October 8, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message: SCSD Strategic Plan, Digital Citizenship
- Lunch Menu
- PTA News: Walk-a-Thon, Yearbooks
- Plus District, SCEF, and Community News
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks families,
Join us as we take you on a journey through the very core of our new SCSD Strategic Plan.
WEEK 3: Self-Aware Learners
Welcome to the third installment of our Strategic Plan video series, where we continue to unveil the different facets that make SCSD extraordinary.
This week, our spotlight shines brightly on Self-Aware Learners. At SCSD, we understand that education is not just about acquiring knowledge; it's about nurturing individuals who are confident in their abilities, open to reflection, and flexible in the face of changing circumstances. Our Self-Aware Learners are at the forefront of this transformative journey.
Reflective: With a reflective mindset, our learners delve into their academic and social-emotional experiences, using feedback as a springboard for growth. They set goals for themselves and actively pursue them.
Self-Awareness: Our learners possess a keen understanding of themselves, their actions, and the impact they have on both themselves and the world around them. Self-awareness is their compass for personal and social growth.
Adaptability: In a rapidly changing world, adaptability is a cornerstone of success. SCSD learners excel in embracing new situations and challenges with flexibility and resilience.
Join us as we explore how these remarkable traits of Self-Aware Learners are shaping not only their individual paths but also the collective future of our educational community.
Digital Citizenship Month
October is Digital Citizenship Month, and our students use technology in various ways that support critical thinking, creativity, communication, curiosity, and collaboration. Some examples of digital projects your student may experience at White Oaks across TK-3rd grade are: authoring ebooks, producing videos to communicate a point of view, expressing learning using Google Docs and Slides presentations, researching science and social studies topics, engaging with learning apps via Class Link and collaborating during project-based learning units - just to highlight a few. Along the way, they are learning how to search safely, protect privacy, give proper credit to authors, share workload responsibilities, and model kindness and caring in all communications – on and offline.
Our kids are immersed in the digital age, from research and reading online to playing games and exploring social media. With our support, children learn that “online life” guidelines closely mirror those of life “offline.” During the elementary school years, children are learning how to self-regulate. As they reach new physical, social, and emotional milestones, children begin to balance active time with rest time, time with friends with quiet time alone, and healthy eating with the occasional sweet treat. With our guidance, they also are learning how to manage their “digital diets” to balance both quality and quantity of media consumption.
Here are a few guidelines you may want to draw from as you consider how technology functions in your family:
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Get involved: Engage with your child and find out what he/she enjoys online.
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Common Sense Media, a great source for movies, books, and technology reviews and tips.
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Set an example: Model positive behavior about when, where and how it is acceptable to be “on” a device. Check out this 45-second video about taming device time.
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Make dinner time device-free.
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Set clear limits: Together, create a schedule that shows when media will be used and how screen time fits into the larger picture of the day or week. Institute a “device bedtime” so that devices are put away in advance of your child’s bedtime. Ensure that devices are used and charged in public areas, not in children’s bedrooms. Create a Family Media Plan.
Already, our children are learning to leverage technology to fuel learning in exciting ways. Together, we’ll help them take the next steps to become powerful digital (and non-digital) citizens!
Warmly,
Leah Scholer
Principal
This Week's Menus
PTA News
October PTA Membership Drive
Our October PTA Membership Drive has officially begun! We currently have 50% of families signed up and our goal is to have 100% of White Oaks families participate. If you haven't had a chance to renew your membership from last year, now is the time to do it! The PTA supports Art in Action, materials, family fun events, and so much more! The cost is $20 per family and there is no time commitment required. Join here.
Save 10% on Your Student’s Yearbook
Order your White Oaks Yearbook TODAY! Regular price is $24.15. Order before Oct. 31 for a 10% discount. Yearbooks are distributed the last week of school. Already have a Treering account? Log in → in My Stuff select Kids → select Settings and Add Kid → select Add New School/Year → enter Passcode for White Oaks (1016947994291205).
Lunchtime PlayPod Volunteers Needed!
We're looking for volunteers to help run the Playpod for two shifts on Tuesdays (12:10-12:40 and 12:40-1:10)-- if there's enough interest, we'll expand to add Thursdays as well. Our playpod is a large container of "loose parts" that learners convert into all kinds of amazing designs -- forts, restaurants, houses, endless ramps and more (learn more here). Parent volunteers will help for 30-minute shifts to set up signs and materials, invite kids to join and play respectfully, responsibly, and safely, and clean up a few minutes before the post-lunch recess period ends. Please sign up!
