Principal’s Message:
Dear Imai Families,
It was great seeing so many of you at our Welcome Back to School Picnic. Everyone was having so much fun and I enjoyed reconnecting with old and new families. We can’t wait to see everyone again at our next event, our Welcome Back to School Dance on September 25.
I wanted to let you know that we discovered a yellowjacket nest on the field. For everyone’s safety, we’ve temporarily blocked off the area and are keeping students away. We are working with the City to remove the nest. As soon as the yellowjackets disperse and it is safe again, we’ll reopen the area for student use. Thanks for your patience.
Introducing the after school Arts Wheel!
What is it?
The Arts Wheel is a new, free, weekly after school class for our students in grades K-5. We will have multiple fun themes over the course of the year such as Crafts, Painting & Murals, and Digital Photography & Graphic Design. The classes will be taught by local teaching artists Shivika Nayyar, Eddie Ramirez, and Sophie Twitchell.
Why is it called a “Wheel”?
Each after school class teacher will spend 8 weeks at a school before moving on to another school for the next “rotation”. This way, all participating schools will be able to experience the topic in which each teacher specializes.
How frequent are the classes, and how long is each class?
The once-per-week classes will be approximately 45 minutes long and take place over 8 weeks. For Rotation 1, our Arts Wheel teacher will be on campus on Fridays from 2:35-3:30 PM (Grades 1-5)
Who is it for?
**If your child is already participating in after school YMCA or Beyond the Bell, they will automatically participate in the Arts Wheel through their after school program - no need to register!**
If your child is not in YMCA or BTB, keep reading for registration details...
How do I register my child?
For students not in YMCA or BTB, registrations for Rotation 1 (Week of Oct 20- Week of Dec 15) will open on September 22 and end on October 5. Please note that registrations are not first-come, first-served - if there aren’t enough spots, we will conduct a lottery and students on the waitlist will have priority in the next Rotation.
Remember: if your child is already participating in after school YMCA or Beyond the Bell, they will automatically participate in the Arts Wheel through their after school program - no need to register!
Questions?
Please feel free to contact Mrs. Siam at [email protected] if you have any questions.
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Hello Families,
I'm Soyoung Joo, the school counselor here at Amy Imai Elementary School. My role is to support students' social, emotional, and academic growth, while also helping to make sure they feel safe, supported, and connected to school.
This year, our school is continuing to build a positive and supportive community through CharacterStrong, our social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum. Each month we focus on a new theme, and this month we're learning about respect. Students are learning that respect means treating others the way we want to be treated-through kind words, listening to one another, and taking care of our school environment. To support this, I'll be leading fun lunchtime activities with all grade levels that tie into our monthly theme. Additionally, I'll be available for drop-ins during recess. This gives students a safe and comfortable space to come talk if they need support, have a concern, or just want to check in.
Thank you for partnering with us in encouraging respect at home and at school. Together, we can help students grow into thoughtful, caring individuals.
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Reminders: Please do not park in the red zones, double park or block our kindergarten driveway. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Upcoming events:
Principal’s Coffee (Spanish) 9/19 8-9 AM staff room
Principal’s Coffee 9/26 8:30-9:30 AM (Topic: Getting Ready for Conferences)
Have a wonderful rest of the week.
Arline Siam
Principal
Upcoming Events
September
18- SSC at 3pm
19- Cafecito con la directora 8am (Spanish)
26- Principal’s Coffee at 8:30am
October
6- Picture Re-take (Picture ID: EVTHM9SKM)
8- Bookmobile at 2:30pm
9- Teacher Service Day (No School)
10- Recess Day (No School)
13-17- Conference Week (Minimum Day)
23- SSC at 3:30pm
24- Principal’s Coffee at 8:30 am
24- Trunk or Treat 6pm-8pm
27-30- Walden West (5th grade)
29- Bookmobile at 2:30pm
31- Halloween Parade at 8:15 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:
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, September 18 at 6 pm. Open session will begin at 7 p.m.
Some of the topics include:
- Landels Pilot Child Nutrition Dishware
- i-Ready Diagnostic 1 Report
- Contracts, Purchasing, and Checklist Review
- Assessed Value Growth and Budget Information
- MVW Residences Appointments
For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.
