Principal’s Message:

Hello Dolphins,

Please mark your calendars: we will have a week of minimum days from October 13–17, 2025. These minimum days will allow us to hold Parent Teacher Conferences. Parent-Teacher Conferences are important as we partner up to support our students’ growth and development. To sign up for a 30-minute conference time, your teacher will email you a calendar link. You will be able to select from available time slots between 12:30pm and 4:00pm, each day of conference week. If none of these times work for you, please be sure to contact your child’s teacher, directly. The scheduling window will open on Friday 9/26/25 at 3:30pm when you will receive an email link from your child’s teacher.(Class Dojo)  

If you have technical issues, please email Principal Vern Taylor directly at [email protected]. For all other questions, please contact our front office staff: Miguel Meza at [email protected], Gloria Rocha Lopez at [email protected], Evelyn Antunuez at [email protected], or Judy Navarro at [email protected]. You can also call us in the school office at 650-526-3590.

Step-by-Step Guide to Scheduling Your Appointment 

1. Click on the Appointment Page Link provided by your teacher via email on Friday 9/26/25.

2. Click on the open appointment time slot that works best for you. Open appointment time slots will be white/gray in color.

3. A scheduling window will open. Please type virtual or in person.  If you would like the assistance of a translator, please indicate this by typing the language you require in the “Description” box.

4. Your teacher will email you the video conference link the morning of your Parent-Teacher Conference if you selected a virtual appointment.

 

In Partnership, 

Principal Taylor

---

Events Calendar

September

 

October

 

November

 

---

In this Newsletter

School News:

Is your Student Too Sick for School? – Flyer 

Registrations now open for the Arts Wheel Rotation 1

Dia de los Muertos Family Event - Wed, Oct 29, 5:00–6:30 PM Location:MUR

Reporting an Absence

 

Flyers:

2025 -2026 School Year Calendar - Here

September Menu Here

 

District News:

Mental Health Resources for Students

Showing Up Matters….for learning, for friendships, for success 

MVWSD seeks parents & staff members for Health and Wellness Committee

Parenting in the Digital Era: Building Healthy Tech Habits - Flyer

MVEF has raised over $360,000 – help us reach $400,000 today!

Get Involved And Become an MVEF Ambassador!

Community Partners:

2025 Mayor for a Day Essay Contest - Flyer

Upcoming Programs at Mountain View Public Library - Flyer
Learning Challenges events for Fall 2025   

 

---

School News

 

Is your Student Too Sick for School? – Flyer 

As we enter the cold and flu season, it’s important to know when your student should stay home to rest and recover, as well as to prevent the spread of illness. Please take a moment to read the attached MVWSD’s Back to School Health Guidance flyer. It includes information on when your student should stay home, illness prevention tips and COVID guidelines. Knowing when to keep your student home helps keep our school community healthy and safe. Thank you for your cooperation!

 

Registrations now open for the Arts Wheel Rotation 1

Arts Wheel is a new, free, after school class for students in grades K-5. There will be three opportunities, or “rotations”, for students to participate this year. The first rotation will take place from October 20 to December 15 (8 weeks total). For more details, please review the details from last week’s newsletter, copied below.

Remember: if your child is already participating in after school YMCA or Beyond the Bell (BTB), they will automatically participate in the Arts Wheel through their after school program - no need to register!

If your child is not already participating in YMCA or BTB, you can sign them up for Arts Wheel using the link below, registrations will close on October 5. The principal will notify all families who signed up to confirm rosters and details by October 13. 

Click here for Arts Wheel Rotation 1 registration

What is it?

The Arts Wheel is a new, free, weekly after school class for our students in grades K-5. We will have multiple fun themes over the course of the year such as Crafts, Painting & Murals, and Digital Photography & Graphic Design. The classes will be taught by local teaching artists Shivika Nayyar, Eddie Ramirez, and Sophie Twitchell.

Why is it called a “Wheel”? 

Each after school class teacher will spend 8 weeks at a school before moving on to another school for the next “rotation”. This way, all participating schools will be able to experience the topic in which each teacher specializes. 

How frequent are the classes, and how long is each class? 

The once-per-week classes will be approximately 45 minutes long and take place over 8 weeks. For Rotation 1, our Arts Wheel teacher will be on campus daily.

Who is it for? 

**If your child is already participating in after school YMCA or Beyond the Bell, they will automatically participate in the Arts Wheel through their after school program - no need to register!**

If your child is not in YMCA or BTB, keep reading for registration details...

How do I register my child?

For students not in YMCA or BTB, registrations for Rotation 1 (Week of Oct 20- Week of Dec 15) will open on September 22 and end on October 5. Please note that registrations are not first-come, first-served - if there aren’t enough spots, we will conduct a lottery and students on the waitlist will have priority in the next Rotation.

Remember: if your child is already participating in after school YMCA or Beyond the Bell, they will automatically participate in the Arts Wheel through their after school program - no need to register!

Questions?

Please feel free to contact [email protected].

 

Dia de los Muertos Family Event - Wed, Oct 29, 5:00–6:30 PM Location:MUR

Join us for a Dia de los Muertos Family Event on Wednesday, October 29, from 5:00–6:30 PM, in collaboration with Mistral Elementary. Enjoy free pan dulce, hot chocolate, craft activities, and visit the Dia de los Muertos altars at both Castro and Mistral. This event is for the whole family—hope to see you there!

 

Questions? Contact School & Community Engagement Facilitators: Mr. Meza [email protected]g or Mrs. Rocha López [email protected]

 

Reporting an Absence

Please call the office at (650) 526-3590 or email [email protected] to report an absence or late arrival.  Provide the following information: date of absence, student’s name, grade and room number, reason for absence, name and relationship of the person reporting the absence.

