Topics Below:
-Principal Message
-Health and Safety Updates
-Proposed dress code revisions
-6th grade Basketball try-outs
-Project Pantry Mission
-Yearbook information/8th grade participation
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Principal Message: Two weeks ago I wrote about hope and inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King. Last week, I learned of an Instagram page bearing his picture, but not used in an inspirational way. I’m still hopeful and, if you continue reading, you will see many reasons why. I am thankful for the partnership with our district office to denounce the racist and harmful content found in Instagram and want to follow up, as this requires a two-pronged approach. Our immediate efforts resulted in the Instagram account being taken down, consequences asserted and a restorative approach to begin to repair harm. In order to do this, we had multiple people report to Instagram, we followed up with “followers” of this account that we knew and their parents and we did a lot of listening and learning. As a new middle school parent myself, I honestly learned a lot about Instagram culture. I learned the importance of teaching our students, and my own children, that you don’t just follow someone because they follow you online. Here’s a resource from Common Sense Media that you might find helpful if you allow your child to use social media: English and Spanish.
The second challenge is to initiate a long term proactive response. We have been engaging with our students, staff and families constantly throughout this week and will continue to do so. I want to encourage interested families to join the District’s Community Listening Meetings mentioned in last week’s communications and our upcoming PTA meeting (see info in our Parent Section and below) and/or our upcoming ELAC meeting.
I look forward to listening, collaborating, and preparing our students for a more just future.
Health and Safety Updates Our efforts are working! We noticed a decrease this week in Covid cases and an increase in families who have opted into our Pool Testing! Testing is important. Please note that our Pool testing is on site weekly and free. If you have questions about it, please reach out. This week sports resumed. If students aren’t in the pool, we must test them. Today it took an hour to test 20 students. Please spread the word to opt into Pool Testing. Register here. Access code: BOREL2021
Proposed Dress Code Revisions Our students are amazing and want your feedback to make some changes to our current dress code so that it’s more inclusive and respectful to all. This is one of the topics at the Monday, January 31st PTA meeting that students will present and then gather feedback. Please consider tuning in. Right now all these meetings are virtual. So we’re just a click away!
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For 6th graders
-6th grade basketball tryouts will be next Tuesday (February 1) and Thursday (February 3) from 3-5pm.
-6th graders must be registered in SportsNet in order to play basketball. They should also be signed up for pool testing. (see above)
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Project Pantry’s mission is to help feed students at Borel! We are kicking off this new year with another snack drive for granola bars and fruit snacks. These will go directly to teachers in classrooms across the school for hungry students. We are collecting:
Granola Bars
Fruit Snacks (small, individual packs)
If possible, please donate and help feed Borel students. Nut-free snacks are preferred, but all donations are helpful! Donations can be dropped off at the front office starting today. Any questions, please contact Mrs. Spaulding at pspaulding@smfc.k12.ca.us
Thank you for your continued support!
The Project Pantry Team
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Yearbooks are still for sale
There are two ways to purchase a yearbook:
Pay online!
search for "Borel" to pay with a credit card. Or you can drop off a check or cash to the front office.
1/1/22 - 6/1/22 $45.00
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ATTENTION ALL 8th GRADE BOBCATS
Yearbook club wants a baby photo of you. We would like it under 3 years of age Submit your photo to the office and it will be returned to you or you can upload it online- instructions are below. Don't forget to include your name.
1.) Download the app named “Yearbook Snap.”
Directions for submitting any pictures you’d like to possibly see in this year’s yearbook are below.
Click on the “Community Upload” tab and look for our school “Borel” on the dropdown menu. The access code for yearbook snap is Borel2022. Once you are there, you can upload the photos from your computer.
If you need help or have any questions submitting you pictures:
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Parent Workshops of Interest |
Visible and Invisible Differences: Promoting Kindness, Empathy, Inclusion and Disability Awareness
Sam Drazin, Founder and Executive Director, Changing Perspectives
Thursday, January 27, 2022, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PST, Online Event (Live)
Have you ever heard of the term "disability awareness"? Join nationally recognized educator Sam Drazin, founder and executive director of Changing Perspectives, for an enlightening discussion on disability awareness.
This workshop will define the concepts around disability awareness and provide parents with practical strategies they can use to engage their children in authentic ways to promote disability awareness.
Parents/caregivers, educators, mental health professionals, and community members welcome! Free admission. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available.
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Upcoming Important Dates:
Jan. 31
PTA Virtual General Meeting 6:30-7:30pm
Feb. 1
ELAC-Virtual Meeting 8:30-9:30 am
meet.google.com/aiy-vutm-xex
Feb. 2
Community Listening Session
6:00-7:00pm *Español
Feb. 9
Community Listening Session
6:00-7:00pm
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If your child will be absent, please call the school's attendance line 650-312-7669 directly to report their absence.
