November 1, 2026
IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message
- Breakfast/Lunch Menu
- School News: AIA, Author Visit, STEM Festival, Afterschool Basketball and Soccer Programs
- SCEF News: Learn more about SCEF, Candy Buy Back
- PTA News: Join the PTA
- Community News: Measure K Parcel Tax Information, Parent Education Opportunities
IMPORTANT DATES
Mon, Nov 2-Thur, Nov 5: SCEF Candy Buy Back
Tues, Nov 4: Author Visit - Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Tues, Nov 3: Election Day
Wed, Nov 11: Veterans' Day (No School)
Wed, Nov, 18: Lawrence Hall of Science STEM Festival
Principal’s Message
The White Oaks Staff love celebrating Halloween with our community!
Many thanks to our parents who provided an in kind donation of soccer goals for our field.
Dear White Oaks Families,
Happy November! I hope you had a fun and festive Halloween! A heartfelt thank-you to all of our teachers, staff, and caregivers for helping make the holiday such a joyful and safe celebration for everyone. As we return to our regular routines, please help your children enjoy their Halloween candy at home rather than bringing it to school. This helps us keep our focus on learning and supports students in feeling their best throughout the school day.
We have completed 51 days of joyful learning at White Oaks! Our students and teachers continue to do wonderful work in the classrooms, and it is a joy to see so much learning, growth, and connection happening each day.
November is a busy month filled with meaningful learning experiences, assessments, and report cards. Amid all the activity, let's remember the importance of taking care of ourselves and one another. Encourage your children to pause, check in with their bodies, hearts, and minds, and practice a few calming breaths when they need them. These little moments help us feel grounded and ready to learn.
Wishing everyone a wonderful November filled with learning and gratitude!
In community,
Rosina Tong
Principal
School Menus
School News
Additional Volunteers Needed for Art in Action!
We need help from YOU in the classroom for Art in Action! We are in need of additional Class Coordinators, Docents and Helpers for our scheduled classroom art lessons to continue.
If you have not already done so, please visit aia.whiteoakspta.org to sign up to volunteer. Training and support is available and no experience is needed!
-Questions? Talk to your child’s teacher or contact the AIA team (Judy, Sandy and Shelley.) Thank you for your partnership in making this a year of creativity and learning through art!
Chess Class Winter Session at White Oaks Starting in January!
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. from Jan 19-Apr 6. Cost is $374. Read more and register at www.chesswizards.com
Author Visit with Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Author Maggie Tokuda-Hall will be visiting White Oaks on November 4th to talk about her new book Bathtime for Snow Monkeys. Order signed copies and support our local San Carlos bookstore, The Reading Bug! Your purchase helps makes this event possible for our students! All orders must be placed by October 26th.
Order Here.
Volunteers Needed - STEM Fair - 11/18
We are excited that Lawrence Hall of Science will be coming to our school on Wednesday November 18th to host a STEM FESTIVAL! Your student will get to step into the shoes of an engineer as they take on hands-on design challenges through the Build, Engineer and Invent! program. This festival requires LOTS OF PARENT VOLUNTEERS!
Please sign up here for an hour time slot (or more) so we can make this exciting opportunity happen.
Afterschool Basketball - Winter Session Starting November 12th
Join the best youth athletics community in the Bay Area! Our Thursday afterschool basketball program at White Oaks Elementary welcomes K-3rd grade students of all skill levels for an active, enjoyable experience on the courts. Students will build fundamental basketball skills including shooting, dribbling, passing, rebounding, and defense, all while learning the values of teamwork and sportsmanship. Whether your child is picking up a basketball for the first time or looking to sharpen their game, our program offers the perfect environment to grow, stay active, and have fun.
Runs Nov 12-Jan 21 and cost is $360. Register here
Afterschool Soccer - Winter Session Starting November 30th
Join the best youth athletics community in the Bay Area! Our Monday afterschool soccer program at White Oaks Elementary Field welcomes K-3rd grade students of all skill levels for a fun, active experience on the field. Students will build fundamental soccer skills including shooting, dribbling, passing, controlling, and defense, all while learning the values of teamwork and sportsmanship. Whether your child is new to the sport or looking to refine their skills, our program offers the perfect environment to grow, stay active, and have fun. Runs Nov 30-Feb 22 and cost is $360.
Register here
PTA News
Become a PTA Member
Join the PTA! Support our students and strengthen our school community by joining the PTA for just $11/year! Scan the QR code to sign up in minutes.
Your membership helps support PTA programs, resources, advocacy, and opportunities for students and families at the local, state, and national levels.
No volunteering required—simply joining makes a difference!
Thank you for supporting White Oaks Elementary and our PTA!
SCEF News
16th Annual Halloween Candy Buy-Back!
Did your little goblins haul in more candy than they can handle? Turn those extra treats into a sweet win for SCEF by dropping candy off at your school’s front office Nov 2–5. It all goes to Operation Gratitude and gets sent to our troops. Last year, you helped collect over 1,200 lbs of candy. Let’s top it this year!
Huge thanks to Dr. Mike Chang, Dr. Urmi Amin, and Dr. Nancy Kaher, who are donating $1 to SCEF for every pound collected.
Meet Your SCEF School Representatives
Our dedicated school reps at White Oaks Elementary help connect SCEF with families and staff at each San Carlos school. They share updates, encourage participation, and make sure every school’s voice is heard. Paige Sanks and Anny Tsay are your White Oaks SCEF Reps this year. If you need to reach them, email [email protected].
Community News
Measure K Parcel Tax Information
Local Funding. Local Schools. Our San Carlos Community.
🗳️ Election Day is Tuesday, November 3!
As Election Day approaches, San Carlos School District wants to ensure our community has the information needed to understand Measure K, the local school parcel tax measure on the November 3 ballot.
Did you know? State funding alone does not cover the full cost of the educational programs and services provided across our eight TK–8 schools.
Locally controlled funding plays an important role in supporting nearly 3,000 SCSD students by helping fund:
- Teachers and classroom instruction
- Core academic programs
- Student support services
- Enrichment and educational opportunities
What is Measure K?
Measure K would renew the District's existing parcel tax for eight years, providing locally controlled funding to support approximately 24 teaching positions and educational programs. Parcel Taxes = People + Programs
We encourage all San Carlos residents to learn more about Measure K and how local funding supports our schools before Election Day.
Get the facts about Measure K: https://tinyurl.com/
Election Day: November 3, 2026
Parent Education Opportunities
Mark your calendars for terrific events coming up this fall!
Stanford professor Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, founder and director of REACH Lab, presents Risks, Facts, and What’s New: Opioids and Opioid-Like Substances (Fentanyl, Cychlorphine, Kratom/7-OH) (November 3).
NEW! The Neurodiversity Education Series welcomes Christina Cipriano, PhD, professor of education at UMass Amherst, for Building Belonging: Social-Emotional Learning and Learning Differences (November 4).
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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