• Thanksgiving Wishes from San Rafael City Schools

    Thanksgiving Message from the Superintendent Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, This Thanksgiving holiday, we send our best wishes to you and your family. We are grateful for each and every member of our special San Rafael City Schools community. Please watch a short video that expresses my appreciation! I hope you have a happy, safe, restful Thanksgiving break! Sincerely, Jim Hogeboom Superintendent Customize Your ParentSquare Notification Settings : In ParentSquare, view your account and then under “notification settings” click “customize your settings.” Or, review these step-by-step instructions . San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way San Rafael, CA 94903

    Wednesday, Nov 24 2021

  • HeadsUp Newsletter - Feeling Thankful!

           HeadsUp Receives $138,107 from SchoolsRule On October 27th SchoolsRule held their annual distribution event with community leaders, business partners and school foundation leaders. HeadsUp was thrilled to receive $138,107 this year. SchoolsRule funding makes up more than 50% of our program budget and allows us to continue to support arts enrichment, college access and mental health programs and services at our SRCS schools. Thank you SchoolsRule donors! HeadsUp Book Talk with Elain Petrocelli is Back! Friday, December 3rd at 4:00 p.m.   We are so thankful to be able to host our 15th annual book passage event with Elaine Petrocelli. We are not able to offer the holiday luncheon, but our partnership endures! Come discover new books and holiday gifts while supporting a local merchant committed to public education. RSVP for the event by emailing info@headsupsr.org . Suggested $20 donation to HeadsUp online or at the event. Can't make the event but still want to support HeadsUp and shop for books? Shop Friday & Saturday, December 3rd & 4th and 10% of purchases will be donated to HeadsUp. In-store, ask the bookseller to credit the sale to HeadsUp or online at bookpassage.com , type HeadsUp in the comments section of the order. Mini-Grant Recipients Announced! We are thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2021-22 mini-grants. HeadsUp received a record number of mini-grant applications this year and while we were not able to fund every request, we are pretty excited about the requests we were able to fund and the impact these funds will have for our students in the areas of art, music, literacy, health and technology. See the full list here . HeadsUp funding in Action - TLHS Wellness Center Makeover HeadsUp funds were used earlier this year to support the "extreme makeover" of the TLHS Wellness Center including new furniture and supplies. Nicole Jansen, Wellness Coordinator and Clinical Supervisor at Terra Linda High School shared with us what the wellness center is and what they offer students. "The Wellness Center will help expand the safety net for students on campus by offering mental health, substance use/misuse, and reproductive health resources to students on campus through Tier 1, 2, and 3 supports. Students can access our drop-in space during non-class time to grab a cup of tea, participate in self care and emotional regulation activities, and connect to services and resources. Our Wellness Outreach Specialist, will be in the space and available to greet, triage and support students. Wellness Center Staff will also offer check-ins, assessment, 1:1 counseling,  case management, support/empowerment groups and crisis intervention services for students.  All students will be connected to care on or off campus depending on their circumstance and level of need.  We hope that our drop-in space will help de-stigmatize mental health and encourage students to self refer or refer a friend!" Principal Katy Dunlap had this to say about the makeover: "Picture #1 next to Picture #2 is very powerful. It's like those home makeover shows! Truly amazing and we are so grateful for the funding from HeadsUp!"       Save the Date - HeadsUp Carnival Returns! Saturday, April 30, 2022 After a nearly two-year hiatus, HeadsUp Carnival is back on the calendar with a new venue! We are planning for an amazing event next spring to be held on the campus of Davidson Middle School! All the same food, games and performances plus some new activities and entertainment for the whole family. We cannot wait to spend the day with you and your family celebrating our San Rafael school community. Mark your calendars now! Thank you to our loyal Business Partners We can't do it without you!  As public schools face unprecedented challenges, consider a donation to HeadsUp to support enrichment and support programs for students in all San Rafael City Schools, click  to make a donation.   HeadsUp San Rafael Public Education Foundation  Tax ID# 94-2838374    HeadsUp is part of SchoolsRule Marin, a coalition of all public education foundations in Marin County.

    Monday, Nov 22 2021

  • Weekly Wrap: Seeking Substitute Teachers!

