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IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message: Staff Appreciation, State Testing, Project Based Learning, Advice for Friendship Drama
- PTA: Staff Appreciation Week Sign-up
- PTA Meeting
- Talent Show Volunteers Needed
- Honorary Service Awards May 23
- Yearbook Ordering Extended
- Hometown Days Parade
- Each Green Corner Updates
- DEIB: Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Plus SCEF, School District and Community News
IMPORTANT DATES
Wed 5/10: PTA meeting in library, 8:45 a.m.
Tue 5/23: Central/Arroyo Celebration of Learning and Honorary Service Awards, 5:15 p.m.
Fri 5/26: Minimum day
Fri 6/9: Arroyo Talent Show
Dear Arroyo families,
This week is one of my favorite weeks of the year because it’s time to celebrate our staff! Our teachers, paraeducators, custodians, and other classified and certificated staff members are amazing, and every day I am grateful to work amongst this group of professionals who truly care about students, both as learners and as students, and who also care for one another and work as a team to support our entire school community. Thank you to PTA and our room parents for helping to coordinate a weeklong celebration. Please join me in recognizing their hard work and letting them know they are valued and appreciated!
State testing begins this week with a focus on Language Arts. 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 most 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. Students will not be permitted to have electronic devices (cellphones, smartwatches, etc.) in the classroom during testing windows. Additional information for parents can be found here.
This past Thursday our staff worked with a trainer from PBLWorks who has been supporting us in our PBL (Project Based Learning) implementation this year. Over the next week or two, both grade levels will be kicking off their spring PBL units. 4th graders will be learning about California immigration, and 5th graders will be exploring the causes of the Revolutionary War. Watch for more information in teacher newsletters, but more importantly, watch for your student to come home excited about what they are learning and how they are learning it.
As a longtime upper elementary educator, I can tell you that spring is always a time that brings some friendship drama. Developmentally, children at this age are honing in on their identities: who they are, who they want to be, and how their friends play into that. It can be hard to navigate for kids, parents, and educators alike. I wanted to share a few resources that can help children who are going through this and sharing their challenges at home. Please also encourage them to seek support at school from their teacher, Ms. Jobak, or me. You can reach out to us as well.
Please be sure to read below for more information about upcoming events at Arroyo and in the community. We hope you’ll join us for the Hometown Days Parade on May 20 and our Celebration of Learning on May 23.
Warmly,
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]
Staff Appreciation Week Is Here!
Staff Appreciation Week is May 8-12, a great time for students to give teachers a kind note, drawing, or small token of thanks. Parents, we still need donations of a fruit platter and white cheddar popcorn. Check out the sign-up here.
PTA Meeting This Week in Library
Wednesday, May 10 • 8:45 a.m.
Our next PTA Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10, at 8:45 a.m. in the Central-Arroyo Library. Please join us to hear updates from the principals and PTA committees. We’ll also be reviewing the PTA budget for next school year. The Meeting Dates & Agendas can be found on our website.
Talent Show Needs Parent Volunteers
Parent volunteers, we need your help supervising talent show practice! Practice will be held during recess on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12:00-12:40 p.m. May 16-June 6, with the final production on Friday, June 9. Volunteers will sign in at the front office and then report to The Wild Zone, which is by the scooter/bike rack area along Woodland Avenue. Arroyo student leaders will lead practice sessions, so all you need to do is supervise for 40 minutes. We hope you will consider signing up!
Honorary Service Awards: Save the Date
Tuesday, May 23 • 5:15 p.m.
Please join us at the Honorary Service Awards on Tuesday, May 23, at 5:15 p.m. We will recognize individuals for their outstanding service to children and youth in our community with an award presentation and pizza dinner. The event will take place just before the Celebration of Learning (previously Open House).
Yearbook Ordering Deadline Extended
Great news! The Arroyo yearbook will be sent off to print on May 12, so you can still order a yearbook until then, with free shipping to school before the last day AND your 2 free custom pages. Get your order in today!
Any yearbooks ordered after May 12 will require additional shipping costs and will be shipped to your home. See this flier for info on ordering after the deadline.
Thank you everyone who helped the Yearbook Team take and share photos and put the yearbook together! What a great way to support our school and students!
Join Arroyo in the Hometown Days Parade
Saturday, May 20 • meet 8:30-9 a.m.
