February 2, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message
- Breakfast/Lunch Menu
- School News: Global Play Day, Wizard of Oz
- PTA News: Join the PTA Green Team, Wellness Committee
- SCEF News: Read-A-Thon
- Community News: San Carlos Centennial, ROPES Panelists Needed
IMPORTANT DATES
Mon, 2/3: Last Day to Record Read-A-Thon minutes
Wed, 2/5: 100th Day of School and Global Play Day
Wed, 2/26: ROPES Panelist Informational Zoom
Thur, 2/27: Heritage Day Zoom info session @ 7:30 p.m.
Wed, 3/19: Save the Date - Heritage Day
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks Families,
This coming Wednesday, February 5th, is the Global School Play Day! White Oaks has signed up for our fourth annual Play Day and will join hundreds of other schools around the world for a dedicated day for play to raise awareness about the necessity of play.
February 4, 2015 was the first annual Global School Play Day for students in schools around the world. In year one, over 65,000 students participated! Over 177,000 students took part in 2016. In 2017, over 283,000 kids celebrated Global School Play Day. In 2018, over 385,000 students from 58 nations participated. In 2019, just the 5th year of the event, 535,690 from 72 nations played. In 2020, 563,283 students from 75 Nations joined. The goal this year is to have over 1,000,000 kids participate!
Our teachers may ask students to bring in games from home. Please refer to your teacher, as they may prefer to use the games they already have in their classrooms. If your teacher would like students to bring in games from home, the only restrictions we ask: these toys may NOT require batteries or electricity. No devices. Some examples include board games, dolls, Legos, blocks, trucks, cars, racetracks, playing cards, empty cardboard boxes, markers, jigsaw puzzles, blankets (for forts), social games (charades, Pictionary, etc.) The only exception to the electronics rule would be a board game that has an electronic timer, an electronics play kit, or similar.
We, as educators, are very excited about continuing this tradition at White Oaks and joining a movement that we feel aligns with our core values as a district. We hope this is something that strengthens their social skills and eases any anxiety they may be feeling. We can’t wait to play!
It is also going to be the 100th day of school on Wednesday, 2/5,and we are taking this opportunity to celebrate San Carlos turning 100 years old!!! We’ll sing happy birthday to our beautiful city during Welcome Wednesday and honor the centennial as part of our 100th day celebration.
Warmly,
Leah Scholer, Principal
Weekly Menu
School News
Every Day Counts! The Importance of Regular Attendance - Building a Strong Foundation for Success
Did you know that student attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success? Missing just 10% of the school year—about 15 days—can have a significant impact on your child’s performance. By 6th grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a major warning sign for potential high school dropout. Let’s work together to ensure your child attends school regularly!
Consistent attendance is crucial for developing strong reading and math skills, establishing positive habits, and laying the groundwork for future success in college and careers. Missing school not only disrupts academic progress but also affects social and emotional growth. If your child is sick, please contact our school administrative assistant. If you’re facing challenges getting your child to school, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Principal—we’re here to help.
Additional Resources: Explore these helpful tools from Attendance Works, including a Student Success Plan.
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!
Our 3rd Annual White Oaks’ Heritage Day is on Wednesday, Mar. 19! Families from TK-3rd Grade are invited to share their heritage with students from 8.25-12.25 in the MU. Interested in participating? You can learn more at our information session on 2/27 @ 7.30 p.m. More details coming 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 an email to Barbara Taylor ([email protected])
Walk to School Wednesday
Please join us for Walk to School Wednesday on Feb. 5. 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.
PTA News
Calling All Earth-Loving Parents: Join the PTA Green Team
Unleash Your Child's Inner Captain Planet! Our sustainability committee aims to nurture environmental stewardship in our little ones. We're tackling three quests:
1. Operation BYOU: Bring Your Own Utensils and ditch the single-use plastics as part of a "Reuse in Action” initiative
2. Rescue Mission: Divert hard-to-recycle materials from landfills and deploy TerraCycle efforts
3. Earth Day Extravaganza: Celebrate Our Planet in April
Join us and help shape your child's green future! Email Elsa Ng at [email protected] for more info.
Join our new PTA Wellness Committee!
Join the PTA’s new Wellness Committee at White Oaks! We will work to communicate and promote initiatives from the District’s Wellness Council and create and implement our own Wellness projects at White Oaks.
Click here for more information on the Wellness Council.
Please contact Shelley Petrie at [email protected] if you are interested.
SCEF News
Read-A-Thon
The Read-a-Thon was a smashing success! Thank you to everyone who participated. To see your school/child’s results visit www.scefkids.org/read2025. February 3rd is the last day to record your minutes. Check out Read-A-Thon quotes and photos on our website.
Community News
LET'S CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR!
As the Lunar New Year Celebrations are now in full swing, don't forget to check out our Free Lunar New Year Resource list with details of lots of local fun events and activities. You can also learn more about how Lunar New Year is celebrated in different countries here and here.
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 p.m. 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!
The first Parent Forum (English) of 2025 features Eran Magen, PhD, Founder of Parenting for Humans, in How to Give Advice Your Child (Might) Listen To (February 7).
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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