December 3, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message: Attendance, Toy Drive
- PTA and SCEF: Volunteer at the Book Fair, Give to SCEF
- Plus District and Community News
IMPORTANT DATES
Mon-Fri 12/11-12/15: Book Fair
Thu 12/14: SCSD Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Thu 12/21: Minimum day
Fri 12/22-Sun 1/7: Winter break
Mon 1/8: Professional development day (no school)
Tue 1/9: School resumes
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks families,
With the upcoming Dec. 22 to Jan. 8 Winter Break from school, we are grateful to everyone for arranging your travel plans to allow for attendance through Thursday, Dec. 21 (minimum day). We will return to school on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
Attendance is important for all students!
The average student only misses 3 days of school per year. Absences in excess of 18 days per year, whether excused (sick) or unexcused (travel) are considered chronic absences.
We appreciate everyone’s efforts to avoid taking extra time off before or after the Winter Break. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage regular attendance when school is in session.
Students with a fever cannot attend school; however, students with a slight runny nose and occasional cough may attend. To learn more about when to keep your child at home from school, please click here.
Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn, as well as to connect with their peers and teachers, so it is important that we all stay healthy.
We thank:
- Our students and their families who do their best to show up daily even when it is challenging.
- Our teachers who go above and beyond to make school a welcoming and safe place for all students to learn.
- Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our students need.
- Our district leaders who help us work together to create a physically and emotionally safe and engaging learning environment.
If your child needs support with school attendance, please reach out to your child’s teacher, our school counselor ([email protected]) or me ([email protected]) for help.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep everyone healthy and in school!
Samaritan House Toy Drive
Our third graders are organizing our annual toy drive! We invite you to bring unwrapped toys between now and winter break to the school office.
Warmly,
Leah Scholer
Principal
This Week's Menus
PTA News
Urgent: Volunteers Needed
Please sign up to help with serving hot lunch! Students love seeing their parents on campus, and it’s an easy way at to volunteer. Thank you!
Book Fair Dec. 11-15 and Volunteer Signup
Book Fair starts on Dec. 11! You can find a variety of books for all ages and interests. It is a great opportunity to support our library and foster a love of reading in our students, plus the family fun night with puppet and magician shows.
Volunteers needed! We look to your help for this big event-- please sign up here. Here is the detailed schedule:
- Mon 12/11: 7:45-8:30 a.m.; 2:30-3:15 p.m.
- Tue 12/12: 7:45-8:30 a.m.; 2:30-3:15 p.m.
- Wed 12/13: 7:45-8:30 a.m.; 2:30-3:15 p.m.;
- Family Fun Night 5:15-7:30 p.m.
- Puppet Show (TK-1st) and Magic Show (2nd & 3rd) at 6:30 p.m.
- Thu 12/14: 7:45-8:30 a.m.; 2:30-3:15 p.m.
- Fri 12/15: 7:45-8:30 a.m.; 2:30-3:15 p.m.
Make a Poster for the Book Fair!
We are looking for White Oaks students to make a poster to promote the Book Fair! Participants can choose a book from our gently used collection in the library. Please drop off the posters to the library (or the office if the library is closed) between Nov. 27-Dec. 8. Minimum size is 11” X 17”. Posters must include the following information:
- In-person book fair from Dec 11-15
- Multi-Use Room
- A slogan or message to attract shoppers (this year's theme is "Crack The Case")
- Student’s name and classroom on the back (to receive book prize from Mrs. Gallagher)
The season of giving is upon us!Have you made your plan yet to give this school year? Take advantage of end-of-calendar-year tax deductions.
- Appreciated Stock: A gift of appreciated stock (that you have held for more than 1 year) is better than selling the stock and donating the proceeds
- Workplace Giving: Many employers will match your donation to SCEF and some are offering end-of-year matching at 2:1.
- Donor-Advised Fund: Prefer to donate via Donor-Advised Fund from your Fidelity, BNY Mellon or Schwab Charitable accounts? Click here to start your DAF gift.
Giving in these ways is easy, but the process takes time, so plan your gift today!
