Principal's Message
January 25, 2021
Week-at-a-Glance
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Central is dedicating this week to The Great Kindness Challenge.
CMS Spirit Days
Students are invited to show their school spirit in a number of “kind” ways:
- Monday is Sportsmanship Day. Wear your favorite jersey.
- Tuesday is Crazy Kindness Day. Wear your hair wacky and put on crazy socks.
- Wednesday is Be Kind to the Earth Day. Wear all green to support the environment and CMS.
- Thursday is Show Your True Kind Colors Day. Wear your favorite color.
- Friday is Selfcare Day. Wear your favorite cozy pajamas and slipper.
Advisory Switch Up
It’s halfway through the school year, and students still may not know all of their classmates. So this week, advisory classes are being switched up! All students will be assigned to a new advisory class with new classmates and a new teacher for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday of this week (there is no advisory on Thursdays). Throughout the week, students will have the opportunity to participate in activities meant to cultivate a caring and accepting environment at school. Please encourage your student to participate. In order to access their new advisory class, students will need to check their email this afternoon for the zoom link. Please note: all students will attend class at their regularly scheduled advisory time.
For more information, including kindness challenges at home, go to https://thegreatkindnesschallenge.com/.
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Given the fact that we are not seeing our students in person, we have been making every effort to check in on their emotional well being. Sown to Grow is one of the tools we have employed to monitor mental health and safety. During our weekly check-ins, we have noticed that the number one response to the prompt ‘How am I feeling?” (particularly from our 8th graders) is, “I am tired”. Teachers also report seeing students on screen who look exhausted. In addition, teachers can see when assignments are being turned in because they are time stamped. Very often we are getting work very late at night.
As a staff we have discussed this and asked students why this is the case. Students do not report having too much school and homework, but instead, they are procrastinating. This week, I would like to highlight some ways we can help deal with procrastination, and how important sleep is for adolescence. We know that procrastination and the lack of sleep are directly related.
If your child procrastinates, as all teens do, you do not need to wait to help her/him build better habits. Students need to work on building skills that will help them be successful in school. One of these skills is learning how to complete tasks in a timely manner.
The first step in building capacity for middle school students is to understand why they procrastinate. Stress, anxiety, perfectionism are some of the root causes of procrastination. Students might begin to feel overwhelmed by large tasks and not know where to begin. Keep in mind, everybody puts off non-preferred tasks, but successful people learn how to find the motivation to get them done.
Parents are also faced with the challenge of an adolescent desire for more autonomy. Teenagers often want to be left alone yet lack the self-awareness to understand that they will not be left alone until the task at hand is complete. This is the cause of many arguments both at home and at school. Students can become argumentative (active refusal) or they can simply promise to do something and just not do it (passive refusal). In either case, adults can not let teenagers get away with this because it reinforces bad behaviors. Below is an article which enumerates six strategies parents and guardians can use to help students complete tasks. Spoiler alert; rewards and consequences don't always work. Talking through a task and breaking it down, might yield better results with less friction.
Lastly, I know we all know this, but I want to reiterate how important it is for adolescence to get enough sleep. Students who learn how to manage their time so that they get enough sleep do much better in school. Teaching time management to kids who are still struggling with executive functioning is no easy task, but with patience and perseverance, it can be done. Below is a great article that I hope you will find useful.
Tom Domer
Principal
School District
New Student Registration is Now Open!
New student registraion for the 2021-2022 school year has begun!
On Wednesday, January 20 the Powerschool Registration Form opened for new students and any students returning to the district to begin their registration. All registration will be completed online and parents will be asked to upload their documents into the system. The deadline for priority registration is February 26.
See our How To Register for the 2021-2022 (Next) School Year page for more information.
Remember to Order Lunch Meal Kits
We have weekly meal boxes available for pick up each Monday (including delivery to Menlo Park and East Palo Alto.) Each box includes five meals - an assortment of hot and cold entrees and a variety of fruits, veggies, and milk. Simply order online and safely pick-up your box for the week. Order.lunchisserved.com
To order your student’s Weekly Lunch Box, please log onto LunchIsServed and place your order. You must place your order by 9am on Sunday before the following week.
Check Out Our Parent Education Offerings
Remember to check out our Pandemic Care & Support website for parent education events and resources, mental health support, and more! You can also add the SCSD Parent Education Calendar to your phone.
Teen Talk Sexual Health Curriculum Information Night for Families of 7th Graders
Join professionals from Health Connected to learn about the sexual health curriculum that will be taught for 7th graders later this year. Webinar will take place on Monday, February 1 at 7:00p.m. Puberty Talk (English) Flyer Here El Courso de la Pubertad (Espanol) Aqui RSVP HERE
ROPES Judges Needed
We are in need for parents, staff and community members that would like to serve as a judge for the ROPES (Rite of Passage Experiences) presentations in February. ROPES are challenging projects that 4th, 6th and 8th-grade students have completed which allow them to learn about their world and themselves in a deeper but fun way. You can learn more about ROPES on our website. This year all judging will be via Zoom.
There are 3 opportunities to judge:
- Tuesday, Feb 2, 4:00–6:30 pm
- Wednesday, Feb 3, 2:00-5:00 pm
- Thursday, Feb 4, 6:00-8:30 pm
In addition we will be holding a training session for all judges on Thursday, Jan 28 from 6:00-7:00 pm. This will be via Zoom and we will be recording this session if you can’t make this time.
We would not be able to maintain this valuable program without the support of our community. We are asking for you to join district staff and other community members by volunteering to serve as a judge on one of our judging panels. Typically, we have two to three judges per room and they judge four to six student presentations in an evening/session.
