Monte Vista TK-8 Community News

ytsurvey.org/mpusdfamily26

Please click on the survey link above by October 30th. It is a 15-minute survey. Our students, staff, and parent leadership reviewed and made some real efforts to put into action last year's response feedback. Help us become aware of our current strengths and opportunities for growth.

Want to be part of a multiple gift card raffle (at least five $10-15 giftcards to Target)? Please screenshot your completed survey and text to 831-901-7109 to be entered into the raffle, which will take place on November 1st with notifications on November 2nd.

We appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey and sharing your voice! Jay jay, chirp chirp!

Click HERE for the Picture Gallery showing all the recipients with their positive office referrals:

Kayhaan Nuristani, Landon Santora, Liam Williams, Corrin Stafford, Bri Hartesveldt, Madi Jones, Marlowe Chopyk, Rosalind Kozdon, Levi Anderson, Emmy Konen, Enzo Garcia, Cameron Cepeda, Nicholas Ricigliano, Dylan Pardini, Noelle George, Shlok Shah, London Riley, Max Hill, Ella Winter, Gabby Crumley, Yunior Sarabia, Dominic Frasier, Dean Atherton, Easton Edwards, Gemma Will, Eleanor Eskenasy, Iyla O’Neil, Blake Marshall, Jace Jones, Daniel Nizam, Tatum Nguyen, Rose Martin, Grace Kelly, Quinn Stockdale, Jaylani West, Meika Hornisher, Elijah Smith, Ryder Munoz, Presley Page, Gwen Atherton, Brenner Burns, Chip Salazar, Sona Kazarian, Jack Simon, Kylie Poss, Natalia Jimenez Cardenas, Bryce Breland, Logan Schopp, Zackery Gamino, Charlie Hawthorne, Ronaldo Prudencio, Emma Mekeres John Zerbe, Katherine Juarez, Arianna Romero, Bella Vargas, Jay Whiteside, Yesenia Sarabia-Lopez, Bella Davi, David Aramide, Ean Ramer, Rylee Almony, Quinn Lundy, Gigi Jones, Dante Nelson, Mackenzie Thayer, Dylan Ningham, Willie Fugitt, Cameron Cursio, Francis Smith, Evan Schopp, Jillian Stephens, Katherine Juarez, Khari Hill, and Sawyer Todd

1) Our 5th graders went to Outdoor Science School in Felton, California at Mt. Hermon. It was an awesome experience for our blue jays and our parent and high school chaperones.

2) Our staff reviewed Chapter 3 of the Power of Inquiry, which focused on big ideas, driving questions, and essential questions and interaction with curriculum and daily lessons. Teachers also signed up for their Peer Instructional Rounds visits for October related to our Problem of Practice.

3) Our grade level teams finalized their Plan-Do-Study-Act quarter 1 cycles, which focused on teaching a common lesson and aligning with grade level rigor, engaging, affirming, and meaningful instruction.

4) Fall Enrichment After School Club forms are now rostered, and confirmations will go out via Parent Square no later than Monday, October 12th.

5) Our students continued to learn about responsibility, especially as it relates to READING! Many students shared their status on Read-A-Thon minutes, types of books being read, and where they were reading. The Book Fair was also a big hit too!

6) Our soccer and volleyball teams played some great games this week against schools! Our varsity boys soccer team tied against Los Arboles Middle School and played strong against Buena Vista. Our young girls soccer team continued to grow in their games against the same schools above. Our girls varsity volleyball team won against Los Arboles Middle School and DLAMP while our JV girls team came very close to wining in the third set against Los Arboles. Way to go Blue Jays!

7) We had about 40-50 people show up to our evening book fair and our Right to Read Night. Families received resources around supporting reading at home in various ways.

8) We had our September Dining Out night at Rosine's restaurant at Alvarado St. downtown.

Looking forward to an amazing 26'-27' school week when we come back on October 12th, which will be Days 43-47.

Jay jay, chirp chirp!

HAPPY FALL BREAK, BLUE JAYS!

