Panther Blog February 11 2021

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Flyers:

Silicon Valley Reads program for teens 

Black History Month

MV Library Valentine’s Celebration

Click here for this week's fliers

 

February 11, 2021

Hello Crittenden Families,

I hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and well. It’s hard to believe that we are close to starting Trimester 3. Our Trimester 2 ends on Friday, February 12 with a minimum day. Note that each grade has a different minimum day schedule. You can see the minimum day schedule on our website here. I wish you all a happy and restful break. Reminder that next week is our Winter Break and there will be no school from February 15-19. Enjoy a safe and well deserved break. 

I want to thank our PTA for funding yesterday’s author visit. Author Erin Entrada Kelly did a phenomenal job engaging our students in her presentation. Over 500 students attended and we all had a wonderful time. Please encourage your student to read the book from Erin Entrada Kelly “You go First” that was a gift from our PTA and was distributed at our T3 distribution. 

Due to COVID-19, we will not be holding Open House events this spring, as we traditionally do in April. This year is different since our students’ work has been done at home, and gathering in groups at school is not permitted. We certainly will miss seeing all of the amazing work from our students, and look forward to a time when we can gather to celebrate students’ work.

 

The Crittenden Middle School Library has a large number of over items. Students with overdue library materials and parents will receive an email notice on February 22nd notifying them of any overdue library items. These items can be returned on Friday, February 26th, between the hours of 7:30 a.m and 8:30 a.m, and on Monday, March 1st between 3:00 p.m and 4:00 p.m. Please drop off items by driving up to the sports center where the librarian and boxes for the items will be waiting. If you have any questions or can not make the dropoff time please email the librarian, Mr.Neal, at [email protected]. We appreciate your collaboration in getting our books back to our library. 

 

I’m thrilled to share with you that on February 4th our district met to discuss upcoming construction projects, and will be proceeding with a plan to put a new marquee sign at our Middlefield entrance, that will be visible to all visitors from Middlefield road. This will be in addition to the existing marquee sign we have at our Rock street entrance. 

 

Executive Functioning Tip of the week: The ability of teens to regulate and control emotions is linked to how well they’re able to manage stress. Teens who successfully deal with stress are better positioned to handle life’s challenges. This is because when adolescents are unable to manage stress they have greater difficulty solving problems. The connection between stress and the ability to cope is vitally important. The good news is that parents are uniquely positioned to help teens learn effective coping strategies.    Here are some tips:

1) Create an emotionally expressive environment at home. These are spaces and places for kids where they feel free to say how they feel without fear of being ‘shut down’. There is a limit on behaviour but there is not a limit on emotion. 2) Develop your empathy response and use it with your children. Kids need to feel heard. You don’t have to fix anything, just listen to understand. 3) Create a strong sense of belonging. Ritual and routine can help here. This sense of belonging makes it safe to express emotion and learn how to regulate safely.

 

As you may know, MVWSD is currently planning to reopen schools for in-person learning 14 days after Santa Clara County passes into the Red Tier. Because this reopening target is based on numbers of COVID-19 cases, we don’t have the specific date Santa Clara County will pass into the Red Tier, but we are preparing as if it’s soon. 

 

Learning Options Survey due Feb 28: We’ll need to collect updated information on your preferences for your students’ learning options for the rest of the school year. You will still have the option to keep your children at home in distance learning, or you may tell us you’d like them to return to campus when schools reopen. Please look for the survey to come to you by email on Friday. 

 

We wanted you to have ample time to review it, which is why you received it before February break.  Please answer the survey with as much certainty as possible, and if you have questions, we can help you the week of Feb. 22. Information is available on https://www.mvwsd.org/academicsduringcovidPlease reach out to me or our office staff if you need help completing the survey or have any questions.

 

Our reopening hinges on COVID cases continuing to drop. Please remain vigilant about wearing masks, avoiding gatherings and curtailing travel.

 

Thank you to all who have  joined our parenting classes with Drs. Eduardo Bunge and Alayna Park , they have been sharing practical tips with parents that have been very useful for a lot of you. We will be adding frequent weekly tips for parents on our newsletter such as the one below. I highly encourage you to attend their next class on Tuesday, February 23rd at 6pm. Please use the following  Registration link  to register for the next class. Please see below this letter for an additional parenting tip from Dr. Park.   

Crittenden Panthers learning together, wherever we are. 

Mrs. Gomez

Principal

 

A tip from Alayna Park;

Do you wish your child behaved better? Here’s a tip: Praise the behaviors that you want to see.

The most effective praise is specific and immediate:

Example: “Good job AT CLEANING YOUR ROOM!”

Good behaviors to consider praising include: completing household chores, working independently, and following instructions from adults.

Start practicing:

Try praising something good that your child is doing each morning and evening. We are used to noticing bad behaviors, so praising your child’s good behaviors will take some practice and patience – but will ultimately benefit both you and your child.

