April 22, 2021
Hello Crittenden Families,
I hope you had a restful spring break. As we get closer to the end of the school year I wanted to remind you that our Distance Learning Enrollment Confirmation Survey is due April 25. This is your opportunity to enroll your child in the Distance Learning School for next year. Please look for the survey in your email dated April 9, and a reminder on April 19. Information to help you with your choice is available on https://www.mvwsd.org/academicsduringcovid.
It is the time of year when our incoming middle school students choose their electives for next year. We are currently working to provide quality offerings that we hope will pique students’ interests and offer 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. If you are choosing the Distance Learning School for your child for next year, please preference electives using the course catalog for the middle school he/she would otherwise attend.
Look for an email to parents on April 26 with links to course catalogs and selection directions. All 5th-7th graders will preference their course electives online through Powerschool on April 30-May 7, 2021
You're invited to attend a Principal’s coffee on Tuesday, April 27th from 5-6pm. We value your voice and would greatly appreciate to hear your feedback on what are some of the challenges and needs our students experienced due to the pandemic and how we can address learning recovery for the 2021-2022 school year. Please use the following registration link to register for the meeting.
We are excited to share with our 8th grade families that we are organizing an 8th grade Car Parade on June 4th to celebrate the end of our 8th graders middle school years. Our PTA is organizing a picture day for our 8th graders. More details coming soon. We are currently looking for photographers that can volunteer their time to take the pictures of our 8th graders. If you are interested in helping please email me as soon as possible. In addition, we are in the process of creating a promotion video that will be shared with families in the last week of school. We look forward to celebrating our 8th graders!
Executive Functioning Tip of the week: Skill: Healthy Sleep Habits
Sleep is such a huge part of children’s success at school. Healthy sleep enhances a student's cognitive development because sleep helps to incorporate learning into permanent memory. Sleep also aids in organizational skills, multi-tasking, planning, and executive function. Unfortunately, adolescents are notorious for not getting enough sleep. The average amount of sleep that teenagers get is between 7 and 7 ¼ hours. However, they need between 9 and 9 ½ hours. Here are some tips on helping your teen improve their sleeping habits.
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Your teenager should go to bed and wake up at about the same time each day. Her sleep schedule should also ensure adequate time in bed.
- Avoid oversleeping on weekends. Although catching up on some sleep on the weekends can be helpful, sleeping in until noon on Sunday will make it hard for your teenager to get back on a school schedule that night.
- Take early afternoon naps. A nap of 15-20 minutes in the early afternoon can be beneficial.
- Turn off televisions, computers, and radios at least one hour before bedtime. Television viewing, computer-game playing, internet use, and other stimulating activities at bedtime will cause problems falling asleep.
Crittenden Panthers learning together, wherever we are.
Mrs. Gomez
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS:
April 27 (5:00pm-6:00pm)
Principal’s Coffee
May 4
PTA 6:30 - 9:00pm
May 13
ELAC 6:00 - 7:00pm
May 18
PTA 6:30 - 9:00pm
DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Distance Learning Enrollment Confirmation Survey is due April 25
As more people get vaccinated and COVID-19 cases remain steady or trend downward, we anticipate the 2021- 22 school year will look more like a typical school year, but with a few differences. Distance learning, in the form of the new MVWSD Distance Learning School (DLS), will be an option for families who prefer it for their students.
Distance Learning Enrollment Confirmation Survey is due April 25: This is your opportunity to enroll your child in the Distance Learning School for next year. Please look for the survey in your email dated April 9, and a reminder on April 19. Information to help you with your choice is available on https://www.mvwsd.org/academicsduringcovid
Parent University: Preparing for Middle School
Date: April 28th Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/XWF1A
Come and learn more on how to support your students as they transition to middle school. We will feature a panel of counselors, teachers and middle school students to answer questions and provide information about middle school.
To submit questions prior to the event, please click here. We will do our best to address your question during the session.
In case you missed it: Haben Girma Parent University event recordings available
MVWSD had the pleasure of getting to hear from Haben Girma, the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, earlier this month through Parent University. Hear her inspiring story! English and Spanish recordings of this event can be found at: https://mvwsd.org/parentu.
Better Together: Strengthening Communities
This month’s Better Together focus is on civic engagement and getting involved in the community. Please see the attached or https://www.mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD for the infographic, which features activities for the family, engaging books about activism for students, and more!
COVID testing available for students and families
Regular, asymptomatic COVID testing for students is not required at this time however, parents may want to have students tested, especially after travel, to ensure that they are not carrying the COVID-19 virus.
