Quote of the week:
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
-Nelson Mandela
Principal’s Message:
Dear Huff families,
This week we will be administering the i-ready assessment to all of our kindergartens. Once we are all done, you will be receiving a letter on when scores will be available for you to view. Please remember that this is only our first assessment. It is the first assessment we have had students complete since February so don’t be alarmed at the results. Our teachers will use the data from i-ready and other data points to teach in small groups and differentiate instruction during the day.
Managing frustration during distance learning
â–ª Use simple calming strategies: counting to 10, taking deep breaths, a short break.
â–ª Help your child describe the problem and express their feelings (I feel …, when …).
â–ª Together, come up with a potential solution and connect it to previously set expectations. â–ª Explain how the child’s behavior is linked to consequences. Set gentle and firm limits.
â–ª Assume that everyone is trying their best. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with others.
â–ª Ask teachers and others for help.
Reopening
We are getting ready for Reopening, when it eventually happens! We don’t have a timeline or reopening date, yet, but we are still preparing so we’ll be ready when the conditions are safe. You can find our most recently updated checklist on our website. So far, we have cleared out some classroom furniture to allow for more space in classrooms, secured tons of PPE, set up touchless soap, paper towel dispensers and hand sanitizer stations, created staggered lunch and recess schedules, and will be educating students about safety through our monthly assemblies.
Upcoming events
School Site Council Meeting
09/30 3:00-4:30PM (please email [email protected] if you are interested in joining)
English Language Advisory Committee
09/30 5:30--6:30PM (register here)
Have a wonderful week! Stay safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Arline Siam
Upcoming Events
September
-16: PTA General Association Mtg (Virtual) 7pm
-30: School Site Council (SSC) 3pm
-30: ELAC 5:30pm
October
-2: Principal’s Virtual Coffee 5pm
-12: Recess Day - No School
-28: School Site Council (SSC) 3pm
-28: ELAC 5:30pm
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:
Free Student Meals Available Again
The free meal program has been extended! During Distance Learning, free meals are again available to all children in the Mountain View Whisman School District age 18 and younger. No IDs required. Locations: All schools, except Stevenson (pickup for Stevenson is at Theuerkauf). Times: 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. at the elementary schools. 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the middle schools. Walk, drive or roll up to grab a free meal and go! Parents should continue to go here https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ to apply for free or reduced price meal benefits through the National Lunch Program, if needed.
Join the MVWSD conversation: Distance Learning: What's working?
We’re now up to 1200 thoughts so far in our online conversation about Distance Learning. Now that we've been distance learning for several weeks due to COVID-19, in your opinion, what’s working well and what are our areas of improvement?
Before Thursday, Sept 17: Please take some time to participate or rejoin the conversation to star thoughts entered since you were there last. You may participate in this exchange by clicking on this link: http://mvw.sd/TE. Translation is available in multiple languages. Your input will help us further improve and refine our plans as we move into the future.
The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series presents: Jeff Selingo on "Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside the College Admissions Process" on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2020 - 7:00 - 9:00pm | Live Online | Zoom
Join us for an insightful evening with journalist and higher education expert Jeff Selingo, as he dispels entrenched notions about the college admissions process.
While many have long believed that college admissions decisions are driven largely by merit, Jeff presents a more complicated truth. Embedded in three distinctly different admissions offices — a selective private university, a leading liberal arts college, and a flagship public campus — Jeff closely observed college admission officers as they made their often agonizing and sometimes life-changing decisions.
Based on a year of reading applications and sitting through committee meetings where up and down votes were taken, Jeff reveals what really matters to the gatekeepers and how their ultimate decisions are often based on a college’s priorities. Following interviews with students, testing agencies, marketers, and ranking organizations, Jeff also shares practical advice and helpful strategies for navigating the confusing, chaotic, and often-times stressful college application process.
Audience: High school parents and students; teachers and counselors
Register: To register for this free event, go to https://mvla2020-21-jeffselingo.eventbrite.com
Book: Jeff's new book, Who Gets In and Why, will be released Sept. 15th and is available with free shipping from Books, Inc. Jeff is generously offering our community a 30% discount + free shipping for pre-orders made directly through him. If interested, use code MVLA30.
Event Login: We will send the Zoom link via Eventbrite email, Thursday afternoon, October 1st.
If you have not used Zoom before, please make sure to allow a few extra minutes before the event to download the free Zoom app.
Sponsored by Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF), MVLA High School Foundation, Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF), and Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council.
Public hearing on Sept. 17: Sufficient instructional materials
A public hearing will be held in order to comply with Ed Code section 60119 on September 17, 2020 to detail the extent to which text books and instructional materials were provided to all students, including English Learners.
