Preschool Principal Newsletter

February 2026

Dear MVSD Preschool Families and Community,

I hope that all preschool families and staff have had a positive and meaningful start of the 2026 year.

I encourage our preschool families to be active participants in their child's education by volunteering for our preschool programs and by attending our parent workshops and meetings. In addition, continue to foster at home:

1) The love of reading by reading aloud to their children every day, especially at a regular set time of the day.

2) The love for mathematics by counting all sorts of things at home to show their children that math is everywhere and to help them rote count from 1 to as much as 100!

3) Identifying positive qualities in your young children and using affirmations to foster a high self-esteem.

4) Opportunities, in a safe and supportive environment, for your young children to struggle with small failures to foster grit and resilience in them through a Growth Mindset.

I continue to be grateful for our families and staff who take the time to read this second preschool newsletter of the year. On behalf of our Preschool Programs staff, I wish you a Wonderful Spring Season!

Respectfully,

Glenda Giron

Principal of Preschool Programs

Whether you are an expectant mother enrolled in our Early Head Start Home-based Program, have a 18-month old child enrolled in our Early Head Start Center-based program, or have a 3-year old enrolled in any of our Head Start or State Preschool programs, you can rest assured that we focus on pre-academic skills that can support a smooth future transition into the K-8 educational system.

At the start of every school year, our staff collaboratively identify the key concepts related to literacy, math and english proficiency to prepare our Focus on Learning Plan. If you want to learn more about how you can support your child at home, please read the section titled "The Coffee with the Principal Event #2 Recording is now Available!" included in this newsletter edition.

Did you know that our preschool programs are free to qualifying families and serve pregnant mothers and students ages 0 to 4?

• In our Early Head Start Home-based programs at Baker and Monte Vista we support expectant mothers and children 0-2.9 years of age. We still have a few slots available!

• In the Early Head Start Center-based programs at Cogswell and Payne we support children 18 month-2.9 years of age. We are currently full, but we. can add your child to our waiting list!

• In the Head Start and State Preschool Programs at Baker, Cogswell, Children's Center/Kranz, Maxson, Miramonte, Monte Vista, and Parkview, we support children 3-4 years of age in part-day and full-day settings. We still have a few slots available in our part-day classrooms.

• If you are interested in a full-day, full year program with extended child care option for children 3-4 years of age, we have the Children's Center serving children from 6:30 am until 5:30 pm. We are currently full, but we. can add your child to our waiting list!

• If you are interested in an English-Spanish Dual Emergent Preschool Program, we have one at the Parkview AM 1 class. We are currently full, but we. can add your child to our waiting list!

For more information on any of these program options, please call us at (626) 652-4250 or visit our main office located at 2109 Burkett Rd., El Monte, CA 91731.

Hurry, our programs will fill quickly and tend to have long waiting lists.To access the online student enrollment process for all preschool programs described above, click the link below.

Ms. Alma Gonzales became our proud Director of Preschool Programs since 2000, a role she has held with outstanding distinction ever since. Because of her unwavering commitment to our community, she was recently awarded the Bobby Salcedo Esperanza Award at the El Monte Promise Foundation's 21st annual Tamalada Gala on December 12, 2025.

Her remarkable work ethic and visionary leadership have set the bar high for herself and those around her. Her colleagues describe her as meticulous, driven, and a leader who leads by example. On December 11, 2025 our preschool programs staff prepared a surprise recognition "Tea Party" event for Ms. Gonzales.

Meet the #1 team for customer service for our preschool families. This outstanding office team supports preschool families and the public in general either by phone or in person to quickly connect them to the appropriate staff to address their questions and needs.

An important component of our Head Start and Early Head Start programs focuses on supporting our teachers, students, and families in areas related to social-emotional development, behavioral supports, and students with special needs.

Meet our Mental Health and Disabilities preschool team composed of Michael Rogers - Preschool Psychologist, Estephany Casarrubias - Mental Health Consultant, Claudia Casillas - Manager overseeing Disabilities Service Areas, and Tommy Velasquez - Manager supporting Mental Health Services.

They work together to support students through our internal referral system and with Multidisciplinary Team (MDTs) meetings to address student behavioral and developmental concerns. Ms. Casarrubias addresses related supports for families at home while Mr. Rogers addresses related supports for students in the classroom. This year, we have also secured a LACOE Psychologist Intern, Ellie Hua, who will be working under the direction of Mr. Rogers from February through May 2026.

