Principal’s Message
Dear Arroyo families,
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is an important part of what we do at Arroyo. On top of the day-to-day conversations we have around being good friends and good citizens, and following our Arroyo core values of being Responsible, Respectful, and Safe, we have formal SEL lessons through our Sown To Grow curriculum. Sown To Grow is based on best practices in SEL and is aligned with CASEL’s core competencies. This month, classes are learning how to reflect, learning about the importance of identifying and sharing our emotions, and talking about setting goals.
Goal setting is one of the ways we develop 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. This week students will be setting goals for the first trimester (both academically and personally). Every 3 weeks or so, we’ll take the time to reflect on those goals, monitor progress, and plan some next steps.
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 Oct. 3-7. Dismissal will be at 12:50 every day that week to allow time for conferences. Teachers are reaching out to schedule conferences, and I will share more information later this week.
Picture Day at Arroyo will be on Friday, Sept. 23. We are using a new photographer this year. Still Light Studios will photograph all students at Arroyo and will email parents directly with a proof of your child’s photo and ordering information. No advance purchase or registration is required. Makeup photos are scheduled for Oct. 21.
I hope you’ll consider taking part in our Arroyo/Central PTA this year, both by joining the PTA and volunteering for school events. It was wonderful to see parents on campus for our first PTA meeting of the year last week. I’m so excited for the programs and events our PTA is planning for this year. Please see the PTA section below to become a member and learn about some of our upcoming events, including our Day of Service next Sunday, Sept. 25, 9:00 a.m.-noon. We hope you’ll join us for a fun and rewarding morning of tackling some school beautification projects and helping in our school garden.
Warmly,
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]
PTA News
Sept. 25: Arroyo Cleanup
for San Carlos Day of Service
On Sunday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m. to noon, join your friends and neighbors to help clean up Arroyo School! Projects include light gardening, power-washing, litter pickup, and painting. Children with supervision are welcome. Please bring gardening gloves, gardening tools, a water bottle, and a power washer if you have one. Wear sunscreen, work clothes, and covered shoes. Sign up here.
Become a PTA Member Today
Our PTA membership drive is off to a good start. We’re past the 20% mark toward our goal. Joining the PTA supports local, state, and national PTA advocacy efforts. An individual membership costs just $10, and we’re encouraging all parents to become individual members. Grandparents and students can easily be added as members too. Check out the Membership and Fundraising page to learn how to make a difference.
Sept. 23: Picture Day Volunteers Needed
School Picture Day is THIS FRIDAY, Sept. 23, and the PTA needs volunteers to ensure the day runs smoothly. The three shifts are:
- 8:35-10:15 a.m.
- 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
- 12:45-1:45 p.m.
Please sign up here if you can help. Remember to complete this volunteer approval form before coming to campus. Please note it may take a few days to get cleared. Thanks in advance for your support!
Classroom Volunteers Needed
There are important Art in Action roles we are hoping to fill immediately: Class Coordinators and Docents. Class Coordinators partner with the AiA lead and work on the organization behind the scenes. Docents lead lively discussions about artwork done by great artists and civilizations to enhance students’ appreciation of art and its history. Students learn art concepts and techniques used in a masterpiece to create their own original art. This amazing program relies on parent volunteers to succeed. Please check out your classroom’s sign-up and consider volunteering for one of these key roles.
Get 10% Off Yearbooks Before Sept. 30
Yearbooks come out at the end of the school year, but you can secure yours now at a discount! Order from TreeRing now to receive 10% off before Sept. 30. For a softcover book, the discount covers tax and a little extra, making your total $16.99. Click the link above to shop with the discount code applied to your cart, or use code 1014628525232886.
Spot Open on Book Fair Committee
The Arroyo/Central Book Fair is scheduled for the week of Oct. 31. The planning committee is looking for one more volunteer to join the group. If you’re interested, please sign up here. Contact Jenny Goines with any questions.
