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No images? Click here  January 29, 2023 IN THIS ISSUE
IMPORTANT DATESMon 1/30: 5th Grade puberty talk info session, 5:30 p.m.Fri 2/3: Glow PartyWed 2/8: PTA meeting in library, 8:45 a.m.Wed 2/8: Brave Like Ruby Contest entries dueSat 2/11: Campus Garden Work Day, 9 a.m.-noonWed 2/15: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day for Arroyo, 8 a.m.Thu 2/16: School Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.Mon-Fri 2/20-2/24: Mid-Winter BreakPrincipal’s MessageDear Arroyo families, Last week was a fantastic week at Arroyo! It was wonderful to see our Eagles celebrating kindness and showing school spirit all week during our Great Kindness Challenge! Our 4th graders were really excited to present their PBL projects on Natural Disasters, and it was very special to see so many family members on campus for their presentations. We also enjoyed our Lion Dance Assembly and want to extend a big thank you to the parent volunteers, led by Esther Wang, who were on campus to decorate and pass out red envelopes to all of our students. Here are links to photos and a video of our assembly. Thanks again to the PTA and SCEF for making that possible. The fun continues this week on Wednesday as Arroyo students participate in a virtual learning program put on by the San Mateo County Office of Education called Arts As Life. They’ll get to hear from a variety of presenters on topics related to visual and performing arts, storytelling, and more. Ask your child about the sessions their class attended on Wednesday. This Wednesday also kicks off Black History Month. Throughout the month we will be celebrating the contributions of Black Americans. See the DEIB section below for resources you can use as a family to carry on those conversations at home. One of these leaders, Ruby Bridges, rose to fame as a 6-year-old when she became the first African American to integrate an elementary school in the South in November 1960. Today, Ruby is 68 years old, and every November, school communities across the country walk to school together to honor her bravery. Because of Outdoor Ed, Arroyo decided to push our Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day to Wednesday, Feb. 15, in honor of Black History Month (save the date)!  In honor of Ruby Bridges, Arroyo students are encouraged to enter our Brave Like Ruby Contest. Students can submit an essay or art piece demonstrating how you are brave like Ruby or how she inspires you. Submissions can be turned in to the office or sent electronically to [email protected] by Wednesday, Feb. 8. Winners will be selected and notified by Monday, Feb. 13, and will receive a special Ruby Bridges beanie to wear for the walk.  Last week I shared information about the PBL (Project-Based Learning) Unit that our 4th graders were participating in, and this week I wanted to share what our 5th graders have experienced. 5th graders participated in two PBL units this fall: one that tied into their learning at Outdoor Ed and one on Native Americans. The purpose of the Outdoor Ed PBL unit was to flank the students’ Outdoor Ed experiences and provide them with the context to compare the systems and practices within their school related to their energy (electricity), water usage, waste management, and land-use practices with those they experienced at Outdoor Ed, and to help them connect and carry their learning back to the school environment. The Social Studies unit, designed by our 5th grade teachers, asked the driving questions “How can we, as historians, create a map display for our community, to show representation of American Indian tribal cultures? How can we honor American Indian cultures in North America?” The unit began with a launch event grouping Arroyo students in different locations around the school and asking them to consider how their environment and the resources available to them would change their experiences. Students had the chance to hear from author David Robertson about his experiences as a Native American and research he has done for his many books. Students collaborated to research and design a final map of a cultural region including the tribes, environments, shelter, tools, artifacts, culture, and more. Both 4th and 5th graders will participate in an additional PBL unit this spring. Be sure to sign up for our upcoming family Glow Party, coming up on Feb. 3. See details below. It’s a fun night for the whole family! It’s also time to buy your Arroyo yearbook. You won’t want to miss it! Warmly,  PTA News Feb. 8: New Time and Location for PTA MeetingPlease join us in person at the PTA meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 8:45 a.m. in the library. Hear updates from our principals and PTA presidents. Be sure to check out the agenda beforehand to see what will be discussed! Glow Party Is This Friday!Last chance: Register now for Let’s Glow Arroyo! This not-to-be-missed event is this Friday, Feb. 3, from 7-9 p.m. in Mustang Hall. There will be snacks, glow games, a selfie station, dancing, and more for Arroyo students and an adult guest. Register to attend here, and snag one of the last volunteer spots here. Make sure to dust off your neon or white clothes, so you’ll glow under the lights. See you there! And big thanks to all of you and your contributions throughout the year for making the Glow Party possible. Your generous donations to SCEF provide our PTA the opportunity to put on memorable events like this for our community. Looking for Library HelpThe Central/Arroyo Library needs parent volunteers to help supervise lunchtime activities on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:55 a.m.-12:45 p.m. No library experience needed! We are looking for one or two volunteers for each slot. You can sign up for as few or as many shifts as you like here. We could also use library shelving help. Timing is flexible, and training is provided! Email our librarian, Ms. Hultgren, for more information.  Feb. 11: Support the Central/Arroyo GardenBring your family out to the Central/Arroyo Garden for fun hands-on volunteering on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 9 a.m.-noon, during the monthly Each Green Corner Work Day. We’ll lay the groundwork for a new hugelkultur (no-dig raised bed atop a mound), prune the grapevines, and whack the weeds that sprouted up after the rainstorms. Weather permitting, we’ll plant more seedlings so there will be plenty of produce to donate to Second Harvest and Samaritan House in the spring. Register here to volunteer, or mark your calendar for a future work day (every second Saturday): March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12.  