    November 19, 2021 Friday Focus Click the image above or the following link to watch our Friday Focus video on how to become a substitute teacher! https://youtu.be/2p9iizuXHUc Letter from the Superintendent Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, It has been widely reported that a nationwide substitute teacher shortage exists - something that we are experiencing in San Rafael City Schools as well. We are trying to tackle this challenge in several ways, and are asking for your support. Substitute teachers are invaluable to our students and schools. First of all, we want to make sure there is a qualified person to work with our students when teachers are out sick, otherwise we have to combine classrooms and rely on other teachers to fill in on their prep times. Secondly, while we try to schedule professional development during non-student hours, there are times when our teachers need to attend a professional development training to help them learn new skills or work collaboratively to improve our curriculum-- we can’t do this if we don’t have enough substitutes! Please consider helping us!!  We highly encourage anyone who has ever considered substitute teaching to apply or contact us for more information. Substitute teaching is a great opportunity for stay-at-home parents, retirees, college students and maybe even YOU! In San Rafael City Schools, substitute teachers are paid a daily rate of $200. Substitute teachers register with the Credentials Analyst at the Marin County Office of Education, and then subsequently register with the school districts they are interested in working with - like San Rafael City Schools! Visit MCOE’ s website for a wealth of information, or contact Karen Moncayo in our Human Resources department at kmoncayo@srcs.org or 415-492-3212. Please consider this rewarding opportunity and, if you know of an individual who may be interested, please share this information with them. We also have many openings for a variety of career opportunities - check them out! Sincerely, Jim Hogeboom Superintendent Customize Your ParentSquare Notification Settings : In ParentSquare, view your account and then under “notification settings” click “customize your settings.” Or, review these step-by-step instructions . San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way San Rafael, CA 94903

    Saturday, Nov 20 2021

  • Weekly Wrap: San Rafael - Terra Linda Bell Game!

    November 5, 2021 Friday Focus Video link: https://youtu.be/hF02gvrQWzI Customize Your ParentSquare Notification Settings : In ParentSquare, view your account and then under “notification settings” click “customize your settings.” Or, review these step-by-step instructions . San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way San Rafael, CA 94903

    Friday, Nov 05 2021

  • COVID-19 Vaccine for Pediatrics Available in Marin

    Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, We are sharing information from Marin County Public Health about COVID-19 vaccination opportunities in Marin for children. Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for use in children ages 5 to 11. Pediatric vaccinations will begin in Marin County on Saturday, Nov. 6. You can pre-schedule appointments beginning today, Nov. 4. Pediatric “Super Sites” Marin County Public Health is partnering with Safeway Pharmacies to offer “super sites” that can accommodate up to 1,000 children per day. These super site clinics will operate from 9 am - 5 pm. Click on the links below to make appointments for these sites. Saturday, November 6 - Miller Creek Middle School (2255 Las Gallinas Ave., San Rafael) Sunday, November 7 - Miller Creek Middle School Saturday, November 13 - Strawberry Point  (117 E. Strawberry Dr., Mill Valley) Sunday, November 14 - Strawberry Point   Saturday, November 20 – Novato High School (625 Arthur Street, Novato) Sunday, November 21 – Novato High School Proof of birth date will be required at registration. Visit Vaccine Finder for the most up-to-date information. Additional Vaccination Sites In addition to these “Super Sites,” there are a myriad of access points for the pediatric vaccine once supply arrives, such as medical providers, medical clinics, pharmacies, mobile vaccine sites, etc. Please inquire with your medical provider or  visit Vaccine Finder for links to make an appointment: be sure to select clinics labeled for "pediatrics" or "age 5 & older."   For additional appointment options for Marin and the greater Bay Area, use MyTurn Vaccine Appointment system .     Learn More Learn more about the pediatric vaccines in Marin here and more information about appointments can be found on Marin’s Vaccine Finder webpage .   Vaccine appointments are strongly recommended. There is strong demand for the vaccine and not all vaccine locations will allow walk-ins. If possible, plan ahead. Public Health also strongly recommends co-administration of seasonal flu and/or other catch-up vaccines at the time of COVID-19 vaccination when possible. Sincerely, Jim Hogeboom Superintendent

    Thursday, Nov 04 2021

  • Weekly Wrap: Meet Madrone’s New Principal; COVID Upd...