Is your Student Too Sick for School? – Flyer sent 9/15
As we enter the cold and flu season, it’s important to know when your student should stay home to rest and recover, as well as to prevent the spread of illness. Please take a moment to read the attached MVWSD’s Back to School Health Guidance flyer. It includes information on when your student should stay home, illness prevention tips and COVID guidelines. Knowing when to keep your student home helps keep our school community healthy and safe. Thank you for your cooperation!
Parenting in the Digital Era: Building Healthy Tech Habits
Date and Time: September 30, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Registration: http://mvw.sd/pu093025r
Did you know that experts estimate that the average American teen spends 7-8 hours each day on their screens? It’s no wonder that this is a critical parenting topic. Fear not: our friends at My Digital TAT2 are returning to Parent University! At this Speaker Series event, MDT2 will update us on the latest tech trends and discuss the key topics of media literacy, misinformation/ disinformation, and social media influencers. They will also address the burning question: “When is it ok to give my kid a cell phone?” You will be equipped with fresh knowledge and useful strategies to help your family maintain a healthy relationship with tech...and with one another.
To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your questions during the session.
Showing Up Matters….for learning, for friendships, for success
Is your student chronically absent? Students who are “chronically absent” typically attend school fairly regularly, but miss a few days here and there. Both excused or unexcused absences count toward chronic absenteeism. This loss of time in school negatively affects the student’s learning.
Chronically absent students miss 10% of the time that school has been in session. An average of 2 days absent a month means a student is chronically absent.
The District is required to track this data and report it to the state. MVWSD contacts parents when students reach concerning absence levels, but if not remedied, the students and their families may be referred to the District’s Student Attendance Review Board. Please contact your school counselor, At Risk Intervention Supervisor or School Community Engagement Facilitator if you need support with your child’s attendance.
MVWSD seeks parents & staff members for Health and Wellness Committee
Committee and task force members lend perspective and expertise to important district work that benefits our students. Please consider serving on the Health and Wellness Committee. Applications are due by September 30 and can be found here: http://mvw.sd/health.
Health and Wellness Committee Task: To align District efforts to support student wellness through health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, psychological and counseling services, and a safe and healthy school environment.
Interested applicants would have some experience, knowledge, or interest in the content as described above. We are seeking at least 1 parent and 1 certificated representative per school site and 1 community-based organization representative. The maximum capacity of the group is 15 participants.
Time commitment is four meetings this school year, one hour per meeting, and all meetings are virtual. Those who are interested in participating and would like to learn more, please join us for our first meeting to learn about our work firsthand.
Tuesday, Sep 23, 2025; 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Via Zoom
Meeting Link: https://mvwsd.zoom.us/j/87804100042
Meeting ID: 878 0410 0042
By Phone: (669) 444-9171
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2025-2026 Health and Wellness Committee Meeting Schedule
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025; 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025; 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026; 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2026; 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Vision and Hearing Screenings
MVWSD conducts hearing and vision screenings of all students in TK/kindergarten, second-, fifth- and eighth-grade, as California State Law mandates. These screenings will take place:
- At Imai on Sept. 19 and 22
Parents will be notified in writing if children fail a screening. Parents who do not want their child screened for either vision and/or hearing should send a letter to their child's school each school year indicating that their child is to be excluded, and vision and/or hearing results will need to be provided by their physician.
If you have any concerns about your child’s vision or hearing, please contact your school nurse. Questions about the screenings should be directed to the Health Services office at 650-526-3500 ext. 1050.
Non Discrimination Notice
MVWSD is committed to providing a safe, positive environment for all. In accordance with our annual distribution of District policies requirements, please click here for MVWSD's non-discrimination statements, responsibilities, policies, contacts and complaint procedures.
Suicide prevention
September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. Know the warning signs of suicide risk in young people.
Behavior changes can include:
- Talking about or making plans for suicide
- Expressing hopelessness about the future
- Displaying severe or overwhelming emotional pain or distress.
- Worrisome changes in behavior.
If you or someone you know is displaying these warning signs, help is available. Text, call, or chat 988 from anywhere at any time. Visit 988lifeline.org for more information.
