Pawprints

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Oct. 9: Author Visit for 4th-6th grades - Stuart Gibbs

Oct. 12-17: Book Fair in the Auditorium

Oct. 23-26: Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 24: School Site Council Meeting

Oct. 27: District Staff Development Day - No School for Students

Oct. 31: Halloween Costume Parade

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

• All components have now been placed and cranes and trucks have left.

• The playground opened back up on Friday. The playground area available now is similar to what we had before last week, except for the soccer field. The soccer field will have a fence drawn around it for a couple of months. The reason it cannot be used is that since the large vehicles had been going back and forth in that area, the dirt has now become fine dust which is not conducive to students playing on it. The district would like to do something for that area, so they are exploring ideas such as possibly putting sod down.

Thank you all for your patience and cooperation last week! It was a very eventful one but now that the building has been placed, it's full force ahead in getting it completed!

WALKTOBER

Monte Vista is celebrating Walktober for the entire month of October to encourage everyone to get out and start walking more with several fun activities. See details for all of our Walktober weekly events here.

• Drive Less, Walk More Challenge: We gave students a challenge to reduce the cars in Monty Lane by 20% on Walk to School Day. On Friday, September 29th, we had 165 cars in Monty Lane. Our goal was to have fewer than 133 cars on October 4th. We met our goal with 121 cars in Monty Lane on Wednesday! Way to Go, Monte Vista! Students will get extra recess one day this week.

• Weekly Events: Details and Websites to upload Pictures here.
  Week 1: Friendly Paws Photo Challenge (Oct. 1-8). Upload pictures here: bit.ly/mvfriendlypaws
  Week 2: Mindfulness Photo Challenge (Oct. 9-15). Upload pictures here: bit.ly/mvmindfulness
  Week 3: Harvest Celebration Photo Challenge (Oct. 16-22)
  Week 4: Spooky Week Challenge (Oct. 23-31)

BOOK FAIR

The Monte Vista Book Fair 2023 starts on Thursday, October 12th! Parents are more than welcome to come and help out during your child's designated time. Schedules for classes and information regarding Scholastic's e-wallet program are linked below.

Book Fair Schedule

eWallet Program

FORGOTTEN ITEMS

There has been an increased amount of homework, lunches and water bottles dropped off and left at the office each day because students have forgotten them at home or in the car. We cannot call the classroom for each item because it interrupts instruction. We email the teachers to have students come to retrieve those items, but we can’t guarantee that the teacher will get the email in a timely manner since they are busy teaching. Please understand that while we do our best, it’s possible that your student may not get the item that is dropped off in time. Please try to establish routines to pack everything up the night before to prevent forgotten items. Thank you.

MENTAL HEALTH CORNER

Every month, our Monte Vista counselor, Mr. Bardakjian, will provide information on mental health topics in Pawprints that are related to issues that students may be facing in the home and/or school settings. The purpose of the monthly mental health topics is to help assist caregivers on how to best navigate mental health issues. Click here for this month’s topic which is anxiety.

LET’S GET CONNECTED

This flier shows different ways parents can connect with GUSD for information regarding their own children and for receiving information from school and the district.

CV SHERIFF'S STATION TRUNK OR TREAT | October 28

Wear your Halloween costumes and enjoy a trick or treat event with movie night on October 28. See flier for details.

2023 ENGINEERING EXPO -- STEM FAIR K-8th | October 29

Falkon Robotics from Crescenta Valley High School is excited to invite you to attend their inaugural 2023 Engineering Expo: Gears, Gadgets, and Goosebumps, a public, STEM-focused event for families. This event is FREE for all and intended for students in grades K-8, but because capacity is limited, a ticket is required. Families can look forward to a fun-filled day of engineering challenges and robot demos! Food and concessions will be available to purchase. Here is the flier. Get your ticket today!

Event Details

• Date: Sunday, October 29th, 2023

• Time: Expo is open from 10:00am to 4:00pm

• Venue: Crescenta Valley High School, 2900 Community Avenue, La Crescenta, CA 91214

KOREAN DLI SUPPORT

The Crescenta Valley High School DLIA Club is run by high school students whose purpose is to give young students (specifically, elementary school students in the DLI program) who are learning new languages and content the support that they need to be successful in the Glendale Unified Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. Every week, they host sessions over Zoom to provide assistance on homework, or general support in subjects like Korean, English, Math, and Science. This year, they will host the Zoom sessions twice a week and assign their members with the students. Please email cv.dliaclub@gmail.com with any questions, and please use the QR code on the flier to sign up if interested!

CV MOUNTAIN BIKING TEAM

The CV Mountain Biking Team needs new 6th grade riders of all levels. First ride of the season will be early November. Come join the team for camaraderie, sportsmanship and fun! Flier

PTA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE… AND POPSICLE PARTY!

Thank you to everyone who has joined our PTA! We have reached 114% participation with 791 PTA memberships! We achieved above our school goal of 100%! All 27 classes got at least 100% participation in joining PTA, therefore all students have earned a popsicle party on Wednesday, October 18th!

Membership Campaign Results: Friday was the last day of our Membership Campaign for Incentives! As of 9/28, we met our overall school goal of 100% with an overall 109% school wide! Please see the current classroom membership %: DOOM 143%, SESAY 100%, A. KIM 113%, GERSHEN 104%, S. KIM 104%, FONG 104%, NAKANO 104%, SMITH 100%, HARVEY 146%, STEPHAN 112%, CHO 125%, VROMAN 138%, BLESSINGER 132%, H. KIM 122%, PARDO 105%, WEINGARTEN 100%, TAHK 126%, NELSON 100%, R. KIM 122%, OH 126%, SON 109%, C. KIM 106%, YNIGUEZ 103%, KANG 106%, WIDHOLM 121%, LEE 114%.

