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Weller Elementary School

Home of the Mustangs

The Mustang Express: November 16th- 20th

Posted Date: 11/14/26 (09:00 AM)

mustang express

The Mustang Express

Weller's Community Newsletter

November 16, 2026

Gratitude, Honoring Ruby Bridges, and More!

Dear Weller Families,

We will continue to celebrate Gratitude this week. Let's continue to shower our school staff with messages of thanks through our Weller Gratitude Form. Remember, it's all about taking care of one another and spreading kindness!

Gratitude is more than just being thankful, though it starts there. Gratitude is also about recognizing the good in our lives and how that goodness got there. There have been several studies about the benefits of cultivating an intentional gratitude practice, for both children and adults. Some of the benefits of practicing gratitude daily include: 
  • Stronger immune systems
  • Better sleep
  • Higher levels of positive emotions like joy 
  • Reduced anxiety and depression
  • Can lead to more positive actions

There are several ways that you can build a practice of gratitude as a family, including: 
  • Model gratitude language (ex. "I'm glad there was no traffic on the way to school today!")
  • Start a gratitude jar where you write down things you are grateful for
  • Talk about gratitude regularly as a family (over dinner, as part of your bedtime routine, on the way to school, etc.)
  • When a minor mishap happens (like a spilled drink or a canceled plan), gently guide your family to find a silver lining. Ask: "What is one good thing that might come out of this situation?"

Here are the highlights of the events and activities coming up this week at school:
  • Nov. 16–20 (All Week): Gratitude Grams are on sale during lunch recesses to support Jack Emery.
  • Nov. 17 (Tuesday): Giveaway Tables will be set out in front of the school by the office starting to claim free books, school supplies, uniforms, and more.
  • Nov. 18 (Wednesday): Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Students are encouraged to walk to school, wear purple, and pick up free gear (beanies, wristbands, keychains, and flags while supplies last).
  • Nov. 20 (Friday): Minimum Day with early dismissal (TK/Kinder at 12:00 PM, 1st–6th grade at 12:35 PM), plus Free Dress Day and the final day for the Book Blast program.

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter!

Sincerely, 
Mrs. Elzey and Mrs. Sharma
We need ALL families to complete our district's Meal Application: Apply online: mealapp.musd.org
 
Nash

Heritage Month Bookrooms

Indigenous Heritage Month: November

Click on the bookroom below to view the stories, activities, videos, and resources to celebrate and honor Indigenous heritage.
indigenous
indigenous 2

Weller's Core Values

We are focusing on COLLABORATION this month as part of our Core Values Program! Students will be reading our book of the month, Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough, to learn about our environmental legend and inspiring leader, David Attenborough. Students will engage in discussions and activities throughout the month to learn more about our spotlight leader and our core value: Collaboration. As students participate in our lessons they are also creating special Core Values Books that they will be able to take home at the end of the year! We encourage all families to participate with our Core Values Program! Please see below to learn more. 😁 To learn more about David Attenborough you can watch this video biography or see the trailer for his Netflix film. 
wild
david

CRITICAL THINKING

Important Information to know for the week ahead.

Student Council is Selling Gratitude Grams

Weller Mustangs, in the spirit of giving, we are selling Gratitude grams next week to support our efforts in raising money for Jack Emery. The suggested donation for a Gram is $1. You can also buy a lollipop for an additional donation to send with your gram. Write to a friend, sibling or teacher! You can even make one to take home! Look for student council members selling at lunch recesses for primary and intermediate students. TK and Kinder students, please connect with your teacher about purchasing grams. 
grams
 

Giveaway Tables - November 17th

This Tuesday, we will set out our Giveaway Tables in the front of school by the office. Please stop by to claim books, school supplies, uniforms, toys, and more!
 

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day- Nov. 18th

Join us on Wednesday, November 18th for Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day! In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges bravely became the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans, paving the way for civil rights and educational equity. Her courage and resilience remind us that even our youngest Mustangs can make a powerful impact in creating a more inclusive, kind, and united community.

To celebrate her legacy, we encourage all students to walk to school and wear purple! Students will also receive free Ruby Bridges gear, including beanies, wristbands, keychains, and flags while supplies last. Let’s walk together for courage, kindness, and unity!
Ruby
 

iReady Diagnostics Finish This Week!

