September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Greetings! September Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month is celebrated each September to create awareness of this important and preventable health issue. During this month, Marin County BHRS and community-based partners come together to host virtual and in-person events for our community, including allies, providers, educators, students, loss survivors, and more.   This year’s campaign, “Ask. Listen. Connect.” is designed to support you and our community with the skills to talk directly and openly about mental health and suicidality. We can all play a life-saving role by talking openly and being a connection to  Hope and Help. In our district, Buckelew Programs is providing suicide prevention education for our middle school and 9th-grade students.  This year, THS will participate in the first annual " BE BRAVE WALK - Because being here is brave"  to raise awareness about suicide prevention. Educators like you can raise awareness and participate in suicide prevention month by attending one of the many events happening in Marin County (listed below), knowing the signs (see below) and what to do, and sharing 988 and other suicide prevention resources in your classroom (see your School Counselor for resources).  Other quick ways to raise awareness are through social media and your email signature (images below).   Upcoming Events: Upcoming  Suicide Prevention & Recovery Events in September: Five Years of Hope & Healing .  September 10th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Homeward Bound in Novato.  Register here . Tattoo for Buckelew Programs . September 13th, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm in Petaluma. More information here . Hablemos Sobre la Prevención del Suicidio.  September 15th, 6:00 - 7:00 pm via Zoom.  Sign up by calling Silvia Albuja at (707) 408-3657 Recognize and Respond: A Parent’s Guide to Youth Suicide Prevention , presented by MCOE. September 17th, 6:00 - 7:30 pm via Zoom. English & Spanish flyer .   Register here . Walking it Out for Suicide Prevention & Community Connection.   September 18th, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm in Fairfax.   More information and register here . Care in Action: A Virtual 988 Conference . September 19th, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm via Zoom. Register here . American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Walk. September 20th at 9:30 am in San Francisco. More information here . Crisis Response in Marin County: How Does it Work?  September 23rd, 6:00 - 7:15 pm via Zoom. Register here . Below are a few fast facts: Suicide Can Be Prevented. Know the Signs. Most people in distress express warning signs through feelings, words or actions, including: feeling burdensome or trapped, experiencing chronic pain, changes in substance use, lacking reasons for living, talking about suicide, feeling rejected, having access to lethal means, etc. Any warning sign is a door opener for a conversation. Here are helpful tips to keep someone safe at home or in the workplace. Ask directly. “Sometimes people experience thoughts of suicide when they lose hope/are sad/withdrawn. Are you thinking of suicide? Can we store your firearm/ammunition (or substances) until your feelings are resolved and you can stay safe?” Listen. “I’m sorry you’re in this much pain. I’m here to listen and support you.” “I’m so glad you’re sharing this with me. It takes a lot of courage.” Connect. “I’ll sit with you. I want to make sure that you stay safe. Let’s call 988 (or therapist, parent, etc.) together for support." “You can begin to feel better with support. I’ll stay with you while we find help.” After you connect someone to help, follow up with them to foster belonging and recovery by a phone call, text, etc.

