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IN THIS ISSUE
- Principal’s Message: Community-Building Events, Middle School Math Info Night, Band and Orchestra Concert, Volunteers for Student Clubs, Lunch Ordering, Parent Survey, Screen Time Advice
- Multicultural Family Night Volunteers
- Volunteer for Stampede & Soar
- PTA Board Openings and Nominees
- DEIB: Women’s History Month
- Plus SCEF, District, and Community News
IMPORTANT DATES
Mon 3/27: SCSD Community Meeting for input on facilities planning, 5:30 p.m. via Zoom
Mon 3/27: For 5th grade parents: Middle School Math Pathways Parent Information Night, 6 p.m.
Mon 4/3: 5th grade band and orchestra concert, 5:30 p.m.
Mon 4/3-Fri 4/7: Spirit Week!
Mon 4/10-Fri 4/14: Spring Break
Wed 4/19: PTA meeting via Zoom, 7 p.m.
Wed 4/26: SCSD Community Meeting for input on facilities planning, 5:30 p.m.
We have some great community-building events over the next couple of weeks. We hope you can join us for the fun!
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This Wednesday from 6:00-8:00 p.m., please join us in Mustang Hall for Arroyo’s first Multicultural Family Night. We’ll have food trucks, entertainment, games, activities, and more. See below for more information and to sign up to attend and volunteer.
- Sunday, April 2, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. is our annual Stampede & Soar Color Run. Don’t miss this family favorite! Thanks to John Guinn, Maria Shih, and their committee for putting together a great event. Volunteers are still needed to help during the event. Again, see below for details.
5th grade families, we have a few events coming up to celebrate and enjoy our students’ accomplishments and help you start to prepare for the transition to middle school. Please note these events on your calendar:
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Our 5th grade band and orchestra concerts will be on Monday, April 3, at 5:30 p.m. in Mustang Hall. Please see emails from Mrs. Green and Mr. Fischer for details about call times, concert attire, and more. It is always impressive to hear how far our beginning musicians have come. Just wait until you hear how they sound by 8th grade! (5th graders will have a joint rehearsal during their elective/PE time this Tuesday, March 28, so please make sure they have their instruments with them even if they normally have music on A Days.)
We are in need of a few more lunchtime volunteers to help supervise student-led clubs and a few other things this spring. If you’re available to help from 12:00-12:40 any day of the week, either weekly or biweekly, please email me at [email protected].
Speaking of lunch, the April menu is now available on LunchMaster, so please ask your child which meals they like and will eat (breakfast and lunch) and get your orders in now for the first week of April. If your child is NOT in need of a lunch on Wednesdays, please be sure not to order it. We have had a LOT of lunches ordered and not picked up on Wednesdays. The district is only reimbursed for meals that are picked up by students, so meals that are ordered and not taken are costing us a great deal of money that could be used on programing that benefits our students instead of on wasted food.
If you haven’t already done so, this is your last chance to complete our Arroyo parent survey, which closes on March 31. Thank you to those families who have! The anonymous survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete, and your input is incredibly valuable in helping us serve our students and families in the best ways possible.
Finally, one of the topics that comes up a lot when I talk to parents is screen time, and one concern I frequently hear from both parents and teachers is how hard it has become for some students to stay focused. This article, “Stanford psychology expert: This is the No. 1 skill parents need to teach their kids—but most don’t” has useful information that can help parents set their children up for success.
I hope to see you at one or more of our events this week!
Warmly,
Mindy Shelton
Principal
[email protected]
Multicultural Family Night:
Food Trucks + Volunteer Sign-up
Wednesday, March 29 • 6-8 p.m. • Mustang Hall
Multicultural Family Night is this Wednesday, and we can’t wait to see you all there! Don’t miss out on a great evening of live performances, food trucks, games, crafts, music, and more. Food trucks will open at 5:30 p.m. outside Mustang Hall on Chestnut Street. What you can look forward to that evening:
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Joining us from SF and Half Moon Bay/Santa Cruz are two fantastic food trucks: The Chairman, maker of delicious baos, and Alebrijes, a Oaxacan truck with tacos, burritos, and more. Both trucks are worth trying, so bring the whole family and your appetite!
