From the Principal
Dear White Oaks Families,
I can’t believe November is upon us. Before you know it, we will be leaving 2020 behind us (can’t come soon enough!) and looking for normalcy as we head into 2021. November signals the end of Daylight Savings Time, shorter days, and also the end of the first trimester, which means teachers are preparing student report cards. Report cards will be sent to parents via email on November 23.
End of Trimester Assessments
As in normal years, teachers will be taking time during class time to assess student progress. Instructional schedules will be adjusted and students will be given more asynchronous assignments to provide teachers time to work one-on-one with students. Assessment during distance learning will look different but it is still important that students do their own work. Distance learning is a collaboration between parents, students, and teachers and you have been a great support system for your child during this time. However, it is important that students do their assessments independently to give the teacher a true understanding of their student’s progress. Many students will most likely look to you for help with an answer and it is often second nature for us to offer assistance, but this is the one time when students need to be told, “try your best”. If your child is upset that they don’t know the answer, then continue to encourage them to answer the problems that they do know. Teachers use these assessments to make informed decisions on curriculum and instruction, and if they don’t have accurate results, students will receive work that is either “too easy” or “too hard”. The goal is always to be working on work at the “just right” level. This is where students can learn and grow.
White Oaks Gratitude Tree
During the month of November, we’ll be growing our very first Gratitude Tree! This is an opportunity for the White Oaks community to reflect and share what they are thankful for. Here’s the plan:
- Print the gratitude leaves on white or color paper (or fill out this form to pick up from school)
- Students can cut out the leaves
- Students will write or draw what they are grateful for
- Students can bring their leaves to school and share them on our Gratitude Tree.
The Gratitude Tree will be hung on the fence on Fairmont Ave. We are so excited to see what everyone is thankful for and it will definitely warm all our hearts to see the tree grow with color and gratitude throughout the month.
Sincerely,
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]
School News and Events
Anti-Racism Parent Book Group Discussion
The White Oaks PTA Anti-Racism Idea Team will be hosting a virtual parent book group discussion on Tuesday, November 10 at 7:30pm. We will be discussing the book, So You Wanna Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo. This will be an open group discussion that all are welcome to join and feel safe to share their thoughts. You can join the meeting by using the following zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85482157210.
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. Time to get excited! 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 NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS WORK! We are looking for volunteers - ALL volunteers are welcome! Sewing skills are a plus. 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 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.
Calling All White Oaks Makers
The NOVEMBER challenge is here, and this month it’s the “Wild Turkey Hideout” challenge where it’s up to you to help turkeys around the country escape their Thanksgiving day fate! Also please check out the “Made by Kids for Kids (K4K)” section where anyone can create a “how to” video to share. Ever wondered how to draw an owl? Ever has a special skill you wanted to tech others? If yes, the K4K section is the spot for you. More details, as well as the October challenge entries, can be found on the website. Keep making and building White Oaks!
White Oaks Yearbook - First Photo Deadline and Call for Volunteers
This year your photo contributions are instrumental in the yearbook’s success. Please submit your First Day of School and Halloween Photos to the Jostens site by Friday, November 20.
Instructions for uploading photos:
- LOG ON TO: images.jostens.com
- Enter our school ID: 415473954
- Browse to select the photo(s) you wish to upload, click on “Select My Images.”
- Click “Upload Chosen Images.”
Other photos are also welcome now! Here are some ideas:
- Candid moments of your student learning virtually
- Music – student at home play instruments
- Virtual Events – Welcome Wednesdays, etc.
- Sports – Martial Arts, Dance, BMX, Equestrian, etc.
- Outside Play – water games, sidewalk chalk, hiking
- Celebrations – birthdays, traditions, cultural events, holidays
- Science/Math – experiments, STEM toys, LEGO creations
We still need Yearbook Class Rep for the following classes: McGuigan, Eaton, Murgo, Steele, Schas, Fox-Sennett, Cullinane, Bishop, Mitchell-Ardwan, Richards/Hardie, Norgaard, and Martin
It’s a fun and creative way to get involved. No previous experience in necessary. Click this link and sign up today!
