Introducing Bahia Vista's Interim Principal, Mari Ke...

Introducing Bahia Vista's Interim Principal, Mari Kernan Dear Bahia Vista School Community, I am pleased to announce that the San Rafael City Schools Board of Education approved Mari Kernan as the Interim Principal at Bahia Vista for the upcoming 2023-24 school year! I strongly believe that Ms. Kernan is the ideal leader for Bahia Vista at this time. She has worked at SRCS for about 25 years, which included teaching at Bahia Vista for seven years and serving as a Literacy Coordinator at Bahia Vista for three years. She’s also held many other roles throughout the District, and most recently, she’s been an Assistant Principal at Davidson Middle School for six years.  I know Ms. Kernan is thrilled to return to her Dragon roots, and she looks forward to connecting with Bahia Vista’s students, teachers, staff and families in the near future to ensure a smooth transition. In the meantime, I would like to share some of her own words about why she’s looking forward to this opportunity: “I'm so excited for the opportunity to return to Bahia Vista and continue the great work being done there. I look forward to working alongside the strong and dedicated staff and community in support of all of Bahia Vista’s students.” Ms. Kernan leads with the belief that all students should have high-quality leaders and teachers and a rigorous curriculum to promote and engage critical thinking and learning skills. She is known to be a creative problem solver; has excellent organizational skills; and is knowledgeable in building a positive school-wide climate and culture. Additionally, she has in-depth experience in all aspects of English language development, and she is proficient in Spanish. Outside of her time at school, she is involved extensively in the community and has supported several community organizations in advocating for the benefit of children’s health and welfare.  She officially assumes the role of Interim Bahia Vista Principal on July 1, 2023.  Please join me in congratulating and welcoming her back to Bahia Vista!    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

Tuesday, May 23 2023

Update from SRCS and the City of San Rafael Regardin...

Dear Coleman Families, San Rafael City Schools is committed to providing excellent after-school opportunities that are accessible to families, regardless of income. Having a single, high-quality program on a school campus brings our students and families together, deepening our commitment to our values of equity, community and joy. As part of this vision, SRCS and the City of San Rafael have been working together to manage costs and ensure that our after-school programs are affordable and equitable, and we have some updates regarding Coleman’s programs: Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, there will be one after-school program at Coleman. SRCS is partnering with Bay Area Community Resources (BACR), who is currently running Coleman’s LEAP program, to host the program using a sliding scale fee. SRCS is a beneficiary of a State grant for expanding learning that will help support the program. Our goal is to consolidate and integrate our programs and this shift will allow us to do that. This means that the upcoming 2023-24 school year will be a transition year with the City of San Rafael program preparing to exit.  SRCS is grateful for the City’s ongoing support and for the quality program their staff has provided on the Coleman campus for many years, and will continue to provide in 2023-2024. SRCS is working closely with the City and BACR to support this transition, and we are all committed to ensuring a smooth process for families and students.  We know that outstanding and affordable after-school programs are a priority in our community, and we look forward to continuing to expand Coleman’s program in quality, enrichment and in the number of students served.  More details will be shared as the transition nears, but please know that students who are currently enrolled in an after-school program (both the City program and LEAP) will be prioritized for enrollment in the expanded program when it launches in 2024-25.  We look forward to collaborating with the Coleman community to identify priority areas and hear your feedback so we can provide an excellent program - please stay tuned!  There is no immediate action required for families, and both the LEAP and City of San Rafael programs will continue to operate as normal next school year. If you have questions about your child’s enrollment at their current program, please contact the program supervisor. If you have questions specifically about the after-school program transition for the 2024-25 school year, please contact Coordinator of Expanded Learning Programs Michael Taylor at mtaylor@srcs.org.  In partnership, Jim Hogeboom, Superintendent,  San Rafael City Schools       Cristine Alilovich, Assistant City Manager, City of San Rafael

