Sunday, May 1, 2022
Principal's Message
Dear Arroyo Families,
This week is all about our teachers! In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, please help me show some love to our staff for the incredible work they have done this year. While it has been wonderful to have everyone back on campus, it has been far from “normal” and certainly hasn’t been without its challenges as we learn to navigate all that has come as a result of the pandemic. Our staff has been unwavering in their support of our students and the care and effort they put into all that they do. PTA will be providing some extra treats for our staff this week but please take a few minutes to share your family’s appreciation for their work.
State testing begins this week with a focus on English Language Arts (ELA). Students will be taking both performance tasks (PT) and computer adaptive tests (CAT) in math and language arts. 5th graders will also take the California Science Test (CAST). Testing will occur during our first block of the morning on Tuesdays through Fridays throughout the first 3 weeks of May. Please avoid any unnecessary absences during this testing window and make sure students arrive at school on time. Getting a good night's sleep and having a healthy breakfast are important in helping students do their best. Encourage students to do their best but not to worry if there are questions that feel too hard. Students will not be permitted to have electronic devices (cell phones, smart watches, etc.) in the classroom during testing windows. Additional information for parents can be found here.
Our Sunflower sale last week was a huge success, raising close to $1500 for Save the Children Ukraine across Arroyo and Central. A huge thank you to Vanessa Poon for coordinating the sale along with Arroyo’s Eagle Council, Central’s ASB, and our combined PTA volunteers. It’s very special to be a part of a community that not only cares for others but takes action.
This Wednesday, May 4 is SCEF Day! Students should wear green! Thanks for supporting our San Carlos Education Foundation with your time and donations! Watch for more information this week about the many ways SCEF makes a huge difference for Arroyo students.
4th grade parents, please remember to complete the elective selection form by Tuesday, May 3. In case you missed it, look for an email that was sent last Tuesday with the subject line “Elective Selection for Current 4th Graders.” Please also watch for an email later this week with information about the class placement process for next year.
5th grade parents, information about elective selection for Central will be coming within the next couple of weeks along with additional information about the transition to middle school. 5th graders completed their math placement tests last week. If your child was absent, we will hold make-up sessions along with our state testing make-up sessions over the next couple of weeks. Placement notifications will be sent by the end of June.
If your child is interested in participating in our annual Arroyo talent show, remind them to check their email and complete the talent show participation form which is being sent to them today. There are opportunities to showcase a talent or help behind the scenes.
We are seeing an uptick in Covid cases across the district. Please be diligent in monitoring your child for symptoms and reporting any positive cases in your family. We appreciate your support in keeping our community safe and healthy.
Warmly,
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]
PTA News
Thank You for Participating in the Save the Children Ukraine Fundraiser!
A BIG Thank you to everyone who came out and bought a sunflower this past Wednesday and Thursday! Thank you to the parent volunteers (Brie MacDonald, Sharon Gould, Trinity Murphy, Van Diggans, Vanessa Poon) and Eagle Council members for helping out with the fundraiser!
By participating in the district wide sunflower sale, Central and Arroyo will be donating $1,458.55 to Save the Children Ukraine!
Staff Appreciation Week
Staff Appreciation Week is this week May 2 - May 6 – a great time for students to let their teachers know they appreciate them with a kind word, note, drawing, or small token of thanks. Check with your Arroyo room parent for classroom specific activities and/or sign up to help the staff appreciation team shower our Arroyo teachers and staff with goodies all week! Check out the schedule at Staff Appreciation Week SignUp.com.
Honorary Service Celebration: Help Us Plan!
We will celebrate our Honorary Service Award recipients during the Celebration of Learning. This will include a pizza dinner and award presentation.
We need your help planning! Bring your creativity or just follow the plans from previous years. Sign up here!
