From the Principal
Dear Families,
We are gearing up to begin 2020 with exceptional learning opportunities for your students and look forward to the rest of the school year. Our professional development day on January 6th engaged SCSD staff members with math and science curriculum as well as ways to infuse our Project Based Learning (PBL) with solutionary practices. Doron Markus, an expert on Next Generation Science Standards from the San Mateo County Office of Education, provided teachers with opportunities to infuse PBL projects with an environmental lens that promotes critical thinking and creativity about real-world problems. Here is a brief explanation about the framework he shared with us:
A Solutionary Unit of Study is built around four phases that take students from understanding basic contextual knowledge about a topic to diving deep into the problems and issues associated with that topic, then culminating with designing and implementing solutionary action and advocacy. At the conclusion of the unit, students will evaluate their impact, reflect on their enduring understandings from the unit, and celebrate personal and academic growth. The framework couches this learning process in a larger story-arch, one about a problem that must be solved by the main characters, the students themselves. The elements of this framework are depicted in the graphic below.
We strive to infuse our PBL units with environmental literacy and sustainability, and this work from last week will inform and support our journey toward achieving this goal. We look forward to sharing our learning with you along the way!
Sincerely,
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]
School News and Events
Disco Bingo Night - January 24 @ 6:30pm
Mark your calendars, grab your dancing shoes, and get ready for the most fun night of the year - Disco Bingo! This is a PTA sponsored family event. Please RSVP here. Disco attire is encouraged but not required. We look forward to seeing you there!
Registration is Open for the School Play - Seussical the Musical
“Oh the thinks you can think when you think about Seuss!”
We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the San Carlos Children’s Theatre for our spring musical - Seussical the Musical. Seussical features Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters springing to life onstage in a fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
Rehearsals begin January 22 and performances will be on April 24 and 25. There is a mandatory parent meeting on January 22 at 6pm.
Rehearsal & Performance Schedule:
- Main Cast: Wednesdays 1-3:30pm
- Chorus: Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm
- No rehearsals during the weeks of February break and spring break.
- Reduced Tech Week: Sunday 4/19 (10am-4pm), Monday 4/20 and Wednesday 4/22 (4-6pm) and Tuesday 4/21 (4-7pm)
- In-School performance: Friday, April 24 at 10:40am
- Community Performances: April 24 at 6:30pm and April 25 at 1pm
2nd and 3rd graders may register to be in the main cast of 45 participants (grades 2/3 only). K through 3rd grade students can register to take part in the chorus (grades K-3).
Register here through the San Carlos Children’s Theater website. If registration hits capacity, a lottery will be held to determine participants. Any student who does not get a place through the lottery will have their full registration fees refunded.
Please sign up as soon as possible! Registration closes on January 20. If you have any questions, please contact our producer, Kirsten Kell, at [email protected].
Scholarships are available. Contact Donna at [email protected] for more information.
District News and Events
Attention 3rd Grade Parents - Upper Elementary Tours are Coming up!
Current 3rd grade families, are you excited to learn more about what our 4th and 5th grade students do in upper elementary school? Student-led tours are available now. Come see our Project-Based Learning, Readers'/Writer's Workshop and enrichment opportunities for your students. Sign up is limited, so reserve your spot now.
Arroyo Tours - 8:45-9:30am
Friday, Jan 31 | Wednesday, Feb 26 | Friday, April 17
Sign Up Here: https://arroyo.scsdk8.org/apps/news/article/1142468
Mariposa Tours - 8:45-9:30am
Wednesday, January 29 | Friday, February 28 | Wednesday, April 15
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/8Yks68pFj9pTzAZE8
Measure N Parcel Tax Information
The San Carlos School District is committed to providing an innovative and engaging learning experience that fosters the development of the whole child and maintains the high quality of local TK-8 schools. Exceptional teachers, small class sizes, challenging instructional programs, dedicated parent volunteers, and outstanding science, art, and music programs have prepared generations of local San Carlos children to succeed in high school, college, and careers. SCSD’s goal is to continue that tradition.
SCSD uses local revenue to supplement limited State funding. Measure N is a temporary $334.60 parcel tax, lasting only eight years. Its proceeds could be used to retain exceptional teachers and protect core programs.
Learn more about Measure N at - https://www.scsdk8.org/apps/pages/2020-Parcel-Tax-Information.
Upcoming Parent Education Opportunities
The Sequoia Healthcare District is sponsoring the following parent education events this winter. Please consider attending.