We hope everyone had an awesome Fall Break! No school this last week, but the reading continued! Our Read-a-Thon runs through Sunday, October 11, so keep those Blue Jays reading and logging their minutes!

READ-A-THON |

1. Ms. Adamson's 1st grade class - $795
2. Ms. Gnibus's TK class - $570
3. Ms. Cooper's 3rd grade class - $550
4. Ms. Cruz's Kinder class - $500
5. Mr. Lazare's 2nd grade class - $440

Remember, kids earn prizes based on minutes read OR money raised, and this year we’re raising money to support enrichment opportunities for our Blue Jays, including after-school clubs and field trips.

Log Reading Minutes
Find & Share Your Blue Jay’s Pledge Page
Submit digital reading log/turn in the completed Read-a-Thon Packet to the Front Office between October 12-14.

BOOK FAIR | WOW, BLUE JAYS!
What a week we had before Fall Break! Our Book Fair sold $16,467 in books before online sales are even counted. With 25% coming back to the school, that’s more than $4,100!
But the best part may have been seeing how excited the kids were to visit the Book Fair.

A HUGE thank you to the 38 parents who signed up for volunteer shifts, plus all the parents who came in during their students’ shopping times to help kids find books, manage eWallets, and make decisions. We truly could not have kept the Book Fair open all week without you!

And our teachers felt the love, too! Thirteen teachers, including our librarian Ms. Laxier, created wish lists for their classrooms and the library. Thanks to parent purchases and Share the Fair, they received a combined 92 NEW BOOKS!

Teachers: If you didn’t get a chance to submit a wish list this time, let us know. We’d love to see if there are other ways we can help add some new books to your classroom!

Share the Fair also helped us make sure that students identified by their teachers as needing a little extra help were able to shop for books of their own. Around 25 Blue Jays were able to go home with new books with that support!!

MISSED THE FAIR? YOU CAN STILL SHOP!
Online Book Fair shopping continues through October 11, with even more titles available than we could fit in the Mini Gym. 25% of online sales also comes back to our school!

Shop the Online Book Fair

Thank you to everyone who shopped, volunteered, donated books, rounded up, or helped a Blue Jay find their next great read. What an awesome Book Fair!

Claim Your Trunk Spot Here!

1) Read-A-Thon is wrapping up! See Read-A-Thon hard copy packets that went home with each child. We have tons of prizes for all levels of reading minutes and money donations students are able to collect. If every student (all 750) at the school is able to get an average of $40 in donations from family and friends, then we will easily meet an amazing amount of $30,000! We know some people might get less than that and some might get more than that, but the average is helpful to remember. All donations and minutes are due by Wednesday, October 14th. See PTO news above for online logging of reading minutes and link for donations--both can be inputted on behalf of your child by the 14th, especially for those who got pledges and are finalizing donations among family and friends.

2) Our Grades 1-8 Fall Afterschool Enrichment Clubs forms have been rostered, and confirmations for which clubs students were sent out during Fall Break. We kick off clubs Monday, October 12th! We still need a handful of our Tuesday and Thursday golf club students to move to Wednesday. text Dr. Ashby at 831-901--7109 to confirm.

3) For volleyball and soccer games coming up the week of October 12th, see Sports Update and schedules further below.

4) Fall Break is wrapping up. We will see you back at school on Monday, October 12th. Also, if you left town early for any reason, please do an independent study packet for your child, and then return it completed the day your child comes back from Fall Break. Call Berenice Hernandez in the front office at 831-392-3890 or text Dr. Ashby at 831-901-7109.

MPUSD NEWS HOT OFF THE PRESS FROM MARCI MCFADDEN (see fliers further below):

Your Voice Matters: YouthTruth Survey Opens September 28 - Each fall, MPUSD participates in the YouthTruth Survey to hear directly from our students, families, teachers and staff about their experiences in our schools. The feedback we receive helps us understand what’s working well, where we can improve and how we can continue creating positive learning environments for every student. The 2026 YouthTruth Survey will be open September 28 through October 30. Students, teachers and staff will participate at their schools, and families will receive their own family survey beginning September 28 in ParentSquare (link will also be published on MPUSD's website). Listen. Learn. Improve. Your voice matters!

ytsurvey.org/mpusdfamily26

REMINDER: Fall Break | No School October 5 - 9 - MPUSD and its schools will recognize Fall Break the week of October 5 - 9, 2026. Our schools will be closed. We hope students, their families, and our teachers and staff have an opportunity to enjoy a week of rest. School resumes on Monday, October 12, 2026.

