Special Board Meeting Agenda - 4/14/26

There will be a Special Board Meeting on  Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Board Meeting. The  agenda   may be found at this  link  or at  www.nusd.org  => Board => Board Meeting Dates and Agendas. Trustees will be taking a Bond Facilities tour of school sites beginning at 3 PM. Public Comments Individuals may address the Board of Trustees on agenda items on both the closed session and regular session agenda at the time they are under consideration. At a time so designated on the agenda at a regular meeting, individuals may address the Board on non-agenda items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board. All times noted on the agenda are estimates. Community members interested in making a public comment are advised to attend the meeting at the start.   In general, individual speakers will be allowed three minutes to address the Board on each agenda or non-agenda item with a total time limit on each item to 20 minutes. However, in exceptional circumstances when necessary to ensure full opportunity for public input, the Board president may, with Board consent, adjust the amount of time allowed for public input and/or the time allotted for each speaker. (Board Bylaw 9323)   Persons wishing to be heard by the Board may complete and submit an individual Request for Public Comment form.   A designated District employee will be available at the meeting to assist individuals who are unable to complete the form themselves.   

Monday, Mar 30 2026

Get Your Scorpion Scoop! Week of 3/29/2026

San Jose Scorpion Scoop! Week of 3/29/2026 Principal’s Message Dear Scorpion Families, I hope you've had a restful weekend. We're headed into our final five days before Spring Break. Be sure to make every last moment count this week! Write in your planner every day for each class period, complete your nightly homework and catch up on missing work, read your book, email a teacher if you need assistance, and get excellent sleep each night. These are routines that, if established in middle school, will help you for the rest of your life! You've got this, Scorpions. Don't forget that you may use the link below to sign up your student for Scorpion Success Intervention (SSI), which is held every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday after school. This is an opportunity available to any Scorpion who needs a quiet place to work, catch up on missing assignments, get help from a teacher, study for a test, work on organization, and more! Sign ups are on a first come, first served basis. You will hear from a counselor, teacher, our community liaison, or an administrator that your child is confirmed to attend SSI. Please be sure you have made it clear to your Scorpion that you expect them to attend, and have planned a safe way for them to get home after they attend.  Link to sign up your student: Scorpion Success Intervention Parent/Guardian Sign Up Sincerely, Mrs. Whitney McEachern, Principal Upcoming Dates April : 📌 4/3 - End of Progress Report Period #5 📌 4/6-4/10 - Spring Break, NO SCHOOL 📌 4/14 - 8th Grade Promotion Picture Day 📌  4 /15  - School Site Council Meeting, 3:30-4:30 PM, Location TBD 📌 4/15 - PTA Meeting, 6 PM, SJMS Library 📌 4/13-4/17 - Wellness Week 📌 4/21 - Multilingual Learner (Dual Language) Parent/Guardian Meeting, 10:45 AM, Location TBD 📌 4/30 - Open House, 6 PM ***All athletic events are noted in the Sports Program section below. Please tune in there for opportunities to spectate and cheer on your fellow Scorpions!*** PTA Update Next week there is a dine and donate at Round Table on Tuesday, take a night off from cooking and help SJMS at the same time! Scorpions! On  Thursday, April 2nd , we have our  All-School Field Trip Day ! The entire school will be "pausing" on our regular routine and exploring new learning experiences with staff and families. Be grateful for this incredible gift and the opportunity to try something new. Be prepared and ready to go: 1) Your child's  CELL PHONE  should  STAY HOME!   Any cell phone brought to school will be locked in a classroom and will not be allowed on the field trip. If a cell phone is used on a field trip, school rules will be applied.  2) Show up to school  ON TIME ... or even early!  Many field trips are leaving soon. 3) Plan on wearing  layered clothing  (jacket, sweater or sweatshirt). 4) Wear  comfortable shoes  - you’ll be moving around a lot! 5) School lunches will be provided for every student. Be respectful! We have staff, families, bus drivers, docents, and speakers that are making this opportunity possible. Ask questions and learn something new! Please reach out to Aubin or Megan with any questions:  aubin6@gmail.com  or  mkhoniball@gmail.com ****We can’t wait to share the wonderful presentation from Nathan Harmon on Wednesday, April 15 at Novato High. This will be about how parents can help their kids navigate current social pressures. Please tune in for more details about Wellness Week below.*** We are excited to announce San Jose's Second Annual Wellness Week lineup! Save the date for a Parent Night Presentation featuring Key Note Speaker Nathan Harmon on Wednesday April 15th at 6:30 at Novato High School Center for the Arts. A 60 minute keynote  and 15 min Q&A with parents, and community leaders.  