The Dolphin Whistle
May 3, 2017 ISSUE 34
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL LAMBERT
Dear Mariano Castro Parents,
As you know, this week and next are the weeks for state testing for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. I have noticed that the students are in a good mindset to SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW! and are focused on persevering and being positive. Please be sure that the students are on time for school, well-rested and have eaten a good breakfast.
This year the K, 1st, and 2nd grade classes have buddied up with a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade class to have some short activities together to encourage them in their testing. The younger children have made cheers, posters, and visits to help the older students to be confident and proud of their learning and to focus on their goals. It is very impressive to see the interaction between the younger and older students that is centered around being proud of what they have learned.
Best Regards,
Theresa Lambert
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PROMOTION CEREMONY FOR 5TH GRADE
This year our 5th grade students will use the school colors: royal blue and silver/grey. It is your decision how to combine the colors.
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FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM AT MARIANO CASTRO
In partnership with Community Services Agency (CSA) of Mountain View and Second Harvest Food Bank, we will be distributing at our school bags with some basic food items. If you want to supplement your meals with additional items, please come:
Days? – Thursdays
When? – May 4, May 18; June 1
Time? – 4:30 to 6:30 P.M.
Where? – Mariano Castro School - Room 9
The food is free; all you need to do is fill out a simple form available at the event indicating that you qualify. More details at the event. Even if you have come before, you can come again!
LOST & FOUND ITEMS
Hello Wonderful PROJECT CORNERSTONE Readers
Well, the time has come… and this is our very last training of the year! We hope many of you can make it to this last special training. Most grades will be reading The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires. (5th grade will be reading a special transition book for middle school The North Star by Peter H. Reynolds).
Our meeting will be part training and part celebration for a year well done. You and your reading team have had a tremendous impact. Helping not just the students in your class, but the campus culture as a whole. Project Cornerstone is at the center of “Two Schools, One Heart” at Castro/Mistral. For each child you have modeled being a caring adult and you have planted seeds that will last a lifetime.
You make us proud.
Thank you for a great year and we will see you on Thursday May 4 at 8:30 or 5:30 in the teacher’s lounge.
Dara, Lynn & Minka
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5th Grade Music Instrument Collection
Room # 52 on the following date, see attached flyer for more details.
Instrument Collection for Strings Only is Thursday May 18th
Instrument Collection for Band Only is Friday May 26th
Thank you for your cooperation!
Calendar of Upcoming Events
5/4 Thursday - CSA Food Bag Distribution 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm Room # 9
5/8 Monday - Let's Talk 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Los Altos Library
5/9 Tuesday - Parent Chat 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Los Altos Library
5/11 Thursday - FEI 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm MUR and Staff Lounge
5/18 Thursday - CSA Food Bag Distribution 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm Room # 9
5/19 Friday - Field Trip Stanford University 9:00 am - 1:30 pm RM's 15 & 16
5/22 Monday - CA/MI 5th Grade visit Graham Middle School 8:45 am - 11:15 am
5/24 Wednesday - Field Trip Lawrence Hall 8:00 am - 2:30 pm RM's 9 & 11
5/24 Wednesday - SSC 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Staff Lounge
5/25 Thursday - CSMA 5th Grade Gala Band 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm MUR
5/25 Thursday - Personal Success Awards Assembly 11:15 am MUR
5/26 Friday - End of third Trimester, Minimum Day dismissal 11:55 am
5/29 Monday - Memorial Day/ No School
6/1 Thursday - CSA Food Bag Distribution 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm Room # 9
6/6 Tuesday - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
6/6 Tuesday - Last Day of School
Have a good summer!
PTA NEWS
Volunteers Needed
Morning of Thursday, May 4th, 2017
Please help with Staff Appreciation Day, anytime between 10:00 am. and 2:00 pm. in the staff lounge.
FROM THE DISTRICT
Mountain View Parent U
MV Parent U presents: “Reading, Writing and Talking with Children: Supporting Literacy at home” on Tuesday, May 9 from 6:30-8pm at the Graham Middle School MUR.
Presenters: The Mountain View Public Library (Sharon McClintock, Librarian Youth Services) and our very own District Reading Teacher (Nancy Pfeffer, Landels teacher and mom)
Please join us to learn several strategies for supporting your readers and writers at home.
• How to boost your child's reading engagement and make reading fun
• Ways to help your child overcome his/her writer’s block
• How to have a conversation when your child is reluctant to share about his/her day
*** Go home with some fun, ready-made literacy activities!
In addition, the Mountain View Library will share:
Ebooks and online library resources
Information on Library programs and services for the entire family
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.)
Let's Talk.
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: Peer to Peer Support For Parents of Teens 14+
5/9 - Parent Chat
7:00-8:30PM, second Tuesday of every month
Los Altos Library Orchard Room
13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos
Join the conversation! Ideas exchange about elementary school boundaries
MVWSD is in the midst of a community-wide process to make adjustments to elementary school boundaries intended to relieve overcrowding at some schools and provide for the opening of Slater Elementary in 2019-20.
The Student Attendance Areas Task Force has been reviewing District demographic data and working to produce boundary scenarios. The goal is for the Board of Trustees to consider two boundary options on June 1, 2017 and approve one of them on June 15, 2017.
You should have an email from ShareYourThoughts@mvwsd.org asking you to participate in an online exchange of ideas about boundaries. The thoughts and comments you provide will be used by the task force and the Board to inform the final boundaries choice.
Please see www.mvwsd.org/boundaries to learn more about how the survey works and to review boundary Options A and B that you will be asked about. If you did not receive an email, you can sign up at this link to participate.
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Healthy Kids Survey
Please look for a letter this week asking your child to be a part of our school’s California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) sponsored by the California Department of Education sometime between May 22 through May 31. This is a very important survey that will help promote better health among our youth, improve the school learning environment and combat problems such as drug abuse and violence.
The survey is voluntary and anonymous. If you do not want your child to complete the survey, you must fill out and return the Withdrawal Form no later than May 5, 2017 to your child’s school office.
If you have any questions about this survey, call Heidi Smith at 650-526-3500 ext. 1121.