Principal's Message
Dear Arroyo Families,
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Stampede & Soar event last weekend and especially great to see everyone’s smiling faces. It was also great to see many of our 5th grade families at the band and orchestra concert. We hope this is just the beginning of being able to come back together as a community and look forward to more opportunities coming up this spring including our Celebration of Learning on May 24.
We hope you’ll be able to join us this Thursday evening from 5-7 pm in the Central quad for our first annual Jazz Family Fun Night. The event will feature the CMS Jazz Band as well as the Miles Ahead Big Band. The Miles Ahead Big Band is directed by award-winning jazz educators Mike Galisatus and Kristen Strom and features many of the top high school jazz musicians in the Bay Area. PTA will have some fun games for the kids and Chicken’s Ball will be selling snacks. Bring your family and friends, a picnic, and let’s enjoy the live music together.
This week we'll celebrate Earth Day with a spirit week planned by Eagle Council:
- Monday - Wear Earth Colors (blue, green, etc)
- Tuesday - Earth Day Art - create a project that represents the earth, uses recycled materials, etc. Eagle Council will collect it Tuesday morning to hang in the Learning Commons
- Wednesday - Dress like something in nature (Be an animal, a tree, your favorite flower… be creative!)
- Thursday - Community Clean Up Day - help pick up trash at and around Arroyo
- Friday - Take Action Day - what can you do to help the Earth?
Some of our Eagle Council leaders have begun planning for our Talent Show in June. At our Wednesday assembly this week we’ll be inviting students to sign-up to participate. More information including a sign-up form will be shared later this week. We could still use another parent volunteer to help pull it all together and supervise rehearsals. Let me know if you’re able to help.
Last week I put out a call for some parent volunteers to help coordinate an Arroyo group in the Hometown Days Parade on May 21 and our end of year field day. I haven’t heard from anyone and thought I’d ask again. These are events that make students’ time at Arroyo special but we can’t do them without your help. Please email me at [email protected] if you’re able to help.
Many of us have been looking for ways to support Ukrainian children. On Wednesday, April 27 after school, PTA and Eagle Council will be collaborating to sell sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine and a symbol of peace. Sunflowers will be $5 each (cash and Venmo accepted) and all proceeds will benefit Save the Children Ukraine.
You may have seen in the most recent SCSD Board Brief that the 2022-23 Calendar has been approved by the board. Please add these dates to your personal calendar and plan your family vacations around school holidays. The first day of school in the fall will be August 24.
Warmly,
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]
PTA News
Congratulations to the New 2022-23 PTA Executive Board!
President for CMS - Kirsten Kell
Executive Vice President/Co-President Arroyo - Open
Treasurer - Bethany Mateossian/Diana Herman
Secretary - Alana Corso
Parliamentarian - Maria Shih
Chair of SCEF Relations - Debbie Blucher
Communications Director, CMS - Christine Levenson
Communications Director, Arroyo School - Angie Wu
Chair of Events, Arroyo - Trinity Murphy
Chair of Programs, Arroyo - Esther Wang
Chair of Programs, Central - Katy Mossawir
Chair of Stampede and Soar/Membership - Open
We are still looking fill the Chair of Stampede and Soar/Membership Executive Board position. Many committee leads will fill their roles again. The Chair is the project manager of the event.
Interested in Volunteering with the PTA Next School Year?
Please complete this form and your email address will be added to a distribution list for volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. If you are interested in a board or committee chair role, or in helping to organize an event, someone from the PTA will contact you with the details. You’ll also be invited to our PTA Social (recruitment event).
HONORARY SERVICE AWARD NOMINATIONS
Do you know someone that runs a PTA program or committee, makes sure school events go off without a hitch, or tackles the big projects? Have you noticed someone whose contributions are often behind the scenes, but add up in a very big way?
Every year the PTA presents Honorary Service Awards to individuals who provide significant contributions and outstanding service at CMS and Arroyo. Please take the time to nominate the people around you whose special contributions go above and beyond. They deserve a big thanks from us!
Send your nominations to Kirsten Kell or use the online submission form.
Staff Appreciation
This month we are treating Arroyo and Central staff with a sandwich and salad lunch! Please sign up to help with the April 27 lunch here. Bring your items to your school office by Wed April 27 11am.
Thank you for helping us celebrate our wonderful teachers and staff! Mark your calendars for National Staff Appreciation week May 2–6, 2022 and stay-tuned for more information on what we have planned for them throughout the week.
Kind regards,
The Staff Appreciation Team
Yearbook Ordering & Customization Deadline: Mon, 4/18
Go to www.treering.com/validate
Enter your school’s passcode: 1014628525232886
Price: $17.26 (does not include sales tax)
Deadline: Monday, 4/18
If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or [email protected].