Nathan’s keynote addresses how parents can support their kids navigate pressures that previous generations did not experience at the same level. As parents, our instinct is to protect our children from pain and disappointment. Nathan will help parents discover the right  balance between support, guidance and knowing when to step back.  Nathan will emphasize that every conversation you have with your teen matters, every moment of encouragement matters, and your presence, your belief in them and your love are some of the most powerful tools they will ever have. Our  goal as educators, parents and community  is to help teens develop strength to face challenges. Topics include : dangers of substances/ vaping, self image, mental health (I am not enough mentality), self-harm, suicide ideation, social media comparison, peer pressure, academic expectations, anxiety about the future, developing resiliency, integrity, confidence,  responsibility. Working through difficulties-setbacks is what helps teens keep moving forward. All of Nathan’s messages focus on instilling in teens that their value is not defined by outcomes, but by effort, attitude and character. AP's (Assistant Principal's) Corner  March 29: Dear SJMS Families, What a beautiful weekend to carry us into our final week before Spring Break! Our students have so much to look forward to in the coming weeks, from our whole-school field trip this Thursday to Wellness Week immediately following the break, along with a host of year-end activities for all grade levels. While the excitement of upcoming events and summer vacation is palpable, it can sometimes be a challenge for students to stay focused on the important learning and classwork still ahead of us. With that in mind, this is a wonderful time to sit down with your student and review our school handbook. Specifically, please help us reinforce our community expectations regarding disruptive behavior, cell phones and electronic devices, hate speech, gum, dress code, and attendance. We originally shared the handbook at the start of the year, but we are more than happy to provide another copy if you need one. Additionally, you can find our behavior matrix, which outlines further campus expectations, in our weekly newsletter. When students hear a consistent message from all the adults in their lives, those expectations become much more powerful. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our school a focused and positive learning environment. Please feel free to reach out to me at jjones@nusd.org with any questions. All the best, Juliette Jones Assistant Principal San Jose Middle School 1000 Sunset Parkway Novato, CA 94949 San Jose Middle School Athletics – Home of the Scorpions 🗓 2025–2026 Sports Program Scorpion Athletics: Spring Season Kickoff Hello Scorpion Families, This is an exciting week as we kick off our Volleyball and Soccer seasons in the Novato leagues. Our student-athletes have been working hard at practice, and it’s time to hit the court and the field. Here is the schedule of games for the week: Volleyball Monday, March 30: 6th Grade: vs. Sinaloa at Sinaloa, 3:30 PM 7th/8th Combo: vs. Hamilton at Hamilton, 3:30 PM Friday, April 3: 7th/8th Combo Team: HOME OPENER vs. Sinaloa at San Jose, 4:00 PM Soccer Tuesday, March 31: Boys Soccer: vs. Sinaloa at Sinaloa, 4:00 PM Thursday, April 2: Girls Soccer: HOME OPENER vs. Hamilton at San Jose, 4:00 PM Good luck to all our players and coaches on what we know will be a successful and fun season. We hope to see a sea of blue and gold supporting our teams Middle School Sports Registration 2025-2026 | Arbiter Arbiter Live Schedules Mr. Gallagher Athletic Director San Jose Middle School Counselor's Corner Dear Students and Families, Spring is near and we’re already planning for next school year!  Counselors visited 6th and 7th grader English classrooms this week to help students select their elective course choices for next school year using a Google form. Students learned about each elective course, the benefits in taking a 0-period or 7th period course, and answered questions about their interests to help us better support them. We encouraged students to review their choices with you by showing you their emailed results. Friendly reminder to 8th grade students and parents to check for any emails from programs and NHS and SMHS regarding admission status, course selection, or transfer information.  Take care, -SJMS School Counselor, Ms. K & Mr. E Megan Kovacevich for 6th graders, 8th graders with last names A-J: mkovacevich@nusd.org/ 415-798-5276 Evan Englar for 7th graders, 8th graders with last names K-Z: eenglar@nusds.org/ 415-798-5284   Wellness Hub Wishlist : We want to extend a huge thank you to every family that purchased or donated items from our  Wellness Hub Wishlist!  