September 9, 2021
From the Principal's Desk
Hello Theuerkauf families,
This Saturday, 9/11/21, marks the 20th anniversary of a very dark day for our nation. As I stop to reflect on the events of September 11th, I am left with the lasting memory of the shock and fear that this brought to our nation and to my own family as well. I recall the worry I felt as my father was unreachable in the LaGuardia airport for a full day, I remember my mother weeping and struggling to make sense of everything as she battled a heart condition, and I recall my coworkers and I watching the news for what seemed like hours as we tried to make sense of what we were taking in on that terrible morning. I also recall how in the days to come, so many people came together in unity to support one other through this crisis. Through the ashes and the tumult, our nation banded together and found a way forward. Tomorrow, as a school and as a district, we will all pause together at 8:46am to take a moment of silence in remembrance and in respect of those whose lives were lost. As respect is one of our core values at Theuerkauf, our students will also complete a short lesson on 9/11 to better understand this important time in our history, respecting the memory of those we lost.
Concerning respect, we will hold our first Cool Cats awards assembly in a few weeks on October 1st via Zoom to celebrate and recognize those students who have exemplified respect over the past month. We would invite you to join us in this time of celebration.
As always, thank you for your support and partnership!
Yours in service,
Michelle Williams, Principal
Important Dates
Friday, September 10, 9-10am - ELAC Meeting (Zoom)
Friday, September 10, 8:46am - 9/11 Moment of Reflection
Monday, September 13 - TK-4th grade - Community School of Music and Arts Classes begin
Wednesday, September 15 - Parent University
Friday, October 1 - Cool Cat Awards Assembly
School News
Congratulations to our Summer Learning Challenge participants!
141 Theuerkauf students participated in the challenge by completing iReady lessons or enrichment workbooks during the summer. 24 students completed 30-100 iReady lessons or two full enrichment workbooks. These students earned goody bags. 3 very lucky students won our raffle to pick out a new book of their choice. Way to go, students! The learning you gained over the summer will continue to help you throughout the year.
Creativity on Display!
We are loving the creativity our students have shared with us through their Cheetah paw prints and in their creative masks. As you take your evening walk, don't forget to pass by our outward-facing windows to view some of the personalized artwork students have to share.
Your Help is Needed
Hello, parents! We are in need of a couple of volunteer crossing guards on our campus. Can you spare 30 minutes in the morning or after school? If so, please email your availability to Ms. Williams. We will set you up with our MOST stylish neon vest and give you a wonderful stop sign to use. Thank you so much for considering.
Re-posted: Volunteer Opportunity
Volunteering as a Project Cornerstone ABC Reader is an opportunity for parents and other caring adults to help build up our caring community. Once a month we share a book and discussion and activity related to social-emotional or life skills with our classroom (over zoom). The volunteers become an additional caring adult in the student’s lives. The books, topics and activities all come from Project Cornerstone. Please email [email protected] to sign up!
Re-posted: Masking up
Thank you so much for working with your child on wearing their mask correctly and consistently! I am happy to report that our students are doing a WONDERFUL job of keeping their masks on all day. We need your help with one thing, though! We have noticed that some students' masks are too small, and they do not cover their noses and mouths at the same time when they talk. A well-fitting and clean mask is essential in maintaining the safety of all of our students. Will you please be sure to send your child to school with a well-fitting mask to wear as well as an extra mask in their backpack, just in case their mask gets dirty? If needed, we will provide your child with a new mask if their mask seems to be too small or soiled.
Re-posted: Open Office Hours with the Principal
Your voice is important! Please note that open office hours with the principal are back again this year so that you can share any ideas, concerns, or questions that may be on your mind. If you'd like to stop by (virtually) and chat with the principal about anything at all, please click on this link on Wednesdays, anytime from 4-5pm.
Re-posted: Theuerkauf Food Drive & Pantry
Thank you so much to those who donated items to our food pantry last year! This week, we will begin accepting donations again this year. If your family has a little extra to share with the community, you can drop items off at our front office. We know that as the pandemic drags on, many families are facing tough times financially, and we want to continue to share with one another. This year, we will continue to accept canned goods, boxed dinners, hygiene items, and other non-perishables as well as grocery cards. Please click here to see a more specific list of items that are typically needed. Thanks again for your generosity and kindness! If you are a family who could use a bit of support, please reach out to Ms. Lisset Tellez. She will schedule a time for you to come to the food pantry to privately pick up the items that you need.
PTA News
Congratulations to Ms. Danielle Kosiorek's class for winning the PTA class challenge!
They won a visit to the snack cart and get to pick their favorite treat during school time.
Thanks to all of you who supported your kids by joining the PTA and contributing to making the school year fun and enriching for the kids.
Happening this week: PTA Walkathon Planning Meeting (September 8th, 7pm,
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86736465261). Please join us to brainstorm ideas on how to make the Walkathon fun for the kids during Covid times!
Reminder - Please sign up for Konstella!