Wednesday, Sep 03 2025

SUSD Community Newsletter

SUSD Community Newsletter SUSD Community Newsletter Some thoughts for the starting school year ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Not displaying correctly? View in browser     Superintendent's Message As we begin the 2025–26 school year, our theme is One Shoreline: Unified in Purpose, Collaborative in Practice, Centered on Students. While each of our schools, West Marin, Inverness, Bodega Bay, Tomales Elementary, and Tomales High, has its own traditions and character, we share a single mission: to ensure every Shoreline student receives the very best education and support possible. From our preschools to our after school programs, from our classrooms to our Community Schools initiatives, we are working as one interconnected team for all of our students. This year, you’ll see even more collaboration across campuses, more sharing of ideas and resources, and a continued commitment to putting students first in everything we do. We are fortunate to live and work in such an amazing place, surrounded by dedicated educators and a supportive community. Adapting a quotation from Kath Phipps of the legendary soccer club Manchester United, “Work hard and smile, you are at Shoreline Unified School District”, and that’s exactly what we plan to do here at Shoreline. Here’s to a year of connection, teamwork, and great accomplishments, together as One Shoreline. In Community, Matt Dunkle Interim Superintendent   Extended Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) We are excited to have our summer camp and after-school programs now led by Shoreline Unified! We wrapped up our partnership with the Marin YMCA at the end of last year, and all programming and registration will now be handled directly by our Director of ELOP, Liz Tucker . Every TK–8th–grade student is welcome. The program is offered at no cost to ELOP students TK-6th grade.  We’ve created a budget-friendly fee schedule  so every family can join in the fun. ELOP programs are using Procare to manage registrations and share important updates about our Extended Learning Programs. We’re also hiring ! If you or someone you know loves working with kids, we have openings for   Paraeducator 1 and Site Coordinators at each of our three sites. We can’t wait for another fantastic year of learning, creativity, and fun after school! TES After-School Registration  WMS-INV Registration BBS Registration Registration closes on Friday, August 15th!    Middle School Sports Starting in the 2025–26 school year, Shoreline will officially join the Middle School Sports League of Sonoma County on a probationary basis. This is a big step forward in bringing a more structured and expanded athletic program to our middle school students! Our teams will be made up of 6th–8th grade students from both Tomales Elementary and West Marin School, competing as  Shoreline Middle School  team. We have the option to field teams in volleyball, basketball, flag football, as well as track/cross country. Home games will take place in Tomales at either TES or THS. Thank you to all the families who completed the ParentSquare form and helped us choose our team colors! Shoreline Middle School teams will now proudly wear our Shoreline blue and yellow.   Shoreline Community Meetings We invite all members of our district community to participate in the Shoreline Community Meetings , held quarterly throughout the district. Formerly known as the Community Schools District Table meetings, these gatherings will serve as a platform for collaboration to develop a unified vision for student success, following our theme of One Shoreline . The meetings will be hybrid , offering opportunities for both in-person and virtual participation. Dinner and childcare will be provided for those attending in person. Meeting schedule and locations: September 8 — West Marin School November 3 — Tomales High School March 2 — Bodega Bay School May 4 — Tomales Elementary School In-person meetings will run from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. , with Zoom sessions starting at 6:20 p.m. We’ll begin our conversation on September 8 with the results of our Connections Surveys. We look forward to working together as One Shoreline!     Shoreline Wellness This school year will be North Marin Community Services' (NMCS) 3rd year providing school-based mental health services in Shoreline Unified. Counselors are available for students at West Marin School, Tomales Elementary, and Tomales High. Contact the School Counselor at your school site for more information. New this year, NMCS is providing community-based services, including mental health and case management, for families impacted by ranch closures resulting from the Point Reyes National Seashore settlement. Please see the flyer in the community section for more information, or reach out to the Family Advocate at your school site to get connected. As part of this new community expansion, NMCS is starting a West Marin Men's Group beginning Tuesday,  August 19th, from 4-5pm in Pt. Reyes Station.    2025-2026 Academic Calendar The 2025-2026 school calendar was approved at the March 13, 2025, Board meeting. This calendar was carefully drafted by the Calendar Committee, which includes classified staff, certificated staff, and administrators. Your input was invaluable—parent feedback gathered through the calendar survey helped shape next year’s calendar to better meet the needs of our students, families, and staff. 25-26 Academic Calendar Calendario Escolar 25-26   Walking Wednesday and Community Coffee at Tomales Elementary This year, Tomales Elementary will be hosting their community coffees on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 8:30 am along with Walking Wednesdays.   