Principal's Message
November 4, 2019
In a few weeks we will be beginning our quest classes. Students have already signed up for their quest class and we have begun to make schedules. Please take a moment to speak to your child about sticking with the quest class he or she chose. We get a great many students asking to change classes after we have made the schedules in order to be with their friends. We spend a lot of time trying to get students into the quest classes they want so we can’t go back and change schedules after the fact.
As many of you are aware, we also use our quest time to teach our Social Emotional Curriculum (SEL) called Second Step. Every year, I like to review why we do this. We continue to focus on SEL curriculum because we know that it works. Building on and practicing skills throughout the middle school years helps students become better able to use them. As in the lessons taught in previous years, Second Step program focuses on skills that will help your student succeed in school and in life. These skills include empathy, communication, goal setting, relationship building and more. Please ask your child what he or she learned in Second Step - you might be surprised.
One of our main focuses every year is on relationship building. We know that schools are defined by the relationships between students and the adults at school, but in addition, research suggests that students perform better in school when they feel valued. The reason for this is that students feel “intellectually safe” when they have strong relationships at school. They are more likely to take risks and try new things. They are also more likely to fail and try again until they get it right, learning along the way. We call this “failing forward.” Our SEL curriculum will help us build and maintain positive relationships at school, but we do not plan on stopping there, we have several activities planned throughout the year to help us create a strong, caring community at CMS. This is why we help a Halloween field day and invited parents to join us. I will be highlighting some of our upcoming events and asking for parent participation as things come up.
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1st Semester Grades:
- 11/15 - End of the 1st Trimester
- 11/22 - Last day before break
- 11/27 - Grades are due
- 12/6 - Grades will be sent home
Tom Domer
Principal
School District News
7th/8th Grade Basketball Tryouts - Nov 4 and 5
SCSD's 7th/8th Grade Boys' & Girls' Basketball season is starting soon. Visit SCSD Winter Sports to fill out an interest form and complete your Athletic Clearance Form.
In order to adequately staff the tryouts and minimize the need for refunds, we ask that all players submit an interest form by clicking on the REGISTER button for your student's grade. No payment will be taken until after tryouts. The league schedule will be released on November 14th and the season runs November 18 thru January 24.
TRYOUTS
Monday, Nov 4 | @Tierra Linda
7th Grade | 5:15 - 6:15 PM
8th Grade | 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Tuesday, Nov 5 | @Central
7th Grade | 4:00 - 5:00 PM
8th Grade | 5:15 - 6:15 PM
New Student Registration - November 1
The San Carlos School District will be opening the first window of registration for any NEW students enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year, on November 1, 2019. This registration window is open until February 28, 2020 and parents may register at anytime during this period.
New Student Registration is for all incoming Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten and any student in grades 1st through 8th that will be new to the District (currently enrolled students do not need to complete this process).
Visit our website for more information - https://tinyurl.com/SCSD-Enrollment
Parcel Tax Community Engagement Meeting - Nov 14
We want to hear from YOU. Please join us for a Parcel Tax Community Engagement Meeting on Thursday, Nov 14 at 7:00 pm the District Office. Learn more about what our parcel tax supports, what happens if we do not renew it and weigh in with your thoughts. We want to hear from our community!
Preschool & Kindergarten Parent Information Night - November 18
Have an incoming Kindergartener? Looking for a great preschool? Join us for our Preschool & Kindergarten Parent Information Night on Monday, November 18 from 6:30-8:00pm in Mustang Hall. Info Night is designed to provide parents and guardians with information about the San Carlos School District and its programs.
Highlights:
- How to Register for School
- Overview of our District, Schools, Preschool, Kindergarten & Transitional Kindergarten programs
- Meet the Elementary School Principals
- Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) Overview
- San Carlos Education Foundation Overview
- Resources Booths for Parents - Afterschool Programs, Healthy Cities Tutoring, Sequoia Health Care District
Visit our website for more information - https://tinyurl.com/SCSD-Enrollment
Please Note - this is a Parent Only event
New Parent Ed Series Begins This Week
- Check out the latest events and resources added to our Parent Education offerings.
- RSVP to join a new 6-week course called "The Nurtured Heart Approach" with our own school psychologist, Matt Steinborn. RSVP
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.
PTA News
Thank you for Your Support!
Thank you to all of the CMS/Arroyo families who donated to the PTA this fall to help us reach our fundraising goal. Your donations help continue PTA funded programs such as Art in Action, Staff Appreciation, Library Funds to purchase books, Garden, Day of Service, and Teacher Grants, 8th Grade Graduation Activities and so much more! We are incredibly grateful for your support!