Come Join Us For White Oaks Founders’ Day this Wednesday 5/4
White Oaks will be celebrating Founders’ Day this Wednesday, May 4 at 6:30pm! We would love for you to join us in celebrating this year's award recipients. This event is a time honored tradition at White Oaks where we recognize those volunteers and staff members who have given countless hours to our school community. We are thrilled to announce this year's honorees: Laurie Bishop, Stephanie Brill, Paulo Dutra, and Diana Herman.
This special event will once again be in person in the MU, so please plan on joining us as we recognize the contributions of our award winners. Click here to RSVP. Since we will be inside, masks are strongly recommended. Any questions? Please email Britta Ellis or Jennie Romeo. Hope to see you there!
The Yearbook is Looking Great. Did You Order Your Copy?
One of the perks of using TreeRing for our Yearbook is that parents can purchase a book at any time. The bulk shipment to school deadline has passed, but if you buy a book now or into early June, you can still have it individually shipped to school or to your home.
We had about 40 entries for this year’s Yearbook cover contest! The winner(s) will be announced this week. Thanks to all who participated!
To order a yearbook:
- Go to www.treering.com/validate
- Enter your school’s passcode: 1014628525232886
PTA Meeting-Wednesday, May 18 at 7pm via Zoom
Please join us for our last PTA meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, May 18 at 7pm.
Join Zoom Meeting:
- https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89108657215
- Meeting ID: 891 0865 7215
- Passcode: 366680
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).
SCEF News
SCEF Day is this Wednesday, May 4–wear your GREEN!
It is the kick-off for our Make It Happen in May campaign. As we approach the end of the school year, and SCEF’s fiscal year, we are asking for your support to meet our fundraising goal of $3.2 million. We strive to ‘Make It Happen in May’ by asking donors to finalize their annual fund contributions during the month of May so that we can provide the School Board with a solid estimated grant amount to aid in their budget planning for next school year.
Please consider making your annual donation now. This is especially important if you donate via your employer’s workplace giving program, as it often takes 8 to 10 weeks for these donations to make their way to us. The suggested per student ask is $1,500 and our Leadership Circle begins at $4,000. However, donations of any level will make a difference for students next year.
Our 2021-22 fundraising calendar ends on June 30, 2022. You can make a donation today at https://scefkids.org/donate/. Stock donations and Donor-Advised Fund gifts are welcome too. Contact [email protected] for more information.
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.
Community Partner News
Rock Band Summer Camp at White Oaks
Have you ever wanted to play in a rock band? Do you want to learn a new instrument? Or do you want to get better at one you already play? Join us this summer at Rock Band Camp with Hummingbird Music School! Campers will be immersed in live music and performance, experiencing what it’s like to be in a rock band with fellow musicians and bandmates!
Camp will be held throughout June and July at White Oaks. One-week sessions run from Monday-Friday 9am-3pm.
Sign up to learn either guitar, ukulele, bass, drums, keyboard, winds or vocals. Campers will together form a band, attend daily band rehearsals, participate in music workshops, and perform with their band in a live showcase at the end of the week. Bands will be formed on the first day of camp, based on experience level and/or age. Campers can choose to form a band with friends!
All skill levels are welcome. Campers may bring their own instruments, or can rent an instrument from Hummingbird.
For more information and to register, visit: https://hummingbirdmusicschool.com/summer-camp-new
Parent Education Opportunities
Tests are standardized. Students are not. How does anxiety impact testing performance? Join Ned Johnson, bestselling author, speaker, and test prep expert, for Beyond Warriors and Worriers: Reducing Anxiety Around Test-Taking (May 5, Online).
NEW! What are ways to cultivate gratitude in your home and family? Carin Winter, MSW, founder and CEO of Mission Be, offers Cultivating Gratitude (How to Bring Gratitude Practices Into Your Home) (May 6, Online).
When I Grow Up… (TK-8 Grade Students) - May 7, 10am-12pm
If you are a girl attending elementary school or middle school in Congresswoman Jackie Speier's District, please join her for “When I Grow Up,” an inspirational event that features exceptional women who have broken down barriers and made history in their fields. Help young women get inspired to make their own dreams come true! 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.