Monday, September 6, 2021
Principal's Message
This Week at a Glance
This week I have included a number of links for resources you may find helpful and to ask for some help. I included the article directly below because we have noticed that, in some cases, we have seen our students lacking resilience. This is not their fault, they have been isolated and missing out on genuine peer interaction for a long time. Students have not had to work out classroom conflicts or small skirmishes on the field. These conflicts teach kids how to develop important social skills and problem solving techniques.
In addition, our kids have been through a lot. They have missed out on milestone activities as well as daily routines. We need to teach our kids how to deal with tough situations so that they are better prepared for the world they face everyday. Hopefully this article will give you some ideas to help your child/children build some resiliency.
Building Resilience in Children
We have been fielding a lot of the same questions on a variety of topics, so we decided to address them through an informational video. I have linked the Superintendent’s message below for you to watch in case you have not already done so.
Picture Day is scheduled for this Tuesday 9/7/21. Send your child/children to school looking their best. Unfortunately, picture day coincides with Rosh Hashanah. If you are planning on being out of school, do not worry, we will hold a make-up picture day soon.
Yosemite Information Meeting
7th graders have the opportunity to go to Yosemite this coming May. The Yosemite team will be conducting an informational night Thursday, September 9th from 6:30 to approximately 7:15 in the gym. This initial meeting is to provide parents and students an overview of the week so families can make an informed decision if a student wants to attend. We will be focusing on: general information about the trip, what to expect, timeline of forms and due dates, approximate cost, opportunities to volunteer to help organize the trip, and chaperone positions.
This is not a mandatory meeting. Applications will be distributed via history class Friday, September 10th. If you have any questions please contact Gigi Banfield at [email protected].
I have also heard a great deal about the risks of catching Covid now that more and more of us are vaccinated. I found this article from the New York Times interesting because it lays out how different circumstances play a role in risk factors. Knowing this might help in some decisions you might consider making.
What’s Your Risk of Getting Covid if You Are Vaccinated?
Dress Code
Central has been experiencing a large number of dress code violations since school has opened. I wanted to attach our Board Policy so that you understand that dress code is something we consider as an entire school community. While we want students to be able to express themselves through their wardrobe, the primary purpose of school is to educate our students. Please help us enforce our dress code by talking to your child about it.
Here is the link for the Board Policy AR 5132 Students on dress and grooming.
Tom Domer, Principal
PTA News
Calling All SCSD Library Books!
We are so delighted that our school libraries are open once again, but we need your help to get them in order! There are still hundreds of outstanding library books that need to be returned to our school libraries from the past 2 years. We are asking any families with library books from any SCSD library to return them to our CMS/Arroyo library. Students can bring the books to the library or parents can drop books off at the Central office. Thanks for your help!
PTA Volunteer Opportunities - Our Community is Stronger Together!
The PTA is looking to fill a few more volunteer roles for this year. There are a number of positions we are hoping to fill immediately as well as many more opportunities throughout the year. We can't do it without you! Sign up here to volunteer.
Here are some open positions needed ASAP
EGC Volunteer - Site Lead or Coordinator - Sign up here!
- Site Leader- As an EGC Living Campus Site Leader, you will be in charge of attending, leading, and supervising monthly Living Campus workdays at one of our school garden sites. You will also be responsible for planning workday tasks in collaboration with EGC’s Volunteer Manager and other lead volunteers. This position requires an estimated monthly time commitment of 8 - 10 hours. For more information please email [email protected].
- Coordinator- As an EGC Coordinator you will be supporting the Site Leader.
Fall PTA Reflections Coordinator(s)
Provide a chance for CMS students to explore and share their creativity. Promote this artistic expression contest at the school level to our students, recruit judges, forward 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. Volunteer here!
Lunch Time Support
Support school staff by being present in the yard and playground during student lunch. Assist students and supervise as needed. Report to staff any concerning behavior you might observe. Sign up here! https://signup.com/go/iTDfWqZ
Arroyo & Central Living Campus Monthly Work Day
Come help care for Each Green Corner’s Living Campus Garden at Arroyo and Central!
Lots of impressive volunteer work has gone into the garden so far and Saturday, September 11th is the next workday!
The work will start at 9 a.m. and end around 1 p.m. It’s going to be a fun and rewarding day! See the event page for more details and COVID instructions. To register for the event click here!
Any questions or concerns please email Emily Brunette at [email protected]
PTA Partner - Every Donation Makes a Difference
Thank you to those who've supported the Central Arroyo PTA! Without our Parent Partners, many of the wonderful programs would not be possible for our children. All funds directly benefit Arroyo and CMS programs including supporting teacher grants and supplies, Art in Action, Library Books, Healthy Cities Tutoring and SO MUCH MORE!
Your one-time family donation of $250 will help us reach our goal. Thank you in advance for any support you can give. Every single dollar makes a difference for our students and teachers. DONATE TODAY!
PTA Partnership also includes your annual Family PTA membership. When you join the Central Arroyo PTA, you are also joining the California State PTA, which spearheads educational advocacy in Sacramento.
Weekly CMS Newsletter
Beginning Sunday, September 12th, the weekly CMS Newsletter will be sent on Sundays, unless a three-day weekend, in which case the newsletter will be sent on Monday.
School District News
COVID Reminders - Stay Home When Sick and Get Tested
Staying home when sick and getting tested for COVID-19 are two of the most effective ways to keep our community safe. Click here for more information.