Your contributions directly ensure that we can provide students with essential resources like healthy snacks and vital coping tools. This support helps us keep the Wellness Hub a functional space for self-regulation. Thank you for investing in the well-being of our SJMS students. Wellness Hub Wishlist   Below you will find an excellent resource to support your student in their education. We have designed a checklist that you can use throughout the year as you navigate topics like academic planning, time management, sleep and wellness, screen time, and more! Feel free to stop by the front office where you can pick up a hard copy. Parent Checklists for Success: Parent Checklist for Scorpion Success.docx Spanish Checklist for Scorpion Success.docx   Community Expectations Below you'll find the 8th grade expectation letter that went home with every single 8th grade Scorpion on Friday, 1/23. Please be sure you have reviewed the letter with your Scorpion, and filled out and returned the bottom portion. We appreciate collaborating with you in support of your student!   Please consistently review the Middle School Handbook, as well is the SJMS Behavior Matrix. Both consist of expectations that are reviewed regularly at school. We highly encourage you to discuss high expectations at home with your Scorpion. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your student knows how to be #ScorpionStrong! Middle School Handbook PDF : SJMS Copy of MS Student Parent Handbook 25-26 - ENGLISH.pdf MS Student Parent Handbook 25-26 - SPANISH.pdf SJMS Behavior Matrix : Technology Information As part of that partnership, the  district provides Chromebooks to students  to enhance learning and prepare them with essential skills for the future. It is important that  students take responsibility for their school-issued devices  and treat them with care. Proper use and maintenance help ensure the devices remain in good working condition for learning. Here are some  simple ways to keep Chromebooks in good condition: Treat the assigned device with care at all times. Avoid physical damage and  transport the device safely to and from school in a backpack or case . Do not poke the screen or place objects (e.g., pens, pencils, or earbuds) on the keyboard before closing the lid. Keep food and drinks away  from the Chromebook. Do not place heavy items (books, backpacks, etc.) on top of the Chromebook. Never leave the Chromebook unattended at school, in public places, or unsecured locations. If a student's device is damaged or lost, our Instructional Technology team will evaluate the device. Per  Board Policy 6163.4 ,  if a repair or replacement is needed, an invoice will be emailed to the Parent/Guardian  through our inventory system, Incident IQ.  Board Exhibit 6163.4-E PDF(2)  outlines the district’s fee schedule for repair and replacement. We appreciate your partnership and support in keeping student devices ready for learning. Fliers, Opportunities, Announcements, and More!     Make your student’s year by sending a birthday message to them  on the SJMS marquee! 100% of the donations raised will be used to benefit our students. Each birthday greeting costs $10 per day. To order, please visit Mrs. Dugdale in the front office and fill out the order form. Return it with your payment to the front office no later than 3 school days prior to the announcement date. Only first names and last initials will be used.   Get Your Yearbook now! Here's a special message from Ms. Mastro, our teacher yearbook coordinator:  Buy your SJMS Yearbook TODAY for $45.00! - BEAT THE RUSH! To use a credit card to order your yearbook, go to www.YearbookOrderCenter.com and use order number 6690. Paper order forms are available in the front office. Return an order form with a check for the amount shown below to the SJMS office. Please make your check payable to SJMS.     Novato Open Gym Information Location: The weight room inside Gordon Gym • Format: Open Gym is a voluntary opportunity focused on general athletic development (basic weight training and movement for fitness and safety). • Instruction: There is no sport-specific instruction. Coaches are present only to supervise for safety. • Who can attend: Rising 9th graders only (current 8th graders entering high school next year). Parents are welcome to reach out to Coach Simmons at:  joseph.simmons0623@gmail.com   Education Opportunities for Parents/Guardians CIP Marin’s Raising Healthy Families - Community Education Series  ( digital flyer ) including these upcoming events: Call of the Wild: Helping Teens to Resist Extremist Political Ideologies . Monday, March 16th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm in-person and via Zoom.  More information and register here . Emotional Suffering in Children & Teens: What Parents Should Know and When to Act.  Monday, March 30th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm in-person and via Zoom.  More information and register here .   Dear Educators, Staff and Parents/Caregivers:    We are delighted to share that, by popular demand , renowned psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Madeline Levine, Ph.D. will be returning to Marin County for a powerful and timely evening session focused on supporting adolescents’ mental health and emotional well-being.   Hosted by the Marin County Office of Education , this free virtual event is open to parents, caregivers, educators, and school staff throughout our community. The evening includes a live Q&A , giving participants the opportunity to engage directly with Dr. Levine.     March 25, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM (No Longer March 10th) Springtime Stress – Testing, Transitions, and the Road Ahead As students face testing season and end-of-year transitions, Dr. Levine will offer tools to help them manage performance-related stress and approach future planning with confidence and emotional balance.   