Principal’s Message: 

Quote of the week

“One kind word can change someone’s entire day.”

-Unknown

Deaf Huff Families,

Staff Appreciation Week began this week. We are very fortunate to have wonderful teachers and staff that make Huff a great place for our students. Our staff has been working tirelessly this year to support our students and help them progress this school year. Please join me and give a big thank you to our staff. If you haven’t already, I’m sure our staff would greatly appreciate a brief message of encouragement, support, or thanks! 

Art Project

Our final art project for the year will be ready for you to pick up (Zoomies) on Wednesday (5/12) in the office between the hours of 7:30-4PM. Roomies will take theirs home during the week so no need to stop by. Once your child finishes it, please send me a picture so we can add it to the slide show that will be shown during our whole school assembly the last week of school. I can’t wait to see everyone’s lovely creation. 

i-Ready Assessments

All Huff students (K-5) will be taking their third round of i-Ready Reading assessments on Tuesday 5/11 and Thursday 5/13.  Students will take the i-Ready Math assessment on Tuesday 5/18 and Thursday 5/20. The i-Ready data helps us monitor student progress throughout the year. It also helps us identify standards that students have already mastered, as well as areas of focus during first instruction.  The i-Ready assessment is also one of the measures we use to determine the math placement for our middle school students. 

 

Roomies will be testing in-person, and Zoomies will be testing virtually.  For Roomie families, please remember that families are not proctoring the assessment for their students. Students will log in to their Zoom session with their teacher.  Students must use their district issued device to access the test. Teachers will be on Zoom to monitor in real-time your child’s participation in the assessment. As parents/ guardians, you play a very important role in supporting your children before they take the diagnostic assessments.

 

Below are some tips you may find useful to help prepare your child for the diagnostic assessment:

• Explain to your child that it is important to do his/her best. (ALL Parents)

• Remind your children to work out their problems and pace themselves (Zoomies)

• Make sure your child has a distraction-free area to take the assessment (Zoomies)

• Teachers will live proctor the assessment (Both Roomies and Zoomies)

• During the Zoom assessment session, your child’s camera must be on and audio be enabled when asked by the teacher (Zoomies)

• Do not help your child during the assessment (Zoomies)

• Encourage your child to stay steady, focused, and do his/her best during the test. (Zoomies)

Remember that it is important to support a growth mindset by encouraging your children to try their best and then giving them the space to take the assessment and problem solve on their own.

Have a wonderful week! Stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Arline Siam

Upcoming Events

May

*19: PTA General Meeting -7pm

*21: Principal’s Coffee - 8:30am

*26: SSC -3:15pm

*26: ELAC- 5:30pm

* 28: End of Trimester - Minimum Day-

*31: Memorial Day -No School-

June

*4: Last day of school -Minimum Day-

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:

Board meeting preview: May 6

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, May 6 at 5:30 p.m. Some of the meeting topics include: Learning Recovery Plan, construction updates and staff appreciation. Agenda and login information are here. The meeting is also streamed on https://www.youtube.com/mvwsd.

Community Check-In with the Superintendent

Please join us for an informal, online conversation with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, May 7, 3:30 p.m. Spanish interpretation is available. Click here to register

Better Together #MVWSD: Prioritizing Mental Health

This month's #BetterTogether infographic features tools and resources to help all those who work, learn, and partner with MVWSD to prioritize mental health and wellness. No one ever needs to be alone in their struggles. Together we can prioritize mental health and wellness. Click here to view this month’s calendar or visit https://www/mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD

Mental Health Month: Finding your Tools2Thrive
Last week we identified topics that can help you build your own set of #Tools2Thrive which include recognizing and owning your feelings; finding the positive after loss; connecting with others; eliminating toxic influences; creating healthy routines; and supporting others. 

When it comes to your feelings, it can be easy to get caught up in your emotions as you’re feeling them. Most people don’t think about what emotions they are dealing with but taking the time to really identify what you’re feeling can help you to better cope with challenging situations. It’s ok to give yourself permission to feel. By looking for opportunity in adversity or finding ways to remember the good things about who or what we’ve lost, we can help ourselves to recover mentally and emotionally. Access a Mental Health America Tips for Success to learn more.

For each of us, the tools we use to keep us mentally healthy will be unique. But Mountain View Whisman School District wants everyone to know that mental health challenges and conditions are real, and recovery is possible. Finding what works for you may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes. By developing your own #Tools2Thrive, it is possible to find balance between work and play, the ups and downs of life, and physical health and mental health – and set yourself on the path to recovery.

Discover your #Tools2Thrive by listening to Renee Jain and Dr. Shefali Tsabary discuss our superpowers we are born with and how to transform our biologically natural anxiety so that we are empowered by it. You can access this 18 minute conversation in English at NPR How To Help Your Kids Reframe Their Anxiety — And Reclaim Their Superpowers

Parent University: Preparing for High School

Date: May 19, 2021  Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/osiVT

Is there a rising high school freshman in your home? Do you want to learn a bit more about the habits, traits, and skills students should develop to be ready for high school? Join us at our final Parent University session of the year as we meet members of staff and students at the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District to hear them talk about this ever-important topic! 

To submit questions prior to the event, please click here. We will do our best to address your question during the session.

