Principal's Message
Dear Arroyo Families,
Thank you for all of your support last week with COVID protocols and safety measures as we returned to school, from picking up your student’s COVID test kit and testing three days apart, to reporting positive results or exposures and following quarantine measures, to keeping your child home for even minor symptoms. Most of all, thank you for your patience in all of this. Our nurses, teachers, and office staff have been swamped with phone calls and emails, and have done their very best to reply in a timely manner and get you the information you need. We know it can be frustrating and confusing when the information seems contradictory or is changing.
In particular, we’ve all been waiting this week for our SCSD quarantine guidelines to be updated to match the new CDC recommendations. Changes first get made at the state level, then are enacted at the county level; you received an email with those county updates on Friday. That then leads to updates in our district policy, which gets approved by the school board. That’s a lot of levels before the changes get to our day-to-day actions, but I can assure you that everyone is working as quickly as possible. If we are able to return students and staff to school sooner, while still ensuring everyone’s health and safety, we certainly want to do that. If your child is currently out on quarantine, please be on the lookout for additional information from our nurses early this week for possible modification to your child’s return to school date.
Thank you for returning to extra vigilance in your home activities, too, whether with indoor playdates, dining or other activities. It is really clear just how contagious this latest variant is, even for fully vaccinated individuals, so we appreciate everyone doing their part to stop the spread.
As an extra precaution, we are putting a brief hold on activities that require extra volunteers on campus to limit any unnecessary exposure. Our student-led clubs, Art In Action lessons, and other activities that put students in contact with people they don’t regularly interact with will be postponed for a few weeks while we get through this current surge. Volunteers needed for student safety (pick-up and drop-off, etc.) are still necessary and we are in need of some additional volunteers during pick-up time (3:05-3:20pm). Please email me at [email protected] if you have any time to help.
While we were continuing to ride this COVID roller coaster this past week, it was also clear how happy our children were to be back at school! I saw so many smiling faces as I visited classrooms and spent time on the playground this week.
Next week, the fun continues as we kick off the SCEF Read-a-thon on Monday. On Friday, January 14, Arroyo will celebrate Forts & Flashlights Day. Students are invited to wear their PJs, bring a stuffy (must fit in backpack), a flashlight, and favorite books from home. Each class will incorporate this into the day in a unique way, but it should be fun for all. This is one of our favorite days of the year at Arroyo! If your family hasn’t yet registered for the Read-a-Thon, it’s not too late! Adults and students can register and log minutes. Our goal is 100% participation! No fundraising is required, but certainly helps! During this COVID resurgence, this is also a great opportunity to connect virtually with friends and family to share a love of reading – Facetime or Zoom with grandparents to share a read aloud or talk about the books you’re reading!
And while we’re talking about reading, we have a special opportunity coming up for an adult book club starting the week of January 24. Watch for a separate email with more details this week!
Finally, a reminder of some upcoming events:
- Join us for our Arroyo/CMS PTA meeting this Wednesday, January 12 at 7pm on Zoom. See below for more details.
- Math in Focus parent education night for parents of SCSD 4th & 5th graders on January 13th from 7:15-8pm over Zoom (Zoom link here)
- San Carlos Week of the Family begins on Saturday, January 15.
- Monday, January 17 is a school holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I encourage you to consider finding a way for your family to get involved in this national day of service.
Warmly,
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]
PTA News
PTA Meeting - Jan 12 7pm via Zoom
The PTA is truly grateful to everyone who has contributed to our PTA Partner
Please join us for our first meeting of 2022 via Zoom. This is an opportunity to give your input and help brainstorm ideas for our Winter and Spring activities.
Also, hear about our final fundraising numbers and… Join the Special Projects Committee!! This committee collects ideas and researches special projects to recommend to the Central and Arroyo PTA based on available funds. If you are interested in joining this team, please e-mail Kirsten Kell at [email protected]. We would love your help!
Check out the Agenda here.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89751389137
Meeting ID: 897 5138 9137
Passcode: 997446
Stampede and Soar is Happening, but We Need Your Help!
This fun run has been a popular tradition at Central for many years. Arroyo joined in and it evolved into a color run. Join a committee and participate in bringing back this exciting community event.