Common Symptoms of COVID-19 (CDPH)
- If you have any of the symptoms listed above, call your school office to report an illness, stay home, and take a COVID test.
- If you need to report a COVID case, please call our District Nurse - Page Pollack at 650-632-8300 (Arroyo Office) or Human Resources at 650-590-5922 if the Nurse is unavailable.
For additional information, visit our COVID-19 Resources page and review the SCSD Health & Safety Plan.
CDC Recommended Travel Guidelines for Domestic or International Travel
Per the CDC recommendations concerning travel, SCSD will be using these guidelines for staff or students that travel domestically and internationally. See this CDPH flyer for additional recommendations on traveling.
New Hours for Curative Van
Please take advantage of the no-cost COVID-19 testing provided by the San Mateo County Health Department.
Click on the link to sign up at one of the following locations to begin your regular weekly testing:
Central Middle School (parking lot, under solar structure)
- Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9:00 am-3:00 pm
- Thursdays 1:00 pm-7:00 pm
- Fridays 11:00 am-5:00 pm (effective August 17, 2021)
Other Community Based Testing sites in San Mateo County Here
Community Partners
San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF)
Ah, September! The air feels a little different, and we are firmly into the school year. We want to warmly welcome you back: https://youtu.be/AHZxRcUVsaU
Learn more about how your donations benefit all students at every school at https://scefkids.org
Be a GEM: Give Every Month
Did you know that you can make your donation by setting up an ongoing, automated, recurring gift? When you Give Every Month, your support of SCEF is spread across the entire year. If you sign up NOW your donation will be given over 10 months (Sept-June)--now that makes giving easy! Learn more and join this campaign (at any dollar amount) at: https://scefkids.org/gem/.
Give the gift of time - Join us! Volunteer with SCEF
People volunteer for all kinds of reasons, so we have all kinds of ways to get involved! Join the SCEF team and make use of your personal skill set – on our governing board, at your school, or on a committee planning events and seeking sponsorships. We are always welcoming new volunteers - and are currently looking for individuals with experience in social media, videography, events and finance.
Interested in sharing your expertise while supporting our public schools? Please fill out this GoogleForm: https://forms.gle/GcFmSwk63SgU55k59
Like our Facebook page and @scefkids on Instagram, too, for more upcoming details and all SCEF news.
City of San Carlos
Planning Commission Virtual Study Session Protected Tree Ordinance - Tuesday, September 7, 2021 7:00 PM
On September 7, 2021 at 7:00 PM, the San Carlos Planning Commission will hold a study session which will allow Staff to gather input from the Planning Commission and the San Carlos community for consideration as part of the new tree removal, trimming, and protection regulations. For more information and how to attend the meeting, as well as future updates, please visit www.cityofsancarlos.org/treeordinance.
City Council Virtual Study Session - East Side Innovation District - September 8, 2021 5:30 PM
The City of San Carlos has been working with the community and stakeholders to develop urban design strategies for the City’s east side industrial area from Holly Street to Brittan Avenue, known as the East Side Innovation District. At this City Council Study Session, "10 Big Moves”, or strategies will be presented. These strategies translate the community’s aspirations for the East Side into a holistic design framework that will inform future development and infrastructure improvements for the next 10 to 20 years. Please join us! To learn more and review materials from previous community workshops, please visit www.SanCarlosInnovation.org.
Parent Education Series
Ready for some back-to-school self-care? On September 9, Mission Be offers a new "Mindful Parent" series featuring Madeleine Pizey in Mindful Parenting: Reducing Covid Stress and Anxiety (September 9, Online).
As Olympic athletes pushed mental health to the forefront, we welcome Steve Smith, PhD, clinical and sports psychologist, for a timely discussion on “The Twisties”: Youth Sports, Competition, and Mental Health (September 15, Online).
SPECIAL EVENT! Frank Bruni, author of Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be, joins Alice Kleeman, award-winning former college advisor, in Beyond Being Admitted: Making the Most of the College Experience (September 22, Online).
September is Suicide Prevention Month! San Mateo County Health, Sequoia Healthcare District, StarVista, and The Parent Venture offer resources for youth mental health and suicide prevention. Mark your calendars! (September 28)
How will Covid impact learning and mental health? Anya Kamenetz, NPR education correspondent, will discuss her upcoming book, The Stolen Year: How America's Covid Response Failed Children, and How We Can Fix It (September 29, Online).
Keys: for Parenting is here! Keys is a new communication tool that puts parenting advice at your fingertips—literally, it's a keyboard!—developed by Charlene Margot and Bev Hartman, co-founders of The Parent Venture. Give Keys a try!
Want more great parenting advice? Follow the Parent Education Series on social media (Instagram and Facebook), or subscribe to our free Video Library (YouTube), a popular and trusted resource with over 21,000 views!
HIgh School Happenings
8th Grade Shadowing
Sequoia will NOT be able to offer 8th Grade Shadowing during the 2021-22 school year. However, Sequoia will offer virtual 1:1 shadowing, and please be on the lookout for on-campus tours in the Winter and Spring.
Registration for both programs opens on the Sequoia 8th Grade Shadow information page, Tuesday, September 7 at 2pm.
https://www.sequoiahs.org/PARENTS--COMMUNITY/8th-Grade-Shadowing-Program/index.html
Sequoia High School
Sequoia High School website: http://www.sequoiahs.org
Carlmont High School
Carlmont High School website: http://carlmonths.org