February 1, 2026
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message
- Breakfast/Lunch Menu
- School News: Global School Play Day
- PTA News: Save the Date for Heritage Day
- SCEF News: SCEF Gala
- Community News: Parenting after AI community engagement speaker, Parent Education Opportunities
IMPORTANT DATES
Wed, Feb 4: Global School Play Day
Mon, Feb 16-Fri, Feb 20: Mid-Winter Break - No School
Wed, March 18: Heritage Day
Mon, March 23 - Mon, March 30: SCEF Online Auction
Fri, March 27: SCEF Gala at Domenico Winery
Principal’s Message
Looking ahead, building habits, expectations. Mid-winter break.
Dear White Oaks Families,
Thank you for reading about the five items in this week’s Principal’s Message:
-
2026-2027 School Calendar
-
Traffic Safety and parking
-
Global School Play Day
-
100th Day of School, Lunar New Year Assembly and Black History Month
-
School Counselor Appreciation Week
1. Next school year’s calendar for 2026-2027 is available here.
Attendance is key to student learning. Please plan appointments and family vacations according to the school holidays.
2. Traffic Safety and Parking
We know that drop-off time can get hectic, especially when the clock is ticking and parking is limited. Still, we ask everyone to take a deep breath, slow down, and give yourselves a few extra minutes to arrive and find parking safely. When we plan ahead, we not only ease our own stress but also help our children walk into school feeling centered and ready to learn.
As a reminder, please do not park in our neighbors’ driveways or park in the white zone on White Oak Way. Find a parking spot outside of the white zone if you want to come onto campus. These simple acts of courtesy show respect for our community and help keep our students safe.
When we model patience, respect, and preparedness, we’re showing our children what it looks like to begin each day with intention and care. Together, we can make mornings smoother for everyone. Thanks for your help!
3. Global School Play Day - February 4, 2026
During Global School Play Day, participants are encouraged to allow students ample time for free play. The idea is to let children explore their creativity, problem-solving skills, and social interactions in an unstructured and spontaneous environment. Teachers will incorporate the spirit of this day in their classrooms. See more information here.
4. 100th Day of School, Black History Month, and the Lunar New Year Assembly - Wednesday, February 4
Students will be celebrating the milestone of the 100th day of school! We’ll also bring in the Lunar Year of the Horse at 11:15AM with a Lion Dance in the school yard. Come join the celebration! We are excited to celebrate Black History Month in February. Please see the rich information below.
5. School Counselor Appreciation Week
This week, we proudly celebrate our school counselor, who helps make White Oaks a safe, supportive, and joyful place for every UTK–3rd grade student.
Our school counselor specializes in child development, learning strategies, and social-emotional growth. Through a comprehensive counseling program, she provides prevention lessons, early intervention, and responsive support that help students grow both academically and emotionally. From learning how to manage big feelings to building friendships and problem-solving skills, our counselor plays an essential role in helping our youngest learners thrive.
School Counselor’s Corner
Ms. Vivian Garlick, our School Counselor, wears many hats including:
-
Supporting students on the playground using Kelso’s Choice conflict-resolution strategies
-
Hosting a weekly Lunch Bunch group, where students practice emotional regulation through yoga and mindfulness
-
Consulting with teachers and families to support academic growth, social-emotional development, and transitions — including preparing students for the move to upper elementary
-
Facilitating small-group counseling, focused on topics such as:
-
self-awareness and emotion regulation
-
problem-solving skills
-
social and communication development
(Parent permission and teacher approval are required.)
-
-
Providing short-term individual counseling for students as needed
-
Supporting school-wide initiatives, including Kindness Week and end-of-year transitions
-
Connecting families with outside resources and referrals when additional support is needed
Through her compassion, expertise, and calm presence, Ms. Garlick helps our students feel seen, heard, and supported.
Contact Information
Parents and caregivers are always welcome to connect with Ms. Garlick:
Vivian Garlick, MS, PPSC, NBSC
School Counselor — White Oaks Elementary School
Booking link: vgarlick.youcanbook.me
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 650-508-7317
On campus: Thursday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thank you, Ms. Garlick, for nurturing hearts, guiding growth, and helping our student shine, one conversation, one breath, and one kind moment at a time.
In community,
Rosina Tong
Principal
Weekly Menu
School News
Author Kate Messner comes to White Oaks!
Author Kate Messner is coming to present to our 2nd and 3rd grade classes on February 5. She will be discussing her brand new graphic novel, Camp Monster. The deadline to purchase with personalization has passed, but copies are available to ALL students for purchase. Please see the flyer for purchase information.
To purchase use the following link: https://thereadingbug.
PTA News
Save the Date for Heritage Day!
White Oaks Annual Heritage Day returns Wednesday, March 18. From 8:25 a.m. –12:25 p.m., TK–3rd grade families will transform the MU into a kid-first, culture-packed experience. Curious? Info session 2/25 at 7:30 p.m. More details coming soon! Just save the date!
SCEF News
Thanks to everyone who participated in the the Read-a-Thon!
Save these dates. SCEF Gala and Online Auction is next month:
- Online Auction March 23-30
- Gala at Domenico Winery, Friday March 27th–Shhh—we have a surprise new theme this year!
Leadership Circle early purchase begins February 11, 2026 - General Admission purchase begins February 25, 2026
Seeking Auction Donations for Spring Online Auction
The SCEF Gala & Auction is around the corner. Our auction team is beginning to solicit items which SCEF uses to raise essential funds for our schools. This year we are seeking Valkyries, 49ers, Warriors and Giants tickets, vacation homes, fine wines and spirits, shopping and dining experiences, concert tickets, get-aways and gift cards to local businesses.
If you have access to these or other items that you think folks would be interested in, please complete this form or reach out to Susan Matsushima at [email protected]
Community News
Join Carlmont's PTSA for Parenting after AI - Aces Every Standard
Working in conjunction with the Carlmont PTSA, Carlmont is pleased to welcome speaker/educator/
Tuesday, February 3
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Carlmont Performing Arts Center
1400 Alameda de las Pulgas in Belmont
Three years ago, ChatGPT thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. Today, AI recently beat all human teams at the International Collegiate Programming Competition (including Harvard and MIT), can write better than most people, and can create videos that are hard to distinguish from reality. The traditional parenting playbook is obsolete. What then, should parents do? The speaker travels to 100+ cities per year, learning, observing, and sharing novel strategies with diverse audiences. He draws from experience as the former national coach of the USA Math Olympiad team, as a Carnegie Mellon professor, and a social entrepreneur who hires directly from the current job market. He is also a parent himself, facing this uncertain world with 3 kids.
Website: https://poshenloh.com
Wall Street Journal coverage of his tour.
Parent Education Opportunities
Mark your calendars for these informative events coming up in February!
In our first NDES event in Spanish, Silvia Llorente, bilingual learning specialist from Ravenswood City School District, presents Navegando la neurodiversidad y las diferencias de aprendizaje en la escuela (February 4).
Eran Magen, PhD, founder of Parenting for Humans, offers the first Parent Forum (English) of 2026, How to Give Advice Your Child (Might) Listen To. Don't miss this popular workshop! (February 6).
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!
FOLLOW
@WHITE OAKS
Follow us on Facebook for up-to-date info on events and issues.