Panther Blog January 7, 2021

Hello Crittenden Families,

Welcome back from what I hope was a nice break. Although the circumstances may be difficult, I hope all our students had a happy, restful break and are energized to return for our second half of the school year. We have a lot going on, starting with our Parent-Teacher Conferences that begin next week. If you haven’t already signed up, you can still sign up here. Our conference registration window will close today at 7pm. As a reminder, please check your email tomorrow afternoon for the teachers' conferences zoom links. Our teachers are looking forward to meeting you and your student.

Please note that next week will be minimum days all week to accommodate the Parent-Teacher conferences. Our minimum day bell schedule can be found on our website here.

Recent events in the news may be upsetting to students, and they may be struggling to process them. Here are a few tips that might be helpful:

*Try to be in charge of what and how your child learns about the event. Depending upon the age of your child, it is a good idea to limit children’s exposure to traumatic news stories and images. Older children might use social media to communicate with their friends about events. It is important to monitor their interpretation of what is happening around them.

*When exposure is unavoidable, provide basic information about what happened at an age appropriate level. Brief, basic facts are typically appropriate for younger children, while older children and teens may have more questions. Don’t overwhelm young children with too much information, but be sure to address questions as they arise.

*Do not assume that the child’s worries and questions are the same as your own. Each child will understand and react differently. This will vary to some extent with age or developmental level, personality and pre-existing anxiety, and the manner in which the information is presented.

Please reach out to our staff if you need our support. We are here to help. We stand as your partner during these tough times.

We are in the process of planning for our next material distribution, and should have more information for you next week.

I am happy to announce that Crittenden has a new Librarian. Please welcome Nathan Neal to our school. Here’s a brief introduction from Mr.Neal; I’m originally from Ohio and have been living in the Bay Area for about a year and a half. I also have a dog and 2 cats and have been working in both school libraries and public libraries for the past three years. I am excited to be here at Crittenden Middle School to help serve the students and staff. If anyone ever needs anything please don't hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

Our Executive Functioning Tip of the Week is: Skill: Active Reading Strategies

There’s a reason highlighters and sticky notes are so popular: Jotting down notes and underlining or highlighting text can help kids keep the information in mind long enough to answer questions about it. Talking out loud and asking questions about the reading material can also help with working memory. Active reading strategies like these can help with forming long-term memories, too. Through reading aloud, providing print materials, and promoting positive attitudes about reading and writing, you can have a powerful impact on your child’s literacy and learning. You could even create a book club at home and read and discuss the same book together!

Crittenden Panthers learning together, wherever we are.

Mrs. Gomez

Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS:

January 11- 15

Parent/Teacher Conferences: minimum days for students all week.

January 12 4:00 – 5:00pm

Crittenden: SSC Meeting

Jan 19 6:30-8:30 PM

Crittenden PTA meeting

January 18

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: No School

January 28 5:00 – 6:00pm

Incoming 6th grade Information Night

February 2 6:30 – 9:00pm

PTA -Executive Board mtg.

February 12 5:30 – 6:30am

End of Trimester 2: Minimum Day

February 15 – 19, 2021

Winter Break: No School

DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Reminder from SCC Public Health: Travel = COVID-19 quarantine for 10 days

For people who have 1) come in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, or 2) traveled more than 150 miles: you will need to quarantine (stay home) for 10 days and continue to closely watch for symptoms for 4 more days after you leave quarantine. Get tested immediately if you have symptoms on any day. If you don’t develop any symptoms, get tested on day 6 or later.

For more information about how to quarantine, as well as resources to help you stay home, visit www.sccstayhome.org

Parent University: Adolescent Drug Use, including the impact of the current pandemic.

Join us on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. for our next Parent University event: Adolescent Drug Use, including the impact of the current pandemic. While this event is geared toward parents of children ages 10 to 18, all are welcome.

The presenter, Alum Rock Counseling Center (ARCC), has been in place for 46 years in the Bay Area and addresses the academic, social and mental health needs of the at-risk youth and families. This important workshop will include such topics as:

*Overview of trending substances used by youth (vaping, marijuana, alcohol, opioids, etc.)

*Signs and symptoms

*Why teens are using and the impact of COVID-19

*How families can discuss substance use and support their children

*Alternatives for substance use and ideas for prevention

*Resources

Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Tester and Interpreter/Translator positions available

Looking for a part-time job with a positive social impact? MVWSD is now hiring organized and friendly individuals to administer English Language proficiency assessments to the district’s K-8 English language learners. To find out more, click here: https://www.edjoin.org/Home/DistrictJobPosting/1310195

Can you speak or write in a language other than English? MVWSD is always looking for qualified interpreters and translators. If you enjoy helping families and children and are fluent in English and one of the languages below, click on http://mvw.sd/QthLB (interpreter) and http://mvw.sd/ubXOi (translator). We are currently looking for the following languages: Arabic, Cantonese, Farsi, French, German, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese.

Info meeting next week: MVWSD’s award-winning Preschool (flyer attached to Dec. 7 email)

Is now enrolling for full-day and part-day for the 2021-22 school year. Join us for an informational meeting online on January 14 @ 3:00 pm at http://mvw.sd/preschool2. Please see the attached flyer or https://www.mvwsd.org/preschool for more information.

Enrollment for 2021-22 school year begins this month

For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 18- 22.

