White Oaks Weekly - February 11, 2024 | White Oaks Elementary School

February 11, 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

Principal’s Message: Black History Month
PTA: Measure H
SCEF: Online Auction
District: Intent to Return Forms

IMPORTANT DATES

Thu 2/15: SCEF Online Auction ends
Mon-Fri 2/19-2/23: Midwinter Break, no school
Tue 2/27: Heritage Day Info Zoom, 7 p.m.
Fri 3/1: District Intent to Return Forms due
Fri 3/8: Disco Bingo
Sat 3/9: Healthy Cities Perfect Pairings Benefit
Wed 3/20: White Oaks Heritage Day
Mon-Fri 4/8-4/12: Spring Break, no school

PTA EVENTS

Volunteer: Play Pod

Lunch Menu

Volunteer: Serve Lunch

SCSD 2023-24 Calendar

Principal’s Message

Dear White Oaks families,

During the month of February, we continue to celebrate Lunar New Year and are also excited to celebrate Black History Month and Valentine’s Day. Please continue to read through your communication from teachers as they share important information about events happening in your child’s classroom.

February is Black History Month and a time to celebrate the achievements of Black Americans and recognize their central role in U.S. history. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history. For more on how Black History Month began, click here.

If you’d like to dive a little deeper into Black history with your family, here are some ideas:

Learn a little more about Black scientists such as Katharine Johnson and Mae Jemison.
Are your kids getting ready for baseball season? Watch this read-aloud about Jackie Robinson.
Watch Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem “The Hill We Climb”.
Create a portrait of MLK Jr. or do a directed draw of Rosa Parks.
Consider attending an event celebrating Black history in the Bay Area or a virtual event such as “Joyful Fridays” from the Smithsonian.
Watch Disney/Pixar’s Oscar-winning film “Soul” starring Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey and explore the history of jazz (recommended for older kids).
Prepare a special dinner with your family highlighting traditional cuisines from predominantly Black countries. For inspiration, check out this great list of essential Nigerian recipes from NY Times contributor Yewande Komolafe. Kids can even help pick out a recipe and shop for ingredients!
Visit Parents.com for more ideas and resources.

Warmly,
Leah Scholer
Principal

This Week's Menus

PTA News

SCSD Classroom Repair Measure

March election ballots were mailed last week. Be on the lookout for Measure H, which directly affects San Carlos School District schools. Learn more about the measure here!

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 to May 6 (no rehearsal Apr. 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.

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).

Summer Camps and Teacher Outings Auction is Open NOW

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. Auction ends on Thursday, Feb. 15 with staggered closing times:

Elementary Schools - 9:00 p.m.
Upper Elementary - 9:15 p.m.
Middle Schools & San Carlos Charter - 9:30 p.m.
Summer Camps - 9:45 p.m.

Success of the Read-A-Thon!
Thank you to all for your support of our participants. Our students read over 1.6 million minutes and nearly $200,000. Way to go readers!

Starlight Gala
Tickets are on sale Monday Feb. 12, at 12:01 a.m.! Link will be available here.

District News

Intent to Return Forms for TK-7th Grade Students - Due Mar. 1

Each year, we ask families for assistance in completing an Intent to Return Form regarding your child's enrollment for the 2024-25 school year. Please look for an email to be sent to parents on Monday, Feb. 12 with a link to complete your Google form.

Your timely completion of this form will assist SCSD in having the most accurate numbers for returning students for next year, which is directly tied to the SCSD budget and will allow District staff to plan more effectively. Please fill out one form for each child by Mar. 1.

If your plans change at any time and you are not planning to return next year, please notify your school office as soon as possible. Thank you for your assistance with this important process.

Community News

Join Us for Our 10th Annual Perfect Pairings Benefit for Healthy Cities Tutoring - Mar. 9

TIckets are on sale now! Get them now so you don’t miss out on the event of the year!

Join us at the fun and stylish new event space, The Alexandria at San Carlos, for our annual Perfect Pairings event. Choose from three mouthwatering entrees prepared by the excellent culinary team at The Alexandria at San Carlos, and enjoy while sipping perfectly paired wine and beverages. Bid on exciting auction items, including nearby experiences, restaurant packages, vacation homes, and more! There is something for everyone!

And the best part of all? Your support makes more perfect tutoring pairings possible!

Parent Education Opportunities

In February's Foro de padres #33 (español), Edwin Fernandez, LCSW, One Life Counseling Center, will discuss the stages of child and adolescent development in Comprender las etapas de desarrollo de su hijo (Feb. 13).

NEW! How can we shape the next generation of reflective leaders? Leticia Britos Cavagnaro, PhD, Stanford d.school author and adjunct professor, presents Experiments in Reflection that Connect Generations (Feb. 16).

NEW! Teenagers are natural risk-takers, so how can we keep them safe? We welcome Jess Shatkin, MD, MPH, adolescent psychiatrist, author of Born to Be Wild: Why Teenagers Take Risks, and How We Can Keep Them Safe (Feb. 27).

NEW! How can we help our teenagers develop safe and healthy relationships? We invite you to the third event in Emmy award-winning filmmaker Preeti Mankar Deb's series, MY BODY TO LOVE: Katie's Story (Feb. 29). Please join us!

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!