December 1, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message
- Breakfast/Lunch Menu
- School News: School Priority Registration, Chess Wizards, Hummingbird Piano Class
- PTA News: STEM Fair Volunteers Needed
- Community News: Art Takes a Bus Ride, Parent Education Series
IMPORTANT DATES
Wed, 12/4: STEM Fair
Sat, 12/14: Holiday Store
Thur, 12/19: Minimum Day
Fri, 12/20/2024 - Mon, 1/3/2025: Winter Break
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks Families,
With the upcoming December 20th to January 3rd Winter Break from school, we are grateful to everyone for arranging your travel plans to allow for attendance through Thursday, December 19th (Minimum Day). We will return to school on Monday, January 6th.
Attendance is important for all students!
The average student only misses 3 days of school per year. Absences in excess of 18 days per year, whether excused (sick) or unexcused (travel) are considered chronic absences.
We appreciate everyone’s efforts to avoid taking extra time off before or after the Winter Break. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage regular attendance when school is in session.
Students with a fever cannot attend school; however, students with a slight runny nose and occasional cough may attend. To learn more about when to keep your child at home from school, please click here.
Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn, as well as to connect with their peers and teachers, so it is important that we all stay healthy.
We thank:
● Our students and their families who do their best to show up daily even when it is challenging.
● Our teachers who go above and beyond to make school a welcoming and safe place for all students to learn.
● Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our students need.
● Our district leaders who help us work together to create a physically and emotionally safe and engaging learning environment.
If your child needs support with school attendance, please reach out to your child’s teacher, our school counselor ([email protected]) or me ([email protected]) for help.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep everyone healthy and in school!
Samaritan House Toy Drive
Our third graders are organizing our annual toy drive! We invite you to bring unwrapped toys between now and winter break to the school office.
Warmly,
Leah Scholer, Principal
This Week's Menu
School News
New Student Priority Registration Starts in January!
SCSD New Student Priority Registration for the 2025-26 school year opens January 8 and closes January 31, 2025. Register future students during this window to secure their spot. For detailed information, visit our How to Register for the 2025-26 School Year page. If you have questions, refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or email [email protected].
Note: Current TK-7th grade students do not need to re-register.
For Parents of 4-year-olds:
Transitional Kindergarten is expanding! Children born between September 2, 2020 and September 1, 2021 are eligible to start TK in August 2025. Be sure to register during the Priority Registration period to help us plan for the appropriate number of classrooms.
For Incoming TK/K Families (2025-26):
Attend your school's Parent Information Meeting on January 29, 2025. More details will be available on your school’s website in January.
Order Your White Oaks Yearbook Today!
Order your White Oaks Yearbook TODAY and customize your two FREE pages anytime before the order deadline of 4/30/25.
Yearbooks are distributed the last week of school.
White Oaks passcode: 1016947994291205
Walk to School Wednesday
Please join us for Walk to School Wednesday on Dec. 4. 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.
Chess Wizards at White Oaks Starting in Jan!
Join Chess Wizards this semester for tons of challenging chess lessons, exciting games, and cool prizes. You'll improve your chess skills, and work out your most powerful muscle - your brain! Our classes are geared to suit children of all skill levels; from chessling to checkmate artist, students will build upon their knowledge through lessons, variation games and more! More than just a game of winning and losing, we make learning chess fun! Class meets weekly on Tuesdays from 2:30-3:30pm starting Jan 21. Cost is $341 for 10 classes. Register at www.chesswizards.com.
Piano Class at White Oaks with Hummingbird Music School Starting in Jan!
Does your child want to learn how to play piano, in a fun group environment? Hummingbird Music School's popular after-school Piano Class is now enrolling for Winter Session! Students will learn the fundamentals of piano, including note-reading, hand position, chord vocabulary, and rhythm, in a relaxed and supportive environment that emphasizes fun. Each child is provided with their own keyboard, headphones, and lesson book. Parents can track their children’s progress online through Hummingbird’s partnership with MySkillChart. Class meets weekly on Thursdays from 2:30-3:20 p.m. in Room 5. Cost is $50 per class and is open to K-3.