For NEW students: Open Enrollment is from January 11 through Feb. 5, 2021 online. You can register your child for the 2021-22 school year when online registration opens here: www.mvwsd.org/register

Virtual presentation on January 27 at 6:00 pm

Hosted by Huff, Landels and Jose Antonio Vargas elementary schools

Presenter Kate Kinsella, Ed.D. will talk about:

*After school conversation tips to use with children to encourage thoughtful responses

*Strategies to help increase students' academic language and listening skills

Kate Kinsella, Ed.D., is a teacher educator at San Francisco State University and a highly sought after speaker and consultant to school districts throughout the United States regarding development of academic language and literacy across the K-12 subject areas. Her 25-year teaching career focus has been equipping children from diverse backgrounds with the communication, reading, and writing skills to be career and college ready.

For more information, please visit http://drkatekinsella.com/about-us/

Getting Ready for the ELPAC information session: Jan. 12

The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is administered every year to our English Learner (EL) students. To learn more about this assessment, the role it plays in the education of every EL, and how to help your child prepare, please join for the following meeting:

January 12

5:00-5:30 in English: https://zoom.us/j/93307939185

5:30-6:00 in Spanish: https://zoom.us/j/93709174683

CSMA offers Virtual Art Club Live Zoom Sessions for Elementary students (School-specific flyers emailed from CSMA to each school’s principal the week of Dec. 14)

Afterschool art for grades Grades K-5 from January 19-April 22, 2021. See the attached flyers or click here to view and register: https://arts4all.asapconnected.com/#CourseGroupID=10998

CHAC offers free mental health support to parents and students (flyers attached to Dec. 11 email to secretaries)

For parents: CHAC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable and accessible mental health services, supports parents in several ways. Please see the attached flyers for more information.

For students: PLUGGED IN - Social and Emotional Learning Skills Programs

CHAC is excited to offer two new Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills Programs to 3rd and 5th grade students. Both programs are a fun and enriching way to help students navigate the unique challenges they face in these extraordinary times.

1- CHAC's Weekly Virtual Group meetings focus on social interaction between participants. Through collaborative lessons and fun activities students will learn emotion regulation skills, problem solving skills as well as healthy coping and self-care skills.

2- CHAC's Independent SEL Curriculum teaches students essential social and emotional learning skills through entertaining video lessons and a variety of fun activities that students complete independently.

The parents who request the PLUGGED IN Independent Curriculum will have it emailed to them immediately.

The parents who would like their child to join a PLUGGED IN virtual group, will be contacted about scheduling options and asked to complete an online permission slip. Groups are expected to start in early January.

Click here to learn more about PLUGGED IN- CHAC’s new SEL Programs: https://www.chacmv.org/social-emotional-learning

MV Library presents: Raising Kindness and Awareness in Children (Flyers emailed Jan. 1)

Wednesday, January 20, 7 pm - 8 pm. Learn about fostering “kindness activism” in your children. Aila Malik, author, parent activist, social justice warrior, and kindness advocate will present practical ideas and engaging perspectives on activating humility, empathy, action, and togetherness within your family. Free. Flyers attached. Registration is required. https://mountainview.libcal.com/

Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Tuesday, January 12th

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.

Please note: Programs are currently remote and will remain so until students are back in school and the school district permits volunteers in the classroom

All volunteers must be high school graduates.

Date: Tuesday, January 12th
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)
Register: REGISTER ONLINE

Questions: programs@mentortutorconnection.org

Information: www.MentorTutorConnection.org

Parenting in a pandemic: Free 6th district PTA speaker series

Thursday, January 21, 2021, 7pm, “Navigating School During Uncertain Times” with Challenge Success - Laura Easley. For other offerings in January and February, please see the attached flyer. Cost: free. For more information and to reserve your seat visit https://capta6.org/parenting-in-a-pandemic/

MVLA Speakers series presents “Middle School Matters” with Phyllis Fagell (flyers attached to Dec. 11 email)

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 - 7:00 - 9:00pm | Live Online

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Professional School Counselor Phyllis Fagell helps parents use the middle school years as a low-stakes training ground to teach kids the key skills they’ll need to thrive now and in the future, including making good friend choices, negotiating conflict, regulating their own emotions, acting as their own advocates, and more. To answer parents’ most common questions and struggles with middle school-aged children, she combines her professional and personal expertise with stories and advice from prominent psychologists, doctors, parents, educators, school professionals, and middle schoolers themselves.

Audience: Parents of kids grades 4 - 8

Books: https://www.booksinc.net/book/9780738235080

January CAC Events

Happy New Year! SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. We are ALL having learning challenges right now, and CAC and LCC are here to help. If you have questions about learning challenges and special education needs, email [email protected] or check out www.selpa1cac.org

We encourage families to learn about the sensory needs all children may have during distance learning: Try a Sensory Diet

Parent Chat, 10 am January 12 - Support for parents of teens with mental health challenges. A great place for help and support for challenges with your teens. Please contact [email protected] for Google Meet invite.

January 13, 10 am Morning Let’s Talk - IEP/504 support group. Have questions about the process to get help for your child? Have an IEP but are not sure how to make changes? Need to vent? This is your confidential group. Please contact [email protected] for the Zoom link for this meeting or sign up on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-iep504-support-tickets-135554074887

February 1, 9 am- General Parent/Community Meeting with Special Ed. Directors & Staff, Zoom at 9:00 am for LCC and 9:30 am for CAC. We will be planning for the year, discussing upcoming programs and discussing distance learning and learning challenges. For our agenda, please join our Google group, https://groups.google.com/g/selpa1cac. For the Zoom link for this meeting, email [email protected] or sign up on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/general-cac-meeting-tickets-135550478129