|
In this issue:
- Principal's Message
attendance matters, gratitude for BA, pick up reminders, BA book of the month, weekly menu
- PTA / School News: PTA meeting, BA Holiday Boutique, Mini Book Fair, 1st/2nd Art in Action, Kindergarten Art volunteers, BA Winter Holiday Celebrations, Thank you to sponsors
- Inclusion & Belonging, SCSD news, SCEF updates, and more
Mark Your Calendar
Weds, Dec. 3: PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Thurs, Dec. 4: SSC/ELAC Meeting 3:15 Virtual (Agenda)
Sat, Dec. 6: BA Holiday Boutique, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Weds, Dec. 10: Winter Holidays Celebration
Thurs, Dec. 18: Minimum Day, early dismissal at 12:25 p.m.
Jan. 19 - Jan. 5: Winter Break, no school
Tues, Jan. 6: School resumes
Welcome Back, Brittan Acres!
I hope you all had a restful Thanksgiving break and found time to slow down, connect with the people you care about, and enjoy a few moments of calm. As we return to campus, I’m excited to jump back in with our students and keep building the momentum we’ve started this year.
This stretch between now and winter break is always busy, but it’s also one of the most joyful. You’ll see classrooms diving into new projects, school traditions taking shape, and students settling back into their routines. Thank you for all the ways you support your children and our community every day. It truly makes a difference.
I’m looking forward to finishing this part of the year strong together. If you need anything or have questions as we get going again, please reach out.
Announcements & Reminders
Attendance Matters at Brittan Acres… Even in TK
At Brittan Acres, every day counts. This includes our TK students, whose early routines set the foundation for strong habits and confidence in school. The average student misses only about three days per year, and absences over 18 days, whether excused for illness or unexcused for travel, are considered chronic.
As we move into the winter season, we truly appreciate families avoiding extra days off before or after the break. If your child is healthy, please help them be here consistently. Students with a fever must stay home, but a mild runny nose or light cough doesn’t necessarily mean they need to miss school. Each school day is a chance to learn, build community, and strengthen relationships with peers and teachers. Regular attendance helps our students grow academically and emotionally. If your family is experiencing barriers to attendance, please reach out to your child’s teacher, our school counselor at [email protected], or to me at [email protected]. We’re here to help.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students healthy, connected, and in school.
Thank You for Your Generosity
A huge thank-you to all our Brittan Acres families for the incredible food and toy donations this season. We were blown away by the amount collected. truly tons of items that will make a real difference for families in our community.
A special shout-out goes to our 2nd grade teachers and students for organizing the drive and leading the effort with so much heart. Their hard work ensured that every donation was sorted, packed, and ready to support those in need.
Thank you for helping us spread kindness and care this winter. Our community shines because of you ❤️
Pick-Up Reminder: Yellow Name Card
To help our dismissal line run safely and efficiently, please be sure to have your yellow name card (distributed at the start of the year) clearly visible in your car window during pick-up. This allows staff to quickly identify your student and call them to the line right away.
If you no longer have your yellow card, please let us know, we’re happy to send a new one home with your child. Thank you for helping us keep dismissal smooth and safe for everyone!
December Book of the Month: The Day the Books Disappeared
This month, our students are diving into The Day the Books Disappeared, a story that celebrates curiosity, problem-solving, and the joy of reading. The book follows a group of students who discover that all the books in their school have suddenly vanished and they work together to uncover what happened. Along the way, they learn just how much stories, imagination, and shared learning mean to a community. Classes will be exploring themes of teamwork, responsibility, and the importance of caring for the spaces and materials we share. We encourage families to ask their children about the story and what they found most interesting or surprising.
We’re excited to bring this book to Brittan Acres and look forward to the conversations it sparks across our school
This week's Breakfast & Lunch menu
Free for all students, no pre-order needed. Weekly menus will be posted here in the Blast, in the entrance hallway to Brittan Acres and in the school office.
PTA Meeting:
This Wednesday, Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m.
The PTA is excited to host this month’s meeting in the Brittan Acres MU on Wednesday, December 3, at 6:30 p.m. Families will hear school updates from Principal Noyes, along with reports from SCEF and PTACC. The preview to the meeting agenda can be viewed by clicking here.