Shoreline Preschool Open Enrollment Shoreline Preschool is now accepting applications for children as young as 2 years old who are potty trained. The preschool offers both part-time and full-time options to accommodate your family’s schedule. With convenient locations in Bodega Bay and Tomales. Our dedicated staff focuses on fostering social-emotional growth while supporting the development of gross and fine motor skills in a nurturing and engaging environment that prepares students for TK and beyond. For more information or to schedule a visit to learn about schedule options and fees, please contact Mrs. Velarde, Preschool Director, at (707) 703-6117.   Bibliobus at Bodega Bay Elementary Sonoma County’s Bibliobus will be stationed at Bodega Bay Elementary's parking lot on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 2:30 to 3:30 PM. The Bibliobus provides access to books, Wi-Fi, and other resources. Community members can register for a library card and take advantage of this convenient service. Stop by and explore all the Bibliobus has to offer!   We're on FaceBook! Exciting news! Our district's Facebook page is now live and buzzing with updates, celebrations, and stories from our wonderful community. We invite you to follow and share our page as we embark on this journey of two-way communication and celebration.   Welcome Back! We can't wait to see all of our wonderful students and community back on site on August 13th for our first day of school! It will be a year of learning and lots of fun!   Tomales Elementary Principal Meet and Greet Join us on August 13th at 8:30 am at the Tomales Elementary Family Center for a Principal Meet and Greet during our first Community Coffee of the year.   SUSD Board Meetings Join us at Tomales High School on August 14th for our Board meeting at 6 pm. Our board meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month, except January and April.  We encourage all community members to participate and stay informed about important district matters. All Board meetings are held in person and via Zoom. Click here to access the meeting on Zoom.   Back to School Night We invite all families to come meet teachers, tour classrooms, and receive important information for the new school year at our back-to-school nights. Dates by school: Bodega Bay School: August 19 at 5:00 p.m. Tomales High School: August 26 at 6:00 p.m. Tomales Elementary School: August 27 at 5:30 p.m. Inverness Elementary School: September 3 at 5:00 p.m. West Marin Elementary School: September 4 at 5:00 p.m. We look forward to welcoming everyone to a great school year!   Tomales High School 2nd Annual Dinner and Silent Auction Tomales High Football Team is having its 2nd Annual Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday, August 23, at The Lot in Tomales. Come and support our student-athletes! For tickets, click here: https://tomales-high-school- boosters .square.site/product/2nd-annual-braves-football-dinner-fundraiser/157   Labor Day In commemoration of Labor Day , there will be  no school on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025 . Classes will resume on Tuesday, Sept 2, 2025 . We take this time to honor the contributions, dedication, and hard work of all workers who help strengthen our communities and our nation.   Shoreline Community Meeting Join us at our first Shoreline Community Meeting on September 8th at West Marin School. You can also join the conversation via Zoom starting at 6:20 pm. Dinner and child care will be provided for in-person participants.   Family Disaster Preparedness Workshop Tomales Elementary and West Marin School will be hosting Family Disaster Preparedness Workshops in September. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn how to prepare for emergencies, as well as learn valuable skills such as basic CPR. Tomales Elementary: September 18th at 8:30 am West Marin Elementary: September 23rd at 5:30 pm For more information, contact: WMS- Glenda Mejia at glenda.mejia@shorelineunified.org   TES: Cristina Salcedo at cristina.salcedo@shorelineunified.org   Health and Harvest Festival The third annual Shoreline Harvest Festival will join forces with the second annual Bodega Bay Health Fair for a community celebration honoring the bounty of our land and sea and the wellness of our community. Don’t miss out on valuable resources and plenty of family fun! Join us on September 27 at Bodega Bay School.   Community Coffees at Our School Sites! We invite you to join us for coffee and connection at our schools! Cafecito at West Marin School: Every Wednesday at 8:30 AM Community Coffee at Tomales Elementary: First and third Wednesday of the month at 8:30 AM during Walking Wednesdays Bodega Bay Elementary : After Walking Wednesdays at 8:30 AM Come connect with other parents, school staff, and learn valuable information about community resources and school news!   Get Involved in Your School Community! We invite everyone to get involved in our school community by joining one of the many upcoming meetings. Your participation is key to helping us create a stronger, more supportive environment for all our students and families. Here are a few meetings coming up: ELAC Meetings:  WMS- Aug. 27th at 8:30 am THS- Sept. 16th at 6 pm TES- Sept. 30th at 6:15pm PTA/PTSA Meetings: PTA at TES: Aug. 28th at 3:00 p.m. School Site Council: SSC at THS: Aug. 26th at 3:15 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there and working together to support our schools! Matt Dunkle Interim District Superintendent Jay Dowd Principal, Tomales Elementary Naolin Tucker Preschool Paraeducator, Bodega Bay School Gina Tanner Kindergarten Teacher, Inverness Elementary Daisy Barragan Spanish Teacher, West Marin School Kourtney Land 3rd-5th Grade Teacher, Bodega Bay School Liz Tucker Director of Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) Philip Eukel English Teacher, Tomales High School Classified: ELOP Afterschool Program Coordinator, West Marin School Food Service Assistant, Tomales High School/Bodega Bay School Para Educator I ELOP Afterschool Program, Tomales Elementary Van Driver, 5 days per week District Mechanic District Technology Coordinator Bus Drivers – part-time and substitute positions   Coach Varsity Boys’ Baseball Head Coach   Apply on EdJoin Marilu Cisneros Marilu is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters  

