February 9, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message
- Breakfast/Lunch Menu
- School News: EZ Meal Application, Bingo Night, Wizard of Oz Pre-Registration
- PTA News: PTA Meeting
- SCEF News: Read-A-Thon Results
- Community News: San Carlos Centennial, Black History Month, ROPES Panelists Needed
IMPORTANT DATES
Wed, 2/12: PTA Meeting
Wed, 2/26: ROPES Panelist Informational Zoom
Thur, 2/27: Heritage Day Zoom info session @ 7:30 p.m.
Fri, 3/7: Bingo Night 6-8 p.m.
Wed, 3/19: Heritage Day 8:25 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks Families,
As partners in your child's educational journey, your involvement and active participation in school activities play a pivotal role in their success. Your engagement not only supports your child's academic growth but also fosters a strong sense of community within the school environment.
As partners in education, your feedback and insights are invaluable to us. We're committed to continuously improving our school community, and your participation in our upcoming survey is crucial in this endeavor.
By sharing your thoughts and experiences, you help us better understand what's working well and where we can make enhancements. Your input will directly inform our decisions and initiatives aimed at creating a more enriching and supportive environment for all students.
Here's why your participation in the survey matters:
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Shape the Future: Your input guides our efforts to enhance various aspects of our school, from academic programs to extracurricular activities, facilities, and parent involvement initiatives.
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Voice Your Concerns: If you have any concerns or suggestions regarding your child's education or the school environment, this survey provides a platform to express them constructively.
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Improve Communication: Your feedback helps us understand how effectively we're communicating with parents and where we can improve in terms of transparency and accessibility.
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Enhance Parental Engagement: By participating in the survey, you demonstrate your commitment to your child's education and the broader school community, setting a positive example for parental involvement.
Your contribution to the survey will remain confidential, and the data collected will be used solely for the purpose of improving our school. We highly encourage you to take a few moments to complete the survey and share your thoughts with us.
Click here for the survey link. If you have multiple children at WO, please complete one survey per family.
Your participation is invaluable, and we sincerely appreciate your time and input. Together, we can continue to make our school a place where every student thrives.
Thank you for your ongoing support,
Leah Scholer
Weekly Menu
School News
Support Our Schools: Complete the EZ Meal Application Today!
Each year, we ask all families to complete the EZ Meal Application, regardless of income. Even if you think you may not qualify, submitting this form can directly benefit your family, school, and community. By completing the application, you help our school secure vital funding from state and federal sources to enhance your child’s learning environment.
Please visit our Free & Reduced-Price Meals | EZ Meal Application webpage for more information.
Lunchtime Playpod Volunteers Needed for Winter and Spring
We're looking for volunteers to help run the Playpod for two shifts on Tuesdays or Thursdays (11:50am-12:20 p.m. and 12:20-12:45 p.m.). Our Playpod is a large container of "loose parts" that learners convert into all kinds of amazing designs-- forts, restaurants, houses, endless ramps and more (learn more here). Parent volunteers will help for 30-minute shifts to set up signs and materials, invite kids to join and play respectfully, responsibly and safely, and clean up a few minutes before the post-lunch recess period ends. Please sign up!
Pre-Registration for White Oaks "Wizard of Oz"
We're excited to announce that in partnership with Mugglebee Theater Company this year's mini musical will be Wizard of Oz! Please complete the Pre-registration Form by Thursday, February 6th if your child (or children) are interested in participating in this year's school musical.
Save the Date for Heritage Day!
Come and share your heritage with our students at our 3rd Annual White Oaks’ Heritage Day on Wednesday, Mar. 19 to celebrate our school’s diversity! Families from TK-3rd Grade are invited to host a table about your heritage and display things like photos, maps, flags, landmarks, food, dress up in traditional clothes/costumes etc. The event is from 8.25am - 12.30 p.m.
Sign up here by Fri, March 1st!
An informational meeting will be held via Zoom on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7.30 p.m. Meeting details to follow soon.
Know any taiko drummers, bagpipers, mariachi bands or other musicians?! We’re hoping to feature some live music this year, if you happen to play an instrument that’s culturally significant, or know someone who does - please drop us an email (contact below).
Contact Barbara Taylor ([email protected]) with any questions and/or if you’re interested in helping organize the event.
