From the Principal
Dear White Oaks families,
It is hard to believe that this is my last message of 2021. I’d like to take this opportunity to circle back to our theme this year, Wonder. Our school’s Wonder Wall is ever-growing with wonderment, and it has been such a joy reading the thoughts students have contributed. Students have posted questions such as, “I wonder whether a thumb is a finger?” and “I wonder what is beyond our eyes?” and “I wonder if magic is real?”
The innocence and intrigue our children have about the world around them is exactly what motivates us to be the educators we are. Our goal is to capitalize on their curiosity and shape it into a lifelong love of learning.
I am hoping that during our two-week break, your children have opportunities to continue learning and exploring the world. Whether it’s digging in a park or backyard or visiting a museum or reading new books from the library, there are various ways students can be challenged to ask and investigate new wonders. Here are some activities and resources to explore:
- Family story time at the San Carlos Public Library
- Explore the “IlluminOdyssey” exhibit at CuriOdyssey
- Celebrate the holidays at Cal Academy of Sciences
- Find a local skating rink and try out ice skating
- Make handmade gifts for friends and family
- Cut paper snowflakes
- Make a fort to cover the living room
- Watch a favorite movie inside the fort
- Go on a night hike
- Build a snowman (real or a craft)
- Donate old toys and books to a local charity or daycare
- Make a gingerbread house
- Do a puzzle bigger than you’ve ever done before
- Write a thank-you letter for a favorite gift
- Go on a flashlight scavenger hunt
- Make a magazine collage
- Make a lava lamp
- Play dominoes
- Look at photos from the year and create a scrapbook
- Do a year-end interview
Lost and Found: Look for Your Items During the Holiday Store
It’s time again to check out our lost and found and gather any items that belong to your family! Lost and Found items will be out starting this Saturday, Dec. 11, at our Holiday Store. Items that are not claimed by Thursday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. will be donated.
Warmly,
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]
Dates to Remember
Dec. 16: Minimum day (Thursday, last day before break)
Dec. 17-Jan. 3: Winter Break starts Friday
Dec. 24: Last day to order a yearbook
Jan. 10-21: SCEF Read-A-Thon
School News and Events
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
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.
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.
Ready for the Read-A-Thon: Pre-register for Prizes
Need a Christmas Tree or Wreath?
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.
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
City of San Carlos Upcoming Events
“Elf” Movie Night: Dec. 17
Looking for an evening of holiday cheer? The Youth Center is hosting a free screening of “Elf” on Friday, Dec. 17. The movie will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Youth Center Gym, but arrive early for activities appropriate for the whole family.
- 6:30-7:30: Free Mister Softee and holiday carnival games
- 7:30-9:15: Movie time!
This event is FREE and open to all ages. Seating is limited, so consider bringing lawn chairs. Face masks are required inside the Youth Center.
Coats & Cards Donation Drive: through Dec. 17
The San Carlos Youth Advisory Council is hosting a community-wide Coats & Cards Donation Drive in partnership with LifeMoves and Sequoia Hospital. There are two parts to this drive:
For the first part, we will be collecting winter-weather items for homeless family shelters such as coats, jackets, ponchos, umbrellas, towels, and blankets. All items will be donated to LifeMoves.
- For the second part, we are asking the community to make cards for patients at Sequoia Hospital.
Winter-weather items and cards can be dropped off at the San Carlos Youth Center through Dec. 17 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. You can also donate online via our Amazon Wish List: https://amzn.to/3oYbNjR. Thank you!
SamTrans Art Takes a Bus Ride 2022 ContestThe San Mateo County Office of Education is partnering with SamTrans to give students in grades 1 through 12 a chance to have their artwork displayed on the side of a SamTrans bus for an entire year. Artwork must illustrate this year’s theme of San Mateo County Reopens. Entries are due Feb. 25. Learn more here.
Parent Education Opportunities
Parent Venture Series: www.parentventure.org/events
Holiday traditions (candles, trees, cooking) can increase the risk of home fire. Sequoia Healthcare District hosts Fire Marshal Gareth Harris for a town hall, Fire Safety for Your Home: A Disaster Prep Town Hall Meeting (Dec. 14, online).
On Dec. 15, the Peninsula Health Care District presents a timely town hall meeting, “I Don’t Like Needles”: How to Support Kids with Vaccine Anxiety, with medical experts from Stanford Health Care (online).