Principal's Message
Hello CMS Families,
Thank you so much for your support during the beginning of this unusual and challenging school year. I want to take a moment to acknowledge your commitment and dedication and the time you are investing during Distance Learning. Your contributions last year to the nonprofit San Carlos Education Foundation are being put to work this year in many ways at Central, and have provided tools and training to address the current moment.
Grants made by SCEF from your donations will help Central purchase new Chromebooks for students and supplement technology support staff, allow us to hire school counselors and provide social emotional programs and middle school electives including band, orchestra, computer science and art. SCEF also provides me with a Principal SCEF Flex Fund to invest in school site needs. In addition, because of the out-pouring of support last spring, SCEF is providing funds for classroom air purifiers, additional PPE, teacher professional development in distance learning and training in equity and social justice. Our San Carlos public schools maintain a high-quality education because of your investment of time and financial support.
Wednesday November 18th is SCEF day. We encourage students to wear GREEN for their Wednesday Zoom meetings and visit https://scefkids.org/scef-day-2020/ to check out all the fun and educational activities SCEF has planned for the week.
If you haven't already done so, I hope you will consider making a donation to SCEF. Support from parents like you is critical to help sustain and enhance the education we provide to our students. To make a donation, or learn more, please visit. www.scefkids.org
Thank you,
Tom Domer
Principal
Week at a Glance
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Gratitude Festival
Please hit the link below to learn more about the Gratitude Festival coming up this week.
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6th Grade Electives
If your student is in art or Spanish, he or she will be switching elective classes on January 19th. Spanish students will take art and art students will take Spanish.
PTA
Please Help - Critical Funds are Still Needed
Our PTA is being asked to partner with the San Carlos School District to purchase critical supplies to prepare outdoor learning spaces at Arroyo and Central for when our students return to campus.
We need your help to raise these funds immediately to support these efforts. Our PTA is still $7,000 away from where we need to be to support our students and teachers as we budgeted.
Visit our website to learn more about how funds raised also fulfill critical learning needs for our students. Click HERE to make a difference and donate today.
PTA Membership
Last year was a record-breaking year for Central/Arroyo PTA membership. As of today, we are 460 parents and teachers strong this year! If you haven't done so already, please join again this year and keep the Stand Up for Public Schools push for better CA school funding going strong. Family memberships are $20 and include membership to the California State PTA as well. Join today!
PTA Business Sponsors
We are grateful for our generous PTA business sponsors. Please support their businesses and express our appreciation: Chang Orthodontics, Andrews Orthodontics, Alana Corso-Dwell, Wendy Wood Design, Stay True Books and Kirsten Kell- Marriage & Family Therapy
The Gratitude Festival and Donation Drive is coming to Arroyo and Central this Wednesday & Thursday!
With the Holidays approaching, all members of the Central and Arroyo community can join together to give back.
- Where: Central Parking Lot
- When:
- Wednesday, November 18th 1:30pm - 5:00pm
- Thursday, November 19th 3:00pm - 5:00pm
* Please remember to wear your masks, keep your distance, and please no congregating (15 mins or less on campus!)
Drive through the Central parking lot and make a Toy, Food, or Gift Card donation, we will have bins and tables set out. Or park and have your kiddos take a selfie in front of the “I am grateful for...” #IAmGrateful photo backdrop screen on the fence and upload to the school website. Stop off at the community member tables and ASB student council members selling Mustangs spirit wear near the drop off zone.
Check out the Central website for details including donating remotely.
We need help both these days so, please sign up now!
Giving back opportunities:
- Samaritan House: The Samaritan House will have 4 bins at the Arroyo campus, and are asking for dried food items: cereal, mac & cheese, dried soups, pasta, rice, beans.
- Lions Club Toy Drive: The San Carlos Lions welcome your generous participation in our Holiday Toy, Book & Gift Drive to benefit the families served by One Life Counseling Center. One Life provides a bi-weekly food distribution to Peninsula families who need some additional assistance during difficult times. Please note, toys and art supplies should be new. Also, the San Carlos Lions would love to give new soccer balls as gifts to the children in our Holiday Toy, Book & Gift Drive. (benefitting the families served by One Life Counseling) Goal is 109 new soccer balls!
- Grocery Gift Cards SCSD Families: With the holidays approaching, the San Carlos PTA Coordinating Council would like to continue to provide support to SCSD families experiencing food insecurity via Safeway E-Gift Cards. To donate, click HERE and send the Safeway e-gift card to [email protected].These are gifts, not charitable contributions. Contact Hazel Stabinsky with any questions.
Virtual Magic Show by Alex Ramon, Thursday November 19th 6:30 pm - 7:05pm
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.”
