November 2, 2025

Principal's Message

Dear BA Families,

November is here, and it’s hard to believe we’re already nearing the end of our first trimester. The energy on campus has been incredible, students are demonstrating deeper thinking, growing independence, and strengthening confidence in both academics and friendships. It has been wonderful to see how far they’ve come since August.

As the season shifts, we’re leaning into themes of gratitude and connection. This time of year invites us to pause and appreciate the kindness, effort, and teamwork that make Brittan Acres such a special place. Thank you for the many ways you support our school; your partnership makes a meaningful difference every day.

Thank You for a Wonderful Halloween Week!
Friday’s Halloween Parade was a joyful celebration! Our teachers embraced the spirit with creative costumes, much to the students’ delight. Families filled the parade route with smiles, cheers, and cameras in hand, the excitement was contagious. Thank you to everyone who helped make this morning such a memorable community event.

Día de los Muertos at BA
At Brittan Acres, we’re honoring Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a beautiful Mexican tradition that celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed away. This holiday is about remembering with joy, sharing stories, and celebrating family through music, food, and art.

Students are learning about this tradition in the library through special books and activities that highlight how cultures around the world honor memory, love, and connection. Families are invited to contribute to our school Ofrenda (altar of remembrance) in the library. If you’d like to include a photo (copy, not original), small drawing, or paper flower, please drop it off in the collection box in the office or the library or in the one at the school gate.

Looking Ahead: End of Trimester 1
As we approach the close of Trimester 1, teachers are preparing report cards, which will be sent home later this month. These reports reflect your child’s academic progress, effort, and growth so far this year. Learning is a journey that values steady progress, reflection, and the development of strong habits that support long term success. If you have questions after receiving your child’s report card, please feel welcome to connect with your teacher.

Growing as Learners: Feedback & ReflectionThroughout November, classrooms will be focusing on reflection. Students are learning to recognize what helps them grow, how to give and receive feedback, and how to set meaningful goals. These skills nurture perseverance, independence, and ownership of learning. These qualities will serve them well beyond the classroom.

You can support this work at home by asking questions such as:

• “What’s something you’re proud of learning this week?”

• “What’s one thing you’d like to get better at?”

• “What helps you stay focused when work feels hard?”

As we move into this season of gratitude, I want to acknowledge the warmth and dedication of our BA community. Every day, I see care and collaboration in action, from the way teachers encourage students to the way families support one another. It is truly an honor to be part of a school where relationships come first and where every child is known, supported, and celebrated.

Thank you for all you do for our BA Bears!

In partnership,
Jude Noyes
Principal, Brittan Acres Elementary
[email protected]

Snapshots from around BA: in the classroom

Snapshots from around BA: Halloween Parade

Announcements & Reminders

Book of the Month: 
The Gathering Table by Antwan Eady & London Ladd

This month’s Book of the Month is The Gathering Table by Antwan Eady and illustrated by London Ladd. This beautiful story celebrates community, connection, and the joy of coming together to share a meal. Through vivid artwork and heartfelt storytelling, it reminds us that belonging isn’t about a place, it’s about people coming together, caring for one another, and making everyone feel welcome.

In classrooms, students will discuss how kindness and inclusion can turn ordinary moments into something meaningful. Families can continue the conversation at home with questions like:

• “What does it mean to feel welcome?”

• “How can we make sure everyone has a seat at the table?”

• “Who would you invite to our own gathering table?”

As we enter a month centered around gratitude, The Gathering Table invites all of us to reflect on how we build community and share joy with others.

Family Gratitude Challenge
Inspired by The Gathering Table, this month’s Family Challenge is to find one way to “gather” in gratitude together.

Here are a few simple ideas:

• Share a family meal where everyone names something they’re thankful for.

• Write short notes of appreciation to a teacher, friend, or neighbor.

• Invite someone new to play after school or join in a weekend activity.

• Create a “gratitude wall” at home where family members can add notes throughout the month.

When we pause to notice the good around us and share it with others, we strengthen the sense of belonging that makes our school and community so special.

November Focus: Building Self-Awareness

During the month of November, our teachers and school counselor will be leading lessons and activities centered on self-awareness.

Self-awareness helps children recognize and understand their own emotions as well as the feelings of others. For young learners, developing this skill is essential as it builds the foundation for managing emotions, showing empathy, and forming healthy relationships. It also supports thoughtful decision making and helps students gain confidence in their abilities.

When children understand their emotions, they’re better equipped to express themselves, handle challenges, and take responsibility for their actions. Building self-awareness strengthens resilience, improves communication, and promotes overall well-being.

One of the most meaningful ways to nurture self-awareness is through caring conversations between children and the adults in their lives. Positive reinforcement and encouragement go a long way in helping children reflect on their feelings and learn from their experiences.

Linked are 10 helpful tips from a San Carlos teacher that you can try at home to support your child’s emotional growth.

I hope you find these ideas helpful as we continue working together to build confident, empathetic, and self-aware learners at Brittan Acres.

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 and School News

BA Showed Out at the Pumpkin Showcase!  

Thank you to all the pumpkin decorators who made last week’s showcase as fun and inspiring as ever! The BA community never disappoints but this year you really made us proud: golden snitches and derpy tigers, Pokemon, classic Jacks, Labubus and donuts… even the BA Library! Check out the full display here

Shout out to Breyon Lauher and Jen Burns for giving their time to help make this event a success. And thank you to our Pumpkin Showcase leads, Virginia Lu and Evelyn Johnson, for all their efforts organizing this year's event!