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Live performances: A Tahitian dancer and drummer who will give Polynesian dance lessons, a Bollywood performance featuring our own San Carlos families, and a taekwondo demonstration led by Gold Medal Martial Arts
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Small savory and sweet bites from more than 10 cultures provided by volunteers
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A mehndi/henna artist
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A chance to try crafts like origami and popular games like mahjong and lotería
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Arroyo’s Eagle Council will host a flower fundraiser for those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Venmo and cash accepted.
Please RSVP if you haven’t already. It is not required, but your RSVP greatly helps us with planning.
Finally, we could still use volunteers (Central students and other older siblings are welcome to help), particularly to help serve food inside Mustang Hall and to look after a couple of the activity stations. Sign up if you can; we appreciate you and all the volunteers who have signed up already! Please contact Esther Wang with any questions.
This event is made possible by PTA volunteers and your donations to SCEF.
It’s Go Time: We Still Need Volunteers for Stampede & Soar!
Sunday, April 2 • 9-11 a.m.
We’re excited to welcome so many members of our school communities to the Central-Arroyo Stampede & Soar Color Run next Sunday, April 2! And we are desperate for more volunteers to round out the morning’s activities and make sure the event runs safely and smoothly for our kids.
If you haven’t already, PLEASE grab a spot for course monitor, games supervisor, or cleanup — or anything else that you can do! And if you have already (THANK YOU), please invite a friend to sign up and join you! We’re still only about halfway there. We’re also looking for Central students who want to lead the games on campus; it’s a fun way for our older students to get involved and give back!
This event is made possible by PTA volunteers and your donations to SCEF.
PTA Board Positions Open:
We Need You!
The Central-Arroyo PTA’s Executive Board positions will be voted on at our April PTA meeting. You can get involved in many ways in addition to Exec Board roles — a few minutes per week, month or year!
Please contact Maria Shih to learn more. Find out about all our volunteer roles on the PTA Job Descriptions document. Here is the slate so far:
A Huge Appreciation to All Who Supported Our Virtual Starlight Gala and Online Auction
Thank you, San Carlos school community! Whether you donated an auction item, bought a raffle ticket, attended the Virtual Gala or participated in the online auction, you helped us get closer to our $3.7 million goal, which will fund critical educator positions and important PTA programs next school year.
Special thanks to our Fund-the-Future of STEM Education matching donors — Presidio Bay Ventures, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, and the Handisides, Stabinsky, Raymond, and Quigley families — and all of the individual donors to the fund. To date, we’ve raised over $130,000 for this effort. Please visit scefkids.org/ftf2023 today to watch our video and make a contribution.
Strong participation by so many in San Carlos — parents, businesses, community members, and alumni families — is a great reminder of the VALUE that is placed on our local public schools. Thank you for your continued support!
Attention Leadership Circle Members
Check your inbox for your invitation to the April 6 SCEF Leadership Circle and Honorary Service Awards reception at the new Skyway Center near the San Carlos airport.
Focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
March Is 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:
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Explore Women’s History on BrainPOP, which offers free movies, texts, games and lessons on famous women in history.
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Visit the National Women’s History Museum website.
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Share a book about one of many amazing women from history and today.
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Learn about Sally Ride and make an astronaut helmet out of recycled materials.
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Read Hidden Figures and create your own mini stomp rocket out of a juice pouch.
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Do your kids know the story behind Rosie the Riveter? Learn more about how the women of World War II changed the landscape of the American workforce forever.
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Read one of Andrea Beaty’s books: Rosie Revere, Engineer, Ada Twist, Scientist, and Sofia Valdez, Future Prez. Ada and her pals even have a chapter book series and their own show on Netflix.
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Go beyond U.S. history and explore women in global and modern history such as Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, Michelle Obama, Simone Biles, Sonia Sotomayor, and Maya Angelou.
San Carlos School District News
Community Meetings on Facilities Master Plan
Monday, March 27 • Wednesday, April 26
We want to hear from you! Join us for a Facilities Master Plan Community Meeting — March 27 via Zoom or in-person April 26 — to learn more about the planning process and receive an update on recently collected input. Participate in real-time brainstorming as we think together about future opportunities for SCSD and our learning spaces. Your input will be invaluable to co-create a roadmap to inform the next steps for our facilities.
