From the Principal
Dear Families,
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our first Welcome Wednesday! What a special way to start our day. Our morning assemblies offer us an amazing opportunity to engage as a community. Our next Welcome Wednesday will be in two weeks, Wednesday, September 18th. We hope to see you there!
We are beginning our fourth week of school and finally settling into our routines. As students adjust to the new school year, it is important we establish good habits that help empower our students to grow as independent, responsible children. Please review the tips and reminders below.
- It is helpful to both students and teachers when parents are able to leave to start their day when students are dropped off at school. We have lots of moving bodies that need to make their way through our campus and it makes navigation to class more difficult when lots of adults are in the walkways. It can also be difficult for students who are still transitioning to the morning drop-off routine. Even if your child is able to wave goodbye with a smile, please be mindful of the children who are still struggling in the mornings, as it can cause more anxiety to see other parents and not their own. Reach out to us if you would like support transitioning your child. Our goal is to have every child start their school day feeling safe and happy.
- Students have been practicing “The White Oaks Way” by being respectful, responsible and safe at school. Ask your child what it means to them to be respectful and safe during recess, or what it looks like to be responsible at lunch. Having a common language that bridges home and school will help children realize that these expectations extend beyond our campus and are relevant in everyday life.
- Toys from home are not allowed at school unless teachers specify otherwise. They become a distraction during the day and we would hate for a beloved toy to get lost or broken at school. Please help your child check their backpack before they leave for the day to make sure only school-appropriate materials are coming to school.
- Bicycles and scooters have been left on campus overnight and we would like to remind you to take them home at the end of the day. We want to eliminate the risk of them being damaged or stolen during non-school hours.
Sincerely,
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]
School News and Events
Food Truck and Family Movie Night is Coming Up!
We hope you can join us on Friday, September 20th to kick off the new school year at our first PTA-sponsored event of the fall - the White Oaks Food Truck and Family Movie Night. Bring a picnic dinner or purchase a meal from one of the Food Trucks. Come with your White Oaks friends and family for a night of fun! Food trucks start at 5:30 pm, followed by the movie at sundown. Please, no wheels on campus. Park your bikes, scooter and skateboards in the bike racks. Check next week’s WOW for information on the movie title.
San Carlos Day of Service Volunteer Needed
We are looking for a volunteer to lead our San Carlos Day of Service. San Carlos Day of Service is a one-day celebration of our wonderful city through acts of community service.
Our lead volunteer will be responsible for working with Mrs. Scholer to determine which school improvement projects are needed. On September 29 from 9 am – 11 am, the lead will be responsible for being at White Oaks to coordinate and delegate the projects.
If you are interested, please email Britta. Thank you!
White Oaks Walk-a-Thon: Sunday, October 20th
Get ready for another fun-filled afternoon supporting White Oaks! Our annual Walk-a-Thon and Family Fun Day will be Sunday, October 20th. This is our primary PTA fund-raiser of the year. Funds directly support our school, funding classroom materials, Cultural Arts Day, art enrichment, student assemblies, playground upgrades and more!
Look for more detailed information to come in future WOW newsletters and your children’s green folders. In the meantime, we’re already hard at work reaching out to our local community for sponsors. If you own a business, or know someone who would make a great sponsor, let us know! Please email [email protected].
White Oaks Holiday Store!
The White Oaks Holiday Store is a cherished tradition and will be open on Saturday, December 14th this year!
We are looking for volunteers with sewing skills to share! For those new to this event, you take home a kit that has all materials and instructions necessary to assemble a certain number of gifts. When they are ready, you bring them back. Then on the day of the event, your gifts are sold to the White Oaks students to give to family members for the holidays!
Please contact Kirsten Kell if you have sewing abilities to share! Look for more info and details in future WOWs.
Your PTA needs you!
We have some open positions on the board and need your help. We are looking to fill the treasurer role and a volunteer to prepare the school directory. The directory role can be done at home in your own time, you can also share with a friend. As a bonus your child can be the artist for the front cover! Contact Catherine Dunne to learn more about all our open positions. There is something for everyone!
Join the White Oaks PTA
Join the White Oaks PTA and help us create a thoroughly enriching experience for the White Oaks School community. This year, we are hoping you join us in reaching 100% PTA membership. Dues are just $20/family or $10/individual. Join today!