April 2: Save the Date for Central and Arroyo’s Stampede & Soar Color RunThe 2023 Stampede & Soar Color Run is on Sunday, April 2, from 9-11 a.m. Mark your calendars now to join the Arroyo Eagles and Central Mustangs as they Stampede & Soar through the City of Good Living! This year’s color run will be followed by games, music, and food at the Central/Arroyo campus. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks about registration, T-shirts, sponsorship opportunities, and volunteering.  Lunar New Year Celebration: AppreciationA special thank you to Esther Wang and her team for planning last week’s Lunar New Year Celebration, which included a Lion Dance Assembly, decorations in the library, and classroom activities. These celebrations are made possible by your SCEF donations and PTA volunteers. Thank you again to everyone who participated.   Share Photos to the Yearbook + Order Your Child’s CopyBe part of creating a memorable Arroyo yearbook for our kids by sharing your photos! Upload images of your child or shots you have taken during school events into TreeRing’s shared photo folders (First Day of School, Art-in-Action, ROPES/STEAM projects, Spirit Days, Student Clubs, Field Trips, classroom photos, etc.). Follow these instructions to share. Arroyo School is using San Mateo-based TreeRing to build the yearbook, and your child’s book includes two free pages to personalize with their photos and memories (optional). Get started by creating your free account! You can personalize and order your book for $17.26 (plus tax) until April 12. If you already have a TreeRing account, buy via this link.  SCEF News Have You Seen the SCEF Thermometer?WOW! We are thrilled that we have reached the 50% mark for fundraising this year. There is still more to raise, and so many FUN ways to contribute! SCEF Online Auction Feb. 6-13: Summer Camps and Teacher Outings
Stay tuned for the registration information via email and in next week’s newsletter! Check out our website for more information.  Focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging February Is Black History MonthBlack History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of Black Americans and recognize their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history. Click here for more on how Black History Month began.  Here are ideas for diving deeper into Black history with your family:
 District NewsROPES Volunteers NeededWe’re searching for parents, staff, and members of the community to become panelists for ROPES presentations March 7, 8, and 9. Sign up to become a member of our panelist group today! Select one or more slots:
The training session for all (new and seasoned) panelists will be Wednesday, March 1, 7-7:45 p.m. on Zoom. The training will be recorded and available on our website. Email for more information. What is ROPES?  Community News After-School Class at Arroyo: Introduction to MindfulnessThis interactive class will explore evidence-based mindfulness techniques through art, games, and STEAM activities that are designed to promote self-regulation, resilience, and overall well-being. When children practice mindfulness it has been shown to reduce reactivity and stress, and helps to improve focus, cognitive performance, ability to resolve conflicts, social skills, impulse control, self-awareness, and resilience. If you have taken a Growing Mindful class before, please note there will be new curriculum. All beginners welcome! Sign up here. Location: Arroyo School, Classroom 14  Feb. 7: Mythbusting Diet Culture & Eating Disorders and How Caregivers Can HelpFor National Eating Disorders Awareness Month, Kindful Body will discuss the factors that contribute to the development of eating disorders, cultural and societal beliefs that reinforce the eating disorder, and how caregivers can push back against harmful messages to support your child with an eating disorder or reduce the likelihood of an eating disorder. Register here for this Zoom presentation on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m.  Afterschool Care and Enrichment (ACE) Is Now Enrolling for 2023-24Afterschool 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 lower and upper elementary students. Each day includes a healthy afternoon snack, our Homework Lab with staff-assisted support, STEAM activities and active outdoor enrichment programming. ACE will offer morning and full-time or part-time afternoon programming for the 2023-24 school year. Register online for Arroyo, Brittan Acres, and White Oaks. For more information: acesancarlos.com, 650-931-4007, [email protected]. Parent Education OpportunitiesRoss W. Greene, PhD, renowned child psychologist and NYT bestselling author, explains how to cultivate better parent-child relationships in Raising Human Beings: Creating a Collaborative Partnership with Your Child or Teen (Jan. 31, online).  On Feb. 9, we host Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell (pictured), the first female African American judge in Northern California, for a conversation on her debut book, Her Honor: My Life on the Bench ... (Feb. 9, online). Don’t miss it! What should parents know about the emerging cannabis industry? Lynn Silver, MD, MPH, senior advisor at the Public Health Institute, presents Health Impacts and Legalities of Cannabis Use in Youth (Feb. 15, online).  MANY WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AT ARROYO  SHARE YOUR STUDENT’S ACHIEVEMENTSWe want to honor students who are doing great things outside of school and have two ways parents can help.
 SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLEAs part of our Arroyo School program, we offer assistance to families as needed. The support can be a yearbook, grocery gift cards, or scholarships for school trips and PTA events. The recipients are kept confidential, and the principal is the only one who will know. Please complete this form to make a request.  PTA CORNERJoin the Central Arroyo PTA. Your membership matters and helps support programs and events for our students and teachers.  REWARDS PROGRAMParticipate in our eScrip rewards program and a percentage of your purchases will automatically be donated to the Central Arroyo PTA — at no cost to you!  FOLLOW @ARROYOSCHOOLFollow us on Facebook for up-to-date info on events and issues. |
