White Oaks Weekly - April 3, 2022

From the Principal

Dear White Oaks families, 

I hope you all had a wonderful spring break! Your children are learning social and emotional skills through regular classroom lessons and reinforcement throughout the school day. All of our students at White Oaks are learning how to make and keep friends. This is especially important this year due to the lack of practice they’ve had over the past two years. 

Disagreements, misunderstandings and conflicts arise in any friendship. Your child’s job is to learn to resolve conflicts, and your job is to guide and support them. When you observe your child having a challenge with a friend, allow them to try to solve the problem independently. If they seek your help, don’t take over and fix the problem for them; instead, talk with them about what is going on, including their role in the situation. Encourage them to come up with a plan of action: what to do next to resolve the problem and move forward. Support your child as they develop their plan and put it into action.

Read about other important ways you can support your child’s friendships and social development:

• Child Mind Institute: Kids Who Need a Little Help to Make Friends

• The New York Times: Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmetic and Relationships

• Bright Horizons: How to Help School Age Children Navigate Friendships

• Lifehacker: How to Help Your Kid Deal With Social Rejection

• Parenting Science: How to help kids make friends: 12 evidence-based tips

White Oaks Appreciation
“Somewhere along the way, we must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something for others.”
— Martin Luther King Jr. 

Our hearts are full and our minds are truly blown away from the generosity, love, and support we saw from our White Oaks families the week before break. Thank you so much to the incredible kids who showed up early to sell sunflowers and huge thanks to everyone who donated. We could not believe how fast we sold out!

Our neighboring school, Brittan Acres, also sold sunflowers, and together we raised over $2,000 in just under 20 minutes for Save the Children Ukraine. We wanted to share what that means to the kids we are helping:

• $50 can provide 10 warm, cozy blankets to children affected by conflict

• $100 helps supply a month’s worth of nutritious food to a family in crisis

• $175 can provide five families with emergency shelter materials

Thank you again for making a difference in the lives of so many children. 

Lost and Found
Please come and check for lost items in our Lost and Found at your convenience. Our collection is growing, and we want these beautiful articles of clothing to find their homes! The Lost and Found is located in the breezeway around the corner from the office.

Warmly, 
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]

School News and Events

April 13: April PTA Meeting 
Please join us for this month’s PTA meeting at Jennie Romeo’s house. Social hour will start at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7:30. The meeting will also be on Zoom.

We will be discussing our upcoming Walk-a-thon, Staff Appreciation Week, and our upcoming movie night. We would also love your feedback on the different ways we can continue to bring our community together and welcome all new ideas. 

We hope to see you there!

Deadline Extended to Thursday: Call for Founders’ Day Award Nominations
Every 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 Thursday, April 7. 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.

April 10: White Oaks Family Fun Day at Stanford’s Sunken Diamond
White 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

Represent Your School and Support the Mission of Funding our Schools for the Future

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Deadline Extended to Friday for Registration Forms for Fall 2022
Each spring, SCSD asks ALL families to complete their annual back-to-school student information forms through PowerSchool (InfoSnap) online. This allows families to update emergency contact information, update health records (allergy or medical considerations), and give permissions, etc.

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.

The week of March 21, you should have received an email from noreplyregistration@powerschool.com with the subject line: San Carlos School District - Online Student Information Forms (2022-2023) Instructions that will provide directions on completing your registration. It will include a link to the InfoSnap portal and an ID number for your student called an InfoSnap Code.

We are extending the deadline to complete your InfoSnap forms to Friday, April 8. Please complete your student registration for fall 2022 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

April 23: “Love More” Mural Community Paint Day
The Community Foundation of San Carlos is seeking event volunteers, painting volunteers and donations to support our community paint day and celebration of the “Love More” environmental advocacy mural.  

When: Saturday, April 23, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Where: 1379 Old County Rd, San Carlos

Come build community with us through various volunteer opportunities (paint the mural, event coordination, photography, etc.). Sign up here! 

Even if you cannot volunteer, stop by for a community celebration with food trucks, live music, and other fun activities for all ages! Visit this link to learn more. Donate here to support this and future projects.

Youth Advisory Council Recruiting Members
The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is now accepting applications for the 2022-23 school year. Are you interested in representing the San Carlos youth population? This program is for middle school and high school students looking to make a difference in their community. Let your voice be heard, and join a group of passionate youths who are making our community great! Applications are due Friday, April 29. For more information on the YAC or to apply, visit www.cityofsancarlos.org/yac.

Parent Education Opportunities
parentventure.org/events

Raising Healthy Children and Adolescents (TK-12 Families) - Beginning April 14. The County Office of Education is co-sponsoring a series of parent workshops with Adolescent Counseling Services and the San Mateo County Human Services Agency to provide families with information on how to raise healthy children and adolescents. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Learn more.

Eating disorders in kids have skyrocketed during the pandemic. Join Avery Walker, PhD, eating disorders expert, Stanford Children's Health, for What Should Parents Know? Eating Disorders Rising in Children and Teens (April 5, Online)

Want to find the right college at a cost you can afford? Lynn O'Shaughnessy, higher-ed financial journalist and founder of The College Solution, offers Winning Strategies for Finding the Right School at the Right Price (Thursday, April 7)

NEW! How can we help our kids bring creative approaches to any challenges or opportunities they face? Join Sarah Stein Greenberg, executive director of Stanford's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, for Creative Acts for Curious People (April 14, Online)

Vaping: What Does it Cost? PSA Contest (6-8th Grade Students)
All middle and high school students are invited to submit a video, poster, or audio about the costs of vaping for a chance to win up to a $100 gift card. Submissions should be aimed towards spreading awareness about the dangers of nicotine and vaping and how one can quit their addiction. Winners will be announced at a virtual hip-hop concert on May 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Entries due April 22. Learn more.

No Place for Hate Initiative (All School Communities)
Paperwork due April 29. Registration is open for the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate Initiative, which provides a proactive and student-centered framework to fight hate and build inclusive and safe communities in which respect and equity are the goals, and where all students can thrive. Learn more.

Peace Flag Project (TK-12 Teachers, Administrators)
No deadline. San Mateo County youths are invited to share their hope and vision for peace through the Peace Flag Project, which aims to unite people around the world through art. Youth can draw their art or share their message on 10x10-inch square pieces of fabric, which will then be pieced together to create one large flag. Learn more.

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. 

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.