Dear Borel Families,
We hope you had a restful, safe long Labor Day weekend. We’re thankful for your partnership and attention when we have to reach out and communicate protocols like Covid testing. We’re also thankful for Virus Geeks setting up at both the Marriott and our schools to make testing free and quick. As a reminder, when there is a positive case:
- If your child is considered a close contact (which is closer than 6 feet for 15 minutes or more indoors) we also send a Close Contact Communication which requires proof of a test to return. We’ve set up a Google Form on our website to easily collect proof and also have office staff ready to take proof as well.
- There is a Whole School Communication which is just a notification and no steps are needed.
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Here’s a link to our county’s Pandemic Recovery Framework
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The new first date of pooled testing: Monday, September 20. Half the District tests weekly on Monday, half the District tests on Tuesday. Stay tuned for details about how to opt in.
In addition to health protocols, it’s really important that we partner for safety protocols as well. Last week we saw an uptick in frustration which is common after the initial return to school excitement. It made me think of the importance of sharing strategies with our families that we use here to help students make good choices and be positive and safe community members. I reached out to our counseling team and wanted to share their tips for dealing with frustration and for setting healthy limits with technology. As a middle school parent, I went onto Common Sense Media and developed a media contract for my children which has been helpful at home.
Dealing with frustration:
- Take a minute to take some deep breaths to help you be in the right mindset and ground yourself.
- Going for a short walk will help ease some of the frustration.
- Ground yourself with some sensory input before making any big choices. Try going to wash your hands, get some water, have a snack, or listen to a song before any decisions are made.
- Stop and Pause. Take the time to take a breath and be in the moment. Question for thought: Am I reacting to this current moment or am I responding to something that happened in the past or something I heard is going to happen?
Parent tips for technology:
- Be mindful of what you are modeling for your student ie. using phone during meals, monitoring your own screen time, engaging and/or spreading conflict on social media, etc.
- Introduce new physical activities that will help students feel interested in engaging in that activity and spending less time on their technology.
- Go for a walk, discover a great book, and find ways to engage in face-to-face interactions with others.
- Routine monitor your child’s online media presence. Common Sense Media has lots of tools.
- If you hear of anything unsafe, please reach out to us immediately so we can work with students before anything happens.
We have a new PTA Wellness Ambassador:
Want to help even more? We’re still looking for volunteers for lunch supervision, especially the 7th and 8th grade lunch from 12:28-1:04. You could do as little as one day a week. It’s only 36 minutes! All volunteers on campus must affirm their vaccination status. Please let Ms. Brilhart or I know if you’re interested.
Finally, did you know that our district has a podcast? I wanted to check it out so I stopped by for a chat with Superintendent Diego Ochoa. Our conversation is here with several others. Enjoy!
Jessica Notte
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Yearbooks are on sale now!!
There are two ways to purchase a yearbook:
Pay online!
Or you can drop off a check or cash to the front office.
Yearbook only:
now to 12/31/21 $40.00
1/1/22 - 6/1/22 $45.00
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Yearbook Art Contest:
Hello Bobcats! This is Mrs. Helmig in the office and I am looking for students to submit artwork or drawing(s) for this year's yearbook cover! Please help design our yearbook cover with this year's theme "What makes you, you? Be creative, all will be accepted and voted on. Please send them to Mrs. Helmig by September 20th.
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Please be sure to keep a copy handy.
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District Podcast
You have several ways to listen to the content provided by the District. You can listen on our oneSMFC podcast page, or you can download and subscribe to the oneSMFC podcast by searching for oneSMFC on Spotify or Amazon Music. (Google and Apple will be added soon.)
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Mindful Parenting: Reducing COVID Stress and Anxiety
Madeleine Pizey, Mindful Educator, Mission Be (Nonprofit Organization)
Thursday, September 9, 2021, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PDT, Online Event (Webinar)
Today’s kids are faced with a myriad of challenges, both academically and socially. Helping our children and teens manage these challenges – especially as in-person school resumes – can be stressful for parents.
Join Madeleine Pizey, Mindful Educator for Mission Be, for Part 1 of our 2021-22 "Mindful Parent" series. In this one-hour, self-care break, you will learn how to reduce stress and increase positivity through the power of mindfulness.
Parents, students, educators, mental health professionals, and community members welcome! Free admission. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available.
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“The Twisties”: Youth Sports, Competition, and Mental Health
Steve Smith, PhD, Clinical and Sports Psychologist, UC Santa Barbara
Wednesday, September 15, 2021, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PDT, Online Event (Webinar)
Athletes Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, and Naomi Osaka pushed mental health to the forefront of the Tokyo Olympics. How can we keep our young athletes safe, healthy, and balanced?
Steve Smith, PhD, a clinical and sports psychologist, UCSB, will discuss how parents can support healthy sports participation for their children and teens. With humor, wit, and compassion, Dr. Smith gives parents what they need: straightforward, honest information about the realities of youth sports, backed by cutting-edge research.
Parents, students, educators, mental health professionals, and community members welcome! Free admission. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available.
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Upcoming Important Dates:
Sept. 9
Virtual Borel Sports Night
6:00-7:00 PM
Borel Sports Night Zoom Webinar Link:
Sept. 16
NO SCHOOL
Sept. 17
NO SCHOOL--PD for staff
Sept. 20
School Site Council-3:05-4:05
Sept. 28
ELAC meeting-8:20-9:20 AM
Borel Lunch Court
Oct. 7
Student Photo Make-up Day
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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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Dine and Donate
Tired of cooking? Save time and order from Starbird Chicken at their Foster City Location on September 19, Wednesday. Valid all day, just show this Starbird Borel Flyer at the restaurant. When ordering online, use BOREL15. Starbird will donate 15% back to Borel PTA. More details on ordering can be found HERE. Cannot be combined with 3rd party delivery app. Questions? Please contact Cindy at vendorfundraising@borelbobcats.org
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BOREL BOOSTERS 2021 - 2022
Did you know that a third of the funds donated to the Borel Boosters helps support the various Academic Departments in the school? Funding for field trips, school supplies, tablets and guest speakers all come from Borel Boosters funds.
If you haven’t yet, please consider donating to the Borel Boosters and boost your child’s academic experience. To learn more about the Borel Boosters and to make a tax-deductible donation click here.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Looking for volunteers to support our Bobcats at Borel. These amazing programs hosted by PTA always need a helping hand to get off the ground! Sign up for Cultural Fair Committee, TableArt Luncheon, Graphic Designer, Webmaster, Borel Swag Lead, Grants Fundraising Lead, and Book Fair. You will need to login to your Borel PTA website to view and sign-up for the volunteer opportunities in Volunteers’s Programs and Fundraisers. Any size time commitment is welcomed and appreciated.
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DONATE BY SHOPPING!
Another great opportunity for our community to raise money for Borel is doing what we already do – Shopping! Through fundraising programs like Amazon Smile, eScrip and Shutterfly, it’s now easier than ever to make a difference in our school community. Please sign up for the fundraising programs that benefit our school here and follow the simple instructions. Every little bit counts! Questions? Please email fundraisingevents@borelbobcats.org
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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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Annual Baywood Social
Join us on Sunday, September 19th for the Annual Baywood Social! It will take place from 2pm-4pm in the Baywood Elementary School parking lot. There will be Amici's Pizza, Tin Pot Ice Cream, face painting, Mateo, the San Mateo Public Library's Van, San Mateo Police Activities League (PAL) and more! It is a great chance to safely say hello in person to your neighbors while enjoying some great food.
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