We are pleased to provide our students, parents, staff, and community with the latest information about our Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District community through this newsletter. Please join us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to connect with us daily!

We acknowledge that during these times of uncertain societal changes and political shifts, challenges can arise. Our commitment to the rights and safety of every child remains unwavering. All students in our District are entitled to equal access to education, and we ensure that both students and parents feel welcome on our campuses. 

Our counselors, community school coordinators, family case managers, and site principals stand ready to partner with you at any time to support your child’s success. We encourage you to reach out to these resources for ideas on how to help your child and family during stressful times. 

Looking ahead, our schools are hosting open houses for the 2025-2026 school year. We invite you to spread the word to your friends and neighbors about these exciting school tours, where parents and students can experience firsthand what it means to become part of our welcoming, safe, and learning-focused schools. For more information, please contact the office of your desired school.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to continuing our partnership with you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Elida MacArthur

Superintendent

Watch the full message from Superintendent MacArthur!

MPESD is committed to helping keep you and your family safe. We recommend reviewing this Resource Toolkit to find childcare options if a parent is away. 

Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit (CAA)

In California, a CAA allows another adult, regardless of their immigration status, to make decisions for your child in your absence. This form:

• Allows the caregiver to make school and medical choices for your child
• Keeps your rights as a parent
• Can be given to your child's school or doctor

We strongly suggest ALL parents and guardians in our District fill out this form and ensure the caregiver is also listed as an emergency contact on your child's school records. Being prepared for emergencies and designating a trusted caregiver for your child is key to ensuring your family's safety and well-being in any situation.

MPESD is proud to announce the winners of the District’s Spelling Bee that took place in January. The top two students from each category will represent our District and advance to the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Spelling Bee on March 8, 2025. We wish them the best of luck as they compete!

4th-6th Grade Category:

• 1st Place: Austin Foz from Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary (IJAVVE)
• 2nd Place: Jose Gilberto Arias Garcia from Mt. Pleasant Elementary and Ida Jew Academy (MPIJA)
• 3rd Place: Noah Garcia from MPIJA

7th-8th Grade Category:

• 1st Place: Nancy Nguyen from August Boeger Middle School
• 2nd Place: Charleigh Jurado from IJAVVE
• 3rd Place: Kadin Huynh from August Boeger Middle School

On February 3, 2025, Robert Sanders Elementary School celebrated the grand opening of its new playground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This project is part of a larger initiative to improve school facilities, made possible through bond measures supported by the community. These enhancements enrich the learning environment and support the well-being and development of students.

On behalf of Robert Sanders's principal, teachers, staff, and students, MPESD extends our heartfelt gratitude to the community for their support in making this facility upgrade possible.

Pictured are student leaders participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside Trustee Melissa Got-Lopez, Mrs. Laurie Breton, and Principal Jeannette Carson.

On February 2nd, IJAVVE hosted the NorCal FTC Qualifying Tournament, welcoming 14 teams to their campus. FTC, or FIRST Tech Challenge, is a robotics competition for students in grades 7-12. The IJAVVE Robotics Team also competed, with 7th/8th graders Brian Do, Obadiah Martinez, Jezrael Pina Perdomo, and Jonathan Guerrero showcasing their skills in design, construction, and programming, with support from Coach Pratik Lokesh and Robotics Coordinator Ms. Rajani Sankarappan.

The team shared their experiences at the MPESD Board Meeting on February 12th. You can view the meeting here.

Pictured are IJAVVE students, parents, and teachers at The Tech Museum, where they attended informative sessions to prepare for this year's Tech Challenge.

We are proud to announce that seven teams of Ida Jew Academy & Valle Vista Elementary (IJAVVE) and August Boeger students are preparing for the 2025 Tech Challenge, a STEM-focused competition that encourages students to apply classroom learning to solve real-world scenarios.

This year, our students—comprising one team from upper elementary and six teams from middle schools—will build a device that uses gravity's power to traverse multiple tracks. Teams will be required to design and build a vehicle capable of navigating the challenge course while documenting their entire creative process.

MPESD eagerly anticipates the creative solutions that will emerge from this year's challenge. We are confident that this experience will provide valuable lessons in engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving for our young learners. Stay tuned for more updates!

Enrollment for the upcoming school year is now open! Share the news with your friends and neighbors who might be interested in our Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten, and K-8 programs. We invite prospective families to explore our campuses and experience the warm and inclusive environment we offer.



Our schools will be hosting Open House events, providing a wonderful opportunity to meet our educators and see our facilities firsthand. We also offer individual school tours tailored to your family's needs. Simply contact our school staff using the information below to arrange a visit at your convenience.

For the latest information about our Open House events, be sure to follow us on social media.

We are thrilled to announce that the MPESD Board of Trustees has approved a new strategic plan to guide our District for the next three to five years. This plan embodies our mission to "foster a connected community of belonging and equity through innovative learning, meaningful engagement, and a commitment to every student's success."

As we move forward, you'll see these themes of Community, Equity, and Success woven throughout our communications and initiatives. We invite all students, families, staff, and community members to stay tuned for updates as more details unfold. We are excited about the opportunities this new strategic plan will bring and look forward to working together to provide the best possible education for our students.

At MPESD, our mission is to foster a connected community of belonging and equity through innovative learning, meaningful engagement, and a commitment to every student's success. Our vision is to create an inclusive community that celebrates every child, values every voice, and ignites the joyful pursuit of knowledge.

In February, our lessons focus on Black History Month, President’s Day, and Valentine’s Day with Courage as the highlighted character trait.

In March, the focus will be on Women’s History Month, Irish-American Heritage Month, Ramadan, and Cesar Chavez Day. The character trait is Perseverance. 

If you are interested in learning more about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives, please reach out to your school to further the conversation. Thank you for supporting an inclusive school community!

Are you or someone you know interested in becoming part of Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District? MPESD is hiring for a variety of roles. 

Job opportunities are available to individuals interested in becoming teachers and teachers interested in obtaining additional credentials. There are also many positions available in our school district that do not require a college degree. 

The school district offers a generous welfare and benefits package as well as an excellent state pension plan. We are always looking for Instructional Associates (general and special education) and Substitute Custodial Workers. 

We invite you to learn more information on EdJoin for contact our Personnel Office at (408) 233-3720. 

Learn more about an Instructional Aide career and Substitute Custodian at MPESD by reading the flyers below! 

Our Board of Trustees will meet on March 12, 2025.

The job of the Board of Trustees includes the following: 



• Setting the vision and goals for the district  
• Adopting policies that give the district direction to set priorities and achieve its goals
• Hiring and evaluating the superintendent 
• Adopting and overseeing the annual budget 
• Managing the collective bargaining process for employees of the district 

Watch the meeting livestream here. To learn more about these sessions, please visit our website. 

Watch our latest Board meeting on February 12, 2025, here.