 

 

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

To learn more parenting tips click here

-

Alayna L. Park, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Palo Alto University

1791 Arastradero Road

Palo Alto, CA 94304

Email: [email protected]

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

 


UPCOMING EVENTS:      

February 12    5:30 – 6:30am

End of Trimester 2: Minimum Day

 

February 15 – 19, 2021

Winter Break: No School

 

February 23    6:00 – 7:00am

Parenting class #3

 

February 25    6:00 – 7:00am

ELAC meeting

 

DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENTS:  

LCAP survey closes on Friday. We want to hear from you! 

The District is beginning its annual process of writing the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). Your input from the survey will guide the development of our 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.

Parents, we want to hear from you: Please click here -  http://mvw.sd/ParentLCAP - to give input through February 12 in a survey. We recognize that the wording of some of these questions might seem a little awkward because we are in a pandemic, distance-learning year. Please answer as fully as you can based on the experiences you've had this school year.  If you would like a paper copy, please call the school office at 650-903-6945.

More information found here: https://www.mvwsd.org/lcap.

 

Open House Cancelled

Due to COVID-19, our schools will not be holding Open House events this spring, as we traditionally do in April. This year is different since our students’ work has been done at home, and gathering in groups at school is not permitted. We certainly will miss seeing all of the amazing work from our students and teachers, and look forward to a time we can gather to celebrate students’ work.

 

Winter break meal schedule

MVWSD's free, multi-day to-go meal packs for children will be distributed at Castro Elementary only from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12 for meals for Feb. 12 through Feb. 17. On Wednesday, Feb. 17, meals will be available at Castro Elementary for Feb 17 through Feb. 21. Regular meal service will resume on Monday, Feb. 22. 

 

Black History Month 

Even before children can talk, they are learning about the world and about race through the words and actions of others. Parents, teachers, and caregivers have the unique opportunity to frame their child's first attempts to understand and talk about race. Talking about race matters because (1) everyone has a racialized identity, (2) racialized identity significantly impacts a person's life, and (3) race is a defining social construct in America.

This Black History Month, use the Better Together infographic to begin racially-focused conversations with children acknowledging that conversations about race will look different for each family and classroom and there is no single way to talk to children about race. Have honest conversations with your students about the history of privilege and oppression as it relates to Black History and, where appropriate, connect this to local community and larger global issues.

Together, we can explore Black History. Together, we can become anti-racist.

For a closer look at the graphics, click on the attached flyers or visit https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD

Parent University: The Special Education Team - Who We Are and How We Support Our Schools and Students

Join us on Wednesday, February 24th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. for our next Parent University event: The Special Education Team - Who We Are and How We Support Our Schools and Students.

Arianna Mayes (Director) and Acantha Ellard (Coordinator) of MVWSD's Special Education Department will facilitate a panel discussion with Special Educators and professionals who support MVWSD schools and students. The discussion will include who and what the team does and how students are supported both in-person and during distance learning. Additionally, you can submit your own questions beforehand via this Google Form

Zoom link: Register in advance for this meeting: http://mvw.sd/4JMka

Spanish interpretation will be provided. 

**Please also take a look at recordings and materials from our previous Parent University sessions at www.mvwsd.org/parentu

MVEF Virtual Gala - March 6, 2021  - Get your Tickets Today!   

While we are not able to gather in person, we hope you will join us for a lively evening of trivia, toasts to our teachers, and fundraising for our schools. Now more than ever, the programs funded by your donations to MVEF help to create a well-rounded education for our children that includes art, music, technology, and science exploration. A significant portion of MVEF funding this year is being directed to support distance learning. All funds raised from the Gala help us meet our goal of raising $800,000 this school year.  Help  us to support every child at every school in the Mountain View Whisman School District!

You may join us for only the trivia OR enjoy the addition of appetizers and drinks (wine or cocktails)  delivered to your home.  Food and drink delivery is only available to Mountain View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale and Palo Alto.

Reservations for food and drink deliveries MUST be made before Friday, February 26th.  Ticket sales for trivia close Wednesday, March 3.

To purchase tickets, https://www.mvef.org/virtualgala. For questions, please contact Dena Seki ([email protected]) or Andrea Maes ([email protected]).

We also have a raffle going on if you would like to take your chance at one of 4 great prizes! The winners will be drawn at the gala, but you need not be present to win.

 

February 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

February 10, 7 pm Evening 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

 

MV Library Valentine’s Celebration

The Mountain View Public Library and CHAC Family Resource Center are sponsoring a free Valentine’s Celebration for families with young children on Friday, February 12, on Zoom. Please see the attached flyer for details and registration.

 

Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Thursday, February 25th

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. 

Please note: Our 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:             Thursday, February 25th

       Time:            12:00 - 1:00 pm

        Location:     Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)

      Register:   REGISTER ONLINE

     Questions:    [email protected]

Information:  MentorTutorConnection.org

 

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