The definition of “sufficient textbooks or instructional materials” means that each pupil has textbooks or instructional materials, or both to use in class and to take home in each of the following subjects:
• Mathematics
• Science
• History/Social Science
• Language Arts
The public hearing on September 17, 2020 at 7:00pm will be held during the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. To view details about accessing the meeting either online or by phone, please click on the September 17 agenda link on this webpage: https://www.mvwsd.org/about/board_of_trustees/board_meetings
Parent University videos are now on mvwsd.org website!
Did you miss the latest Parent University event? Do you want to review the materials that were presented? Videos and materials are now in English and Spanish on the Parent University website at http://www.mvwsd.org/parent/parent_university
Latest uploads: Sept. 8 event: How to support your child with reading
Track your student's online activities at home with Securly
MVWSD provides a tool that allows parents to be aware of their students' online activities and to help keep them safe on their school-issued devices. Securly allows you to see what choices your student is making online while at home so that you will be alerted to potential issues and can guide your student. Please note: Securly is for school-issued devices only. Check your email for these weekly reports, and you may also download the Securly app. For more information, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/technology.
Please Support Our Students and Teachers!
MVEF raises money to provide all MVWSD students with an educational experience beyond what is possible with public funding. We hope you saw the MVEF brochure with your school supplies or watched the video during Back to School. Please see the website at https://www.mvef.org/ for more information and to donate online. Please consider joining our team of volunteers or emailing us with any questions at [email protected]. Thank you for your support!
PTA News:
10% off Yearbooks Until September 30th!
Go to www.TreeRing.com/validate
Enter our school’s passcode: 1015335719921389
Special offer price before tax: $13.95.
(Regular price: $15.50.)
TreeRing’s yearbooks are unique in that you get two FREE custom pages to fill with pictures and memories of your child. Plus TreeRing plants a tree for each yearbook sold.
Please remember a free yearbook is NOT included with PTA membership this year.
Contact Kathleen Mikulis or Dorothy Lin with any questions at [email protected]
YEARBOOK FAQ
But there’s no events. How will there be a yearbook?
This year’s yearbook will be about 50 pages (compared to last year’s 78) because there aren’t school-wide in-person events. Each class will still have a page with school photos of each child and a page of class candids. We plan to still have pages devoted to Halloween, School Spirit Dress Up Days, and 5th Grade Then and Now, among others. Also, we hope to have some fun additions like class surveys and paragraphs from graduating 5th graders on their interests and what’s important to them.
Plus there are two FREE customized pages that come with every yearbook purchase for you to add your own pictures of your child. (We’ll walk you through those steps on how to do that later in the year.)
How are you going to get photos?
We are definitely going to have to rely on teachers and YOU parents (taking photos at home) to send us pictures this year, and we have an online drop-off for photos on Google Drive. We will send reminder messages throughout the year about different events to be sure to photograph. If there are fun class- or grade-wide projects going on, send us photos. And finally, if you would like to see your child in the yearbook, PLEASE take photos!
There are no fall portraits this year so how will each class have a page of their formal portraits?
It’s true, there are no fall portraits this year, but spring portraits are still scheduled. We hope to use those, but if picture day gets cancelled or if anyone misses that day, we plan to reach out to teachers and parents for photos.
How do I submit photos:
Please upload photos here: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1sHtAxYqeSUzQDhg2T4hWvOgS--31elW3
Amici’s Fundraiser
Don't cook on Tuesday 10/6, get lunch or dinner from Amici's Pizzeria instead!
From 11:30 am - 9:00 pm pick up pizzas (or salads or sandwiches) for the family. They also have an extensive menu of pastas and many are family-size.
Be sure to mention Huff Elementary, and Amici’s will generously donate 25% of your food and beverage purchases to the Huff PTA.
Pick-up ONLY. (No deliveries.)
PTA Membership Drive Magic Show Contest
Huff PTA strives to support and advocate for our children by partnering with staff,families and the wider community to create a safe, healthy and inclusive learning environment where students can excel and feel confident in themselves.
You can join now, here: Huffpta.org/join
This year there is an exciting new membership drive contest! The classroom with the most students with at least one family PTA member will win a virtual 30 minute professional magic show party during the school day, coordinated with the classroom teacher.
The contest will run until Sept 30th 2020 with the show in early October.
Please email [email protected] with any questions.
Warmly,
Katie Swirsding and Ann Walsh
Attachments:
Amici’s Flyer
Food Flyer
MVLA Speaker Series