December 8, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message
- Breakfast/Lunch Menu
- School News: School Priority Registration, Chess Wizards, Hummingbird Piano Class
- PTA News: PTA Appreciation for Book Fair
- SCEF News: Read-A-Thon
- Community News: Art Takes a Bus Ride, Parent Education Series
IMPORTANT DATES
Sat, 12/14: Holiday Store
Mon, 12/16: SCSD Math Parent Night
Thur, 12/19: Minimum Day
Fri, 12/20/2024 - Mon, 1/3/2025: Winter Break
Wed, 1/1 - Fri 1/31: SCSD New Student Priority Registration
Thur, 1/16- Fri 1/31: SCEF Read-A-Thon
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks Families,
Happy December! We only have 9 more school days left in 2024! Thank you for all of your support in making this school year a great one!
As a TK-3 school, our primary focus is teaching students how to read. We do this by using a variety of strategies during Reader’s Workshops in our classrooms everyday. "6 Elementary Reading Strategies” by Emelina Minero researched best practices in literacy instruction to arrive at a list of strategies that develop strong reading skills and confidence for all students. Please click here to read the full article.
Parents, guardians or extended family members can work on many of these same strategies at home. Here are some of the ways that you can read with your child:
Choral Reading: Practice reading a book aloud with your child at the same time. This will help your child to improve reading fluency and expand vocabulary.
Partner Reading: Take turns reading a text aloud. This allows you to model good reading fluency and have your child practice this skill.
Ear Reading (Audiobooks): Listen to audiobooks either in the car or right before bed. Listening to audiobooks allows children to practice higher-level comprehension skills and expand vocabulary. This is especially beneficial for students with dyslexia.
Choice in Reading: Visit the local library to allow children to choose books that interest them. This leads to higher engagement in books. Books also make great gifts!
Comprehension Questions: Pre-read your child’s book and then ask your child questions about the books he/she is reading. Please click here to access “Parent Leveled Questions” that you can ask based on your child’s reading level.
Reading together is one way to help your child find the joy in reading.
If you have any specific questions on how you can help your child with his/her reading, please reach out to me or his/her classroom teacher.
Installing a lifelong love for reading is an important goal for our students here at Brittan Acres and we encourage all families to read together over the winter break.
Lost and Found
Our lost and found cabinet is overflowing. Please stop by and look through the items. Anything left after December 19th will be donated to a local charity. If possible, please label jackets and sweatshirts with your child’s name so that they can find their way back to you.
Leah Scholer
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.
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 2:30-3:30 p.m. 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
PTA Appreciation for Book Fair!
A huge thank you for an amazing Book Fair & Family Fun Night! The PTA appreciates all the hard work from our Book Fair Committee: J Erinn Steinbery, Tiffany Day, Maria Voigts, and Mingming Li for this incredible event. Also, special thanks for our librarian Mrs. Gallagher for working with the team, and all of the parent volunteers who came to help out. We couldn't do it without you all!
Holiday Store 12/14 - Day of Volunteers Needed!
We are so excited for the Annual Holiday Store just around the corner. It's a fabulous event that lets our students shop for affordable handmade and packaged gifts for family and friends, but we can't pull it off without YOUR help!
Follow the link below to sign up for a volunteer slot. We need cashiers, gift wrappers, label makers, and floaters refilling the gifts, so find a time and an activity that works for you.
The Holiday store is on 12/14 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Aurelia Abcouwer ([email protected]). THANK YOU!
SCEF News
The Read-A-Thon is around the corner! Remember to register early to be eligible for the Read-A-Thon Raffle. Early registration for the January 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.
Sports Basement is hosting a week-long shopping event in support of SCEF. Visit their Redwood City store for a special SCEF discount from December 5-15th. Take 11% off most items, and Basementeers can receive a total of 20% discount on their purchase. Click HERE for the flyer for in-store shopping and coupon codes for online sales.
Music is in the Air! Your donations make a difference! SCEF grants help ensure students have access to music programs, TK-8th grade. This month, children in 6th-8th grade band and orchestra will hold their winter concerts. and elementary school students have the opportunity to participate in the Music for Minors program. San Carlos is known for its strong music education program. We’re proud to support these programs which educate the whole-child. Your donations make programs like this possible for students.
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
6:15-7:00 p.m. K-3rd Grade
7:15-8:00 p.m. 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
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 p.m.
Parent Education Opportunities
Mark your calendars for these great events coming up in December!
In this month's Foro de padres #41 (español), Michelle Remond, educator, immigrant, and RCSD Community Liaison, offers Las fiestas de diciembre y el dolor de ser migrante (December 10).
NEW! Isabelle Hau, Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, presents Artificial Intelligence and The Future of Learning: 5 Things Parents and Educators Should Know About AI (December 11).
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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