Tuesday, Aug 12 2025

IMPORTANT: Interim Superintendent Announcement

Dear SUSD Community, On behalf of the Shoreline Unified Board of Trustees, we want to share an important update about our school district's leadership for this coming year. The Board of Trustees has selected Matt Dunkle to serve as Interim Superintendent for the 2025–26 school year. Matt Dunkle is a seasoned educator and district leader with over 20 years of experience, having served as Superintendent of Forestville Union, Secondary Director at Santa Rosa City Schools, and Principal of El Molino High School. His early work at the California Department of Education and in Washington, D.C. focused on equity, charter oversight, and strategic funding. Known for student-centered leadership and collaboration, Mr. Dunkle has led initiatives in school safety, academic achievement, and staff development. He holds degrees from The George Washington University and Case Western Reserve University, along with credentials from Sonoma State.  Originally from Pennsylvania, Mr. Dunkle now lives in Sonoma County and enjoys spending time with his sons, Jack and Max. He also enjoys reading, live music, skiing, and time at the beach. His contract as full-time Interim Superintendent was approved at last night’s Board meeting, and we are excited to work with him in the year ahead to ensure Shoreline Unified remains a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for all students and families. The SUSD  Board of Trustees will begin their search to fill the long term superintendent position later this fall   with the goal of having a new leader in place for the 2026-27 school year. The board is prioritizing a search process that will include multiple ways for students, staff, families, and community members to share what qualities and priorities matter most in our next superintendent. We will share more about the process and the community input opportunities once everything is finalized this fall. Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we take this important next step together. In Community, 

Wednesday, Jun 18 2025

Virtual Community Schools District Table Meeting

Hello SUSD Community, Please  join us for the final Community Schools District Table Meeting of the 2024–2025 school year, taking place on  Thursday, May 29th, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM via Zoom . Spanish interpretation will be available. ​ During the meeting, we will: Present on the Student  Participatory Budgeting Project Learn about a partnership highlight from Bridge the Gap Engage in a community discussion on the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Reflect together on our progress as a Community Schools district This meeting is  open to all SUSD families, staff, and community members —we welcome your voice and participation! Zoom Link to Join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84098104085?pwd=ba3lAK4bIAPfpw5bYXKNaIDvhVea7n.1 Meeting ID: 840 9810 4085 Passcode: SUSD We look forward to coming together to celebrate, reflect, and plan for what’s ahead.

Friday, May 23 2025

Summer Camp Interest Form

Hello SUSD Community, Summer is right around the corner, and we’re excited to announce Shoreline Unified School District’s first district-led Summer Camp, running from July 8 to August 1, 2025 ! Summer Camp is open to all SUSD students currently in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 7th grade . Camp is offered at no cost to students who qualify for ELOP. For fee-based families, we’ve created both half-day and full-day options to ensure broader access to this fun and enriching opportunity. More details are available in the Summer Camp Interest Form . If your child is interested in participating, please complete the form by Friday, June 6th at 3:00 PM . Final enrollment documents will be sent out shortly after the interest form deadline. If you're unable to access the form online, please contact your school’s Family Advocate for assistance. We look forward to a joyful and adventurous summer camp with your students! Access the interest form here:   https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5DeGDJI7wtzhw4D0tSnEL9DcGpq0BATr-9ijF9-uSEgZkYg/viewform?usp=header

Thursday, May 22 2025

Join us TODAY at 5pm via ZOOM for our last DELAC Mee...

