April 21, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message: Math in Focus
- PTA: 2024/25 Board, School Dance, Stanford Baseball Game, Garden Project
- SCEF: Revel @ Devil's and Raffle
- Community News
IMPORTANT DATES
Fri 4/26: Spring Dance in MU, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (volunteers needed!)
Sat 5/4: SCEF Revel @ Devil's Community Dance Party
Wed 5/8: Founders' Day Celebration, 6:30 p.m.
Sat 5/11: School Garden Phase 2, 9:00 a.m.
Sun 5/12: Stanford Baseball Game, 1:05 p.m.
Mon 5/27: Memorial Day, no school
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks Families,
We know that parents, more than ever, are deeply involved in math support with their children at home in distance learning. To help with the home-school partnership, I wanted to share some information on our math program here at White Oaks.
Why Math in Focus?
Math in Focus uses a mastery-based approach to support learning and reflects the key shifts of the Common Core Standards:
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Focus: Students engage in deep work across grade level learning goals to build a strong foundation. In K-2, instruction focuses on concepts, skills, and problem solving using addition and subtraction. In Grades 3-5, students develop concepts, skills, and problem solving using multiplication, division and fractions.
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Rigor: Challenging, engaging work helps students become powerful mathematical thinkers who can use numbers flexibly and accurately as they apply mathematical ideas to show understanding. Students learn to prove paths of thinking, justifying their solutions verbally and in writing.
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Coherence: Topics and ideas are linked across grades, building understanding to support mastery. At each step, lessons progress from concrete-pictorial-abstract. Hands-on experiences and modeling are emphasized to build rich understanding.
It’s Beyond the Book!
Math in Focus is one powerful tool in a broad toolbox of instructional materials and strategies that our teachers use to support student progress and engagement. Math is present throughout the learning day, as direct lessons and also in integrated ways during project-based learning.Teachers are well equipped with a toolbox of math instructional tools, with Math in Focus as our main curriculum, supplemented with teacher facilitated instruction including calendar math, math games, number talks, as well as digital programs such as Reflex Math and hands-on math games. No one curriculum can meet the wonderful range of interests, skills, and opportunities that our students bring to the classroom each day. Our teachers draw from experience and a wide set of tools to personalize instruction to meet students’ needs. We encourage and celebrate these decision-making moments as an essential part of our commitment to a child-centered education.
Additional Resources for Parents:
Sincerely,
Leah Scholer
Principal
This Week's Menus
PTA News
Nominations for the 2024/25 PTA Board
Thank you for a successful PTA social. We are very excited to present next year's proposed board. Please review and we will vote at next month's PTA meeting.
All-Star School Dance on Friday, Apr. 26
Lace up your dancing shoes and throw on your favorite athlete’s jersey– our school dance is coming up! Stop by the MU on Friday, Apr. 26, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. to show off your moves and celebrate your favorite athletes as we look forward to the Summer Olympics. We’ll have music, games, and snacks. Parents, please RSVP here. Due to capacity restrictions, attendance is limited to current White Oaks students and one adult per family. We also need help with setup, cleanup, and running the event– take a look and sign up for a volunteer shift!
Come Join Us Founders’ Day Wednesday, May 8
Founders’ Day is Wednesday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. Please join us in celebrating this year's award recipients. This event is a time-honored tradition at White Oaks where we recognize those volunteers and staff members who have given countless hours to our school community. We are thrilled to announce this year's honorees: Minji Enemark, Julie Epley, Amy Kim, Andrea Roberts, and Sara Ting.
Our special event will take place inside the White Oaks MU and will feature entertainment from the White Oaks cast of Frozen. Please join us as we recognize the contributions of our award winners. RSVP here, and email Jennie Romeo if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!
White Oaks Stanford Baseball Day
Hey White Oaks Parents, get ready for an extra-special Mother's Day treat– a fun-filled day out with the family at the Stanford Baseball game against Arizona State!
- Date: May 12 (Mother's Day!)
- Time: 1:05 p.m.
- Location: Stanford Stadium
What better way to celebrate Mom than with a day at the ballpark? You can secure your seats by purchasing tickets here. You'll not only snag a special discount but also be seated alongside other White Oaks families!
San Carlos Education Foundation News
Revel at Devil’s–Join us for the annual SCEF Community Dance Party!
Get your tickets now before the price increases! Join with other San Carlos school parents for a fun night out. Food trucks and dancing to the tunes of the Love Handles. Saturday, May 4th at 7pm. Buy your tickets today!
Revel Raffle
Will you be the winner this time? The last SCEF raffle of the year features a chance to win: a 7-night Mexico Beach Resort Family Getaway, a Bianchini's $1,500 Gift Card, dinner at Chez Panisse for 4, or a diamond necklace from Geoffrey's valued at $3,850. Winner's Choice! Learn more at https://www.scefkids.org/
District News
It's Time to Complete Your Annual Back-To-School InfoSnap Forms ASAP
Each spring, we ask families with students in TK-7th grade to complete their annual Back-To-School student information forms through PowerSchool online. This allows families to update/add emergency contact information, give permissions, update health records (allergy or medical considerations), and is required to secure your spot for the next school year.
In March, you should have received an email titled (2024-25) Back-To-School Form Instructions from noreplyregistration@
PowerSchool had some difficulty with the rollout of the forms, so please reach out to your school or [email protected] if you did not receive your email. If you need assistance on how to complete the form, please see this video for assistance on how to access your back-to-school forms. We genuinely appreciate your cooperation in this essential process.
If your plans have changed and you no longer intend to return for the next academic year, please notify your school office ASAP.
Community News
San Mateo County Needs Your Input
San Mateo County is currently working to survey community members about local services such as the public library and to hear what’s needed and desired. The survey is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese and takes approximately ten minutes to complete.
Kamparama Summer Camp Registration
Kamparama Summer Camp registration is now open. We will have lots of fun daily arts and crafts, games, and sports, as well as magicians, Happy Birds, a game truck, the Bubble Lady, a balloon guy, and fun weekly field trips! We serve lunch four days a week and offer a stay-back option during all field trips. All are welcome! Register at kamparama.com.
Soccer Tryouts for San Carlos United
San Carlos United Soccer Club will be holding tryouts for the fall season for girls and boys born 2007 through 2016.
- Born 2011-2016: Week of May 6
- Born 2007-2010: Week of May 20
Players born in 2017 may try out for the 2016 teams.
If interested, please register on the San Carlos United website and a manager from the team will reach out to coordinate. We look forward to seeing you at the San Carlos United tryouts!
Parent Education Opportunities
What do your teens want out of life? How will they leave their mark? Kendall Cotton Bronk, PhD, a professor of Psychology at Claremont Graduate University, presents Helping Young People Lead Lives of Purpose (April 24).
How can you keep your kids safe online? Join Sameer Hinduja, PhD, a cyberbullying and safe social media expert, for Cyberbullying Prevention: Navigating the Intersection of AI, Social Media, and Digital Ethics (April 25).
Chronic loneliness and social isolation are a growing public health crisis. We’re honored to host Jeremy Nobel, MD, PhD, bestselling author of Project UnLonely: Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection (April 26).
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information.
PTA CORNER
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A percentage of your purchases will automatically be donated to the White Oaks PTA — at no cost to you!
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