White Oak Weekly News

Hello White Oak Community,

This is Mrs. McMartin and I am thrilled to be sending my first White Oak Weekly News as Interim Principal.

I have always had a strong tie to White Oak. My sister and I attended White Oak in the 80's and 90's. In 2006, my student teaching assignment was at White Oak. And all during that time, my mother was a teacher at White Oak. So, you can imagine how excited I was to learn that I would be returning to White Oak as the Professional Learning Coach in 2024. It felt like coming home.

Although I spent the first 13 days of school as an Assistant Principal at Simi Valley High School, having my own children still attending White Oak, kept my connection to the community strong. When it was decided that I would be returning as Interim Principal, it felt like my career had come full circle.

White Oak isn't just a school to me. It is the heart of my story. It is where I first fell in love with learning, where my passion for education was born, and where so many of my fondest memories live. It is a privilege beyond words to now step into this role and serve the children, staff, and families who make this community what it is. I am deeply honored to lead and support this community this year, and I can't wait to partner with you to give our students the same magic, warmth, and inspiration that White Oak gave to me. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for welcoming me home.

It truly is great to be a Wildcat!

Allison McMartin

THIS WEEK at White Oak:

Monday, September 14

Last Week of PTA Membership Drive (see more below)

If we can get to our goal of 250, Mrs. McMartin will get silly stringed!

Join White Oak PTA through Totem

Tuesday, September 15

International Dot Day

PTA Membership Drive Continues

Sharky's Restaurant Fundraiser (see flyer below)

Wednesday, September 16

PTA Membership Drive Continues

Thursday, September 17

PTA Membership Drive Continues

Friday, September 18

Spirit Wear Friday!

PTA Membership Drive Ends

No School MONDAY 9/21

September 17 and 18- Arts Ed Specialists on Campus

Monday, September 21- NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, September 23- PTA Association Meeting (5:30 p.m.)

Thursday, September 24- Wildcat WOW Student Store Open

Friday, September 25- PTA Movie Night

Tuesday, September 29- Apex Fun Run Pep Rally

October 1 and 2- Arts Ed Specialists on Campus

Friday, October 2- Spirit Assembly (8:30 a.m.)

Thank you WOPTA for an amazing night filled with chalk, popsicles, and friends! The campus looks so colorful!

As part of our CATS school-wide behavior expectations incentives, we will soon be "re-opening" our Wildcat WOW store. Students will use their Wildcat WOW tickets to buy prizes. As a reminder students earn Wildcat WOW tickets for showing their CATS expectations around campus. Twice a month they will be able to shop at the Wildcat WOW store during recess by using their earned tickets. Our first shopping day will be Thursday, September 10. The store will be open during recess on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month.

In order to make this happen, we need your help! We are looking for donations from parents for the large prizes as well as some smaller prizes we want to keep in stock. If you are able to donate items below, please send them to the office with your child. Please label the gifts with “Wildcat WOW store” or my name. Here are some donations our STUDENTS would like:

* Lego sets of all sizes

* WWE trading cards

* Basketball or baseball trading cards

* Key Fidgets (especially the ones that are like a keyboard)

* Stuffed animal key chains

* Coloring books

* Pencil boxes

* LED drawing pads

* School supplies such as fun spiral notebooks, mechanical pencils, pens with fun toppers

* Small "pop it" key chains

* Small and large stuffed animals

* Large kits such as CRAFT and STEM kits

* Water bottle stickers

* Hot Wheels cars

* Any other items you think students would like to "purchase" from the store! THANK YOU!!!

Each year we invite students to participate in the Reflections art program. This year we are asking the question: What does your culture mean to you? We encourage creativity with this theme. Your student could be gifted with bilingualism, involved in scouts, or even be the son of a baseball league founder. Their unique values, customs, and arts are special and we can't wait to see your child express themselves through one of the categories. Submissions are due by October 2nd in the office; more detailed printed instructions are available.

Join us at Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grill on 9/15/26 (11 am -8 pm ) for our White Oak Restaurant Nights FUNdraiser! Enjoy delicious food, while supporting our school, and treat yourself for a good cause. Skip the dishes, support the school, and make it a meal that gives back! Show the flyer: printed or on your phone. We will earn 20% of the net food/beverage sales from our event!

Last year we had great success with our Pack System and we have already kicked it off this year! This system has a proven track record of creating a positive school climate and culture that is embraced by students, staff, and families. We want our students to look forward to coming to school each day, and schools around the world that have implemented the pack program have reported many positive outcomes, such as more positive relationships among peers and staff, better school attendance, increased school spirit, and improvements in academic performance. This is because the system encourages students to take ownership of their learning and behavior while working together to achieve common goals.

A key element of the Pack System is the way that it increases students’ motivation to succeed in school by fostering a sense of belonging among all students and staff, and parents often report feeling more connected to the school community as well. To achieve this, each student is a part of one of 4 packs and will have the opportunity to participate in pack-specific events and activities throughout the year. By being a part of a pack, every child has a smaller group within the larger school community. In other words, every student will have “a crew and a cause.” Additionally, students will have the opportunity to take on leadership roles within their packs.

Throughout the school year, students will have the opportunity to receive points for their packs. Points are awarded for going above and beyond in areas such as our CATS behavior expectations, academic achievement, character, school spirit, and uplifting others. While points are not the primary purpose of this program, when students work together to earn points for their packs, they celebrate, support, and encourage one another to achieve excellence. The pack who earns the most points at the end of each semester will be named the Leader of the Pack!