Please contact Kristie Bales at: kbales@smfc.k12.ca.us to send in medical appointment notes.
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Click on yellow button to access your PTA Website |
Bowditch PTSA Parent Ed Event - THE TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL: A MIDDLE SCHOOLER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS is today, Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 7:00pm. Spanish Translation will be available. All parents and students in the district are invited to attend.
Meeting ID: 889 6711 1993
Passcode: 379457
Parent Ed Event - The Transition to High School: A Middle Schooler’s Guide to Success. will be presented by Ms. Melissa Perino, Director of Student Activities and MTSS Coordinator, Aragon High School. She will present and discuss factors that go into choosing a high school, such as school culture, school climate and value; how to prepare 6th & 7th graders for high school including campus visit, time management, self-advocacy, empathy and resilience, etc; and how to prepare 8th graders for high school.
Melissa Perino has been an educator for the past 22 years in San Mateo. She has taught all levels of 9th grade English, including CP, AS and Support English, so she understands the range of student needs. In addition to being an educator, Melissa is Aragon High School’s Director of Student Activities and the MTSS coordinator. As the Director of Student Activities, Melissa teaches students how to be leaders, how to lead others and how to make lasting change in their communities.
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CULTURAL FAIR - COUNTRY BOOTHS
The Cultural Fair Committee is still looking for more Countries to be represented in our amazing event. But we need your help to make this event the huge success that it has been for the last 30 years! Your participation will have a direct impact on our students' education both through showcasing our community’s immense cultural diversity and through the money raised at the food fair which helps fund PTA programs. We are looking for volunteers to share their heritage by creating an information booth displaying fun facts and artifacts from their country of origin, and cooking and sharing some delicious national dishes. If you would like to get involved but aren’t ready to put together your own booth, come and help with one of our existing booths. Countries/cultures confirmed this year include: Columbia, Ecuador, Mexico, Israel, Japan, Philippines, Holland/The Netherlands, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Hungary. We are also looking for parents to take the lead in organizing the booths for India and China. We already have families willing to help and support these booths. Is YOUR heritage represented? Interested, please contact Karina Alibudbud at CulturalFair@borelbobcats.org by the end of this week.
CULTURAL FAIR - STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
In Social Studies classes, students viewed our first ever Cultural Fair Video to understand what our CF tradition is all about. Students are encouraged to volunteer as Docents during the World-Wide Scavenger Hunt on March 23rd and earn up to 2 hours of community service. Parents/Students - Click here to sign up online or hand-in completed paper forms to your SS class teacher. More details are on our Cultural Fair PTA website. Shout out to our own Bobcat Iniya Dheeban for editing this amazing video, and Anise Graham, Dheeban Sengottaian, Ms. Notte, Ms. Brilhart, Mr. Trubow, Mr. Klinger and a few Bobcat alums for their video contributions. Questions? Please contact Leni & Yumika at culturalfair@borelbobcats.org
ONLINE AUCTION! DONATIONS NEEDED!
Please consider donating an item to our auction to support Borel and all its students. This is one of the final fundraising events for the year, super important to the PTA! Need ideas? Restaurant gift cards, health and beauty items, works of art, jewelry, the possibilities are endless! Have questions? Please contact Emily Wang at auction@borelbobcats.org or go to our website BorelAuction.org.
PTA ASSOCIATION MEETING
Our PTA Association meeting will be held on Monday, January 31st at 6:30 PM. There is still time to let us know the topics you would like for us to cover. Click here to submit your feedback. The virtual meeting information will be posted on our PTA web page which is linked here.
BOREL BOOSTERS 2021-2022
We are getting closer to our goal of $140,000 for the year. As of 01/22, we are at 84.5%, coming in at $118,000. As always, we appreciate and acknowledge those who have already donated to the Borel Boosters, a list can be found here. This is the only Borel fundraiser that supports the entire student body with funds going to those areas that help to Build a Brighter Future for every single Bobcat. Donate here and join the PTA. Every contribution big or small helps a lot. Questions, email Shirley at Boosters@borelbobcats.org.
WELLNESS NEWSLETTER
In this month’s newsletter, Dr. Tiffany Klein Wightman reminds us to recognize unhealthy coping habits that may develop in ourselves and in our kids and how by simply setting boundaries and giving yourself time throughout the day to reset and recharge can go a long way to a healthier you. Her newsletter is linked here.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!
Link up with our community of Borel parents on Facebook! Search for us at Borel Bobcat Boosters. This is a great way to get Borel community news and tips relevant to you and your student as well as interact with current Borel parents. Questions, please email Communications@borelbobcats.org
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