From the Principal
Dear Families,
The San Carlos Strategic Plan Survey is coming soon!
Please look for the San Carlos Strategic Plan survey in your email inbox beginning Tuesday, February 25, 2020. The survey will be sent to you via the School Messenger System. Please fill out one survey per student, per school.
We’re eager to hear your feedback!
The Strategic Plan Survey is an essential part of our school and district improvement process. We use results annually to measure progress and set goals aligned to our Strategic Plan and Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). The survey asks questions in the areas of:
- 21st Century Skills
- Communication
- Engagement
- Expectations and Rigor
- Homework
- Learning Environment
- Safety
- Technology
Families, teachers, and staff members will complete surveys, as well as students in grades 3-8. Results will be shared with principals, school staff, parent leadership groups, Superintendent Harmeier, and the Board of Trustees. As always, your responses remain anonymous.
Last school year, we collected responses from approximately 48% of district families across our schools. Approximately 56.1% of our White Oaks families responded. Based on survey feedback, we set the following goals at White Oaks:
- 5Cs and a “Mindset for Learning”
- Personalizing Learning and Family Communication
- Building Community
- Supporting teachers in implementing 21st Century Learning
This year, we hope to hear from more than 60% of our families. When you receive the email from Panorama Education next week, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. We want to know how you think we’re doing!
Sincerely,
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]
School News and Events
White Oaks 2nd/3rd Grade Sweetheart Dance - Tickets on Sale Now!
The White Oaks Sweetheart Dance is for all second and third graders and their special adult guest. Come celebrate red carpet style where you will be surprised with lots of fun treats, groovy dance tunes, and memories shared with your special guest in the White Oaks MU Room. See you on Friday, February 28 from 6:30-8:30pm. Tickets on sale NOW! Click here to get yours today. (You will need to create an account on PTAEZ to checkout.)
Pricing is $35 for one student and their special adult. $10 for an additional 2nd or 3rd grade White Oaks sibling. Scholarships are available upon request; simply reply to this email.
Second and third grade parents please sign up to bring a treat to dip in the chocolate fountain for the Sweetheart Dance!
Welcome Wednesday - Special Celebration Feb 26
You are cordially invited to join us for a special Welcome Wednesday ceremony celebrating our Distinguished School Award on Wednesday, February 26 at 8:30am.
We will be gathering together in the east White Oak Way cul-de-sac to raise our new Distinguished School flag and celebrate this great accomplishment as a community.
Students can come and play on the blacktop prior to school starting at 8:15 am. When the bell rings, they will line up as usual with their teachers and will walk as a class to the cul-de-sac and join you there.
We hope you are able to join us for this celebratory event!
Call for Founder's Day Award Nominations
Every year, for the past several decades, White Oaks celebrates Founder’s Day --- a time-honored tradition at White Oaks to recognize and thank volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help build our school community. We need your help in nominating some of these very special people. Please use this link to review the awards given and to submit your nominations. Nominations are due by Sunday, March 1.
On Wednesday, April 15 at 7pm in the MU, we will hold our annual PTA Founder's Day to celebrate and recognize the contributions of our award winners. Mark your calendars for the 70th anniversary of this special White Oaks event! Please direct questions to Jennifer Rudy.
White Oaks Family Fun Day at Stanford’s Sunken Diamond
White Oaks Families, ready to watch some baseball? This year, we’re hosting our annual ALL FAMILY Baseball event to watch the Stanford Cardinal take on the Cal Bears on Sunday, 3/22 at 1pm! Exclusive to White Oaks, some lucky student raffle winners will get to meet the starting 9 Cardinal players and announce the players during the 3rd inning over the loudspeaker.
Please look in your child’s Green Folder next week for the Family Fun Day flyer. You’ll find details about the game, and the raffle entry forms. Raffle entries can be submitted at the White Oaks Office.
- Date: Sunday, March 22
- Location: Stanford University, Palo Alto (Sunken Diamond)
- GoStanford.com/promo-codeTicket Purchase Link:
- Ticket Promo Code: WHITEOAKS
- Tickets are $7 each. Must purchase one ticket for each person attending.
- The whole family is welcome.
See you at the ballgame, sports fans!!!
Questions? Contact Jennifer Larocque at [email protected].
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 at upper elementary school? Student-led tours are available now. Come see our Project-Based Learning, Reader's/Writer's Workshop and enrichment opportunities for your students. Sign up is limited, so reserve your spot now.
Arroyo Tours - 8:45-9:30am
Wednesday, Feb 26 | Friday, April 17
Sign Up Here: https://arroyo.scsdk8.org/apps/news/article/1142468
Attendance Reminder!
Student absences impact learning and achievement. In one year the typical amount of absences is six days. When students are absent 10% of the school year or 18 days, they are considered chronically absent. In addition to loss of instruction, absences impact our funding as it is based on Average Daily Attendance Funding Formulas. Please make an effort to get your child to school on time every day to avoid disruption to the classroom and take vacations during scheduled instructional breaks. The 2020-21 calendar was adopted by the SCSD Board and can assist in planning for next year. When students are sick with a fever or vomiting, they should stay home until symptom free for 24 hours. Please be sure to call the office to report absences.
