Monta Loma Elementary
November 30, 2016.
Core value of the month: Hard Work
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Dear Monta Loma Family,
Earlier in the year I shared our site plan goals, one of which is to re-establish a school wide student
behavior, recognition, and engagement plan. Much of what Monta Loma currently does in this area is working
very well. For example, we have a strong identity with our leopard mascot and core values, and we enjoy
celebrating our students’ successes with Leopard Leader awards. Even so, we can always improve. So far this
year, we have made some changes our office referral protocol and have begun to identify classroom
management practices used throughout the school. Next steps include building our knowledge of effective
practices and seeking parent input. To that end, I am forming a principal’s advisory group of parents who would
like to help us meet our goal. The purpose of this group is to bring parent voices into our plan so we can more
effectively work as partners in our students’ growth. Interested community members should send me a
message by email or phone stating how they would like to help. My intention is for this group to be
representative of our diverse community, so I will actively reach out to potential members. I look forward to
hearing from you, and thank you in advance for your interest.
On another note, many of you attended meetings where I presented school achievement data from last
year. For those of you who couldn’t attend in person or who want to see the data again, I have added it to our
website. Just go to montaloma.mvwsd.org and click on “Our School” at the top. You’ll find the data under links
and resources.
In partnership,
Gloria
PTA NEWS
ML Food Drive kicked off Nov 28 - all donations are delivered to CSA. They are especially in need of nonexpired, healthy and nutritious items.
See their Wishlist http://csacares.org/storage/pdf/Complete%20Food%20Drive%20List.pdf.
Food uncertainty continues to be an issue for many local families. Thank you for supporting all members of our
community and allowing your children to experience the true spirit of giving.
Reach out to us anytime at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
SCHOOL NEWS
We are proud of our ML artists!
An upcoming Art4Schools art show titled “Organic Form” featuring work created by Monta Loma students will
be on display at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose, Ca95110. The
exhibit will be up from November 29th, 2016 to January 29th, 2017.
Congratulations to Amanda F., Alex A., Marcristian V., Daisy S., Isabella R., Alyssa C., April C., Benny M.,
Payton J., Andrei S.
NEWS FROM MVWSD
ATTENTION MONTA LOMA PARENTS!!!!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AHEAD
Parent Portal
Dear ML Parents,
There is strong evidence that students do better if their parents check their learning activities and progress,
setting students up for success in middle school and beyond. MVWSD provides this ability for parents online
through PowerSchool.
You will soon access your students’ information with your own PowerSchool account, instead of sharing an
account with your students. Today, 11/30/2016, you will receive an email containing your web access ID and
password for your PowerSchool Parent Access Account with instructions for a creating an account.
There will be a Monta Loma Parent Portal Assistance Session on December 12, 2016 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at
the Monta Loma front office for those parents who do not have access to the internet or who need help
creating the new account.
Advantages of the Parent Access Account
 MORE FEATURES on the Parent Portal than if logging in with students' credentials.
 VIEW ALL YOUR STUDENTS IN ONE LOGON. Parent/Guardians will see all their students’
information from one account. Each of your students’ names will appear on a button on the top of the
screen. Simply click each button to access information about each student.
 PARENTS DO NOT NEED TO SHARE ONE ACCOUNT. Each Parent/Guardian can have a separate
account. Parents no longer have to share accounts with other family members.
 YOU CAN OPT IN TO RECEIVE EMAILS OF YOUR STUDENT’S ATTENDANCE. Parent/Guardians
can sign up to automatically receive emails of their students’ attendance on a daily, weekly or
monthly basis.
 INFOSNAP INSTANT ACCESS Parents can automatically access InfoSnap from the Parent Access
Account for the annual Student Intent to Return Survey.
 MIDDLE SCHOOL ELECTIVES 5th grade parents can choose their student’s Middle School Electives
online via the Parent Portal.
School Boundaries Community Meeting
The Mountain View Whisman School District is hosting community-wide meetings for residents to provide input
on potential school boundary changes that will take effect in the 2019-2020 school year when Slater School
opens.
School Boundaries Community Meeting
Monday, Dec. 12
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Join your neighbors at one of these. The discussion at each location will center on the impact that each
boundary scenario will have on our school: Monta Loma Elementary, 460 Thompson Ave.
Childcare will be provided. To help up with planning, please register for the meeting and location of your choice
here.
The process: In December 2015, the Board of Trustees voted to reopen a school in the Slater neighborhood.
This, along with other growth factors, will have an impact on enrollment and facilities across the District and
necessitate a review as well as realignment of the attendance boundaries.
