Click here for this week's fliers

May 20, 2021

Hello Crittenden Families,

I want to thank all our students for the hard work they put in for the iReady testing. I understand that testing in any situation can be stressful, but the data it provides is very helpful to us in order to put together a plan for all students. The i-Ready assessment results will be accessible on the Powerschool Parent Portal by the end of day June 4th. 

 

We had a community meeting on Tuesday where we shared with our community about the potential new lighting on Crittenden campus that will help improve safety as part of Measure T. These new lights will help illuminate pedestrians’ path of travel between campus and parking lots. Here is an ISO Crittenden Lighting Diagram for your reference. 

Our board of trustees will vote on this at the June 17th board meeting. If anyone has input and or questions please email them to me and I’m happy to share with our district. 

8th grade parents, by now you should have received a letter from me with details about the end of the year activities. Please be sure to review the important information and deadlines. 

 

We are working on creating a resource document that our students can access during the summer. Our department chairs have been working on putting together creative and fun activities and learning that students can engage in during the summer. I look forward to sharing them with you in the coming weeks. 

 

The CDC recently announced recommendations to relax face covering guidelines for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19. While this news is encouraging, it’s important to remember that we are still required to comply with state and local health orders, which have not yet relaxed requirements on face covering guidance. Until that time, all of our schools and district sites must continue to practice the use of face coverings by all individuals while on school property.  We will update you regarding any changes that impact school operations. Thank you.

 

Executive Functioning Tip of the week:   Practicing Gratitude

 

According to UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center, regularly expressing gratitude (the quality of being thankful and readiness to show appreciation) literally changes the molecular structure of the brain, keeps the gray matter functioning, and makes us healthier and happier. In fact, just thinking about how you could be grateful sparks brain activity critical to sleep, mood regulation, and metabolism.

 

Here are Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

• Keep a gratitude journal. You can make daily, weekly or monthly entries. Don’t force it – this will work better if you are truly interested in doing it.
• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or cutting out pictures and adding words.
• Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine.
• When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.
• Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.
• Tell an employee or a friend something you appreciate about them.
• Look at yourself in the mirror and think of something you like about yourself.
• Sit in a quiet place and think about when something went well. How did that feel? 
• Next time something bad happens, consider 5 good things that happened as a result of this event.
• Write someone a thank you note.
• Write it down, talk about it, think about it, re-live it, meditate.

 

Crittenden Panthers learning together, wherever we are. 

Mrs. Gomez

Principal

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:      

May 28

*End of Trimester 3: Minimum Day:

See Schedule Here

 

May 31

Memorial Day; No School

 

June 4

Last day of School; Minimum Day;  

See Schedule Here

 

 

 

DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

View and comment on MVWSD’s Local Control Accountability Plan draft

The District is finalizing its draft of the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). This is the District’s three-year plan that will correspond with the first three years of the District’s new Strategic Plan 2027. These documents are the blueprints that guide all of the District’s work for the benefit of our students.

Stakeholders are welcome to comment on the draft LCAP plan.  Please read the presentation and supporting materials at mvwsd.org/lcap, and click on the form link there to submit any comments. The comments form closes on May 26. Stakeholders may also attend the public learning during the Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, June 3 at 6 p.m. on Zoom (the link is here: http://mvw.sd/fRqB5).

Board meeting preview: May 20

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, May 20 at 6:00 p.m. Some of the meeting topics include the Expanded Learning Opportunities grant and construction update. Login information and agenda is here: http://mvw.sd/YFtJ4. The meeting is also streamed on https://www.youtube.com/mvwsd.

Community Check-In with the Superintendent: May 21

Please join us for an informal, online conversation with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, May 21, 3:30 p.m. Spanish interpretation is available. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/AKE7h

Returning students can keep Chromebooks this summer. Non-returning students should bring them back

Thank you for your support of the District’s Chromebook program and distance learning this year. If your student is not returning to a MVWSD school next year, please return your student’s Chromebook to your school office by June 11, 2021 (or sooner). Students who will return to MVWSD schools can keep Chromebooks this summer. Students who are moving on to MVLA and plan to use their Chromebooks in high school are welcome to keep them. We will send specific instructions on how 8th-graders can access the MVLA network on their current Chromebooks.

Chromebooks will not be usable by students who are not enrolled in MVWSD or MVLA next year.

School offices are open weekdays from 7:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. When dropping off, please wear a mask and practice social distancing. For questions, please contact Jon Aker at [email protected].

Mental Health Awareness: Sustaining your Tools2Thrive 

We highlight mental health awareness one time per year, but the work to maintain our mental wellness is an everyday endeavor. Building self-care habits into each day contributes to our own personal wellness and models these habits for those around us. As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s important to remember that mental health, like physical health, is important to care for.  Find the activity or practice that works for you and build time into your day to engage in it.  For some people this means some sort of physical activity like walking the dog or practicing yoga.  For others this might mean reading a book or listening to music.  And for some others this may mean spending time with friends and family.  As we choose healthy behavioral practices to enhance our mental health, we also model these for those around us.  We may not all have the same interests, but we can all practice good self-care.  

Discovering what works for us may mean trying a few different things.  Continue to try new things until you find the right fit for you.  If you would like to learn more about Living Mentally Healthy, Mental Health America provides a webpage with many resources.  If you would like some ideas or to learn more about self-care, you can read Sam Dekin’s article on “How Does Self-Care Affect Mental Health?” or access Mental Health America’s “Taking Good Care of Yourself”, NAMI’s “Taking Care of Yourself”, or ActiveMinds “Self Care”. 

As always, MVWSD stands with our students, staff, and families to be #StigmaFree and in support of Mental Health Awareness. We wish you wellness.

COVID Vaccine now available for students 12 years and older

Families can schedule an appointment for their children 12 and older to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for this age group. Among other options around the county, Levi's stadium has evening appointments and the Mountain View Community Center is open during the day.  Vaccination appointments for these locations can be made here: https://vax.sccgov.org/. 

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 

* Graham Middle School. Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at Graham MUR (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.

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 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/.

CalFresh Program for grocery assistance

Need help buying groceries? You might qualify for CalFresh, a free EBT card you can use to buy food at most stores and select online retailers. If you receive CalFresh benefits, you may also be eligible for P-EBT, a grocery benefit that provides $375 per child 18 and under over the summer months. To find out if you qualify, call 1-800-984-3663, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or scan the QR code (flyer attached) to request a call. We speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tagalog. Second Harvest can also connect you to other food programs in your community.