Board of Education Special Location | October 13 Meeting - The next Board of Education meeting will be held in the community at Monterey High School on October 13. Open sessions begins at 6:30 p.m. The agenda may be found here on October 8. The meeting will not be available on AMP-TV, but you can Zoom into the meeting. If you miss the meeting and want to know what actions the Board takes, you may read Board Highlights or watch Spotlight on Board Highlights later in the week.

Federal Survey Day | October 15, 2026 - Each year, MPUSD asks our military-connected, Department of Defense-affiliated, and federal property-residing families to complete a Federal Survey Card. This year’s card is electronic and available through ParentSquare directly from your school site and MPUSD’s website. Once you select the form, it will be named Impact Aid Program Survey Form. Please complete one form per student. Your participation helps MPUSD recover critical federal funding that supports services for our military-connected students. NOTE: If you are not military-connected, Department of Defense-affiliated, or do not live on federal property, you do not need to complete this form. Learn more in MPUSD’s Newsroom (link to come).

NEW | Pre-register Before Visiting Your School - MPUSD is making it easier and faster for visitors to check in at our schools! Families and other visitors can now pre-register before arriving on campus, helping save time during the check-in process. Pre-register in advance, receive a QR code, and simply scan it at our visitor kiosks when you arrive and print your visitor badge. All visitors are still required to touch base with the front desk upon arrival and wear a visitor badge while on campus. Learn more and find your school’s pre-registration link on our district or school websites.

Your Voice Matters: Join us for our District English Learner Advisory Council - MPUSD families are invited to participate in our District English Learner Advisory Council (DELAC) meetings during the 2026 - 2027 school year. DELAC provides parents, guardians, and caregivers with an opportunity to share their voices, learn more about district programs and services, and help shape how we support multilingual learners across MPUSD. All parents, guardians, and caregivers are welcome. Childcare and dinner are provided. Visit our website or see flyer below for dates, times, and location.

National Custodian Day - Yesterday, was National Custodian Day, the perfect time to honor our 75 custodians across MPUSD who care for our 20 school sites, Monterey Adult School, District Office and District Services Center (day and night). Our custodians are true behind-the-scenes heroes. Beyond keeping our schools clean, safe and welcoming, they build relationships with students and staff and help create the positive culture and sense of belonging that make our schools special. To our incredible custodial team: thank you for taking care of our schools and the people in them. (Pictured: Custodians from Marina High, Marina Vista Elementary, and Los Arboles Middle School)

Preschool Tours | October 17 - Interested in learning more about MPUSD Preschool? Families are invited to tour our preschool programs on October 17 and see our learning environments, meet staff, and learn more about what MPUSD Preschool has to offer. Tours will be available at three of our locations at the Seaside Child Development Center, DLAMP Preschool, and Monterey Child Development Center at scheduled times throughout the afternoon. Please RSVP in advance so our preschool team can plan for your visit and provide the best experience for participating families. Visit preschool.mpusd.net to learn more or call 831-392-3456.

From the MPUSD Unplugged Archives - MPUSD launched its podcast, MPUSD Unplugged, last school year, and with the school year well underway and Fall Break approaching, this episode is worth another listen. Hear from one of our Attendance Intervention Specialists about the why behind consistent school attendance, why each day matters, and how MPUSD works alongside students and families to provide support when challenges arise. Take a listen and stay tuned. New MPUSD Unplugged episodes are coming soon!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsaVBP_LYFs&t=1s

Looking for a Job That Works for Your Family? - MPUSD is hiring! For parents and guardians, working in our schools can be a win-win, an opportunity to join the MPUSD team with a schedule that may better align with your child’s school day and calendar. Join our Classified (non-teaching positions) Job Fair on Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the District Services Center in Del Rey Oaks. We’re hiring for a variety of high-demand positions, with same-day interviews, provisional offers for highly qualified candidates and free fingerprinting available. Walk-ins welcome! Pre-register at the.mpusd.net/2026jobfair and bring your resume. Learn more on our website.

