November 12, 2023

Mark Your Calendar

Tuesday, 11/14 - Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

Monday, 11/20 - Friday, 11/24 - Fall Break

Wednesday, 11/29 - PTA Meeting

Saturday, 12/9 - BA Holiday Boutique

Principal's Message

Dear Brittan Acres Families,

This week we will be participating in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on November 14th sponsored by the SMCOE Safe Routes to School Program. We will be handing out bracelets, stickers and buttons to those students who walk, roll, ride, carpool, or ride the bus on this historic day. We will also have pennants that students can carry with them on the walk to school from Burton Park.

Ruby Bridges became a symbol of the civil rights movement at age six, when she was the youngest of a group of African American students designated to integrate schools in the American South. On November 14, 1960, her first day of school at William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Ruby was escorted to school by four federal marshals and spent the entire day in the principal’s office as irate parents marched into the school to remove their children. 

The inaugural Walk to School Day in San Mateo County was in 2018. Students from Martin Elementary School in South San Francisco were learning about Ruby Bridges and wanted to celebrate her courage. They advocated to their school board to make November 14 Ruby Bridges Day and were invited to do the same at an SMCOE Board meeting. Their passion caught on and 14 schools across the county participated in 2018. Several districts also passed resolutions. Since then the movement has grown. You can learn more about Ruby Bridges and the Walk to School Day initiative on the website. 

We are excited to participate and join many other schools around the county in walking to school. Please join us - we will meet at Burton Park (Corner of Arroyo and Cedar) at 8AM to walk to school together. 

As a reminder, there is no school next week, 11/20-24, for our Fall Break. I hope you have a chance to spend time with family and friends. 

We will be back at school on Monday, November 27th.

Regards, 
Suzanne Fast, Principal
[email protected]

PTA & School News

Last Chance: Thanksgiving Gift Cards Needed

We currently have 8 families we hope to be able to help financially during the holiday season. Both the giving and receiving will remain confidential with Principal Fast. We are collecting gift cards now and will distribute them to families for their holiday celebrations starting with the Thanksgiving holiday. Gift cards can be placed in an envelope addressed to Mrs. Fast and left in the school office. For Thanksgiving gift cards, please drop off by Wednesday, November 15th. Gift cards in any denomination are appreciated. Thank you to our community for helping with this yearly tradition to make sure that all families feel supported during the holidays.

Food Drive

Our 2nd grade students have learned important life skills while promoting the food drive. We will continue to accept donations of non-perishable breakfast items until Wednesday, November 15th. They will be collected by Samaritan House and distributed to families next week. Thank you for helping our students learn valuable lessons about varying needs in our communities.

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day T-shirt Contest

Congratulations to those students who were winners in our “T-shirt” contest. I’m looking forward to seeing all the shirts on Tuesday morning during our Walk to School from Burton Park. All families are welcome to join us - we have lots of pennants, stickers, buttons, and bracelets to give away for participating. We will meet at the corner of Arroyo and Cedar at 8 AM.

Class Photo and Picture Make-up Day - November 14th

Still Light photos will be on campus on Tuesday, November 14th to take make-up pictures. You do not need to fill out any form if you are having your child take make-up pictures but please inform your child and your child’s teacher.

Author Jon Agee visiting Brittan Acres

In partnership with The Reading Bug, we are proud to host Author and Illustrator Jon Agee to Brittan Acres on Nov. 30. While not all grades will be able to attend the assembly, everyone can purchase his books and have them personalized. Please use the link provided by The Reading Bug. As he will be coming the week after Thanksgiving, please make sure to order your books BEFORE Nov. 17. He has written some amazing books and he does fabulous doodles on personalized books. Thank you for your support of The Reading Bug and the BA Library!

Purchased books will be handed out to your student's teacher the day of the event or the day after.

The BA Holiday Boutique is back! Volunteers needed!

