Principal's Message
Dear Arroyo Families,
Last year, we had to rely on technology for almost everything we did. This year, teachers are making a concerted effort to limit screen time in the classroom and return to more paper/pencil and hands-on tasks. We’re working on rebuilding stamina along with fine motor skills, and encouraging students to use the 5 Cs (communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and citizenship). At the same time, we want to hold on to some of the online platforms we found most helpful throughout distance learning. Some of the programs we continue to use are skillbuilding programs that help teachers differentiate and meet students' individual academic needs, others allow students to collaborate and share ideas in different ways, and others help us assess and monitor student progress.
One of the platforms we found really valuable last year was Sown to Grow. At Arroyo, we use Sown to Grow in a variety of ways, one of which is for goal setting. One of our focuses as an upper elementary school is developing a sense of ownership in students. It is important for students to become aware of their strengths and areas for growth, and begin to understand how they can build on their strengths and either improve on or learn to compensate for their areas of weakness. We want students to reflect on their progress and see how far they have come because of the hard work they put into their learning.
Each trimester, students use Sown to Grow to set a personal goal and an academic goal. Every few weeks, they return to these goals to reflect on their progress and determine next steps in meeting their goals. Along the way, the system provides prompts with strategies and resources to help make their goals more achievable.
Our upcoming student-led goal-setting conferences will be an opportunity for students to share those goals with you and reflect on how they are going so far. Conferences will be held the week of October 4-8. Dismissal will be at 12:50pm every day that week to allow time for conferences. Teachers will be reaching out to schedule conferences and I will share more information later this week. Our school book fair will also be held during the week of October 4-8, so be sure to stop by and purchase some books while you’re on campus for your conference.
Announcements & Reminders:
- Picture Day at Arroyo will be on Friday, September 24. Visit mylifetouch.com with our Picture Day ID: EVTJGQJC7 to order your school pictures.
- Ms. Jobak, School Counselor at Arroyo and Central will be hosting a zoom for parents and guardians. Please join her on Monday, September 20 from 10-10:30am and/or Monday, September 27 from 2-2:30pm to ask questions and hear about the school counseling program at both schools. Please use this link to join the conversation.
- Please continue to reinforce safe travel between home and school. We continue to have students crossing the street in unsafe spots (sometimes even prompted by parents). When driving students to school, remember to take it a little extra slow and be patient and aware of your surroundings at all times.
- We appreciate you continuing to follow our COVID protocols and keeping your child home with any signs of symptoms or after travel or exposure to COVID. If your child needs to be out of school for any reason, please contact Tracey Olazar in our front office ([email protected] or 632-8300). Tracey can help you determine any steps that need to be taken before your child’s return to school.
Warmly,
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]
PTA News
Let’s Make a Great 2021-22 Arroyo School Yearbook!
Despite all the pandemic challenges, last year’s Arroyo yearbook came together nicely due to great community participation from our yearbook committee, classroom yearbook reps, teachers, administrators, parents & students -- all who submitted photos. It was great to see the kids excitedly flipping through their yearbook pages that last week of school, looking for themselves, and their pets!
We’re ramping up for the new Arroyo 2021-22 yearbook and are recruiting parent volunteers:
- We’ll be using Treering again. It’s easy and requires no prior experience!
- We already have a great playbook & artifacts from last year.
- We’ll have more photos this year from campus and trips.
- Volunteering is easy and you can do your tasks from home, whenever it is convenient.
- We need 2 types of volunteers:
- Classroom Yearbook Representative (1 per class) to help us collect fun photos for their class’s montage page. [12 volunteers total, time-commitment: minor check-ins during the year and 2-4 hours total April-May]
- Yearbook Committee where we split up tasks like working with Treering, communicating to parents and students, developing the plan for gathering photos, organizing online photo folders, yearbook layout & design, portrait pages, class volunteer coordinator. [6-7 volunteers total, time-commitment: meet online with committee 30mins-1hr per month & up to 2-3 hours per month for tasks during March-May]
Our kids are only at Arroyo for a short time. Let’s help them and the school build a nice set of memories with a great yearbook!
To volunteer:
- Classroom Yearbook Rep: go to the PTA Volunteer Opportunities page on the Arroyo website and click on your class’s signup site
- Yearbook Committee: please email our PTA president Alana Corso.
Calling All Readers! The Book Fair is Coming!
The Central/Arroyo Book Fair is October 4-8, 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 1:15-3pm. 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, Lena Grodin or Andrea Mardesich.
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:
Art In Action Volunteers Needed! Parent volunteers lead lively discussions about artwork done by great artists and civilizations to enhance student's appreciation of art and its history. Students learn art concepts and techniques used in a masterpiece to create their own original art. In the spring, students have the opportunity to showcase a selected artwork in the Open House Art Show. Additional parent volunteers assist with scheduling, set up, clean up, and supporting students with the creative process. We are happy to be able to teach Art in Action lessons in person this year! Learn more and sign up to volunteer on the Art in Action at Arroyo page.
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!
Each Green Corner Volunteer - Site Lead or Coordinator:
- ECGSite 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.
- ECG Coordinator - As an EGC Coordinator you will be supporting the Site Leader.
- For more information please email [email protected].
Become a PTA Partner - Every Donation Makes a Difference
Did you know that 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 offset 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 Family PTA membership. When you join the Central Arroyo PTA, you are also joining the California State PTA, which spearheads educational advocacy in Sacramento.
Are You Ready to Show Your Arroyo School Spirit?
Buy some fun Spirit Wear! Check out our online store and place your orders soon!
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 Arroyo office. Thanks for your help!
SCEF News
San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF)
There are 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/
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.
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.
Schedule Your Appointment at the Curative COVID-19 Testing 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 9am-3pm
Thursdays 1-7pm
Fridays 11am-5pm (effective August 17, 2021)
- Other Community Based Testing sites in San Mateo County Here
Community Partner News
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).