If you are interested in helping with this event, please sign up https://signup.com/go/dDzUeCt.
When: April 10, 2022
Time: Run Starts at 8:30am
Where: CMS Blacktop
Become a PTA Member Today!
If you haven’t yet joined the CMS/Arroyo PTA, you can still sign up for membership. Individual Memberships are $10 and Family Memberships are $20.
As a PTA Member, you not only support our CMS/Arroyo teachers, staff and programs but are also part of decision-making discussions and support the voice of the PTA and public schools in advocacy programs at the state level. Your support goes a long way. Join us this year and sign up as a member today: CentralArroyoPTA
Upload Your Photos for the Arroyo 2021-22 Yearbook!
Parents & Teachers can now sign into TreeRing and upload photos into shared folders for the various classrooms or themes. You can also upload into private folders for use on personal/custom TreeRing pages later.
Our yearbook reps for each class will look through those photos periodically for use on your classroom’s montage page and the various events pages. Deadline to be announced later, but good to start uploading now, including class events, Halloween, sports, pets, etc.
Quick instructions below, and we have very detailed instructions here:
- Goto Treering at https://treering.com/validate - Use our passcode: 1014628525232886
- If you’ve used TreeRing before then click the green Log-In button on the bottom right, and if you are new to TreeRing you’ll create a new account.
- Select your teacher’s name
- You can purchase a yearbook now or click the “Buy later” link in the top left
- Scroll down to find Share Photos > “Share Your Photos” button
- Click the Shared Photo Folders icon and find the appropriate classroom or named event folder, then upload by clicking Add Photos button
The CMS/Arroyo Library Could Use Your Help!
Our school librarian is looking for parent volunteers to help with shelving books and/or lunchtime library supervision. Ideally volunteers could commit to one hour every week or two, but once a month would work too! Times and days are flexible.
For more information, please contact CMS/Arroyo Librarian: Katie Hultgren at [email protected].
Still Looking for a Way to Volunteer?
Go to our website and sign up today! Ways to Support your PTA Programs
SCEF News
The SCEF Read-A-Thon, January 10-21
Include your extended family in your child’s reading adventures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZg2kUPirq0
Congratulations to the Following Who Won Prizes for Early Registration:
Jackson Thomas Vigdal, Calvin Riccio, Samhita Swaminathan, Camden Nguyen, Drew Sullivan, Natalie Okamoto, Raffaella Bilyak, Nisha Mehta, Lydia Becker, Brandon Inouye
More Chances to Win!
Read a book, recommend a book: Post a 30- to 60-second video of your book recommendation HERE and you could win prizes from Tutti Frutti, Tea Hut, Gelataio, the Reading Bug, Crepe Stop, and more! Post up to 3 videos. Open to all students registered in the Read-A-Thon.
Register TODAY! 4 Steps to Get Started
1. REGISTER your child at the link above
2. SHARE the 99Pledges donation page with family and friends*
3. ENCOURAGE your child to READ!
4. LOG reading and listening minutes January 10-22
* Fundraising isn’t required to participate
District News
ROPES Judges Needed!
We are looking for parents and community members that would like to serve as a judge for the ROPES (Rite of Passage Experiences). ROPES are challenging projects that 4th, 6th and 8th grade students have completed which allow them to learn about their world and themselves in deeper but fun way.
There are 3 opportunities to judge:
- Tuesday, Feb 8: 4–6:30pm
- Wednesday, Feb 9: 2-5pm
- Thursday, Feb 10: 6-8:30pm
We would not be able to maintain this valuable program without the support of our community. We are asking for you to join district staff and other community members by volunteering to serve as a judge on one of our judging panels. Typically, we have two to three judges per room and they judge four to six student presentations in an evening.
I hope that you will be able to join us in this worthwhile event. If you are able to judge on any of those times, please complete this ROPES Judging Sign Up - 2022 Form.
Parent Night with Susan Resnick, US Consultant and Author of Math in Focus - Jan 13
Singapore Math about ideas to support your student at home. This session will include a brief overview of the success behind Singapore math and the key instructional strategies that have led to Singapore's place as top in the world in mathematics. Additionally, Susan will give you practical ideas of how to help your student at home whether they need more scaffolding or more enrichment. You will learn about number bonds, bar modeling, long division and other approaches that might look a little different than how math looked when you went to school.