In addition, our State Preschool Inclusion program at Maxson is supported through Kalyn Sakamoto, Preschool Intensive Needs Teacher. Speech supports are provided by a dedicated team of all Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) districtwide, with Ms. Maritza Duniya, SLP, leading the process of Head Start speech referrals. We are also supported by our school district's preschool diagnostic team composed mainly of Leah Barragan - Preschool Psychologist, Maritza Menjivar -SLP, and Sarah Guzman - Preschool Intensive Needs Teacher.

In the month of October, our staff had the opportunity to nominate colleagues for the CKH "Think-Choose-Act/Self Direct" Award. Congratulations to:

Lupe Bobadilla

Samara Baker

Veronica Scheithauer

Mayra Ramirez

Celeste Alfaro

Joanne Jung

Letty Cardenas

Sagrario Torres

Betty Ballze

Alma Gonzales

Then, in the month of December, our staff nominated colleagues for the CKH "Do Your Part/Responsibility" Award. Congratulations to:

Alicia Ortega

Aggie Fonseca

Rocio Rodriguez

Maria Aguilar

Yesenia Dominguez Gonzalez

Maria Almaraz

Samantha Machuca

Donna Huerta

George Soffa

Since our kickoff Preschool Attendance Rally #1 on November 20, 2025, we have been individually recognizing preschool students for their monthly attendance as follows:

Gold Level Certificate = 0 absences

Silver Level Certificate = 1 absence

Bronze Level Certificate = 2 absences

In addition, this year we have started recognizing attendance at the class level with Attendance Trophies for the top three (3) Preschool classes, top class in Early Head Start Center-Based Programs, and top class in Early Head Start Home-Based Programs. In order to earn a trophy, a class must meet the minimum requirement of 85% attendance rate.

Every month we also hold a special Spirit Day to raise awareness about the importance of preschool attendance. In November the theme was "Wear Fall Colors Day." In December it was "Pajama Day," and in January it was "Wear a Sparkly Outfit Day." In February we are scheduled to have a "Caring Day with Hearts" spirit day on 2/19/26.

Our second Preschool Attendance Rally took place on January 22 at the Children's Center (pictured below). Parents who attended the rally received a Free-Dress Day pass for their preschool child. Congratulations to the Top Winning Classes recognized in the past three months (also pictured below).

SAVE THE DATE

• Event: Third and Final Preschool Attendance Rally of the year
• Theme: TBD (vote on the poll included in this newsletter!)
• Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
• Time: 8:45 a.m.
• Location: Main Head Start office at 2109 Burkett St., El Monte, CA 91732
• Prize for Attending: Free-Dress Day Pass

Capturing Kids Hearts (CKH) is a program designed to foster a positive school culture through strong relationships between teachers and students and their families. Every month, preschool teachers expose and teach students about core character traits such as teamwork, responsibility, respect, perseverance, and kindness. Preschool teachers have also created what we call "social contracts" which are visual posters to create the class norms/rules that all children and staff will abide by. We also incorporate a CKH Home-School Connections Activity such as simple parent survey, a take-home activity for families to complete, and currently as a form of a virtual Honor Board for families to appreciate others around them.

For your reference, here are the upcoming CKH Themes:

February CKH Theme: Spark the Heart/ Kindness (on now)

March CKH Theme: Step Up!/Courage

April CKH Theme: Finish strong /Perseverance

May CKH Theme: Be Leadworthy/Integrity

In the month of December, we invited preschool families to participate in our “Do Your Part /Responsibility” December’s CKH Theme at Home. Before the winter break, they received from their child’s teacher a handout with our monthly CKH Home-Connection Activity, in which they were asked to draw with their preschooler an activity that demonstrated how you teach and practice responsibility at home. Here are some of the beautiful products we received and we also selected a few to be displayed in our main Head Start office.

Preschool Families, we need your help. Please continue to contribute to a better world by inspiring others with recognition messages to people you appreciate, either a family member who inspires you to be the best that you can be, a friend who always thinks of you, or a preschool staff member who has been extremely helpful to you this year. Let us spread kindness through positive messages and affirmations to one another!

Link to our Preschool Programs Community Honor Board:

January CKH Home School Connection Activity: Community Honor Board

This virtual community board will be open through the month of February, as this will closely link to our February CKH Theme of Kindness!

