From the Principal
Dear White Oaks families,
Book of the Month
Our Book of the Month for March-April is Skin Like Mine by Latashia M. Perry. In this book the author has a creative way to address and celebrate diversity among young children. Teachers will use this book as a springboard for discussions around appreciating the differences between all of us and respecting one another.
Fostering the Love of Literacy
As we head into the last couple of months of school, we want to emphasize the importance of nurturing the love of literacy both at school and at home. Whether you are reading aloud to your child or they are reading on their own, research shows that the more books a child reads, the stronger their brain development is:
To help families prioritize reading at home, here are some resources with ideas for making reading fun and enjoyable, and creating a lifelong love of literacy:
- 12 Ways to Nurture a Love of Reading
- Tips and Tricks Parents can use to Nurture a Love of Reading in Kids
- Raise a Child Who Loves to Read
- Make Reading Fun with 3 Easy Tips
- Why It’s Important to Read Aloud to Your Kids, and How to Make It Count
- 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They’re 12
- Book Recommendations Based on Age
Warmly,
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]
School News and Events
White Oaks Appreciation and Upcoming Events
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Wednesday at our PTA social. It was great to see so many new faces. We are excited for all the fun we have planned for the remainder of the year.
We would love to see you at the next PTA meeting, where we will be talking about the upcoming Walk-a-Thon, Staff Appreciation Week, and Movie Night, as well as discussing what you, our incredible parents, hope to see next year. We welcome new ideas and feedback on the different ways the PTA can continue to bring our community together.
Please mark your calendars for these events:
Stanford Baseball Game: April 10 at 1:05 p.m.
April PTA Meeting: April 13. Mix and mingle starting at 6:30 p.m. at Jennie Romeo’s house. Meeting will start at 7:30. You can also join via Zoom.
Walk-a-Thon: April 24 at 1:00 p.m.
Staff Appreciation Week: May 2-6
Founders’ Day: May 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Spring Movie Night: May 13
Last Call: Walk-a-Thon T-shirt Design Entries Due MondayCalling all student artists! The PTA needs help with our 2022 Walk-a-Thon featured design! All students are invited to create a simple, one-color line drawing that represents our school and this fun event. Use a thick black marker on white paper. Then submit your artwork to the office, or email a picture or scan to [email protected] no later than Monday, March 21. The winning design will be featured on this year’s T-shirt.
Mark your calendars for a favorite White Oaks tradition, the Walk-a-Thon and Family Fun Day on Sunday, April 24, 1-4 p.m. And be sure to check out these volunteer opportunities. We need your support! Also, email us at [email protected]
Wednesday: Buy a Sunflower at Drop-off to Support Ukrainian Kids
Calling White Oaks Singers! (Info Meeting Thursday)
On May 4, the White Oaks community is coming together to celebrate our amazing volunteers and teachers at the annual Founders’ Day! We are so excited to have Founders’ Day in person again and thrilled to bring back the White Oaks Choir for this amazing night. All White Oaks students who love to sing are invited to join the choir! The time commitments are:
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Rehearsal Tuesdays at lunch and Wednesdays at recess: April 5-6, April 12-13, April 19-20, April 26-27, May 3-4
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Rehearsal Monday, May 2, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (mandatory)
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Rehearsal Tuesday, May 3, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (mandatory)
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Performance Wednesday, May 4, 6:30 p.m. (arrival at 6 p.m.)
To learn more, please join our parent-child info meeting on Thursday, March 24, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Email Britta Ellis to receive the Zoom link. Songs will be distributed after the meeting in hopes that kids will be ready to rehearse on April 5.Arroyo students are invited to join! Rehearsals for White Oaks alumni in 4th and 5th grade will be Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. More info can be found in the Arroyo Eagle Eye newsletter, or feel free to contact Britta with questions.
Due Friday: Call for Founders’ Day Award NominationsEvery year for the past several decades, the White Oaks community has celebrated Founders’ Day — a time-honored tradition to recognize volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help build our school community. We need your help in nominating some of these very special people. Please use this link to review the award categories and submit your nominations. Nominations are due Friday, March 25. On Wednesday, May 4, we will hold our annual PTA Founders’ Day to celebrate the contributions of our award winners. Mark your calendars for the 72nd anniversary of this special White Oaks event! Please direct questions to Britta Ellis or Jennie Romeo.