Your PTA Needs You
We are already starting to think about next years 2020/2021 PTA board and we are looking for lots of volunteers to help run all the awesome events that the PTA manages (think Holiday Store, Family Ball trip, Art-in-Action, Playpod to name a few). We need folks to join the board as well as oversee individual committees. There are roles to suit any amount of time you have to donate to the school. Email Catherine Dunne for more information or to nominate yourself and/or a friend!
SCEF News and Events
Dwell Matching Program for First Time SCEF Donors
The partners at DWELL Realtors will match any new donations to the SCEF annual fund between February 1 and March 31, 2020 up to $50,000!
Dwell partner Laura Bertolacci is a life-long resident of the Peninsula and proud supporter of SCEF. "My children grew up in San Carlos and we always saw the benefit that SCEF provided. The value of keeping programs like STEM, art, and music is unmeasurable. Now as a new grandparent, I know my grandchildren will have well-rounded educations in the San Carlos schools because of SCEF.”
Thank you to Dwell partners Laura Bertolacci, Bob Bredel, Alana Corso, Joyce Romeo and Tatum Clarke. Find out more at scefkids.org/dwellmatch and take advantage of this unique opportunity to double your impact. scefkids.org/donate
Gala News
Lucky on Live: Everyone is invited to participate in our Lucky On Live raffle for the chance to win your choice of one of the BIG auction items! See our primer on the LOL raffle at www.scefkids.org/news. To buy Lucky On Live raffle tickets send an email to [email protected].
Volunteers Needed: Can’t attend the Starlight Gala, but want to participate? We are looking for a few good volunteers to help with check-in and other tasks. Signup here: https://signup.com/go/rVDRALL
District News and Events
Measure N Parcel Tax Information
On Friday, February 7 we were notified by Mark Church, San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer, that due to a ballot misprint by the Elections Division’s printing vendor, 257 voters in our school district received a ballot that did not include the San Carlos School District’s Measure N Parcel Tax Measure.
We want to make sure voters are aware of the error and ask them to look for their new ballot and return it before March 3. Our last measure narrowly passed in 2015 by 110 votes and parcel taxes require a supermajority of 66.67% for passage.
Replacement ballots with the correct information were mailed on Saturday, February 8 to the affected voters, together with a notice explaining what happened. The District also sent home a letter to the affected voters on Friday, February 14 to make them aware of the error. If voters have already returned the first or incorrect ballot, it will be discarded when a replacement ballot is received.
Learn more about Measure N at - https://www.scsdk8.org/apps/pages/2020-Parcel-Tax-Information.
LCAP Parent Advisory Committee
All school districts in California must create and maintain a three-year growth plan called the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). The LCAP is one portion of the budget development process and requires the district to monitor growth on SCSD's four goal areas. Stakeholder engagement is a key component of the LCAP monitoring process. Representatives from each school will form the 2020 LCAP Parent Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC serves in an advisory role to offer feedback goal development and on progress in each goal area. All parents/guardians are encouraged to engage in this process.
The LCAP PAC is scheduled to meet on the dates below. All meetings will take place in the SCSD District Office Board Room, located at 1200 Industrial Road, Suite 9, in San Carlos. These are public meetings and any member of the community is encouraged to attend. If you are interested in becoming a part of the PAC, contact your principal.
March 19: 9-10am
April 22: 9-10am
May 7: 9-10am
Community News and Events
Perfect Pairings Wine Pairing Dinner for Healthy Cities Tutoring - Feb 28
Join Healthy Cities Tutoring for the 6th annual Perfect Pairings wine pairing benefit dinner on Friday, February 28 from 5:30-9pm at Domenico Winery, 1697 Industrial Road in San Carlos. The Perfect Pairings benefit will be a festive celebration with delicious food and wine pairings, special friends and inspiring stories.
Our community of supporters will enjoy passed appetizers and Prosecco followed by a delicious 3-course sit-down dinner prepared by Chef Gino Gramegna and perfectly paired wines from Domenico while helping to make a difference in the lives of children.
Please purchase your tickets by Feb.18 at Perfect Pairings - http://www.healthycities.site/perfect-pairings-2020/
Contact Nancy Bardsley - [email protected] - with questions. Thank you
Upcoming Parent Education Opportunity- Feb 27
The Sequoia Healthcare District is sponsoring the following parent education events this winter. Please consider attending. All parent education events can be found here.
Creating Gender Inclusive Environments for Children and Teens
Joel Baum, Senior Director for Professional Development, Gender Spectrum
Thursday, February 27, 2020, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Woodside High School, Multi-Use Room (MUR)
199 Churchill Avenue, Woodside
Info & Ticket information
You're Invited to SCSD Day at Stanford Men's Basketball Mar 1
All SCSD students and families are invited to join the fun at Stanford University's Maples Pavilion for the Stanford Men’s Basketball home finale on Sunday, March 1 at 3pm. Tickets start at just $10 each.
To place your order at the discounted group price, please visit GoStanford.com/promo-code and enter: SCSD
Be sure to arrive early for the Ice Cream Party from 2-2:45pm, and after the game all kids will take the court to shoot free-throws!
As an added bonus, if 50+ tickets are purchased through the promo code, all SCSD students will receive a free Stanford T-Shirt. Feel free to share this promotion with others (you don't have to be a current student at SCSD to participate.
Make plans to attend the Chickens' Ball Variety Show Fundraiser in March!
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. https://www.chickensball.org/buy-tickets