Principal's Message
There are a lot of nuts-and-bolts this week. My ponderings on intrinsic motivation are at the end of the Principal’s Report. Next week I would like to write about adversity - why it exists in the life of a teenagers and what we should and should not do about it. If there are any topics you would like me to research and write about, please know that I am open to suggestions.
Special Bell Schedules
Next week we will have special bell schedules on Thursday and Friday to accommodate some school activities. (More information about those activities to come soon). This will not affect start and end times but class periods will be slightly shifted. Teachers will help make sure students know where they need to be at the proper times.
Conference Week
October is here and it is time to start planning. Please remember Conference Week is October 22-26. We will be on a minimum day schedule with a release time of 1:15 PM. First period will begin at 8:40 everyday that week except Wednesday, which will have the regular start time of 8:30am. Zero period will still begin at 7:45 AM. You can see the special bell schedules for conference week here (Monday, Tuesday and Friday) and here (Thursday). Wednesday will follow our usual Wednesday bell schedule.
In an effort to increase communication between home and school and to see as many families as possible your child’s teachers will be reaching out to you to join us for a conference session. These meetings will focus on students’ learning goals and reflections as well as strategies for success. Students should attend with their parents and bring work to share from every class.
If you would like an individual conference, please reach out to your child’s teacher to schedule a meeting.
Messages from your child’s teachers with additional details have already been sent out.
Picture Retakes
Picture retake day is Thursday, October 16th. Students that purchased pictures and are unsatisfied with the results may retake their photo on this day. All they will need to do is bring their package on retake day and give it to the LifeTouch photographer. If they were absent on picture day, please remind them to have their photo taken.
If your child took their picture and you did not purchase a package, it is not too late. Soon, a proof will be sent home with your child where you are able to order them online directly through LifeTouch.
Halloween
On Wednesday, October 31st, students are encouraged to come to school wearing Halloween costumes. A few rules to follow as students will still be attending classes:
- Masks may not be worn at school
- No Weapons or Props of any kind
- Costumes that severely limit a student's mobility are also not to be worn to school
- Make-up or hairspray must be applied prior to coming to school (Do not bring these items to school)
While we know that these rules may disappoint some students who may not be able to wear a complete costume, our main concern is safety.
Please consider limiting the amount of CANDY brought to school before, and after Halloween.
Zero Period will be cancelled on Thursday November 1st as many of our students will be out late Trick or Treating.
Intrinsic Motivation
This is my last set of ideas for building intrinsic motivation for our children. These last two suggestions dovetail perfectly with the previous ideas because we need to Provide Choice, Help Develop Routines and Allow for the Pursuit of Interests in order to Encourage Positive Connections and Find a Purpose and Set Goals. Below are the last two strategies:
- ENCOURAGE POSITIVE CONNECTIONS. Every parent knows how important it is for our children to spend time with people who are a good influence on them. I see this at school all the time; a particular student only gets in trouble when he/she hangs out with a certain group of kids. But we also know that we cannot choose our children’s friends for them. Forbidding a teenager from hanging out with a friend who he/she is making poor choices with will most likely lead to a stronger bond. The good news is that there are things we can do to encourage positive connections for our children. We want our students to feel a sense of connectedness and caring while at school. People who have a sense of belonging tend to do better in life, so we should work to create environments where our kids can build positive relationships. This can be done through team sports, music camps, academic clubs, martial arts etc… Step one: find out what your child is passionate about. Remember, it is all about choice. Let your child choose how they are going to spent their free time. If your child does not have strong interests outside of video games, work with them to find something. Getting a child involved in a passion project with peers will lead to positive relationships. Step two: remember not to over-schedule your child. Remember, students need to learn how to manage their time. When kids have a sense of belonging and have developed strong connections, they are more likely to have intrinsic motivation in all areas of their lives.
- FIND A PURPOSE THEN SET SOME GOALS. Students who connect their learning to their long term goals build intrinsic motivation. When students feel a sense of purpose and are working towards something important to them, they are much more capable of pushing through daily tasks that might seem mundane or unimportant. It is awesome to see our kids find their passion. Step one: have your child come up with their own long term goals. Try to connect some of these goals to school. Spend some time discussing why these goals are important. Step two: have your child identify what skills they might need in order to obtain their dreams. Ask if any of these skills might be taught in school. (If your child wants to be a professional athlete discuss eating habits and and workout routines. If your child wants to be a videogame designer, have a conversation around coding and STEAM activities.) Encourage your child to identify goals and then connect them to daily habits and routines. Children need to learn that the small things we do everyday are what lead us to our dreams - Rome was not built in a day…
(Listen to this short Podcast from Conscious Parenting - How to Help Your Kids Find Their Passion)
The main idea behind the 5 things I have written about is building capacity among our children. We can teach them to be intrinsically motivated, however, we must avoid using extrinsic motivators whenever possible. Self-determination is what motivates all of us, children included.