Bingo Night
Please SAVE THE DATE of March 7 for the White Oaks BINGO Night from 6-8 p.m.! All White Oaks families are welcome to attend and to play Bingo. There will be Bingo rounds, music, prizes, and pizza will also be provided.
Please RSVP at this link here for pizza headcount.
If you would like to help volunteer to help hand out pizza (you get AYCE as a volunteer!), co-host the event, or if your child has an older sibling no longer at White Oaks who would like to help as an emcee and bingo caller, please sign up here!
PTA News
Our next PTA meeting will be on Wednesday, February 12th, at 6 p.m. in the MU. Come learn about Heritage Day, Bingo Night, SCEF initiatives, the PTA board elections process, and a whole slew of wonderful things happening on our campus!
We hope to see you there!
SCEF News
Read-A-Thon Results
Read-a-Thon results - WOW!!! Our students smashed the 2 million minute goal and set a new San Carlos record - 2,434,216 minutes read!!!!! Visit scefkids.org/read2025 for a full reporting of school participation. Please remind your supporters to fulfill their outstanding pledges - the deadline is Monday, Feb. 10th.
Watch SCEF’s New Video to learn why SCEF continues to raise vital funds which supplement our school’s budgets. Our goal is for every student to have access to important programs such as music, arts, library, electives, school counseling, technology and more. We are grateful for your support of SCEF and strong schools for 40+ years!
New SCEF Real Estate Sponsor Program & Thanks to Christies/Sereno. After many years as our Exclusive Real Estate sponsors, Laura Bertolacci, Bob Bredel, Alana Corso, Joyce Romeo & Tatum Clarke of Christies/Sereno are passing the baton. Bob Bredel started the commitment to San Carlos schools and was later joined by the team at DWELL. Over the years they have contributed nearly $400,000 to SCEF. We will be forever grateful to them all. We are now embarking on a new Real Estate Sponsor program. If you are a realtor and would like more information, please contact Kathy Parmer-Lohan, Executive Director. Sponsorships start at $1,000.
Community News
CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH!
February is Black History Month! Black History Month is a powerful opportunity for families of all backgrounds to learn, celebrate, and honor the rich history, culture, and countless contributions of Black people. It isn’t just about reflecting on the past—it’s about celebrating the resilience, innovation, and joy of Black culture while inspiring our children to build a more inclusive future.
Learn more about the celebration here and you’ll find some information about inspiring and influential African Americans here and on our DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging) Bulletin Board display by the office.
Here you'll find some free resources to help you and your families honor Black History Month including local events, music, crafts etc.
So get ready to tantalize your taste buds with delicious traditional recipes, unleash your inner artist with creative projects, and move to the rhythm of the beats!
Share Your San Carlos Story for the Centennial!
StoryCorps to record an archive of stories about San Carlos as told by community members. Our goal is to honor the City's past, document the present moment, and celebrate the City's future. Want to learn more about Story Corps? Check out their website HERE.
Do you or someone you know have a great story to tell about San Carlos? Click HERE to register or nominate someone you think would be great for an interview. Nominating someone does not obligate them to an interview.
Become a ROPES Panelist and Make a Difference!
The Rite Of Passage ExperienceS (ROPES) is an exciting and optional enrichment program for students in San Carlos. 4th, 6th, and 8th graders embark on self-directed projects that help them build essential 21st-century skills—initiative, inquiry, creativity, communication, cooperation, service, and leadership. At the end of the journey, students present their projects to a panel of community members and earn their ROPES “rope,” which they proudly wear at their 8th-grade graduation.
We need YOU!
We’re looking for passionate parents and community members to join us as panelists for this year’s ROPES presentations. This is your chance to engage with students, celebrate their hard work, and support their growth.
Available Panelist Opportunities:
- Tuesday, March 4 | 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 5 | 3:30-6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, March 6 | 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Training
We’ll be hosting a training session on Zoom for all panelists on Wednesday, February 26 from 7:00-7:45 PM. It’s a great opportunity to get familiar with the process, and if you can’t make it live, the session will be recorded and available on our website.
Ready to get involved?
Sign up today to become a panelist and be part of this unforgettable experience!
For questions, reach out to: [email protected]
Parent Education Opportunities
Mark your calendars for these terrific events coming up in February!
NEW! Amy Love, AI advisor and author of "Raising Entrepreneurs: Preparing Kids for Success in the Age of AI," presents The Spark of Tomorrow: Parenting in the Age of AI (February 12).
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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