Free, asymptomatic testing is available for students and parents at:
* El Camino Hospital or MV Center for Performing Arts. Dates: Ongoing. Schedule through El Camino Health at https://www.elcaminohealth.org/landing/schedule-covid-19-test?s=mapPin.
* Graham and Crittenden Middle Schools. Dates: Wednesday, April 28 at Graham MUR. You should register here. You also may schedule an appointment by calling 650-940-7022 and use option 4. Please mention you are with the Mountain View Whisman School District when calling.
If your child has symptoms of COVID or has had a known exposure to someone who may have COVID, please contact your child's pediatrician for testing information. If you do not have a health care provider, make a symptomatic testing appointment with a county provider here: https://scl.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment/screen/landing.
Last one! Resilience Pause Series
The 30-minute, online Community Resiliency Model Resilience Pause sessions for adults (parents and staff members) are scheduled during this transition in our school year to assist participants with building resilience throughout return to in-person instruction. Participants can learn strategies on Mondays and build habits towards resilience during the week. These sessions are designed to teach life-long habits that help us to self-regulate during stressful moments.
April 26, 4pm: “Help Now!” A Reactive Strategy
Sessions can be drop-in or attended in a series. To join: http://mvw.sd/HAjbz
Join the MVEF Board and make a difference!
MVEF is looking for board members! With as little as 5 hours a month, you can support a well-rounded education (arts, science, wellness) for all students in the district. MVEF needs your voice and opinions for living our vision, from promoting MVEF at back to school night, to crafting a survey for our donors. Attend our next meeting or email [email protected] to learn more.
MVLA Parent Speaker Series, “The Power of Showing Up: What Kids Really Need from Adults,” April 22 from 7:00 - 9:00pm
MVLA will be hosting their last Parent Speaker Series event for the season, “The Power of Showing Up: What Kids Really Need from Adults,” on Thursday, April 22 from 7:00 - 9:00pm with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, a psychotherapist and best-selling author.
Parents worry. It’s what we do. Reassuringly, the latest brain and attachment research is clear on how best to make a difference in our child’s life over the long run: we simply need to show up. Offering plenty of warmth and humor, Dr. Bryson will explore what showing up means, sharing stories and simple strategies for honoring the Four S’s - helping kids feel secure, seen, soothed, and safe. She'll discuss practical advice for supporting anxious kids, hitting the reset button on parenting, and creating a safe harbor at home for children of all ages. Registration for this free event can be found at: https://mvla2020-21-tinapaynebryson.eventbrite.com.
Upcoming MV Public Library Programs: Product Design, Parenting Program
The Mountain View Public Library will be hosting two events:
Design an Amusement Park for Dogs: Thursday, April 22, 4pm - 5pm for Grades 3-5 on Zoom. Learn about the product design process and create your own amusement park ride with Product Designer and Author Vicky Fang. Registration required. Sign up at https://mountainview.gov/librarycalendar
Building your Child’s Self-Confidence and Personal Power: (English) Wednesday, April 28, 7pm - 8pm on Zoom. (Spanish) Wednesday, April 21, 7pm - 8pm on Zoom. Presenters from CHAC Family Resource Center will discuss ways to raise a confident child with inner strength and health self worth. For parents of children ages 2-12. Registration required. Sign up at https://mountainview.gov/librarycalendar
Virtual Earth Day Events with the City of Mountain View
We know that Earth Day (4/22) is looking a little different this year, so it’s going virtual here at the City of Mountain View! We’re holding two contests with multiple gift card prizes (a short video competition and a student poster contest), all centered around creativity and how you restore the Earth in your own way. For both contests, the deadline for entries is Monday, April 16th, 2021 no later than 5pm. Submissions can be made at: this link; see attached flyers for more information.
Additionally, please join us on Thursday, April 22nd from 6pm-8:30pm for our Virtual Earth Day Event! We’ll be having speakers from the Planet Bee Foundation, Acterra, Recology, and Cool Block. Community members will also be giving 5-minute ‘micro talks’ about how they’re “Restoring the Earth.” And finally, we’ll be announcing the winners of the video and poster contests live during the event. Please visit this link for details.
Virtual Family Concert for Children's Day with MV Public Library
In Celebration of Dia De Los Ninos/Children's Book Day, Mariela Herrera will perform an interactive and lively concert over Zoom of songs in English and Spanish for children of all ages. The event is on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 from 6:30pm - 7:00pm, and registration is at: https://mountainview.libcal.com/event/7613746.