September 15, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message
- Breakfast/Lunch Menu
- School News: Family Movie Night, Spirit Store, Yoga
- PTA News: Walk-a-Thon
- Community News: Hispanic Heritage Month, United Against Hate
IMPORTANT DATES
Tues, 9/17: Picture Day
Fri, 9/20: Last day to submit Walk-a-thon designs and sponsorship applications
Fri, 10/4: Family Movie Night
Sun, 10/6: Last Day to order from Spirit Store
Sun, 10/20: Walk-a-thon/Family Fun Day
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks Families,
As we gather on campus daily to learn and enjoy some recess moments together, it is inevitable that conflict amongst peers will emerge. At White Oaks, our compassionate and skilled teaching staff address many of these opportunities to grow skills that can be applied to the next situation that may arise. In addition to their expertise, we have Ms. Kim Arasato, our school counselor, and our mental health associate, Michele, help to support our Owls and their families.
Students at every grade level have been attending weekly lessons with the school counselor. Over the past few weeks, we have been using the Kelso's choice program to teach students several positive ways to address small arguments and problems that can naturally occur in both unstructured and classroom settings. Kelso’s Choice is a conflict management curriculum designed for elementary age students that helps students identify which “small problems” can be solved without adult intervention, and offers a wheel of 9 choices to provide easy problem solving steps.
By using this plan, we believe that our students will develop effective problem-solving skills that they can use again and again. It will help them to address conflict in a positive manner and make appropriate decisions. Knowing what to do will help students reduce the stress and number of conflicts they have at school and in their neighborhood. Kelso's Choice is one program we use on campus as part of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) network.
Colorful charts illustrating ways to deal with conflict will be posted at school so all children will know their choices. We encourage you to become familiar with this program and use it in your home. By working together, we can develop healthy life skills for young people to use at home and at school. Families who are interested in more information about Kelso’s choice can explore the online resources for parents and families.
Here are some great ways to connect with the resources offered by our Mental Health Team at White Oaks:
Schedule a Meeting with Ms. Kim Arasato
San Carlos Elementary Counselor's Website
Who is Kim? Who is Michele? Get to know them and their roles.
Warmly,
Leah Scholer, Principal
This Week's Menu
School News
Save The Date - Movie Night 10/4!
Family Movie Night is back! Mark your calendars for Friday, Oct 4 for our family movie night hosted at the White Oaks playground. We'll have food trucks available to make for an easy, fun night for the whole family. Movie will begin at sundown (around 7 p.m.) with food trucks available starting around 5:30 p.m.
Please note that movie night has been moved from Friday 10/4, rather than 9/27 as stated in previous documents. Please subscribe to the White Oaks Google Calendar for the most up-to-date schedule.
Yard Duty Volunteers needed!
This year Legarza is not able to provide as much supervision for lunch time as previous years. Parent support to be Yard Duty Monitors would be greatly appreciated! Help is needed at lunchtime Mon, Tues, Thur, and Fri from 12 p.m. -1 p.m.! Sign up here.
White Oaks Spirit Store - NOW OPEN!
Ready to show your school spirit with White Oaks attire? Now that school is in full swing, it’s time to order the latest White Oaks Spirit Wear! There are new pullover hoodies, tees for the kids, and heathered green tees for the entire family. Show your school spirit and order some stylish White Oaks attire. The online store is open now through Sunday, Oct. 6.
Join us for Yoga!
Give your child a fun way to unwind after school with kids Yoga with Peacebank and Legarza at White Oaks on Mondays from 2:30-3:15 p.m. This is a playful, active, and engaging experience that invites children to connect with their bodies, minds, and peers with curiosity and compassion. Children will explore yoga asanas (poses) and mindfulness practices through movement, stories, songs, games, partner and group activities, and more.
Each class features themes and activities that are designed to present age-appropriate challenges and opportunities to practice facing obstacles and regulating emotions through intentional movement, breathing techniques, grounding exercises, meditation, and more. Children will learn how to develop essential self-care strategies, gain valuable self-awareness, and self-confidence that extends beyond the yoga mat and into everyday life. Classes start 9/23 so hurry and enroll now at legarzasports.org and let your child discover the joy of yoga!
PTA News
Walk-a-Thon Sponsorship! Due September 20
The Walk-a-thon is an annual White Oaks event that offers a fantastic parent-owned business sponsorship opportunity, and we count on our local sponsors to help us meet our goals. The White Oaks PTA's goal is to create a thoroughly enriched experience for the school community by hosting activities and events for students, families, and staff throughout the year. As a corporate sponsor, your company will have prominent placement in our digital channels, including our website, weekly newsletter and social channels. Most importantly, your logo will appear on all Walk-a-Thon T-shirts! Please submit forms by September 20 for inclusion in logo placements!
Walk-a-Thon: Sign Up to Help
Join us for the Walk A Thon on Oct. 20th at 1:00 p.m. We truly can’t pull this off without your help – there’s a job for every family! Please browse the list and sign up for a spot. The shifts are short and a lot of fun!