Our Kindergarten - 6th graders will finish working on their second iReady Diagnostic for the school year. Students will complete these assessments to show us how much they have learned since the beginning of the year and focal areas for them to keep working on. We encourage all students to try their best and show us what they are capable of achieving!
 
minimum

MINIMUM DAY- November 20th

Please be on time to pick up your students this Friday: 

TK and Kindergarten dismissal is @ 12:00pm
1st - 6th Grade dismissal is @ 12:35pm
Free

Free Dress Day - November 20th

Students can come to school in free, appropriate dress on Friday, November 20th.
 

Book Blast Finishes up on Friday! - November 20th

Our school is partnering with Books Are Fun and the Book Blast program. This program helps every student build their own home library and get excited about reading by getting brand-new, age-appropriate books into every student's hands.

What makes it different:
  • Every student receives books they'll love and want to read
  • 100% of all contributions go directly to books
  • The book list is expertly curated for each grade level

Next Steps:
  • Already registered? You're almost there! Make sure you send at least 10 invitations so your student qualifies for their prizes and is entered into our drawings.
  • Not registered? There's still time! Click below to register your student, invite friends and family, and give your student a chance to win the Epic Treasure Chest!

Remember, 100% of all contributions stay with the school in the form of books for our students, books for our school, and classroom supplies for our teachers.

Still Trying to Reach Our Goal: We need 40% of students to complete their Treasure Map by inviting 10 or more people. That's the biggest lever for bringing more books into our school, and the resources above will help us get there.

Click on the flyer below to learn more.
book
 

The Jack Emery Food Drive Has Begun!

It's that time of year! Jack Emery is here! Please feel free to donate cash, checks or cans to the Milpitas Food Pantry by sending these donations with your child to school. Teachers will collect all donations and give them to Student Council for deposit and submission. Our goal at Weller is $2000! 
JE
JE 2
 

Order Your Fall Pictures

Families can order their student's Fall picture online: 

  • GENERATIONS SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY is your official school portrait photographer!
  • You may scan the QR slip that was given on picture day to view/order your photos
  • No QR slip? No problem! Ordering information and proofs have been emailed to you. Check your inbox for your child's gallery link. 
  • Picture packages are mailed directly to your home
  • Didn’t receive an Email or Lost your QR slip?
  • Contact us at:  https://www.generationsschoolphotography.com/contact-us
  • Or email us at: customercare@gsp-photos.com
 

Math Kangaroo is back!

Joseph Weller Elementary PTA hosts the Math Kangaroo exam again on our premises.


2. Invitation Code = WELLER@2027MC 

Please contact josephwellerelementarypta@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Registration open from grades 1-5 and 7-12 - Current Weller students and alumnus. Anyone else, please enquire first before registration. 

*Click on the image to enlarge the flyer.
 
fair

Weller's Kids' Business Fair

We are excited to announce the upcoming Kids’ Business Fair, an opportunity for our students to launch their very own businesses, sell products, and discover the power of entrepreneurship!

Whether your child wants to showcase hand-crafted items, creative artwork, or unique services, this event gives them hands-on experience with real-world business skills.

 Event Details & Guidelines
  • When & Where: January 21, 2027 in the MultiUse Room
  • Parent/Family Guidance Required: To ensure a safe, fun, and supportive experience, a parent or guardian must accompany their child and remain at their booth throughout the event.

 How to Register
Registration is open now! Please take a few minutes to submit the online registration and consent form.

 [Click Here to Register Your Child & Sign Off] 
Registration Checklist:
  1. Parent/Guardian contact details
  2. Student participant information & business idea
  3. Parent/Guardian supervision sign-off

 Need Business Ideas?
Students can participate individually or in small teams! Popular business concepts include:
  • Crafts & Creation: Handmade bookmarks, origami, keychains, greeting cards, or paintings.
  • Interactive Booths: face painting, caricature drawing, etc.
  • Upcycled Goods: Decorated plant pots, painted stones, or custom totes.

We look forward to seeing our young leaders showcase their creativity and hard work! If you have any questions, please reach out to the JosephWellerElementaryPTA@gmail.com

KINDNESS

Uplifting one another with generous hearts and compassionate actions.

