Principal’s Message:

Hello Dolphins,

As part of our new Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum, CharacterStrong, each month we focus on different character traits for students to develop and practice. So far this year we’ve covered Kindness, Respect, Responsibility, and this month our focus is on Gratitude. 

Often we can find ourselves noticing things that we don’t like, or that we wish were different. Choosing to appreciate things in our life, things in others, and things in the world can be a challenge, but practicing gratitude will help us to be more confident, calm, and focused.

At school, we will also be posting our gratitude wall outside the Wellness Center. Students can write what they are grateful or thankful for and we will display it throughout the month of November and early December. 

Below are a few conversation starters that you can have with your child to help support them further develop their skills. I have broken them up into grade-level spans to be most appropriate for your child’s age. These are great conversations that you can have with your child around the dinner table or on the way to school.

For students in TK- 2nd grade

• Can you share or show me what Gratitude is?

• Why is it important to know how something makes you feel?

• When someone shows you Gratitude, how does it make you feel? Why?

• What is 1 way that you like to show your Gratitude?

• Who are you Grateful for this week? What 1 item are you Grateful for this week?

For students in 3rd-5th

• Can you describe for me what emotion advocacy means?

• Why is it important for us to be grateful for our emotions? What can our emotions teach us about ourselves?

• Can you tell me about someone at your school who is really good at positively talking about others?

• How can positive self-talk help us put Gratitude into practice?

• Share with me something that causes you stress in your life. Why does it cause you stress?

• How can showing Gratitude help you to manage your stress?

 

In Partnership, 

Principal Taylor

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Events Calendar

November

 

December

 

January 2026

 

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In this Newsletter

School News:

Trimester end: Report cards coming soon

New Field Restrooms are Open!

i-Ready Diagnostic 2 Assessments and Timeline

Open Enrollment for 2026-27 starts in January

Orenda Baseline Study

Reporting an Absence

 

Flyers:

2025 -2026 School Year Calendar - Here

November Menu Here

 

District News:

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, November 20, at 6 pm

Orenda Parent Survey starts Nov. 14

Parent University Speaker Series: Understanding Your Child’s Score Reports

Parent University: How to talk to kids about the news, featuring Project Cornerstone

The MVEF Textathon Is Happening Nov. 18–23!

MVEF: Save the Date for Our Biggest Fundraiser — the Spring Gala 2025!

Community Partners:

Mountain View High School Spartan Turkey Trot: Registration Open Now

The View Teen Center - Winter Program Preview is HERE! 

Nov/Dec 2025 Learning Challenges Committee Events

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School News

 

Trimester end: Report cards coming soon

Families can access their student’s Trimester 1 Report Card beginning Nov. 21 after 4:00 p.m. Grade K-5 Report Cards will be sent to you on Nov. 21 via email. TK and Grade 6-8 Report Cards will be available on the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/ under “Parent Reports.” Steps for accessing reports on PowerSchool Parent Portal are here: Accessing PowerSchool Parent Portal Reports. If you have difficulty logging into the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please contact your school’s office.

 

New Field Restrooms are Open!

The new public restrooms near the school field are now open daily during non-school hours until 30 minutes past sunset. If the restrooms are locked during these hours, the public should call the Mountain View Police Department Non-Emergency at (650) 903-6344.

This standalone restroom facility, a partnership between the District and City of Mountain View, is maintained by the City and provides a convenient option for public use after school hours. For safety reasons, it will not be open during the school day. 

The restrooms will be temporarily closed for a time in the future for additional work on the door-locking mechanism. Signs will be posted with this date. Thank you for your patience during construction.

 

i-Ready Diagnostic 2 Assessments and Timeline

Students will take the i-Ready Math and Reading Diagnostic 2 during the week of December  1 - Dec 5. i-Ready is an online program that helps us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth in mathematics and reading.  

Families, Below are some tips you may find useful to help prepare your child for the diagnostic assessment:

• Explain to your child that it is important to do his/her best.