Calling All Artists for the White Oaks Walk-a-Thon Design Contest - Due Sept. 20
The annual Walk-a-Thon T-shirt design contest is under way and open to all students. Create a simple, one-color line drawing that represents White Oaks and our Walk-a-Thon tradition, and the winning artwork will be featured on this year's T-shirts! To enter, draw your design using a BLACK Sharpie on WHITE paper, then submit your design to the office or via email to [email protected] by Sept. 20!
Please join the PTA!! Did your child come home last week talking about the green wig challenge? As part of our PTA membership drive, if we reach our goal of 85% of families joining the White Oaks PTA, Mrs. Scholer will wear a green wig on the first Wednesday of November! We currently have 50% of families signed up and our goal is to have 100% of White Oaks families participate. The PTA supports Art in Action, materials, family fun events, and so much more! The cost is $10 per parent/$20 per family. Your membership is crucial and no other commitment is necessary, though we will have plenty of opportunities to get more involved throughout the year. Please join here!!
SCEF News
Town 2024 Raffle! Our popular annual Town raffle is back! Win either dinner for 20 in the TOWN Board Room or a 7-night Mexico Beach resort family getaway! The winning ticket will be drawn and announced during the October 6, 2024 event. Only 250 tickets will be sold. More details and to order tickets: https://www.scefkids.org/town-
Why Donate to SCEF? SCEF supports local public schools when state funding is insufficient to meet the needs of students. For the past 40 years, your donations and participation have ensured all San Carlos students can access music and arts programs, library services, electives, mental health services, technology and more. Double your Donation! If your employer matches, determine the best time to donate to leverage the employer’s contribution - https://www.scefkids.org/
Remember to join your school PTA on your school website. See the Many Ways to Give at https://www.scefkids.org/ways-
District News
Join Our Team at SCSD!
We're excited to announce a variety of part-time and full-time opportunities at SCSD, where you can make a difference in the lives of students every day! We are especially in need of a Food Service Worker at Brittan Acres Elementary—a perfect role for anyone passionate about fueling young minds and being part of a vibrant school community.
Looking for something more flexible? We're also seeking Substitutes across various positions, offering you the chance to work on a schedule that fits your lifestyle. Check out the job descriptions and apply today on EdJoin to take the next step in your rewarding career with us!
Food Service Assistants (part-time)
- School Bus Driver/Maintenance Assistant
- Transitional Kindergarten Extended Learning (TKELP) After School Aides (part-time)
- Substitute Teachers and Aides
- Teacher on Special Assignment ELD (part-time)
- Chief Financial Officer
Community News
Let's Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from 9/15-10/15, celebrates the cultures, histories and achievements of people with Hispanic and Latino heritage from regions such as Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain and Central and South America. We are proud to have many families with Hispanic and Latino heritage in our White Oaks school community. Here are some resources to help you and your family learn more about their cultures and have fun along the way!
Get Celebrating! Here are some free local music, dance and crafting events and celebrations:
- Fiestas Patrias - A celebration of many Latin countries and Mexican Independence @RWC 9/15
- Hispanic Heritage inspired crafts @RWC 3:30pm 9/18, 9/25 & 10/2
- Music, Crafting & Poetry events at various SMC libraries throughout the month
Get Walking! Explore SF’s Mission District. There are free Mission Murals walking tours.
Get talking! Spanish is the main language spoken by Hispanic and Latino people. Here are some Spanish language learning resources.
Spotlight: What is the difference between Hispanic and Latino? Watch this video to find out.
Community Foundation of San Carlos United Against Hate Week
This year’s United Against Hate (9/22 - 9/28) initiative is centered on inclusion, specifically anti-bullying. Community Foundation of San Carlos volunteers have pulled together a series of events to address this issue. They have planned time for people to come together to discuss the topic and workshops for our middle school students and parents. We invite you to look over the various offerings and find a topic that interests you.
Join us for Parenting in the Digital Era: Supporting Dialogue & Strategies for Building Healthy Tech Habits. Presented by DigitalTAT2 (live, online webinar) on Thursday, September 26, 2024, 7:00-8:30 p.m. We know that bullying behavior often starts online, so it is imperative we address this issue during our week. We have engaged MyDigitalTAT2, a local leader in providing training for parents on this topic. Register here.
Junior Chef
Join us as we provide junior chefs with the tools necessary to create, cook, and learn. Our curriculum covers nutrition, seasonal cooking, knife skills, the purpose of core ingredients and the cultural aspects of food all while having a blast and making new friends. Every season has new and exciting recipes so sign up if you are seasoned junior chef star or for the first time! https://www.juniorchefstars.
September is Suicide Prevention Month! Ana Paula Garay, LMFT and Mental Health Lead for the Redwood City School District, offers Foro de padres #38 - Prevención del suicidio (en español) (Suicide Prevention) (September 17).
Frank Bruni, bestselling author, NY Times writer, and current Duke professor, joins us to discuss his new book, The Age of Grievance, in the context of teen behavior, family dynamics, and college admission (September 18).
Our first Oprah's Book Club speaker! Lara Love Hardin, author of The Many Lives of Mama Love, shares her parenting journey from shame to redemption, and moving beyond the worst thing we've ever done (September 19).
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information. - Parent Venture Series Events -
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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