Oct. 6: School Board Candidate Forums
San Carlos parents and other residents are invited to attend two forums featuring candidates for the two SCSD school board races in the Nov. 8 general election. The events are hosted by the San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF), the San Carlos PTA Coordinating Council and the San Mateo County League of Women Voters. Both forums will take place Thursday, Oct. 6, via Zoom. (You must register for each forum separately.) Find more info.
- 6:00-7:00 p.m.: Forum for 4-year terms (4 candidates for 3 seats), REGISTER HERE
- 7:15-8:30 p.m.: Forum for 2-year terms (5 candidates for 2 seats), REGISTER HERE
SCEF News
Evening at Town
Tickets went on sale 9/12! If you are interested in attending the SCEF Evening at TOWN fundraising dinner and silent auction, check to see if any tickets remain. This is your chance to support our students while enjoying a fabulous meal and connecting with parents from around the district. Enjoy a fantastic evening while supporting our kids!
If you can’t attend, you can still participate! Check out:
- SCEF Raffle: Will you be the lucky winner? Get tickets for yourself and your teachers!
- Fall Silent Auction: Opens Sept. 26 and closes Oct. 2. Info and link to auction site coming soon!
Focus on Diversity, Equity,
Inclusion, and Belonging
It’s National Hispanic Heritage Month!
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. At Arroyo, our Monday assemblies will highlight some important figures in Hispanic history and culture.
Here are some ways you can commemorate the month with your family:
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Check out Filoli’s Hispanic Heritage Weekend events Sept. 24-25. There will be dancing, music, food, and more!
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Support a Hispanic- or Latino-owned business.
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Feeling crafty? Check out these fun project ideas.
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Play a game of lotería (Mexican bingo) or dominoes (a popular pastime for many of Puerto Rican, Cuban and Dominican heritage).
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Listen to or make a playlist of Latino artists.
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Explore books by Hispanic and Latino authors.
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Read about how Hispanic and Latino Americans have shaped our national parks for hundreds of years.
District News
Help Your Child Succeed in School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early
September is Attendance Awareness Month, which provides an opportunity to educate our community about the importance of school attendance and the impact it can have on your child’s educational experience.
Our schools strive to create an engaging, inviting learning environment where all are welcome. As our students arrive in the morning, each day that they attend out of the 180 school days in a year provides us as a staff with the opportunity to get them excited about learning, engage in relationship building with peers, create classroom community, and experience hands-on lessons with their teachers and classmates. Please take a moment to read this information regarding school attendance.
COVID-19 Reminders and Testing Options
If your child is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please keep them home and give them a rapid antigen test. Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases to other people, and testing remains a key mitigation layer to detect and curb transmission of the coronavirus. If your child tests positive for the virus or your household is in need of additional test kits, please contact your school as soon as possible.
TESTING RESOURCES
- Worksite Labs: Arroyo School, Patio 3. Make appointment.
- Curative: Central Middle School parking lot. Make appointment.
- Curative: Tierra Linda parking lot. Make appointment.
- Other Community-Based Testing Sites in San Mateo County
Find up-to-date resources on the San Mateo County Office of Education’s COVID-19 Testing for Schools and Students page.
Community News
one hour a week • flexible times • no experience needed • ages 14-99 • training provided • earn community service hours • more info
Healthy Cities Tutoring Fall Workshops
New Tutor Orientation on Zoom
Two sessions to choose from: Sept. 21 or Oct. 5, 7:00-7:30 p.m. Are you a new volunteer tutor? Interested in becoming a tutor but want to learn more first? Join other new tutors and learn more about HCT, meet our staff and have all your questions answered! Learn more and RSVP.
Fall Training: Tutor Tips Workshop
Don’t miss our Fall Tutor Tips Training led by HCT staff and teachers from our schools. Learn valuable techniques for engaging and supporting your students. Learn more and RSVP. Two sessions to choose from:
- Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m., San Carlos Public Library. RSVP.
- Wednesday, Oct. 19, 7-8 p.m., Clifford Elementary School Library. RSVP.
Volunteer and make a difference for students in our community!