On Saturday, December 9th, BA students will be able to shop on their own for gifts from 8:30am-12:30pm. The MU will be transformed into a holiday shop just for kids, stocked with lovingly crafted gifts made or assembled entirely by our community. Adults are welcome to mingle at our cafe and shop in the book fair, located in Room 13/14. 

We need volunteers to make this wonderful event happen - from decorating, gift wrapping, and setup there’s a job for everyone. Want to help? If you are an adult interested in volunteering at the boutique, district clearance will be required. See the BA Boutique signup for details. You may also email [email protected] with any questions.

See you soon!

Calling all Brittan Acres Business Owners

Get the word out about your business AND support our amazing marquee spring event, Walk-A-Jog! When you join your fellow Brittan Acres parents/business owners as a sponsor, your business’s name will be featured at the April 28th, 2024 event. Through your sponsorship, you have the opportunity to reach the families of 400+ students in the San Carlos community. 

Please reach out to Vanessa Reid and Laura Blaich (Walk-a-Jog Co-Chairs) at [email protected]. Thank you in advance!

This Week's Breakfast and Lunch Menu

Breakfast is served with fruit + milk. Lunch is served with fruit or veggie + milk.
The full menu and allergens list can be found here. 

Volunteers Needed: Lunch Supervision on Friday 11/17

 We appreciate all of our parents for helping out with lunch supervision. We are especially in need of help on Friday, November 17th as we will not have Legarza staff on campus. If you are able to help with lunch supervision on this or any other day, please sign up on this sheet. Thank you! 

Bruins of the Week

TK-1st Grade: Briggs N, Easton F, Aavish M
2nd-3rd Grade: Kai P, Adrian U, Milo L

DEIB

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 (Nov. 24).

NEW! links and resources this week

• Check out these 11 children's books to celebrate Native American History Month including Sharice's Big Voice about Sharice David, one of the first Native women elected to Congress.
• Want more books? Check out this month's recommendations from The Conscious Kid 
• PBS Kids has put together a resource Honoring the Real Story of Thanksgiving and ways to shift the focus towards practicing gratitude during November. Another resource from Smart Sitting 4 Activities to Teach Kids about the Real Thanksgiving breaks actions into steps
• For hands on activities, try crafting a Gratitude Pumpkin or check out these Gratitude Crafts

San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF) 

Celebrating SCEF and Gratitude

SCEF’s grants are only possible because of the generosity of our donors–parents, community members and businesses. SCEF is simply the vehicle through which people express their desire for quality public schools. Our supporters are being celebrated at all of our school sites by recognizing SCEF DAY. Thanks to all for your donations, learn more at www.scefkids.org.

Easy ways to support your school. Snowfest at Sports Basement and Honey Bear Trees

Great opportunities to prepare for winter sports, gifts and the holiday season, AND benefit SCEF:

At Honey Bear Trees, when you shop for a tree or wreath (and mention SCEF) they give 15% back to our schools.

Sports Basement’s Snowfest is Saturday Nov. 18 from 12-5p at their Redwood City store. This event is their kickoff to the winter season and SCEF is the beneficiary of their beer and store sales on that day. Get your shopping done early on this festive day and visit the SCEF table at the event.

Day of Giving is coming–Tuesday, November 28th

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Check your employer’s Workplace Giving program, as many offer special matches and grants to honor this day, and SCEF would greatly appreciate being the recipient of these gifts.

District News

Mark Your Calendars for a Community Outreach Event in East Palo Alto!

On Wednesday, November 15 at 6:15 pm, join SCSD for an outreach event with our families in East Palo Alto. We will take time to review our Strategic Plan, explain what/why the LCAP is, and empower families to be a part of our ongoing planning and community building. All caregivers are encouraged to attend, adults only please. 

Please click HERE to RSVP that you will be attending. We look forward to seeing you!

EZMeal Application

With the introduction of universal meals for all children attending school in the state of California, you may feel that it is not necessary to fill out the EZ Meal Application to benefit your family, school, and community. However, completing this form every year helps your school receive more funding to support your child’s learning environment. The application is used to calculate school funding levels from the state and federal level, so a few minutes of your time may add to the resources available to our school district. In addition, families that qualify for assistance may be eligible for additional benefits. 

Please visit our EZMeal Application webpage for more information & thank you for helping to support your school!

Help Shape the Future of San Carlos School District - Take Our School Facilities Improvement Survey

Your input is important to us. Tell us what you think! Take our short survey to share your priorities on the following facility improvements.

Take our short survey to share your priorities on the following facility improvements:
- PROVIDING clean and safe classrooms, and a quality learning environment for all students and staff
- REPAIRING aging/deteriorating classrooms, restrooms, and leaky roofs
- IMPROVING fire safety, school security systems and accessibility for students with disabilities
- UPGRADING infrastructure such as heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical systems, and gas lines
- UPDATING science, technology, engineering, arts, and math classrooms
- PROVIDING Transitional Kindergarten to all four-year-olds by 2025 — required by new state mandates

Click on this link School Facility Improvement Survey to begin!

Community Corner

Healthy Cities Tutoring Needs Your Help

Do you have an hour a week to make a difference? Becoming a Healthy Cities volunteer tutor is an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience that has a positive impact for students, families, schools and local communities. Last year, Healthy Cities Tutoring placed 398 students with a volunteer tutor in Redwood City and San Carlos. We've already placed over 150 students this year, but we still have more than 100 students on our waiting list.

Can you sign up now to help us match all students on our waiting list?
 - Flexible schedule: 1 hour per week between 3pm - 6pm most weekdays
- Tutors of all ages are welcome (adult tutors are in high demand!)
- Training and support provided
- All San Carlos & many Redwood City K-8 Schools
- High school student volunteers earn valuable service hours, mentoring experience, and HCT will provide references for future job and college applications
- Tutoring only happens during the school year (no tutoring during holidays or summers)

Please take the next step to becoming a volunteer tutor and visit our website. Click the VOLUNTEER button to complete your Healthy Cities Tutoring application. Becoming a volunteer tutor will make a difference in a child’s life and your life. As one of our tutors said, “This has been such a great experience - I don't really have just one word to describe it. That one hour a week is the most important hour of the week for me.” We couldn't agree more, and we hope you will join us!

Thanks for considering becoming a volunteer; please reach out with any questions - Janelle at Healthy Cities Tutoring - 650-508-7323

Community Foundation of San Carlos Poetry Submissions Due Nov 3

In celebration of United Against Hate Week (Nov 12 - Nov 18), the Community Foundation of San Carlos and Devil's Canyon Brewing Co. is throwing its 3rd Annual 'Stand United Against Hate' Poetry Slam. For the past two years, brave folks (as young as 8 years old) from all over the Bay Area brought their whole selves onto the stage and shared their stories of what it means to stand united against hate. 

When: Fri, Nov 17 from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PT
Where: Devil's Canyon Brewery Co., 935 Washington Street
Why: Come out and use your voice to tell your story on how you stand up against hate and how we can become more united and build inclusive and equitable communities for all. All ages welcome. 
Prize: The first, second, and third place winners will donate their winning prize to a 501(c)3 nonprofit of their choice that is focused on justice & equity.

Stand in solidarity for UAH and download a 'San Carlos Stands United Against Hate' poster here!

Parent Education Opportunities 

NEW! Join us for Finally Seen: A Conversation with Author Kelly Yang, a timely discussion with Kelly Yang, the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning YA author of Finally Seen and the Front Desk series. (November 14).

NEW! By Kindergarten, most kids believe that “fat” is bad. What are parents supposed to do? We welcome journalist Virginia Sole-Smith, the New York Times bestselling author of Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture (November 15).

NEW! Did you know that children's dental health can affect their physical health and development? Dr. Bonnie Jue, Associate Professor, UCSF Dental School, and Director, Sonrisas Dental Health, offers Oral Health Matters! (November 16).

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

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