September 6, 2026
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message
- Breakfast/Lunch Menu
- School News: AIA, Day of Service, Family Movie Night, Walk-a-thon t-shirt design contest, Preschool space available
- SCEF News: Fall SCEF Events
- PTA News: Walk-a-thon sponsorship opportunities available, PTA Social and Meeting
- Community News: Parcel Tax Committee, Parent Education Opportunities
IMPORTANT DATES
Mon, Sept 7: Labor Day (No School)
Wed, Sept 9: First PTA Social and Meeting 5-7 p.m.
Sat, Sept 19: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Mon, Sept 28 - Mon, Oct 5: SCEF Fall Online Auction
Fri, Oct 2: Family Movie Night
Sun, Oct 4: SCEF Evening at TOWN
Principal’s Message
Dear White Oaks Families,
It was so wonderful to see so many of you at Back to School Night on Wednesday evening. There is something special about having our classrooms and campus filled with families and having the opportunity to connect in person. Thank you for taking the time to meet your child’s teacher and hear about the year ahead.
I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our teachers and staff for the time, thought, and care they put into preparing for the evening. We are so fortunate to have a community that values connection and partnership. We believe that children thrive when families and schools work together. Our shared goal is to provide an education that supports the whole child: academically, socially, emotionally, and in their sense of belonging. I hope you felt that in my principal’s message at Back to School Night. Back to School Principal’s Presentation Deck
As we head into another week, our students are settling into routines, building friendships, and diving more deeply into learning. We are continuing to grow the kind of community we want White Oaks to be: respectful, responsible, and safe. Thank you for supporting at home with this message too!
I hope you can join me on Saturday, 9/19/26 from 9:00-noon for our Day of Service. We have a lot of projects to take care of at school like sprucing up classroom patio outdoor learning spaces and projects in the school yard. It’s a great way to model for our children that we can all do our part to make the school beautiful!
In community,
Rosina Tong
Volunteers-
We appreciate our volunteers and are only able to provide a well rounded education for our children with your help!
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Each year, complete the SCSD Volunteer Form for each school site you plan to volunteer. This is required for ALL volunteers - both during school hours and school sponsored events.
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If you plan on volunteering on site more than three days per month, you must submit a TB clearance form. Please use this guide to help determine your TB Clearance.
School Site Council (SSC)
White Oaks is seeking candidates for one parent/community representative positions on the School Site Council for the 2026-2027 school year. The School Site Council reviews student and school data, discusses priorities and goals, and provides input on plans that support the continued growth and success of all students. No prior experience is required. Council members should be willing to listen, ask thoughtful questions, consider different perspectives, and work collaboratively.
Candidates must submit this self nomination form by Friday, September 11 at 4:00 p.m. Candidate names and statements will be shared with the White Oaks parent/guardian community as part of the election.
The SSC meets about five times per year at 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. We meet on Thursdays: 9/17/26, 10/15/26, 11/12/26, 2/11/27, 4/22/27 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. The term as outlined in the Bylaws is 2 years. Please see the currently approved SSC Bylaws by clicking this link.
Scholarships, Family Assistance & Community Resources
I also want to make sure every family knows about the support available through our Community Liaison, Jenny Salazar. Jenny can help connect families with scholarships, support programs, and valuable community resources. Please visit the Community Liaison & Family Resources Hub and explore the available support programs.
If your family could benefit from assistance during the school year, please complete the confidential White Oaks Elementary Family Support Form.
The Role AI Should—and Should Not—Play in Education
Rebecca Winthrop, PhD, Global Education Leader, Author of The Disengaged Teen
Thursday, September 10, 2026 - 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PT, Virtual Event (Live)
Register: https://rebeccawinthrop2026.
Rebecca Winthrop, PhD, will explore how generative AI is reshaping learning and how parents and educators can help students maximize its benefits while reducing its risks.
Parents/caregivers, educators, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.
School Menus
School News
Join us for Day of Service - 9/19
Let's bring our wonderful community together and help refresh White Oaks for the new school year! Meet us on campus at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 19 to participate in campus beautification projects. The whole family is welcome to come and help! Please consider contributing donations of supplies. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/
Family Movie Night - Fri, Oct 2
Family Movie Night is back! Mark your calendars for Friday, Oct 2 for our family movie night hosted at the White Oaks playground. We'll have food trucks available to make for an easy, fun night for the whole family. Movie will begin at sundown (around 7 p.m.) with food trucks available earlier.
Lando Level-up LEGO Robotics at White Oaks Starting Soon!