The meeting will also highlight upcoming events, share committee news, and offer ways for parents and guardians to stay connected and involved this season. All are warmly welcomed to attend!
Holiday Boutique is almost here! December 6
The Brittan Acres Holiday Boutique returns on Saturday, December 6th from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Please click the button below to volunteer; thanks to all of our volunteers for keeping this beloved BA tradition going!
Mini Book Fair Dec. 6
Swing by Rooms 13/14 and browse the Book Fair while your kids shop at the Holiday Boutique! We will have a fantastic selection of books that make wonderful holiday gifts, stocking stuffers, and everything in between. Have questions or want to help during the Book Fair? Email [email protected]
We can’t wait to see you there!
Kindergarten Art Volunteers Needed
STEAM Art lessons are starting in November! Teachers appreciate the help to make these lessons run smoothly.
Volunteer information:
- Arrive to room 20 to set up 15 minutes before the students.
- Set up via the instructions are attached in point sign ups.
- Assist as students make masterpieces
- Clean up
Sign Up on Point: Kinder Art Sign Ups
Questions? Contact BA PTA STEAM Co-Chair: Christen Hanson ([email protected])
Winter Holiday Celebrations: December 10th
Brittan Acres will host our annual Winter Holiday Celebrations cultural activity for students during school hours on Wednesday, December 10th. During this event, students will have the opportunity to spin the dreidel, create menorahs and dreidel scratch art, create an ornament and make a festive bracelet for Kwanzaa. If you'd like to volunteer to help students with these crafts, please sign up here or click the button below.
Thank You to Our Generous Donors!
A huge thank-you to Hyland Design Group, Jacklyn Kurth Orthodontics, 2-B Living and Joyce & Tatum Real Estate who have already donated to support BA’s Walk-A-Jog coming up on April 26, 2026. Their generosity helps keep our community strong, connected, and full of tradition.
If you know of any Brittan Acres family-owned businesses, realtors, and dentists that may also want to sponsor, there’s still time to donate! Please reach out to fundraising leads Ashley McManus ([email protected]) and Roxanne McClure ([email protected]) for more information. More than 500 t-shirts, bags, and water bottles will be distributed, offering a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to gain visibility and be recognized as key supporters of our school and we couldn’t do this special event without them!
San Carlos Education Foundation News (SCEF)
Double your Donation on Giving Tuesday
Be sure to keep December 2nd– GIVING TUESDAY– on your radar and check your employer’s Workplace Giving programs for special matches and grants on that day. Use our Double the Donation tool to find out what your company offers. We are hearing that several local companies are offering double matches on or around Giving Tuesday. Don’t miss this chance to Double your Donation!
Honey Bear Trees
Pick up your tree this holiday season and benefit your school! Visit Honey Bear Trees when you shop for a tree or wreath this holiday season and mention SCEF at check-out. For the 16th year, Honey Bear Trees will donate 15% of each purchase to SCEF. Honey Bear Trees is located at 1579 El Camino Real (across from Trader Joe’s).
2026 Read-A-Thon is Coming!
The 6th Annual PTA & SCEF Read-A-Thon is back January 15–29, 2026! This fun, free, district-wide event celebrates reading and directly involves students in supporting their schools. All readers are encouraged to participate, and those who register early by December 19th will be entered into a special drawing for gift cards to local businesses, Principal for the Day, and even a special parent prize from Paris Baguette. Look for registration details in next week’s newsletter.
Every minute read and every dollar raised helps fund art, music, libraries, assemblies, and community-building programs through SCEF and your PTA. Let’s aim for 100% participation and beat last year’s nearly $200,000 total!
Thankful for our Sponsors
We are grateful to our Emerald and Platinum Sponsors for their generous support!
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Town, Heckenberg Realty Group, Premia/Prince St, Summerhill Apartment Communities, Black Mountain Property and Wendy Wood Illustration and Design.
Spaces Available in our San Carlos Early Learning Preschool Program
San Carlos School District offers many preschool options so families can choose the program that best fits their needs.
🌟 We offer preschool on all of our elementary campuses — Arundel, Brittan Acres, Heather & White Oaks. It’s a wonderful way to get to know your incoming school community and start building friendships early!