• Mrs. Harvey's class will get a pizza party for the primary grades with 146% membership!
• Mrs. Tahk and Ms. Oh tied with 126% membership, so both classes will get a pizza party!

Now that 791 of you have joined the PTA, we’ll be seeing you at our meetings! Thanks again!

~ Mary Klausner

DOLLAR-A-DAY CAMPAIGN UPDATE!

We raised an astounding amount of campaign contributions -- over $70,000 -- in just 6 weeks! A big THANK YOU to all our families that donated to the 2023 Dollar-A-Day Campaign! Through your generous contributions, our PTA is able to sponsor such integral and invaluable programs at our school!

We had 398 individuals donate the full suggested contribution of $180 and qualify for the incentive. Please be on the lookout for your exclusive Monte Vista socks!

Though the official campaign has ended, we will continue to accept donations throughout the year both by cash/check and online at https://jointotem.com/ca/la-crescenta/monte-vista-elementary-pta. Thank you again for your support!

~ Brenda Sullivan

REFLECTIONS ART PROGRAM 2023-24 | I am Hopeful Because…

Calling all budding artists! Did you make something special over the summer you'd like to share with the world? Start preparing your submissions for this year's Reflections Program, "I am Hopeful Because...". Drawings, paintings, poems, stories, photography, dance, film, music and more are all welcome! All grades (K-6th) are eligible to submit entries as well. More information can be found here and the digital submission form is now OPEN! Entries are due next Friday, October 13th!

~ Jessica Baron, Reflections Chair

MONTE VISTA GARDEN CLUB | October 18

Attention Green-Thumbed Parents! Are you ready to cultivate a passion for nature and growth in your young sprouts? Join our blossoming Monte Vista Garden Club, where we dig into the dirt and plant the seeds of curiosity! This isn't just any garden; it's a fertile ground for learning, where little hands nurture plants and cultivate knowledge. Let's sow the seeds of enthusiasm together and watch our children bloom into budding botanists and eco-champions! Let's make our school's garden the talk of the playground!

All prospective members are welcome to meet at Monty’s Garden (behind the Kinder classroom) October 18th at 8:15am.

Any questions, please contact Lyuba Nova at lyuba.tchougounova@gmail.com

RED RIBBON WEEK | October 23-26

Red Ribbon week is around the corner! At Monte Vista, our motto is “Be Kind to your Mind. Live Drug Free.” Please see the attached Red Ribbon Flier to see what our amazing committee has planned for the week, with specific themes for each day!

OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT - October 26

Join us for a Spook-tacular Movie Night Under the Stars!

Date: Thursday, October 26th

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Lower Field

Get into the Halloween spirit with a special screening of "Addams Family 2"! Bring your blankets and snacks and join us for a cozy night under the stars. Popcorn will be available at the concession stand throughout the movie. The best part? There is no school the next day and the event is free, sponsored by our awesome PTA!

More details to follow!

~ Alena Betcheri, Movie Night Chair

DEI UPDATE

Filipino American History Month

In 2009, the US Congress designated October as Filipino American History Month, a month-long commemoration and appreciation for the Filipino experience throughout American history stretching as far back as 1587. Today, about 4.1 million Filipino Americans make up the second-largest Asian American ethnic group in the United States.

Filipino American History Month is celebrated in the United States during the month of October. The Filipino American National Historical Society established Filipino American History Month in the year 1988. In California (and in Hawaii), where a large number of Filipino Americans reside, Filipino American History Month is widely celebrated.

Links:

1. National WW2 Museum

2. FANHS

3. CTA

Sukkot - September 29

The Jewish holiday Sukkot, began five days after Yom Kippur (on the evening of Friday, September 29th). Sukkot lasts for nine days. It is a harvest holiday, during which Jewish families build sukkahs, temporary outdoor shelters with roofs made of natural materials like branches and leaves. Children often help decorate the sukkahs. During the holiday, meals are intended to be eaten in the sukkah. On the first two and last two days of the holiday, observant Jews will not perform work, using the time instead to study and pray. The eighth and ninth days are called Shemini Atzeret (which translates the eighth day of assembly). The ninth day is a holiday focused on the Torah and is generally referred to as Simchas Torah (rejoicing of the Torah/law).

Source

GROCERY & LABEL REWARD PROGRAMS

Did you know that our PTA can earn money when you grocery shop at Ralphs? Learn more HERE. Fliers will be available in this week’s Thursday folder!

~ Emily Geller, Grocery & Label Programs Chair

MONTE VISTA PTA INSTAGRAM

Follow our PTA on Instagram @monte_vista_pta and get updates on what is happening with our PTA in real time! #instagram #pta #weloveMV

Monte Vista Elementary serves students in grades K-6. We are a National Blue Ribbon School offering one of GUSD's FLAG dual immersion programs in Korean. Recently, Monte Vista has been selected as a 2022 California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) Award Program winner!

Website: https://www.gusd.net/montevista
Location: 2620 Orange Avenue, La Crescenta, CA, 91214
Phone: (818) 248-2617
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montevistagusd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montevistagusd

MENTAL HEALTH CORNER

Every month, our Monte Vista counselor, Mr. Bardakjian, will provide information on mental health topics in Pawprints that are related to issues that students may be facing in the home and/or school settings. The purpose of the monthly mental health topics is to help assist caregivers on how to best navigate mental health issues. Click here for this month’s topic which is anxiety.