Celebrating Día de los Muertos at Brittan Acres  

At Brittan Acres, we’re honoring Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)—a beautiful Mexican tradition that celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed away. This holiday is about remembering with joy, sharing stories, and celebrating family through music, food, and art.

Students are learning about this tradition in the library through special books and activities that highlight how cultures around the world honor memory, love, and connection. Families are invited to contribute to our school Ofrenda (altar of remembrance) in the library. If you’d like to include a photo (copy, not original), small drawing, or paper flower, please drop it off in the office or in the collection boxes outside school beginning October 28.

On Wednesday, November 5, students will enjoy themed activities in the MU—including lotería, a sugar skull craft, face painting, and nut-free treats. We’d love your help to make the celebration a success! Please [sign up here] to volunteer for one of our short time slots, and reach out to Angelica with any questions.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the traditions that bring our community together and honor the people who live on in our hearts.

*Please note, you will need a POINT account to access; see the bottom of this section to sign up

Fall Festival - RSVP and Volunteer 

Join us at the BA Fall Fest on Sunday, November 16th from 11 AM - 2 PM. Enjoy food trucks from Yummy Kitchen, Curveball, and Zumix, plus pumpkin pie, hot chocolate, inflatables, games, and more.

We need volunteers to make this event happen! Look out for an email from your room parent or sign up for a shift via Point, BA’s new volunteer portal. 

RSVP here and for more info visit the Fall Fest website

San Carlos Education Foundation News (SCEF)

15th Annual Halloween Candy Buy-Back!

SCEF is once again sponsoring the annual Halloween Candy Buy-Back! Donate your extra treats at your school’s front office from November 3–5, and they’ll be sent to our troops overseas through Operation Gratitude. Last year, our community donated over 1,200 lbs of candy—let’s keep the sweet tradition going!

Thank you to Dr. Mike Chang, Dr. Urmi Amin, and Dr. Nancy Kaher, who will donate $1 per pound of collected candy to SCEF.

Inclusion and Belonging

The Ohlone were hunters and gatherers. They found many uses for the resources of the region, such as plants that provided materials for shelter and clothing.

November Is Native American Heritage Month

November is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the significant contributions of Native people. Below are some ways you and your family can observe Native American Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Day (the day after Thanksgiving).

Discover more about the Ramaytush Ohlone, the tribe that is indigenous to the Peninsula, here.  

Explore Native Land Digital, an interactive map that allows you to identify which tribes live or lived in regions around the world.

Visit a museum or another local spot to learn more about the local Indigenous people.

• The San Mateo History Museum in downtown Redwood City has a fantastic display of local Native American history and artifacts (source of image of the Ohlone above).
• The visitor center at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont has a display of Ohlone artifacts and celebrations. 

Read about the contributions that Native Americans have made and are still making today. Did you know, for example, that lacrosse has roots in the popular Indigenous North American game of stickball?

Check out these resources for talking to kids about Thanksgiving:

• How to Teach Your Kids the Real History of Thanksgiving

• Native educators say Thanksgiving lessons can be accurate, respectful, and still fun — here’s how

School District News

Community Food Resources for Families

With the recent federal government closure and resulting suspension of SNAP and CalFresh benefits, some members of our community may be experiencing food insecurity. San Carlos School District has compiled a list of local Community Food Resources available to support our families & staff. The list includes information about food pantries, grocery programs, and other ways to access healthy meals — in both English and Spanish.

Flyers were sent home via PeachJar last week and copies are now available in your school’s front office. Please reach out to your Principal if you need additional asssistance.

Thank you for being part of our caring and connected SCSD community!

Support Our Schools: Complete the Meal Application Today!

Each year, we ask all families to complete the Meal Application, regardless of income. Even if you think you may not qualify, submitting this form can directly benefit your family, school, and community. By completing the application, you help our school secure vital funding from state and federal sources to enhance your child’s learning environment.

Please visit our Free & Reduced-Price Meals | EZ Meal Application webpage for more information.

This message is provided as a quarterly reminder for families.

Community Partner News

Sequoia Drama's Upcoming Production of The Lightning Thief!

Tickets for Sequoia High School Drama's upcoming production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical are now officially on sale. You can purchase tickets HERE.

Our performances run from Friday, November 7 to Saturday, November 15.

Sunday, November 9th's performance is a “pay-what-you-can” show. This performance aims to offer financial accessibility to anyone who might benefit from having more pricing flexibility. This is also a great opportunity to coordinate larger groups to attend together.

Help us spread the word! Share with family, friends, students, and any members of the community you think might be interested.

🍁Mark your calendars for these great events coming up in November!

How can we support our boys through adolescence? Christopher Pepper and Joanna Schroeder offer Talk to Your Boys: Help Tweens and Teens Grow into Confident, Caring Young Men (November 5).

NEW! The Parents Under Pressure Series presents Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, author of The Whole-Brain Child, in The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids (November 6).

NEW! How can we keep our kids healthy? We welcome Bonnie Maldonado, MD, Stanford Medicine Children's Health, for The Science of Prevention: Promoting Healthy Practices in Youth and Families (November 12).

Visit the Parent Venture Series of Upcoming Events page for more information.
- Parent Venture Series Events -

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This newsletter is brought to you by the Brittan Acres PTA. Join the PTA.