Sunday, September 19, 2021
This Week at a Glance
Principal's Message
Last Thursday during Advisory we held a rally for our students. We did the typical rally things: played games, had some competitions, played some music and even had a teacher dance-off (Mr. Chau dominated). The goal was to begin to build a school that students have love and affection for. Developing school spirit is an important aspect of a healthy school environment. In addition, the link between positive school culture and academic achievement is undeniable. Study after study have shown that schools that take the time to build a climate that is safe, supportive, respectful and responsible (Our PBIS Core Values) have students who are ready to learn and thrive.
I shared an article that has helped me be intentional in my efforts to build the kind of school our children enjoy attending. Read it if you are interested in why school leaders put so much effort into the climate of their schools. I also included these bullet points because I have them posted on my wall to remind myself what we need to be doing and how to do it.
A positive school climate supports healthy outcomes for all students
- Norms, values, and expectations that support student safety
- Prevention, Intervention, Post Intervention support
- Accessible Social, Emotional, and Behavioral supports
- Respectful, caring, and engaging interactions with adults and students
- Meaningful participation in decision making
- Promoting individual, group, and school-wide supports that enhance connectedness and contribute to a safe, supportive environment
The Essential Traits of a Positive School Climate
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Bathrooms are back up.
We are opening up the restrooms beginning on Monday. Students have been reminded to respect their school which means reporting vandalism or theft. We have spent a great deal of time talking to our students about shared responsibility and taking ownership of their school. We believe that a great deal of learning has occurred because of this and are hopeful that we have turned a corner to a more positive atmosphere.
Some more good news is that Tik Tok removed and banned the trend Devious Lick. This should help end these disturbing events.
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Traffic Control
If you are dropping your child off in your car, please be courteous to our neighbors. Driveways get blocked and traffic gets backed up pretty easily. Please try to keep clear of driveways.
In addition, we have been reminding our students to follow the rules of the road and to always be safe. Students have been seen weaving in and out of traffic and darting between cars. Please help us reinforce the importance of safety while on wheels. Let’s do everything we can to avoid an accident.
Tom Domer, Principal
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8th Grade Baby Pictures
We are currently putting together the yearbook and need baby photos. If you have one you want to submit please email it to Marissa Chuang [email protected].
The due date is October 31 so please submit them before then.
Thanks, Central's Multimedia class
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Counselor's Message
On Monday, September 20th from 10:00 -10:30am and Monday, September 27th from 2:00pm-2:30pm Ms. Jobak, School Counselor at Arroyo & Central, will be offering a zoom for parents and guardians to come and ask questions and hear about the school counseling program at both schools. Please use this link to join the conversation.
PTA News
Calling All Readers! The Book Fair is Coming!
The Central/Arroyo Book Fair is October 4th-8th, and we need your help to make it a success! Please visit the sign-up page: Book Fair Volunteering and sign up for a shift (or more!). Parents must fill out a volunteer form with the district in order to be able to volunteer. Please consider signing up soon and filling out this quick form to ensure that you are able to volunteer.
Students will be visiting the Book Fair throughout the week with their classrooms. The Book Fair will also be open after school from 1:15 to 3:00. Please tell your student to swing by. Parents are also welcome to check it out before or after their parent-teacher Conference.
Thank you in advance for your support! Funds raised from the Book Fair support the Central Arroyo PTA and the Library. If you have any questions please contact Jenny Goines: [email protected] Lena Grodin [email protected] or Andrea Mardesich: [email protected]
Yearbook
This year Central is using the eShare for the yearbook again. Families can submit photos for consideration for the yearbook. Please be sure to indicate which students are in the photos, the grade of the students and the context. The yearbook staff hopes that this will be an extremely helpful tool for CMS athletes and sports.
https://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=central22
Volunteers Still Needed! Sign up here to volunteer.
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.
Lunch Time Support
Support school staff by being present in the yard and playground during student lunch. Assist students and supervise as needed. Your chance to observe students in a relaxed setting. Sign up here! https://signup.com/go/iTDfWqZ
OR go to our website and sign up here Ways to Support your PTA Programs and Events – PTA – Central Middle School (scsdk8.org)
Become a PTA Partner - DONATE TODAY!
U.S. Teachers on average spend $459 of their own money on classroom supplies and CA teachers average $664. Your Central Arroyo PTA donation supports grants of $700 per teacher that off-set these costs for our wonderful educators.
Your one-time PTA Partner donation of $250 this Fall directly benefits Central and Arroyo schools and students by providing:
- Teacher Grants and Supplies
- Art in Action, Garden, MakerSpace programs
- Library Books and Supplies
- Staff Appreciation
- Healthy Cities Tutoring
- School Assemblies
- And much, much more!
Every donation amount makes a difference, and we thank you in advance for any support you can give the Central Arroyo students and teachers! DONATE TODAY! PTA Partnership also includes your annual PTA membership.
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!
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.
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)
So many ways to give! Your support of our schools is appreciated and necessary, and there are many ways for you to give.
Make your plan now (https://scefkids.org/donate/):
- Workplace Giving-Many companies match employee donation and support pre-tax giving
- Appreciated Stock-Avoid capital gains tax while earning a bigger tax deduction
- Donor-Advised Funds-Grants from your charitable investment account are welcome
- Give Every Month (GEM) - Spread your SCEF support across the entire year - https://scefkids.org/gem/
Parent Education Series
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).
Highschool Happenings
Sequoia High School
Sequoia High School website: http://www.sequoiahs.org
Carlmont High School
Carlmont High School website: http://carlmonths.org