Principal's Message
September 14, 2020
Week-at-a-Glance
Given the fact that our students are participating in distance learning, they are spending an inordinate amount of time in front of a screen. Screen time has always worried me, and even more so now. I know our kids enjoy playing video games, social media and television and very often choose to spend their free time taking part in these activities. This year, it is even more important for us to stay vigilant about digital citizenship, screen time and online etiquette.
Common Sense Media is a great tool that teaches students how to use their digital devices in productive ways that set limits and help develop positive habits. Students are now using technology in a variety of ways to support critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. You may see your children authoring ebooks, creating their own movies to communicate a point of view, drafting essays using Google Docs, researching science and social studies topics, and collaborating during project-based learning units - just to highlight a few of the productive ways students are using technology during distance learning. Along the way we hope theat they are learning how to search safely, protect privacy, give proper credit to authors, share workload responsibilities, and model kindness and caring in all communications – on and offline.
Given the fact that our kids are going to be spending so much time in front of a screen, I want to share a few guidelines you may want to draw from as you consider how technology functions in your family:
- Get involved: Engage with your child and find out what he/she enjoys online.
- Set an example: Model positive behavior about when, where and how it is acceptable to be “on” a device. Check out this 45 second video about taming device time.
- Make dinner time device free.
- Set clear limits: Together, create a schedule that shows when media will be used and how screen time fits into the larger picture of the day or week. Institute a “device bedtime” so that devices are put away in advance of your child’s bedtime. Ensure that devices are used and charged in public areas, not in children’s bedrooms. Create a Family Media Plan.
Already, our children are learning to leverage technology to fuel learning in exciting ways. Together, we can help them take the next steps to becoming powerful digital citizens!
Tom Domer
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Electives
Thank you all for your patience while we worked out our elective class offerings. For those families that did not get assigned an elective, we have added two new elective classes. 1) Leadership. 2) Computer Science. The goal is to have these classes up and running as soon as possible.
We will be sending out course descriptions and a sign up sheet early this week. Please keep a lookout for that email.
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More Ideas for Yearbook Pictures:
This year we are working with Herff Jones eshare site so that families can submit photos directly. The code is mustangs21 (all lower case)
http://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=mustangs21
Parents can also download the Herff Jones eshare app from the app store for android and iphone. This allows you to upload photos directly from your phone.
In addition, we would like photos from the first day of Kindergarten along with photos from this year. AND photos of students' "mask style" - Pictures of them in masks that they made, or that match their outfit or fit their personality, etc.
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Picture Day
SEPTEMBER 15TH IS "NO CONTACT" PICTURE DAY!
We have set up a schedule for students to come to school where we can still practice social distancing. Masks will be required when on campus. We ask that you follow the below schedule to help us maintain our Covid-19 requirements. If you have a problem with your scheduled time, please let Vickie know, so she can fit you in another slot.
Last Name Time
- A - B 8:30 - 9:00
- C - D 9:00 - 9:30
- E - G 9:30 - 10:15
- H - J 10:15 - 10:45
- K - LE 10:45 - 11:15
- LI - M 11:30 - 12:00
- N - PO 12:45 - 1:15
- PR - SA 1:15 - 1:45
- SC - TH 1:45 - 2:15
- TI - Z 2:15 - 2:45
School District
Wildfire Safety Resources from our School Counselors
Natural Disasters: Helping Kids During Crisis
- Try and keep routines as normal as possible. Kids gain security from the predictability of routine, including attending school.
- Limit exposure to television and the news.
- Be honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle.
- Listen to kids’ fears and concerns.
- Reassure kids that the world is a good place to be, but that there are people who do bad things.
- Parents and adults need to first deal with and assess their own responses to crisis and stress.
- Rebuild and reaffirm attachments and relationships.
CDC: Stay Safe During a Wildfire
Parent Education Event: The Anti-Racist Parent with Victor Rios, Phd. - September 15th
We are proud to be partnering with the Parent Venture Series, an extension of the Parent Education Series, to bring high-quality, engaging speakers and programs to our community. This year, all events will be online and free!
The next event in the series will take place next Tuesday, September 15, 2020 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm featuring Victor Rios, PhD, discussing The Anti-Racist Parent: Engaging Youth Through an Equity and Justice Framework. Click here for information and tickets: https://victorrios2020sequoia.eventbrite.com
(A Zoom link will be provided upon registration.)
Soon you will be able to subscribe to the Parent Venture Series newsletters, and we will also post all events on the SCSD website. In the meantime, check out the links above to learn about upcoming events.
PTA
Joining Together for Student Success!
The Central Arroyo PTA and the San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF) invite you to be a part of TeamKid, a joint fundraising campaign to support our schools. By giving to our school's PTA and SCEF, you are helping to bridge the gap between CA state funding and the educational excellence our students deserve.
Your one-time PTA donation of $125 per student or $250 per family this Fall directly benefits Central and Arroyo schools and students by providing: Teacher stipends, Principal funds, Critical cleaning supplies, Art in Action, Garden, Student assemblies, 8th grade graduation, Parent education, Disability awareness and support, Student supplies, Healthy Cities tutoring and much, much more!!
Our goal is 100% participation and we are grateful for your generous donations large and small! TeamKid suggested donations are $125 per student to PTA, and $1,500 per student to SCEF. Join TeamKid HERE.