• Remind your children to work out their problems and pace themselves

• Make sure that your child is well-rested and has breakfast the day of the assessment.

• Please make sure to encourage your child.

  • This is a diagnostic test that covers information that may be beyond their current level. Please reassure them that they should try their best even through difficult questions.

Families can access their student’s i-Ready Reading and Mathematics score through their Powerschool Parent Portal starting December 17, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Reports are available on the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/ under “Parent Reports” for each of your students. Steps for accessing reports on PowerSchool Parent Portal: Accessing PowerSchool Parent Portal i-Ready Reports. If you have difficulty logging into the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please contact your school’s office.  

 

Open Enrollment for 2026-27 starts in January

In January, the Mountain View Whisman School District will be opening student enrollment for fall 2026.

For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 20 to February 6.

 

For families enrolling NEW students: Please check www.mvwsd.org/register for details about virtual school information meetings held in January (list of meetings: http://mvw.sd/2627), how to locate your neighborhood school, how to explore school options and the four steps to register during the enrollment period held January 20 to February 6. Virtual school information nights will be held on Jan. 13 (neighborhood schools) and Jan. 14 (choice schools). The transitional kindergarten meeting is on Jan. 7.

 

Click here to learn about which program is right for your young learner: mvwsd.org/kinderready

 

Please check www.mvwsd.org/register for how to locate your neighborhood school, how to explore school options and the four steps to register.

 

Orenda Baseline Study 11/18-11/19

With the support of staff members and parents, our schools make incredible progress with students.  At the same time, we know we aren’t where we need to be for all students as evidenced by the achievement gaps that persist in some student subgroups. We can and will do better, together.

 

To help us, we’re inviting an objective outside perspective to shine a light on what’s working best and where we can improve. Our goal is simple: ensure our resources are focused on the programs that most improve student outcomes.

 

Our school will partner with Orenda Education to take a close look at what’s helping our students succeed and where we can improve. Their work will begin soon and wrap up by the end of December, giving us timely data to guide next year’s budget, staffing, and program decisions.

 

I wanted to let you know that on November 18 and 19, 2025, Orenda team members will visit our school to observe classrooms, student work and speak with staff. Staff members will also be invited to complete an anonymous survey. The information collected is anonymous and confidential, and not specific to staff members or individual students. It is truly all about our students and their learning so that we can build on our successes.

 

Thank you for your support of our school. Together, we will continue to grow, learn, and make our schools even stronger for every student.

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.

 

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District News

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, November 20, at 6 pm. 

Some of the topics include:

• Special Education Update

• 2025-2026 First Interim Budget Report

• Approval of School Plans for Student Achievement (SPSA)

For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.

Orenda Parent Survey starts Nov. 14

As you know, we are partnering with Orenda Education to take a close, thoughtful look at what’s working for our students and where we can deepen our impact. This work centers on student learning — identifying what truly has the greatest impact for all learners in our schools.

As part of this effort, parents will receive a confidential and anonymous parent survey by email (from [email protected]) on Nov. 14. The survey will include two open-ended questions asking:

* What is your school doing that is most helpful for students?

* What suggestions do you have to further support student success?

We ask that you please complete the survey by December 1. Your perspective — what is working for your child, and what could be improved — is a critical part of this process, and will help guide our ongoing efforts to strengthen teaching and learning for every student.

Thank you for your partnership and support of our schools.

Parent University Speaker Series: Understanding Your Child’s Score Reports

Date and Time: December 2, 2025, 5:30-7pm  Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu120225r

Understanding your child’s district and state test scores is a key part of building a foundation of excellence. Join Dr. Cyndee Nguyen, our Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment as she discusses how to (i) access and interpret score reports and (ii) use the information to engage in a productive partnership with your child’s teacher(s).

