From the Principal
Dear White Oaks Families,
Book of the Month
Every year, White Oaks participates in our Book of the Month program that follows a certain theme. Our theme(s) this year include diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. I am excited to introduce to you our November Book of the Month, All are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. In this story we follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate each other's traditions. A school that shows the world as we will make it to be. Teachers will be reading this story to their students as well as facilitating conversations about inclusion and diversity.
The Social Dilemma Resources - What Now?/Wait Until 8th Campaign
On Wednesday, 10/28, SCSD hosted a screening of the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma. If you have not seen this film yet, I highly recommend you watch it. A resource sheet was provided to those who attended the screening and I think they are a great tool for all of us to use. Please take a look to see how you can support your family in creating healthy habits regarding technology and screen time.
A resource link particularly relevant to our P-3 school is the Wait Until 8th link. This is a grass-roots movement started by parents who are encouraging families to take a pledge to hold off on giving their children smart phones until 8th grade. I urge you all to take a look at their website and learn more about the researched-based reasons why this is such an important pledge. I will be holding future Principal’s Coffees that will focus specifically on these topics to help support parents and families navigate this ever-growing digital world - stay tuned!
Welcome Wednesday - Student Participants
It has been an absolute joy working with our White Oaks students during Welcome Wednesdays. We need more students to sign up to volunteer for everything from leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance, announcing birthdays, performing our school song, participating in our Kid’s Corner, and more! If your child(ren) are interested, please sign them up here. I cannot wait to continue having our students take pride and ownership in our school-wide assembly!
Reminder: Make-Up Picture Day is Friday, 11/6 from 12-5pm
There will not be assigned times, rather, families may come at their earliest convenience. Families may enter campus either through the main Fairmont entrance or from White Oak Way. Remember that the playground is still closed so please make sure to leave campus once pictures are taken. We look forward to seeing you!
COVID Screener (please fill out prior to coming on campus)
- Mask are recommended for all students - Until time of photo being taken
- One Parent/guardian per household - Parent will wait for student at exit
- Non contact photo days
- Student must be "Photo Ready" prior to entrance of building
- Online ordering is strongly recommended
Sincerely,
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]
School News and Events
White Oaks Holiday Store!
The PTA-Sponsored White Oaks Holiday Store is a cherished tradition and WILL BE HAPPENING this year as a virtual store!
How will it work?
Students can shop “online” and the deadline for orders will be November 20. Gifts will be wrapped and ready for pick-up at school on December 12. More details to follow.
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. Your gifts are sold to the White Oaks students to give to family members on the holidays.
Please contact Sara Ting ([email protected]) if you have sewing abilities to share or would like to volunteer to help wrap, etc. for pick-up day. Look for more info and details in future WOWs.
PTA Meeting - November 4
Please join us for our upcoming PTA meeting this Wednesday, November 4 at 7:30pm via Zoom. Check last week's WOW for the link. We will receive a school update from our principal, Ms. Scholer, as well as receive updates on our upcoming virtual Book Fair and our virtual holiday store. Everyone is welcome, and we would love to see you there.
SCEF News and Events
Ask any realtor: the number one reason people move to San Carlos is the quality of the schools. Yet our successes disguise the reality that we are one of the lowest funded districts in the county. Many of the programs our district provides would be severely reduced if we relied solely on state funding. Here is the recently updated explanation of our current funding situation: https://www.scsdk8.org/apps/pages/School_Funding
Your continued support of our public schools makes a tremendous difference in the educational experience we can offer our students.
District News and Events
COVID-19 Testing Available for Children in San Mateo County
The County of San Mateo announced FREE testing for COVID-19 is available for children age 5 and older starting Tuesday, October 20 - a new option that expands the County's testing capacity. Testing is open by appointment to all families that live in San Mateo County with children ages 5 and older. Appointments for the drive-through testing at the San Mateo County Event Center are available weekdays from 1-8pm. The County is offering a simple-to-use oral mouth swab test that is self-administered for children and families in partnership with Curative Inc., a rapid diagnostics firm based in Southern California. Curative has the capacity to test over 500 individuals each day at the Event Center with results available typically within 48 hours. With the addition of testing by Curative, the County has the capacity to test up to 7,500 individuals each week. There is no cost to participants.
Fight the Flu - Get Your Shot Today!
Bay Area Health Officers are asking the public to fight the flu by getting the annual vaccination for influenza right now - read more here.
The flu shot is a safe, effective way to reduce your chance of missing work or ending up in the hospital due to severe flu. Symptoms of the flu can be similar to early symptoms of COVID-19, meaning that this year, people with flu symptoms may require a COVID-19 test and may need to stay home and isolate away from their families while awaiting results.
You can get flu shots at:
- Your doctor’s office
- Retail pharmacies and stores (call first to check vaccine availability)
- Visiting: https://vaccinefinder.org/
- A free flu clinic in San Mateo County:
SMARTE Afterschool Clubhouse
Do your children miss spending time with other kids? Would they like to join their friends in the SMARTE Clubhouse? We still have a few openings in our program!
The SMARTE Clubhouse is providing on-site, all-day care while schools are on a distance learning schedule. Programs will run from 8:30am-4:30pm each day. We have three different options available for families:
- Full-time care, 5-days a week
- Part-time care, 3-days or 2-days a week
The SMARTE Clubhouse provides a fun, safe and welcoming place to spend time in a supervised childcare environment to support online learning along with engaging enrichment activities. The program is available to TK-3rd grade students at our four elementary schools. Each program offers age-appropriate educational and enriching activities in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Please visit the SMARTE Clubhouse website for more detailed information. If you have additional questions, please email us at [email protected]. Scholarships are available for families in need and we offer both an employee and sibling discount.
Click on the SMARTE Clubhouse Registration link to sign-up today!
San Carlos School District Preschool Program
Did you know that the San Carlos School District Preschool is open and safely running? Children are painting, building, creating, learning and playing with their friends. They are happy and enjoying their days in the preschool classroom.
The program has been open and safely running Monday-Friday from 7:30am-5pm since May 11. Your preschooler is welcome to attend 2, 3, 4 or 5 days - we have open spots available at each of the four elementary sites.
Each preschool classroom is self contained with up to 12 children and 2 teachers. A strict health and safety protocol is followed each day. Children and teachers are wearing masks as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
To find out more information, visit our preschool website or contact the Director of the program, Sue Dawley at [email protected]. She will be happy to answer all of your questions.
Community News and Events
Proposition 15 - Schools & Community First
The White Oaks PTA has joined the San Carlos School District in approving a resolution in support of Prop 15 Schools and Communities First on the ballot in November. The District would receive an estimated $1,896,397 and the City of San Carlos $4,112,000 in additional funding if the initiative passes. According to the measure's sponsors, The California Schools & Local Communities Funding Act would raise an estimated $12 billion annually statewide for schools and local communities including $830 million for San Mateo County.
For details, go to the California PTA's website.