From the Principal
Dear White Oaks families,
With all the transitions between fall break, school, and then upcoming winter break, it can be normal for our students to feel dysregulated. With that may come struggles with peer-to-peer interactions or just a feeling of mounting anxiety. As mentioned in an earlier WOW post by Mrs. Norgaard, we have adopted Kelso’s Choice with the help from our school counselor, Kim Arasato. This program teaches students several positive ways to deal with difficult situations. To do this, we are asking students who have minor problems to try at least two ideas from the Wheel of Choices. This promotes self-advocacy and provides tools for conflict resolution. You can learn more about Kelso’s Choices here: Wheel of Choices: Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. Ask your child whether they have used the Wheel of Choices yet and see if they can give you examples of minor problems that the Wheel can help resolve.
We also want to provide students with tools to deal with anxiety. We have seen an uptick in children feeling anxious since the pandemic hit. Whether it’s regarding transitions from home, making mistakes in class, or interacting with peers, these books may be a starting place for conversation and give you and your child coping strategies they can carry with them forever.
All of us here at White Oaks are dedicated to supporting our students as they navigate through the ups and downs of childhood. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher, myself, or Mrs. Arasato if you have any concerns or are seeking resources.
Warmly,
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]
Dates to Remember
Dec. 11: White Oaks Holiday Store
Dec. 16: Minimum day
Dec. 17-Jan. 3: Winter Break
Jan. 10-21: SCEF Read-A-Thon
School News and Events
White Oaks Holiday Store: Saturday, Dec. 11, 9 a.m.-noonThe White Oaks Holiday Store is this Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon! Your children are invited to participate in this treasured White Oaks shopping experience to choose gifts for their loved ones for the holidays. Students will receive a flyer and gift list in their green folders this week. Please fill out the gift list with the name of each person your child will be shopping for and bring this gift list, money (small bills, please!), as well a reusable shopping bag to the Holiday Store event. While children are shopping, parents can enjoy a hand-crafted espresso beverage or hot chocolate for $1-$3. Please bring cash. There will be a parents-only section set up outside for grown-ups to enjoy their coffee.
Masks will be required for children, parents, and volunteers.
We have many volunteer roles available and need your help to make it a success! Please consider signing up for a time slot here. Contact Sara Ting with any questions at [email protected].
Third-Grade Baby Photos for YearbookPlease submit one baby photo of your child to be included in the Guess Who 3rd Grade Baby section of the yearbook. Follow the guidelines below and submit your photo by Friday, Dec. 12.
- Use this Google form to upload your photo
- Rename your image file to include the child’s last and first name (smith_bob.jpg)
- JPEG images are highly preferred
We would love for every 3rd-grader to be included on these pages. Please email any questions to [email protected].
Shop with AmazonSmile and Support the White Oaks PTA! AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support the White Oaks PTA every time you shop. While shopping this holiday season, use the link smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase to our school. Create a bookmark and make it easy to remember. If you use Chrome, click here to activate a redirect that will automatically take you to smile.amazon.com whenever you type amazon.com (so easy!). You'll never miss an opportunity to earn money for our school. Thank you so much!
SCEF News and Events
Honey Bear Trees Are Here!
Honey Bear Trees is back this season and offering a 15% SCEF donation for every tree and wreath purchase! Visit the San Carlos or Redwood City location, and don’t forget to mention SCEF. Details here.
The SCEF Read-A-Thon: Register NOW!
The 2nd annual Read-A-Thon starts in January. Register by Dec. 15 and enter drawings to win WARRIORS TICKETS, or gift cards to Diddams, Tutti Frutti, Tea Hut, the Reading Bug, Gelataio, the Crepe Stop, or Patxi’s Pizza. AND parents can win, too — a gift card to TOWN! Visit scefkids.org/read2022 to register and learn more!
Ways to Donate to SCEF Before Year’s End
Appreciated Stock: A gift of appreciated stock (that you have held for more than 1 year) is better than selling the stock and donating the proceeds. If you itemize, you may take a charitable deduction for the total donation amount while avoiding capital gains taxes. Learn more here.
Workplace Giving: Many employers will match your donation to SCEF, and some are offering end-of-year matching at 2:1.
Give Every Month Program: Start now and spread your contributions across the school year.
Every little bit helps SCEF meet our fundraising goal of $3.2 million to meet our mission of supporting every child, every day, in every classroom.
District News and Events
COVID Reminders: Stay Home When Sick and Get Tested
Staying home when sick and getting tested for the COVID-19 virus are two of the most effective ways to keep our community safe. Find details from the SCSD Health & Safety Plan in this document.
If you have any of the symptoms listed above, call your school office to report an illness, stay home, and take a COVID virus test.
If you need to report a positive COVID test, please call District Nurse Page Pollack at 650-632-8300 (Arroyo office) or Human Resources at 650-590-5922 if the nurse is unavailable.
For more information, visit our COVID-19 Resources page and review the SCSD Health & Safety Plan.
Second Location and More Days for Curative COVID-19 Testing
Please take advantage of the free COVID-19 virus testing provided by the San Mateo County Health Department. Sign up online for your weekly testing.
Central Middle School parking lot, 757 Cedar St.
- Mondays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Thursdays 1-7 p.m.
- Fridays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Book at the Central location here.
Tierra Linda Middle School parking lot, 750 Dartmouth Ave.
- Wednesdays and Fridays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Saturdays 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Book at the Tierra Linda van here.
Find other community testing sites in San Mateo County here.
Community News and Events
Parent Education Opportunities
Parent Venture Series: www.parentventure.org/events
Hunt, Gather, Parent: A Conversation with Michaeleen Doucleff & Ned Johnson: The oldest cultures in the world have mastered the art of raising happy, well-adjusted children. What can we learn from them? Filled with practical takeaways that parents can implement immediately, this discussion with national bestselling authors Michaeleen Doucleff and Ned Johnson will share a way of raising confident, generous children that moms and dads all over the world have turned to for centuries. Join this live online event Wednesday, Dec. 8, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Presentation is sponsored by Sequoia Union High School District, Sequoia Healthcare District, Peninsula Health Care District, and The Parent Venture.