To join us, please RSVP on Eventbrite for:
- Monday, March 27, 5:30-7 p.m. via Zoom
- Wednesday, April 26, 5:30-7 p.m. at the San Carlos School District Office, 1200 Industrial Rd., Unit 9
Read more about our Facilities Master Plan update process and our Strategic Plan refresh process. Questions? Email Veronica Rickson or call 650-580-7333.
After-School Class at Arroyo: Building Resilience
This interactive class will focus on building resilience skills to help children navigate life’s challenges with more confidence and self-compassion. Through art, games, and STEAM activities, we’ll explore evidence-based mindfulness techniques that are designed to promote self-regulation, resilience, and overall well-being. We will practice regulating big emotions, personal strengths, making mistakes, happiness strategies, growth mindset, self-compassion and kindness, and gratitude. Sign up here. More details at growingmindful.org.
Location: Arroyo School, Classroom 14
Dates: Wednesdays, April 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Time: 12:50-2:10 p.m.
Price: $265
RethinkWaste Trash to Art Contest
April is right around the corner! Celebrate with RethinkWaste by having your 3rd- through 5th-grade students participate in our annual Trash to Art Contest. The contest is open to individual students. Per usual, a selection of fun prizes are available for contest winners! All submissions must be delivered to the RethinkWaste office in San Carlos by Friday, April 7. For full instructions, go to rethinkwaste.org/trashtoart.
Chess Wizards Make Learning Chess Fun
Join Chess Wizards for tons of challenging chess lessons, exciting games, and cool prizes. Locations in San Carlos include Central Middle School, Brittan Acres, and White Oaks. Your student will improve their chess skills and work out their most powerful muscle — their brain! Our classes are geared to suit children of all skill levels; from chessling to checkmate artist, students will build upon their knowledge through lessons, variation games, and more!
San Carlos Library After School
San Carlos Library is your free and easy place to hang out after school! Come to do homework, use our laptops, play board games, or take a study break with our activities.
🎨 Crafty Club: Drop in every Tuesday 3:30-4:30 p.m. for a snack and the chance to relax with art supplies.
🐛 Science Action Club: This bug-themed workshop teaches something new every Thursday 3:30-4:30 p.m. For middle school and upper elementary students.
💚 Special event this month! Wednesday, March 22, 3-4 p.m.: Ending the Silence conversation on mental health for middle schoolers. Open discussion with a teen volunteer and led by NAMI.
Camp Galileo at Arundel: June 19-Aug. 4
Looking for an exceptional, affordable camp option? Camp Galileo is returning to Arundel Elementary this summer. At Camp Galileo, K-10th graders enjoy creative STEAM-inspired projects and get active outside. Camp runs Monday through Friday, June 19-Aug. 4.
There is a special LIMITED TIME DISCOUNT for San Carlos Camp Galileo only! Use code SANCARLOSLL23 for $50 each week of camp! Valid through TODAY, March 26.
Inspired by popular demand, this summer we’re offering:
- 6 unique weeks of camp for K-4th graders
- 4 unique weeks for 5th-8th graders, so they have a summer full of experiences
Easy payments: Use our Pay Over Time option to split your $1,200 camp purchase over three monthly payments with 0% interest for low-stress budgeting. Enrollment for our scholarship program is now open.
Register now to avoid the waitlist. Spots are filling up fast!
Parent Education Opportunities
How do cultures that prioritize others before the self protect health? Belinda Campos, PhD and professor of Chicano/Latino Studies at UC Irvine, presents Resilience and Risk: How Culture Shapes Close Relationships and Health (March 28, online).
To transform inclusive education, we need to find the value in diversity. Shelley Moore, PhD, an inclusion and equity advocate, presents Transforming Inclusion Education: The Presumption of Competence (March 29, online).
Mark your calendars for these great events in April:
- Eating Disorders and Body Image: What Should Parents Know? (April 6)
- In a Different Key (IADK) with award-wining filmmakers John Donvan and Caren Zucker (April 19)
- How to Be a Non-Anxious Parent (April 25)
- Family Rituals: Meaningful Practices to Deepen Connections (April 27)
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.
YEARBOOK INFO
Order and personalize your child’s yearbook for $17.26 (plus tax) through April 12. Get started by creating your free account! (Arroyo code is 1014628525232886.).
FOLLOW @ARROYOSCHOOL
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