We hope that you will be able to join us in this worthwhile event. Please sign up here to be a ROPES Judge.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via [email protected]
Free TCRWP Parent & Caregiver Workshop
- Free TCRWP Parent & Caregiver Workshop
- Thursday, January 28, 1:00-3:00 pm Eastern Time (10am-12pm Pacific Time)
Join expert Teachers College Reading and Writing Project staff at our upcoming workshop day for parents and caregivers of students in grades K-8. Learn more about ways to support your child’s literacy education at home, what or how they are learning in school, how to best engage in home literacy projects, and more. These days are typically 2-3 hours long, composed of a series of 15-minute small-group presentations. Parents and caregivers can choose the workshops that match their needs and are free to come for one workshop or many. The schedule of workshops will be made available prior to the event. These sessions are offered live and are not recorded for later viewing.
Click the link below to register.
https://tcrwp.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIudu-orzMrGdUN0IyGUGksRGCvS2Sjp9E5
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
PTA
Art in Action is Back in Action for Central 6th Graders!
Calling all 6th grade Art in Action fans! The Central PTA has funded Art in Action which pairs with the sixth grade Social Studies curriculum! The Social Studies teachers are enthusiastic about bringing these lessons to life via Zoom with the help of parent docents! Sign up to help make at home art kits, docent or or as an art day volunteer. No limit to the number of assistants needed and thank you! Lessons start after mid winter break and include, greek urns, Chinese water colors, dragons and the Parthenon! Contact Christen Hanson at [email protected] with any questions.
SCEF
San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF)
The SCEF Read-A-Thon is THIS Week!
Ready, set, READ! The SCEF Read-A-Thon officially kicks off on Monday, January 25th!
Visit scefkids.org/read2021 for registration, event calendar, reading resources and a special message from American Ninja Warrior host and fan favorite, Akbar Gbajabiamila.
Encourage your reader to record their reading minutes using the Online Minute Tracker or printable reading log and don’t forget to activate your optional fundraising page! Our goal is 100% participation and $200,000 raised to support San Carlos students. Participation is free and voluntary. Students have the option to invite sponsors to support their reading with an online donation. While donations of every size are welcome, they are not required to participate.
Join us for a lively author event with the talented Jesse Bennett as she discusses her latest book, Lift, on Sunday, January 31st, 4-5pm. This uplifting children's book inspires the practice of inclusion, empathy, and kindness for ourselves and those around us. This read is fun for all ages, but especially recommended for those in grades TK-3. This event is held in partnership with The Reading Bug. Please register for this event at scefkids.org/read2021.
Community Partners
Student Film Workshop (For 4th-12th Grade Student)
January 23, 2021, 10:00-11:30am
San Mateo County students in grades 4-12 are invited to learn tips on creating videos at a free, virtual Film Workshop from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on January 23. The workshop will be taught by members of Burlingame High School’s Environmental Club to help students who wish to enter the CEC Student Film Fest, cosponsored by the club and the Citizens Environmental Council (CEC). Register for this free event here.
Editor's Note: By the time the newsletter is sent on Monday January 25th, the workshop will have occurred. However, there is information on the website for the CEC Student Film Fest for those who interested in entering.
Sign Up for San Carlos Youth Softball
Interested in playing softball this spring? San Carlos Youth Softball is a great way for girls to get outdoors with friends, have some fun, and develop skills. The 2021 spring rec program is now open for registration. Click here to register online.
Our program is for girls ages 4+ (as of January 2021) at all skill levels. Registration for the season is just $50 for girls in 8U and below, and $100 for girls in 10U and above. The health and safety of our players are a top priority so we have put in place COVID-19 protocols and procedures. We plan to start practices in mid-February so please sign up soon!
San Carlos Week of the Family
What: San Carlos Week of the Family
When: Jan 15-31, 2021 (yes, we have a couple of great events after the official week)
Who: Your family (San Carlos families take many forms. Everyone in our community is encouraged to participate.)
Where: All over San Carlos
Safety: All events should be COVID-safe. Lots of at-home activities and virtual sessions.
Info: www.sancarlosweekofthefamily.org (get info here and register for events)
The 21st San Carlos Week of the Family starts Friday. There are dozens of events. Have fun with the family and enjoy some safe events.
Some highlights of this year’s Week of the Family: Details are on our web site.
- We have 100’s of FREE family art packets available for the City-wide Art Project
- There are volunteer opportunities to build Family Care Packages
- Take Monday as your Family Activity Day to enjoy games with your family
- Invent using the Hiller Virtual Invention Lab
- Attend one of the many Library Events
- Each Green Corner is presenting 3 video sessions on gardening
- Practice your trivia skills at Adult Trivia Night
- Help kickoff the SCEF Read-A-Thon with multiple events
- Attend a virtual theater event by the San Carlos Children’s Theater
- Eat crab and support the community at the San Carlos Lions Club Drive-by Crab Feed
San Carlos Park and Rec Art Contest
Does your child have a talent in art and would to share their work with the community? San Carlos YAC is holding an arts competition called "Creations and Connections." Any youth ages 10-18 can submit artwork under the theme of "Peace, Love, and Community" in one of many categories ranging from poetry and short stories to film production, fine art, and even dance choreography. Entries will be broken down into different age groups. Prizes will be awarded for each age group! Don’t miss this opportunity to express artistic talent! Read and learn more at cityofsancarlos.org/yac.
High School Happenings
Sequoia High School
- Sequoia Home Page
- "8th grade Information Night" viewed via THIS INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION
Carlmont High School
Design Tech High School
Tide Academy