1/12/21 Huff n Stuff

Principal’s Message:

Quote of the week

“Every child is a different kind of flower and altogether makes this world a beautiful garden.”

-Anonymous

Dear Huff Families,

Don’t forget to stop by the MUR on Wednesday to pick up the art kit from MVEF/MVWSD for your child to use during their CSMA art class. The MUR will be open from 8:30AM-3PM.

At last week’s Principal’s Coffee I shared helpful hints for a successful parent-teacher conference. Here they are again just in case you weren’t able to attend.

Before the conference

Ask your child if there is anything that he wants you to talk about with his teacher.
Tell your child that you and the teacher are meeting to help her.
Make a list of topics that you want to talk about with the teacher.
Prepare a list of questions such as:
1. What are my child's strongest and weakest subjects?
2. Does my child hand classwork in on time?
3. Does my child participate in class?
4.What can I do at home to help?
During the Conference
Be on time (or early) for the meeting.
End the meeting on time. Other parents will probably have a conference after yours.
Relax and be yourself.
Stay calm during the conference.
Ask the most important questions first.
If your child receives special services such as English classes, ask about your child's progress in those classes.
Ask for explanations of anything you don't understand
Ask your child's teacher for ways that you can help your child at home.
Thank the teacher.
i-ready data analysis (helpful tips on how to analyze your child’s scores)

Talent showcase update- Our talent showcase is full except for three spots for fourth graders and we are no longer taking applications. If your fourth grader is interested, please email me. More information on the talent showcase will be shared at next week’s Huff n Stuff.

Have a wonderful week! Stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Arline Siam

Upcoming Events

January

-11 - 15: minimum week Parent-Teacher Conferences

-18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day NO SCHOOL

Chromebooks that are not working

Please take your Chromebooks to the Technology department to the District office. Instead of going in the front door of the district office, go around the back and their door is open. They are working from 8:30am-3:30pm.

Reporting Absences

If you are reporting a student's absence, please email [email protected] or call the attendance line at (650)526-3490 ext 3080.

Reminder: Please include your student's name, your student's room or teacher, the reason for absence, the date of absence(s) and the relationship of the person leaving the message. Thank you from the office staff!

District News:

Cafecito with the Superintendent on Jan. 13

Join us for an informal meeting for Spanish-speaking parents with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Wednesday, Jan 13 at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Translation will be provided. Please register in advance for this meeting here: http://mvw.sd/SdbBp. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Parent University: Adolescent Drug Use, including the impact of the current pandemic.

Join us on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. for our next Parent University event: Adolescent Drug Use, including the impact of the current pandemic. While this event is geared toward parents of children ages 10 to 18, all are welcome.

The presenter, Alum Rock Counseling Center (ARCC), has been in place for 46 years in the Bay Area and addresses the academic, social and mental health needs of the at-risk youth and families. This important workshop will include such topics as:

· Overview of trending substances used by youth (vaping, marijuana, alcohol, opioids, etc.)

· Signs and symptoms

· Why teens are using and the impact of COVID-19

· How families can discuss substance use and support their children

· Alternatives for substance use and ideas for prevention

· Resources

Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Enrollment for 2021-22 for *NEW* students is open now

For NEW students: Open Enrollment is now through Feb. 5, 2021 online. You can register your child for the 2021-22 school year here: www.mvwsd.org/register

For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 18- 22. Please look for an email from Student Services with a request to log on to the Powerschool Parent Portal: https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/. Please note: School offices will be closed on Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Enrollment support for returning parents will be available beginning Jan. 19.

Fifth Grade Parents: Middle school info night on Jan. 28

Crittenden and Graham both will be welcoming 5th grade families to an Incoming 6th Grade Information Night on Thursday, January 28 at 5 p.m. held on Zoom. Each site will host its own information night, and parents will receive an email from their students' assigned school with meeting login information.

This is a great opportunity to learn about our Middle Schools’ academics, a chance to meet our staff, and learn about the exciting opportunities your incoming sixth-grader will have at Crittenden or Graham.

Please contact Crittenden ((650) 903-6945) or Graham Middle School ((650) 526-3570) if you have any questions.

Afterschool activities and programs (including free) are on InPlay

Even during COVID, there are fun and educational afterschool programs for kids happening now. Spring break camps are coming up, too. MVWSD partners with the non-profit InPlay to help you find the perfect fit for your child and for your family. Hundreds of programs, including those that are FREE and reduced cost, are nearby and online and can be found through this free, searchable website. Check out http://MV.inplay.org

Parent University: Digging Deeper into Supporting Reading Comprehension at Home

Join us on Tuesday, January 26th, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. for “Digging Deeper into Supporting Reading Comprehension at Home (K-5 Families)”

Members of MVWSD Instructional Team will share takeaway strategies to support your child's reading comprehension, connections, and applications at home.

Wondering how to support your child with their Reading grade level standards and curriculum?
What questions should I ask to build my child's reading comprehension?
What does standard progression look like over grade level spans?
Takeaways to support your child who is reading above grade level
Learn new ways to enrich, deepen, and create a joy for reading

Zoom Registration: http://mvw.sd/MlaSK

In order to make this interactive webinar most meaningful for you, please send your questions beforehand to Interim Director, Swati Dagar via this Google Form by Friday, January 15th.

Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Link to flyer is here.

Info meeting next week: MVWSD’s award-winning Preschool

Is now enrolling for full-day and part-day for the 2021-22 school year. Join us for an informational meeting online on January 14 @ 3:00 pm at http://mvw.sd/preschool2. Please see the attached flyer or https://www.mvwsd.org/preschool for more information.

Virtual presentation on January 27 at 6:00 pm

Hosted by Huff, Landels and Jose Antonio Vargas elementary schools

Presenter Kate Kinsella, Ed.D. will talk about:

• After school conversation tips to use with children to encourage thoughtful responses

• Strategies to help increase students' academic language and listening skills

Kate Kinsella, Ed.D., is a teacher educator at San Francisco State University and a highly sought after speaker and consultant to school districts throughout the United States regarding development of academic language and literacy across the K-12 subject areas. Her 25-year teaching career focus has been equipping children from diverse backgrounds with the communication, reading, and writing skills to be career and college ready.

For more information, please visit http://drkatekinsella.com/about-us/

CSMA offers Virtual Art Club Live Zoom Sessions for Elementary students

Afterschool art for grades Grades K-5 from January 19-April 22, 2021. See the attached flyers or click here to view and register: https://arts4all.asapconnected.com/#CourseGroupID=10998

CHAC offers free mental health support to parents and students

For parents: CHAC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable and accessible mental health services, supports parents in several ways. Please see the attached flyers for more information.

For students: PLUGGED IN - Social and Emotional Learning Skills Programs

CHAC is excited to offer two new Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills Programs to 3rd and 5th grade students. Both programs are a fun and enriching way to help students navigate the unique challenges they face in these extraordinary times.

1. CHAC's Weekly Virtual Group meetings focus on social interaction between participants. Through collaborative lessons and fun activities students will learn emotion regulation skills, problem solving skills as well as healthy coping and self-care skills.

2. CHAC's Independent SEL Curriculum teaches students essential social and emotional learning skills through entertaining video lessons and a variety of fun activities that students complete independently.

The parents who request the PLUGGED IN Independent Curriculum will have it emailed to them immediately.

The parents who would like their child to join a PLUGGED IN virtual group, will be contacted about scheduling options and asked to complete an online permission slip. Groups are expected to start in early January.

Click here to learn more about PLUGGED IN- CHAC’s new SEL Programs: https://www.chacmv.org/social-emotional-learning

MV Library presents: Raising Kindness and Awareness in Children

Wednesday, January 20, 7 pm - 8 pm. Learn about fostering “kindness activism” in your children. Aila Malik, author, parent activist, social justice warrior, and kindness advocate will present practical ideas and engaging perspectives on activating humility, empathy, action, and togetherness within your family. Free. Flyers attached. Registration is required. https://mountainview.libcal.com/

Parenting in a pandemic: Free 6th district PTA speaker series

Thursday, January 21, 2021, 7pm, “Navigating School During Uncertain Times” with Challenge Success - Laura Easley. For other offerings in January and February, please see the attached flyer. Cost: free. For more information and to reserve your seat visit https://capta6.org/parenting-in-a-pandemic/

MVLA Speakers series presents “Middle School Matters” with Phyllis Fagell

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 - 7:00 - 9:00pm | Live Online

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Professional School Counselor Phyllis Fagell helps parents use the middle school years as a low-stakes training ground to teach kids the key skills they’ll need to thrive now and in the future, including making good friend choices, negotiating conflict, regulating their own emotions, acting as their own advocates, and more. To answer parents’ most common questions and struggles with middle school-aged children, she combines her professional and personal expertise with stories and advice from prominent psychologists, doctors, parents, educators, school professionals, and middle schoolers themselves.

Audience: Parents of kids grades 4 - 8

Books: https://www.booksinc.net/book/9780738235080

January CAC Events

Happy New Year! SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. We are ALL having learning challenges right now, and CAC and LCC are here to help. If you have questions about learning challenges and special education needs, email [email protected] or check out www.selpa1cac.org

We encourage families to learn about the sensory needs all children may have during distance learning: Try a Sensory Diet

February 1, 9 am- General Parent/Community Meeting with Special Ed. Directors & Staff, Zoom at 9:00 am for LCC and 9:30 am for CAC. We will be planning for the year, discussing upcoming programs and discussing distance learning and learning challenges. For our agenda, please join our Google group, https://groups.google.com/g/selpa1cac. For the Zoom link for this meeting, email [email protected] or sign up on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/general-cac-meeting-tickets-135550478129

Attachments:

FREE PHONE SERVICE ENG SPA CHI

CHAC_FRCs_Distribution_flyer_English

preschoolflyer2021_22

3rd-5th Virtual Art Club 2021

K-2nd Virtual Art Club 2021

Raising Kindness Parenting Program

CHAC Parent Flyer

MVLA Speaker Series_Flyer 4_Phyllis Fagell

*ENG KK presentation flyer 2021

Amy Imai Elementary School

Amy Imai Elementary School

1/12/21 Huff n Stuff

Amy Imai Elementary School