REGISTRATION   We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring session as we continue working together to support the well-being of our students and families.   Warm regards, Marin County Office of Education     Estimados educadores, personal y padres/cuidadores:   Nos complace informarles que,  debido a la gran demanda , la reconocida psicóloga y autora de bestsellers, Madeline Levine, Ph.D. , regresará al condado de Marin para una sesión vespertina enriquecedora y oportuna centrada en el apoyo a la salud mental y el bienestar emocional de los adolescentes.   Organizados por Marin County Oficina de Educación , estos eventos virtuales gratuitos   este evento virtual gratuito está abierto a padres, cuidadores, educadores y personal escolar de toda nuestra comunidad . Incluye sesión de preguntas y respuestas.   Marzo  25 , 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM ( Ya no es el 10 de marzo ) Estrés de primavera – Exámenes, transiciones y el camino por delante Con la llegada de la primavera, también aumenta la ansiedad relacionada con los exámenes estatales, las transiciones de fin de año y la planificación del próximo capítulo académico. En esta sesión, la Dra. Levine continuará la conversación sobre la planificación del futuro y abordará las presiones únicas que surgen en esta época del año. Los participantes obtendrán herramientas para ayudar a los estudiantes a manejar el estrés relacionado con el rendimiento y a enfrentar las transiciones con confianza y equilibrio emocional.   REGISTRESE   Con afectuosos saludos, Marin County Oficina de Educación   Youth E-Bike Safety Advisory Joint message from the City of Novato, Novato Police Department and Novato Fire District Youth Safety Matters Novato Police and Novato Fire personnel are seeing a concerning rise in injuries involving e-bikes and e-motorcycles, especially among youth. Over the past year, the Novato Fire District has responded to 15 incidents involving an e-bike or e-scooter, several resulting in serious injuries — and more than half involving riders under the age of 18. Across Marin County, children ages 10–15 are five times more likely than other age groups to require emergency transport following an e-bike crash. As we head into the holiday season, the City of Novato, Novato Police Department and Novato Fire District urge parents and guardians to understand the differences between e-bikes and e-motorcycles before purchasing one for a child. While e-bikes can offer a fun, eco-friendly and convenient way to explore Novato, not all models are the same, and some may be unsafe or even illegal for young riders. Understanding E-bike Classifications Under California law, all e-bikes must have fully operable pedals, and the motor must not exceed 750 watts. Marin County has adopted additional safety regulations for Class 2 (throttle-assisted) e-bikes. Here’s a quick break down: Class 1:  Pedal-assist, up to 20 mph. The  ONLY e-bike legal for all ages  in Marin County. Helmets are required for riders under 18 and strongly encouraged for everyone. Class 2:  Throttle-powered, up to 20 mph. In Marin County, riders must be 16 or older, and helmets are required for all ages. Class 3:  Pedal-assist, up to 28 mph. Riders must be 16 or older and helmets are required for all ages statewide. These e-bikes are not allowed on multi-use pathways in Marin County. Important Some retailers may market a vehicle as an “e-bike” when it is actually an e-motorcycle. These often don’t have pedals, have motors over 750 watts, or go faster than 28 mph.  E-motorcycles require a driver’s license, registration, insurance, and a DOT-approved helmet. They cannot be ridden on bike paths, sidewalks, multi-use trails, or in parks.  Safety Tips Safety Tips for Riders and Parents Know the law:  E-bikes and e-scooters follow the same traffic rules as cars and bicycles. Understand classifications:  Only Class 1 e-bikes are legal for all ages in Marin County. Classes 2 & 3 e-bikes are illegal for riders under the age of 16. Practice before riding in traffic:  Learn how to accelerate, brake, and handle turns safely under parent supervision.  Ride predictably:  Stay visible, use signals, and avoid sudden movements. Stay alert:  Avoid distractions such as phones or headphones. Wear protective gear:  Helmets are required for all ages. Gloves, eye protection, and closed-toe shoes add an extra layer of safety. Parent guidance:  Teach your children responsible riding habits, including riding solo (no additional riders on the back) and ensure their e-bike is age appropriate. Maintain equipment:  Regularly check brakes, tires, and batteries. By choosing the right e-bike for a child’s age and skill level, families can enjoy Novato’s roads, trails and parks more safely. Watch our  youth e-bike safety PSA  to learn more. Educational and Safety Resources: Marin County Safe Routes to Schools – E-Bike Education Marin Health & Human Services – Bike Safety Dashboard County of Marin – “E-Bikers Club” Campaign California Highway Patrol – E-Bike Safety Overview Click here for more information  

Monday, Mar 30 2026

PV Views - Sunday, March 29, 2026

Happy Sunday! Click here for this week's PV View's!