We are confident that the Pack System will continue to be a valuable addition to our school community, and we look forward to seeing its continued positive impact on our students. Pack assignments stayed the same this year and siblings are always in the same Pack together. New to White Oak students have been placed in a Pack already. If you are not sure of your child's Pack, please reach out to your child's teacher. And this year, consider ordering some Spirit Wear in your child's Pack color! Thank you for your support.

WHAT IS GOING WELL:

Driving slowly and carefully

Patience and courteous behavior

Driving in a single file through the drop off/pick up area

Parking in the neighborhood

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT:

At drop off, pull ALL THE WAY up to the ORANGE CONE before letting your child out.

When you let your child out of the car too early, it backs up the line.

Do not stop at the red curb in front of the school for drop off.

Students should be ready to jump out and exit the car quickly.

Please call the school office at (805) 520-6617 to report your child's absence each and every day they are absent.

• Remember, you have 5 days to clear your student's absence by calling the school or emailing the office.
• Taking trips and vacations during school days is considered unexcused absences.
• Under state law, a student who, without a valid excuse, is absent from school for three full days in one school year, or is tardy or absent for more than 30 minutes during the school day on three occasions in one school year, is considered truant.
• The more days students are at school, the more time they have to learn new things and get better at reading, writing, and math.
• We MISS our WILDCATS when they are not at school.

Our DAILY SCHEDULE is as follows:

8:15 a.m.- 2:24 p.m. (Monday-Friday)

* The gates are closed immediately at 8:15 a.m.

* Make sure your child knows where will you pick them up after school: should they walk to the parent waiting area in front of the Office OR should they go to the Car Line Waiting Area next to the Main Gate (next to the Front Yard).

* For safety purposes, only TK and Kindergarten parents may pick their child up at the classroom door (TK parents should enter the yard and use the BACK door of the classroom for pick up).

* Our campus supervisors and office staff cannot provide after school supervision. Please pick your student up on time.

Our MAIN GATE (next to the Front Yard) opens at 7:45 a.m. daily

The TK and Kinder gate opens at 8:00 a.m. daily

* ALL 1st-5th grade students should enter campus through the MAIN GATE (not near the office).

* Students eating breakfast before school (starting at 7:45 a.m.) should proceed to their class line to drop their belongings off BEFORE walking to the cafeteria.

* The first bell rings at 8:10 a.m. Teachers & students should be at their classroom line by 8:10.

* The tardy bell rings at 8:15 a.m. If students enter the gate after 8:15 a.m., they are tardy.

*Starting these healthy life habits of being on time sets your student up for success.

White Oak's FRONT GATE (at the front of the school) is only open for parents to walk onto campus after school. During school hours, while students are on campus, the FRONT GATE will be locked. A campus supervisor will be able to assist any parent who comes to the Front Gate during school hours. If no adult is present, please use the white doorbell or call the front office and we will assist you. Thank you for your support as we work together to keep our school community safe!

At the end of the school day, the FRONT GATE and the NELDA GATE will be unlocked at 2:24 p.m. if parents wish to walk on campus to pick up their child in front at the Main Office waiting area.

Dear Simi Valley Schools Families:

I would like to welcome all of our families back for the 2026-2027 school year. As a public school district, our primary goals are to provide our students with a world class education and help students to become the best potential version of themselves. Another primary goal is to make sure our campuses are safe environments for all of our students and staff members. Our District needs your help to accomplish these goals.

First, we would encourage our families to volunteer their time whenever possible. In order to maintain rich programs that meet students’ needs and interests, each of our District’s school sites will provide protocols on how to participate for volunteer opportunities, and they will share how to sign up for these opportunities.

Second, we are committed to maintaining the safety of our schools. As part of this commitment, we must know who is on our campus at all times. We understand that being able to escort your children to school on the first day is a treasured rite of passage for many families, especially with younger children, as you are entrusting them to us sometimes for the first time. To honor this rite of passage, while also honoring our commitment to knowing who is on our campus at all times, our District’s policy is:

• On the first day of school, parents/guardians may walk their child to the line-up area on campus.

• Teachers will escort their students to the classroom.

• Parents/guardians will be asked to exit the campus; they will not be allowed to follow their child to the classroom.

• At dismissal time, you will be able to pick up your child at the dismissal gate. Please use this opportunity to reinforce with your child where you can be found at pick-up time each day.

• After the first day, parents/guardians will need to drop-off and pick up their child at the designated locations.

The Raptor Visitor Management System remains in use at each of our school sites. This web-based software provides a sophisticated check-in and check-out system for all visitors coming to our schools and facilities. In addition to providing a data trail of visitors to our sites, this system will provide details of each visit, produce visitor badges, check-in/out all visitors, and electronically search each visitor’s information against national registered sexual offender databases.

Thank you, in advance, for your help in making this school year both academically engaging and physically safe for our students. Your support in volunteering, as possible, and allowing us to know who is coming to our school campuses is greatly appreciated.

• Simi Valley Unified School District Calendar 2026-2027
• White Oak School Calendar 2026-2027
• White Oak Voluntary 2026-2027 Supply List
• Aeries Parent Portal Data Confirmation Directions

Email: allison.mcmartin@simivalleyusd.org
Website: https://whiteoak.simivalleyusd.org/
Location: 2201 Alscot Avenue, Simi Valley, CA, USA
Phone: (805) 520-6617