And if you missed any of our content this year, have no fear: www.mvwsd.org/parentu has recordings of all of our Parent University sessions this year! 

For next year’s 6th, 7th, 8th grade students: Middle School electives selection is happening now 

It is the time of year when our incoming middle school students choose their electives for next year. Our middle schools are currently working to provide quality offerings that we hope will pique students’ interests and a great complement to our core academics. We are requesting each child's top 5 interests so that we can provide at least one of his/her top choices.

These electives are all subject to staffing, student interest and COVID safety guidance. Your child’s preference will help us plan and schedule courses for next year. 

Please visit https://www.mvwsd.org/MSelectives for course catalogs and selection directions. All 5th-7th graders will preference their course electives online through Powerschool through May 7, 2021.

MVEF is hiring: Content Writer

Mountain View Educational Foundation is Hiring a Content Writer to Help MVEF foster growth, optimize outreach, reach a wider audience, persuade the reader, and inspire action through the power of the written word. 

Can you get people excited about the work that MVEF is doing? Do you write compelling, engaging and meaningful content in a concise newsletter, post web page or direct mail? Are you a superb storyteller that can capture people’s hearts and communicate the data? Is your style personable, specific, and easy to read?

MVEF needs a writer with these skills to enhance communication, marketing, and fundraising letter solicitations. The ideal candidate will help MVEF communicate with donors and parents, meet current fundraising goals, find new funding, spread awareness, and help donors understand the full impact of their donation. 

This is a flexible, part time position.  We need you to write Bi-monthly (sometimes monthly) updates for newsletters, website, and/or social media to keep supporters, donors, and volunteers educated about the impact on the community.  We also need help with back to school marketing presentations and fundraising letters for all levels of donations.  

Please send questions, email and/or resume to [email protected]

District Chess Tournament Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 18th Annual MVWSD Interscholastic Chess Tournament, to be held online again due to COVID-19 on Sunday, May 16, from 12:00 to 5:00.  The registration form and complete instructions can be found at tinyurl.com/mvwsdchess, and the deadline is May 14.  Any questions can be sent to Mark Ruzon, tournament director, at [email protected].

 

Unlocking Our Inner Strengths with CHAC: Registration for free May events available

CHAC has opened registration for their free virtual workshops in May, which focus on unlocking our inner strengths and supporting mental wellness. You are welcome to join for any or all events. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30pm, with optional 30-minute Q&A from 7:30 to 8pm.

May 5: From Puppies to Paintings! Creative Ways to Build Lasting Connections

May 12: Self-Empowerment Through Expression: The Crucial Role of Mental Wellness in Motivating Tomorrow’s Leaders

May 19: Parenting Teens Doesn’t Have to be Painful!

May 26: Self-Care & Support Across Diverse Communities

For more information about each session and to register in advance, head to: https://funraise.org/give/Community-Health-Awareness-Council/a25a1482-56ef-448d-80f1-c36132be901c/.

El Camino Health Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

El Camino Health is continuing to administer free COVID-19 vaccines – by appointment – for those aged 16 and up who live or work in Santa Clara County. Vaccines are administered at El Camino Health’s Sunnyvale Clinic Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Visit elcaminohealth.org/schedulevax to make an appointment.

 

See attached flier for information and scheduling assistance available in Spanish and Mandarin. If you need assistance scheduling an appointment online, please call 408-871-7460, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

 

The County of Santa Clara announced that most County Health System vaccination sites will accept drop-ins for COVID-19 vaccines. Same-day appointments and some drop-in locations across the county are available at sccfreevax.org. 

MVLA Speech & Debate Summer Camp 

The Mountain View - Los Altos High Schools Speech and Debate Team is holding our annual summer camp from June 14–18 and June 21–25! The camp will be completely virtual, and students will learn about fundamental concepts in speech and debate in order to help them become more persuasive speakers and stronger critical thinkers. Additionally, we’re offering three different courses to accommodate for different skill levels and allow students to build off of their existing knowledge. For more information about pricing and registration, visit our website at mvlasdcamp.org.

PTA News:

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR VIRTUAL HAWKFEST: Hawkfest is back this year with a number of fun events (virtual and socially distanced) coming your way. More details on each of these events will come soon, but here's the general rundown:

• Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt starts Saturday, May 8: You can do this on your own schedule with the whole family, submitting answers and photos from various challenges you'll complete around the Huff neighborhoods. Submitted photos will be shared in our school-wide Zoom event on May 21!

• Spring Craft: Spring craft packets will be distributed at school for completion at home; submit photos of completed work for sharing in the school-wide Zoom.

• Fun virtual events (Friday, May 14): Join the fun in scheduled Zoom events from the comfort of home, with separate events for grades K-2 and 3-5. Registration and more details coming soon!

• Hawkfest Finale (Friday, May 21, 5pm): Grab some pizza and gather the family to join us for the Hawkfest finale on Zoom, including slideshows from the scavenger hunt and craft project, plus more online games played school-wide!

 

Attachments:

FREE PHONE SERVICE ENG SPA CHI

CHAC_FRCs_Distribution_flyer_English

CHAC Parent Flyer

2021_mvlasd_camp_graphic

Mvlasd_summer_camp_2

El Camino Health CommunityVaccineClinic_Apr21

May Equity Calendar English