This is the third year that our Family and Community Engagement department is offering an amazing Parent Curriculum Series in English and Spanish called Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors) for our preschool families. This workshop is designed for parents of children 0-5 years, and it is grounded in research, reflects parent input, and uses the “popular education” approach to engage parents through culturally relevant activities. It focuses on the belief that parents are the most powerful people in the life of a child and having an informed, active, and engaged parent is one of life's greatest advantages. Parents and family members who attend this 5-week program will learn about 0-5 brain development, how to enrich your child's social-emotional development, and how to promote literacy, mathematics, language, and healthy nutrition through home activities. These classes are being presented by our Family Services Worker (FSW) Team, once per week from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m, every Wednesday until March 4, 2026. No prior enrollment is needed, so you just need to show up. There is no requirement that you must attend all sessions; however, we encourage you to do so since we will cover ten important topics in those five weeks. We offer child care, snacks, and raffle prizes, and on the last session, March 4, 2025, we will hold a Parent Graduation Celebration. Families that attend at least 4 of the 5 sessions will receive a graduation certificate. Please call us at our main office at (626)652-4250, if you have any questions.

Capturing Kids Hearts (CKH), a program designed to foster a positive school culture through strong relationships between teachers and students and their families, also requires parent/family input. As the founder of CKH, Flip Flippen puts it, "If you have a child's heart...you have a child's mind." We follow the CKH EXCEL model which includes the following steps to engage students:

E - Engage : having a welcoming start of the day

X - X-plore (explore): discovering our children's needs and interests

C - Communicate: showing others that you truly care

E - Empower: modeling the appropriate behavior so children can do the right thing

L - Launch: closing each day in a meaningful day

Now that you have read more about all the things that we do with CKH, we ask for your candid input. Please submit the required survey below at your earliest convenience.

CKH Preschool Parent/Family Survey

Based on parent requests, this year the Coffee with the Preschool Principal series is being offered at the sites with the most requests, based in the results of the parent survey shared via Parent Square at the start of the school year. On our first event at Baker Head Start on October 1, 2025, we had the opportunity to answer questions from our preschool families regarding health protocols, safety matters, and meals in preschool programs. On our second event at the Children's Center on November 12, 2025, we conducted an in-person, hands-on training for families on our Focus on Learning Plan goals for our preschool students and how families could support at home with pre-reading and pre-math skills, language development, and social-emotional development. On our third event at Maxson Head Start/State Preschool on January 28, 2026, we had the opportunity to answer questions from our preschool families regarding field trips, parent volunteer requirements and recognitions, and the future of our preschool programs.

If you have not had the opportunity to join one of our events, the Coffee with the Preschool Principal is an in-person opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while discussing with Ms. Giron all the things that matter most to preschool parents and families. All events take place at 9:00 a.m. All events will continue to be in person, but we will also offer the opportunity for families to join us virtually through Zoom. Families that attend will receive a beautiful reusable coffee mug featured at our recent event at Maxson.

Save the date for the rest of our Coffee with the Preschool Principal event of this year:

• March 11, 2026 at Monte Vista Head Start
• April 29, 2026 at the Children's Center

The Coffee with the Principal Event #2 on the topic "Connecting School Readiness Goals to Home" is now available in a recorded video on our YouTube Preschool Channel on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv_RnWHlFQ0&authuser=0.

If you complete a simple post-training questionnaire on this link https://forms.gle/Rv3AKDypysLqXKaL7, you can receive a take-home educational gift until supplies run out.

When asked about one thing that attending families learned from this workshop and could apply at home, here are some of the responses we received:

• "I learned ways in which I am able to teach my children at home"
• "One thing I learned is how important is it to teach about sounds and how I, as a parent can learn new things through these parent trainings."
• "Socialization between young children is important to prepare them for future learning."
• "I learned about counting numbers at home with items I can easily find in my kitchen."

Would you like to earn a beautiful shirt for your preschool child while keeping your child's health requirements up-to-date? All you have to do is dream big and help us ensure that we meet your preschool child's health goals in three specific ways:

1. complete up-to-date physical exam that includes a lead value,
2. all required immunizations up-to-date, and
3. current dental exam

Once children earn their spirit shirt, they can participate in our Preschool Spirit Days on Fridays. Families that already submitted these three health requirements will soon be receiving their child's Preschool Spirit Shirt through their assigned Family Service Worker (FSW).

Pictured below is part of Mrs. Torres's Kranz Full-Day class, proudly wearing their Spirit Shirt on Fridays!

Parent Square a safe and secure platform for all school-to-home communication used district-wide. The Parent Square App allows families to receive timely and relevant communication from our Preschool Programs and to message their child's teacher in a secure way. Our preschool children's safety is of utmost importance to us, so help us keep you informed of any emergencies and other timely communication through the Parent Square App. Here are two (2) QR codes you can use to get the Parent Square App and activate your Parent Square account. Please use your phone or email on file to properly sign up for Parent Square.

In our efforts to keep our preschool parents and families informed on weekly key events, Ms. Giron sends a detailed Sunday Preschool Principal's Message via Parent Square. This message is also sent to the parent's email on file. If families have opted to receive text messages, they also receive a text indicating once the Sunday Preschool Principal's Message is available on Parent Square. If you are not receiving this Sunday message, please contact our Preschool Programs main office at (626) 652-4250.

