Principal's Message
Week at a Glance
Today we take the day off for a local holiday which also happens to coincide with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. I thought it might be nice to take a moment to acknowledge the people who inhabited this land before the arrival of European explorers. For parents at home who want to have a conversation about the many ways in which Indigenous People have contributed to our culture, I have linked this article from the Smithsonian, Five Ideas for Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2020
If you want to plant a native tree or have a family discussion around social justice, or even learn about a female superhero, you can share this article with your family. I hope you enjoyed your long weekend.
PTA
Help Us Reach Our PTA Goal
We are grateful for all who have contributed to our Central Arroyo PTA Team Kid campaign this school year.
We are still significantly below our $45,000 fundraising target, with only 33% of our goal met to date.
Our PTA funding stretches far and wide to include individual teacher stipends which support distance teaching, teacher appreciation monthly gifts, grants to each Principal, 8th grade graduation festivities, art and classroom supplies for all grades and much more!
We are asking for a one-time donation of $125 per student or $250 per family to our PTA. Every donation of any amount makes a difference, and we thank you in advance for any support you can give the Central Arroyo students and teachers!
So if you’re ready to join the PTA to advocate for great education; if you have a business that generously matches donations; or if your child has grandparents that want to stay involved in giving your kids an enriched, well-rounded experience at Central/Arroyo, please click here to JOIN TODAY!
Thank you for your support of #teamkidsc!
Central / Arroyo Virtual Book Fair is HERE!
Just a reminder that there is still time to shop the online Central/Arroyo Book Fair! Click HERE to browse and buy your favorite titles. The link will be active through October 15.
Please remember to "sign-in" at check-out, so that our school gets credit for the sale and earns rewards. You might be prompted to select a school at check-out. If so, please select "Central Middle School" in the drop-down menu.
There are over 5,000 titles to choose from, over 1,000 titles for $5 and under and several Spanish & Bilingual titles.
Check out these fun videos to see what's new and exciting for all your readers at home!
- Middle School Titles: https://players.brightcove.net/1543299976/LG9eJZeIF_default/index.html?playlistId=1666421958898426599
- Elementary Titles: https://bcove.video/2zoSgmB
Check out these cool digital flyers to see some additional fun picks!
- Middle School Digital Flyer for Fall 2020 selection: https://bookfairsfiles.scholastic.com/flippingbooks/F20-MS-booklist/F20-MS-booklist.html#p=1
- Elementary Digital Flyer for Fall 2020 selection: https://bookfairsfiles.scholastic.com/flippingbooks/F20-SBF-booklist/F20-SBF-booklist.html#p=1
Thank you in advance for your support! Funds raised from the Book Fair support the Central/Arroyo PTA and the Library. If you have any questions please contact Kristy Ettinger, Julie Ledford or Stephanie Brill.
Happy shopping! Don't be afraid to teleport into the world of reading and escape into a new book! Time is a-ticking...
Next PTA Meeting - October 14th, 9:30am
Learn about the Wait Until 8th pledge for smartphones from a local pediatrician.
Please join us for our monthly PTA meeting and hear from local pediatrician Tara Tanaka, who will share about the personal and community importance of holding off on getting your child a smartphone until 8th grade. Some alternatives for communication will be shared. For more information, please read “An age-by-age guide to kids and smartphones.” There’s also a lot of great information on the Wait Until 8th website.
For more information on parenting in the digital age Parent Education Videos
Sponsored by PTA Coordinating Council
- When: Oct 14, 2020 09:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
- How? Zoom: Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Magic Show by Alex Ramon
We are so excited to bring this parent recommended show to our community! Alex has created a piece of magic for Taylor Swift at the AMA, performed on Penn & Teller Fool Us, and was the “Magic Choreographer” for Sesame Street live
‘Make your magic”. Before or after shopping our virtual book fair, log in via zoom (zoom link coming soon!) to participate in this family friendly show.
- Day: October 14th
- Time: 6:30pm (show length - 35 minutes)
- How? Zoom: Zoom link coming soon!
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.
Editor's Note: This message was approved by County Council - It is permitted to be included in our newsletters for information only, not advocacy
PTA Reflections
Reflections Program 2020-1 Information
The National PTA’s Reflections art program has helped students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.
Reflections was established in 1969 by National PTA board member Mary Lou Anderson. Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. The theme for the 2020-2021 program year is
"I Matter Because.... " " Yo Importo Proque... "
Reflections 2020-21 Call for Entries
https://youtu.be/IX-rzWHnY5Q
Students may submit an entry in any and/or all of the six arts areas listed below in one of the grade divisions Primary: Preschool, Kindergarten – Grade 2, Intermediate: Grade 3-5, Middle School: Grade 6-8, High School: Grade 9-12, Special Artist: All grades
Only original works of art created by the individual student are accepted. Students may enter up to two works of art. The six arts areas are as follows:
Student Participation
Participation in Reflections is open to all students who are in attendance at a PTA/PTSA school where the program is sponsored. Students submit their Reflections entries to their school PTA/PTSA by November 2nd.
Reflections Theme Search 2022-2023
The Reflections Theme Search is determined by the National PTA Reflections Theme Search Contest which is selected two years in advance. Each State PTA Reflections Committee submits 5 themes to represent their state to the National PTA Reflections Theme selection.
Opens on September 1st and closes on November 1st to California State PTA. Students may submit as multiple ideas however each idea must have it's own entry form. It may be submitted via postal mail (entry form is attached) or online starting September 1st visit
Online Theme Search: http://capta.org/programs-events/reflections/theme-search/
Reflections Information on CMS Website: https://central.scsdk8.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1138747&type=d&pREC_ID=2082938
SCEF
Community Partners
SCSD Pandemic Care & Support Parent Website
We hope you will check out our new SCSD Pandemic Care & Support website that specifically addresses resources for our school community during the Pandemic.
We've created a Parent Education Calendar and will keep that updated with new events. Note: we will be adding new events to this calendar regularly, so you may wish to link the calendar to your own.
The site also houses pages for Counseling & Mental Health where you will find links to make appointments with your school counselors, along with information such as the Green Folder which details an action plan to help during a mental health crisis. We added a page about Meals & Groceries just to make sure everyone knows how to order weekly meal boxes and get support from the PTA if you need groceries.
Finally, you'll find our newly-released guidelines for families about the process we are following if a student is ill. Each time those processes are revised, we will let you know.
High School Happenings
Sequoia High School
Carlmont High School
OCTOBER 6, 2020
Carlmont 8th Grade
Parent Info Night
- Links to Tour and Presentations will be available on the Carlmont website, 8th Grade Transition page, beginning October 6th.
- We welcome all 8th grade parents to watch these presentations that will provide a broad overview of the academic program at Carlmont. The video will have an introduction from Carlmont Principal Ralph Crame, brief information about elective and athletic programs, and insight into our counseling and guidance department. Also included will be more in depth presentations on course offerings in Math, Science, English and Social Studies.
NO RSVP Required
Design Tech High School