Imai Gazette 08/30/23

Principal’s Message:

Dear Imai Families,

Our RTI (response to intervention) rotations, STEAM and ELD (English Language Development) are all under way. Students are getting to work in small groups during RTI and starting STEAM explorations. During small instruction our teachers are able to differentiate by academic level as research shows that regardless of subject, students learn more and retain material longer in small-group learning than when the same content is presented in other instructional practices. Attendance, efficiency, and persistence improve.

STEAM with Ms. O’Brien and Ms. Geer

Sown to Grow

MVWSD is again partnering with Sown to Grow for the 2023-24 school year for grades K-6. Sown to Grow is a platform designed to promote safe and supportive classrooms. Through student check-ins and reflective activities, students are encouraged to engage in self-awareness, set personal goals, and develop essential social and emotional skills. This data allows teachers, principals, and counselors to proactively reach out to support student needs. For more information, please read the attached letter. Sown to Grow Letter (English)

Next week I will be In New York dropping off my twenty three year old at Columbia University but you will be in good hands as Ms. Henderson (Equity Director) will be in charge while I am away.

Have a wonderful rest of your week.

Arline Siam

Principal

Upcoming Events

September

4- Labor Day (No School)

7- Bookmobile at 12pm

11- Picture Day ID: EVTXCBDFC

12- ELAC at 5:30pm

21- SSC at 3:30pm

29- Principal’s Coffee at 8:30 am

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:

Sown to Grow

Looking for an afterschool program? Read on to see if your child qualifies for MVWSD+!

A student qualifies for the free MVWSD+ afterschool program if one or both of the following conditions are true:

The student is an English Learner (EL). EL status is established via the results of the Initial ELPAC exam, which is being administered to certain students in August and September. Results are usually available within two weeks of the completion of testing. If you have questions about the Initial ELPAC exam, please contact Leticia Corcoran at [email protected].
The student qualifies for free or reduced price lunches based on federal income guidelines. At this time, lunch for all children is free, but this may not always be the case. To fill out the application for free or reduced lunch, please go to ezmealapp.com. Qualifying students’ data is collected at the state level and usually appears in the district’s data system within two weeks. If you have questions, please contact your school office.

Soon after a student’s EL or Free/Reduced Lunch Status changes to indicate he/she qualifies for MVWSD+, you will receive an email from the MVWSD+ Team inviting your child to enroll.

For questions or troubleshooting, please reach out to [email protected] or Jennifer Nunez at (650) 526-3500 x1061.

MVWSD Seeks Parents & Staff Members for Health & Wellness Committee

The Health & Wellness Committee is looking for parents and staff members for the 2023-24 school year! This committee aligns District efforts to support student wellness through health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, psychological and counseling services, and through promoting a safe and healthy school environment.

Last year, the committee’s work helped increase student access to nutrition information and education, professional development on USDA standards for school nutrition, and supported student opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day. We are seeking at least 1 parent and 1 certificated staff member representative from each school.

If you have experience, knowledge, or interest, please complete an application at: http://mvw.sd/health. Applications are due by September 13.

The Health and Wellness Committee will meet 4 times during the school year on Zoom, with the first meeting scheduled for September 28.

If you have any questions, please contact Brian White, Health & Wellness Coordinator at [email protected].

MVWSD seeking District Equity Advisory Committee members

MVWSD is continuing our work by engaging meaningfully with the community on issues of equity through the District Equity Advisory Committee (DEAC). The goal of the DEAC is to provide feedback to the Superintendent on how to support MVWSD towards achieving its goals of becoming a more equitable and inclusive school district.

We are seeking a combination of district-level leaders, principals, teachers, staff members, and parent participants who represent the interests of both elementary and middle schools. Committee members will be expected to attend and participate virtually in meetings held monthly (on average) online in the evening hours.

If you’re interested in participating, please complete the application here.