Walk-a-Thon: Sign Up to Help, Plus Fan Club for Extended Family and Friends!
Join us for the Walk A Thon on Oct. 22nd at 1:00 p.m. We truly can’t pull this off without your help – there’s a job for every family! Please browse the list and sign up for a spot. The shifts are short and a lot of fun!
Special traditions such as the White Oaks Walk-a-Thon are powered by the PTA parent volunteers and your SCEF donations and we thank you! This is one of our biggest events and truly excites our kids and our school community.
If your extended family or friends would like to become a Walk-a-Thon Fan to support your child while they walk, please encourage them to donate. We want to continue our efforts to raise money and support an enriching experience here at White Oaks and across the San Carlos School District.
SCEF News
Fantastic First Fundraising Event
Evening at TOWN was a great community building and fundraising success. Thank you to attendees and non-attendees who participated in our online auction and raffle.
Special thanks to Greg St. Claire and his team at TOWN for the amazing dinner and for supporting our schools for over 17 years! Congrats to our raffle winners: Grand Prize, Ashley McManus; 2nd Prize, Andrew Toy; and 3rd Prize, Sheila Brar.
Save the Date for the SCEF Gala at Hiller Aviation: Mar. 22, 2024!
In addition to funding key educators, your donation to SCEF supports your school PTA and the many programs they are producing this fall. Help ensure that these activities are available by making a donation. Visit our website for all the ways to support San Carlos public education. Workplace giving, recurring/monthly gifts, Donor-Advised Funds, appreciated stock, events and auctions–make your plan to donate TODAY.
District News
EZMeal Application
With the introduction of universal meals for all children attending school in the state of California, you may feel that it is not necessary to fill out the EZ Meal Application to benefit your family, school, and community; However, completing this form every year helps your school receive more funding to support your child’s learning environment. The application is used to calculate school funding levels from the state and federal level, so a few minutes of your time may add to the resources available to our school district. In addition, families that qualify for assistance may be eligible for additional benefits.
Please visit the EZMeal Application website for more information.
SCSD Presents: Supporting Your Students' Mental & Behavioral Health - Oct. 17
Attention Parents/Guardians! Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Heather Elementary MUR for an exclusive Caregiver Session on "Supporting Your Students' Mental & Behavioral Health." Dive deep with a Mental Health Lead and the former Director of Student Services as they reveal essential strategies! To attend, please RSVP.
- Struggling with bedtime routines?
- Worried about your child's anxious thoughts?
- Not sure how to handle meltdowns?
Discover actionable solutions and foster a supportive environment for your child's growth. Equip yourself with tools to ensure their well-being and success!
Save the date & empower your parenting journey. Your child deserves the best, and so do you. #ParentSupport #MentalHealthMatters
Community News
ACE is Now Enrolling for the 2024-25 School Year!
Afterschool Care Enrichment, also known as ACE, offers a flexible, innovative, California State licensed child care program focused on enrichment and youth development to challenge our Lower & Upper Elementary students. Each day includes a Healthy afternoon snack, our Homework Lab with staff assisted support, STEAM activities and Active Outdoor Enrichment Programming. ACE will offer both Morning and Full Time or Part Time Afternoon Programming for the 2024-25 school year. Click here to register at White Oaks.
Please visit our website or contact us by phone (650-931-4007) if you have any questions.
Growing Mindful: Introduction to Mindfulness Class at White Oaks
This class will explore a variety of evidence-based mindfulness techniques, through art, games, and STEAM activities that are designed to promote self regulation, resilience, and overall well-being. We will practice: regulating big emotions, focusing our attention, breathing techniques, working with unhelpful thoughts, compassion & kindness, and gratitude. We will cover new curriculum. All beginners welcome! Sign up here.
Location: White Oaks, Room 6
Date: Wednesdays, Oct. 25 - Dec. 6 (6 sessions)
Time: 12:25 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Parent Education Opportunities
In this special event, David B. Feldman, PhD, Professor of Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University, will discuss coping strategies in Fostering Youth Mental Health: Building Hope and Resilience in Uncertain Times (Oct. 5).
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information.
PTA CORNER
Join the White Oaks PTA. Your membership matters and helps support programs and events for our students and teachers.
A percentage of your purchases will automatically be donated to the White Oaks PTA — at no cost to you!
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