From the Principal
Dear White Oaks families,
Happy fall! Your children are working hard to learn the routines and expectations that come with a new school year. They are learning classroom rules, expected playground behaviors and how to transition from home to school, from parents to teachers, and from siblings to peers. For some children this settling-in process seems smooth, and for others it takes longer and may require additional support and effort.
One of the big transitions happens when parents and children say goodbye at the start of each school day. If you notice that your child is having difficulty with this transition, here are some tips that may be helpful:
Say a quick goodbye (kiss, hug, etc.) to your child, and if needed leave your child with one of the staff members who is on yard duty in the morning. You can let this person know that your child is having a hard time saying goodbye, and we can help your child get settled. The tears tend to go away pretty quickly once parents are off-campus. I recommend having one goodbye rather than multiple. For example, one goodbye at the playground rather than a goodbye at the playground and then another when your child is walking to class.
Don’t try to talk your child out of their sad or nervous feelings. Acknowledge that they feel scared, sad, worried or nervous, and then go forward with your drop-off routine. Help your child see themselves as being brave despite their worries.
You can ask your child what they are worried about related to the goodbye. Write down the worries with them and see if any of them are a problem that can be solved. If so, decide on a possible solution and test it out.
You can ask for assistance from me or another adult at White Oaks. We can create a goodbye transition plan if necessary.
Watching your children stretch and grow these first weeks of school is inspiring.
Reminders
- The playground opens at 8:15 in the morning. Children should not be on the playground beforehand due to safety concerns.
- Please remind your child to get hand sanitizer before entering the playground. They may use their own if they have it.
- Starting this Monday, Aug. 30, Late Bird schedule starts for our TK students. On Monday, Sept. 13, Late Bird schedule starts for Kindergarten. Please review your classroom newsletter for more information.
Sincerely,
Leah Scholer, Principal
School News and Events
Forms for Our Parent Volunteers
We are so grateful for our parent volunteers. We greatly value your time and support of our programs. Each volunteer needs to fill out this volunteer form, complete a Self-Certification of Vaccination Form (to be provided by the district), and provide a copy of your vaccination card or show evidence of a weekly negative COVID test. Please see this Google form for descriptions of volunteer roles for parents at White Oaks.
Walk to School Wednesday This Week
Please join us for our first Walk to School Wednesday on Sept. 1. Charms will be given to students who walk, roll, ride or scoot to school! Walk to School Wednesday takes place the first Wednesday of every month.
Please Join Us for the First PTA Meeting of the Year
Don’t miss our first 2021-22 PTA meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. We will be discussing our incredible year ahead. All parents are welcome to attend! Just a friendly reminder that to be eligible to vote, you must be a member of the PTA. We hope to see you there.
Become a PTA Member Today!
This year, we are hoping you join us in reaching 100% PTA membership.
- How do I join? Sign up online via Totem.
- What is the cost? $20 per family (plus $1 fee).
- Why join?
- CONNECT with new friends and the White Oaks community.
- SUPPORT school-wide events and programs.
- MAKE your voice heard in Sacramento.
SCEF News and Events
Welcome Back to the Library!
SCEF is proud to partner in support of libraries at all San Carlos public schools this year. SCEF dollars and CARES Act money is making this happen. We look forward to working with school librarians for our second annual SCEF Read-A-Thon starting in January. Learn more about how your donations benefit all students at every school at scefkids.org.
Be a GEM: Give Every Month
Did you know that you can make your donation by setting up an automated recurring gift? When you Give Every Month, your support of SCEF is spread across the entire year. If you sign up NOW your donation will be given over 10 months (September-June) — now that makes giving easy! Learn more and join this campaign (at any dollar amount) at scefkids.org/gem.
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram @scefkids for all SCEF news.
District News and Events
New Hours for Curative COVID-19 Testing Van
Please take advantage of the no-cost COVID-19 testing provided by the San Mateo County Health Department.
Sign up online to begin your regular weekly testing at the Central Middle School parking lot, under the solar structure (757 Cedar St., San Carlos).
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Thursdays 1-7 p.m.
- Fridays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Find other community testing sites in San Mateo County here.
Community News and Events
Planning Commission Virtual Study Session Protected Tree Ordinance
Tuesday, Sept. 7, 7 p.m.
The San Carlos Planning Commission on Sept. 7 will hold a study session to allow staff to gather input from the Planning Commission and the San Carlos community for consideration as part of the new tree removal, trimming, and protection regulations. For more information, including how to attend the study session and future updates, please visit www.cityofsancarlos.org/
City Council Virtual Study Session
Wednesday, Sept. 8, 5:30 p.m.
The City of San Carlos has been working with the community and stakeholders to develop urban design strategies for the city’s East Side industrial area from Holly Street to Brittan Avenue, known as the East Side Innovation District. At this City Council Study Session, “10 Big Moves,” or strategies, will be presented. These strategies translate the community’s aspirations for the East Side into a holistic design framework that will inform development and infrastructure improvements for the next 10 to 20 years. Please join us! To learn more and review materials from previous community workshops, visit www.SanCarlosInnovation.org.
Parent Education Series from The Parent Venture
On Aug. 31, Sequoia Healthcare District hosts a Town Hall with Sandra Firpo and Barbara Wood, Disaster Preparedness: Building Community Resilience. Please join us for this timely event (online)!
We kick off the 2021-22 season with Bill Stixrud and Ned Johnson, bestselling authors of the new book, What Do You Say? How to Talk with Kids to Build Stress Tolerance, Motivation, and a Happy Home (Sept. 1, online).
Ready for some back-to-school self-care? On Sept. 9, Mission Be offers a new “Mindful Parent” series featuring Madeleine Pizey in Mindful Parenting: Reducing Covid Stress and Anxiety (Sept. 9, online).
Keys: for Parenting is here! Keys is a new communication tool that puts parenting advice at your fingertips—literally, it’s a keyboard!—developed by Charlene Margot and Bev Hartman, co-founders of The Parent Venture. Give Keys a try!
Want more great parenting advice? Follow the Parent Education Series on social media (Instagram and Facebook), or subscribe to our free Video Library (YouTube), a popular and trusted resource with over 21,000 views!