Arroyo Eagle Eye - March 10, 2024

March 10, 2024

Principal’s Message

Dear Arroyo families,

Our final trimester of the year begins this week, and I love this time of year. This is when our Eagles really begin to own their independence as 4th and 5th Graders. I see this in our club leaders who have managed to keep their club running smoothly all year long. I see it in my new cohort of student ambassadors who are spending their recesses practicing their skills before our first tour for 3rd grade parents this week. I also see it in our Eagle Council as they shift from choosing between ideas presented to them and coming up with their own ideas for ways to build culture and spirit at Arroyo. We really try hard to give all students a voice at Arroyo, and spring is when I start to see those efforts come to fruition. I love it!

While many of our 4th and 5th Graders have settled into friendships, both new and long-standing, we continue to give students opportunities to make new connections. On Thursday we held our first Mix It Up at Lunch Day since before the pandemic. Instead of sitting with their usual friend groups at lunch, students were assigned a group based on their birthday. Each group had a leader from Eagle Council and a spinning wheel of questions to keep the conversation moving. I’ll be honest in sharing that many of our students were NOT excited about this, and I can relate. We all know the feeling of being asked to step out of our comfort zones and talk to people we don’t know well. I was so proud of our Eagle Council representatives, who felt like this was important enough to do anyway. After lunch I walked around talking to students about their experience with the activity, and while a few still didn’t enjoy it, most lit up with a big smile and said it was “way better than I expected it to be” and shared, “I talked to someone I didn’t really know but liked a lot.”  

Our classroom communities have also strengthened throughout the year. As students collaborate on projects and activities, they get to know one another while developing their own character and values. As their sense of self develops, that can lead to conflict and changes in their friendships that can sometimes be hard to navigate. Our school counselor, Julie Jobak, has been visiting 4th Grade classrooms to talk about friendship and conflict, and is available to help individual students who need support in these areas. If your child is struggling with their friendships, feel free to reach out to me, Ms. Jobak, and/or your child’s teacher. It is very normal at this stage of development, and there is a lot we can do to help!

One of the most important tools we use to measure our students’ social-emotional well-being and guide our programming in that area is the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS). As I shared last week, this survey provides us with information about how our students experience our school culture and climate. Students will be taking this survey in class over the next week or two, but we need your permission for your child to participate. Thank you to those of you who have already opted your child in to participate in the survey. If you haven’t given permission yet, please take a moment to complete our opt-in form as soon as possible.

Finally, be sure to remember to “spring forward” on your clocks this weekend! Adjusting to a time change can be hard and can lead to heightened emotions. Be patient, both with yourself and your children. 

Warmly,
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]

Breakfast and Lunch This Week

Please take time to review the menu for next week with your child. If they do not see a breakfast and/or lunch option that they will eat, then please plan to help them pack their own lunch from home (or a hearty snack on Wednesday), and please send your child with a snack for morning recess regardless.

PTA News

BECOME A MEMBER, VOLUNTEER, AND CONNECT!

San Carlos Education Foundation News

Get Your Raffle Tickets for a Live Auction Item!

You’re invited to enter SCEF’s Starlight Raffle! Tickets could win you a private dinner for 20 at TOWN, dinner for four at the French Laundry, a Mexico vacation, tickets to Dead & Company at the Sphere in Las Vegas (pictured), or another item. Visit scefkids.org/starlight-raffle for a full list of Starlight Raffle prizes; the winning ticket holder gets to choose one!

The winning ticket will be drawn and announced during the March 22 Starlight Gala. Only 300 tickets will be sold. You need not be present to win. Consider buying raffle tickets for your teachers and other staff members. Raffle ticket sales will be accepted through noon on March 22 or until they sell out. Cost: 1 ticket for $125, 3 tickets for $325, 6 tickets for $600, 10 tickets for $1,000. Order Starlight Raffle tickets HERE. They are not tax-deductible but do count toward your level on the SCEF donor roll.

Upcoming SCEF Events

• Starlight Gala, March 22
• Online Silent Auction, March 25-April 2
• Pickleball Tournament, April 28
• Revel@Devil’s community dance party, May 4 — featuring The Love Handles!

Focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on when the new crescent moon is, or should be, visible. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin around March 10 and end around April 9. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, reflection, and community.

Participating Muslims who are old enough and healthy enough to fast do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset each day. Once the sun sets, family and friends gather for a meal called iftar. Fasting is intended to strengthen willpower and increase empathy for those who have less; it is also intended to encourage care with words and actions. In addition to fasting, giving to charity and doing good deeds are a special part of Ramadan and done throughout this holy month. Families donate money, food, and clothing to those in need and are encouraged to give throughout the year. 

After Ramadan, families celebrate Eid al-Fitr (“the feast of breaking the fast”), which is a joyous event with elaborate meals, monetary gifts in envelopes for children (called Eidi), and time spent with family and friends!  

To learn more about Ramadan and Eid, check out some of these books:

• Lailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi

• The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard

• The Night Before Eid by Aya Khalil

• Ramadan by Hannah Elliot  

• Ramadan Around the World by Ndaa Hassan

• It’s Ramadan Curious George by H.E. Rey and Hena Khan 

• Under the Ramadan Moon by Sylvia Whitman

• Fasting and Dates by Jonny Zucker

Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month is a time to honor women’s contributions in American History. It grew out of a one-week celebration started in 1978 by the school district of Sonoma, California, and slowly spread across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8 as Women’s History Week, and in 1987 it was expanded to a month. Find more information here. Ideas for diving a little deeper into women’s history with your family:

• Explore Women’s History on BrainPOP, which offers free movies, texts, games and lessons on famous women in history.

• Visit the National Women’s History Museum website.

• Share a book about one of many amazing women from history.

School District News

Ability Awareness Week: March 18-22

SCSD is gearing up for Ability Awareness Week across all grade levels. Our collective goal is to foster mutual understanding and appreciation, emphasizing our commitment to inclusivity across various student differences, including neurodivergent individuals and those with diverse abilities. All students will have a chance to engage in a set of common experiences through activities already taking place on campus to spark discussion, increase understanding, and to celebrate our differences.

Join us for Movie Night on March 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Heather Elementary!

SEDAC (Special Education District Advisory Council) strives to educate our students and learning communities about ways to honor and include the unique strengths and differences each member of our community contributes. SEDAC takes a leading role in encouraging us all to adopt an assets-based, strength-first approach when considering individuals, fostering compassionate inclusion and accommodation of differences and limitations.

Community News

Parent Education Opportunities