PTA Meeting - Wednesday September 16th at 7pm - Special Topic Art in Action
- When: September 16, 2020 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
- Register in advance for this meeting:
- https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kf--orzMjH90AAcb-2QAJikRZUZCXyq8U
- After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Special Topic - Art in Action:
Margaret Sena, Ph.D., is a parent at Arroyo and part of a working group of volunteers who are planning how to deliver the Art in Action program via distance learning to students at Arroyo and in Grade 6 at Central this year. She will provide an overview of the benefits of the program, details about how parent docents will teach lessons and provide supplies to students, and update the audience about how they can help or be involved.
Volunteer Opportunities
Communications Director, CMS
Oversight role that drives content for PTA messaging. Mediums include Social Media, Website, Newsletter. Please contact David Pollack if you are interested.
School Directory
Volunteers are urgently needed to help compile and publish a school family directory. For this and other volunteer opportunities check out the Volunteer Section of the PTA site. https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/417855016044/false#/invitation
Yearbook Lead Needed!!
Please consider leading our class yearbook reps in creating a keepsake of this unique year, if we don’t have a yearbook lead, our kids won’t be receiving yearbooks this year. Please Sign up today!
Book Fair - Save the Date!
Save the Date for the Virtual Book fair planned for October 2nd - October 9th
SCEF
Join the Team Kid Movement!
This Fall, more than ever, our great San Carlos Schools need us. This past summer, SCEF and school PTA leaders decided to collaborate to raise much-needed support for our students. Working together, we can create the best experience possible for our eager students and outstanding teachers. The TeamKid campaign is a result of this cooperation.
Through your two-fold commitment to SCEF and PTA, you’ll be supporting the local-level funding that bridges the gap between the needs of San Carlos Schools, and our CA state funding*. Your school will benefit from your contribution to PTA as a donor, member, and advocate. As always, your school will continue to have important programs and people funded by the grant from SCEF.
The goal is 100% participation, so please donate at whatever level is possible for you. Join TeamKid by making your PTA donation this fall and planning your SCEF donation for a date that works best for your family.
*Click here for a short video to learn more about how San Carlos schools are funded.
Community Partners
Healthy Cities Tutoring - Become a Tutor! Orientation and Training 9/15/20
Join our community of volunteers who range in age from 14-96 and provide one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to students for 30-45 minutes per week to improve their academic performance, engagement in learning, and self-esteem. This year with distance learning we are seeking volunteers willing to be trained in tutoring a student remotely once a week. We expect the need to grow this year and hope you or someone you know will get involved in this rewarding volunteer experience.
If you are interested in learning more, please mark your calendar for our annual new tutor orientation & training which will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, September 15. There are two identical sessions, 10:00-11:00 am OR 7:00-8:00 pm. Please RSVP via the links to attend whichever time is most convenient for you.
For more information to become a Healthy Cities tutor, visit healthycitiestutoring.org and click VOLUNTEER to complete the online application or email [email protected].
Healthy Cities Tutoring is recruiting volunteers – Reach a child. Touch a Family. Build a community.
National Grandparents Day - September 13th
The Museum of San Carlos History is excited to discover your Grandparents’ stories about growing up and living in San Carlos.
For this fun history project, “Grandparents” can also be your “Grand-neighbor”, a “Grand-Aunt”, a Grand-Uncle” or a “Grand-friend of the family.”
Please spend some time with this “Grand” person asking questions about their cherished memories of San Carlos in the 30s/40s/50s//60s/70s/80s.
- What did they do on the weekend with their friends?
- Where was the “cool” hangout?
- What made their neighborhood special?
- What are their fond recollections of school?
- What questions about interesting San Carlos topics will you ask?!?!
Please send a recap of that conversation via email to the Museum of San Carlos History. Submissions can include a short video, a written essay, a slide show of photographs, a PowerPoint deck…be as creative as you want. While there really are no “rules”, we do ask that videos not include images of children under 18 years old. Also, videos should be under 5 minutes in length. Submit multiple videos about different topics, if necessary.
Please submit your story of San Carlos history throughout the month of September. The Villagers, the docents of the Museum, will enjoy watching and reading all submissions. The Villagers will determine an interesting and appropriate way to incorporate these stories into the Museum’s history displays.
Happy Grandparents Day! Looking forward to more GRAND stories of San Carlos history! Have fun!
San Carlos Park & Rec Virtual Paint Night - September 19th
Gather your family or bring a friend and join us for a Virtual Family Paint Night from the comfort of your home from 4:00-5:30 pm. Our Instructor will guide you through all the creative steps and techniques necessary to develop a unique, colorful painting. Art kits sponsored by the Parks & Rec Foundation are available for pickup at the Youth Center. Open to ages 6+, fee: $35/per person.
For more information email [email protected] and to register, visit: cityofsancarlos.org/register.
Proposition 15 - Schools & Community First
The San Carlos School District unanimously approved a resolution in support of Prop 15 Schools and Communities First on the ballot in November. The District would receive an estimated $1,896,397 and the City of San Carlos $4,112,000 in additional funding if the initiative passes. According to the measure's sponsors, The California Schools & Local Communities Funding Act would raise an estimated $12 billion annually statewide for schools and local communities including $830 million for San Mateo County. For details, go to the California PTA's website.
High School Happenings
Sequoia High School
Carlmont High School
Design Tech High School