Principal's Message
April 26, 2021
Week-at-a-Glance
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Thank you to those of you who took the time to complete our most recent Parent Survey as part of our LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). We are in the process for planning for next year and your input is greatly appreciated. We are also surveying our educators and students. Not surprisingly, some consistent trents came through in the open ended responses we received which will help inform our decision making for next year.
The number one comment people made was related to opening up schools in the fall. The vast majority of respondents stated that they want to see schools open up full time next year. I want to take this opportunity to assure the Central community that we are 100% committed to opening schools full time. Barring any unforeseen disaster, we will have our students back to school full time. Things may look a little different as we concentrate on our core academic subjects to make sure we address any learning loss that may have occurred. Having said that, we remain committed to the whole child approach to education and plan to offer a vibrant array of elective class offerings.
In addition, we want to build on the great learning practices our educators have developed this year. We plan to continue the great work we have done with online learning and capitalize on the growth our students have made learning new technologies. I am hoping to be able to offer some online elective classes so students have the opportunity to learn at their own pace and space.
Another central theme that emerged in the parent feedback was the need for school connectedness. Families want to make sure we promote a positive school culture that brings students together after a year of distance learning. This includes emotional support and well as activities designed to build community. Families understand the relationship between progress in academics and school culture. Several people made the comment that “learning should be fun” and I couldn't agree more. We plan on focusing on a variety of activities and programs that concentrate both on mental health and an engaging school environment. We will provide adequate mental health services and emotional support for our students. At the same time, we plan on making school fun again.
Our LCAP process is designed to ensure that all stakeholders view, value and needs are heard when developing our goals for the upcoming year. This process truly holds our educational leaders accountable for representing the needs of our students. Developing these goals and working towards accomplishing them is hard work. But we are committed to getting it done. We have an incredible group of educators who are committed as ever to serving our students.
Tom Domer
Principal
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8th Grade
Let's celebrate our amazing 8th grade graduates with a slide show of their special memories from 5th-8th grade. Please send in your photos using the link below. We would love to have at least 1-2 photos of every 8th grader. Please upload your photos and be sure to put their name in the comments. Please upload your photos by 4/27/21. Thanks! Kirsten Haithcox
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ C4xLMfThpRroJpPD9
8th Grade Class TShirts
Show your 8th grade pride and order your child a graduation shirt and/or sweatshirt today. All orders are due to Ms. Williams by Thursday, April 29th at the end of the day. Checks or cash are accepted (exact amount only please) and checks can be made out to Central Middle School. An electronic order form can be found here: 8th Grade Grad Shirt Order Form 2021. Please contact Mr. Domer for scholarships. Please email Ms. Williams at [email protected] with any questions.
Staying Strong All Year Long CMS Spirit Wear
Are you looking to show your socially distanced CMS spirit? CMS ASB is selling Central masks, TShirts, and sweatshirts. All orders are due to Ms. Williams by Friday, April 30th at the end of the day. Checks or cash are accepted (exact amount only please) and checks can be made out to Central Middle School. An electronic order form can be found here: "Staying Strong All Year Long" Spirit Wear Order Form. Please email Ms. Williams at [email protected] with any questions.
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Hi TUPE (Tobacco Use Prevention Education) fans-
This is a Parenting Series: Teen Substance Abuse Prevention (5 sessions/free) that is being offered starting next week for parents.
School District
PowerSchool Registration / Intent to Return Confirmation Process for 2021-22
We are happy to announce that the San Carlos School District is planning for a full return to school next year, 5 full-days of on-campus instruction with minimum days on Wednesdays! We are working hard to ensure that next year is an enriching experience for all students as we return to campus for full-time learning.
Each spring, we ask families for assistance in confirming their enrollment for the next school year by completing the PowerSchool registration process online. Your timely completion of this process will assist us in having the most accurate numbers for returning students for the 2021-2022 school year, which is directly tied to the SCSD budget and will allow the District in planning for staffing needs more effectively.
In May, you will receive an email from [email protected] that will provide you with specific directions on how to complete the registration process online, including a link to access the InfoSnap portal, as well as a special ID number for your student, referred to as the “Infosnap Code."
If you are not planning to return to our district next year, please notify your school office as soon as possible.
Thank you for your assistance with this important process.
Student and Community COVID19 Testing to Keep Our Kids on Campus
Please take advantage of the no cost surveillance COVID-19 testing provided by the San Mateo County Health Department.
Please sign up for weekly testing for yourself and your child. Contact your health provider for a test if you have symptoms or know you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Keeping COVID cases off of our campuses will keep our in person learning possible. As a reminder, if a student or or teacher tests positive for COVID, we will need to transition that cohort back to distance learning for at least two weeks to avoid spreading the virus.