Make a hippo yawn, a truck transform, a windmill spin. This session's engineers build machines in levels with LEGO, Technic, and real motors—teachers keep every challenge just right so no one gets stuck or bored. Every class ends with an email home: photos of exactly what your child built that day. Grades 1 to 3. Mondays, 2:35 p.m. - 4:35 p.m. starting September 14. $40 per 2 hour class; Pay Monthly. Unenroll Any Month. https://signup.
Calling All Artists for the White Oaks Walk-a-Thon Design Contest - Due Sept. 21
The annual Walk-a-Thon T-shirt design contest is under way and open to all students. Create a simple, one-color line drawing that represents White Oaks and our Walk-a-Thon tradition, and the winning artwork will be featured on this year's T-shirts! To enter, draw your design using a BLACK Sharpie on WHITE paper, then submit your design to the office or via email to [email protected] by Sept. 21!
Preschool Spaces Available for 2- & 3-Year-Olds!
Looking for a nurturing, engaging preschool program for your 2- or 3-year-old? San Carlos School District’s Early Learning Preschool Program has spaces available now!
Our play-based early learning programs help young children build confidence, friendships, independence, and the foundational skills they need for a successful transition to school.
We offer preschool programs at all four SCSD elementary campuses — Arundel, Brittan Acres, Heather, and White Oaks — with several program options to fit the needs of our families. Attending preschool on an elementary campus is also a wonderful way for children and families to become part of their future school community and start building friendships early.
FREE Preschool May Be Available!
State-funded preschool spaces are currently available at Arundel Elementary School for eligible families. For example, a family of four earning up to $127,338 annually may qualify for FREE preschool — and our team can help you determine your eligibility.
Spaces are limited — learn more and enroll today!
PTA News
PTA Meeting and Social - September 9th
Join us for the first PTA Social and Meeting of the year! Come meet our community of parents and teachers, learn how to about getting involved in the PTA, and stay up to date on White Oaks school happenings.
Wed, Sept 9th (Social Hour 5-6 p.m., Meeting begins 6 p.m.)
RSVP here
Hope to see you all there!
PTA Business Sponsorship Opportunity
With the upcoming Walk-a-thon, family members who own small businesses have the opportunity to register to be a PTA small business sponsor for the 2026-2027 school year. Limited spots remain and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A $1000 business sponsorship includes the following benefits:
--logo on banners that are prominently displayed on campus --logo on the back of Walk-a-thon T-shirts (there are many opportunities for students to wear their T-shirts throughout the school year) --opportunity to set-up a table at the Walk-a-thon to meet and network with families --logo publicized in the school-wide weekly newsletter --marketing opportunities throughout the school year
If you are interested in being a business sponsor, please email whiteoaksfundraisingvp@gmail.
SCEF News
Fall SCEF Events — Have fun while supporting your student!
An Evening at TOWN — tickets on sale Wednesday, Sept. 9th at 12:00 p.m.
Join us on Sunday, October 4th for an evening of dinner, drinks, and a live auction benefiting San Carlos public schools. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 9th at 12:00pm but please note: we have a limited number of tickets available so be ready! The ticket link will be emailed at 12:00pm on Sept 9th, and shared on the TOWN event page. Get yours before they sell out!
Will you be the Lucky Winner? The SCEF Fall Raffle is Here!
Open to all — purchase raffle tickets and support your student! You could win a Dinner for 20 in the Boardroom at Town, a Bianchini’s Shopping Spree, or a gift card to TOWN or Alpine Inn. Drawing will be held at the TOWN Dinner on 10/4/2026. Winners need not be present to win. While your purchase is not tax-deductible it does “count” toward your total giving to SCEF.
Fall Online Auction — everyone can bid!
Mark your calendar: the Fall Online Auction opens September 28th. Support your school while bidding on experiences, getaways, dining and shopping packages, gift cards to local businesses, and more! Learn more at www.scefkids.org/events.
Community News
Join the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee!
Looking for a way to get involved and support our schools? San Carlos School District is seeking one community member to serve on the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee for the October 2026–December 2028 term.
The committee reviews how Measure N parcel tax funds are spent and helps ensure taxpayer dollars are used as approved by San Carlos voters.
Who can apply? Applicants must be 18+, live within SCSD boundaries, and not be an employee or vendor of the District.
Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on September 21, 2026.
Review Committee Information and Apply Here.
Parent Education Opportunities
Join us as we kick off 2026-27 with exciting new events!
What are the promises and perils of AI? In The Role AI Should—and Should Not—Play in Education, global education expert Rebecca Winthrop, PhD, will explore how generative AI is reshaping learning for our kids (September 10).
What should parents know? Join us for an important presentation by Jeremy Latta, MSW, San Mateo Country Children & Family Services, Your Role in Disrupting Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (September 17).
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information.
- Parent Venture Series Events
