Important Dates to Remember
Dec 11-15 5th grade Walden West Science Camp
Dec 15 Spirit Day – Bring your favorite stuffed animal
Dec 19 4-6pm Winter Holiday Fair
Dec 25-Jan 8 Holiday Break - No school
Jan 9 Students return to school
Jan 10 6:30-7:30pm Landels School Info Night - Zoom
Jan 15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day – No school
Jan 17 8:15-9:30am ELAC Meeting – ELPAC information
Jan 18 6:30-7:45pm Parent U Extension: Parenting in the Digital Era
Jan 22 Open Enrollment for current and new students - Register
Jan 24 8:30-9:30am Principals Coffee – Staff room
Jan 29 3:15-4:15 School Site Council Meeting – Zoom
Feb 16 End of 2nd Trimester – Minimum day
Feb 19-23 Winter Break – No school
Roar Recognitions
Aleksander K. – Room 10
Arjun N. – Room 14
Ayden H. – Room 6
Ben B. – Room 22
Carissa R. – Room 11
Charlotte T. – Room 5
Celina H. – Room 18
Liberty J. – Room 13
Liam S. – Room 17
Maia L. – Room 8
Matteo M. – Room 1
Riya S. – Room 4
Shaurya J. – Room 2
Tia M. – Room 7
Tristian K. – Room 16
Yuhi Y. – Room 9
Landels News
Dear Landels Families,
Thank you again for your engagement in Parent-Teacher Conferences last week! One question that we are often asked at conferences is how you can support your child at home. I am sure your child’s teacher has shared some resources with you, but here are some general suggestions:
Building Background Knowledge: When students have varied experiences, they can apply that knowledge to better understand books, math problems, etc. One way to build background knowledge is to expose your child to different experiences by visiting places. This is not always possible or practical. However, a relatively easy and accessible way to build background knowledge is to watch educational television or read informational books together.
Reading: Reading means reading the words, listening to the words, reading the pictures, or retelling a story. So even if a child is not yet reading on their own, they benefit greatly from listening to a story or looking through picture books. Our students check out library books from the Landels library every week. In addition, students have access to lots of books through their Clever account and apps like razkids or Epic.
Math Fluency: Math fluency means knowing your math facts (i.e. quickly knowing that 9x5 is 45), and also being able to decompose and compose numbers accurately (45 is 9 groups of 5, or 45 is 40 and 5 more). A great way to build math fluency is through simple card and dice games. Here are some examples.
Behavior: I believe parenting is the toughest job there is. My little ones definitely test my patience - I am often reflecting on how I can be a better parent and promote positive behaviors. The next time your child is misbehaving, talk about how their behavior is impacting you or others and brainstorm more productive ways to communicate needs. “It’s hard for me to hear/understand you when you yell and it also hurts my ears. I’m here to help - what is it you are needing?”
Although we only have formal parent teacher conferences once a year, teachers are always available to discuss your child’s progress.
Check out our new school video
Get a glimpse here of the dynamic learning that happens at our school! Many thanks to the staff, students, families, and entire community that make our school such a wonderful learning community. Please share this video and the registration link (https://www.mvwsd.org/register) with potential new parents. We'd love to share what makes our school community special!
Thank you!
Pieter Dolmans
Short-Term Independent Studies
If you are planning on scheduling family vacations, please make every effort to schedule around our instructional calendar. You can also find minimum days outside our regularly scheduled early release Thursdays for scheduling appointments for your scholar. If your plans include your child missing 3-14 days of school, please notify the front office to discuss a short-term independent studies contract to minimize the impact of missed school days.
Gift Cards
Dear Landels families,
The holidays are almost here, a time to spend with family and friends, to eat a nice dinner or two, to celebrate in different ways. However, for some of our families in need, this is a difficult and stressful time. We are asking for donations of gift cards (Gas, Safeway, Target, Walmart) to provide to some of our families. Please consider buying a gift card and dropping it off in the Landels office. We really appreciate our wonderful and generous community! We’ll be collecting gift cards until Friday, December 22nd.
MVWSD News
Open Enrollment for 2024-25 starts in January
In January, the Mountain View Whisman School District will be opening student enrollment for next fall.
For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 22 to February 9.
For families enrolling NEW students: Please check www.mvwsd.org/register for details about virtual school information meetings held in January (http://mvw.sd/meetings), how to locate your neighborhood school, how to explore school options and the four steps to register during the enrollment period held January 22 to February 9.
