Principal's Message
Dear Arroyo Families,
What an amazing first week of school we had! If your house was anything like mine, it involved earlier bedtimes, making lunches, packing backpacks with extra masks, managing back-to-school traffic, and remembering how tiring it can be to learn and play in person all day! We know that it will take some time for everyone to build back their stamina and re-establish routines. Thank you for all the ways you supported your child with the transition back to school this week.
At school, we worked on getting to know our new classmates, learning new routines, and practicing our Arroyo Core Values of being Responsible, Respectful, and Safe. I saw many examples of students reaching out to new peers to invite them over to lunch tables or into recess play. We’ll continue to work on building our inclusive community, but we’re off to a great start! Our students also did a fantastic job of following our COVID safety protocols, keeping masks on tightly indoors, and wearing masks or keeping social distance outdoors. I also want to give a huge thank you to our staff and custodians for all of their efforts -- keeping windows and doors open and air filters running, making time for handwashing and giving reminders for hand sanitizer, keeping surfaces sanitized, and getting creative for socially distanced collaboration inside the classroom and in our outdoor learning spaces.
We have just a few updates and reminders for the week ahead. Thanks for taking the time to read through them and note anything pertinent to your child and family.
Together we soar!
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]
Volunteers
We are still in need of more volunteers to assist with drop-off and pick-up to help keep things running smoothly. Even if you can only help for one morning or afternoon a week, your help would make a difference! We are also in need of additional campus supervisors during lunch. Please complete this form if you can help!
COVID Testing at Central Middle School
Thank you for continuing to get your child tested when exhibiting COVID symptoms, when identified as a close contact, and after travel! I am happy to announce that Curative has expanded its hours at its CMS location. Also just a note that if you have any questions about the Curative operations, you should consult the Curative website rather than the CMS staff. This is a service run by an outside agency and we are happy to provide space on campus as a service to the community. New hours are:
- Tuesday/Wednesday: 9am-3pm
- Thursday: 1pm-7pm
- Friday: 11am-5pm
Communication with Elective & PE Teachers
Our elective and PE classes got off to a great start this week. While your child’s homeroom teacher is your first point of contact for most things at school, we encourage you to contact elective and PE teachers directly if you have questions or need to check in with them about your child. Contact information for all staff members can be found on our Arroyo website.
- Our 4th Grade Elective Teachers are Staci Kavanagh (Art), James Bruzzone (Theater), and Colyn Fischer (Music)
- Our 5th Grade Elective Teachers are Sarah Moulder (Band), Colyn Fischer (Orchestra), and James Bruzzone (Theater)
- Our 4th & 5th Grade PE Teachers are Layla Bagheroghli and Christi McGuirk
Back to School Night
Back to School Night for Arroyo is on Thursday, September 2 at 7pm. Watch for more information and a Zoom link from your child’s teacher for the event.
PTA News
Walk to School Bus
Are you walking/biking/scooting to school and looking for other Arroyo students to form a group? Feel free to enter your information in our Arroyo Walk to School Bus Database to coordinate groups that live nearby each other!
Arroyo Spirit Wear
Want some Arroyo Spirit Gear? Check out our PTA store with some fun Arroyo Eagle items to show your school spirit! Special thanks to Sarah Kinahan and Jenny Goines for getting our Spirit Gear store set up.
Join the Central Arroyo PTA!
The Central Arroyo PTA is grateful to the school community for contributing to our efforts to raise funds to support our students. Our PTA focuses on advocating for our students, supporting our teachers and staff, as well as building a strong school community. Your PTA membership lends your voice to advocacy efforts on behalf of children and educators at the local, state, and national levels.
PTA Partner donations of $250 include a family PTA membership (Family membership dues are $20 and Teacher/Individual memberships are $10) and directly benefit Central and Arroyo schools and students by providing:
• Teacher Grants and Supplies
• Art in Action, Garden
• Library Books
• 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! JOIN AND DONATE TODAY!
