Principal's Message
March 11th
Ms. Shelton and I shared this article with our teachers about the changing pubescent brain. It focuses on boys but it really applies to all tweens and teens. Teachers have been referencing it all week. It is really worth your time to read.
What our teachers have referenced is the way our students’ brains transform from a child’s brain to an adult’s brain during puberty. We know that there is incredible brain growth in infancy, but there is also a spurt of growth during puberty. Neuroscientist call this brain remodelling.
During adolescence, the function of our brains actually change. Children are hardwired to play, explore, learn and grow. The make-believe world figures large in a child’s brain. The purpose of ‘play’ is to set the stage for higher level thinking skills such as motivation, focus, problem solving and getting along with others. Having said that, children are wholly incapable of taking care of themselves.
The brain development changes in puberty to learn how to function independently. Recently there has been a great deal of research on the adolescent brain. What we have learned is that while the brain remodelling is happening, our brain is actually changing in size. There is a lot going on in our kids’ heads.
What resonated with me in the article above was the idea that these growth spurts are uneven causing emotional dysregulation. For those of us who spend a lot of time around adolescence, it is essential to understand the emotional roller-coaster we witness on a regular basis. If we know what is going on with brain remodeling, we will know better how to address the everyday issues that arise with our middle schoolers. For more information, check out this Ted Talk.
I mentioned that I was going to write about the Compass Advantage this week. Because our staff has been discussing the article above, I thought I should write about it. I will include the Compass Advantage next week.
Tom Domer
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High School Registration Time.
It is the time of year for our 8th grade students to begin planning for high school. Please keep your eyes open for important information about high school registration. Scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter for additional information.
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Ability Awareness week is March 18-22nd. Please click the link below to see the wonderful activities we have planned.
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We have had requests from future Sequoia High School students to purchase Sequoia gear (sweatshirts, T-shirt’s, etc) and for more information. On Monday, March 11 right after school, student volunteers from Sequoia will be selling gear in front of Central and they will be available to answer questions Central students may have about Sequoia
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Open house
Central’s Open House is scheduled for Wednesday May 29th. We will also have a minimum day on Friday May 31st. Please plan accordingly.
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Lunchtime volunteers:
Thanks so much to those parents who have volunteered to help supervise during lunch. It's great to have extra adult eyes on campus and we've heard a lot of feedback from them about how much they enjoy seeing what goes on during lunch. If you'd like to volunteer to come in (you're welcome to come just once or as often as you'd like), please sign up. Fall trimester sign-ups can be found here. Winter trimester sign-ups can be found here. We'll send out a new list for spring in 2019.
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Photography Workshop
Senior Notre Dame High School student, Lily Wolfe will be holding a FREE photography workshop for 7th and 8th graders on Tuesday, March 12th in the innovation lab at Notre Dame Belmont from 3pm-4pm. RSVP by emailing [email protected] limited spots are available!
Mustang Roundup
Parent Ed: Preventing Drug and Alcohol Use
Join the professionals from Being Adept, along with their teen panelists on March 12 from 6:30-8:30pm at the SCSD District Office to learn the latest research-based practices for preventing drug and alcohol use among teenagers and young adults. There will be an opportunity for Q &A and interactive role play to help the adults understand how best to incorporate fruitful discussion with your family about this important safety topic. This free event is funded by our SCSD PTA Coordinating Council with support from the Sequoia Healthcare District and SCEF. RSVP: http://evite.me/cyW9TzAwyu
5th Grade Basketball Begins in March
Boys and Girls at Mariposa, SCCLC, and Arroyo are welcome to join us for our 5th basketball season this spring. Girls and boys will be placed onto even teams that will compete against other local 5th grade teams. This is a semi-competitive program aimed to introduce students to school sports and develop students into better basketball players. Score and rankings will be kept, but only to assist with the players' development.
The school athletics program is managed by Legarza, who conducts the tryouts, trains and staffs all the coaches, and coordinates all gym space and referees for the season. My role is to provide communication between SCSD and the athletic directors.