Alex Ramon on Penn & Teller Fool-Us TV Show
More videos of Alex Ramon
Alex Ramon Virtually Impossible Magic Show
- Host: Central Arroyo
- Time: Nov 19, 2020 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
- Join Zoom Meeting
- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86164671064?pwd=N1B0S01tOFgyR21EWVZHYmpkMjVWdz09
- Meeting ID: 861 6467 1064
- Passcode: 11192020
Follow Central Middle School on Facebook
Stay up to date on the latest in events and the road to hybrid learning by following Central Middle School on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/CentralSCSD/
School District
Covid19 Testing Available for Children - County of San Mateo Announces Drive-Through Testing at the San Mateo County Event Center
The County of San Mateo announced no-cost testing for COVID-19 is available for children age 5 and older starting Tuesday, October 20 - a new option that expands the County's testing capacity.
Testing is open by appointment to all families that live in San Mateo County with children ages 5 and older. Appointments for the drive-through testing at the San Mateo County Event Center are available weekdays from 1 to 8 p.m.
The County is offering a simple-to-use oral mouth swab test that is self-administered for children and families in partnership with Curative Inc., a rapid diagnostics firm based in Southern California. Curative has the capacity to test over 500 individuals each day at the Event Center with results available typically within 48 hours.
With the addition of testing by Curative, the County has the capacity to test up to 7,500 individuals each week. There is no cost to participants.
Inclusion Counts Parent Listening Sessions - November 17th
The San Carlos Elementary School District is partnering with Inclusion Counts to assess our current state of diversity, equity and racial-justice. In order to ensure our priorities, goals and actions related to anti-racism in our community are reflective of our diverse community voices, we’re taking time to hear from members of our community - staff, students and families.
On Tuesday, November 17 we invite parents to participate in a Community Listening Session/ Group Interview with our consultants at Inclusion Counts. During this session, you will be asked to share about your experience at San Carlos Elementary School District - and, if applicable, how you/ your family has been affected by racism, bias or intolerance.
More information and session times can be found here
SCEF
San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF)
SCEF Day
Our fall SCEF Day is this Wednesday, November 18 and represents the beginning of SCEF’s annual fundraising campaign. We encourage everyone to celebrate SCEF day by wearing GREEN on their Wednesday school Zoom meetings! Bring the fun to your SCEF Day Zoom calls by downloading and coloring your own SCEF moustache and using this festive SCEF Virtual Background. Share the love on social media and decorate at home with SCEF Coloring Sheets or some fun sidewalk chalk art! Be sure to share your creativity online with the hashtag #SCEFday! Visit https://scefkids.org/scef-day-2020/ to check out these and more fun and educational activities SCEF has planned for the week.
This flyer is a summary of our robust planning for both fundraising and grant-making for the 2020-21 school year.
Holiday Cooking Camp with Caroline & Paloma!
Let your kids cook for YOU! Sign-up your kids to cook 3 weeknight dinners AND prepare 3 side dishes for your Thanksgiving meal! Side dishes include Cranberry Relish (Monday), Butternut Squash Soup (Tuesday), and Pumpkin Pie (Wednesday). Recipes for weeknight dinners and side dishes are provided a week in advance with links to Instacart so you can shop quickly and easily for any missing ingredients! Class includes Digital Cookbook with all the recipes for you to print at home in advance of the classes. Tickets on sale now at https://paybee.io/@scef2020-21@1
Mon-Wed, Nov 23-25, 4:30-6:30pm - Ages 6-18 - $125 ticket price counts toward your annual SCEF giving!
Honey Bear Christmas Trees
Honey Bear Trees is again coming to our area this Christmas season and offering SCEF a donation for every tree purchased when you mention SCEF. More information available here - https://scefkids.org/honey-bear-trees/
Community Partners
Healthy Cities Tutoring is Recruiting Volunteers - Reach a Child. Touch a Family. Build a Community - November 17th
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, November 17 at 7:00-8:15pm - RSVP here. For more information to become a Healthy Cities tutor, visit healthycitiestutoring.org and click VOLUNTEER to complete the online application or email [email protected].
Parent Education
The new podcast discussion series starts this week. Watch the podcasts and RSVP before attending each session. Check out the full schedule of parent education events here.
- Tuesday, Nov 17, 12:00-1:00 pm: Failing Toward Resiliency
- Wednesday, Nov 18, 7:00-8:00 pm: Your Child's Brain: How to Supercharge for Resiliency & Optimism
- Thursday, Nov 19, 12:00-1:00 pm: Helping Children Process Grief & Disappointment
San Carlos Housing 2040 Workshop - November 30th
Those of us living in the Bay Area are well aware of the cost of housing. In San Carlos, the median cost for a detached single family home is $2,025,000, and with the standard 20% down payment, the annual income required to afford this median priced home would be $471,636. The average rent for a one-bedroom is $3,730 and $4,635 for a two-bedroom apartment.
