Principal’s Message:

Hello Dolphins,

 

Tonight is Back to School Night and our staff is excited to welcome you into classes so you meet the teachers and learn a little about classroom expectations. This is a great way to start building relationships with your classroom teachers AND more importantly meet other families in your child’s classroom. 

At Back to School Night, you will find out how your classroom operates, any important information about your child’s schedule like when is PE, Music, Art, STEAM, How your teacher plans to communicate with you, and how you can communicate with them. This is also a great opportunity to sign up to be a volunteer in your child’s grade level or classroom. 

I look forward to seeing you all tonight at 6:00PM sharp.

A few  important reminders: 

Back to School Night means Minimum Day Today 

Today is a minimum day. School dismisses at 12:10 for all students.

No MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 27

Due to preparations for Elementary School Back to School Night and afterschool staff development, there will be no MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 27 (a minimum day for students). MVWSD+ families, thank you in advance for making other arrangements. This affects all Beyond the Bell programs and the district-paid YMCA programs. Programs resume as normal on Thursday, August 28.

 

For more information, please contact [email protected] or call (650) 526-3500 x1061

 

MVWSD Fingerprinting Session for Regular Volunteers - Flyer- 

Please note that on Friday, we will have fingerprinting at Castro from 8-11am

 

Thank you to the 800+ parents who completed the process to become MVWSD volunteers last year! Applications for the 2025-2026 school year are now open. Details about how and who needs to apply are here: mvwsd.org/volunteers.

 

We’ve been working hard to make registering to be a volunteer more convenient while keeping schools safe. As part of this effort, MVWSD is offering fingerprinting sessions for $72. Financial assistance is available for income-eligible families.

 

Thu, 28 Aug 2025

8 – 11am

Imai Elementary

 

Fri, 29 Aug 2025

8 – 11am

Castro Elementary

 

Wed, 3 Sep 2025

11am – 2:30pm

Crittenden Middle School

 

Pay by Zelle, Venmo, or by personal check on the day of service. Click here for payment links.

 

In Partnership, 

Principal Taylor

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Events Calendar

August

 

September

 

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In this Newsletter

School News:

School Site Council

School Counselors

Updating Contact Information

Short-term Independent Study

New TK/K afterschool sports program - Flyer

Kids in California schools still eat for free, but applying for federal Free or Reduced School Lunches can help your family and school! 

Walden West Camper Parents: Curious about your 5th or 6th grader's upcoming science camp?

Reporting an Absence

 

Flyers:

2025 -2026 School Year Calendar - Here

August Menu Here

 

District News:

Looking for an afterschool program? Read on to see if your child qualifies for MVWSD+! 

InPlay: Afterschool activities

Welcome from MVEF – Why It Matters

 

Community Partners

Back-to-School Safety Tips from MVPD - Flyer

Learning Challenges events for Fall 2025   

Mountain View Citywide Garage Sale

 

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School News

 

School Site Council

We need you!!!

Mariano Castro  Elementary School is forming its School Site Council for the 2025-2026 school year.  It will consist of five staff members and five parents/community members.  The School Site Council is very important as it is responsible for developing the school goals and budget with the Principal. There are (2) vacancies for parent/community member positions, and these positions will be filled by an election. 

The Mariano Castro Elementary School (SSC) works with the Principal to provide guidance and oversight on the goals in the Mariano Castro Elementary School Site Plan. 

The Site Plan sets the achievement goals for the school in academics and school culture. It outlines the strategies and actions to achieve those goals. The SSC may also take on additional tasks and responsibilities as requested by the Principal. This is a great way to learn more about Castro and meet other parents and staff to support your child’s education. 

If you are interested, please email me at [email protected] or talk with our front office staff. We will plan to hold an election with interested people next week.  Castro really needs you, please let us know if you can support us! 

 

School Counselors

As you may know, this year all of our MVWSD schools are continuing with full-time counselors. For Castro, that person is Kiera Henry-Duran. We are excited to have access to this valuable resource. Our counselor is here to support our students' social-emotional and mental health in numerous ways. She will be working with students whole-classes leading social-emotional lessons. She will also be working with students in small groups to support building healthy friendships and develop conflict resolution skills, and for some students she will provide one-to-one counseling support to achieve individual goals. Furthermore, Ms. Kiera will also be available as another caring adult on our campus. 

 

Ms. Kiera will also be available to support families in order to support student well-being. One recommendation that she has as a start for parents is the Parenting Space. This is a great beginning resource for families in this district.

 

Updating Contact Information

It is important we have your most current contact information (phone number, email address, emergency contacts). If you have a change or want to add an authorized person to pick up your child, please send an email to our front office staff at [email protected] with any changes or updates you may have.

 

Short-term Independent Study 

Short-term Independent Study is a contract that allows students to work independently when there are circumstances that make attending school difficult. Short-term Independent study can range from a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 14 days per school year. Contracts are approved on a case-by-case basis, require a 2-week notice, and require students to be in good academic and attendance standing. 

 

While we know that some absences cannot be helped, it is important to do your best to have your child in school as much as possible. Whenever you can, try to avoid taking trips during the school year -- or make efforts to take trips during District holidays (2025-2026 School Year Calendar). Our office staff can assist you with contract details: Ms. Antunez [email protected] or Ms. Judy [email protected].