MVEF Update: Save us a Call
The amount donated to MVEF so far this year is slightly less than in previous years. MVEF volunteers will soon be reaching out directly to inform our community about the need for donations each year. You can save us a call by donating today! Visit mvef.org/donate today!
This year, community donations to MVEF are providing:
· More than 8,500 Art4Schools lessons in 130 TK-5th Grade classrooms.
· Over 17,000 Music4Schools lessons in 170 TK-5th Grade Classrooms.
· Over 500 Living Classroom lessons for all students in TK-6th grade.
· Environmental Science lessons and field trips for all 4th and 5th graders.
· Additional English Language Arts teachers to reduce the average class size in grades 6-8.
· Supplemental funding for Performing Arts, Music, and Athletics Teams in grades 6-8.
When we achieve our fundraising goals, we can do even more for our students!
December CAC and LCC Events
SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. 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: Try a Sensory Diet
What’s in an IEP? Advocating for your child
Presented by Gabriela Torres, Managing Attorney and Leah Kang, Senior Attorney
Fri, Jan 19, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm , Register to get your Zoom link
Join Palo Alto CAC and Disability Rights California virtually to learn what is Specially Designed Instruction and how the use of Supplementary Aids and Services can help children with disabilities achieve their education satisfactorily in the general educational environment according to LRE provision of IDEA. Flyer Questions? [email protected]
The View Teen Center: December
The View Teen Center is a free facility in Mountain View (263 Escuela Ave) for all Mountain View and Los Altos 6th - 12th grade students. Drop-in hours are Monday - Friday, 3:15 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays, 1 - 6 p.m. (on no school days or minimum days, The View Teen Center is open 1-6 p.m.), and the center features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! See attached flyer for details about upcoming events and programs in December or visit their webpage for more information.
MV Public Library: Parenting Program
Join the MV Public Library for a book club discussion of Never Enough by Jennifer Wallace on Wednesday, January 17 on Zoom from 12:00pm - 1:00pm or in person from 7:30pm - 8:30pm. Read the book or listen to interviews with the author. Then join either meeting to discuss the effects of achievement culture on youth and ways to help teens feel that they matter and are valued. Registration is required.
PTA News
Winter Holiday Fair: Tue Dec 19, 4-6pm
We need volunteers for the holiday fair: sign up here!
This is an annual community event hosted by your PTA where students and families can sell their homemade crafts, art, jewelry, tasty treats, and more. There will be musical entertainment, opportunities for holiday photos with Lanny and door prizes - everything your family needs to get into the spirit of the holidays, grab some last minute holiday gifts, and get ready for winter break.
Last chance to sign up as a vendor! To be a vendor, please sign up for a table by December 15th at the latest, using our online form: https://forms.gle/8FRpGaQy3FwUQefo9 or through the paper sign up sheet in the office. Most vendors will sell items priced between $0.50 and $15. Being a vendor is a great way for your student to earn some extra money for the holiday season and try out running their own business. Questions? [email protected]
After School Enrichment Classes
Registration available for winter 2024 after school classes at Landels (Jan. 16th - Mar. 28th).
Want foreign language classes? The PTA is happy to bring after school language classes to Landels if you would like. Please help us to know our parents’ wishes here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkuh4UOdUkLxXmBNNIshFoz_rq8Mf6O_PvpkD0oWqeR7zthQ/viewform?usp=sharing
Association Meeting Date Change
The next PTA Association meeting has been changed from Jan 10th to Jan 17th at 6pm. Hope to see you there! Check Konstella for details.
LEAP - Girls Who Code
An introduction to coding through scratch block coding.
When: Every Wednesday and Friday for the first 4 weeks of 2024 from 3:15PM - 4:15PM
Dates: January 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31, February 2
Participants: Twelve students, 4th & 5th grade
Materials Needed: student's chromebook (bring it to the class)
Instructors: 3 MVHS students
*We need one badged volunteer per session to supervise. No coding knowledge required. Students of volunteers are GUARANTEED enrollment.
Registration opens 12/18/23 at the front office.
Flyers
MVHS Tree Lot
Letters to Santa
December CAC and LCC Events
The View Teen Center: December
MV Public Library: Parenting Program
What’s in an IEP? Advocating for your child
Parent U Extension: Parenting in the Digital Era
Landels Winter Holiday Fair
Afterschool Enrichment Classes
December Lunch Menu
2023-24 School Calendar