    October 29, 2021 Friday Focus Video link:  https://youtu.be/e_96pelRW1Q Letter from the Superintendent Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, We are sharing a few COVID-related updates this week.   Upcoming Pediatric Vaccinations This week, the FDA advisory committee recommended emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in children ages 5-11 years old. This is the first, in a series of anticipated steps, that may result in eligibility for this group to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as the first weekend in November. Details on vaccination opportunities, which will take place throughout Marin and at select SRCS elementary schools, will be shared in the coming weeks. On Wednesday, Nov. 3 from 6 - 7 pm, parents and families are invited to attend a virtual presentation with local health experts dedicated to answering questions related to pediatric vaccinations. The County is  gathering many additional questions not yet been fully addressed at previous discussions and welcome any additional questions to be submitted to rapidresponse@marinschools.org. The presentation will be recorded and Spanish interpretation provided. Pediatric Vaccination Q&A, Nov. 3, 6 - 7 pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81025450050?pwd=dmtBNGxlZkMvK0hwU2VvTE5rOVFyQT09 Dial In: 408-638-0968 | Webinar ID: 810 2545 0050 | Passcode: 101024   Additionally, below are the recordings from the recent sessions on pediatric vaccinations with public health, pediatric and infectious disease panelists. Oct. 6 English Panel Discussion Oct. 13 Spanish Panel Discussion A Safe Halloween and Dia de los Muertos We are sharing guidance from the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services , who is offering parents and kids safe and responsible options to celebrate Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, while taking precautions to prevent the disease’s spread. Health officials note that last year’s holiday season, starting with Halloween, fueled the largest of Marin’s four major surges of COVID-19 infections. This year, although the highly contagious delta variant is dominant in Marin, high vaccination rates are a cause for optimism. “Last year we weren’t in a place to really celebrate together—that’s changed, thanks to the vaccine and the work of everyone in our community to control the virus.” said Dr Matt Willis, Marin County Public Health Officer. “We need to stay mindful of our shared risks, but if we follow common sense precautions we can celebrate together.” For those eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine, completing a vaccination series remains the best protection against the virus. The best starting point is Marin HHS’ vaccine finder webpage . Most children who are giddy about the eerie holidays coming up are still not eligible to be vaccinated, so it’s even more important for teens and adults around them to be fully vaccinated. “Looking ahead, with our 5 to 11-year-olds nearly eligible to be vaccinated, it’s good news that we could feel even more secure about the remaining holidays,” said Dr Lisa Santora, Deputy Public Health Officer for Marin County. “Make vaccination part of your holiday planning: when everyone at home is vaccinated, we’ll all be better protected.” Other recommendations include gathering outdoors instead of indoors whenever possible, wearing a face covering when close to others, skipping the festivities if not feeling well, and respecting one another’s personal space by avoiding crowding. Over the counter rapid COVID-19 tests are also recommended for those who want an added measure of security, to help ensure those who are gathered together are not infectious. Tests can be performed at home before joining a gathering or offered at the door. Test results can be reported to Marin Public Health through the online self-test reporting form . Here are guidelines for safety precautions when trick-or-treating with the youngsters. Wear a face covering or keep your distance from others to help reduce your risk of getting COVID-19. Remember, most costume masks do not provide trusted protection. Bring hand sanitizer and use it frequently. Wash hands after coming home, and especially before eating treats. Avoid distributing treats from inside the home; give them out from the porch or driveway. Place a table or another creatively decorated barrier between the treat-giver and the trick-or-treater to help with distancing. Monitor yourself and your family for symptoms for 14 days after participating in any holiday celebrations and activities. Pay special attention from days 3-7 because that is when people are most likely to develop symptoms. If someone you had close contact with tests positive for COVID-19, that’s your signal to go get tested. To learn more about symptoms and testing, visit Marin HHS’ testing webpage . If you receive word about close contact and are not fully vaccinated, stay home to quarantine. Remain home and isolated regardless of your vaccination status if you do not feel well or if you test positive. For information on what to do after an exposure or a positive test, visit the isolation and quarantine webpage . More is available on Coronavirus.MarinHHS.org. Sincerely, Jim Hogeboom Superintendent Customize Your ParentSquare Notification Settings : In ParentSquare, view your account and then under “notification settings” click “customize your settings.” Or, review these step-by-step instructions . San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way San Rafael, CA 94903

