December 8, 2022

Hello, Theuerkauf Families!

Thank you for your engagement in Parent Teacher Conferences this week! One question that we are often asked at conferences is: what can I do to help my child at home? Here are some general suggestions to add to what your child's teacher has shared with you:

Building Background Knowledge: When students have varied experiences, they can apply that knowledge to better understand books, math problems, etc. One way to build background knowledge is to expose your child to different experiences by visiting places. However, this is not always possible or practical. However, a relatively easy and accessible way to build background knowledge is to watch educational television or read informational books together.  When my kids were younger, we used to watch shows on PBS like Wild Kratts to learn about different animals.  

 

Reading: Reading means reading the words, listening to the words, reading the pictures, or retelling a story. So, even if a child is not yet reading on their own, they benefit greatly from listening to a story or looking through picture books. Our students check out library books from the Theuerkauf library each week. We are also working to create book fair opportunities for students–to be announced soon! In addition, students have access to hundreds of books through their Clever account using apps like RazKids and Epic Books. As a family, you may also enjoy listening to audiobooks together on your commute to and from home or during road trips.

 

Math Fluency: Math fluency means knowing your math facts (i.e. quickly knowing that 9x5 is 45), and also being able to decompose and compose numbers accurately (45 is 9 groups of 5, or 45 is 40 and 5 more).  A great way to build math fluency is through simple card and dice games. Here is a video of games from one of our partner MVWSD schools that you and your child can play together using a deck of cards.

 

Behavior: Parenting is the toughest job that there is. Attending workshops like our district's Parent University Series has empowered many to parent in more productive ways. We will be sharing a couple of additional Parent University opportunities that will take place in January and in the spring regarding Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies that make life a little easier regarding parenting.  

Although we only have formal parent teacher conferences once a year, teachers are always available to discuss your child’s progress at any point during the school year.

 

Principal’s Coffee This Thursday, 12/8, @ 5pm (Zoom)

During this month’s coffee, we will be reviewing iReady Diagnostic 2 data, Cool Cat character values, and school updates for the remainder of the school year.

 

As always, thank you for your partnership. Together, we make a difference!

 

Yours in service,

Michelle Williams, Principal

Important Dates

Monday-Friday, December 5-9~ Conference Week- Dismissal at 12:10 pm each day

Thursday, December 8~ Principal’s Coffee 5:00-6:00 pm (Zoom)

Friday, December 9~ PTA Fundraiser for the Library at Books Inc. (6-9pm)

Thursday, December 22-31~ Holiday Break - No School

Monday, January 2-8~ Holiday Recess - No School

Monday, January 9~ Teacher Service Day - No School

Tuesday, January 10~ Students Return to School 

Monday, January 16~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School


School News

Theuerkauf Cheetah: Logo Refresh

In the last two Cheetah Chatters, it was shared that we are preparing to refresh our beloved Cheetah logo so that it is updated for publications. Today, we would like to share with you some of the first renderings of an updated Cheetah that could represent Theuerkauf. Please click the following link to review these designs and provide feedback about what you would like to see in our updated Cheetah. It is the desire and goal for all staff and students to share their thoughts so that we can ensure that our logo embodies what we value and celebrate as a learning community. Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.

 

THIS FRIDAY - December 9, 2022 from 6-9 pm at Books Inc, Mountain View

Do all your holiday and winter break book/gift buying at Books Inc on Friday, December 9th and Books Inc will donate a portion of all sales that night to the library. 

Booksellers and your friendly Theuerkauf librarian will be there to help you with book recommendations for all ages. 

Snacks and beverages will be served. 

Support the Theuerkauf Library and check some holiday items off your to-do list. Want to volunteer? Sign up to help by emailing [email protected]

 

Holiday TOY Drive!

PTA News

Books Inc Fundraiser - TONIGHT

Don’t forget to invite friends and neighbors to Books Inc Night this Friday, 6-9pm, 317 Castro St.

