Principal's Newsletter
October 18, 2021
Principal's Message
Dear Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion families,
I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. Incredibly, next month we will already start recruiting new students for our next school year's Kindergarten classes. We will hold weekly informational tours/meetings via Zoom, but "word of mouth" referrals from parents and community members is the best way to "market" our school and immersion program to prospective new parents. Keep in mind that mastering two or more languages has enormous benefits for our students, both native speakers of English and native speakers of the target language(Spanish) at a dual language immersion school. Research has confirmed the benefits of biliteracy and bilingualism that are demonstrated as brain and cognitive functioning, academic, economic, and social advantages, as well as cross-cultural competency and supporting a stronger family cohesion and connection to their family heritage:
Brain and Cognitive Advantages
- Development of skills in two or more languages enhances brain-functioning with long-term cognitive benefits. Similarly, age-related mental decline such as Alzheimer’s and dementia has been found to be delayed in bilingual people.
Academic Advantages
- Mastering two or more languages prepares students to communicate in a language other than English and also increases academic performance in other subjects. For students who come to school as native speakers of the target language, also known as “English Learners,” the simultaneous development of both English and their home language is associated with stronger performance in English than students, both native English speakers and native speakers of the target language, who are educated exclusively in English.
Economic Advantages
- Fluency in more than one language and the cross-cultural skills that students acquire are prized and rewarded with higher salaries by many businesses in the United States and throughout the world. Many more career opportunities are available to people who are proficient in English and another language in the global environment of the 21st century.
Social Advantages and Cross-Cultural Competency
- Students who study other languages display more tolerance for and interest in other cultures. Study of another language expands one’s worldview and builds cross-cultural understanding, a definite advantage in the global multilingual, multicultural world in which we live.
Stronger Family Cohesion and Connection to Family Heritage
- More than three out of ten of school children in California, and nearly one in ten across the nation, speak a language other than English at home. The development of strong bilingual and biliteracy skills that include the home language and English provide them the capacity and opportunity to participate actively in both worlds, leading to a strengthening of their family and heritage culture.
Dress Code Reminders:
As the weather is getting colder more students are coming to school in sweaters and sweatshirts. Unfortunately, we have noticed that not everyone is following the Dress Code. We need parents help: PLEASE make sure your child is following our dress code before leaving for school in the morning. A reminder that sweaters and sweatshirts can be solid Black, White, Navy Blue, Yellow or Grey. Furthermore, please LABEL clearly clothing and lunchboxes/water bottles.
Nut Allergies and Child Nutrition Updates
As we are a community, we need your help regarding nut allergies from which several of our students and staff suffer(in some cases seriously enough to require an EpiPen treatment). Please do not send peanut butter sandwiches, peanuts, cashews or pistachios in your child's snacks or lunches. For some of our students, just touching the oily residue left from the nuts is enough to cause a serious reaction. Also, please remind students to NOT share food or drinks during lunch. On a different note, here is the Adelante Selby Recess Snack Menu from Child Nutrition Services. You can see that they have made some significant changes, e.g., no more "Conchas/Sweetbread" and Cheese Stick/healthier options, which we appreciate. Here is the link to the Lunch Menu for the week of October 18th: Lunch Menu English and Español. Keep in mind, as Anna Lague reminded us previously, some items might not be available due to COVID-19 supply chain issues. As always, you may send a snack or lunch with your student from home(Nut Free please) if you do not want them to get the food available from the cafeteria.
Will be on Friday, October 29th 3:00-5:00pm--Drive Through Only. Please note the Front Parking Lot will be closed all day so Trunk or Treat volunteers can decorate the trunks of their cars and we can host our event after school. Keep in mind that It is an instructional school day on Friday, October 29th-students may come in Free Dress as it's the last Friday of the month, but not in Halloween costumes please. We need your HELP PLEASE with candy donations for Trunk or Treat: Nut free candy only due to allergies. You will slowly drive through the front parking lot and then exit going next to the cafeteria, across the playground, and then leave through the Himmel parking lot. Please remain in your cars. Check out a few photos/slideshow from last year's Trunk or Treat 2020 It's not too late If you would like to volunteer/participate(bring and decorate your car and give out treats), please let Jose Luna know: jluna@rcsdk8.net .