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

Parent University: How to talk to kids about the news, featuring Project Cornerstone

Date and Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025  Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/MVWSD-25

The world is a big place, and it seems like current events have never been more complicated. Luckily, our friends at Project Cornerstone are back to share strategies and tips for fostering age-appropriate conversations, explaining the news to kids while protecting their mental health, and enhancing youths’ critical thinking through news literacy. By the end of this session, you’ll have added confidence that you’re able to help your children understand our complex world a little bit better.

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

The MVEF Textathon Is Happening Nov. 18–23!

Help us reach our annual goal by donating today!

This week, MVEF volunteers will be reaching out to MVWSD families who haven’t yet donated — reminding them how crucial their support is. Each year, donations to MVEF sustain essential programs for all MVWSD students, including:

 

• Art, music, and environmental science in elementary schools

• Smaller English classes, sports teams, transportation to games, clubs and activities in middle schools

 

Did you know that around 90% of MVEF’s funding comes from generous families like yours? Every gift — no matter the amount — helps enrich education for every student.

 

Remember, donations are tax-deductible! Thank you for your continued support of MVEF and our students!

 

MVEF: Save the Date for Our Biggest Fundraiser — the Spring Gala 2025!

Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 6–10 PM | Los Altos Community Center

Join us for an evening of dinner, music, and auctions! Connect with parents, teachers, and local leaders while enjoying student performances, community fun, and exciting auction items—all in support of a great cause.

Want to get involved? There are plenty of ways to volunteer!

Join the Gala Committee and help plan the event

Assist with decorations and setup

Solicit auction items from local businesses

Help secure sponsorships

Arrange flowers or wrap wine bottles

Pick up in-kind donations for the auction

Collect and return party rentals …and more!

Interested? Reach out to us via email — we’d love to have you on the team!

 

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From Our Community Partners

 

Mountain View High School Spartan Turkey Trot: Registration Open Now 

Registration is open now for the 16th Annual Spartan Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning (Thursday, November 27, 2025) at the Mountain View High School Track (3535 Truman Ave, Mountain View, CA). Register early to guarantee a spot. This event is proudly hosted by MVHS Sports Boosters to benefit the MVHS athletics department and supporting teams/clubs. People of all ages are encouraged to participate in the 5k Run & Walk and the Spartan Mile (1-mile). Kids are welcome to participate in the 5k and/or Spartan Mile + the 60/400 yd dash races (aka kids races). Register at https://www.spartanturkeytrot.com.

The View Teen Center - Winter Program Preview is HERE! 

This winter, discover all the incredible opportunities waiting for you at The View Teen Center! Warm up with a fantastic schedule of FREE and fun programs, workshops, and events running from January through March. Shake off the winter blues with these favorites we've highlighted and be sure to check the full guide so you don't miss any of the excitement!

 

Nov/Dec 2025 Learning Challenges Committee Events

The Learning Challenges Committee of the Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council is made up of parents, teachers and students in the Mountain View and Los Altos areas. We are committed to helping families get  the best education for students with learning challenges and/or special education needs. 

 

Wednesday November 12, 12 noon, Zoom - IEP/504 Parent Support Group - Parent Chat is our IEP/504/venting support group for parents/guardians to ask questions and work together to solve problems. Register HERE

 

Wednesday December 3, 7:30 PM, Zoom -  LCC General Meeting - We will be planning events for the Spring, a schedule for support group sessions, and troubleshooting how to make the Wellness Wish List work better. Register HERE

 

Parent training from the Northwest SCC SELPA CAC:

 

Monday, November 10, 2025: 6-8 pm. Rational Detachment in Meetings Presenter: Jason Harper. Register HERE

 

Wednesday, November 12, 2025: 6-7:30 pm. What Makes a Good/Effective Behavior Plan

Presenters: Deanna Keena and Renee Wedell (PENT CADRE) Register HERE

Wednesday, December 10, 2025: 6-7:30 pm How to Manage Screen Time with your Children? Presenter: Kimberly Carvallison (PENT CADRE) Register HERE