Calling all Arroyo students and their families! The San Carlos Hometown Days celebration is May 19-21, and Arroyo School will be marching in the parade on the morning of Saturday, May 20. This is a great opportunity to show your school spirit and celebrate being an Arroyo Eagle!
Arroyo students and their adult chaperone will meet between 8:30 and 9 a.m. on Cedar Street by Central Middle School. Students are encouraged to bring water and wear purple or Arroyo school gear. Kids who register by May 12 will receive an Arroyo Hometown Days swag bag to take their school spirit to the next level. Full details will be sent in an email to families closer to the parade.
Arroyo & Central Living Campus
Saturday, May 13 • 9 a.m.-noon
Now that spring is here, our vegetable seedlings — including peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants — have moved out of the greenhouse and into the raised beds. Because the plants grow so fast, it’s an exciting time to get involved.
Gardening Wednesdays!
Every week, Arroyo and Central students are invited to visit the garden during Wednesday morning recess. Tell your kids we’ll have cool tasks (and garden gloves) ready for them!
Living Campus Work Day
Exercise your green thumb by volunteering the family for a hands-on morning of gardening on Saturday, May 13, 9 a.m.-noon. With your help, Each Green Corner will be able to donate a bumper crop to Second Harvest and Samaritan House this season. No experience required. Register for the May 13 work day here.
Can’t make it out this month? Mark your calendar for a future work day (every second Saturday): June 10, July 8, Aug. 12.
Community Support for Our Schools
In San Carlos, our students enjoy instructional programs that go beyond what the base funding that the state provides can do. SCEF grants contribute over 6% of the district’s budget and 90% of your PTA’s budget. Your generous support TODAY will move us closer to the goal of raising $3.7 million for our schools. We are 75% of the way to our annual goal. We’ve made incredible progress, but we are not done yet and need your help!
“Making It Happen in May” will help us deliver a reliable grant estimate for 2023-24 so that SCEF contributions can be considered in the final school board budget deliberations in June. Please help us achieve our goal of $3.7 million to support San Carlos public schools and PTA programs by making a donation today!
Never Donated to SCEF?
Announcing a Challenge Grant for First-Time Donors.
A message from Jennifer and Greg Holmes, who will match $1 for $1 up to $50,000 any first-time donations to SCEF:
With our kids ranging from 8th grade through college, our family has been supporting SCEF for many years, knowing the positions and programs our dollars help fund give every San Carlos student access to a wonderful foundation of learning and development. From librarians and counselors, to classroom teacher grants, technology, and music programs, San Carlos students experience a well-rounded education made possible through community-raised funds. We hope our gift inspires new families to make a donation to SCEF today so that San Carlos students continue to thrive now and into the future.
Take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity and make your first-time donation today!
Focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
May Is Asian American and
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AANHPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent — including East, Southeast, and South Asia — and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Learn more about the origins this month and why it is celebrated here.
If you’d like to learn more about AANHPI culture and history with your family, here are some ideas:
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Consider preparing a special meal with your family highlighting Asian cuisine or support a local Asian restaurant. For recipe inspiration, check out Hetty McKinnon, Maangchi, Hebbar’s Kitchen, Emmymade, Tejal Rao, Rainbow Plant Life, Cantonese Food Recipes on FB, Just One Cookbook, The Woks of Life, Hot Thai Kitchen, Panlasang Pinoy, Thokoh Makan, Milk and Cardamom, and Chetna Makan.
SCSD Parent Speaker Event: How to Support Your Child to Find Purpose and Contentment
Tuesday, May 9 • 7-8 p.m.
As parents we want our children to be happy, and we do countless things (some supported by evidence, others not) to ensure they will be successful — and hence happy. In a world of 8 billion people, it may not be possible for our children to follow a straight path to success and happiness. Instead, research shows that helping children explore and find a sense of purpose, build an identity, and establish a strong sense of self-efficacy are much more likely to lead to contentment and well-being — as a child, and later as an adult.