Sunday, Mar 29 2026

Eagle Newsletter 3/29/26

EAGLE NEWS March 29th, 2026 Principal Message Dear Families, It was lovely seeing so many of you celebrating all the hard work your children have done this year. Your presence and engagement mean so much to our school community, and we truly appreciate your partnership in supporting your children’s learning. One of the highlights for me was connecting with many Rancho alumni who came back to visit. (Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.) As we look ahead to the end of the year, I encourage you to continue supporting Rancho in the weeks to come. There are many upcoming events and field trips that rely on parent involvement, and your participation makes a meaningful difference for our students. Additionally, our biggest fundraiser of the year will take place on April 25th—we hope you will join us in making it a great success for our Rancho! Cath PS: One easy way to support Rancho and your child's education is to come to school everyday - and on time. There has been a huge uptick in both absences and tardies. For example just on Friday, 3/27, we had 22 tardies and 34 absences. (An average day has 7 tardies and 18 absences.) Unfortunately, we have fallen below our goal of 96% ADA.   IMPORTANT DATES HAPPY EARTH MONTH Mar 31 - 4th Grade Trout Release Field Trip April 1 - Walk-n-Roll Wednesday April 1-3: 5th Grade at Outdoor Ed April 2: 4th Grade to Sacramento April 2: 2nd Grade Safe Routes Walking Field Trip (During PE) April 2: Classical Quartet Pay to Play (PTA Sponsored) April 3 - 4th Grade Bike Rodeo (During PE) April 3: Holi Celebration during school hours! _____ April 6-10 - NO SCHOOL: Spring Break _____ Read-a-Thon Book Bucks Store Open (See below for times) April 14 - Site Council Meeting April 15 - Walk-n-Roll Wedensday April 17: Career Day during school _____ April 25: Rancho's Spring Fling Fundraiser - Ranchopalooza!   In the Know Holi - Friday One of our traditions to celebrate and welcome spring is to participate in Holi. Students will be invited to participate in decorating themselves with color powder and having a dusting of powder colors envelope them. (If students just want to watch, that is fine too.) Students who want to participate may want to wear lighter colors or white shirt.. “Old” clothes are preferred. All color washes out - but students should be ok with getting color on their clothing. Students may also bring sunglasses if they’d like. If you pick up by car, you may want to bring a towel in case there is any extra color on their clothes. Families are welcome to join in the fun on Friday. TK/K @ 1:20 1st - 5th @ 2:40 Read-a-Thon Update Thank you all for your efforts! Together you raised $6800 towards our goal of $10,000. All the money raised goes directly to our students to support enrichment activities! Students collectively read over 1,800 hours during the Read-a-Thon Fundraiser! Way to go! The Rancho Book Bucks Store will be open by grade levels the following times: Monday, April 13: 3:10 - 4th/5th grade Tuesday, April 14: 3:05 - 1/2/3rd grade Wednesday, April 15: 1:40 - TK/K Thursday: Make Ups Friday: Make Ups EARTH MONTH To celebrate Mother Earth, in conjunction with Sustainable Marin Schools, there are several events planned. Every Wednesday in April - Walk and Roll Earth Month Bingo (See Friday Folders next week) Recycling Assembly (4/13) Plant Assembly (4/21) Classroom Presentations (TBD) From Sustainable Marin Schools: "April is Earth Month! To celebrate, Sustainable Marin Schools will be holding competitions between Novato Unified elementary schools, with schoolwide prizes in early May for the winning schools. Competitions include: 1) month-long Earth Bingo Cards (with activities to help the Earth), 2) Walk and Roll to School every Wednesday, 3) the lowest contamination of compost and recycling, and 4) the highest proportion of students who write or draw one thing they’ll do to protect the Earth in an Earth Protection Pledge. Sustainable Marin Schools is also offering presentations on watershed protection and zero waste. We are so excited to learn about and protect the Earth with you this month!" Rancho's Spring Fling Save the Date: April 25th, 2026 CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets today for "RanchoPalooza," Rancho's Spring Auction and Fundraiser. With a full buyout of HOPMONK, join this epic music festival experience with great vibes, amazing food, LIVE MUSIC, and chart-topping auction items!  🎤 What's on the lineup? 🎶Live Music featuring Wicked Uncle with Rancho's very own Mark Loeffler ✨Silent Auction including awesome class baskets!  🍔 Eats and Drinks provided by Hopmonk Tavern 🔥Live Auction with exclusive experiences!  💿 DJ Dance Party with DJ Reuben from Global Beats USA! We are also gathering amazing auction items, certificates, and experiences to raise money for Rancho! With a live auction, silent auction, online auction, and raffle - anything and everything helps! Drop items off in the school office or email RanchoSchoolPTA@gmail.com with questions!   