Hello SUSD Community, Join us TODAY at 5:00 PM via Zoom for our final  DELAC meeting of the academic year! We’ll be sharing important information about the reclassification process for English Learners and gathering your feedback on how we can better support family engagement in our schools. This meeting is especially important for  DELAC representatives from each site as we will be discussing key updates to help prepare for the upcoming school year. The meeting is  open to all who are interested in the success of our English Learners. We hope to see you there! Join the meeting using this link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86134079300?pwd=MdZgUwnxmXbfoxOGBrCHOwQnxXPWTX.1&jst=2

Monday, May 19 2025

10th Annual Jake Velloza Memorial Slow Pitch Game at...

Hello Community--please join us for the 10th Annual Jake Velloza Memorial Slow Pitch Game at Tomales High School.   At this time we are looking for donations towards a scholarship in Jake's honor that will be awarded at the event.  To donate towards the scholarship fund follow the link here: https://tomales-high-school-boosters.square.site/product/9th-annual-jake-velloza-memorial-game-scholarship-fund-donation/112?cs=true&cst=custom We are also looking for players!  It is co-ed and open to the entire community! Must be 18 years old or older and have graduated high school.  To sign up to play follow the link here: https://tomales-high-school-boosters.square.site/product/player-registration-10th-annual-jake-velloza-memorial-game/111?cs=true&cst=custom Go Braves! THS Boosters Club

Thursday, May 15 2025

Exciting Event Happening at Tomales High This Friday...

Please join us for a night of good food and fun in honor of May Mental Health Awareness Month! THIS FRIDAY, MAY 16th, 5:30-7:30 at TOMALES HIGH Open to all SUSD families and friends!  Childcare provided.  Spanish interpretation! -Receive a raffle ticket for attending! -Explore resource tables (hint: this will help you answer trivia questions)! -Enjoy a delicious tamale dinner! -Watch and vote for the best student films! -Form a team, play trivia, and win (prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) *5 trivia rounds - categories include: mental health, sports/leisure, music, and pop culture!  **Prizes include gift baskets, earbuds, Stanley mugs, Bluetooth speaker, etc., Please RSVP if you can; otherwise, feel free to just show up! RSVP Link: tinyurl.com/SUSDTriviaNight

Tuesday, May 13 2025

Summer Camp Update!

Hello SUSD Community, With the end of the school year fast approaching, we want to provide an update on our plans for summer camp 2025. Our after-school and summer programs will now be district-led. This change allows us to design and deliver programs that are more responsive to the needs of our students and families. We are currently in the final stages of selecting a Director of Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOP), who will lead the development and implementation of both our after-school and summer offerings. This summer, we plan to host summer camp in July 2025 at West Marin School and Tomales Elementary, offering a fun, engaging experience for TK-8th-grade students across our district. The camp will be free of charge for ELOP-qualifying students and available at an affordable rate for fee-based students. Please note that our transportation department is currently understaffed, which may impact our ability to offer bus service. Depending on bus driver availability and other logistics needed to run a high-quality program, we may need to adjust plans, such as limiting bus routes or consolidating camp to a single site for all students. Our team is working hard to ensure this summer’s camp is meaningful, enriching, and memorable for all students. We will share more updates in the coming weeks once the new Director of ELOP is officially in place. Thank you for your continued patience and partnership.

Friday, May 09 2025

Sharing some news

Dear Shoreline community, It is with mixed emotions that I inform you that I am resigning from my position as the Superintendent of Shoreline Unified School District at the end of this school year.  I have accepted a position with the Marin County Office of Education, and will embrace a new opportunity to support students in Marin County in a different way.  I leave enriched by the amazing experiences I have had working with students, families, and staff as both a principal and the superintendent in Shoreline. I have spent over half of my career in collaboration with so many in this school community.  I have worked with many of you in partnership to support our schools.  From sporting events to family nights, LCAP events to community meetings, I have learned so much about how to work together, sharing ideas and keeping kids at the center, working to find common ground and a way forward in support of your children. The collection of ideas, values, personalities, and beliefs sprinkled throughout the varied communities of this district are its deepest strength, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of it.  It has truly changed my life.  I will work closely with the Board to support a smooth transition, and I am sure that more information about that will be forthcoming.  For now, I just want you to know how much I have appreciated our time together. With gratitude and in community, Adam Jennings

Friday, May 02 2025