Read more and register here: https://
PTA News
Volunteers Needed - STEM Fair - 12/4
We are excited that Lawrence Hall of Science will be coming to our school on Wednesday October 17th to host a STEM FESTIVAL! Your student will get to step into the shoes of an engineer as they take on hands-on design challenges through the Build, Engineer and Invent! program. This festival requires LOTS OF PARENT VOLUNTEERS!
Please sign up here for an hour time slot (or more) so we can make this exciting opportunity happen.
Holiday Store - Pick A Project
It's that time of year-- the White Oaks Holiday Store is a cherished tradition and will be open on Saturday, Dec. 14 this year! Mark your calendars!
For those of you new to this event, you take the project home and complete at your leisure. The kit will include all materials, instructions, labels and packaging necessary to assemble. When you are done, just bring back to school at drop off on the MU stage (due back by Dec. 4). Then on the day of the Holiday Store these gifts will be sold to the White Oaks students to give to family and friends for the holidays. Most projects require no crafty abilities and are very easy to put together.
Contact Aurelia Abcouwer at [email protected]
Holiday Store Key Dates:
Nov. 20: Pick A Project at Morning drop off by the MU Dec. 4: Completed projects due back to the MU stage Dec. 14: Holiday Store in the MU 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
SCEF News
Giving Tuesday–Plan your tax-deductible gift today
Giving Tuesday is THIS WEEK, December 3rd. Take advantage of a tax-deductible donation while supporting your child’s education. Join with others in the community to ensure that our schools can offer programs not possible with government funding alone. We can’t do it without you. Check your employer’s Workplace Giving program, as many offer special matches and grants to honor this day. Learn more on the SCEF website.
Honey Bear Trees
Remember to mention SCEF when you shop for a tree or wreath this holiday season. They donate 15% back to our schools. Learn more at https://www.scefkids.org/
Register your Reader!
Early registration for the January SCEF/PTA Read-A-Thon ends December 20th! Register here!
The Read-A-Thon is a free 14-day program (January 16-31, 2024) that celebrates reading while raising funds for San Carlos School District schools. Participation is free and encouraged.
To enter the Read-a-Thon raffle, you must register by December 20th.
We are grateful to Happy Healthy Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, CA Water Services, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Premia Capital/Prince Street Partners, Black Mountain Properties, TOWN, Paris Baguette, Sakura Teppanyaki and Lyngso for their generous sponsorship of the San Carlos Education Foundation fall. To find out more about our business sponsor benefits, visit our website at https://www.scefkids.org/
Community News
SCSD Math Parent!
LEARN MATH STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT K-5 STUDENTS AT HOME
Is your student learning different strategies than you were taught in school? Not sure how to best help your child? Susan Resnick will share common math concepts taught in K-5th grade, including fractions, decimals, multiplication, division, and the bar model.
Monday, Dec 16
6:15-7:00PM K-3rd Grade
7:15-8:00PM 4th -5th Grade
District Office Board Room
1200 Industrial Road Unit 9
San Carlos, CA 94070
- or -
Join us on Zoom
Find more information and sign- up HERE
Parent Education Opportunities
Mark your calendars for these great events coming up in December!
NEW! Eduardo Torres, substance misuse prevention expert and founder of Pathways for Prevention, presents Understanding Addiction: A Community Conversation for Parents, Caregivers, and Educators (December 4)
NEW! Renowned author (Mind in the Making) and developmental educator Ellen Galinsky joins us to discuss her new book, The Breakthrough Years: A New Scientific Framework for Raising Thriving Teens (December 5).
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information.
- Parent Venture Series Events
Art Takes a Bus Ride 2024-25
Students in grades 1-12 - showcase your vibrant and diverse neighborhoods of San Mateo County and how SamTrans brings people together through the Art Takes a Bus Ride student art competition!
This year’s theme is “Connecting our Community with SamTrans.” Highlight local landmarks and everyday moments that illustrate the unity and shared experiences of riding public transportation, connecting everyone in our community. Artwork must be original and created by students only. Learn more (Spanish flyer).
Artwork is Due December 20, 5:00 pm.
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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