Hello Panthers! Please read your weekly newsletter below. Here is a quick summary of this week’s message followed with further details:
October 14th, 2021
Crittenden News:
-Safety
-Earthquake Drill
-Virtual Principal Coffee (10/19)
-ELAC Meeting (10/26)
-Picture Day Photos (10/15)
-Monthly Study Skills Workshop
-PowerSchool Uploads
District News:
-Virtual Coffee with the Superintendent (10/20)
-Parent University (10/27)
-Better Together
-MVEF Relies on Parents Like You
-SMART Goals (10/19)
-Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer (10/14)
-MVLA Speaker (10/21)
-Eviction Help Center
Hello Crittenden Families,
October marks for an abundance of celebratory events, so please take note of all the ways your student can be involved. The Latino Student Union Club has organized a lunch event on Friday, October 15th to end the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Students and staff are encouraged to wear their cultural attire that represents Hispanic Heritage. In addition our leadership team has been hard at work preparing for Breast Cancer Awareness. In doing so students are also encouraged to wear PINK tomorrow Friday, October 15th. Our campus looks and feels lively with event posters posted on our buildings and student and staff’s good spirit.
On October, 20 our Leadership students organized campus wide Unity Day . On Unity Day people come together — in schools, communities and online —to send one large ORANGE message of support, hope and unity to show that we are united against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Students will have an opportunity to enter a raffle when they write a card of kindness for someone and enter to win a gift card. We will unite to celebrate kindness on Wednesday, October 20th by wearing the color ORANGE!
Crittenden News:
Safety
One of our top priorities is student safety. When driving into the parking lot off of Middlefield, you are crossing a busy bike lane. Watch out for cyclists! Be careful to give them at least three feet of space and do not cut them off when you turn right into the lot. The cyclists have the right of way. Let them pass you, then turn right. Please remember to pull forward when you drop off/pick up your child. This helps minimize traffic. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership.
Earthquake Drill
Next week we will be practicing the duck, cover, and hold earthquake procedures with our students.
We would like to make an important recommendation: in the event of a real emergency, we can only sign out your student to be picked up by contacts who are listed in your PowerSchool account as “authorized for school pickup”. If they are not indicated as such, they cannot pick up your student. Being just an “ Emergency Contact” is not enough. Please take the time right away to review your PowerSchool account and ensure that the proper people are authorized.
Virtual Principal’s Coffee
We look forward to seeing you at our virtual principal’s coffee on Tuesday, October 19th from 6:00-7:00pm. We will review our D1 iReady data, school goals for the year, and SEL updates. Please pre-register for the meeting by using the following link -Registration link.
ELAC (English Language Advisory Council)
The next Virtual ELAC meeting will be Tuesday, October 26th 6:00pm-7:30pm. Please see [email protected] or 650-903-6945 ext. 2206 for Zoom Meeting link details.
Picture Day Photos
Pictures have arrived! Students should expect to receive them by Friday, October 15th during their first period class.
If your student was not able to attend the first round of Picture Day they will have an opportunity during make-up picture day. However, as of yet the make-up picture date is still pending as we coordinate dates with our vendor and school schedules.
Monthly Study Skills Workshop
In an effort to support our students and their continued learning of skills. Our school counselor, Ms. Hinojosa will be hosting monthly Study Skills Workshops to support our students' academic success. The first workshop will take place on Thursday, October 28th right after school from 2:30-3:30 pm in room 205. The first workshop topic will be Organization and Time Management. Through the use of presentations, resources, tips, activities and independent time to work, the workshops will cover different fundamental skills to ensure student success in middle school and for life! Please email [email protected] to reserve a spot for your student.
PowerSchool uploads
PowerSchool Uploads: Parents can now upload to PowerSchool the important COVID documents that will help expedite students’ return to school after a COVID exposure. Please take a moment now to upload your documentation. After logging in to https://ps.mvwsd.org/public, parents will be able to click on the “COVID reporting” icon to upload:
- Students’ proof of COVID vaccination and
- Past positive COVID test. Here’s how to upload.
October Lunch Menu
We all deserve a good meal to keep us going through the day. Our kitchen staff has been hard at work to find new ways to make our school food exciting and inviting by offering a variety of options each month. Please see the link to October's menu.