We need your auction items! The SCEF Gala & Auction is coming, live and in-person, with Live Auction and Online Auction open to all. Your auction donations help SCEF raise essential funds for our schools. To donate an auction item (wines & spirits, vacation homes, concert tickets, Warriors/49ers/Giants, professional services), please fill out this online auction donation form.
Holiday Shopping– Unique ways to support SCEF while you shop:
- Honey Bear Trees is back this season and offering a 15% SCEF donation for every tree and wreath purchase– don’t forget to mention SCEF. Details on this flyer.
- Sports Basement supports SCEF. Sports Basement has its Basementeer Program that gives back 10% to the charity of your choice. Register and assign SCEF as your charity of choice, and shop year-round. Last year they gave over $10,000 to SCEF!
District News
New Student Priority Registration Opens Jan. 9
New Student Priority Registration for the 2024-25 School Year begins Jan. 9 and closes on Feb. 9.
Families can learn more about their child’s school by attending a TK/K Parent Information Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 31:
- 8:00-8:45 a.m. at Arundel & White Oaks
- 4:00-4:30 p.m. at Brittan Acres & Heather
Visit our How to Register for the 2024-25 School Year page for more information.
It's Time to Enroll Your New TK Student in the TK Extended Learning Program (TKELP) for the 2024-25 School Year!
TKELP is dedicated to enriching our littlest learner's lives after school. We provide a fun, safe and welcoming place for our TK students to spend time each day. Through daily physical activity, Legarza sports, JamaRoo Kids Dance and STEAM enrichment, TKers will explore, invent and discover new ways to create. We provide a developmentally appropriate space with enriching activities where students can thrive. Visit our TKELP website to learn more about our program and meet our staff!
The program is available to TK students at all four elementary schools-- Arundel, Brittan Acres, Heather, and White Oaks-- and students are given priority into the ACE enrichment program in their kindergarten year!
Enrollment for the 2024-2025 School Year is Open! Register here.
Help Shape the Future of San Carlos School District: Take Our School Facilities Improvement Survey
Your input is important to us. Tell us what you think! Take our short survey to share your priorities on the following facility improvements.
Take our short survey to share your priorities on the following facility improvements:
- Providing clean and safe classrooms, and a quality learning environment for all students and staff
- Repairing aging or deteriorating classrooms, restrooms, and leaky roofs
- Improving fire safety, school security systems and accessibility for students with disabilities
- Upgrading infrastructure such as heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical systems, and gas lines
- Updating science, technology, engineering, arts, and math classrooms
- Providing Transitional Kindergarten to all four-year-olds by 2025 — required by new state mandates
Click on the School Facility Improvement Survey to begin!
Community News
Downtown Ideation Workshops Dec. 6 & 9
The City of San Carlos is excited to invite the community to two upcoming workshops to discuss new ideas for the downtown. There will be a virtual and an in-person option:
- Virtual Workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Please register.
- In-person workshop on Saturday, Dec. 9, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at 677 Laurel Street, next to Peet’s Coffee in Downtown San Carlos. Please register.
This next phase of envisioning our downtown will include:
- Public Space Design
- Program Mix
- Circulation & Access
Join us at one or both workshops to share your ideas and priorities to make our downtown more vibrant, welcoming and equitable. We look forward to seeing you there. To learn more about the Downtown Specific Plan project, please visit the project website.
Art Takes a Bus Ride 2023-2024
We invite all San Mateo County students in grades 1-12 to participate in an art competition sponsored by the San Mateo County Transit District and the San Mateo County Office of Education. This year’s theme is Exploring Nature with SamTrans.
SamTrans provides service to parks and nature preserves all over San Mateo County, and we want to reflect these stunning outdoor spaces on their buses. This year’s submissions will celebrate the environment and the great outdoors.
Student work will be judged against others in the same grade, depending on participation. Artwork must be created by students only. See flyers in English and Spanish for more information.
Parent Education Opportunities
NEW! Kelsey Moon, ASAT Program Director, ACS, will discuss What Should You Know? Fentanyl Education and Harm Reduction Strategies. San Mateo County Supt. Nancy Magee will join us for an introduction (Dec. 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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