Highlights of the Week Open House Thanks to everyone who attend Open House. I'd also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful staff! Each day, the Rancho staff shows unwavering care, compassion, and dedication as they work to meet the needs of all our diverse learners. Their commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment helps our students feel safe and loved at school.   Appreciations Thank you to Brianna Young, Kelly Mullane, and the amazing team of volunteers who helped set up and staff the Book Fair (Names coming next week.) Thank you to Diana Zermeno, and Irene Velasco for helping with the weekly lost and found items! Thank you Stephanie Ericksen for always keeping our garden so lovely and fresh! Hip Hip Hooray to Melissa Sarantos and Danielle Walker and the TEAM of 4th grade families who stepped up to support fundraising efforts for our kids to attend outdoor education next year.   Quick Links for Reference Rancho Family Handbook Rancho Bell Schedule Rancho Website Report an Absence If your student will be absent, please let us know by doing one of the following: Scan the QR Code Use the absence link - CLICK HERE Call the Attendance Line: (415) 897-9082 email Brandi Yaeger: byaeger@nusd.org

Sunday, Mar 29 2026

San Marin Sun - March 29, 2026

San Marin High School · Novato, CA San Marin Sun Weekly Update Week of March 30–April 4, 2026 Vol. 2 · Issue 28 📅 Regular Bell Schedule · Week of Mar 30 Last week before Spring Recess — school resumes Monday, April 13. Quick Links 🎓 Aeries Portal 🔔 Bell Schedule 📞 Report Absence 🤝 PTSA 🎵 Music 🎥 Mustang Minutes Este boletín está disponible en su idioma — haga clic en Traducir en ParentSquare.   This week: Last week before Spring Recess. Make it count. Enjoy the final push before break.   Mustang moment: RENT: School Edition has its closing matinee today, Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 PM. If you haven’t seen it yet, this is your last chance. Today is the final performance. Get tickets at GoFan → Go support our cast, crew, and pit orchestra. 🎶🐴 From Principal Boone Last night I had the privilege of watching my third RENT production at San Marin. Different productions featured Story, Ashley, and Riley each taking on the role of Mimi, three distinct and extraordinary performances. Any one of them alone was worth the price of admission. And they were not alone. Kaden and Skyler as Mark; Ben and Malakhi as Roger; Annabelle, Cami, and Ruby as Joanne; Robyn and Clara as Angel; Rogan and Adam as Benny; Aaliyah and Maya as Maureen; and Cami and Ruby pulling double duty as the Restaurant Man. What you saw on any given evening was its own distinct show. Having never performed in a musical, I can only imagine how extraordinarily difficult that is to pull off. This cast did it masterfully. Back in October, I sat down with Allison McIvor and Emily Gates to talk honestly about what it would mean to bring this show to our stage. The mature content. The challenging themes. The conversations it would require. I am proud of that decision. I am proud of Allison, Emily, Kris Starn, every student on that stage, in the pit, and behind the scenes, and every adult who was part of this team. Through the arts, our students stood on a live stage and brought stories of chosen family, survival, queer identity, and what it means to live without apology into our larger community. All of this happened in the same week that, in the sciences, our 9th grade STEM students visited  NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, home to Athena, NASA’s most powerful supercomputer, currently supporting human missions to the moon and Mars. In athletics, our varsity girls lacrosse team hosted and defeated a nationally ranked program from New York, then sat down with them for a joint celebration lunch at our community partner Trailhead Cafe. In our broader school community, this week Novato High School was named a 2026 California Exemplary Arts Education Award recipient by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, an awesome recognition that reflects what I hope people across NUSD know and feel proud of. The programs our students, families, and caregivers have in this district are worth celebrating. Andy Boone, Principal 🤝 We’re only at 40% of our PTSA membership goal. You can help. It’s just $20. Your membership funds teacher grants, student programs, and campus events all year long. Join for $20 → Learn More This Week · Need to Know   RACC College Fair — Monday, March 30 at lunch. College admissions reps on campus. Drop in and explore your options. Students   North Marin Council PTA Scholarship — deadline April 24. Three NUSD seniors with a strong record of community service will each receive $1,500 for their school or career program of choice. Learn more and apply → Students   Free Immigration Legal Defense Services. MCOE has secured a grant providing free, confidential legal representation for families