Principal's Message
Dear Arroyo Families,
We’re so excited to welcome you to campus this week for our student-led goal setting conferences. We know you haven’t been able to be on campus, see your child’s classroom, or meet their teacher in person so it is extra special to have this time to come together in support of your child’s learning. Be sure your child is with you for the conference as they will be leading the conversation.Students have been working hard to prepare for these conversations, and while they may feel a bit anxious about it, it’s important for them to push through that and recognize the sense of accomplishment they feel when they do. It is also important for them to begin to understand and be able to articulate how they learn, what they need, and how to ask for help.
When you arrive on campus, you may proceed right to your child’s classroom. Please wait outside until it is your turn to go in and be respectful of other families participating in their conferences.Teachers will do their best to stick to the time schedule but please be patient if you find yourself waiting outside (or in a Zoom waiting room) for a moment while they wrap up another conversation. Masks will be required during all in-person conferences.
While you’re on campus, please stop by the library to check out our book fair. This is a great chance to stock up on books for your child while also supporting our PTA and school library.
Remember that students will have a minimum day all week with dismissal at 12:50 each day. Students will not be eating lunch at school but will have a long morning so please be sure to pack an extra snack, along with a full water bottle. Students will still have electives and PE, just at an earlier time in the day (and 4th grade classes will meet on Wednesday instead of Thursday this week). You can see the special bell schedule on the second page of this document.
October is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. Our school psychologist, Jade McMahan and school counselor, Julie Jobak, put together this video to highlight learning disabilities and give strategies for all to help with organization and executive functioning. Ms. Jobak recently hosted a parent coffee chat to discuss counseling services available at Arroyo and Central. A recording of that session can be viewed here.
Have a wonderful week and enjoy the time connecting with your child and their teacher! Remember that Monday, October 11 is a school holiday.
Warmly,
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]
PTA News
Halloween is right around the corner!
We are looking for a few parents to plan a spook-tacular celebration for our Arroyo Students on Friday, October 29! Please email Alana Corso if you’d like to help!
Our Annual Central/Arroyo Book Fair is Here!
The Central/Arroyo Book Fair is this week, October 4-8, and we need your help to make it a success! Here are some ways you can help:
Volunteers: We still need volunteers to make this event a success! We especially need people to help after school, from 1 to 3, when parents and students will be shopping. Sign up using this link: Book Fair Volunteering
Classroom Visits: Students will visit the Book Fair throughout the week, with their class. During their classroom’s visit, your child may purchase books for themselves, or make a book wish list to share with you at a later time. Students may also purchase a book fair gift card for their teacher/s.
Family Shopping: The Book Fair will be open immediately after school Monday- Thursday until 3:00pm. You are invited to shop with your student/s before or after your parent/teacher conference as a family. The first 100 families to shop after school will receive a free reusable book tote!
Online: Shop our online fair starting Oct. 1 from home, where the selection is 10x greater, and books are sent directly to your home: Book Fair Online
Payment: Cash or check can be sent with your student, or an eWallet can be set up with a credit card amount pre-set for your student to use to purchase books. To set up an eWallet, please visit: Central/Arroyo E-Wallet .
Questions: Please contact Jenny Goines, Lena Grodin, or Andrea Mardesich
PTA Meeting, Wednesday October 13, 2021 at 7pm via Zoom
Please join us for our second PTA meeting of the year Wednesday, October 13 at 7pm via Zoom. These meetings are attended by both Tom Domer and Mindy Shelton and are a great way to stay informed. Also, mark your calendars for upcoming PTA meetings in 2021/22. We would love to see you!
Be sure to check out the Agenda before the meeting to see what will be discussed! PTA Meeting Dates & Agenda – PTA – Central Middle School (scsdk8.org)
**Please note, the meetings will rotate between in person and Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86068332717
Meeting ID: 860 6833 2717 Passcode: 011360
We're On Our Way to Our Fundraising Goal!
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our PTA Partner campaign. Without you, many of our school's wonderful programs would not be possible. Please click here to donate today!
Arroyo & Central Living Campus Monthly Work Day!
Lots of impressive volunteer work has gone into the garden so far and Saturday, October 9 is the next workday! The work will start at 9am and end around 1pm. It’s going to be a fun and rewarding day!
- To be a Volunteer Garden Lead or Coordinator Sign Up Here! For this upcoming Arroyo & Central workday, we're looking for volunteers with carpentry skills. The task we would like to complete is rebuilding the doors for the garden's whiteboard. These volunteers do not necessarily have to attend the full garden workday and can come to rebuild the whiteboard doors. They do not have to register for the event, unless they want to, and instead should contact us at our [email protected] email.
- San Carlos Neighborhood Harvest Day - Join Each Green Corner and other volunteers in harvesting excess backyard produce in San Carlos!
- Harvest Volunteers - Volunteers can join others in harvesting excess backyard produce in San Carlos! Each group of 2-4 volunteers will be provided 1-3 residential addresses to harvest from. Volunteers will be provided with all necessary instructions and materials. Driving is required for this event. Volunteers for harvest teams can register here.
- Produce Donations - If you or your neighbors have excess produce from your home gardens and are interested in donating it you can fill out this form.
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. We’re ramping up for the new Arroyo 2021-22 yearbook and are recruiting parent volunteers:
- We’ll be using Treering again, which requires no prior experience!
- Volunteering is easy and can be conveniently done from home.
- We need 2 types of volunteers:
- Classroom Yearbook Representative (1 per class) to help us collect photos for their class’s montage page. Go to the PTA Volunteer Opportunities page on the Arroyo website and click on your class’s signup site to volunteer.
- 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. Please email our PTA president Alana Corso to join the committee.
SCEF News
San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF)
We are grateful to the local businesses --large and small--that support our schools. A BIG thank you to Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Black Mountain Properties, California Water Services, Lyngso Garden Supply, Presidio Bay Ventures and John McAfee, State Farm Insurance who have already committed to supporting SCEF this fundraising year. Do you have a business, and would like to explore the benefits of being a sponsor? See more details here: https://scefkids.org/take-action/businesses.
So many ways to give! Your support of our schools is appreciated and necessary, and there are many ways for you to give (https://scefkids.org/donate).
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
San Carlos Children's Theater
Step into the spotlight this school year! It’s time to sign up to join the middle school musical ANNIE JR.
All 4th and 5th graders who register will be part of the singing ensemble that performs at the beginning of the show. No singing experience is needed. Rehearsals begin in just a few weeks. Performances will be in mid-January.
Read all the details and register online at San Carlos Children’s Theater.
Community Foundation of San Carlos
The Community Foundation of San Carlos is proud to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month!
To us, Latinx Heritage Month is about honoring the different and diverse cultures and heritages, celebrating in the joy, the strength, and contributions of our Latinx community as well as continuing to learn more about its rich cultures and history.
We have a list of resources to share and are honored to uplift and amplify the voices of our community members. Happy Latinx Heritage Month!
Parent Education Series
In a new Spanish language event, Leo Zarazua, mindful educator at Mission Be, presents Crianza Consciente: Reduciendo el Estrés y la Ansiedad para Padres de Familia (Español). Por favor únete a nosotros! (October 6, Online)
On October 7, join bestselling authors Dr. Bill Stixrud and Ned Johnson for
What Do You Say? Talking with Kids to Build Stress Tolerance and Motivation.
This special event is hosted by Peninsula Health Care District and SMUHSD (Online).
If you missed last week's conversation with Frank Bruni and Alice Kleeman,
Beyond Being Admitted: Making the Most of the College Experience, here's a link to the video.
This is a great program to share with your students!