Principal's Message
May 31, 2021
Week-at-a-Glance
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8th Grade Promotion Practice the week of 6/7/2021
There will be mandatory promotion practice sessions the week of June 7. In order to do this we need all 8th graders on campus. We are making some schedule changes which are detailed below.
On these days we will spend time outside in the heat. Make sure your student brings a water bottle and applies sunscreen. A hat is also recommended.
Promotion practice / schedule changes the week of June 7:
Monday 6/7/2021
- 8:40 AM to 11:30 AM - Group A students come to school in person as usual.
- 12:45 PM to 3:00 PM - All students come back to school for promotion practice.
- There will be no afternoon zoom sessions for 8th grade.
Tuesday 6/8/2021
- 8:40 AM to 3:00 PM - All students (Groups A and B) come to school in person for field day in the morning, pizza lunch, and then promotion practice in the afternoon.
- There will be no afternoon zoom sessions for 8th grade.
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8th grade Scavenger Hunt/Ice Cream
Send your 8th grader to campus on Wednesday, June 2nd at 2 pm for a fun scavenger hunt on campus and free Mr. Softees!
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Take a look at this 21 Day Challenge and join me in taking part
Hello CMS,
As you may be aware, San Carlos School District leadership has been working on creating new systems around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We are not doing this work alone. Take a look at this 21 Day Challenge and join me in taking part. I look forward to taking on this challenge and learning alongside our San Carlos partners.
Tom Domer
The Community Foundation of San Carlos would like to invite you to take part in a 21-Day Social and Racial Equity Challenge in the month of June. This 21-day challenge was created as an educational and self-reflection tool by Eddie Moore Jr. and Debby Irving, renowned diversity and equity professionals. The challenge has now been adapted across the country in agencies and institutions to provide a self-guided process to learn, reflect and take action on racial and social justice topics. The Community Foundation has adapted it to include some resources and topics of interest for our local community.
The City of San Carlos and the San Mateo County Libraries have endorsed the challenge. Mayor Laura Parmer-Lohan, City Manager Jeff Maltbie, and Police Chief Kristina Bell and many community members have already accepted this challenge.
For 21 days during the month of June, you will undertake one action each day, usually reading an article or watching a short video, to further your understanding of power, privilege, oppression and equity. Each day will address a specific topic and includes multiple challenge options for you to choose from (an average of 15 minutes per day) and additional “Other Resources” if you wish to continue exploring the topic further. We provide you with a reflection log for you to jot down and process your thoughts along the way.
There are many ways to organize the challenge. We leave it up to you as to how you will structure the timing for your group. Possibilities include:
- 21 days straight (e.g. June 1-21 or June 5-26)
- Five weekdays (weekends off to catch up) for 21 days
- Three days on, two days off, etc throughout the month
- Everyone goes at their own pace but agrees to finish by June 30
- Reflection done weekly, upon completion of the challenge, or however you decide
The challenge can be taken individually, as a group within an organization or as a group of friends. Many of our CFSC Board members and volunteers undertook this challenge together in late 2020 and benefited greatly from this engaging learning experience. It can be a powerful tool to help examine values and goals and encourage dialogue on these important topics.
Our website has all of the materials you will need to begin. If you have questions or would like to chat more about the process, please contact [email protected]. Please let us know if you take it on as we hope to celebrate our community partners joining in this important journey. Register your participation by filling out the Challenge Accepted form. Participants will be posted on our website.
Sincerely,
Jessica Yang
President of the Board
Community Foundation of San Carlos
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Congratulations Raul Sandoval!
Congratulations to Raul Sandoval an 8th grader at Central who won first place in the Break the Vape PSA contest audio submission. This is an initiative from TUPE and the San Mateo Office of Education designed to educate our youth about the harmful effects of tobacco use. Raul will be receiving a gift certificate for $100 to Target and a certificate of excellence!
Take a moment to listen to his rap song. It is indeed excellent.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1IulKibjnOul7H7Mw-Mc9yby_fPx64-mm
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Material Drop Off
If you have a Chromebook, textbooks or novels that belong to the school, please make sure to return them. Please have students bring materials to their teachers. We will also be holding Material Drop Off on June 10 and 11th from 12:30 to 4:00 PM for Connections students. Please drop off material with teachers or in the main office.
For 8th graders, please drop off materials before Promotion.
Thank you
School District
Sustainable and Climate Resilient Schools Challenge
The San Mateo County Sustainable and Climate Resilient Schools Challenge identifies and recognizes students, teachers, administrators, and community members who are leading meaningful change for a sustainable and climate-resilient future. Administrators and educators are invited to use this email template to share this opportunity with student leaders.
