Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks families,
Our Play Pod is now open! Every Tuesday at lunch recess, our loose parts play is available to all students. It was so fun seeing the creativity, collaboration, and communication coming from students as they used their imagination. Phrases like, “Hey, let’s try this!” and “What if we…” were heard among, “Let’s combine our work!” and, “Do you want to join us?”
We need YOUR help to keep our Play Pod running! Consider signing up for a slot(or two) to help run this station during lunchtime. If we are able to have enough consistent parent volunteers, we may be able to open up the Play Pod more days during the week. We are also always looking for more materials to add to our students’ creations. Please email Leah Scholer if you have items you think would work for this activity.
Book of the Month
Our September/October Book of the Month is The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson. This book celebrates diversity in the classroom and how we can learn about the world from each other. “There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you until the day you begin to share your stories.”
We learn about one student who feels self-conscious that she stayed on her block during the summer while her classmates traveled the world. Woodson highlights we are all different, whether this is our accent so “no one understands the way words curl from your mouth.” Or the food we eat that is “too strange or too unfamiliar for others to love as you do.” Woodson reminds us we are all outsiders, and it takes courage to be ourselves. The day we share our stories is the day we begin. The story shows our stories help us make connections to other people and realize our special and unique differences.
Warmly,
Leah Scholer, Principal
[email protected]
PTA News
PTA Membership Drive Kickoff!
Our PTA membership drive officially kicks off on October 1, but join us for a sneak peak at our Family Movie Night on September 30. Your membership matters and helps support programs and events for our students and teachers. Membership is $20 per family. Sign up here.
Art in Action
To all docents and helpers who have expressed interest in volunteering for Art in Action, please join us for these upcoming trainings:
Art Closet Tours
- Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 2:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 8:15 a.m.
Docent and Helper Parent Volunteer Training (hosted by Brooke and Doug)
- Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting (Passcode: QZ3Zvb)
Calling All Artists for the White Oaks Walk-a-Thon Design Contest - Due Sept. 26
The T-shirt design contest is under way and open to all students. Create a simple, one-color line drawing that represents White Oaks and our Walk-a-Thon tradition, and the winning artwork will be featured on this year's T-shirts! To enter, draw your design using a black pen (such as a Sharpie) on white paper, then submit your design to the office or email it by Monday, September 26
SCEF News
SCEF's Evening at Town
Don’t miss the party of the year-- it's back! Tickets are on sale for the SCEF Evening at TOWN fundraising dinner and silent auction. This is your chance to support our students while enjoying a fabulous meal and connecting with parents from around the district. Enjoy a fantastic evening while supporting our kids
:If you can’t attend, you can still participate! Check out
San Carlos School Board Candidate Forum on October 6 at 6 p.m. on Zoom. It will be hosted by SCEF and PTA Coordinating Council and moderated by League of Women Voters of San Mateo County. Please register to participate in the webinar. The Forum will be recorded
District News
Breakfast and Lunch Ordering Reminders
Meal Ordering
Please be sure to order meals by 9:00 a.m. on the Tuesday the week before you need breakfast/lunch on TheLunchMaster website. Or better yet, order ahead for the entire month, then set yourself a reminder for the following month.
Cancel a Week in Advance for Days Your Child May Not Need Meals (Early Release Wednesdays and Conference Week)
Remember to cancel breakfast and lunch orders the week prior if your child is not going to eat a meal at school -- especially on early release Wednesdays and during Conference week when students are dismissed early
Make Sure Your Child Is Picking Up Meals
As we work to fine-tune the school nutrition program, please let your child know if you ordered breakfast or lunch, as it greatly improves our efforts to reduce food waste
THANK YOU
Many thanks to our fabulous food servers and the awesome volunteers who have stepped up to help serve in a more timely manner
School Board Candidate Forums - Oct. 6
San Carlos parents and other residents are invited to attend two forums featuring candidates for the two SCSD school board races in the Nov. 8 general election. The events are hosted by the San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF), the San Carlos PTA Coordinating Council and the San Mateo County League of Women Voters. Both forums will take place Thursday, Oct. 6, via Zoom. (You must register for each forum separately.) Find more info
COVID Reminders and Testing Options
If your child is experiencing symptoms, please keep them home and give them a rapid antigen test. Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases to other people and testing remains a key mitigation layer to detect and curb transmission of COVID-19. If your child tests positive for COVID-19 or your household is in need of additional test kits, please contact your school site as soon as possible
Testing Resources
COVID-19 Testing for Schools and Students - Find up-to-date resources on testing in districts and schools as well as at home
Community News
21-Day Social & Racial Equity Challenge
The Community Foundation of San Carlos invites you to take a visible leadership role in joining the upcoming 21-Day Social & Racial Equity Challenge, kicking off Oct 1. and running the entire month of October. The challenge will culminate in a community conversation on Nov. 1 facilitated by two professional community members, Bea Kim and Grace Chen
Call to Action
We invite you to take on the challenge by submitting your participation via this form and encouraging others in our community to sign up as well. Your name will appear on our website as one of several key community leaders supporting this very important work — and through your participation in the challenge itself
Participating in the challenge is the best part; it can be done in ~15-minute self-directed online sessions each day, focusing on different topics related to racial and social equity — or you can save up a bunch of different days and “binge” topics in a single day. The challenge can be taken individually, as a group within an organization or as a group of friends. It can be a powerful tool to help examine values and goals and encourage dialogue on these important topics. More info can be found on our website
Upcoming Events
Sept. 28, 7-8 p.m.: Information Session
Nov. 1, 7:00-8:30 p.m.: Community Conversation and Debrief on Challenge
Please join us by accepting the challenge! #
Girl Scouts Daisy Kickoff - Oct. 1
Kindergarten, first grade girls, and their parent or caretaker are invited to join us for the annual Diamond Crest Daisy Kickoff to learn about Girl Scouts in San Carlos! Space is limited, so please register in advance
Saturday, Oct. 1, 3-4 p.m
Redwood Shores Library
399 Marine Parkway, Redwood City
Contact [email protected]
Ukulele Class at White Oaks with Hummingbird Music School
Does your child want to learn how to play ukulele in a fun group environment? Hummingbird Music School's super popular after-school ukulele class will be Mondays from 2:30-3:20 p.m. in Room 3. We have a few spots left, so read more and register here
Parent Education Opportunities
Ana Homayoun, founder of Green Ivy Educational Consulting, and Allia Griffin, PhD, of Santa Clara University, present High School 101: Helping Students Prepare for a Successful High School Experience (Sept. 27, online).
We all want to raise kind and thoughtful kids — but how can you do that? Author and developmental educator Deborah Farmer Kris offers advice on How to Help Kids Develop Their Emotional Vocabulary (Sept. 29, online)
Tony Wagner, PhD, a best-selling author and global education expert, joins us for Learning by Heart: Creating “Innovation-Ready” Students for the Future. Don’t miss this special opportunity! (Oct. 6, online
What should parents know about the risks of fentanyl use? This fall, we offer Fentanyl Prevention Education: How to Help Teens Make Healthy Decisions (Oct. 19, online) by Prevention Solutions, Hazeldon Betty Ford Foundation
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information