    Friday, Oct 29 2021

  • Weekly Wrap: Ethnic Studies Course in our High Schools

    October 22, 2021 Friday Focus Video link: https://youtu.be/HXbc3S5AcjE Letter from the Superintendent Dear San Rafael City Schools High School Community, Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed legislation that makes California the first state to require ethnic studies for high school graduation. I applaud this decision, and we look forward to enhancing and designing the ethnic studies courses in our SRCS high schools - particularly because I know how valuable the material is, and because our students themselves have shared how much they enjoy and appreciate the class. The ethnic studies curriculum is built around the units of identity; oppression and resistance; and civic action. In particular, it explores the experiences of Native Americans; African Americans; Chicano/Latino Americans; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and Jewish Americans. We have several processes in place to roll out our ethnic studies course, a number of which have been in the works for several years. During the 2019-20 school year, a San Rafael High School team began working with the UC Berkeley History and Social Studies Project to design an ethnic studies class that was coming out of the already established world cultures class. Additionally, the Marin County Office of Education also began working with local districts last year to design the contents of an ethnic studies class while the state was finalizing their framework. By the end of last year, the SRCS Board of Education and the Secondary Curriculum Advisory Committee approved a semester-long Ethnic Studies class, which is now being piloted at SRHS. This year, teachers from TLHS and SRHS are collaborating to further build out the course units based on the learnings from our pilot and from the state and county’s work. At the same time, we have convened a committee of teachers, parents and students to help decide if ethnic studies should be a semester or year-long class. Although the State calls for a minimum of a semester course, that length makes it difficult to cover the number of ethnic groups our community represents and our students want to learn about. The committee is analyzing the impacts of a year-long course on other departments, as there are three structural options being weighed: Ethnic Studies (semester), Health (semester), Integrate other Ethnic Studies topics into US and World History or other areas of the curriculum Ethnic Studies (year-long), Health integrated into PE Ethnic Studies (year-long), Health integrated into PE and Ethnic Studies depending on topic If you have any feedback on these options, please complete this form by Oct. 27 . Here are some additional resources that may be of interest: California Department of Education Model Curriculum California Assembly Bill 101 “Through Ethnic Studies, Schools Push to Include Marginalized Perspectives,” Edutopia “Why ethnic studies matters,” TEDx Talks Ultimately, the committee will make a recommendation to the Board for either a semester or year-long ethnic studies course along with potential departmental support as needed. Please be sure to watch our Friday Focus video on this topic, as well.   Sincerely, Jim Hogeboom Superintendent Customize Your ParentSquare Notification Settings : In ParentSquare, view your account and then under “notification settings” click “customize your settings.” Or, review these step-by-step instructions . San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way San Rafael, CA 94903

    Monday, Oct 25 2021

  • All SRCS Schools Open on Monday, Oct. 25

    Dear SRCS Community, All SRCS schools will be open on Monday, October 25. Thank you for your patience. There may still be some flooding in areas around San Rafael, so please travel safely. Sincerely, Jim Jim Hogeboom Superintendent  

    Monday, Oct 25 2021

  • SRCS Storm Update - Oct. 24

    Dear SRCS Community, The safety of our students and staff is of utmost concern and priority - we hope you are staying safe and well. Our Maintenance and Operations team have been surveying our facilities throughout the day, and our District and school leaders will continue to monitor the situation. Based on the information we have at this time, we anticipate that all SRCS schools will be open tomorrow, Monday, October 25. However, we recognize the situation may change, and we will continue to keep you updated. We will make a determination no later than 6 am tomorrow morning, Monday, October 25 if we need to close any of our SRCS schools. The decision to close a school/s will be made on a case‐by‐case and a day‐by‐if a day basis. If we close a school, the District will send a message to a school's teachers, staff and families via ParentSquare, and a sign will be posted on the main school office door. Further instructions for teachers and staff will also be shared. Please take care! Sincerely, Jim Jim Hogeboom Superintendent  

    Monday, Oct 25 2021

  • ¡Recordatorio! Panel de Oradores de Salud Pública pa...

    ¡Recordatorio! Panel de Oradores de Salud Pública para Padres y Tutores Vacunas Pediátricas Presentado en Español Miércoles, 20 de Octubre 6 pm Detalles de Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85111856745?pwd=b2JPcXNiNzdka2hxRnVpTENVcXpBdz09 Marque: 408-638-0968 Seminario ID: 851 1185 6745 Código: 703641 Lenguaje Dual: Sesión Informativa Para Padres Las Escuelas de la Ciudad de San Rafael están encantadas de lanzar nuestro programa de inmersión lingüística dual a partir del año escolar 2022-23. Sesión informativa para padres Jueves, 21 de octubre 6 - 7:30 pm Participe en persona en Venetia Valley o vía Zoom https://bit.ly/Zoom-Dual-Language Passcode: 658944 ID: 941 4752 9524 Dial-in: 669-900-9128 www.srcs.org/Dual-Language .

    Wednesday, Oct 20 2021