Raising a Resilient Learner
Adina Glickman, MSW, Founder of the Stanford Resilience Project
Thursday, January 16-11:30am
Sequoia Union High School District Office, Birch Room
480 James Avenue, Redwood City
Info & Ticket information - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/suhsd-raising-a-resilient-learner-tickets-85744043743
The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives
Dr. William Stixrud & Ned Johnson, Co-Authors
Thursday, January 30 - 7-8:30pm
Menlo-Atherton High School, M-A Performing Arts Center (PAC)
555 Middlefield Road, Atherton
Info & Ticket information - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/m-a-the-self-driven-child-the-science-and-sense-of-giving-your-kids-more-control-over-their-lives-tickets-85192237275
Creating Gender Inclusive Environments for Children and Teens
Joel Baum, Senior Director for Professional Development, Gender Spectrum
Thursday, February 27 - 7-8:30pm
Woodside High School, Multi-Use Room (MUR)
199 Churchill Avenue, Woodside
Info & Ticket information - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/whs-creating-gender-inclusive-environments-for-children-and-teens-tickets-85181928441
SCEF News and Events
SCEF Gala Tickets On-Sale NOW
It’s the party of the year – do you have your ticket yet? Join us at Sharon Heights Country Club on Saturday, March 14 for cocktails, dinner, dancing, and live auction bidding. It’s for the kids! https://www.scefkids.org/starlightgalatickets/
Help us stock the SCEF Gala Stellar Cellar!
Last year’s Stellar Cellar auction item was valued at $7900 and raised $5000 – lucky winners! Share your love of fine wines and support our schools by donating a bottle valued at $100 or more.
Have access to other auction items? An unforgettable experience, vacation home, concert or sports tickets? Please contact Christopher Kashap at [email protected] to arrange for a donation.
Please Join Us for a TK & Kindergarten Reception
Spend an evening getting to know other TK and Kindergarten parents, hear from Superintendent Harmeier, mingle with Kindergarten principals, school board and community members and learn about the "San Carlos Decade."
January 15 - 6:30-8:30pm
Harvest Warehouse at 1445 Veterans Blvd, Redwood City, CA 94063
To RSVP, please visit https://conta.cc/37ICcI2. Adults only.
Community News and Events
Healthy Cities Tutor Training for New & Existing Tutors & Interested Parents
Join us on Wednesday, January 15 from 6:30-8:15pm for our Tutor Tips workshop taught by SCSD Teachers Melissa Brenner and Tracey Mitchell-Ardwan.
Maybe you want help figuring out how to reach a reluctant learner? Maybe you wonder how to approach a particular subject? We will cover questions working with students over a wide range of grade levels. During the workshop, you will practice math games to work on with your students to build basic facts, strategies to help the reluctant writer, and many more tips for effective tutoring or homework sessions. We guarantee you will leave with a fresh approach and a few fun games to play. The first 30 minutes will be a short orientation session for those who are interested in becoming a tutor and working with a student one hour each week, followed by our Tutor Tips presentation from 7-8:15pm at the Central Middle School/Arroyo Library at 757 Cedar Street, San Carlos. Follow the green A-frame signs.
Please RSVP via Evite here or visit healthycitiestutoring.org for more information.
Join us for the Annual SCSD Musical!
Cutloose January 23-26 at the exciting SCSD musical, Getting to Know FOOTLOOSE, featuring district students in grades 4-8! Tickets are now on sale at www.SanCarlosChildrensTheater.com.
True to the original Footloose story about a Chicago teen who discovers that dancing is outlawed in the small town he's just moved to, Getting to Know FOOTLOOSE is a shorter, family-friendly version of the original hit movie. You'll enjoy all the popular dance tunes, including "Let's Hear It for the Boy," the hit Footloose theme, "Holding Out for a Hero," and ‘"Almost Paradise." The annual school district musical is always a sell-out, and everyone loves the exhilarating music and dancing in Footloose, so reserve your seats early.
Make plans to attend the Chickens' Ball Variety Show Fundraiser!
Congratulations to the San Carlos Chickens’ Ball on celebrating its 80th year of raising funds for our local schools’ visual and performing arts!
80 years ago, the show raised milk money for San Carlos students. Now, money raised specifically supports art and music supplies in our schools. For example, Mariposa staff and students now have a beautiful mural to brighten the halls because of the money raised at the last Chickens' Ball. Tierra Linda students gained a ceramics class, supplied with clay and glaze. How much can we raise for our students this time? The goal is to raise over $40K to continue to support our programs.The more money we raise, the more we give back to our students.
Gather your friends and family and come cheer on your community. Tickets are on sale now for our 7 shows! Evening and matinee performances are on March 13-15, March 20-22. Get your tickets today at https://www.chickensball.org/buy-tickets.