Learn more here. Applications are due June 6, 2021
2021-2022 School Year Calendar
The calendar for the 2021-2022 school year was approved at the Board meeting on Thursday, May 20. The SCSD Calendar is the official calendar for the school year for all schools (except San Carlos Charter), and includes all start and end dates, official holidays, and in-service teacher workdays.
Please visit our Calendar page to download a copy.
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, Wednesdays, & Fridays 10:00 am-4:00 pm
- Thursdays 1:00-7:00pm
Register Here
Other Community Based Testing sites in San Mateo County Here
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
Happy Retirement!!
CMS is bidding retirement congratulations to some fabulous teachers. By June 9th, please contribute Kudos to them on these boards below.
- Mrs. Francesconi: Kudoboard for Mrs. Francesconi
- Ms Mitchell: Kudoboard for Ms Mitchell
- Ms Geiges: Kudoboard for Ms Geiges
Family Summer Socials
Connecting students and families together is more important than ever after this school year!
The Central Arroyo PTA is planning some optional socials throughout the summer to bring families together to meet and socialize before we are all back together this fall. These socials will range from grade specific park hangouts, to parent nights out, to food truck lunch meet-ups, to harvesting our Arroyo garden.
Please complete this form if you would like to hear about these opportunities over the summer!
Arroyo Central Summer Meet-Ups
Buddy Program
After a year of social distancing, we’re looking forward to rebuilding our school communities next fall. As a parent or caregiver, do you remember your first day in the San Carlos School District? Administrators do a great job of disseminating nuts-and-bolts information, and children naturally bond with their teachers and classmates while at school. But parents can feel a little untethered, especially if they are coming in during the middle of the school’s grades, like 5th grade in a 4-5 school.
We are inviting Arroyo and Central families to reach out to a new family that is joining our school next fall. It can be as simple as an email that offers to answer First Day of School questions, or something more, like a playdate or parent-to-parent coffee date.
If you can volunteer to reach out to someone, please fill out this form! You will be provided with a sample email, and contact info for the family once they opt in to be contacted. Let’s reach out, and show the newcomers what it means to be #sancarlosstrong!
*Connections Families, we'd love to welcome you to Arroyo/CMS if your child did not come to the campus this year. :) Please fill out this form if you'd like to have another family reach out.
Each Green Corner
Workdays at the Arroyo and Central Living Campus Gardens will be continuing through the summer. Each workday will take place on Saturdays 9am-1pm, and have tasks appropriate for volunteers age 5+. See below for registration information and dates! Additionally, if you are part of a larger volunteer organization or scout troop, feel free to email [email protected] to “adopt a workday” for your group.
Sign up here:
SCEF
San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF)
You Helped Fund-the-Future
Our campaign to Fund-the-Future was a gala success and the budget to launch the new science curriculum, StemScopes, is fully funded! Thank you to all who contributed. Check out what is in store for our kids next year at https://youtu.be/Zb3bceZDShU. If you would like to support science and technology tools & equipment, social-emotional programs & counseling, K-8 music education, PE, middle school electives and more, please donate TODAY: https://scefkids.org/donate/.
Join us! Volunteer with SCEF
SCEF is governed by a working board who provides their expertise to the organization. In addition, many members of the parent community serve on committees that plan events and auctions, seek sponsorships, and help to run the organization. There are many ways to get involved while making use of your personal skill set - at your school, as part of the marketing/communications team, as event support for Read-A-Thon, the Starlight Gala, teacher auctions and parent parties, or tackling smaller tasks for a few hours here and there. If you have an interest in volunteering with SCEF, please reach out to: [email protected].
Community News
Legarza Summer Camps
Legarza Basketball, All-Sports, and Volleyball programs give children the knowledge and motivation they need to achieve their personal best in sport and life. Our program is tailored to help your young athlete succeed on and off the court in a safe, professional and encouraging environment of learning and fun.
Summer programs are now enrolling at www.legarzasports.org. We will be offering morning, afternoon, and all day programs weekly from June through August.
We are also currently offering $100 scholarships to families needing additional financial support to attend our summer programs. Those interested in receiving a scholarship can contact [email protected].
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.
Dates: June 14 - July 30, 2021
Location: Brittan Acres Elementary School
Learn more at www.galileo-camps.com
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! 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/
High School Happenings
Sequoia High School
Carlmont High School
Design Tech High School
Tide Academy