 

*Please note, if the contract is not approved, the days will be counted as unexcused and the student may be considered truant.

 

*Also note that extending vacation is not considered an excused absence. Students will be considered truant if they accumulate absences for vacation purposes.  

 

New TK/K afterschool sports program - Flyer

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

 

Kids in California schools still eat for free, but applying for federal Free or Reduced School Lunches can help your family and school! 

Families who meet the federal income levels to qualify for Free or Reduced School Lunches should apply now to receive priority services such as free after school childcare/Expanded Learning. Applying also helps our district receive our full entitlement from the federal government to fund programs that help all students. 

 

If you think you might qualify, please visit EZmealapp.com. We will have drop-in help available for filling out these applications: 

• September 4, 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Castro Elementary School and Crittenden Middle School 

• September 9, 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Vargas Elementary School

You may also make an appointment by contacting your school office. Thank you in advance.

 

Walden West Camper Parents: Curious about your 5th or 6th grader's upcoming science camp? 

Join Walden West for an exclusive Parent Information Session about Walden West Outdoor School! This one-hour presentation is your chance to learn all about the camp experience, ask questions, and get a closer look at what makes Walden West a unique and enriching experience for your child. What will my child learn? What should we pack? How does the camp handle safety? We'll cover these questions and more to ensure you feel confident and excited for your child's time at science camp. This session is specially designed for parents and guardians, giving you a thorough overview of what to expect. Spanish and Vietnamese translations will be available. (Note: Students will have their own pre-camp sessions at school with their teachers) Looking forward to seeing you there and sharing what makes Walden West an unforgettable experience for your child!

 

When: Aug 28, 2025 05:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) 

Register in advance for this webinar

 

The session will be recorded and sent out to your classroom teacher.

 

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

 

Looking for an afterschool program? Read on to see if your child qualifies for MVWSD+! 

A student qualifies for the free MVWSD+ afterschool program if one or both of the following conditions are true:

• The student is an English Learner (EL). EL status is established via the results of the Initial ELPAC exam, which is being administered to certain students in August and September. Results are usually available within two weeks of the completion of testing. If you have questions about the Initial ELPAC exam, please contact Leticia Corcoran at [email protected].

• The student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches based on federal income guidelines. At this time, lunch for all children is free, but this may not always be the case. To fill out the application for free or reduced lunch, please go to ezmealapp.com. Qualifying students’ data is collected at the state level and usually appears in the district’s data system within two weeks. If you have questions, please contact your school office.

 

Soon after a student’s EL or Free/Reduced Lunch Status changes to indicate he/she qualifies for MVWSD+, you will receive an email from the MVWSD+ Team inviting your child to enroll.

 

For questions or troubleshooting, please reach out to [email protected] or Betty Nunez at (650) 526-3500 x1061.

 

InPlay: Afterschool activities

Looking for free, low cost and tuition-based afterschool activities for your child this year? Explore InPlay’s’ free activity guide! Sponsored by Santa Clara County and our school district, the searchable guide lists thousands of local and affordable programs so that you can find fun enrichment activities that complement your child's growth and learning in the classroom! 

 

Welcome from MVEF – Why It Matters

The Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF) is a volunteer-driven nonprofit funding programs that benefit every student in MVWSD.

Your donations bring art, music, environmental science, one extra English teacher per middle school reducing class sizes by over 25%, middle school athletics, and more to our students.

To keep these programs strong, MVEF asks for a suggested $1,100 per student per year (monthly options available), but every gift matters. All donations are tax-deductible. Donate today! Thank you for supporting our students!

Become an MVEF School Ambassador!

MVEF is seeking School Ambassadors, especially at the following schools: Monta Loma, Castro, Imai, Vargas, and Theuerkauf.

 

As an ambassador, you will:

• Increase MVEF’s visibility within your school community

• Strengthen communication between your school and the foundation

• Support fundraising and event outreach efforts

• Build a network of trusted community voices that champion our mission

 

Ambassadors can be School Representatives or even Board members for those interested in deeper involvement. If you are ready to connect, communicate, and collaborate for our students, please email [email protected] to learn more.

 

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From Our Community Partners

 

Back-to-School Safety Tips from MVPD - Flyer

As the new school year kicks off, the Mountain View Police Department (MVPD) wants to help keep students and families safe on the daily commute. Whether you’re walking, biking, driving, or otherwise, a little bit of caution can go a long way! Please take a moment to review this flyer for a few important tips on:

• Bike Safety

• E-Bike & E-Scooter Safety

• Passenger Safety

• Drop-Off & Pick-Up Tips

• Walking Safety

Let’s work together to keep our community safe this school year! 

 

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].

 

Morning Let’s Talk Parent Support group

September 10, 10 am  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.  

 

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.

 

Mountain View Citywide Garage Sale

The Mountain View Citywide Garage Sale is back!  Join hundreds of residents holding garage sales on Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event helps keep reusable items out of the landfill to conserve natural resources.

 

Seller registration is open until September 2.  Sellers may choose to participate on only one day or both days of the sale. Online and printed address lists will show which day(s) each participating seller is open.

For shoppers, a new online map will allow you to filter garage sales by dates open and items listed, as well as other enhanced features to help shoppers plan which homes to visit for the event.

Sellers can register their Mountain View homes for the sale and shoppers can access the map at MountainView.gov/GarageSale.