PTA Open Positions
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:
- Book Fair Committee - Before and after school hours, October 1-8. Dates have already been reserved with Scholastic. Help our coordinator bring back this event in person!
- Stampede & Soar Volunteers - Our Stampede & Soar team needs your help! We are looking for volunteers to help plan our Fall Stampede & Soar community event. This is our only business sponsor opportunity of the year and a fun-filled community event! It's a great chance to get involved. Volunteer here!
Attend Central/Arroyo PTA Meetings
Get important updates from our PTA Board, Ms. Shelton and Mr. Domer at our monthly PTA meetings. We will be doing a hybrid schedule for our PTA meetings this year rotating between in-person morning meetings on Wednesdays in the library and evening meetings via zoom. Membership is not required to attend, though it is required to vote. All are welcome!
Please join us for our first PTA Meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 15 at 8:45am in the Arroyo/Central Library!
Meeting Date - Time - Location:
Sept. 15 - 8:45am - Central/Arroyo Library
Oct. 13 - 7pm - Virtual via Zoom
Nov. 10 - 8:45am - Central/Arroyo Library
Jan. 12 - 7pm - Virtual via Zoom
Feb. 9 - 8:45am - Central/Arroyo Library
Mar. 9 - 7pm - Virtual via Zoom
Apr. 13 - 8:45am - Central/Arroyo Library
May 11 - 7pm - Virtual via Zoom
SCEF News
2021-2022 SCEF Grant
This year’s SCEF grant will support social emotional programs and counselors, PE teachers, technology associates and devices for students, supplies and materials to implement new science curriculum, teachers for smaller class sizes grades K-3, music programs for all grade levels, libraries, middle school electives and a Principal’s Fund at every school. Learn more about how your donations benefit all students at every school at: https://www.scefkids.org/.
Devil’s Canyon Back-to-School Night
All San Carlos School District and San Carlos Charter families, educators and staff are invited to stop by Devil’s Canyon Brewing Co. on Friday, August 27th for a no-host family back-to-school night during their weekly Beer Friday. This is an all-ages event and food trucks will be available. Visit the SCEF booth outside the Washington St. entrance to get your nametag and color sticker indicating your school(s) assignment. See you on the 27th!
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. Learn more and join this campaign (at any dollar amount) at: https://scefkids.org/gem/.
Like our Facebook page for more upcoming details and all SCEF news: https://www.facebook.com/SCEFkids
District News
New Hours for Curative Van
Please take advantage of the no-cost surveillance COVID-19 testing provided by the San Mateo County Health Department. Click on this 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 9am-3pm
- Thursdays 1-7pm
- Fridays 11am-5pm (effective August 17, 2021)
- Find other community-based testing sites in San Mateo County here
Help Reduce Car Traffic At Our Schools - Students Can Take SamTrans To and From School
Learn more about the options for students to take the SamTrans from your neighborhood to school and back! Visit the SamTrans site for fares and information, and to see the schedules and maps for these San Carlos buses:
Check out the SCSD website for information on Safe Routes to School, and options for students to walk or roll to campus this year.
Community Partner News
Afterschool Care Enrichment (ACE) Program Is Now Enrolling Before and After School Care Program at Arroyo and Mariposa!
Afterschool Care Enrichment was selected by the San Carlos School District as the Upper Elementary School care provider at Arroyo and Mariposa. ACE was founded by Eve Daskalakis who has served families in the San Carlos Childcare community since 2008.
ACE is an innovative California State licensed childcare program that focuses on enrichment and youth development to challenge our upper elementary students each day. ACE will offer both Morning and Afternoon Programming.
- Morning Programming Including Breakfast: Monday-Friday from 7:30am-the start of the school day
- Afternoon Programming: Monday-Friday from End of school day-6pm
Each day includes a Healthy afternoon snack, our Homework Lab with staff assisted support, STEAM activities and Active Outdoor Enrichment Programming
Please visit the ACE website for detailed program information and to register your child, or feel free to reach out to Eve Daskalakis directly via email or phone (650) 931-4007.