Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks families,
As we gather on campus daily to learn and enjoy some recess moments together, it is inevitable that conflict amongst peers will emerge. At White Oaks, our compassionate and skilled teaching staff address many of these opportunities to grow skills that can be applied to the next situation that may arise. In addition to their expertise, we have Ms. Kim Arasato, our school counselor, and our mental health associate, Xibin, help to support our Owls and their families.
Students at every grade level have been attending weekly lessons with the school counselor. Over the past few weeks, we have been using the Kelso's choice program to teach students several positive ways to address small arguments and problems that can naturally occur in both unstructured and classroom settings. Kelso’s Choice is a conflict management curriculum designed for elementary age students that helps students identify which “small problems” can be solved without adult intervention, and offers a wheel of 9 choices to provide easy problem solving steps.
By using this plan, we believe that our students will develop effective problem-solving skills that they can use again and again. It will help them to address conflict in a positive manner and make appropriate decisions. Knowing what to do will help students reduce the stress and number of conflicts they have at school and in their neighborhood. Kelso's Choice is one program we use on campus as part of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) network.
Colorful charts illustrating ways to deal with conflict will be posted at school so all children will know their choices. We encourage you to become familiar with this program and use it in your home. By working together, we can develop healthy life skills for young people to use at home and at school. Families who are interested in more information about Kelso’s choice can explore the online resources for parents and families.
Here are some great ways to connect with the resources offered by our Mental Health Team at White Oaks:
Schedule a Meeting with Ms. Kim Arasato
San Carlos Elementary Counselor's Website
Who is Kim? Who is Xibin? Get to know them and their roles.
Warm regards,
Leah Scholer, Principal
PTA News
October PTA Meeting - Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. on Zoom
Join us for the PTA meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. on Zoom. All parents and teachers are welcome. We will be discussing the fun events ahead. Our PTA school events are dependent on our amazing parents, and we really hope to see you there! Agenda is available here.
Meeting ID: 976 6347 2744
Passcode: 257611
PTA Appreciation for Family Movie Night and Food Trucks
Thank you to our White Oaks families for coming to Movie Night and Food Trucks! It was a joy to see our community gather for such a fun evening. Special thanks to our organizers Brooke Sibley, Amy Kim, Tiffany Day and Karen Pachmayer for making this event a success.
Calling All Volunteers: There's A Walk-a-Thon Job for Everyone!
Make sure to mark your calendars for the White Oaks Walk-a-Thon on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. on our campus! And please take a few minutes to check out all the volunteer opportunities to support one of our favorite school traditions. If you haven’t been to a Walk-a-Thon before, the shifts are short, the duties are easy, and it’s a whole lot of fun! Plus, you’ll get a front-row spot to cheer on our kids. Sign up here today.
PTA Membership Drive
Did your child come home last week talking about the green wig challenge? As part of this month's PTA membership drive, if we reach our goal of 85% of families joining the White Oaks PTA, Mrs. Scholer will wear a green wig on the first Wednesday of November! We currently have 44% of families signed up and our goal is to have 100% of White Oaks families participate. The PTA supports Art in Action, materials, family fun events, and so much more! The cost is $20 per family. Join here.
SCEF News
The 3rd Annual Read-a-Thon is Coming Soon!
This event has been moved from winter and will coincide with many book fairs this fall. The dates are Oct. 28-Nov. 10. Stay tuned for early-registration information.
Thank you to all who participated in the Evening at TOWN and our Fall Silent Auction and Raffle. A fantastic evening of adult fun and fundraising for our kids!
District News
SLOW the F A S T Down
September was Pedestrian Safety Month in California and October is National Pedestrian Safety Month! In partnership with Safe Routes to School and the California Office of Traffic Safety, we would like to remind families to review the following tips to improve the safety of students walking to and from school and on school grounds.
DRIVERS
- Do not speed and be sure to slow down at intersections!
- Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
- Stay off the phone when behind the wheel.
- Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right turn.
- Never drive impaired.
PEDESTRIANS
- Be predictable. Use signalized crosswalks where drivers anticipate foot traffic.
- Put down phones, headphones and other devices when crossing the street.
- Watch for approaching vehicles and practice care when crossing the street. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
- If possible, walk with an adult or older sibling until you’re 10 years old.
- Make it easier for drivers to see you at night: Wear light colors or reflective material and use a flashlight.
- Be careful crossing streets, entering crosswalks at night, and crossing busier streets with higher speed limits.
Watch one of the following videos with your child to help teach them safe pedestrian practices:
- Pedestrian Safer Journey (elementary school) from Federal Highway Administration (English, español)
- Pedestrian Safer Journey (middle school) from Federal Highway Administration (English, español)
- Walk Safely from California Office of Traffic Safety (English only)
The LunchMaster Letter to the Community
The LunchMaster would like to thank you for your cooperation and understanding while their service was suspended. Please read their letter to our community to see the changes they have incorporated to streamline their service to clients.
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
- Worksite Labs at Arroyo School no longer available.
- Curative - Central Middle School parking lot - Sign up
- Curative - Tierra Linda Middle School parking lot - Sign up
- Other Community-Based Testing Sites in San Mateo County
COVID-19 Testing for Schools and Students - Find up-to-date resources on testing in districts and schools as well as at home.
Follow @scsdschools
Follow the San Carlos School District on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for up-to-date info on events and issues.
Community News
San Mateo County Reads 2022
San Mateo County Reads 2022 is about to begin! This annual initiative by the San Mateo County Office of Education, Peninsula Library System, and libraries across the county fosters community and discussion through literacy. The 2022 theme is Native Authors–Native Lives, and the selected titles for students are:
- We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade (picture book, TK-3rd)
- Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Ying-Hwa Hu, and Cornelius Van Wright (picture book, TK-3rd)
- Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac (novel in verse, 4th-8th)
- Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (young adult, 9th-12th)
More information about SMC Reads events and author visits is coming soon. Learn more.
Healthy Cities Tutoring Fall Workshops
Don’t miss our Fall Tutor Tips Training led by HCT staff and teachers from our schools. Learn valuable techniques for engaging and supporting your students. Learn more and RSVP. Two sessions to choose from:
- Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m., San Carlos Public Library. RSVP.
- Wednesday, Oct. 19, 7-8 p.m., Clifford Elementary School Library. RSVP.
Volunteer and make a difference for students in our community! Become a volunteer tutor and in one hour a week you can change a life! It’s a fun and rewarding way to give back to your community and stay engaged with our local schools.
Parent Education Opportunities
How did the pandemic disrupt our children’s lives? NPR education reporter Anya Kamenetz joins us to discuss her new book, The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children's Lives, and Where We Go Now (Oct. 13, online).
On Oct. 19, we continue our fentanyl education series with Stacey Wisniewski, Prevention Solutions, Hazeldon Betty Ford Foundation, in Fentanyl Prevention Education: How to Help Teens Make Healthy Decisions (Oct. 19, online).
NEW! How can you raise a well-balanced student? Denise Pope, PhD, co-founder, Challenge Success, Stanford Graduate School of Education, presents Raising a Well-Balanced Student: Avoiding a Culture of Stress (Oct. 26, online).
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information.