COVID-19 Vaccination for Youth
Do you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccination for children 5-11 years old? A discussion with public health experts will be held on Wednesday, October 27th from 6:30-7:45 pm as it is expected that the vaccine for 5-11 year olds will be available soon. You are invited to join the discussion with San Mateo County Health and the San Mateo County Office of Education. Also, here is more information in the COVID-19 Vaccination Update from the County Office of Education
How to Safely Enjoy Fall Activities
The fall season brings several signature activities that we all enjoy, but how do we make sure that we stay safe? We will continue to follow COVID-19 safety precautions at school and public health experts say you can do the same at home and in the community while still taking part in the activities. Follow these basic steps and stay safe
Virtual Scholastic Book Fair
Save the date for the annual Adelante Selby Scholastic Book Fair (online only). Adelante Selby online store (cutt.ly/kEEHet3) will be open from Oct 25-Nov 7. Every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!) Large selection of books at a variety of price points, and free shipping on book-only purchases over $25. Need some book inspiration? Check out Director Warren’s Scholastic Book List!
Optional Weekly COVID-19 Testing Now Available at our School Site Tuesdays and Thursdays:
The school district has contracted with Bay PLS to help out with student/staff COVID-19 Antigen Rapid testing at ALL school sites. We will have testing available here at Adelante Selby for students and staff on Tuesdays: 1:30-4:30pm or Thursdays 10:15-12:15. The School District will send out a Google Survey to parents who have registered with Primary Health every Friday afternoon to give consent for their child(ren) to be tested the following week (we will get the students from class or REACH/YMCA for testing). We will only test students if the District Appointment Google form is filled out on Fridays. Please complete the Primary Health registration form so that your child may be tested(this only needs to be completed once):
- To test in our School District: One time Registration and Consent for COVID-19 Antigen Testing with https://primary.health/
Walkathon!!
Unidos PTO would like to tell you a little bit more about the Walkathon November 19th. The Walk-A-Thon is an annual fundraiser held by Unidos PTO. Students ask family and friends to sponsor them as they walk to raise money for their school. The day of the Walk-A-Thon is always a fun and exciting event for the kids! Students will be able to participate with their classmates during the school day on November 19th.
Donations Accepted Beginning: November 1
Walk-A-Thon Event: November 19
More details to come!
Office Hours
Our school office is now open and the office hours are 8:00-4:00pm. Entering the office, all visitors must:
- wear a mask
- have your temperature screened at the kiosk
- use hand disinfectant when entering the office also at the kiosk
Please visit our school website , Adelante Selby Facebook Page and our PTO/Unidos webpage and social media accounts: unidospto.org, Facebook and Instagram for more information.
Regards,
Director Warren
Important October Dates
10/18 ELAC meeting, 4:00pm, ZOOM Meeting ID: 835 9147 6282 Passcode: Warren
- 10/20 School Site Council Meeting, 3:00pm, ZOOM Meeting ID: 862 6264 7360 Passcode: WARREN
- 10/21 Earthcapades School Assemblies;
- 10/21 CA Shakeout Earthquake Drill,10:30am
- 10/21 PJ Story time Read Aloud con Directores Pati y Warren; 6:30pm: Meeting ID: 814 0615 4964 Passcode: StoryTime
- 10-25-11-7: Scholastic Book Fair(virtual)
- 10/27 6:30-7:45pm COVID Vaccinations for 5-11 year olds Discussion
- 10/28 Food Distribution, 3:30-5:00pm: All Welcome!
- 10/29 Free Dress Day(last Friday of Month), but no Halloween Costumes please!
- 10/29 Trunk or Treat 3:00-5:00pm(Drive through only), Front Parking Lot Closed All Day