To learn more parenting tips click here.

To praise positive behaviors:

Try praising something positive that your child is doing each morning and evening (for example, “Good job sharing with your sibling”). We are used to noticing disruptive behaviors, so praising your child’s positive behaviors will take some practice and patience – but will ultimately benefit both you and your child.

This tip came directly from the free, online Everyday Parenting program created by parenting expert, Dr. Kazdin.

To view more resources on parenting and other topics, click here.

The View Teen Center: April 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! April Teen Center events include local college tours, an Exploratorium Field Trip, and Extended Spring Break Hours from April 10-14: 1-6 p.m. See attached flyer for details about more upcoming events and programs or visit their webpage for more information.