Order Spirit Wear by March 27!
There’s one week left to order White Oaks spirit wear featuring our new school logo! Click here to visit our school store. Options include V-necks, hoodies, baseball tees, and performance tees. You can choose the size of the logo on your shirt: big or small! We have Youth and Adult sizes, so you can find something for everyone in the family.The last day to order is Sunday, March 27. Items will be delivered to classrooms after spring break.
April 10: White Oaks Family Fun Day at Stanford’s Sunken DiamondWhite Oaks families, ready to watch some baseball? This year, we’re hosting our annual ALL FAMILY baseball event to watch the Stanford Cardinal take on the Arizona State Sun Devils on Sunday, April 10, at 1:05 p.m. in Palo Alto. When you buy a ticket, you will be entered into our White Oaks raffle to win Stanford Baseball swag, and one lucky third-grader could win a chance to be a junior announcer at the game. To buy tickets ($10 each), visit GoStanford.com/promo-code and use promo code WHITEOAKS. The whole family is welcome! Each person attending needs a ticket. Questions? Contact Jennie Romeo.
SCEF News and Events
Online Silent Auction Closes Tomorrow at 9 p.m.
Don’t miss your chance to bid on teacher outings, summer camps, and more in SCEF’s Online Silent Auction! Our generous educators have created outings for you to bid on for your child. These are a fantastic way to have fun and support SCEF. Enter your school’s name in the “Find Auction Item” box, and click to bid.
Other great silent auction offerings include a Firehouse dinner and tour; PS4 console and games; orthodontics; cheese; wine, beer, and whiskey of all types; restaurant gift cards; parties; vacation homes; trips; and outdoor activities.
Help fund a restricted grant dedicated to supporting our school libraries: All 2022 Fund-the-Future of Libraries donations will be committed to maintaining and extending library hours, upgrading and improving media resources, and, where possible, incorporating “makers corners” to develop STEM skills and inspire creativity. Donate to Fund-The-Future here.
District News and Events
It’s Time to Complete Your InfoSnap Registration Forms for Fall 2022
Each spring, SCSD asks ALL families to complete their annual registration forms through PowerSchool (InfoSnap) online. Your timely completion of this process will help us have the most accurate numbers of returning students for the 2022-23 school year, which are directly tied to the SCSD budget and will help the district plan for staffing needs more effectively.
This week, you will receive an email from noreplyregistration@
The deadline to complete your InfoSnap forms is April 1. Please do this ASAP. If you are not planning to return to our district next year, please notify your school office as soon as possible.
We are watching enrollment closely to properly prepare for next year. Thank you for your assistance!
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.
Community News and Events
San Carlos Planning Division Seeks Input on Protected Tree Ordinance
Recognizing the importance of trees to our community, the City of San Carlos has prepared a new Protected Tree Ordinance to thoughtfully manage this valuable natural resource. The ordinance will be presented to the Planning Commission on Monday, March 21, 7 p.m. To participate in the meeting, and to access the agenda, proposed ordinance, and staff report, please visit cityofsancarlos.org/agenda.
Find additional information and future meeting dates at cityofsancarlos.org/
Parent Education Opportunities
parentventure.org/events
Parenting in a Digital Age: A Conversation with Digital Media Experts
March 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
What are ways parents can set healthy boundaries for kids’ use of technology in a post-pandemic world? Join a conversation with experts from Common Sense Media and Kaiser Permanente. Online.
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics for Ages 5-11
San Mateo County Health is offering pediatric COVID-19 vaccines at eight sites throughout the county. Free and advance appointments are available, highly encouraged, and may be scheduled through MyTurn. Families may also come without appointments. Learn more here.
COVID-19 PCR Testing in San Carlos
Please take advantage of the free COVID-19 virus testing at one of our school sites or those provided by the San Mateo County Health Department.
NEW OPTION Worksite Labs: Arroyo School, Patio 3, 1710 Arroyo Ave. Make appointment here.
- Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Curative: Central Middle School parking lot, 757 Cedar St. Make appointment here.
- Mondays 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Thursdays noon-7 p.m.
- Fridays 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Curative: Tierra Linda Middle School parking lot, 750 Dartmouth Ave. Make appointment here.
- Wednesdays and Fridays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Saturdays 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Find other community testing sites in San Mateo County here.