Content provided by: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
MVEF funds essential programs – Back-to-School is the perfect time to give!
Imagine school without art or music, without hands-on science in the garden, without middle school sports or clubs, and with larger English classes…
MVEF donors make so much more possible. Extra English teachers in middle school keep class sizes manageable, CSMA art and music teachers spark creativity in elementary classrooms, and Living Classroom lessons bring science to life. And middle schoolers can discover sports, clubs, and performing arts—all because of MVEF funding.
Now is the time to become a donor—or renew your gift for this school year. The suggested donation for 2025–26 is $1,100 per student, but every amount makes a difference for our students.. All gifts are tax-deductible, and many employers will match your donation to double that impact. Click here to give!
FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Family Health and Wellness Fair
Assemblymember Marc Berman invites you and your family to the Family Health and Wellness Fair. In partnership with San Jose Councilmember Rosemary Kamei and the Campbell Union School District, they’ll be giving out free groceries and snacks, school supplies and backpacks, diapers, flu shots and much more.
Local healthcare professionals will be on-site to offer free health screenings for children and adults. Learn more here.
Saturday, September 20, 2025
1:00 – 3:30 PM
Castlemont Elementary School
3040 E. Payne Ave.
Campbell, CA 95008
RSVP here.
Upcoming Programs at Mountain View Public Library
AMPLIFY: Model UN Workshop
This fun and engaging workshop introduces Model UN to students in grades 5-9. We will cover all the Model UN basics and build critical life skills, including public speaking, esearch, paper writing, and creative problem-solving. This is an interactive chance for students to learn more about global affairs, collaborate to create solutions on key issues, and practice public speaking in learning environment.
Saturday, Sept. 20
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Grades 5-9
First Floor Program Room
Register here or with the QR code on the attached flyer.
Make a Difference in Your Community: Volunteer with Mentor Tutor Connection!
Are you passionate about helping students succeed? Mentor Tutor Connection is seeking dedicated volunteers to mentor high school students or tutor K-8 students in math, writing, or reading at local public schools in Los Altos and Mountain View.
Why Volunteer with MTC?
- Make a Lasting Impact: Help underserved students reach their full potential, both academically and personally.
- Support Future Leaders: Mentoring high school students or tutoring younger students can help students navigate challenges and build confidence.
- Join a Community of Like-minded Volunteers: Connect with other compassionate individuals and gain a deeper sense of purpose by helping others.
Get Involved: Join us for a Volunteer Information Session on September 18th at 12 pm online. During this session, you’ll learn about our mentoring and tutoring programs, and have the chance to ask any questions you might have.
To register for our Volunteer Information Session or to learn more about MTC, please email [email protected] or visit mentortutorconnection.org.
Learning Challenges events for Fall 2025
For local coverage of issues related to learning challenges and special education, please check out the Learning Challenges Committee.
Calm Down Kit Making Sessions
Volunteers will make Calm Down kits for classrooms throughout Mountain View and Los Altos and learn how to make their own for their home! Thursday September 26 (5-7 pm), Tuesday September 30 5-7 pm. For location, contact [email protected].
Learning Challenges Committee General Meeting
October 7, 7 pm in person (TBA) and Zoom hybrid
We will be finishing up the Wellness Wish List and will likely need a work session to finish up packing orders for delivery to classrooms! For more info, email [email protected].
Evening Let’s Talk Parent Support group
October 15, 7 pm on Zoom.
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 here.
Missed past Parent Education events?
We have a YouTube channel with many of our past events including the recent talk on Assistive Technology, info on summer camps and recreational activities, Anxiety and Depression in Children with Learning Challenges, SMART Goals and IEP Troubleshooting, and more. Channel is here.
PTA NEWS
Yearbook PRE-ORDER starts TODAY, Sept 17th!
Pre-order your yearbook now and save 10%! Follow this link: Order Here (for new parents, you would need to create a Treering account).
Every yearbook comes with two free customizable pages for each student, and Treering plants a tree for every yearbook sold!
Sign up to volunteer for your room’s yearbook page- no experience necessary!
For any yearbook-related questions please email: [email protected]
Attachments
TeenCenter
MentorTutor
Showing Up Matters
MVWSD Back to School Health Guidance