Our Preschool Programs office and support staff are here to help with any preschool-related questions you may have. Here are all the ways you can communicate with us:

• In person at the Main Head Start office at 2109 Burkett St., El Monte, CA 91732
• By Phone at (626) 652-4250
• Virtually using the Parent Square App
• In addition, you can learn more about our programs through our weekly Principal's Sunday Message, and through our Facebook and website pages.

Friendly Communication Reminders:

• Keep your contact information (email and phone number) updated.
• During classroom hours, our teachers must focus on care and supervision of their students. If you need to speak to them, please request an appointment before/after class hours.
• Preschool families can also contact their assigned Family Service Worker (FSW) directly as they are the link between parents and teachers. If you are in the Early Head Start Home-based program, your lead contact is your teacher.
• Notify us if you are not getting our weekly Preschool Principal's Sunday Message.

We encourage our MVSD Preschool Programs parents and families to save the dates for the following Preschool and Mountain View School District events and observed holidays. Dates that are underlined are specific to Preschool Programs and may or may not necessarily apply to other MVSD schools.

• February 16 - Presidents Day - Schools and District Offices closed
• February 19 - Monthly Attendance Spirit Day and Class Recognitions
• February 19 - MVSD Speak Up Competition
• February 27 - Lunar New Year Preschool Spirit Day
• March 2 - Staff Development Day – Student Free Day
• March 3-6 - Read Across America Week
• March 4 - Food Pantry at MVSD Family Center
• March 5 - Board of Education Meeting
• March 11 - Coffee with the Preschool Principal at Monte Vista Head Start
• April 23 - Preschool Attendance Rally #3 at the main Head Start Office
• March 18 - Consolidated Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) Meeting
• March 21 - Queen's Gambit MVSD Chess Tournament
• April 1 - Conga Kids Semi-Finals Competition
• April 2 - Food Pantry at MVSD Family Center
• April 14 - Board of Education Meeting
• April 16 - Food Pantry at MVSD Family Center
• April 22 - Consolidated Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) Meeting
  
• April 25 - MVSD Math Field Day
• April 30 - Food Pantry at MVSD Family Center

Dear Parents & Families,

As we move further into the school year, I am grateful for the strong partnership between our schools and families. Together, we continue to focus on this year’s theme of Belonging, ensuring every student feels safe, supported, and inspired to succeed each day.

This month, we are pleased to share several important district updates, including newly expanded on-campus student health services, TK/K enrollment opportunities for our youngest learners, and resources to support student wellness.

Sincerely,

Raymond Andry, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Save the Date for MVSD's 2026 State of the District event on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

We are pleased to announce that this year’s MVSD State of the District event will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Please save the date and stay tuned for updates! Our entire Mountain View community is invited and we look forward to sharing MVSD's successes from the past year with you. See you there!

All interested in enrolling their students into TK and Kindergarten are invited to visit www.mtviewschools.com/enrollment to complete the process for their child!

Is your child turning 4 or 5 years old by or before September 1, 2026? If so, we invite you to enroll them today through our quick and easy online Aeries Enrollment Portal. Families are also able to stop by any of our school offices during business hours to receive assistance.

⏬⏬⏬ Click on the link below to get started! ⏬⏬⏬

MVSD is proud of the work completed throughout our school communities, thanks to the funds made available by the voters in Measure M. Pictured above are only a few of the many completed above and underground projects, such as filtration systems, new buildings and essential underground infrastructure.

Mountain View School District has received the highest possible rating following its annual independent financial audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

The audit, conducted by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, resulted in an unmodified (clean) opinion, confirming that the District’s financial statements are fairly stated, free of material errors, and compliant with federal and state requirements.

In addition to the required audit, the Board of Education voluntarily requested a Measure M Bond Financial and Performance Audit to further demonstrate transparency and accountability to the community. This is not required, but the district believes it provides the community with necessary information.

History of MVSD Bond Measures SS and M

Measure M, approved by voters in March 2020, authorized $56 million in bonds to support facility repairs, infrastructure improvements, and modernization across District schools. Measure M continues the work of Measure SS, approved in 2016, which provided $57 million for critical school facility infrastructure upgrades, many of them below the ground. Together, these investments support safe, modern, and engaging learning environments that enrich student learning into the 21st century and beyond.

Auditors issued a clean opinion on the Measure M financial audit and confirmed through the performance audit that bond funds were spent appropriately and in alignment with Board-approved, voter-authorized projects.

What does this mean?