NEW VOLUNTEER PROCEDURES

Volunteers play a vital role in enhancing our students' educational experiences and supporting our daily school activities.

The district has changed the volunteer process for efficiency and to ensure student safety. We will now be following a new process for all NEW parent volunteers, effective immediately. Paper volunteer forms are no longer accepted. 

The Volunteer Application now requires families to complete a Google Form along with a mandated training. The mandated training will need to be completed by all current approved AND new volunteers. 

Steps to Complete the Process:
  1. Visit musd.org.
  2. Click on Get Involved
  3. On the drop down menu, select Volunteer Opportunities.
  4. Click on the Volunteer Instructions and Form link to access the detailed instructions.
  5. Google form link: Volunteer google form link

Important Information for Existing/Approved Volunteers:
  • Ensure your TB test/assessment is up-to-date (must be renewed every 4 years).

Below are the links you can reference.
MUSD Volunteer Fingerprint Form (If you have done fingerprinting in the past for the school district, you do not have to redo it)

The process takes about two weeks for brand new volunteers and about a week for past volunteers.  

If you have any questions, you may contact Ms. A at 408-635-2876 x1107 or areynosoakbarzad@musd.org

Thank you in advance for your cooperation, patience, and commitment to maintaining a safe and efficient environment for our students. 
 

ANNUAL FIELD TRIP PLEDGE DRIVE

It is time for our annual Joseph Weller Pledge Drive to gather funds for student field trips. The hope is that families can contribute funds towards student field trips one time at the beginning of the school year to take care of all the trips that would happen throughout the year. A one-time donation of $50.00 per child will ensure that your student’s class can go on a field trip this year. THANK YOU TO THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE ALREADY DONATED!
 

Girls on the Run

Mrs. Hammond and Mrs. Alvarez are excited to lead Girls on the Run for our Weller Mustangs from March 1st through May 12th, culminating in a 5K event at Vasona Park in Los Gatos on May 15th! 

Registration opens December 5th! Spots will be limited to the first 20 Mustangs!  

We are currently looking for one more adult volunteer to join us as a coach. You don't need to be a runner—just a parent who wants to empower and inspire our students.

If you are interested, please reach out directly to Mrs. Hammond (ehammond@musd.org) or Mrs. Alvarez (calvarez@musd.org) before contacting GOTR so we can share the next steps.

Thank you for your support!
GOTR
coach
 
Jacob's

COURAGE

Stepping up with integrity to support and care for each other.

Get your Community Discount Card!

By signing up to purchase a Community Discount Card, you will earn all kinds of deals throughout Milpitas and you will be supporting Weller's PTA. WIN WIN!! 
card
 

Join PTA

Joining the PTA is a way to show your support for the teachers, staff, and students. Support can come in many forms, and joining the PTA doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. 😊

Membership fee is $20 per family, which includes all of your students and their parents/guardians. The PTA is a 501(c)(3) organization so the membership fee and additional donations are tax deductible as allowed by the IRS. Please fill out this membership form and send it into the school to your student’s teacher or drop it by the office with the $20 membership fee. You can also join through our Totem page if you prefer. We also always accept membership registrations at our events, just find our table or one of the PTA officers.

We are always looking for volunteers to help us run our events. After you’ve joined the PTA, fill out this form and let us know what you’re interested in volunteering for and we’ll be in touch!

CONNECTION

Creating opportunities to connect, grow, and strengthen our Weller family.

yearbook

Yearbook Ordering is Available

Get your yearbook order in early! 

https://yearbookordercenter.com/      Code: 19558
 
spirit
 

Weller 2026-2027 Calendar

calendar
 
events
August 1: Complete your annual registration
-------------------------------------------------------------
November 3-20: iReady Diagnostic
November 9-20: Book Blast!!
November 9- December 11: Jack Emery Drive
November 16-20: Gratitude Grams for sale
November 17: Giveaway Tables
November 18: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
November 20: Free Dress
November 20: Minimum Day
November 23-27: NO SCHOOL- Thanksgiving Break
 

November Menu

menu

FLYERS FROM THE DISTRICT

After School opportunities for our students. Click on the image to get the link.

volleyball
Across Barriers
NJB
NJB
Holiday camps
Enrollment
Milpitas Adult Ed
Milpitas Adult ed
school safety
School Safety Spanish
logo