State-funded preschool spots are available now at Heather, FREE for eligible families
Your family may qualify for our free, state-funded preschool program, and we can help determine eligibility. For example, a family of four earning up to $127,338 per year may qualify.
At San Carlos Early Learning, children thrive in a warm, nurturing environment that fosters curiosity, social growth, and school readiness — helping them build the skills they need in Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) and Kindergarten and beyond.
Learn more on our website or contact:
Leah Scholer - [email protected]
Jenny Salazar - [email protected] for more information.
SAVE THE DATE for Friday, Dec. 12:
Tierra Linda Middle School Entrepreneur Fair!
Our middle school entrepreneurs have been hard at work: refining business plans, researching startup costs, setting pricing strategies, and crafting their marketing pitches. We’re so proud of their creativity and drive, and we’d love to rally strong support from our SCSD community. Come cheer them on as they launch their business ventures. Bring friends and family…and get ready to shop! Friday, Dec. 12 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
San Carlos Little League (SCLL) has opened registration for next Spring!
SCLL was established in 1953 and provides a positive youth baseball experience to children ages 4 - 16 of all abilities in the San Carlos community. We focus on developing the qualities of leadership, citizenship, discipline, character & teamwork. The 2026 Little League season kicks off the weekend of Saturday, March 7th and runs approximately through the school year. We offer several divisions of play based on Little League Baseball Age Charts and evaluations in the upper divisions (AA up). Learn more and sign-up at www.sancarlosll.com.
Piano Class at Brittan Acres with Hummingbird Music School - Winter Session!
Does your child want to learn piano in a fun and engaging group setting? Hummingbird Music School’s popular after-school Piano Class is now enrolling for the Winter Session! Students will explore the fundamentals of piano — including note reading, hand position, chords, and rhythm — in a relaxed and supportive environment that emphasizes fun and creativity. Each student receives their own keyboard, headphones, and lesson book, ensuring hands-on learning every week. Parents can easily track their child’s progress online through Hummingbird’s partnership with MySkillChart.
When: Mondays, 2:30–3:20 PM
Session Dates: January 12 – March 30
Grades: K – 3
Cost: $50 per class
Location: Room 20
For more information or to register, visit hummingbirdmusicschool.com/after-school-music-classes
Chess Class at Brittan Acres - Winter Session!
Join Chess Wizards this semester for tons of challenging chess lessons, exciting games, and cool prizes. You'll improve your chess skills, and work out your most powerful muscle - your 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! More than just a game of winning and losing, we make learning chess fun! Class meets weekly on Thursdays from 2:30-3:30pm from Jan 29-Apr 2. Cost is $306. Read more and register at www.chesswizards.com
Cooking Class at Brittan Acres - Winter Session!
Whisk Around the World is your ticket to a global kitchen adventure! In this flavorful after-school program, your junior chefs will “whisk” away to a new country each week, exploring international cuisines, ingredients, and traditions through hands-on cooking fun. As we stir up global inspiration, students will also sharpen essential kitchen skills—including proper knife techniques, measuring, mixing, and teamwork—all while building confidence and curiosity one bite at a thyme. Whether slicing, dicing, or just spicing things up, our Junior Chefs will create tasty dishes, cook up culture, and learn through every fun-filled session. It’s a recipe for adventure—and it’s going to be souper! So, pack up those taste buds and lettuce take your young chef on this exciting journey. No passport required—just a hunger to explore!
Class meets weekly on Fridays 2:30-4pm from Jan 16-Mar 20. Cost is $550. Read more and register here.
🎉 We're excited to announce these terrific events coming up in December!
SAVE THE DATE! Bob Mittelstaedt, co-founder of E-Bike Access, a non-profit advocating for safe, legal, and equal access to pedal-assist e-bikes, will discuss e-bike options, safety, and legal liability (December 2).
NEW! What should parents know about today's digital/AI landscape? We welcome Devorah Heitner, PhD, media expert and author of Growing Up in Public, for Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World (December 3).
NEW! How can we support bodily autonomy for girls? Join Leora Tanenbaum, researcher and author of six books, for Sexy Selfie Nation: Changing the Narrative Around Girls’ Body Image (December 4).
Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information.
- Parent Venture Series Events -
Have information to include in an upcoming issue? Submit it here.
This newsletter is brought to you by the Brittan Acres PTA. Join the PTA.
|
