Arroyo Eagle Eye - October 9, 2022

Dear Arroyo families,

It was wonderful to see families on campus together last week for our student-led goal-setting conferences. I hope you enjoyed the time to connect with your child and their teacher. This is such an important partnership, and while this is our only scheduled conference of the year, it is important to maintain the connection and stay in communication as things come up throughout the year.

Last week we also kicked off the sign-ups for our Student-Led Clubs. Students have the opportunity to sign up to lead a club in any area they are interested in, whether it’s the arts, sports, service, advocacy, etc. We’ll spend the next couple of weeks finalizing our club offerings with those who want to lead a club, and then all students will have an opportunity to sign up to join. Clubs are a great way to meet new friends or deepen connections with current friends as they find similar interests. Please encourage your child to get involved.

One of the things that frequently comes up around this time of the year as students begin to make new friends and develop different interests is peer conflicts. One of the developmental hallmarks of friendship in 4th and 5th grade is learning to resolve conflict in a way that ultimately strengthens relationships. That takes time and can feel uncomfortable while in the middle of the process, but working through it is important. Throughout the year, we’ll be working to build these skills with students and support them through the process. If you find your child in a conflict with a peer, please encourage them to talk to an adult at school so we can help facilitate a respectful conversation and resolution.

We know that our Arroyo parents need opportunities to build relationships, too! This will be your school community for the next four to five years, as your child continues at Arroyo and then transitions to Central. As a mom of a teenager and a young adult, I can tell you that having a strong parent network will be helpful as you parent through the tweens and into the middle school years. One of the best ways to do that is by getting involved and participating in both classroom and PTA activities. Please see the PTA section below for opportunities to get involved, whether it’s by attending our upcoming PTA meeting, or volunteering to help at our Halloween celebration, multi-cultural festivities, or book fair. Keep an eye on the Volunteer Opportunities page of our website for ways you can get involved, and be sure to fill out the SCSD Volunteer Agreement form.  

Remember that Monday is a school holiday. In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we acknowledge that Arroyo sits on the ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone, who are the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula. We honor the Ohlone and other Indigenous caretakers of these lands and waters, the elders who lived here before, the Indigenous today, and the generations to come. 

Wednesday, Oct. 12, is International Walk to School Day. We know we have a lot of walkers and bikers every day at Arroyo. If you normally drive to school, Wednesday would be a great day to give walking a try, even if it’s only part way. We’ll have a few giveaways for students who walk, bike/scooter, carpool, or take a bus on Wednesday.

Warmly,
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]

PTA News

Diwali and Día de los Muertos: Volunteers Needed

In addition to all the Halloween fun, the PTA is excited to celebrate two popular cultural holidays with the Arroyo community this year. Diwali begins on Oct. 24, and Día de los Muertos is celebrated Nov. 1-2. We have art projects planned for the kids to create in class and could use help prepping materials for the teachers. We also have decorating and donation opportunities for both holidays. Please check out the signup for Diwali here and Día de los Muertos here. Thanks in advance for your support in making these experiences happen for all Eagles! 

• Create a vignette or “room” in our Haunted House Maze
• Help set up the Haunted House Maze
• Spook/startle kids in the maze
• Donate decorations for treat bags

Save the Date: Our Book Fair Is Coming! 

Mark your calendars for the Central Arroyo Book Fair, coming up the week of Oct. 31. Our Family Night tradition is back this year, too: Thursday, Nov. 3, 5-7 p.m. Plan to stock up for the holidays as well as for the SCEF Read-a-thon, while supporting our PTA and school library.

October Yearbook Discount

Yearbooks come out at the end of the school year, but you can secure yours now at a discount! Order from TreeRing by Oct. 31 to receive 5% off. Use this link to shop with the discount code applied to your cart, or use code 1014628525232886.

SCEF News

The 3rd Annual Read-a-thon Is Coming Soon!

This event has been moved from winter and will coincide with many book fairs this fall. The dates are Oct. 28-Nov. 10. Stay tuned for early-registration information.

Thank you to all who participated in the Evening at TOWN and our Fall Silent Auction and Raffle. A fantastic evening of adult fun and fundraising for our kids!

Focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Oct. 10 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day

The second Monday in October is celebrated throughout the United States as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This day is meant to honor our first people, the Native Americans. With 574 tribes recognized by the U.S. government and another 300-plus sovereign tribal nations, there are many ways to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day, including an acknowledgment for the land we live on. Did you know that the original inhabitants of the land on which Arroyo sits were the Ramaytush Ohlone people? Ancestors of the Ohlone lived in villages along freshwater creeks on the Peninsula for more than 10,000 years. The Lamchin tribe of the Ramaytush Ohlone lived in the area that is now called San Carlos. 

Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Arroyo sits on the ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone who are the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula. We honor the Ohlone and other Indigenous caretakers of these lands and waters, the elders who lived here before, the Indigenous today, and the generations to come.

You may choose to share this with your family or write your own. Some resources about the Ramaytush Ohlone, the original people of the San Francisco Peninsula, can be found here. We look forward to learning and honoring Native American history more next month for Native American Heritage Month.

Native Authors–Native Lives
Be sure to scroll down to Community News in this newsletter to read about the start of San Mateo County Reads 2022. This year’s theme is Native Authors–Native Lives, and the selected title for Arroyo students is Joseph Bruchac’s Rez Dogs, a novel in verse about a Wabanaki girl’s COVID-19 quarantine on her grandparents’ reservation and the local dog that becomes her best friend.

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:

• Support a Hispanic- or Latino-owned business.
• Feeling crafty? Check out these fun project ideas. 
• Play a game of lotería (Mexican bingo) or dominoes (a popular pastime for many of Puerto Rican, Cuban and Dominican heritage).
• Listen to or make a playlist of Latino artists.
• Explore books by Hispanic and Latino authors. 
• Read about how Hispanic and Latino Americans have shaped our national parks for hundreds of years.

District News

SLOW the F A S T Down

September was Pedestrian Safety Month in California and October is National Pedestrian Safety Month! In partnership with Safe Routes to School and the California Office of Traffic Safety, we would like to remind families to review the following tips to improve the safety of students walking to and from school and on school grounds.

DRIVERS

• Do not speed and be sure to slow down at intersections!
• Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• Stay off the phone when behind the wheel.
• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right turn.
• Never drive impaired.

PEDESTRIANS

• Be predictable. Use signalized crosswalks where drivers anticipate foot traffic.
• Put down phones, headphones and other devices when crossing the street.
• Watch for approaching vehicles and practice care when crossing the street. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
• If possible, walk with an adult or older sibling until you’re 10 years old.
• Make it easier for drivers to see you at night: Wear light colors or reflective material and use a flashlight.
• Be careful crossing streets, entering crosswalks at night, and crossing busier streets with higher speed limits.

Watch one of the following videos with your child to help teach them safe pedestrian practices:

• Pedestrian Safer Journey (elementary school) from Federal Highway Administration (English, español)
• Pedestrian Safer Journey (middle school) from Federal Highway Administration (English, español)
• Walk Safely from California Office of Traffic Safety (English only)

Letter to the Community

The LunchMaster would like to thank you for your cooperation and understanding at the start of the school year while their service was suspended. Please read their letter to our community to see the changes they have incorporated to streamline their service to clients.

STEM Fair Interest Form Due Oct. 14

The San Carlos School District Science/STEM Fair is a community-based mentoring program that complements and reinforces the California Standards for Science and supports student learning of the scientific method. The SCSD STEM Fair is the gateway to San Mateo County, Bay Area, California and Broadcom National Science Fairs. San Carlos students regularly qualify and win awards from these prestigious events.

The fair is open to all San Carlos School District students in grades 5-8. For more information, see the SCSD website. Complete the interest form by Oct. 14 for additional communication and details. Email [email protected] with questions.

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 at Arroyo School no longer available.)

• 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.

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Community News

San Mateo County Reads 2022

San Mateo County Reads 2022 is about to begin! This annual initiative by the San Mateo County Office of Education, Peninsula Library System, and libraries across the county fosters community and discussion through literacy. The 2022 theme is Native Authors–Native Lives, and the selected titles for students are:

• We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade (picture book, TK-3rd)
• Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Ying-Hwa Hu, and Cornelius Van Wright (picture book, TK-3rd)
• Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac (novel in verse, 4th-8th)
• Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (young adult, 9th-12th)

More information about SMC Reads events and author visits is coming soon. Learn more.

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

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.

Parent Education Opportunities

How did the pandemic disrupt our children’s lives? NPR education reporter Anya Kamenetz joins us to discuss her new book, The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children's Lives, and Where We Go Now (Oct. 13, online).

On Oct. 19, we continue our fentanyl education series with Stacey Wisniewski, Prevention Solutions, Hazeldon Betty Ford Foundation, in Fentanyl Prevention Education: How to Help Teens Make Healthy Decisions (Oct. 19, online).

NEW! How can you raise a well-balanced student? Denise Pope, PhD, co-founder, Challenge Success, Stanford Graduate School of Education, presents Raising a Well-Balanced Student: Avoiding a Culture of Stress (Oct. 26, 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!

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