Sign up at one of the following locations to begin your regular weekly testing:
Central Middle School
- Tuesdays 10:00 am-4:00 pm
- Wednesdays 10:00 am-4:00 pm
- Thursdays 1:00-7:00pm
- Fridays 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Register Here
Other Community Based Testing sites in San Mateo County Here
COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments for 16-17 Year Olds
Stanford is currently scheduling COVID-19 vaccination appointments for individuals who are aged 16-17. Vaccination sites are in San Jose (Cisco Garage) and in Pleasanton (Alameda Fairgrounds). You will be asked to validate the date of birth (DOB) of the patient at the time of the vaccination. If available please bring insurance card and photo ID. Click here to schedule an appointment at Stanford Healthcare.
Nursing Notes - COVID-19 Protocol Reminder for all Families
Please keep your child and all siblings home if anyone in your household is sick.
Please remember to contact your school site if someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19 or if your child has been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Our district nurses are here to help support you in understanding quarantine lengths and ways for getting your student back to school as quickly as possible within the county health guidelines.
PTA
PTA Programs - Needs for the 2021-22 School Year!
Still Interested in getting involved in Central Arroyo's PTA next year? In addition to the executive board there are many volunteer roles (some listed below) that are essential to supporting our kids and teachers. If you are interested please contact Kirsten Kell to learn more.
- Welcome week - following the latest county health guidelines coordinate with Welcome Week leaders for both schools to plan wonderful ways to welcome all of our students to campus
- PTA Reflections Coordinator - promote this artistic expression contest at the school level to our students, recruit judges, pass the winning entries along to the 17th district. This program is very well supported at the district level with lots of guidance on how to do this role.
- School Beautification/Day of Service - in coordination with the Arroyo team, Principal Domer, and possibly the San Carlos Day of Service identify beautification opportunities on CMS campus, coordinate supplies and volunteers to complete projects in the fall or spring
- Each Green Corner Garden Support - work with Each Green Corner staff to recruit and coordinate volunteers to maintain the Central Arroyo Garden and outdoor education spaces especially during monthly work days
- Honorary Service Chair - inform our community of the categories of awards and solicit nominations, coordinate a selection committee including principals to review nominations, lead the organization of Awards presentation ceremony and recognition tokens presented to recipients.
SCEF
San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF)
SCEF’s annual Starlight Gala is always one of the highlights of the year. There are many ways to join in the gala, even after the event is over--both Fund-a-Need and the Silent Auction are still open for your participation!
This year, the Fund-a-Need is a campaign to FUND-THE-FUTURE. This is a spectacular opportunity to fund science and technology tools, equipment, and teacher training for all San Carlos public schools. SCSD is launching a new science curriculum that will bring science appreciation, critical thinking skills, and hands-on learning to San Carlos students. Take a look at what is in store for our kids here: https://youtu.be/Zb3bceZDShU
The Online Silent Auction is a fantastic way to support our kids and win some great items. Check out the many teacher items! The auction is open until 9pm on April 30th. To see online auction items go to www.scefkids.org/events. A huge thank you to SCSD parent, Michael Chang, DDS, and Chang Orthodontics for supporting SCEF as the Starlight Gala Online Bidding Sponsor!
Community News
Sequoia 9th Grade Freshman Orientation
SEQUOIA HIGH SCHOOL
ONLINE FRESHMAN WELCOME EVENT
SAVE THE DATE
Tuesday - April 27, 2021
- English 6:00pm - 7:00pm
- Spanish 7:15pm - 8:15pm
The entire Sequoia family is delighted to welcome you-- our incoming students and parents-- to our annual Incoming Student Welcome Event on April 27, 2021. In this live webinar, Principal Sean Priest will kick the night off with a short presentation followed by a question and answer session with current Sequoia students who can give you the inside scoop on what to expect during this important transition and first year. Expert members of our PTSA, Education Foundation and Boosters Club will also be there to welcome you to the school and answer all your questions. Please join us for this informational event that will answer key questions about classes, signing up for sports, and clubs and activities on campus.
We will forward the zoom link in early April. Parents and students are welcome to submit questions in advance to [email protected]
Healthy Cities Tutoring at the San Carlos Farmers Market - May 2nd
Swing by our booth at the SC Farmers Market the first Sunday in May and win a prize! We’ll be there raising awareness about our program, recruiting volunteers and raising funds for our Give Where You Live campaign. Visit our website to learn more.
Steve & Kate's Summer Camp
At Steve & Kate’s Camp, kids take chances and take charge, shaping their day, their way. More choices and fewer expectations creates more possibilities, more self-trust, and less self-doubt.
Campers will choose an interest-based, pod-like group, called a Squad. At camp, children will gather with their fellow enthusiasts to immerse themselves in activities, or pursue projects with an emphasis that speaks to their tastes. Squad specialties include sewing, building, performing arts, coding and gaming, sports & recreation, or a mix of everything!
Within squads, campers decide what they want to do, with whom, and for and how long. Whether one is spending the day sampling all activities, or honing in on sewing skills to redesign their entire wardrobe, one thing is for sure: kids are in control.
Campers will also have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor classes, socially distanced indoor and outdoor recreation, performances, fan-favorites like Gameshow, gaga, and wacky or wet inflatables, and a circuit of rotating activities featuring arcade games, clay, sewing, and more.