Upcoming Events:
October
10/15 Hispanic Heritage Month Ends (Hispanic Heritage Attire Encouraged)
10/15 Breast Cancer Awareness Day (Pink Attire Encouraged)
10/19 Virtual Principals Coffee (6:00-7:00 pm) Registration link
10/20 Unity Day (ORANGE Attire Encouraged)
10/28 Monthly Study Skills Workshop (2:30-3:30pm)
November
11/5 End of Trimester - Minimum Day Schedule
11/11 Veterans Day - No School
11/22-11/26 Thanksgiving Recess No School
In partnership,
Mrs. Gomez
Principal
What can you do today to help others feel valued, cared for, safe, and included at Crittenden?
District Announcements:
Coffee with the Superintendent
Wednesday, October 20, 2021⋅5:30 – 6:30pm
This is an informal meeting for Spanish-speaking parents. Translation will be provided. Please register in advance for this meeting by clicking here: http://mvw.sd/cafe10-20-21.
Parent University: Supporting Literacy Grades 3-8
Date: October 27, 2021 Time: 5:30-7:00pm
Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu102721
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” - Joseph Addison.
Join Instructional Coaches Melanie Stanley, and Katie Stern share creative tips and strategies to better support your child in their literacy skills. By supporting your child’s literacy you can take part in developing their reading ability, comprehension, and language skills. To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.
Note: While this presentation is tailored towards families with children in third grade and above, all are welcome. If you’d like to see a presentation that is aimed more toward families with younger students, check out the recording of last year’s literacy-focused Parent University event.
Better Together: Seeking Multiple Perspectives
The focus of October’s Better Together infographic is “Seeking Multiple Perspectives.” When individuals examine issues from a different point of view, they are able to think more critically and question dominant beliefs. Please see the graphics attached to this newsletter, or visit https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.
Health and Wellness: Parenting Series
It is natural for us to pay attention to behaviors that are irritating, worrisome, or make us want to disappear from embarrassment. Usually, when our child is calm, quiet, and self-entertained, we breathe a sigh of relief. However, this inadvertently teaches our child that they can get our attention by being disruptive. The good news is that we can reverse this pattern by paying attention to our child’s positive behaviors.
To praise positive behaviors:
Try praising something positive that your child is doing each morning and evening (for example, “Good job sharing with your sibling”). We are used to noticing disruptive behaviors, so praising your child’s positive behaviors will take some practice and patience – but will ultimately benefit both you and your child.
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 Relies on Parents Like You!
Please donate to MVEF to help us reach our annual $800,000 fundraising goal and raise an additional $300,000 to fund two ELA teachers to reduce class sizes at the middle schools in 2022-23. Please see the website at mvef.org for more information and to donate online. You can use your credit card to pay in monthly installments.
SMART Goals - Creating and Troubleshooting IEP Goals that Work
IEP Goals are written in a very specific language and it can be difficult to see how the goals relate to concrete skills and goals for your child. Learn more about SMART Goals and how they work with Professor Anne Spillane of University of Massachusetts Global.
What: Parent Education Event and Discussion
When: Tuesday, October 19, 7-8:30 PM
Where: On Zoom, email [email protected] for link
Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Thursday, October 14th
You can change the life of a student! Come learn about volunteer opportunities to Mentor high school students and Tutor students in grades K-8 in our Mountain View and Los Altos schools. Becoming a Mentor or Tutor will add joy to your life and help a student in our local community to a brighter future!
There is no obligation to sign up as a volunteer. You're welcome to just come and learn more about what we do.
All volunteers must be high school graduates.
Date: Thursday, October 14th
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Location: Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)
Register: REGISTER ONLINE
Questions: programs@mentortutorconnection.org
Information: MentorTutorConnection.org
MVLA Speaker Series with Dr. Michael Bradley
The MVLA Speaker Series continues on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 7:00pm. Join us for an evening with a clinical psychologist and author of Yes,Your Teen Is Crazy! Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind, Dr. Michael J. Bradley. Dr. Bradley’s respect-based philosophy is at the heart of the presentations he has given to thousands of parents who are seeking ways to communicate with their adolescent children. He takes you inside your teenager’s head and shows you why teens think and behave the way they do, and gives parents real-world advice, strategies, and methods to use. Register at: https://eventbrite.com/e/michael-bradley-yes-your-teen-is-crazy-registration-167808157717
Eviction Help Center at MV Public Library
The City of Mountain View hosts a help center at the MV Public Library with city staff, CSA, and Project Sentinel to provide residents with rent assistance, eviction help, legal resources, and other support services. There are multiple representatives that speak Spanish. The help center is available every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Mountain View Public Library on the 2nd Floor, Room 205. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit mountainview.gov/COVID19HousingRelief.
Thank you for your all support!