PTA Reflections Contest 2019-20: Look Within
Don't ignore your inner artist! It's time to start working on your Reflections project for this year's PTA Reflections theme, Look Within. Enter your artwork and reflect about its meaning to you in one of six categories:
- Dance Choreography
- Film Production
- Literature
- Music Composition
- Photography
- Visual Arts
All entries will be recognized for their artistic achievement--participation itself is a meaningful contribution to the Central community! First-place finishers in each category enter the district competition. District winners move on to the state level, and winners ultimately compete at the national level. Click here to review the Official Rules on the PTA Reflections page of the Central website.
Due on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 to Ms. Gamez in the office.
SCEF
SCEF Day Wednesday Nov 6th - Support Strong San Carlos Schools
SCEF is off to a strong start this school year with robust event participation, solid individual donations and early matches through workplace giving. Your generosity last year enabled SCSD to reinstate library hours and allowed SCEF to increase support of other programs. Help celebrate SCEF Day on Wednesday, November 6 and continue the tradition of supporting our schools. Wear green and DONATE at SCEFkids.org!
Candy Buy-Back - Nov 1st-6th
Drop off excess Halloween Candy at your school office November 1st-6th. $1 per pound of wrapped candy will be donated to SCEF, and all candy will be shipped to our troops overseas as part of Operation Gratitude. Thank you to local dentists, Drs. Amin, Chang and Kaher and Estes Express Shipping. http://scefkids.org/halloween
Faculty and Friends' Concert this Friday!
Beloved San Carlos music teachers and instructors along with other local musicians will perform at the 14th annual Faculty and Friends Concert. This popular event is great for the whole family and all proceeds benefit SCSD middle school music programs. To purchase tickets, please visit https://www.scefkids.org/events/
- Friday, November 8, 2019
- 7:00 pm
- St. Charles Church in San Carlos
Community Partners
Healthy Cities Tutoring Orientation & Training - Nov 7
Join us for our final training this fall and make a difference in the life of a child. Healthy Cities Tutoring matches volunteer tutors with students in K-8th grade who are struggling in school and need additional support.Tutoring is just 45 minutes once a week, and timing is flexible with openings before, during, or after school. Tutors select the school(s) and grade-level(s) they prefer and we match them accordingly.
Attend our upcoming training session on Thursday, November 7, 6:30pm-8:00pm at the Clifford School Library (225 Clifford Ave, RWC) to learn how to help children one-on-one in the areas of reading, writing, math, engagement in learning, and self-esteem. Visit healthycitiestutoring.org for more information.
Welcome Home San Carlos - Nov 7
The San Carlos Community is invited to join a different conversation on housing in the City of Good Living. “Welcome Home, San Carlos” is a joint effort between the City and Home for All, a San Mateo County collaborative, aimed at helping our community talk more constructively about the shared challenge of housing. Our goal is to listen to the community, and to hear about the priorities, concerns, and values of those who live and work in San Carlos.
We are launching a series of engagements to talk about our community’s hopes for the future, focusing specifically on housing and identifying key priorities. A major focus is to connect with community members who are less likely to participate in formal civic processes to listen and learn together. Our first community conversation is scheduled for Thursday, November 7 at the Hiller Museum and will be an informative dialogue about people’s personal experience with housing and their goals and aspirations for the future of San Carlos. Doors will open at 6:15 pm and the program will start at 7:00 pm. Light refreshments and child care will be provided. Because we want this conversation to focus on community perspectives, city staff and elected officials will be present only as listeners. We hope that you can join us!
TO RSVP please go to: welcomehomesancarlos.eventbrite.com
For more information go to: cityofsancarlos.org/welcomehome
Children's Business Fair Workshops - Nov 7
Children’s Business Fair - Calling all young entrepreneurs! We are providing the opportunity for children to launch and showcase their very own startup business. Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open a pop-up booth for customers at our Night of Holiday Lights on Dec 6! Workshops are on Nov 7, Nov 25 & Dec 2. Space is limited! To register your child (grades 5-8th), email Mary Martinez at [email protected]g. Questions, call the Youth Center at 650-802-4122.
High School Happenings
Sequoia High School
Sequoia 8th Grade Parent Information Night coming up! Mark your calendars for Wed 11/6, 6:00pm - 8:00pm, beginning in Carrington Hall on Sequoia's campus. The Info Night includes opening remarks from Sequoia Principal Sean Priest, and an opportunity to visit classrooms and hear from student panels over four optional sessions. No RSVP required. For more information, click here. A great introduction to the Sequoia experience!
Carlmont High School
8th graders and their families can learn all about Carlmont HS through Group or Individual Shadowing, Info Nights, Forums and Newsletters. To learn more, click HERE.
Summit Public High School
8th graders and their families can learn about the Summit Public School experience HERE.
Design Tech High School
8th graders and their families can learn about the Design Tech Charter High School experience HERE.