Become a volunteer tutor and in one hour a week you can change a life! It’s a fun and rewarding way to give back to your community and stay engaged with our local schools.
21-Day Social & Racial Equity Challenge
The Community Foundation of San Carlos invites you to take a visible leadership role in joining the upcoming 21-Day Social & Racial Equity Challenge, kicking off Oct 1. and running the entire month of October. The challenge will culminate in a community conversation on Nov. 1 facilitated by two professional community members, Bea Kim and Grace Chen.
Call to Action
We invite you to take on the challenge by submitting your participation via this form and encouraging others in our community to sign up as well. Your name will appear on our website as one of several key community leaders supporting this very important work — and through your participation in the challenge itself.
Participating in the challenge is the best part; it can be done in ~15-minute self-directed online sessions each day, focusing on different topics related to racial and social equity — or you can save up a bunch of different days and “binge” topics in a single day. The challenge can be taken individually, as a group within an organization or as a group of friends. It can be a powerful tool to help examine values and goals and encourage dialogue on these important topics. More info can be found on our website.
Upcoming Events
- Sept. 28, 7-8 p.m.: info session
- Nov. 1, 7-8:30 p.m.: community conversation and debrief on challenge
Please join us by accepting the challenge! #
Sept. 25: San Carlos Day of Service
Celebrate our community by doing your part to make it even better! After a three-year hiatus, the San Carlos Day of Service returns on Sept. 25, and local organizations need YOUR help! Whether you’re planting a tree with friends, donating much-needed items or food, or organizing a cleanup, your good works will make a lasting impact. Join your fellow volunteers for a morning celebration at the San Carlos Youth Center, then make your way to your own project location to start the day with a charitable project of your choice. Learn more about the return of the San Carlos Day of Service and choose your favorite project at sancarlosdayofservice.org!
Join the School District Musical
Get set for three months of comedy, adventure and hit Disney songs! All San Carlos School District students in grades 4-8 are invited to join the cast of Disney’s brand new musical DESCENDANTS, based on the popular Disney movies.
No experience is necessary, and everyone who registers will be cast. Students in grades 6-8 will be members of the main cast and must attend a short, simple audition in order to be assigned roles. Students in grades 4-5 will be members of the show choir and do not need to audition. Get more information and register here.
- Sept. 26-28: Main cast auditions
- Oct. 11: Main cast rehearsals begin
- Oct. 19: Choir rehearsals begin
- Jan. 20-22: Performances
Parent Education Opportunities
We’ve all heard that stress is harmful, but can it be good for students? Join Kelly McGonigal, PhD, author and Stanford health psychologist, for The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It (Sept. 22, online).
Join the Children’s Health Council’s free Parent Anxiety Support Group. Various stressors as well as consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health have increased anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and fears in children and adolescents. Parenting during these challenging times has truly tested parents and kids alike. Join other parents to share concerns and strategies for navigating uncertainty and hope. The next meeting is Sept. 22, 12:00-1:30 p.m. Sign up.
Ana Homayoun, founder, Green Ivy Educational Consulting, and Allia Griffin, PhD, Santa Clara University, present High School 101: Helping Students Prepare for a Successful High School Experience (Sept. 27, online).
NEW! We all want to raise kind and thoughtful kids — but how can you do that? Author and developmental educator Deborah Farmer Kris offers advice on How to Help Kids Develop Their Emotional Vocabulary (Sept. 29, online).
MANY WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AT ARROYO
SHARE YOUR STUDENT’S ACHIEVEMENTS
We want to honor students who are doing great things outside of school and have two ways parents can help.
- Submit a virtual Soar Card explaining how your child is being Responsible, Respectful and Safe at home.
- Share an accomplishment from outside school with the Arroyo Spotlight form.
PTA CORNER
Join the Central Arroyo PTA. Your membership matters and helps support programs and events for our students and teachers.
REWARDS PROGRAMS
Participate in our rewards programs and a percentage of your purchases will automatically be donated to the Central Arroyo PTA — at no cost to you!
FOLLOW @ARROYOSCHOOL
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