SCEF News
San Carlos Education Foundation
Don't let free money go to waste! Find out if you can “double your donation” to SCEF by going to: https://doublethedonation.com/scef.
Volunteer hours, Last Auction Hero Donations, and Fund-A-Need donations also qualify for corporate matching. Matching gifts are a meaningful contribution to SCEF's annual fundraising goals. The earlier you give the better–it can take 8 to 10 weeks for SCEF to receive your donation. Every donation counts!
If you don’t have access to employer matching, spreading out your intended gift over the next 3 months makes it easier to give. Sign up NOW to make a recurring monthly donation.
Visit scefkids.org/donate to make a donation TODAY.
District News
2022-23 School Year Calendar Approved
The REVISED 2022-2023 Calendar has been approved by the Board. The only changes in the calendar from the previously approved draft are the school start and end date, to August 24, 2022, and June 15, 2023, respectively. Download a paper copy on our SCSD Calendar page and/or subscribe.
Subscribing to School/District Calendars
Never miss a school event again! You can subscribe to your school and the SCSD calendar so that the events will load onto your favorite supported calendar program (iCal/Outlook, Google, or Download ICS).
- Go to our SCSD Events page
- Check the boxes for the calendars you want to subscribe to (school(s)/district)
- Click on Subscribe on the top right of the page and choose your preferred calendar program
The first day of school is Wednesday, August 24, 2022.
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.
Community Partner News
Kidizens Lego Summer Camp at Heather
Would your child like to build and be the Mayor of an entire city of LEGOs? Would your child like to leverage their love of LEGOs to have fun and learn critical real-life 21st century skills and leadership strategies?
Take your creativity and confidence to towering heights in an immersive journey as a Young Mayor at Kidizens Summer Camps! During the excitement-packed LEGO City-building and Leadership Camps, kids are immersed in a collaborative process of building, problem-solving, and role-playing as responsible leaders in a LEGO city that they plan and build together from the ground up.
In a fast-paced environment, our campers develop strong leadership, problem solving and social-emotional skills while dealing with natural disasters, concerned citizens, and financial crises through fun, immersive role-play in a highly collaborative and engaging learning environment.
Calling all creative builders, responsible thinkers, and future leaders to join us for 1-2 weeks of supercharged and exciting summer fun! At Kidizens, our goal is to inspire kids to become great citizens and future leaders... one project, one city, one brick at a time! Visit kidizens.com/camps/lego-summer-camps/ to learn more and sign up.
Parent Education Opportunities
The month's Spanish Parent Forum features Edwin Fernandez, LCSW, One Life Counseling Center, in Gratitud en la Familia: Un Corazon Agradecido - Foro de Padres #19 (April 19, Online).
What are ways to talk with kids about race/ethnicity, culture, and inclusion? Join Donald E. Grant, Jr., PsyD, for an open conversation on Seeing Race: Talking with Your Kids About Ethnicity, Culture, and Inclusion (April 21, Online).
Special event! We want our kids to express themselves, but how can you promote good communication? Join us for How to Keep the Lines of Communication Open with Your Child or Teen, hosted by SMUHSD and PHCD (April 26, Online).
Art on the Walls Art Show (1-12 Grade Students) - Deadline April 22
Want your student's art featured at the San Mateo County Office of Education? Submit their photos or artwork on "Student Voice" for a chance to be displayed in a permanent collection at the County Office of Education! Art can be submitted directly by students or by their teachers. Learn more.
No Place for Hate Initiative - Paperwork Due April 29
Registration is now open for the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate Initiative, which provides a proactive and student-centered framework to fight hate and build inclusive and safe communities in which respect and equity are the goals, and where all students can thrive. Learn more.
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information.
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics (Students Ages 5-11)
San Mateo County Health is offering pediatric COVID-19 vaccines at eight sites throughout the county. Free and advance appointments are now available, highly encouraged, and may be scheduled through MyTurn. Families may also come without appointments. Learn more.
Schedule Your Appointment at the Curative COVID-19 Testing Van
Please take advantage of the COVID-19 testing sites at one of our school locations or those provided by the San Mateo County Health Department. Click on the links below for more information or to sign-up.
NEW OPTION - WORKSITE LABS - Arroyo Upper Elementary (Patio 3)
- Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30-6:30pm
Sign-up for testing at Arroyo
CURATIVE KIOSK - Central Middle School (parking lot)
- Mondays 11am-6pm
- Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9am-4pm
- Thursdays 12-7pm
- Fridays 11am-6pm
Sign-up for testing at Central
CURATIVE VAN - Tierra Linda Middle School (parking lot)
- Wednesday & Friday 11:00am-5pm
- Saturday 8am-3pm
Sign-up for testing at Tierra Linda
Find other Community Based Testing sites in San Mateo County Here.