As the cost of housing has risen throughout the Bay Area, increasing numbers of people are finding it difficult to pay rent or make monthly mortgage payments. San Carlos is not immune to the crisis and has experienced an unprecedented surge in the growth of home prices and rental rates. San Carlos is committed to addressing the housing needs of everyone in our community to ensure that the City is more inclusive for people of all incomes, and having more housing choices that suit all stages of life.
To address the underpinnings of these housing challenges, the City is embarking on updating the Housing Element, which is a policy document that will guide housing decisions for the next 8 years. The City is inviting all community members to come together virtually and have a meaningful exchange, share ideas, and express concerns.
Register at https://sancarlos2040.eventbrite.com for the virtual workshop scheduled for November 30 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. The Eventbrite link will have more information on how to participate.
San Carlos Youth Advisory
Interested in a San Carlos Skate Park? Members of the San Carlos Youth Advisory Council are looking into the possibility of creating a skate park in San Carlos. Right now, we are focusing on a pilot project, which we will observe over a 6-month period. We would love to get your opinion on the matter.
If you or anyone you know is interested in seeing this project come to life, please fill out our survey form: https://forms.gle/Uhu7w8mWZprXKed89
San Carlos Parks and Recreation - Thanksgiving Gobble Wobble 5k
San Carlos Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Foundation, is hosting a Virtual 5K Gobble Wobble Fun Run! Participants are encouraged to get outside the week of Thanksgiving and walk, jog, run or bike/scooter a 5K route. Once registered, participants will be given three suggested routes around town, but can choose their own route as well.
Participants will receive a San Carlos Gobble Wobble t-shirt, running bib, and medal. Finishing times and photos can be emailed to [email protected] no later than Sunday, November 29th to be included in our results update on Facebook.
Registration limited, register early to guarantee t-shirt size by Thanksgiving, see more information here.
San Carlos United Soccer Tryouts
San Carlos United is holding tryouts for boys & girls born in 2003-2014
San Carlos United is delighted to announce that all existing teams will be holding open practices as tryouts this fall for boys & girls born between 2003 - 2014. Additionally, we will be holding tryouts to form our new boys & girls 2013-14 teams.
Please register online - http://www.sancarlosunited.org and you will be contacted by the respective age group regarding a tryout.
**These tryouts are intended for those NOT currently playing competitive soccer.
We look forward to seeing you at the San Carlos United tryouts!
High School Happenings
Sequoia High School
Each year, Sequoia opens its arms to welcome a new crop of prospective students to the campus for an informational evening. This "8th grade Information Night" provides students and their parents the opportunity to hear from academic department chairs and see curricular and extracurricular programs in action during 10-minute workshop sessions.
Given the restrictive parameters of 2020, we have worked to replicate this experience virtually, and have created THIS INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION. Please note: If viewing in Google Slides, enter PRESENT MODE for best experience. An embedded version of the presentation can also be found at rebrand.ly/seqinfonight. Feel free to use this presentation as a resource in whatever way is helpful.
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Cada año, Sequoia abre sus brazos para dar la bienvenida a una nueva generación de futuros estudiantes al campus para una noche informativa. Esta "Noche de Información del 8vo grado" brinda a los estudiantes y sus padres la oportunidad de escuchar a los directores de departamentos académicos y ver los programas curriculares y extracurriculares en acción durante las sesiones de talleres de 10 minutos. Dados los restrictivos parámetros de 2020, hemos trabajado para replicar esta experiencia virtualmente, y hemos creado ESTA PRESENTACIÓN INTERACTIVA. Tenga en cuenta: si visualiza en Presentaciones de Google, ingrese al MODO ACTUAL para obtener la mejor experiencia. También puede encontrar una versión incorporada de la presentación en rebrand.ly/seqinfonight. Siéntase libre de utilizar esta presentación como recurso de cualquier forma que sea útil.
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Corey Uhalde
Sequoia High School
Director of Student Activities
Carlmont High School
The 8th Grade Transition team has put together a prerecorded Parent Information Night. Please visit the webpage to see the video that provides in depth information about the Carlmont academic program, including electives and core curriculum.
Shadowing Events for 8th grade students are now available for sign up. Group sessions will be virtual and hosted by Carlmont student ambassadors, with a moderator from our 8th Grade Transition team. Individual sessions are also available for one-on-one virtual sessions with a Carlmont Ambassador.
Click here for Shadowing Information and to Register
Design Tech High School