Given the fact that our brains are hardwired to learn, and that we enjoy completing tasks (think about how good it feels to cross a task off your ‘to do’ list), we are all capable of developing lifelong habits that lead to intrinsic motivation. In education, we talk a lot about developing lifelong learners; as parents, if you try to incorporate some of the suggestions above, you can also help your child become a lifelong learner.
Take the time to listen to this Podcast - Why You’ve Been Motivating Your Kids the Wrong Way
It is well worth the 9 minutes of your time.
Tom Domer
Principal
Mustang Roundup
Arroyo CMS PTA
We had a great turn out this past Wednesday for our PTA meeting! A big thank you to all those who attended and asked great questions!
Michelle Harmeier, our new district superintendent spoke about the financial challenges and budget issues the district is facing.
Andrew Mancini a former Central student spoke about his pop up Transportation Museum at Brittan Acres.
Jenny Goines our PTA treasurer reported we are close to our fundraising goal. We have 3 weeks and a little over $11,000 left to raise. If you haven't donated, you have only 3 weeks to do so here
Our next PTA meeting will be November 14 at 7PM in the library. If you would like to read past meeting notes, you can do so here
Stampede and Soar Color Run - Volunteers Needed!
The Stampede & Soar Color Run is coming up on Sunday, October 28! You can support this fantastic community event by spraying runners with color (and other fun volunteer opportunities)!
If you are already planning to attend with your student, volunteering is an easy way to give back to the community. Sign up solo... or recruit a friend, grandparent, or older student to volunteer with you! Volunteer here and connect with the Central / Arroyo community!
Thanks in advance for your support. If you have any questions, please contact Becky Mock ([email protected]) or Joyce Romeo ([email protected]).
AND IF YOU HAVEN’T YET REGISTERED TO PARTICIPATE, REGISTER ONLINE NOW. We only have a few t-shirts left. First come, first served!
ROPES is Coming!
ROPES is the Rite Of Passage ExperienceS (ROPES) program that is specifically designed as an optional enrichment activity as students complete cycles of their education. ROPES is a community endeavor supported by many groups and organizations in San Carlos. The ROPES project gives students in fourth, sixth and eighth grade opportunities to explore and demonstrate project based learning. The project is an opportunity for students to participate in an academic ritual by way of real-life learning experiences. To find out more about ROPES, we will be hosting a ROPES Orientation where we will provide you with even greater details and provide an opportunity for students and parents to ask specific questions.
4th Grade ROPES Orientation
For all 4th grade students attending Arroyo, Arundel, Charter Learning Center, and Heather
Monday, October 22, 2018, 6 PM Mustang Hall, Central Middle School
6th and 8th Grade ROPES Newcomer Orientation
For 6th & 8th grade students attending Central Middle School, Tierra Linda Middle School and Charter Learning Center
Monday, October 22, 2018, 7:15 PM Mustang Hall, Central Middle School
For more information, please contact [email protected].
San Carlos Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Fair Workshop #2
When: Wednesday, October 24th from 7:00pm-8:30pm
Where: Central Middle School Library
Students in 5-8th grades interested in entering this year’s fair should try and attend. Parents are welcome as well.
We will briefly review the key topics from September’s introductory meeting for students who missed this first meeting.
We will have a discussion on how to design experiments for a successful STEM Fair project.
Students will then have the opportunity to discuss and get valuable input on their project ideas with our community scientists and engineers during the second half of the meeting.
Attendance at the workshops is not required to enter the STEM Fair. The fair will take place on January 26th, 2019.
Contact Bob Dubrow, [email protected] if you have questions or comments.
Free Teen Heart Screening
All young adults, 12 to 25 years old, in the Bay Area and surrounding communities are invited to participate in Via Heart Project’s free heart screening event on Sunday, November 4 2018, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Sequoia High School, 1201 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94062 .
WHY: It is estimated 1 in 500 school-aged children suffer an undiagnosed heart defect, which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death. A typical annual physical does not screen for advanced heart abnormalities. This screening does not take the place of your annual or pre-participation sports physical.
WHAT: Screenings take 60-90 minutes (wait times may vary). A team of medical volunteers; including cardiologists, sonographers, and nurses from the Bay Area, will conduct a health history questionnaire review, an EKG test, and if warranted, an echocardiogram. The entire process is non-invasive—no needles or x-ray exposure—and we ensure each teen’s confidentiality, privacy, and individual modesty is respected throughout all aspects of the screening.
HOW: Your child must be registered in advance. Registration will open September 24, 2018 and will close at noon on November 2nd, 2018 and is limited to 500 students. Use this link to register beginning 9:00am on September 24: https://viaheartproject.org/screenings/
SCSD Athletics
Please use the DISTRICT LINK https://www.scsdsports.org for information on SCSD Athletics. Call 415-334-3333 or email [email protected] with any questions.
SCEF
Setup a Recurring Donation for SCEF
Did you know that you can make a monthly recurring donation over the year, instead of a one time gift? For example, a $1,200 donation can be given as a $100 gift each month, year round. If this is a better fit for your family’s budget or you want to avoid the end of the year scramble enroll here: https://www.scefkids.org/donate
Get Your Faculty and Friends Concert Tickets Now!