All 3rd-8th grade parents are invited to join us on Tuesday, May 9, 7-8 p.m. at Tierra Linda Middle School in the Learning Commons for a special parent speaker event with Tara Chklovski (pictured), an SCSD parent as well as the founder and CEO of Technovation, the world’s largest technology entrepreneurship program for girls. Tara regularly speaks to audiences around the world about her lessons learned from helping 400,000 students in 120 countries, especially girls, find a sense of purpose and identity through learning how to solve real-world problems with technology and entrepreneurship. She will talk about the 4 stages of interest, the 4 key elements to building self-efficacy and a sense of purpose, and what we can do to enable these mindsets in our own children. Register here.
Mental Health Q&A
Thursday, May 18 • 7-8 p.m.
Have questions about supporting your student? Unsure what’s developmentally appropriate vs. when it’s time to get help? Come chat in the Arroyo School Learning Commons with Kiersten and Ilana, SCSD Mental Health and Wellness Leads. RSVP and submit topics here.
Follow @scsdschools
Follow San Carlos School District on Facebook and Twitter.
Making Room for a New Public Gathering Place in Downtown San Carlos
City Council Supports Permanent Closure of the 700 Block of Laurel Street: Last month, the City Council directed staff and the consultant team to move forward with a bold vision to transform the 700 block of Laurel Street into a plaza (one possibility pictured), thereby paving the way for a more pedestrian-friendly downtown. Learn more at sancarlosdowntownplan.com.
San Carlos United Soccer
Tryouts Begin This Week
San Carlos United will be holding tryouts for boys and girls born between 2006 and 2015 starting the week of May 8 for the fall 2023 season. If interested, please register at sancarlosunited.org and a team manager will reach out to coordinate. We look forward to seeing you at the San Carlos United tryouts!
Celebrate AANHPI Month
The Community Foundation of San Carlos is throwing a community-wide celebration in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI). The event will take place on Saturday, May 13, 2-5 p.m., at the San Carlos Youth Center and feature live music, cultural performances, and craft vendors. To attend, please register.
San Carlos Youth Center Celebrates Mental Health & Wellness Week
The San Carlos Youth Center Staff would like to share these events for ages 10-17 during Mental Health & Wellness Week, May 22-26:
- Monday, May 22: Resource Tabling with San Carlos Youth Advisory Council & Stanford Medicine Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing, 3-6 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 23: Be Sensitive Be Brave High School Workshop, 6:30-8:30 p.m., registration required
- Wednesday, May 24: Yoga Health Center Free Youth Class, 4-5 p.m., registration required
- Thursday, May 25: San Mateo County Library “Calm Corner,” 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 26: SPCA Therapy Dogs, 3-5 p.m.
From the San Mateo County Office of Education
4th Graders: California State Parks Adventure Pass
All 4th graders in California can now get a free California State Parks Adventure Pass to explore 19 state parks for a year. This pass is valid for the one-year period during which the child is a 4th grader or 4th grade equivalent, Sept. 1 to Aug. 31. Learn more.
Community Transportation Benefits Program
Qualifying San Mateo County residents 18 or older can now receive $100 in transit credit on their credit card or $100 tool credit on their FasTrak account. Multiple members of the same household can apply. Learn more.
Lando Summer Camps at Brittan Acres
At Lando, campers will flex their curiosity and creativity by engaging in real-world engineering challenges while balancing fun summer days playing games and enjoying the outdoors. Our camps develop a camper’s confidence in their ability to build, test their own design, and solve engineering challenges while having fun. Challenges may include designing a car that can move via wind power, creating an epic catapult to sling resources to those in need, or building an air filter to help solve pollution problems. Campers will collaborate and problem-solve with their friends in a way that they never have before. No experience necessary.
Parent Education Opportunities
What do teens believe about cannabis and vaping? Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, professor of adolescent medicine at Stanford School of Medicine, presents Teen Misconceptions About Cannabis and Vaping: What’s True and What’s Not (May 9).
Our children are experiencing the changing climate. Anya Kamenetz, author, journalist, and senior adviser at the Aspen Institute, will offer strategies for How — And Why — to Talk to Kids About Climate Change (May 11).
In this month’s Parent Forum No. 23 (English), Eran Magen, PhD and founder of Parenting for Humans, presents How to Give Advice Your Children (Might) Listen To (May 12).
NEW! Can a plant-based diet improve your family’s health? Join Kaiser Permanente pediatricians Kathryn Gopez and Elizabeth Nadiv for Plant-Based Nutrition: Building Healthy Habits for Family Eating (May 18).
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.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
As 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.
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