Thank you to all that attended our PTA Association Meeting last week. Thanks to everyone helping with Conference Week snacks and who signed up to help with Friendship Dance (Feb 3) and Book Fair  (Apr 3-7) planning. Save the date for our next Association meeting, Wednesday, Jan 25.

District News

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m. 

Some of the meeting topics include:          

  • Acknowledge the Retirement of Trustee Ellen Wheeler    

  • 2022-2023 First Interim Budget Report 

  • Bylaws of the Board Agenda / Meeting Materials    

  • County Staff Housing Update (231 Grant)    

  • Open Enrollment / School Marketing Process Changes
     

For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.

 

Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday, Dec. 9

Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Dec. 9 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/CC129.

 

Better Together: Exploring Differences

For the month of December, we explore how our experiences are similar to and different from those of people from different backgrounds. We will also explore Disability Awareness while building literacy around this important topic. The resources linked through the digital copy of this infographic (attached) help you and your students explore themselves and others respectfully and meaningfully with activities meant to enlarge our perspectives about people with disabilities. Please see https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogethermvwsd.

 

i-Ready Diagnostic 2 Test Scores available Dec. 2

i-Ready is an online program that helps us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth in mathematics and reading. Families can access their student’s i-Ready Reading and Mathematics score through their Powerschool Parent Portal. Reports are available on the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/ under “Parent Reports” for each of your students. To learn more, you can view the Parent U session on “Accessing Your Child's CAASPP and i-Ready Scores” at this link (English).

 

The View Teen Center: December 

The View Teen Center is a free facility in Mountain View (263 Escuela Ave) for all Mountain View and Los Altos 6th - 12th grade students. The center is open Monday through Friday: 3:30 - 7 p.m. and Saturday: 1 - 6 p.m, and features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! See attached flyer for details about upcoming December events and programs or visit their webpage for more information.

 

Health and Wellness Parenting Tip: Instructions

We give our kids dozens of instructions each day: Get ready for school. Wash your hands before you eat. Do your homework. Sometimes our kids follow our instructions, and sometimes they do not. One way to increase follow through is to give effective instructions. For example, making eye contact with your child and gently telling them to turn off the TV is likely to be more effective than yelling at them from another room.

 

To provide effective instructions:

Think about a few things that you would like your child to do and try using these tips to provide effective instructions.

Instead of saying…                Say….

“Don’t bother me.”                “Please work on your homework.”

“TURN OFF THE TV!!”            “Please turn off the TV.”

“I told you to stop playing video games.”    “If you don’t stop playing video games in the next 5 

minutes, then you won’t be able to play tomorrow.”

These tips came directly from the free, online Everyday Parenting program created by parenting expert, Dr. Kazdin.

To learn more parenting tips click here

 

MVHS Spartans Tree Lot 

MVHS Sports Boosters will be opening up the Annual Spartans Tree Lot on Friday November 25 at 10 AM for the 2022 season at the Mountain View High School Stadium (3535 Truman Ave.). Spartans Tree Lot offers premium, top-quality trees ranging in size from 3 feet to 12+ feet, holiday decorations, and supplies. In person and online delivery options are available. All proceeds benefit Mountain View High School Athletics. For more information, head to: SpartansTreeLot.com.

 

Ravenswood Immunization Clinic 

The Ravenswood Family Health Network is hosting Immunization and Flu clinics at their Mountain View Location (900 Miramonte Avenue), by appointment only. The Immunization Clinic occurs on Monday afternoons from 1-4 p.m. and has a variety of vaccines available, and the Flu Clinic is held on Monday mornings from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Limit of 2 siblings per parent per visit. Vaccines are free for children with Medi-Cal, HealthyKids, or no health insurance. Call (650) 330-7400 for more information or to set up an appointment.

Attachments 

Teen Center 

Better Together 

MVHS Tree Lot 

Ravenswood Immunization Clinic 


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