Use this link to register: https://www.scsdsports.org/scsd-registration-1
All players must read the Concussion Information and fill out an Athletic Clearance Form that requires a doctor's authorization every 16 months.
Tryouts:
- Girls: March 27, 2:00-2:45pm & March 28, 4:15-5:00pm
- Boys: March 27, 2:45-3:30pm & March 28, 3:30-4:15pm
Practices: 1-2 times per week and games will be 1-2 times per week. All events will take place between school letting out and 7pm Monday-Thursday. We try to schedule as much as possible right after school lets out, but cannot accommodate all teams all the time.
Season: The season will run for approximately six weeks with 6-8 games played between Mariposa/SCC and Arroyo, in addition to other local 5th grade teams.
Please contact Minday Hill at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Spring Enrichment Registration Opens on March 15
KidzToPros and SMART-E are excited to announce that enrollment for the Spring enrichment session will open for registration on March 15. Many of the same offerings will be available, along with a couple of new opportunities. For more information visit KidzToPros at https://www.kidztopros.com.
SCSD Athletics
Please use the DISTRICT LINK https://www.scsdsports.org for information on SCSD Athletics. Call 415-334-3333 or email [email protected] with any questions.
SCEF
Thank You from our Starlight Gala Team!
A BIG thank you to the attendees, donors and volunteers for making the SCEF Starlight Gala such a special evening. The children of San Carlos appreciate YOUR investment in their education.
Teacher Auctions
Did you miss out on grabbing a spot for your child to go on their teacher’s outing?
The POST EVENT "auction" site has over 300 spots in 85 outings still available!
All spots are for sale at Fixed, Buy-it-Now prices.
Check them out at:
Community Partners
2020 San Carlos Chickens' Ball
What is the San Carlos Chickens’ Ball?
It is a fundraiser for San Carlos Schools, a community builder, and it’s a show with a rousing opener, skits, entr'actes, and a dazzling finale! The melodrama skits and the variety skits must be based on a nugget of history in the time of the San Francisco Barbary Coast (1890 to 1918). Turn of the Century theatrics, sets, and costumes add mightily to the entertainment! Fanciful entr'actes interpret contemporary works! Since 1940, everyone has been invited to, “Come play with us in the Chickens’ Ball!”
- www.chickensball.org
- Facebook: sancarloschickens’ball
- [email protected]
Want to be involved? Email [email protected] School liasons, musicians, actors, singers, dancers, extras, set and costume designers, set builders and painters, those who sew, stage crew, etc. ALL are welcome. Come join the fun and the unique San Carlos time honored tradition!
Thursday Evening Parent Support Group
Every week at Heather Elementary School Library from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. This week starts a new topic-- conflict. We will explore conflict between parent and child; conflict that our children have with others; and familial conflict. The group is free to parents in the San Carlos School District. Please join our community of parents helping each with other!
To RSVP go to this link and purchase your free ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parent-support-group-san-carlos-school-district-tickets-53717537601
High School Happenings
Sequoia High School
Open House
Thursday, March 28, 2019 -7:00-8:30 PM
Open to Current and Prospective Students
Sequoia Day/Sequoia Stampede
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (9:00 AM)
Freshman Welcome Night
Wednesday, April 25 @ MPR 6:30-8:30 PM
Also, for more information about Sequoia and all of our programs, please visit our website at http://www.sequoiahs.org/index.html
Carlmont High School
Attached please find the October Carlmont Corner & a detailed flyer about Shadowing at Carlmont. Shadow registration will be available through our website beginning on October 8th.
http://www.carlmonths.org/Parents/8th-Grade-Transition/index.html
INFORMATION
• Carlmont High School website: http://carlmonths.org/
• Sequoia Union High School District website: http://www.seq.org/
MIDDLE SCHOOL LIAISONS
• Central, Charter, & Tierra Linda: Chris Cook [email protected]
• Nesbit, Ralston & Non-Feeder: Carol Castro [email protected]
• For non-feeder school ONLY: email [email protected] to join mailing list
Summit/Everest High School
For more information go to summitps.org
Design Tech High School
http://www.designtechhighschool.org/