Vargas Elementary School
1054 Carson Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA
408-522-8267
Vargas Dolphins swim into learning with peacebuilding skills to become successful leaders of tomorrow.
Mission Statement:
The mission of Vargas Elementary School, in partnership with students, parents, families, and our diverse community, is to empower every student to become a lifelong learner and a successful member of our global community by providing experiences, which ensure a strong academic program and a safe, nurturing environment that fosters physical and social well being.
Events Calendar
Under Construction
Educational Programs
PeaceBuilders
Peacebuilders is a new program at Vargas this year. Each Monday Morning we affirm our commitment to peace by saying the peacebuilding promise and singing the peacebuilding song. These peacebuilding activities help children understand that their efforts make a difference to people around them every day. Students learn the basic rules of Vargas through the promise and song. In this way we instill in our students the importance of a safe and peaceful learning environment for all.
I am a PeaceBuilder: I promise:
To praise people, to give up put-downs,
to seek wise people as advisors and friends.
To notice and speak up about hurts I have caused,
and to right wrongs. I promise to build peace at home,
at school and in my community each day.
Peace Song
Peaceful hands, peaceful feet
Peaceful kids walk down the street
With a please and a thank-you
Peace is really cool
Vargas is a peaceful school
Peaceful hands, peaceful feet
Vargas kids walk down the street
We will praise and seek wise people everyday
PeaceBuilders in every way
Peaceful hands, peaceful feet
You'll hear no put-downs on our streets
We will notice hurts and right our wrongs
Join us in our peaceful song
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Peace Council
Our student council decided to change their names to "Peace Council" this year in step with our new peacebuilding program. They have worked very hard in bringing about positive change to Vargas this year. They have taken several proposals to Dr. Bonilla to ensure peace and harmony at Vargas. They were instrumental at bringing back touch football, enforcing a peaceful lunch, and holding an art contest so that they could decorate our new ball wall with a peace mural. These hard working 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders meet once a week on their lunch hour to discuss other ways to keep the peace at Vargas.
Conflict Managers
From our peacebuilding model we have decided to empower a team of 32 students to become conflict managers during class, lunch, and recess. These students work in teams of two on the playground helping other students solve their conflicts in a calm and peaceful way. They are excellent role models and spend a full day in training to become a conflict manager. When you visit Vargas look for the students wearing yellow vests and carrying clipboards, these are our conflict managers on duty.
Principles supporting conflict management programs:
Conflict is an inherent part of life, and it is neither good nor bad.
Effective alternatives to suspension and expulsion are needed to respond to conflict on school campuses.
Positive expression and resolution of conflict are learned behaviors.
Each individual is responsible for the consequences of his/her decisions and actions.
Implementation of conflict management can reduce violence, vandalism, chronic absenteeism, and suspensions.
Family Reading Nights
Guest readers, reading incentives, treats, and family quality time all become important components as our family reading nights grow bigger and bigger each month. Students and parents sign reading contracts and agree to read together for three evenings a week. Parents also agree to attend at least three reading nights during the school year. There are many incentives for students to earn, but most important is the quality time they spend with their families reading.
Family Reading Night
Home/School Connection
Home is an important part of a child's educational development, student without parental support at home begin with a disadvantage. We encourage parents to come to school and volunteer in their child's classroom. We also encourage parent participation on field trips, on school committees, and as members of the PTA. We understand that some of our parents work outside the home and coming to school is not always easy. We encourage those parents to take time each night with their child and discuss their day. Please set up a quiet, work area for your child where they can do homework each night. This are should be equipped with scissors, glue, crayons, colored pencils, pencils, erasers, etc.
Here are suggestions for helping your child with reading that were presented at our last family reading night.
Parental
Reading Help Card
When your child gets stuck while reading
PAUSE
Wait, count to five slowly
1…2…3…4…5
SAY
"What would make sense?"
"Reread the sentence again and
get your mouth ready for the first part."
"Look at the picture."
"Give it a try."
PRAISE
"That was a good try!"
"That makes sense."
"I like that you noticed the first part …!"
"I like how you reread that part."
TELL
After two helps say,
"Could it be ____?"
ASK
"Does it make sense?"
"Does it sound right?"
"Does it look right?"
ENJOY YOUR TIME TOGETHER!!!!