facing immigration hearings, deportation defense, detention support, and pathways to citizenship. Contact the school office for a confidential referral. Resources: We Have Rights (English) · Español · Know Your Rights (ILRC) → Families   Free Mental Health Care for Students. Free mental health services are available through a new state program. Please complete the Fee Schedule Consent to Bill form so your student can access care. Learn more and sign up → · Watch the video explainer → Families   Parent Resource: Nicotine Products Targeting Youth. The recording of the Let’s Talk Marin session on Zyn, vapes, and other nicotine products is now available. Watch the recording → Families   Safe Grad Night — register before April 30. June 12, 9:00 PM at The Epicenter, Santa Rosa. Tickets are $90 before April 30. Register now at smsafegrad@gmail.com . Students Families   Learning Lounge tutoring continues this week — SM Library, Tuesday & Thursday 7th period–5:00 PM. Drop in, no appointment needed. Students   Attendance questions? Contact Jacque Baniqued (A–L) or Michelle Guin (M–Z). Absence line: (415) 897-4901. Families Coming Up · Dates & Events Mon Mar 30–Fri Apr 4 Last Week of Classes — Regular bell schedule all week Apr 6–10 Spring Recess — No school. Return Monday, April 13. Thu Apr 16 Open House — 5:30–7:00 PM · Meet our staff and students highlighting their programs Mon Apr 21 NUSD Board Meeting — San Marin presents · Open session 6:00 PM · 1015 7th Street, Novato Wed Apr 30 Safe Grad Night early-bird deadline — $90 before April 30 · smsafegrad@gmail.com Fri Jun 12 Graduation · Class of 2026 · 2:00 PM  |  Safe Grad Night · 9:00 PM · The Epicenter, Santa Rosa College Acceptances & Wins 🎓 College Acceptance Aashna Selvaraj UCLA One Mustang is about to become a Bruin. Aashna has been accepted to the University of California, Los Angeles to study Psychology. Congratulations, Aashna! 🎓 College Acceptance Jusim Park UC SAN DIEGO One Mustang is about to become a Triton. Jusim has been accepted to the University of California, San Diego to study General Biology. Congratulations, Jusim! 🎓 College Acceptance Amelia (Amy) Jossart UC BERKELEY At least two Mustangs are about to become Golden Bears. Amy has been accepted to the University of California, Berkeley to study Environmental Sciences. Congratulations, Amy! 🎓 College Acceptance Walt Novosardian UC BERKELEY And the second of two Mustangs joining the Golden Bears. Walt has been accepted to the University of California, Berkeley to double major in Political Science and History. Congratulations, Walt! Graduation Central · Class of 2026 🎓 Graduation Central Everything seniors and families need to know about graduation: cap and gown, ceremony details, deadlines, and more. Visit Graduation Central → 📰 Read the Pony Express San Marin’s student-run newsroom — campus life, sports, opinion, and the stories that matter to Mustangs. Read Now → Counselor’s Corner Our counseling team is here for every student. Visit the links below for resources, upcoming events, and college and career opportunities. 🤒 Counseling Resources — Click here for counseling information · Follow us on Instagram: @smhs.schoolcounselors 📋 Juniors: Postsecondary Planning Meetings. Counselors recently presented to the junior class on postsecondary options during History. For the next two weeks, counselors are holding extra availability for junior planning meetings. All students were emailed with instructions to book a meeting with their counselor. View the slideshow → Students 🏫 College Night — Wednesday, April 1 at 6:00 PM. This district-wide event is held at Novato High School, a collaboration between both schools. Reps from UC, CSU, and Common App schools will join a current senior for a panel discussion on the college application process. Geared toward junior families, open to all. Students Families ✎️ Looking for an SAT spot this spring? Novato High School hosts the SAT and occasionally adds a few seats for purchase. Log into College Board between 11:40 AM and noon on Wednesdays for the best chance to secure a local seat. Students 🎓 College and Career Planning: CaliforniaColleges.edu. NUSD partners with the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI), giving students free access to the CaliforniaColleges.edu platform. Access it through the ClassLink student portal or at cl.nusd.org . Students can explore careers and majors, plan courses to meet A-G requirements, track graduation progress, research and apply to UC, CSU, and community colleges, and complete financial aid applications. Students Families 🌿 College & Career: Marin Audubon Society Volunteers Needed — Students can help restore local habitats while learning about conservation and environmental stewardship. Great for students who enjoy outdoor work, teamwork, and community impact. Join the volunteer Remind group to learn about upcoming spring workdays: bit.ly/3PmJbS7 🌎 Free Summer Leadership Camp: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). August 