December 10, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message: Book Fair & Reading Strategies
- PTA and SCEF: Volunteer at the Book Fair, Read-a-Thon, SCEF Nights at Warriors
- 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,
Happy December! We only have 9 more school days left in 2023! Thank you for all of your support in making this school year a great one! Also a big thank you to all of our parent volunteers and the WO PTA for organizing and running our Holiday Store last weekend. It was such a great feeling to see these students empowered to purchase gifts that they can give to their loved ones.
It is timely that we will be having our annual Book Fair this week in the MU! Be sure to join us Wednesday evening for a Family Fun night with a puppet show for our TK-1 grade students and a magician for our 2nd and 3rd grade students. Details will be sent in a blast on Monday.
As a TK-3 school, our primary focus is teaching students how to read. We do this by using a variety of strategies during Reader’s Workshops in our classrooms everyday. "6 Elementary Reading Strategies” by Emelina Minero, researched best practices in literacy instruction to arrive at a list of strategies that develop strong reading skills and confidence for all students. Please click here to read the full article.
Parents, guardians or extended family members can work on many of these same strategies at home. Here are some of the ways that you can read with your child:
- Choral Reading: Practice reading a book aloud with your child at the same time. This will help your child to improve reading fluency and expand vocabulary.
- Partner Reading: Take turns reading a text aloud. This allows you to model good reading fluency and have your child practice this skill.
- Ear Reading (Audiobooks): Listen to audiobooks either in the car or right before bed. Listening to audiobooks allows children to practice higher-level comprehension skills and expand vocabulary. This is especially beneficial for students with dyslexia.
- Choice in Reading: Visit the local library to allow children to choose books that interest them. This leads to higher engagement in books. Books also make great gifts!
- Comprehension Questions: Pre-read your child’s book and then ask your child questions about the books he/she is reading. Please click here to access Parent Leveled Questions that you can ask based on your child’s reading level.
Reading together is one way to help your child find the joy in reading. If you have any specific questions on how you can help your child with his/her reading, please reach out to me or his/her classroom teacher.
Instilling a lifelong love for reading is an important goal for our students here at White Oaks and we encourage all families to read together over the winter break.
Lost and Found
Our lost and found cabinet is overflowing. Please stop by and look through the items. Anything left after Dec. 20 will be donated to a local charity. If possible, please label jackets and sweatshirts with your child’s name so that they can find their way back to you.
Warmly,
Leah Scholer
Principal
This Week's Menus
PTA News
PTA Appreciation
Our annual Holiday Store was a great success! The PTA is grateful to all the WO parent and alumni volunteers who helped assemble gifts, set up and take down the event, work shifts and help students with shopping to continue this beloved White Oaks tradition. Special thanks to Sara Ting for leading this year and to the Holiday Store Committee: Aurelia Abcouwer, Andrea Mardesich, Shaohua Zhou, Rana Mroue, Jenny Chang, Elaine Nagashima and Carla Boggs. We also appreciate Mrs. Martin & Ms. Arai's classes for the amazing handmade gifts!
Book E-Fair and Gift Card Purchase
This year, we bring another option for you to help raise money for our library-- the Online Book Fair! You can shop online with an expanded catalog of books. You will also be able to buy gift cards to make in person checkout easier or send them as teacher gifts.
Urgent Need: Lunch Volunteers
Please sign up to help with serving hot lunch! Students love seeing their parents on campus, and it’s an easy way 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.
Music is in the Air!
Donations to SCEF help support music at all grade levels. December is the month when our 5th-8th grade bands and orchestras hold their winter concerts. Elementary school students will participate in the Music for Minors program this year. San Carlos is known for its strong music education and we are proud to support these programs which educate the whole-child.
Honey Bear Trees is offering a 15% SCEF donation for every tree and wreath purchased–don’t forget to mention SCEF. Details on this flyer.
PTA Read-A-Thon is coming-- Sign up early to win Warriors tickets, gift cards, & prizes
Register here by Dec. 22 to win prizes including Warriors tickets & gift cards. Then, from Jan. 17-31, students win prizes for registering and reading and sending pledge requests. If every student received $100 in pledges and donations, we would raise over $260,000 for our PTAs! Sign up here.
Ways to ways to donate before year-end
Check out our website for more information and the many ways to give.
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.
SCEF Nights at the Warriors
Buy game tickets with no Ticketmaster fees! And, check out the Kid VIP Experiences-- High Five the Players & Anthem Buddies.
- Dec. 28 Miami Heat
- Jan. 30 Philadelphia 76ers
- Mar. 20 Memphis Grizzlies
District News
New Student Priority Registration Opens Jan. 9
New Student Priority Registration
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.
Community News
San Carlos-Belmont After School's Winter Holiday Programs are Open for Registration
San Carlos-Belmont After School's Holiday Programs are now open for registration! Sign up here.
- Our school holiday programs are open to all students.
- Lunch is served daily and included in our enrollment price.
- There will be fun, winter-themed activities!
- There are lots of fun things to do or just chill with experienced, credentialed, and caring staff at each site.
Week 1 - Fri, Dec. 22, resuming on Wed, Dec. 27-29 | 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Week 2 - Tue, Jan. 2-Fri, Jan. 5 | 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
All are welcome! Email or go to our website for more information.
FREE Kids Tickets for Stanford Men's Basketball - Dec. 17
Stanford Men's Basketball is in need of some future Stanford Students to come on cheer on the Cardinal on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m.! With Stanford Students being off campus for winter closure, this is your chance to cheer from the Stanford 6th Man section!
Stanford men's basketball is taking on Idaho and Bay Area families can claim four free youth tickets with the purchase of a paid adult ticket in the Stanford student section. Claim your free tickets.
Hummingbird Music School - Classes Starting in January
Does your child want to learn how to play piano, in a fun group environment? Hummingbird Music School's super popular after-school piano class runs 2:30-3:20 p.m. on Thursdays in the Makerspace. Classes begin in Jan.! Read more and register here.
Junior Chef - New Classes Start In January
Junior Chef Stars is where math, science, reading, and art mix with kids. We’ve been stirring up success since 2002 with this winning recipe. We encourage you to explore new worlds of flavor by painting your plates with imaginative and original recipes. You will learn proper cutting techniques, measurements, how to use different cooking utensils while making new friends and having a blast. Each week we will focus on a different recipe, and you get to take some home to try your delicious creation! So, secure your spot and register today!
Parent Education Opportunities
In this month's Parent Forum (English), Eran Magen, PhD, founder, Parenting for Humans, presents How to Become Your Child's Favorite Conversation Partner (Dec. 15). Perfect for the holiday break!
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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