This year, we are trying a new tool for helping teachers and families to connect about special events and to organize class- wide activities. It is called Konstella. In the past much of that communication happened in person with a quick chat, but with the continued safety procedures, Konstella will be our "quick chat" moving forward. Thanks for signing up and making this school year a special one for the kids! https://www.konstella.com/cd/VUATE
District News
Board meeting Preview: Sept. 9
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Sept. 9. Some of the meeting’s topics include updates on:
Agenda and meeting details are here: http://mvw.sd/3KFEg. The meeting is also streamed on www.youtube.com/mvwsd.
Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday
Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Sept. 10 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/RNm0l
Cafecito con el Superintendente on Sept. 8
Please join us for an informal meeting for Spanish-speaking parents on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. Interpretation will be provided.
Please register in advance for this meeting here: http://mvw.sd/FpoWY. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Securly: Keeping students safe on the Internet
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 (www.securly.com/) 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.
Better Together: Appreciating Differences
This is the first issue of #BetterTogether’s second year in circulation. This past summer, the Tokyo Olympic games had us transfixed. Though there is still a way to go, these past games had the most culturally and racially diverse Team USA in history. Just before the start of the school year, the release of the US Census data also confirmed for all of us that we are one nation, more beautifully diverse than ever. This month, Mountain View Whisman School District is celebrating our diversity with resources for teachers, parents, and community partners to aid in the transmission of our message: our diversity is one of our greatest strengths as a nation, as a city, and as a school district, where all are welcome. Please see the graphics attached to this newsletter, or visit https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.
Health and Wellness tip: Modeling behavior
As we settle into our back-to-school routine as best as possible, we might be experiencing some challenges at home with unwanted or undesired behaviors. Our partners from Palo Alto University, Dr. Alana Park and Dr. Eduardo Bunge, have provided us with some information to support our parents as the school year progresses. Here is a great tip from our partners at Palo Alto University to promote desired behavior at home:
Modeling refers to teaching by example. Your child will learn by observing your actions and the actions of others. To model desired behaviors:
For example, you could model being kind to others by greeting your neighbors or offering to help other family members around the home. Make sure to keep praising the behaviors that you want to see (“Great job helping your sibling with their homework”).
This tip came directly from the free, online Everyday Parenting program created by parenting expert, Dr. Kazdin. To learn more parenting tips click here.
MVEF: Please Support Our Students!
MVEF raises money to provide all MVWSD students with an educational experience beyond what is possible with public funding. Help us fund programming for your child and every child in the district! We hope you saw the MVEF brochure (which doubles as a donation envelope) or watched the video during Back to School. Please see the website at mvef.orgfor more information and to donate online. Use your credit card to pay in monthly installments. Please consider joining our team of volunteers. Email us with any questions at [email protected]. Thank you for your support!
Register for 2021-22 Parent U Events
Register in advance for this year’s MVWSD Parent University events. For more information about Parent U and event dates, see attached flyers or head to www.mvwsd.org/parentu.
InPlay: Afterschool activities
Looking for afterschool activities for your student? InPlay offers a free searchable program guide for parents, with filters for age, location, price (including free or reduced cost), and more. To find programs local to Mountain View, head to:https://www.inplay.org/r/mountain-view. Available programs include those that serve students with special needs or English learners.
Local Covid Vaccine Clinic: Sep. 25th- Gift cards for first doses!
Santa Clara County is hosting several upcoming Covid-19 vaccination clinics at the Waldorf School of the Peninsula and Saint Athanasius Church in Mountain View (160 N Rengstorff Ave). Vaccinations are free. Gift card incentives will be provided for first doses.
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1st/2nd dose on September 25th from 12:30pm to 5:30pm. (This is a 1st dose clinic for Saint Athanasius Church Second Harvest Food Distribution Event, those who received a vaccine on 9/3 can get their second dose on 9/25.)
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2nd dose October 16th from 12:30pm to 5:30pm. (This is a clinic for those who received a first dose on 9/25)
For more information about COVID vaccinations in the area, please visit https://vax.sccgov.org/
Mayor for a Day contest with City of Mountain View
Do you have an elementary or middle school-aged student who would like to be the mayor of Mountain View (at least, for one day in October)? The Mayor for a Day contest is an exciting opportunity for kids to learn about local government and civic issues.
Students are invited to write up to a 500-word essay about what Mountain View would be like if they were mayor for a day. Mountain View’s mayor will select the two winners, who will each present their essay at a City Council meeting in October.
For more details, including contest rules and how to submit your entry, visit MountainView.gov/MayorforaDay. All entries are due by Friday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m.
Discovery Education Hands-On STEM event: Tuesday, Sep. 21
You're invited to Discovery Education’s upcoming Hands-On STEM event on Tuesday, September 21 at 10:00 a.m. PST! This action-packed virtual session empowers the next generation of STEM Solution seekers, equipping them with the skills they need to take on some of the planet's greatest sustainability challenges.
Join host Brandon Okpalobi, President of Siyanse, a STEM organization helping kids to create, think, and innovate. During each Hands-On STEM, Brandon will identify a local or global issue, explore why it's happening, introduce interesting people who are working to find solutions, and inspire your students to uncover their own potential with exciting hands-on STEM activities.
Register at: https://www.discoveryeducation.com/info/hands-on-stem-9-21-21/. If you have any questions about this event, reach out to Nina Sclafani at [email protected].
Attachments
Parent U -2021-22
Mayor for a Day
COVID Vaccine
Better Together