 

---

District News

 

Mental Health Resources for Students

As the school year starts, it's important for students to know that help is available for mental health challenges that may arise. Check out these posters for information. Other resources are available at our Virtual Wellness Center under the Mental Health tab. You can always reach out to your school counselor, too. We are here to help. 

Showing Up Matters….for learning, for friendships, for success 

Help our students be their very best by making sure they show up every day and on time! Students that miss 10% of days (or two days a month) of school are considered chronically absent. When we reduce chronic absence we improve graduation rates, increase academic achievement and give young people the best chance at success in their adult life. Showing up on time matters, too! Even showing up 10 minutes late every day causes students to lose a full hour of learning each week. By working together, families and schools can ensure every student has the opportunity to grow, learn and succeed!

MVWSD seeks parents & staff members for Health and Wellness Committee

Committee and task force members lend perspective and expertise to important district work that benefits our students. Please consider serving on the Health and Wellness Committee. Applications are due by September 30 and can be found here: http://mvw.sd/health.

Health and Wellness Committee Task: To align District efforts to support student wellness through health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, psychological and counseling services, and a safe and healthy school environment.

Interested applicants would have some experience, knowledge, or interest in the content as described above. We are seeking at least 1 parent and 1 certificated representative per school site and 1 community-based organization representative. The maximum capacity of the group is 15 participants.

Time commitment is four meetings this school year, one hour per meeting, and all meetings are virtual. Those who are interested in participating and would like to learn more, please join us for our first meeting to learn about our work firsthand. 

Meeting Link:  https://mvwsd.zoom.us/j/87804100042  

Meeting ID: 878 0410 0042

By Phone: (669) 444-9171

****

2025-2026 Health and Wellness Committee Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025; 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026; 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2026; 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

 

Parenting in the Digital Era: Building Healthy Tech Habits - Flyer

Date and Time: September 30, 5:30-7:00 p.m.     

Registration: http://mvw.sd/pu093025r

Did you know that experts estimate that the average American teen spends 7-8 hours each day on their screens? It’s no wonder that this is a critical parenting topic. Fear not: our friends at My Digital TAT2 are returning to Parent University! At this Speaker Series event, MDT2 will update us on the latest tech trends and discuss the key topics of media literacy, misinformation/ disinformation, and social media influencers. They will also address the burning question: “When is it ok to give my kid a cell phone?” You will be equipped with fresh knowledge and useful strategies to help your family maintain a healthy relationship with tech...and with one another. 

To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your questions during the session.

 

MVEF has raised over $360,000 – help us reach $400,000 today!
Thanks to generous donors, matching gifts, and grants, MVEF is already 30% toward this year’s $1.2M goal. Early progress gives MVWSD confidence to continue funding essentials like art, music, science, athletics, clubs, and smaller class sizes.

Renew your gift or become a donor today—recurring gifts are easy to set up, and every amount makes a difference! Look for the big green fundraising boards at your school to track our progress.

Click here to give. And don’t forget to check if your employer matches.

 

Get Involved And Become an MVEF Ambassador!
Are you passionate about education and community? Become an MVEF Ambassador! Ambassadors are volunteers who help raise awareness, support outreach, and strengthen the connection between our schools and MVEF. We are especially looking at the following schools: Monta Loma, Castro, Imai, Vargas, and Theuerkauf.

What Ambassadors Do:

• Share updates with your school community

• Represent MVEF at events

• Help with outreach and fundraising

• Provide valuable feedback

Who Can Join:
Parents, teachers, alumni, and community members — all are welcome!

 

Time Commitment:
Just 2–4 hours/month (flexible) + optional events

 

Perks:
Volunteer hours, MVEF swag, community connections, and more!

Interested? Contact us.

Let’s make a difference together!

 

---

From Our Community Partners

 

2025 Mayor for a Day Essay Contest - Flyer

The City of Mountain View invites elementary and middle school-aged residents to participate in the 2025 Mayor for a Day Essay Contest.

Topic: If you were mayor for a day, what is one problem you would solve? Maximum of 500 words per essay. Only one entry per person. One elementary AND one middle school-aged contestant will be selected by the Mayor. Winners will be recognized at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.  All entries are due by 5 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2025.

 

Upcoming Programs at Mountain View Public Library - Flyer
Intro to 3D Printing and CAD  

Mondays, October 6 & 13

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Ages 13-18, First Floor Program Room

Teens ages 13-18 are invited to join us for this 2-part workshop on 3D printing and CAD. Session 1 will cover 3D printing hardware and the slicing software Cura. In Session 2, participants will learn the 3D modeling software Onshape by modelling a car. All skill levels are welcome! Register here. 

 

Learning Challenges events for Fall 2025   

For local coverage of issues related to learning challenges and special education, please check out the Learning Challenges Committee. 

 

Calm Down Kit Making Sessions 

Volunteers will make Calm Down kits for classrooms throughout Mountain View and Los Altos and learn how to make their own for their home!  Wednesday August 27 11-1, Thursday September 26 (5-7 pm), Tuesday September 30 5-7 pm. For location, contact [email protected].

 

Learning Challenges Committee General Meeting

October 7, 7 pm in person (TBA) and Zoom hybrid

We will be finishing up the Wellness Wish List and will likely need a work session to finish up packing orders for delivery to classrooms! For more info, email [email protected].

 

Evening Let’s Talk Parent Support group

October 15, 7 pm  on Zoom.

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. Register here.

 

Missed past Parent Education events?

We have a YouTube channel with many of our past events including the recent talk on Assistive Technology, info on summer camps and recreational activities, Anxiety and Depression in Children with Learning Challenges, SMART Goals and IEP Troubleshooting, and more. Channel is here.