Go to: https://www.scefkids.org/events
On November 9 at 7pm, join our SCSD music teachers, local musicians and community members for an evening of live music. This popular event, held at St. Charles Church in San Carlos, is great for the whole family. Refreshments will be available for sale at intermission. Support SCEF, music in our schools and enjoy our local musicians.
Healthy Cities
Healthy Cities Orientation and Training is Coming!
It's almost here... Become a tutor!
Hoping you can join us on Wednesday, Oct. 17 for a training and orientation to become a Healthy Cities tutor!
There are two (identical) sessions being offered: 8:30-10:30 am and 6:30-8:30 pm. Both sessions are being held at White Oaks School, 1901 White Oak Way.
As a volunteer, you can choose which school is best for you, as well as the most convenient day and time. Tutoring is just 45 minutes once a week, and no prior experience is required.
Please help us fulfill this student's wish:
Go to our website at: www.healthycitiestutoring.org or email [email protected]for more information. Thank you!
Community Partners
10th Annual Goblin Walk!
San Carlos Parks & Recreation is excited for their 10th annual Goblin Walk! Join us from 4:00 – 5:30 PM on Friday, October 26th. Children 7 years and under, accompanied by an adult, are invited to Trick-or-Treat down Laurel Street in their costume and visit the businesses displaying the Goblin Walk sign. The first 1,000 Trick-or-Treaters can pick up a Goblin Walk Trick-or-Treat bag at Harrington Park or from any Goblin Walk volunteer. For questions please call (650)802-4382.
Outdoor Adventures for 10 1/2 to 17 Year Olds
Come to our Open House
Monday, October 15th!
Boy Scout Troop 301 meets most Monday nights and has outings at least once a month. Join us to learn more at:
Tierra Linda Middle School
750 Dartmouth Ave
San Carlos
Monday, October 15th, 7:30-8:45pm
Details on our website: belmont301.mytroop.us.
Email [email protected] or [email protected]
Troop 301 has an exciting program of hiking, biking, camping, sking, kayaking, mystery trips, community service, and high adventure summer camps. And we love to build stuff! Although we encourage and support rank advancement, our main emphasis remains the process: learning vital skills for life and outdoor survival, as well as how to lead others through positive and respectful guidance -- along with having FUN.
High School Happenings
Sequoia High School
Shadow Program
A shadow day is an opportunity for eighth grade students to spend the day at Sequoia and experience firsthand what it’s like to be a member of the Sequoia family.
Students have an opportunity to observe Sequoia High School for the day, and there is a Parent Information Session the morning your student shadows.
For more information and to sign up see link below (spaces are filling up quickly)
8th Grade Welcome Night
November 14, 2018 - 6:00 PM Carrington Hall
Visit Classrooms and Meet Department Chairs
Q and A with extracurricular leaders
International Baccalaureate (IB) Informational Meeting
January 15, 2018 - 6:00 PM - Carrington Hall (Spanish Presentation @ College Career Center)
Presentation from IB Program Coordinator about IB: an honors program that challenges students to reach their fullest academic potential, while developing both as students and global citizens
See sample course loads for 9th-12th grades
Campus Tours
November 10, 2018 and January 26, 2019, Front of School
Approximately 30 minute tours led by current Sequoia Leadership students
Tours will depart between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM. No advanced sign-ups necessary
Highlights points of interest on campus and provides answers to frequently asked questions
Performing Arts
Fall Musical The Drowsy Chaperone: November 10, 11, 16 and 17 @ Carrington Hall
Spring Play The Children's Hour: March 8, 9, & 10, 2019 @ Carrington Hall
Fall Concert: October 23 @ Carrington Hall (7:00 pm)
Open House
Thursday, March 28, 2019 -7:00-8:30 PM
Open to Current and Prospective Students
Sequoia Day/Sequoia Stampede
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (9:00 AM)
Freshman Welcome Night
Wednesday, April 25 @ MPR 6:30-8:30 PM
Also, for more information about Sequoia and all of our programs, please visit our website at http://www.sequoiahs.org/index.html
Carlmont High School
Attached please find the October Carlmont Corner & a detailed flyer about Shadowing at Carlmont. Shadow registration will be available through our website beginning on October 8th.
http://www.carlmonths.org/Parents/8th-Grade-Transition/index.html
INFORMATION
• Carlmont High School website: http://carlmonths.org/
• Sequoia Union High School District website: http://www.seq.org/
MIDDLE SCHOOL LIAISONS
• Central, Charter, & Tierra Linda: Chris Cook [email protected]
• Nesbit, Ralston & Non-Feeder: Carol Castro [email protected]
• For non-feeder school ONLY: email [email protected] to join mailing list
Summit/Everest High School
For more information go to summitps.org
Design Tech High School
http://www.designtechhighschool.org/