From the Principal
Dear Families,
For some, it may seem too soon to begin the conversation about smartphone use for our young children, but students are growing up faster than we’d like to admit and we need to be thinking of taking preventative measures to ensure healthy next steps in their lives. At a PTACC meeting last month, one of our parents, who is a pediatrician, gave a presentation on a parent-started movement called Wait Until 8th. This is a simple pledge that empowers parents to band together to delay giving smartphones to their children until at least 8th grade. Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider taking this pledge.
It is my goal to help initiate the discussion around ways we can have a healthier relationship with our digital devices. We know that technology is not going away, but we need to begin thinking about ways in which we can promote healthy habits, even at this young age. I hope you can take the time to review the above links and I look forward to a continued conversation around how to manage devices and screentime for our students.
Sincerely,
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]
School News and Events
Urgent PTA Meeting - Friday, Dec 13
An Emergency PTA Meeting will be held on Friday, December 13th at 8:45am in the MU Room to vote on a proposed contribution to the Parcel Tax Campaign Fund. The meeting should be very short so please attend if you can. All are welcome. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns and we will be happy to chat with you about it.
Thank you, Britta Ellis & Debbie Blucher
It’s Time for The White Oaks Holiday Store!
Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered - we had a very successful project party last week. All projects are due! If you have not already, please bring in your completed projects.
Please remember to fill out the shopping list with your child in advance. Also remember that admission to the store is a donation of a can of food to Second Harvest.
WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS! If you’d still like to help please come to our final project party and use the link below to sign-up for volunteer opportunities the day of the event. If you have questions, please contact Kirsten Kell ([email protected]).
Holiday Store Key Dates:
* 12/9/19 (7-9pm): FINAL Project Party in the MU
* 12/13/19 (2:40pm): Event Set Up in the MU
* 12/14/19 (9-12pm): Holiday Store!
2019-2020 Yearbooks Are for Sale
White Oaks yearbooks are for sale! They can be purchased directly from the Jostens website. Yearbooks are $25 each, and the sales deadline is Friday, December 19. Yearbooks are distributed the last week of school by your student's teacher. Most teachers give the students time to sign yearbooks, so don't let your child be left out!
We don't have a lot of extras to sell at the end of the school year, so buy your yearbook now to reserve your copy. Please contact Teresa Williams with questions.
Lunchtime Playpod Volunteers Needed
The White Oaks Playpod provides students with a unique area of play during lunchtime recess. The Playpod is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays and with parent support, we can open it up on Mondays and Fridays as well. Please click here to sign-up.
District News and Event
Parcel Tax Information
To protect quality education for our elementary and middle school students, the San Carlos School Board placed a measure on the March 3, 2020 ballot that would renew our existing local school parcel tax. Without Measure P, some existing local school funding, about $2.2M will expire and disappear from SCSD school budgets. Our K-8 schools will have to make drastic cuts to academic programs, increase class sizes, and maintain only basics.
Our greatest needs for community-supported INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM SUPPORT include:
- Attracting and retaining qualified and experienced teachers
- Maintaining small class sizes
- Maintaining programs that support bringing all students up to the highest level possible in core subjects like math, reading, and writing
- Maintaining math, hands-on science, technology, and engineering programs
- Providing art, music, libraries, and a well-rounded education
Our school district makes every effort to use resources wisely. We have tightened our belt, improved efficiencies, and made cuts to limit impacting class size. We have also conducted a full assessment of all of our local school instructional program needs - including the need to retain our best teachers and maintain core academics for children in grades K-8. It is clear we need additional local revenue to fund our core priorities.
To learn more about the Parcel Tax, visit our website - https://www.scsdk8.org/apps/pages/2019-2020-Parcel-Tax-Information
Please feel free to contact Dr. Harmeier if you have any additional comments or questions - Michelle Harmeier, Superintendent - [email protected] - (650) 590-5935.
ROPES Presentations are Coming and Judges are Needed!
We are looking for parents and community members that would like to serve as a judge for the ROPES (Rite of Passage Experiences) presentations in February. ROPES are challenging projects that 4th, 6th and 8th grade students have completed which allow them to learn about their world and themselves in a deeper but fun way.
There are 3 opportunities to judge:
Monday, Feb 3, 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Tuesday, Feb 4, 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Wednesday, Feb 5, 5:30pm – 8:30pm
We would not be able to maintain this valuable program without the support of our community. We are asking for you to join district staff and other community members by volunteering to serve as a judge on one of our judging panels. Typically, we have two to three judges per room and they judge four to six student presentations in an evening.
We hope that you will be able to join us in this worthwhile event.
If you are able to judge on any/all of those days, please contact Veronica Rickson either via email at [email protected] or by phone at 650-590-5926. Thank You!
Math Night for Parents of Students in Grades 3-5
Parents, please join Susan Resnick on Dec 9 from 6:30-8:00 pm to learn about Math Strategies that our students in 3rd-5th grade are using in our Math In Focus program.
Is your student learning different strategies that you were taught in school? Not sure how to best help your child? Susan Resncik will share common math concepts taught in 3rd-5th grade, including fractions, decimals, multiplication, division, and the bar model.
Meet Susan Resnick, author of Singapore Math: Fact Fluency and US Consultant for Math in Focus 2020 edition. Susan has been working with San Carlos School District to implement Math in Focus. Teachers have been learning to bring the principles of Singapore Math to life in their classrooms to create engaged, creative problem solvers.
RSVP here for the Dec 9 Math Parent Info Night: http://evite.me/8XPyeXqfbx
SCEF News
Help Us Meet December 2019 Fundraising Goals
Take advantage of the TAX BENEFITS of charitable giving before the end of the year! Explore corporate matching and stock donations on our website or contact [email protected] with questions.
Not sure WHY you should give to SCEF? http://www.scefkids.org/2019video
When you are out and about in San Carlos shopping this holiday season, please take a moment to thank our amazing local businesses for supporting SCEF and our schools.
Honey Bear Trees
Honey Bear Trees supports San Carlos public schools by donating 15% of tree, wreath and garland sales to SCEF. Find detailed info online and don’t forget to download the flyer to take with you!
Community News and Events
FREE Emergency Preparedness Class - Dec 6
On December 6 the Sequoia Healthcare District will host a FREE one-to-two hour class covers the basics of what to do before, during, and after a major emergency - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/are-you-ready-disaster-preparedness-class-tickets-78091603087
Parent Education - Using a Positive, Strength-Based Approach for Effective Parenting with Charlie Appelstein - Dec 11
WHEN: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 6:30pm-8:00pm
RSVP: http://evite.me/5HBJJnbwsd
Back by popular demand, Charlie Appelstein, M.S.W. will be sharing his humor and practical strategies to create family environments that are focused on strength-building rather than flaw-fixing. These exceptionally positive and inspiring strategies focus on guiding all children (and especially those with emotional or behavioral challenges) with an approach that focuses on how to help your kids develop positive mindsets; how to create self-management tools in your home; relationship-based limit setting; and the effect of positive emotions on the brain. You're guaranteed to come away with a smile on your face, fresh ideas in your pocket, and a new hope in your heart for dealing with your most challenging parenting situations.
This event is made possible thanks to funding from our SCSD PTA Coordinating Council.
Sequoia Healthcare District Newsletter
Check out the latest newsletter from Sequoia Healthcare District to learn more about how you can prevent youth vaping. Included are links to resources and parents education events - https://issuu.com/seqhd/docs/2019_hsi_fall_scsd