SCEF News and Events
Dancing Under the Stars - Saturday, September 14th
Grab your dancing shoes and head to the park! Dance the night away under the stars as we turn Burton Park into an intimate concert complete with savory appetizers, cocktails, comfy furniture, twinkle lights, and good friends.
- September 14, 2019 from 6:00–9:30pm at the Burton Park Bandstand. Adults only.
- Purchase tickets at https://scefkids.ejoinme.org/Parties
Recurring Gifts
Would you like to spread your contributions to SCEF throughout the year? Please consider signing up for monthly donations. A $1,500 donation can be given as a $125 gift each month. Sign up for SCEF’s recurring gift program at SCEFKids/Donate.
Corporate Matching - Double Your Donation
Many Bay Area businesses encourage employees to give back to their communities by offering corporate matching programs for non-profit donations. Remember to ask your employer about donation-matching and double or triple giving months! Google, Genentech, Gilead and other major corporations will match your cash donation to SCEF. In September, Wells Fargo employees can secure a match for their donations. Not sure if your workplace offers matching? Check now.
District News and Events
Join the SCSD School Board!
There is a vacancy on the San Carlos School Board due to a lack of candidates registered for the November 5 election. Therefore, there will not be an election for the San Carlos School District School Board in November. If you are interested in applying to serve on the School Board, there will be an appointment process led by the School Board over the next several months. More information with details of the application process will be shared in the next few weeks through district email and public notifications.
Playground Supervisors Needed!
Attention Parents! We are looking to hire additional noon supervisors at our schools for lunch & playground support for 1.5 to 3 hours per day, $17.23/hour. If interested, please see the job posting and apply online at EdJoin.
For site specific questions, please speak with your school principal.
Volunteers Needed for 7-11 Committee
Members of the San Carlos community, parents, and SCSD staff members interested in serving on the 7-11 Surplus Property Advisory Committee to determine the future facility needs for the District are encouraged to contact Cathy Eitel, Assistant to the Superintendent at [email protected] to express interest or learn more about the goals and objectives of the committee.
Community News and Events
Inaugural San Carlos Block Party - SAVE THE DATE
On September 8th, the Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the City of San Carlos, is bringing a new event to downtown next month! Join the community for an outdoor dining event on the 600 & 700 blocks of Laurel Street from 4:00-8:00pm. Following the Sunday Farmer’s Market and Public Safety Faire, the street will be transformed into an outdoor dining area where the community can grab takeout from downtown restaurants and dine in the street with family, friends, and neighbors. The Chamber will be selling beer and wine and there will be a kids zone for play. For more information, visit https://sancarloschamber.org/.
Parent Education Events in San Carlos and Beyond
The Vaping Phenomenon: What it is, why it happened, and what we can do about it
Presenter: Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, Stanford University
Wednesday, Sept. 11, 12:00-1:00pm
Location: Stanford University Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Environment and Energy Building (Y2E2), Room 111
For more information, visit - https://events.stanford.edu/events/843/84338/
Sign up for San Carlos Day of Service 9/29
Save-the-Date: San Carlos Day of Service is Sunday, September 29, 2019 from 9:00am-2:00pm. San Carlos Day of Service is a one-day celebration of our wonderful city through acts of community service. The Day of Service grows our sense of community through one day dedicated to giving back.
Learn about projects and sign up here - https://www.sancarlosdayofservice.org
San Carlos Chickens' Ball
Celebrating 80 years of fundraising for our schools, Chickens’ Ball is the oldest PTA fundraiser in the nation. Our unique 2018 show raised over $40,000 for our schools through hilarious skits, song and dance. And we’re at it again! Join us to help plan our next Chickens’ Ball variety show. We need representatives from each school to participate as a liaison on our Steering Committee, enhancing communication and collaboration for this district wide event.
Steering Committee meetings are held once a month, typically the first week of each month. Our next meeting is Sunday, October 6. This is a special meeting that includes the tradition of reviewing the skit entries for the show.
Auditions to be a part of the show are October 24 (6:00pm) & 26 (10:00am) at Heather School.
Show dates are March 13, 14, 15 (matinee) and 20, 21 (two shows), 22 (matinee) at Central Middle School.
Thank you for helping us celebrate 80 years of fundraising for our kids by promoting and attending the Chickens' Ball.
For more information, contact your PTA or Julie Engberg at [email protected].