SCEF News and Events
We are thrilled to announce that over $830,000 of the giving last year was by YOUR employers. If you can give with a match through your workplace giving program, now is a great time to give as many companies are doubling or tripling their match in Nov/Dec. Visit www.doublethedonation.com/scef to see if your gift can be matched, or donate via your company’s internal website. If you have appreciated stock to donate by year end, please act now.
Honey Bear Trees is again coming to our area this Christmas season and offering SCEF a donation for every tree purchased when you mention SCEF. There is more information available here: https://scefkids.org/honey-bear-trees/
The mandated annual report is at the printer, and will be landing in your mailbox later this month. HUGE Thank Yous to Wendy Wood for her donation of graphic design work and Lisa Noble for her photography gift--they skillfully brought the information alive for our donors. Here is the 2020 Annual Report and the 2020 Donor Roll.
District News and Events
COVID-19 Testing Available for Children in San Mateo County
The County of San Mateo announced no-cost 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:
Inclusion Counts Parent Listening Sessions - Nov 17
The San Carlos Elementary School District is partnering with Inclusion Counts to assess our current state of diversity, equity and racial-justice. In order to ensure our priorities, goals and actions related to anti-racism in our community are reflective of our diverse community voices, we’re taking time to hear from members of our community - staff, students and families.
On Tuesday, November 17 we invite parents to participate in a Community Listening Session/ Group Interview with our consultants at Inclusion Counts. During this session, you will be asked to share about your experience at San Carlos Elementary School District - and, if applicable, how you/ your family has been affected by racism, bias or intolerance.
More information and session times can be found here - Please RSVP by Friday, November 13.
Community News and Events
Healthy Cities Tutoring is Recruiting Volunteers – Reach a Child. Touch a Family. Build a Community - Nov 17
Join our community of volunteers who range in age from 14-96 and provide one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to students for 30-45 minutes per week to improve their academic performance, engagement in learning, and self-esteem. This year with distance learning we are seeking volunteers willing to be trained in tutoring a student remotely once a week. We expect the need to grow this year and hope you or someone you know will get involved in this rewarding volunteer experience.
If you are interested in learning more, please mark your calendar for our annual new tutor orientation & training which will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, November 17 at 7-8:15pm - RSVP here. For more information to become a Healthy Cities tutor, visit healthycitiestutoring.org and click VOLUNTEER to complete the online application or email [email protected].
Parent Education Event - Nov 16
Join Glencora King from One Life Counseling for this family support group geared to parents of TK-5th graders.
November 16 - 7pm: Understanding Your Child's Brain
RSVP via Eventbrite
San Carlos Youth Advisory
Interested in a San Carlos Skate Park? Members of the San Carlos Youth Advisory Council are looking into the possibility of creating a skate park in San Carlos. Right now, we are focusing on a pilot project, which we will observe over a 6-month period. We would love to get your opinion on the matter.
If you or anyone you know is interested in seeing this project come to life, please fill out our survey form: https://forms.gle/Uhu7w8mWZprXKed89
San Carlos Parks and Recreation Thanksgiving Gobble Wobble 5k
San Carlos Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Foundation, is hosting a Virtual 5K Gobble Wobble Fun Run! Participants are encouraged to get outside the week of Thanksgiving and walk, jog, run or bike/scooter a 5K route. Once registered, participants will be given three suggested routes around town, but can choose their own route as well.
Participants will receive a San Carlos Gobble Wobble t-shirt, running bib, and medal. Finishing times and photos can be emailed to [email protected] no later than Sunday, November 29th to be included in our results update on Facebook.
Registration limited, register early to guarantee t-shirt size by Thanksgiving, see more information here.
San Carlos United Soccer Tryouts
San Carlos United is delighted to announce that all existing teams will be holding open practices as tryouts this fall for boys & girls born between 2003 - 2014. Additionally, we will be holding tryouts to form our new boys & girls 2013-14 teams.
Please register online - http://www.sancarlosunited.org and you will be contacted by the respective age group regarding a tryout. **These tryouts are intended for those NOT currently playing competitive soccer.