Volunteer with MVEF!
MVEF needs 1-3 additional volunteers at each school in MVWSD. MVEF school representatives help the families at their school understand what MVEF is and why it exists so that they are inspired to donate and spread the word about the impact of MVEF funding. MVEF also needs volunteers to help with planning our annual Gala and other community events. To learn more, visit: https://www.mvef.org/volunteer

Mentor Tutor Connection: Volunteer Information Session

Mentor Tutor Connection is holding a Volunteer Information Session on Wed., Sept. 13, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, MVLA District Office Conference Room, 1299 Bryant Ave., Mountain View. Please join us and learn about becoming a mentor and/or a tutor in the Mountain View and Los Altos public schools. Help a local student to a brighter future! To register go to www.mentortutorconnection.org/events - or email [email protected].

August/September CAC and LCC Events

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: Try a Sensory Diet

Parent Chat

September 12, 10 am

Are you concerned about the emotional well-being of your child? Peer to peer support for parents of teens with mental health challenges. Every second Tuesday of the month at 10 am on Google Meet. Meeting is for 1 hour only due to Google Meet limitations. Contact [email protected] for invite.

September 13, 10 am Morning Let’s Talk - IEP/504 support group. Have questions about the process to get help for your child? Have an IEP but are not sure how to make changes? Need to vent? This is your confidential group. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZModeirqToiHdQpAOpxx4g3NaLHuElaLtJs

Missed our Parent Education events last year?

We have a YouTube channel with many of our past events including last year’s Inclusive Fun Fair for summer camps and recreational activities, Anxiety and Depression in Children with Learning Challenges, SMART Goals and IEP Troubleshooting, and more. Channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuy7IcVz-4LTDxv2Jaq13nw

Housing and Eviction Help Center

The City of Mountain View's Rent Stabilization Program runs the Housing and Eviction Help Center (HEHC) at the MV Public Library to provide housing-related support to the community, including information about housing programs and legal resources. These services are available on 1st and 3rd Thursdays (walk-ins welcome or virtually at mountainview.gov/housinghelpclinics) from 6 - 8 p.m. For more information, see flyers attached or visit mountainview.gov/evictionprevention.

City Searching for Volunteers to Serve Community

Recruitment is open for upcoming vacancies on several City boards, commissions and committees that weigh in on a wide range of matters. If you have an interest or background in the City’s downtown interests, environmental planning process, library, parks and recreation, performing arts, inclusive community relations or bike and pedestrian concerns, we welcome you to apply to serve on one of these bodies. Find more information and the application form at MountainView.gov/Advisors. Questions can be directed to the City Clerk’s Office at [email protected] or 650-903-6304. The deadline to apply is Sept. 29 at 5 p.m.

SCCOE Family Engagement Symposium 2023: Sept. 9

Join SCCOE’s upcoming free Family Engagement Symposium “Belonging Begins with Me” on Saturday, Sept 9, 2023. Workshops include Family Writing Activity - Writing Your Belonging Story, Establishing Your Financial Roots, How to Raise and Nurture an Antiracist Family, and more! Register here: https://sccoe.to/PEPBelongingSept9.

Announcing the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series for 2023 - 2024

The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series is excited to announce our speaker line-up for the 2023 - 2024 school year. Nationally and internationally recognized experts will join us to discuss important topics on child and adolescent well-being, as well as our own - including how to help kids face the unique challenges of growing up surrounded by computers, how to raise successful adults and break free of the traps of overparenting, exploring why puberty is so different for today’s kids than past generations and figuring out how to beat the college admissions system.

2023 - 2024 Speaker Events

Devorah Heitner

Growing Up in Public: Helping our Kids Navigate the Digital Coming of Age

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 - 7pm

Mountain View High School - Spartan Theater

Julie Lythcott-Haims

How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 - 7pm

Mountain View High School - Spartan Theater

Cara Natterson & Vanessa Kroll Bennett

This Is So Awkward: A Conversation About How Puberty Has Changed

Tuesday, November 17, 2023 - 7pm