Learn the Basics of Google Docs at Monterey Adult School - Looking to build your digital skills? Monterey Adult School is offering a Google Docs Introduction Class beginning October 12. Learn how to create and format documents, edit files, download, save and print. Morning and evening sessions are available, and participants can also earn a Northstar Digital Literacy Certification. The class fee is $25. Call 831-392-3565 to register or scan the QR code on the flyer.

Most events are linked to MPUSD's website to receive more information. You may also access the district's school year calendar here. (Event dates subject to change. Check with your school site and this section regularly.)

10.13.26 Board of Education Meeting
10.21.26 District English Learner Advisory Council
10.27.26 Board of Education Meeting

From Coach Brandi Hobson (PE teacher and athletic director):

Week of October 12th Sports News will be updated soon. Until then, see sports games schedules below.

October 5th-9th- FALL BREAK (no school)

October 12th- Return from Fall Break (turning in Read-A-Thon logs and donations during this week)

October 19th- School Picture Make-Up Day

October 23rd- Trunk or Treat Halloween Family Event at Monte Vista from 5:30-7:30PM

+ Grades 6-8 Halloween Dance from 6PM-8PM.

November 11th- Veterans Day - no school in observance of the holiday

November 13th- Monte Vista TK-8 Drive-In Movie Night

November 16th-20th- Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences, 12:50 dismissal all this week

November 18th- Habit Burger Monte Vista TK-8 Dining Out

November 18th-20th- Seussical Jr. Musical performances from 6PM-7PM

November 23rd-27th- Thanksgiving Break, No School this week (return on Monday, November 30th)

October 22nd- Celia Feldman (Fifth Grade Teacher)

October 24th- Jaimie Adamson (First Grade Teacher)

October 26th- Joe Ashby (Principal)

The ninth week of school saw some major rebounds in chronic absenteeism and some dips in daily attendance! We were only above 95% on one day while other days we were around 94% and Thursday at 93.1%! As a result, our average daily attendance rate stayed at 95.6%, which is just below 96%, and a little distance to our goal of 97% for this school year. We are aware though that some students were on independent study nearing the Fall Break or due to sickness.

Our Chronic Absenteeism rate went from 13.7% to 11.4% (thank you for the decrease), which is well above our goal of 7%, but with the new independent study requirements, we will take a while to calibrate getting lower again for students who are chronically absent.

A gentle reminder, for those families who had students out, please turn in the independent study packets the day they return to school after the absence (a new state requirement). Otherwise you have to recover through Saturday Academy or a future after school tutoring attendance recovery program which will begin in November. Also keep in mind Saturday Academy only helps daily attendance rate for a child but not their chronic absenteeism rate while Independent Study and After School Tutoring recovery helps both.

Our percentage bands for attendance UP A LOT this week. Yay! Satisfactory level was at 73.1% (ten percent higher--550students-77 students more than last week--YAY). 116 students in the yellow at risk area (decrease of 59 students from last week--YAY), 73 students in the orange moderate chronic (decrease of 15 students from last week- YAY), 13 students in the light red (1 less than last week--progress), severe chronic area, and 0 students in extreme chronic (YAY). Anyone who stays in moderate, light red, or dark red areas (moderate, severe, or extreme chronic) is considered to have chronic absenteeism. We will work with these families to make sure independent study packets are turned in the first day they return to school after the absence(s). Otherwise, they will have to do Saturday Academy or possible after school tutoring attendance recovery (latter program should kick off in November). We will also continue to reach out to families who are lingering in these more at-risk areas of attendance.

We will continue in the 26-27 school year to climb back up to 96% average attendance rate ( and even climb to 97%) and then upping our goal to get no more than 7% chronic absenteeism.