The Dec. 12 meetings are part of the yearlong process outlined by the Student Attendance Area Task Force
(SAATF), a working group of community members, to determine how to adjust school boundaries to
accommodate enrollment after Slater School is reopened in 2019.
The timeline: The task force, formed last spring, has been reviewing District demographic data. The group has
been working in five separate teams to produce several boundary scenarios. The feedback collected at the
community meetings will be considered by the SAATF and presented to the Board of Trustees.
In early spring, the SAATF will work to make necessary adjustments to boundaries, reduce the number of
working options, and decide on two recommendations. In mid-March, another night of feedback sessions will
be held in the community. On April 4, SAATF will present two boundary scenarios to the Board of Trustees for
review, and the Superintendent will make a recommendation to be voted on by the Board on May 4.
For more info, see www.mvwsd.org/boundaries.
ENROLLMENT FOR 2017-18
For NEW students: Open Enrollment is from January 6-February 3, by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Go to
www.mvwsd.org to schedule an appointment now.
For CURRENT Transitional Kindergarten students: Open Enrollment is from January 6-February 3. You will be
required to complete an Online Student Intent Survey through InfoSnap. The survey and password will be
emailed to you. Parents, please make sure the school office has a working email on file for you.
For CURRENT students K-7th grade: You will be required to complete an Online Student Intent Survey
through InfoSnap. The survey and password will be emailed to parents February 13-February 17. Parents,
please make sure the school office has a working email on file for you.
Intradistrict Transfer Request: If you wish for your child to attend another school or program for the 2017-18
school year, you will make your request Online in the Student Intent Survey, sent February 13 –February 17.
Currently enrolled 5th grade students: Transition to 6th grade presentations will be held at each middle school
on January 25 at 6:00 pm. Parents of 5th grade students are encouraged to attend these presentations.
Give to MVEF and Avoid the Annual Phone-a-thon!
The Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF) funds innovative programs in your child’s classroom, as
well as art, music, hands-on science and afterschool and enrichment activities.
MVEF will be holding the annual phone-a-thon soon, so you can make your donation now to "avoid the call"
and be entered in the MVEF raffle.
To donate this school year, click here.
Parenting 101 Event
Mountain View Parent University presents a free workshop, "Parenting 101: 4 Tips for a Successful School
Year" on Thursday, December 1 from 6:30-8pm at the Crittenden-MUR.
Parents will learn how to help their children with:
 Emotional Awareness
 Positive Thinking
 Empowering Children to Take Responsibility
 Active Problem Solving
Presenter Elisabeth Stitt is the founder of Joyful Parenting Coaching, a former middle school English teacher
for 25 years, and, most importantly, the mother and step-mother of three happy, successful kids. Her book,
Parenting... as a Second Language: A Guidebook for Joyfully Navigating the Trials, Triumphs and Tribulations
of Parenthood, has supported many families in their journey. www.elisabethstitt.com
Provided:
 Interpretation (Spanish support)
 Child care
 Transportation (Bus departs from Castro Elem. and Graham Middle at 6 p.m. and returns at 8:30 p.m.)
Please confirm your attendance here.
CALENDAR
Thursday, December 1
Monta Loma Student Council @ Room 3
12:30 – 1:00 pm
Friday, December 2
4th Grade Field Trip to the Tech Museum
8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Tuesday, December 6
Monta Loma Kindergarten Information Night @ MUR
6:00 – 7:00 pm
Wednesday, December 7
5th Grade Field Trip to the Marine Science Institute (Ms. Adam’s and Ms. Stacy’s groups)
7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Thursday, December 8
5th Grade Field Trip to the Marine Science Institute (Ms. Gomes’ group)
7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Friday, December 9
Coffee with the Principal with an Update on Construction by Mary Ann Duggan @ MUR
8:30 – 9:30 am
Monday, December 12
Monta Loma Parent Portal Assistance Session @ Front Office
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Monta Loma Student Attendance Task Force Presentation
6:00 – 7:50 pm
Tuesday, December 13
Monta Loma Site Council @ Library
4:00 – 5:30 pm
Thursday, December 15
Pijama Day/Día de Pijamas
Monta Loma Student Council @ Room 3
12:30 – 1:00 pm
Chorus Winter Concer @ MUR
1:40 – 2:40 pm
Friday, December 16, 2016 through Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017
Holiday Break
No School Days
Wednesday, January 4th, 2017
Back to School Everybody!!!!!/¡¡¡¡Todos Regresamos a Clases!!!
FLYERS
ML Food Drive
ML Chorus/Winter Concert
Letter to 5th Grade Parents from CSMA
ML 5th Grade Band and Strings
Enrollment for 2017-2018
Breakfast with Santa
Write a Letter to Santa
Cold Weather Shelters
Art Camp