February 4, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message: Play Day
- PTA: PTA Meeting, Heritage Day
- SCEF: Auction, Camps, & Warriors Game
- District: ROPES
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks families,
This coming Wednesday, Feb. 7 is Global School Play Day! White Oaks has signed up for our third annual Play Day and will join hundreds of other schools around the world for a dedicated day for play to raise awareness about the necessity of play.
Feb. 4, 2015 was the first annual Global School Play Day for students in schools around the world. In year one, over 65,000 students participated! Over 177,000 students took part in 2016. In 2017, over 283,000 kids celebrated Global School Play Day. In 2018, over 385,000 students from 58 nations participated. In 2019, just the 5th year of the event, 535,690 from 72 nations played. In 2020, 563,283 students from 75 Nations joined. The goal this year is to have over 1,000,000 kids participate!
In his TEDx lecture, Dr. Peter Gray argues the case that today's kids do not grow up playing enough and this has negatively impacted them in many ways. It's time we return the gift of play to this generation. Since the pandemic hit it is more important than ever to allow our students to experience a day of play.
Our teachers may ask students to bring in games from home. Please refer to your teacher, as they may prefer to use the games they already have in their classrooms. If your teacher would like students to bring in games from home, the only restrictions we ask: these toys may NOT require batteries or electricity. Some examples include board games, dolls, Legos, blocks, trucks, cars, racetracks, playing cards, empty cardboard boxes, markers, jigsaw puzzles, blankets (for forts), and social games (charades, Pictionary). The only exception to the electronics rule would be a board game that has an electronic timer, an electronics play kit, or similar. Here are photos of past GSPD events.
We as educators are very excited about continuing this tradition at White Oaks and joining a movement that we feel aligns with our core values as a district. We hope this is something that strengthens their social skills and eases any anxiety they may be feeling. We can’t wait to play!
Warmly,
Leah Scholer
Principal
This Week's Menus
PTA News
Register for the White Oaks Musical, Frozen!
Registration for the White Oaks Mini Musical is open -- Disney's Frozen Kids! We're excited to announce that in partnership with Mugglebee Theater Company, this year's mini musical will be Disney's Frozen KIDS! Over 9 classes students will rehearse songs, scenes, and musical routines as well as create and design props and set pieces -- all in preparation for 2 performances.
Rehearsals will be Mondays from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the MU from Mar. 4 - May 6 (no rehearsal 4/8). Performances will be May 6 at 5:30 p.m. (for families) and May 7 during school hours (for students and staff). Cost is $370 per student and students can bring a check the first day of class or drop off a check in the school office. Registration is open through Feb. 19 to K-3rd graders.
If you have any questions, please email Caroline Gorham. If you are in the Family Support Program and would like to participate, please email Mrs. Scholer.
Join Us For the February PTA Meeting Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. (MU & Zoom)
We welcome all White Oaks parents and educators to join us for the PTA meeting on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. We will hold this meeting in person in the MU AND on Zoom. Come to hear updates on upcoming events and programs at White Oaks.
Walk to School Wednesday This Week
Please join us for Walk to School Wednesday, Feb. 7. Charms will be given to students who walk, roll, ride, or scoot to school! Walk to School Wednesday takes place the first Wednesday of every month.
White Oaks Yearbook: Final Order and Customize Two FREE pages
This is the last chance to order your 2023-2024 White Oaks yearbook! Yearbooks will be distributed the last week of school and there will NOT be extra copies for purchase in the White Oaks office. Order your copy TODAY! If you're not sure if you already ordered, contact Taylor Simon.
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). Customize your two FREE pages before Apr. 18. The two custom pages are free and printed ONLY in your book. Have multiple children? You can create two pages in each yearbook.
White Oaks Heritage Day
Please save the date for White Oaks Heritage Day on Wednesday, Mar. 20. Families are invited to come celebrate the diversity of our school by sharing their heritage with students from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the MU. Sign up here by Mar. 8!
An informational meeting will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. (Meeting ID: 822 6476 7250 Passcode: 805451).
Read-A-Thon Success!
Thank you to all for your support of our participants. Our learners read a ton, had fun and supported their school. We will announce totals next week.
Call for 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.
Summer Camps and Teacher Outings Auction Open Feb. 8
A favorite way to include your child in our fundraising partnership with our educators and local summer programs. Check out the fantastically creative offerings for this year.
Attend a Golden State Warriors Game!
Mar. 20 at 7:00 p.m. is SCEF Night at the Warriors against the Grizzlies. For tickets and Kids Anthem VIP Experience, click here. There are no Ticketmaster fees!
District News
The Rite Of Passage ExperienceS (ROPES) program is an optional enrichment activity for students in SCSD. 4th, 6th, and 8th graders choose a self-directed project that incorporates the 21st-century learning skills of initiative, inquiry, creativity, communication, cooperation, and leadership. The students present their projects to a panel of community members to receive their rope, to be worn at 8th grade graduation.
We're searching for parents, staff and members of the community to become panelists for ROPES presentations Mar. 26, 27, and 28. Join us and become a member of our panelist group today!
Select one or more days/times to volunteer in person:
- Tuesday, Mar. 26 4:00-6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Mar. 27 2:30-5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Mar. 28 6:00-8:30 p.m.
The training session for all new and seasoned panelists will be Wednesday, Mar. 13 from 7:00-7:45 p.m. on Zoom. The training will be recorded and available on our website. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Community News
Parent Education Opportunities
How can you help your kids make connections? Phyllis Fagell, licensed clinical counselor and author Middle School Superpowers, presents Super Belonging: Helping Kids Connect and Find Their Place in the Pack (Feb. 6).
We're proud to join a consortium of Silicon Valley nonprofits to launch the all-new Neurodiversity Speaker Series. The series begins with Barbara Pape, EdM, in A Strength-Based Approach to Learner Variability and Neurodiversity (Feb. 7).
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information.
PTA CORNER
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