Principal’s Message:

Hello Dolphins,

Next week we will be having our first Spirit week.

We look forward to everyone showing their school spirit. The days are as follows

 

Monday 12/15: Wear your Castro t-shirt
Tuesday 12/16: Zany Hair Day
Wednesday 12/17: Twin Day
Thursday 12/18: Sports Day
Friday 12/19: Pajama Day

Just a reminder to sign up for Arts Wheel Rotation. Details below.

 

Registration now open for the Arts Wheel Rotation 2

Arts Wheel is a free, after school class for students in grades K-5. The second rotation of the year will take place from the week of January 12 to the week of March 9 (8 weeks total). 

Students enrolled in YMCA or Beyond the Bell (BTB) after school programs will automatically have the option to participate in the Arts Wheel through those programs - please do not register using the link below if your child is in YMCA or BTB. 

If your child is not already participating in YMCA or BTB, you can register them for Arts Wheel using the link below. Registrations will close on December 14. Notifications to all families who are successfully enrolled or placed on the waitlist will go out by December 19. 

Click here for Arts Wheel Rotation 2 registration. Keep reading for more details about Arts Wheel.

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, Digital Photography & Graphic Design, and Drawing and Comics.. The classes will be taught by local teaching artists.

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. Tentatively, for Rotation 2, our Arts Wheel teacher will be on campus on Monday through Friday.

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, you may register during the registration period using the link provided.

Questions?

Please feel free to contact Principal Taylor [email protected]

 

In Partnership, 

Principal Taylor

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Events Calendar

December

 

January 2026

 

February 2026

 

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In this Newsletter

School News:

Castro Parent University 

TK/K afterschool sports program - Flyer

Lost and Found

i-Ready Diagnostic 2 Assessments and Timeline

Open Enrollment for 2026-27 starts in January

Reporting an Absence

 

Flyers:

2025–2026 School Year Calendar - Here

December Menu Here

 

District News:

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Parent Reports Now Available

It’s Giving Season — and Your Gift to MVEF Can Go Twice or Even Three Times as Far

Community Partners:

The View Teen Center - Winter Program Preview is HERE! 

City of Mountain View Teen Center Drop-In Holiday Activities

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School News

Castro Parent University 

Join us for an engaging Parent University session where we will learn about the Common Core Math State Standards and the California Mathematics Framework. You will be able to experience firsthand what math looks like, sounds like, and feels like in today’s classrooms through interactive routines such as Number Talks and application problems that highlight multiple strategies and representations.Join us for this joint Parent University Helping Your Child Thrive in Math. 

 

Dinner and childcare will be provided.

Wednesday, December 10th

5:30 pm Dinner | 6:00–7:00 pm Workshop

 

TK/K afterschool sports program - Flyer

Our school, in partnership with Kassirer Sports, is offering a new session for the afterschool sports program for TK and Kinder students starting in January. Please see the attached flyer or www.kassirersports.com for more information and registration.

Lost and Found

The lost and found rack is getting full, please take a look to see if any items belong to your child. The last day to claim any items will be Friday, December 19. Anything left after dismissal will be donated. 

i-Ready Diagnostic 2 Assessments and Timeline

Students continue taking the i-Ready Math and Reading Diagnostic 2 this week.. Please continue to talk with your child to explain that it is important that they do their best. Remember that the diagnostic test covers information that may be beyond their current level, and encouragement helps. Please ensure that your child is well-rested and has breakfast each day before school. 

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: Submit your child’s information during the enrollment period held January 20 to February 6. Please check www.mvwsd.org/register for details about school information meetings held in January.

Meetings will be held in person with childcare and Spanish translation provided. Meetings will also have a virtual link option. Click here for details: mvw.sd/26meetings

• Transitional Kinder Night for all schools: Jan. 7

• Neighborhood elementary school info nights: Jan. 13

• Choice elementary school info nights: Jan. 14 

• Preschool Parent Information Night: January 29 (English) and February 5 (Spanish)

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

Register here for email updates about registration: http://mvw.sd/help

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

 

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

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Parent Reports Now Available

Social-emotional learning isn’t just something students practice at school—it shows up in how they manage frustration, collaborate with others, and navigate relationships both inside and outside the classroom. Families are key partners and play an essential role in reinforcing these skills.

This year, MVWSD launched a new SEL survey in grades 3-8 that provides helpful data points for both parents and staff. Fall parent reports are now available in PowerSchool, and winter results will be coming the first week of December. 

This is not an assessment, but a tool to understand how students are doing and where they may need support. Counselors will review individual student data confidentially and will contact families if they see areas of concern. At the school level, aggregated data may help guide SEL lessons or schoolwide activities.

The Parent/Guardian Report offers a table organizing students’ average rating for each of seven (7) topics from their most recent SEL Screener survey.

Students self-reported in six key areas:

• Self-efficacy

• Self-management

• Positive feelings

• Supportive relationships

• Challenging feelings

• Emotion regulation

Parents will see some sections of the report include a “Try This!” This feature lists simple strategies and conversation starters you can use at home. If you have questions about your child’s report, please reach out to your school counselor.

Next up, teachers will receive training on how to access and use their students’ SEL data.

Click here for an easy guide to locating your child’s SEL report in PowerSchool and understanding how to read it.

It’s Giving Season — and Your Gift to MVEF Can Go Twice or Even Three Times as Far

Join us in supporting local public schools in Mountain View!

 

December Challenge Grant

Thanks to generous donors, every dollar donated through December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $26,000 — including gifts made through employer portals, DAFs, and stock donations. Double your impact today!

Employer Matching

You may even be able to triple your impact with employer matching programs. Check here whether your company matches.

With major tax changes ahead, 2025 is an ideal year to give  — especially for donors who itemize — before current rules expire. 

 

Your donation is 100% tax-deductible and helps ensure every MVWSD student benefits from a well-rounded, enriching education. Donate now — one-time or recurring!

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From Our Community Partners

 

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!

 

City of Mountain View Teen Center Drop-In Holiday Activities

Location: The View Teen Center - 263 Escuela Avenue 

Open to 6th – 12th graders

 

All activities are available during drop-in hours.    

Gingerbread Cookie Decorating - Thursday, Dec. 11 

Ugly Sweater Ornament Decorating- Wednesday, Dec. 17 

Gingerbread House Building Competition - Monday, Dec. 22 

Click here for more information