The audit results reflect Mountain View School District’s continued commitment to transparency, accountability, and providing learning environments that support student success now and into the future!

“These results show that strong fiscal stewardship and strong learning environments go hand in hand,” said Superintendent Dr. Raymond Andry. “Our careful management of public funds allows us to invest in facilities that support high-quality teaching and learning for every student.”

Board President Jacqueline Saldaña added, “Our community trusted us with these bond measures, and this audit confirms that trust is being honored. We are proud to see these investments directly benefiting our schools and students.”

As many of our families have already heard, dental and now vision health services are underway at multiple campuses in MVSD thanks to our ongoing partnership with the Tzu Chi Medical Foundation!

These free, on-campus dental, vision, and medical services for students are made possible with the District’s $11.6 million California Community Schools Implementation Grant, which helps schools serve as community hubs for academic, health, and social-emotional support.

All students may participate, regardless of insurance status. If families do not have coverage, the Tzu Chi team and Community School Site Leads can help with enrollment or provide options. Consent forms continue to be sent home by each school so stay tuned!

If you have any questions regarding the program offerings, please contact your school’s Community Schools Site Lead by calling your school office.

Read more about the start of this new phase of Community Schools in MVSD in the Mid Valley News, linked below!

⏬⏬⏬ Click on the link below to read the article in the Mid Valley News! ⏬⏬⏬

Students across Mountain View School District continue to enjoy healthy snacks through the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program, which provides a variety of fresh produce during the school day. The program helps students develop healthy eating habits while introducing them to new fruits and vegetables.

From crunchy cucumbers to sweet strawberries and juicy oranges, students look forward to these nutritious snacks that support their health and learning.

To see the program in action, families are invited to watch our short video on the District’s Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program, linked below!

⏬⏬⏬ Click on the link below to learn more and to watch our FFVP video! ⏬⏬⏬

Mountain View School District is proud to share a newly added Safety & Wellness section to all district and school websites! This area provides families with easy access to important information, resources, and reporting tools that support student well-being.

The Safety & Wellness section includes resources related to:

• Bullying prevention
  

• Mental health support
  

• Digital citizenship and online safety
  

• Substance abuse awareness
  

• Student safety practices
  

• Suicide prevention
  

Families can find the new section in the top menu of each district and school website. We encourage families to explore the new Safety & Wellness section to learn more about available supports and resources.

⏬⏬⏬ Click on the link below to visit our new Safety & Wellness resources page! ⏬⏬⏬

💬 Staying Connected Through ParentSquare
Communication is key to belonging—and ParentSquare continues to be our District’s official communication platform connecting schools and families. Through ParentSquare, parents can receive important updates, message teachers and principals directly, and stay informed about school events—all in one convenient place and in their preferred language. If you haven’t already done so, please make sure your notifications are turned on to stay connected with your child’s school community.

🧾 Aeries Data Confirmation: Strengthening Family Connections
This school year marked the first time MVSD launched the Aeries Data Confirmation process for all families at the start of the year. Through Aeries, parents can easily update contact information, emergency details, and important permissions—ensuring schools have the most accurate information for every student. Families completed the process online via the Aeries Parent Portal before the August 14 deadline.

For ongoing support or to review the step-by-step instructional video (available in English and Spanish), families can visit mtviewschools.com/dataconfirmation or contact their school office.

This fall, MVSD is relaunching our WeTip Anonymous Reporting line with updated signage at all school sites. The new signs feature a District-specific call-in and text number, as well as a QR code for easy reporting. This change ensures that reports go directly to the District rather than the national hotline. Old WeTip signage will be replaced at each school to reflect this new process, helping students and families safely share concerns while protecting confidentiality.

Mountain View School District continues to foster a culture of health, safety, and well-being for students, staff and families. We’re pleased to offer free mental-health resources through Care Solace.

Together, we can support every student’s journey to wellness. For more information, reach out to your school or visit our website.

Care Solace

For 24/7 support with finding mental health providers, Care Solace connects MVSD families with local care options. Contact Care Solace at (888) 515-0595, email weserve@caresolace.org, or visit caresolace.com/site/mtviewfamilies to speak with the Care Concierge team. Services are free, confidential, and all information is securely stored.

MOUNTAIN VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION

Jacqueline Saldaña - President

Adam Carranza - Vice President

Veronica Sifuentes - Clerk

Christian Diaz - Member

Cindy Wu - Member

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION

Raymond Andry, Ed.D. - Superintendent

Darrin De Knikker, Ed.D. - Associate Superintendent of Business Services and Strategic Planning

Mercedes Gomez, Ed.D. - Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services

Roberto López-Mena - Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources