April 2nd, Weekly News

April

10-14 Spring Break, No School

17 TL/MPA PTA Meeting

20 SCSD Governing Board Meeting at TL

24 Jazz Band and Touch of Brass Concert in the TL Quad

26 Rising 6th grader parent meeting

May

8 TL/MPA PTA Meeting

Principal’s News

We are planning events for the end of the year and next year. We are seeking feedback on topics for parent/caregiver education about middle school students. We have received some suggestions, ideas, and questions. Please take a few minutes to fill out this Parent Caregiver Survey.

Standardized Testing - CaASPP-California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress

In May students will be taking CAASPP which consists of:

Smarter Balanced English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics

Computer adaptive portion
Performance Task portion- writing an essay or multiple step problem solving in math

California Alternate Assessments for ELA, mathematics, and science
California Science Test (CAST) - students in grade 5 and 8 only

In middle school, we have a schedule where students only take one assessment per day in either their English, math, or science classes. For 8th graders, this can take up to three weeks to complete in English, math and science. 6th and 7th graders take about two weeks to complete the assessments in English and math. These tests are not timed and students that are absent from school will take the portions missed in a make-up session when returning to school. CAASPP assessment measure student growth toward meeting standards and mastery of the standards. For more information, check out the CDE resources or the CAASPP resource page. Score reports usually come out in late August or early September. CAASPP scores are not used to determine course placement for middle school or retention/repeating a grade in school.

Math Pathways Information On Monday, March 27, we had a meeting to share information about the SCSD Math Pathways. This may also be useful information if you currently have a 6th or 7th grader at TL. In order to clarify our courses and pathways, we have changed the names:

Most common pathway Common Core Math: CCM 6, CCM 7, CCM 8 - grade level pathways that prepares students to take Algebra as a Freshman in high school. Note that CCM 6 is differentiated and students can go from CCM 6 into CCM 7 Com or compacted covering 7th and 8th grade standards and getting to Algebra in 8th grade.

Compacted Pathway leading to Geometry in 8th grade: CCM 6 Com - covers 6th - 8th grade standards in one year. Students take Algebra in 7th grade and Geometry in 8th grade.

Compacted pathway leading to Algebra in 8th grade: Differentiation in CCM 6, successfully completing advanced activities, quizzes and tests and taking CCM 7 Com or compacted in 7th grade and Algebra in 8th grade. Students have an opportunity in 7th grade to take a Bridge class that covers 8th grade standards along with taking CCM 7. Successful completion and mastery of 8th grade standards lead to taking Algebra in 8th grade.

2023 Incoming 6th Grade Math Parent Information Video

2023 Incoming 6th Grade Math Parent Information Session

Sequoia High School Freshmen/In-Coming Student WELCOME EVENT

The entire Sequoia family is delighted to welcome you-- our incoming students and parents-- to our annual Incoming Student Welcome Event on April 26, 2023. Principal Sean Priest will kick the night off with a short presentation followed by a question and answer session with current Sequoia students who can give you the inside scoop on what to expect during this important transition and first year. Members of our PTSA, Education Foundation and Boosters Club will also be there to welcome you to the school and answer all your questions.

Wednesday - April 26, 2023
English and Spanish 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Sequoia High School GYM 1

Please join us for this informational event that will answer key questions about classes, signing up for sports, and clubs and activities on campus. Parents and students are welcome to submit questions in advance to [email protected]

Regular Attendance is Good for Learning and Social Emotional Growth

Punctual and regular attendance is extremely important for a student to be successful at school. Additionally, due to current funding laws for public schools, absences cause schools to lose funding for the day, regardless of whether these absences were excused or unexcused. Formal notices will be mailed home and placed in the student's permanent cumulative file for excessive absences and tardies. Ten (10) or more absences are considered excessive, including excused absences due to illness, and will require doctor's notes.

Students have several school holidays throughout the school year, including a week at Thanksgiving, two weeks for Winter Break, Presidents’ Week and a week for spring break. Please plan your vacations accordingly.

If Your Child is Absent
The school should be notified of anticipated absences due to family emergencies, any medical or dental appointments, or any other unavoidable prolonged absence (see below).

Illness

Call the school (650-508-7370) on the morning of the first day of the absence.
Students with fever should not return to school until their temperature has been normal for at least 24 hours.
Let the school know if your child has tested posiive for covid.

TLM PTA NEWS

April PTA Meeting

Please join us for our April PTA meeting, Monday April 17th at 7p.m. Agenda can be found here. Zoom link and details below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87308527295

Meeting ID: 873 0852 7295

Passcode: 840037

During the April meeting, we will announce the 2023-24 board slate. The TLM PTA is looking for a treasurer for next year, for more information please email [email protected].

Tierra Linda Spirit Wear Store Open Until April 26th!

Tierra Linda's new online spirit wear shop is still open but it will close for the year on April 26th. Make sure you grab gear for spirit days, TL sports, cool mornings, warmer spring days, and siblings who are looking forward to being Tierra Linda Timberwolves! The new shop offers a variety of youth and adult sizes, colors, and design options, including PJ pants, which are selling fast. There's something for everyone! Happy shopping!

April Dates Added to TL Lunch Help Sign-up!

A huge thank you to those who answered the call to help with hot lunch distribution in March! Our fantastic volunteers continue to keep lunch service smooth and efficient and it's very much appreciated. Now we need to fill the April calendar with two helpers per day as well. Please sign up here to help - it's quick and easy, and you get a chance to say hi to your middle schooler as they grab their lunch. Thank you!

DISTRICT NEWS

San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF)

Sing the Anthem at the SF Giants Game - An Unforgettable Experience! Monday, May 15th at 6:45pm
Last chance to sign up! Your child still has the opportunity to be ONE of 150 San Carlos School District children to sing our national anthem before the San Francisco Giants and their fans at Oracle Park on San Carlos Night at the Giants! This unique experience will be at the game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Memorable and priceless (and a t-shirt!) this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience your child will always remember! Everything you need to know is explained HERE (order/sign-up by child’s shirt size).

San Carlos Night at the SF GIANTS-get your tickets! Monday, May 15th at 6:45pm
Grab your family and friends for San Carlos Night at the Giants! Watch our kids sing the national anthem before the game at Oracle Park then cheer on our San Francisco Giants as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies. SCEF has secured family-friendly bleacher seats. Tickets to the game are $20 (+ $3.50 service charge); so 4 tickets = $80 + $3.50 service charge. More information and order link is HERE.

Revel@Devil's RAFFLE!
Will you be the Lucky WINNER? ONE WINNER gets the chance to pick one from this group of fabulous items: Taylor Swift tickets, BottleRock tickets, dinner for four at Chez Panisse, Mexico vacation for four, or a Geoffrey's Diamond necklace. More details.

For the cost of a raffle ticket (1 for $125; 3 for $325 or 6 for $600) you could win one of our fabulous prizes. The winning ticket will be drawn and the winner announced at REVEL@DEVIL'S, a SCEF Community Party at Devil's Canyon Brewery on May 6th, 2023. Get tickets for yourself! Buy tickets for your teachers! Order Tickets HERE.

Safe Routes to School Parent/Caregiver Survey

Open Until April 15 - Please take a few minutes to share how your student/s travel to school! The Safe Routes to School Parent/Caregiver Survey provides valuable feedback on what programs and infrastructure projects are needed to encourage students and families to use active transportation to and from school. Access the English survey (also in Spanish and Chinese).

Your feedback allows us to adjust Safe Routes to School (SRTS) education and encouragement program features to best meet the needs of each individual school. Your feedback will also be shared with decision-makers throughout the county who can address infrastructure issues regarding safe walking and biking and decision-makers in your school community. This survey will take approximately 4 minutes to complete.

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 7th, 2023. For full instructions and details, visit: rethinkwaste.org/trashtoart

Parent Education Opportunities

NEW! When should parents be concerned about disordered eating? Join Avery Carter Walker, PsyD, Child & Adolescent Eating Disorders Clinic, Stanford Children's Health, for Eating Disorders and Body Image: What Should Parents Know? (April 6).

NEW! How can parents reframe the high school years and help their teens find joy? Irena Smith, PhD, college admissions expert, will discuss her forthcoming book, The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays (April 13).

NEW! The Parent Venture is proud to partner with the Parent Advisory Board of the Stanford Autism Center for In a Different Key: The Story of Autism, a conversation with Emmy award-winning filmmakers John Donvan and Caren Zucker (April 19).

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

Join us for a Facilities Master Plan Community Meeting on April 26

We want to hear from you! Join us for a Facilities Master Plan Community Meeting in person, on 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 resulting roadmap to inform the next steps for our facilities.

To join us for a live session, please click here to RSVP on Eventbrite and select from the following:
- Wednesday, April 26, 5:30 - 7:00 pm in-person at the San Carlos School District Office

Read more about our Facilities Master Plan update process and our Strategic Plan refresh process.

If you have any questions about these meetings, please email [email protected] or call (650) 580-7333.