We’ve also got plenty of perks for parents. Lunch and snacks are included daily, and there’s no risk if your plans change. At the end of the summer, if you have any leftover purchased Day Passes, we’ll refund them in full, automatically.
- Dates: June 14 - July 30 - Summer 2021
- Ages: Ages 4-12
- Location: Arundel Elementary School
Learn more at https://steveandkatescamp.com/san-carlos/
Parenting Series: Teen Substance Abuse Prevention
How to Create Boundaries
April 28 • 6:30 - 7:30 PM
What do appropriate boundaries look like This workshop discusses how to establish boundaries, how to help teens create their own appropriate boundaries, and how teens determine when these boundaries are not being respected by others.
How to Talk to Your Teen
May 5 • 6:30 - 7:30 PM
This presentation will include an introduction to motivational interviewing and offer concrete examples of how these skills can be used to improve communication with your teen.
We will also discuss active listening, and how using active listening with your teen can improve communication within the family unit.
"Normal" Adolescent Development
May 12 • 6:30 - 7:30 PM
This presentation includes a brief explanation of adolescent brain development, including the changes adolescent brains go through during the formative teen years. We will also
discuss issues that can interfere with brain development during this time.
Basics of Substance Use: When Should
I Worry, How to Identify Signs
May 19 • 6:30 - 7:30 pm
This presentation provides basic information about various substances and examples of how to recognize substance use in teens. We will also offer some tips for discussing substance use with your teens, as well as an explanation of harm reduction and why we find it to be the most effective method of working with substance use.
Trauma: How to Define it, Impacts on Teens
and Intersection with Substance Use
May 26 • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
This presentation includes information about different types of trauma, how to recognize trauma, and how trauma can affect adolescents. We will also discuss how trauma intersects with substance use, and how substances can hinder our ability to heal from trauma.
Register Here - bit.ly/TSAseries21
Rediscover Summer Fun- Camp Galileo for PreK -Rising 8th Graders
Galileo's award-winning camps engage kids in the perfect mix of hands-on learning and unforgettable fun, thoughtfully redesigned for 2021. Small groups and safety protocols keep every Galilean safe. Engaging art, science and outdoor challenges deliver the innovation-igniting experiences kids love. Flexible enrollment policies make planning stress free. It all comes together for a joyful summer.
Limited enrollment—sign up now!
Save $25 per week before May 3rd! When you book for 3 weeks you’ll save $175, that’s $25 per week, plus $50 savings for weeks two and three.
Optional extended care. Learn more at www.galileo-camps.com.
Play On!
City of San Carlos - Workshops for Youth & Summer Camps
Free Mental Health & Wellness Workshops for Youth
San Carlos YAC is hosting a series of free mental health workshops for middle school-age students. The workshop topics include an overview of mental health in COVID, coping skills for teens during the pandemic, and destigmatizing mental health treatment. Workshops will be virtual and led by counselors from One Life Counseling Center on April 20th and May 18th at 5:00 pm. Registration is required. For more information and to register, visit: www.cityofsancarlos.org/yac.
Summer Camps
Registration is open to residents and non-residents for San Carlos Parks & Recreation summer camps! We are excited to offer a variety of camps including Adventure Camps, Club Ed, and Sports Camps. Additional safety measures will include face coverings for staff and campers, daily wellness screenings and temperature checks. A Fee Assistance Program, funded in partnership with the Parks & Recreation Foundation of San Carlos and the City of San Carlos, is available to help San Carlos residents and students enrolled in a San Carlos-based school participate in Parks & Recreation summer camps. For more information and to register, visit www.cityofsancarlos.org/camps or call (650) 802-4382.
City of San Carlos - Pedestrian Enhancements
The City’s Pedestrian Enhancement at Arroyo-Cedar and Hemlock-Orange Pathway Project requires roadway resurfacing at the intersections to provide a safe path of travel for pedestrians between the curb ramps.
The intersections require significant grading. Allowing vehicles to travel through the intersection with large drops between the existing and proposed roadway surface can be dangerous. Also, the contractor will use heavy equipment and machinery to resurface the intersection, which requires narrowing of lanes and adding more danger for vehicles travelling through the intersections. Therefore, we are planning the closures of the intersection of Arroyo Ave-Cedar St as well as Hemlock-Orange during the work to keep everyone safe. The closures will also expedite the schedule so the contractor can finish in one week as opposed to two weeks.
The closure of the Hemlock St-Orange Ave intersection will occur during the week of April 26 while the closure of the Arroyo Ave-Cedar St intersection will occur on May 3.
Poetry, Art, and Music Competition
As a part of our Affordable Housing Month in May 2021, the Housing Leadership Council and Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto are hosting a poetry, art, and music competition for eligible students (grade 12 and below) in San Mateo County! Students can submit their poem, or musical/art piece to [email protected] by the April 30th deadline! All submissions should be inspired by or touch upon the notion of home in the area.
High School Happenings
Sequoia High School
Carlmont High School
Design Tech High School
Tide Academy