1–5 at Redwood Glen, Santa Cruz. Free for current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in SF, San Mateo, and Marin counties. Apply at ryla.camp . Flyers: English · Español Students Families 🧡 Wellness Hub Talk Series — ACCESS Period — Hosted by the Marin County Cooperative Team. Students sign themselves up for topics that interest them. Remaining sessions this semester: April 15 — Financial Health: Resumes & Budgeting · May 6 — Mental Health: When Feelings Become Diagnosable · May 20 — Women’s Health: Sexual/Reproductive Health. Students Athletics · Spring Schedule 📅 This Week · Mar 30–Apr 4 Mon 3/30 🏠 Softball VR vs Novato · 6:30 PM Tue 3/31 🏠 Tennis, Boys VR vs Tamalpais · 4:00 PM  |  🏠 Lacrosse, Boys JV vs Terra Linda · 4:00 PM  |  🏠 Volleyball, Boys JV vs Novato · 4:30 PM  |  🏠 Volleyball, Boys VR vs Novato · 5:30 PM  |  🏠 Lacrosse, Boys VR vs Terra Linda · 6:00 PM  |  🚌 Swimming VR @ Novato · 4:00 PM  |  🚌 Lacrosse, Girls VR @ Terra Linda · 4:00 PM  |  🚌 Lacrosse, Girls JV @ Terra Linda · 5:30 PM Wed 4/1 🏠 Golf, Boys VR vs Archie Williams · 3:30 PM  |  🏠 Softball VR vs Tamalpais · 6:30 PM  |  🚌 Track & Field VR @ Archie Williams (with Novato) · 3:00 PM  |  🚌 Baseball FR @ Cardinal Newman · 4:30 PM Thu 4/2 🏠 Tennis, Boys VR vs Terra Linda · 4:00 PM  |  🏠 Baseball FR vs Cardinal Newman · 4:30 PM  |  🏠 Lacrosse, Girls JV vs Branson · 4:30 PM  |  🏠 Lacrosse, Girls VR vs Branson · 6:30 PM  |  🚌 Lacrosse, Boys VR @ Branson · 4:00 PM  |  🚌 Baseball JV @ Cardinal Newman · 4:30 PM  |  🚌 Softball VR @ Rancho Cotate · 4:30 PM  |  🚌 Volleyball, Boys VR @ Marin Catholic · 5:00 PM Fri 4/3 🚌 Softball VR @ Windsor · 4:00 PM Sat 4/4 🚌 Track & Field VR @ Delta College Invitational (Tokay) · 8:00 AM 🏠 = Home at San Marin  ·  🚌 = Away  ·  All times Pacific   Full schedule at sanmarinathletics.com → Visual & Performing Arts 🎨 VAPA Newsletter The latest from San Marin’s Visual and Performing Arts department — events, updates, and ways to get involved. Read the VAPA Newsletter → Music Website → 📅 Upcoming Arts Events Thu Apr 16 Visual Arts Gallery Showing — San Marin Library · During Block Party/Open House Wed Apr 22 Music Boosters Meeting — 7:00 PM · Music Room 805 Mon Apr 28 Dine & Donate at Tommy’s Salsa — All day · Music Boosters Fundraiser May 1, 2, 8, 9 Drama Spring Play — PAC · May 1 & 8 at 7:00 PM · May 2 & 9 at 2:00 PM Program Spotlight · STEM Marin 🔬 STEM Marin at San Marin High School Engineering · Biotechnology · Art in Science · stemmarin.org STEM Marin students work with 3D bioprinters, grow live mammalian cells, complete real engineering capstone projects, and can earn college credits through Solano Community College. Website Newsletter Instagram @stemmarin Community & Volunteers 🏭 Safe Grad Night — June 12 — A safe, supervised, and fun all-night celebration for seniors. Held at The Epicenter, Santa Rosa, starting at 9:00 PM. Tickets are $90 before April 30. Register at smsafegrad@gmail.com . 🌍 ELAC Meeting — May 13, 6:00–7:00 PM · School Library — All families are warmly invited to join us for our final ELAC meeting of the school year. Come together, celebrate our students’ progress, and share your voice as we reflect on the year and look ahead. Your participation makes a difference. Families 📰 Student Journalism — Pony Express — San Marin’s student-run newsroom covers campus life, sports, opinion, and the stories that matter to Mustangs. Read the latest at smhsponyexpress.org . 🚲 E-Bike Safety for Families. Safe Routes to Schools has published parent guides on e-bike safety. Available in English and Spanish . Families Students 🏆 Sports Boosters — Join, donate, or volunteer to support our 32 sports teams. Contact the Athletics office at (415) 898-2121. District News · NUSD 🏫 Upcoming NUSD Board Meetings April 14 · Special Board Meeting: Bond Tour · 3:00–5:00 PM April 21 · Regular Board Meeting · Open session 6:00 PM · San Marin presents Agendas and remote viewing at nusd.org → Board → Board Meeting Dates and Agendas . 💰 NUSD Budget Update NUSD continues to navigate state funding challenges shared by school districts statewide. Community engagement opportunities and full details at nusd.org . 💛 Special Education Families: Inclusive Insights NUSD’s Special Education Family Newsletter is available via ParentSquare. Questions: nusd.org This is the last week before break. Finish strong, cheer on your Mustangs, and enjoy the time with family. We will see you back on April 13, rested and ready to close this year out the right way. Thank you for everything you do for this community. Go Mustangs. Go Green & Gold. 🐴 → School Website → NUSD District → Aeries Portal → Bell Schedule → Report Absence → Athletics → PTSA → Counseling → STEM Marin → Pony Express San Marin High School · 15 San Marin Drive, Novato, CA 94945 · (415) 898-2121 · sanmarin.nusd.org Absence line: (415) 897-4901 · Attendance: Jacque Baniqued (A–L) · Michelle Guin (M–Z) San Marin Sun is published weekly via ParentSquare · Vol. 2 · Issue 28

Sunday, Mar 29 2026