Gr K-3: 6:30-7:15pm Jan 13
Gr 4-5: 7:15-8pm Jan 13
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9816352626
Mental Health Forum for Parents and Caregivers
San Carlos School District is gauging interest for hosting a mental health forum(s), where parents and caregivers can ask questions of mental health professionals, to get support and resources. Please fill out this form if you are interested in attending, and feel free to reach out to Ilana, SCSD Health and Wellness Director, to discuss this more ([email protected].)
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)
- Mondays 11am-6pm
- Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9am-4pm
- Thursdays 12pm-7pm
- Fridays 11am-6pm
- Sign-up for testing at Central here
Tierra Linda Middle School (parking lot)
- Wednesday & Friday 11am-5pm
- Saturday 8am-3pm
- Sign-up for testing at Tierra Linda here
- Other Community Based Testing sites in San Mateo County Here
Community Partner News
San Carlos Week of the Family - Jan 15-23
The San Carlos Week of the Family is an annual event organized and run by community volunteers whose goal is to strengthen family relationships by providing a series of activities focusing on family and community interaction. Celebrating twenty two years, the Week of the Family committee and its volunteers are proud to contribute to the quality of life and the family-orientated community of The City of Good Living.
Please join the hundreds of families that have enjoyed Week of the Family by participating in one or more of the mostly free activities offered. You’re sure to find something entertaining and fun for your entire family. Learn more
The goals of the San Carlos Week of the Family are to:
- Strengthen family relationships
- Provide families in our community the tools that help families
- Promote family life
- Honor and pay tribute to families
- Encourage families serving families
- Have lots of fun
Registration
Some events require free reservations or purchased tickets. Links are on the Events page in the event descriptions. Click Here to get a PDF of all events.
Afterschool Care Enrichment (ACE) is Now Enrolling at Arroyo and Mariposa for the 2022-23 School Year!
Afterschool Care Enrichment also known as ACE offers a flexible, innovative, California State licensed child care program focused on enrichment and youth development to challenge our upper elementary students. ACE will offer both Morning and Full Time or Part Time Afternoon
Morning Programming Including Breakfast - Monday-Friday from 7:30am-the start of the school day - Full Time-5 Day or Part Time-3 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.
Arroyo 22-23 Registration Link | Mariposa 22-23 Registration Link
Please visit our website for more information or to register your child at www.acesancarlos.com or contact ACE - Phone: (650) 931-4007 - Email: [email protected].
Tutor Training for Healthy Cities Tutoring
Interested in helping a child succeed in school? Have a free hour to volunteer each week? Attend HCT's Tutor Orientation and Training on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 from 6:30-8pm to learn how simple it is to apply and help a local student with reading, writing, math, and study skills.
For more information visit www.healthycitiestutoring.org. Register and if the training is moved online we will notify you in advance. Training will be held at San Carlos Library, 610 Elm St, San Carlos, CA, 94070, Upstairs Community Room.
City of San Carlos
As a precautionary measure, the Youth Center After School Drop-In Program will be CLOSED the next 2 weeks as COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area have rapidly increased. The closure will be effective Monday, January 3rd, through Monday, January 17. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 18. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause to you. Youth Center classes, sports practices, and our Recreation Youth Basketball League will continue with strict indoor masking and distancing requirements. For more information, please email [email protected].
Parent Venture Series - https://www.parentventure.org/events
Redistricting Public Hearing #1: Sequoia Healthcare District Town Hall
The Sequoia Healthcare District hosts a Town Hall meeting on redistricting (rezoning) with new district lines following the 2020 Census. Wed, January 12, 2022, 6–7pm. Register here.
Smoking on Snapchat? Talking about Vapes, E-Cigs, and Tobacco with Teens
What should parents know about teenage trends in vaping, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and social media? Join Erin Vogel, PhD, USC, to learn more. Wed, January 19, 2022, 5:30-6:30pm. Register here
Valedictorians at the Gate with Author Becky Munsterer Sabky
Offering prescriptive, actionable advice for students and their parents, Becky Sabky illuminates the pathway to finding the ideal college. Wed, January 26, 2022, 5:30–6:30pm. Register here.