Saturday, May 20 2023

Celebrating Our SRCS Teachers and Staff

Celebrating Our SRCS Teachers and Staff Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, May is a busy and exciting month in our field of education as the school year winds down and there are many special events and activities throughout our District. The month of May also gives us the opportunity to thank our valuable employees. Last week, we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week and next week we kick off  Classified School Employee Week .  Our talented and dedicated teachers and staff deserve to be honored all year, but these weeks mark special opportunities to recognize and honor the individuals in our schools who are inspiring, challenging and guiding our students. Our teachers work hard every day to give our students the education they need and the future they deserve. Thank you teachers for your tireless efforts to support our students and families while exemplifying our District values of equity, community and joy! Our classified employees are essential, resilient and strong, whether behind the scenes, on the front lines or in the classroom. We thank them for their integral work to our District and for their service as everyday heroes.  Across the county, public school employees are recognized and honored at the Annual Marin  Golden Bell Award Ceremony . This year’s event is set for Thursday, May 25 at 4:30 pm at Dominican University. Our entire SRCS community - especially our teachers, staff and administrators - are encouraged to join us in celebration of this annual award and recognition of our teachers/certificated staff, classified staff and community partners. We are honored to announce and congratulate our 2023 SRCS Golden Bell award recipients! Certificated Staff: Kelcey Scannell, Bahia Vista Elementary School Kelly Whelan, Coleman Elementary School Ramina Winton, Glenwood Elementary School Vanessa Nunez, Laurel Dell Elementary School Veronica Reyes, San Pedro Elementary School Laurie Martinez, Sun Valley Elementary School Heidi Samayoa, Venetia Valley School  Elizabeth Bell, Davidson Middle School  Denise Corrado, Madrone High School  Cherry Johnson, San Rafael High School Brett Sanderson, Terra Linda High School Classified Staff Betsy Nakamura, Library Media Specialist I, Glenwood Elementary School Mya (Tamya) Pitts, Instructional Assistant and Campus Supervisor, San Pedro Elementary School Alden Williams, Instructional Assistant III, Venetia Valley School  Jeannie Look, Administrative Assistant, San Rafael High School Terrie Baum, Student Data Systems Specialist, Terra Linda High School Anthony Tourn, IT User Support Analyst, IT Services Armando Preciado, Grounds and Landscape Specialist II, Maintenance and Operations  Community Partnership Huckleberry Youth Programs Thank you to ALL our employees who chose to work in the field of education to make a difference in the lives of our students - you are all deeply valued and I am so very grateful to have the privilege to serve our community alongside you! 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, May 19 2023

Invitacion a Nuestra Charla de DELAC - VIRTUALMENTE...

DELAC  (District English Learner Advisory Committee / Comité Distrital para Aprendices del Idioma Inglés) MEETING AGENDA Thursday, May 11, 2023 Jueves 11 de mayo 2023 6:00-7:30 Zoom Info/Link:   https://srcs-org.zoom.us/j/91979076451 Únase a nosotros para nuestra reunión del Comité Asesor de Aprendices de Inglés del Distrito (DELAC) el jueves 11 de mayo. Nuestro tema de DELAC será: Revisión y comentarios sobre la evaluación de la encuesta familiar “Youth Truth”  y Reconocimiento de Padres Líderes de ELAC. Puede revisar la agenda completa haciendo clic en este enlace . La reunión se llevará VIRTUALMENTE en Zoom usando el siguiente enlace:  https://srcs-org.zoom.us/j/91979076451 . Nuestra reunión se llevará en español con traducción al inglés disponible a pedido. Please join us for our District English Learners Advisory Committee meeting (DELAC) on Thursday, May 11. Our topic will be: Review and feedback on the “Youth Truth” Family Survey and ELAC Parent Leader Recognitions . You can review the full agenda by clicking on this link . The meeting will be VIRTUAL on Zoom using the following link:  https://srcs-org.zoom.us/j/91979076451 . Our meeting will be held in Spanish with English translation available upon request.  Sincerely, Cecilia Perez y Pepe Gonzalez

Thursday, May 11 2023

HeadsUp Spring Newsletter - Carnival Wrap-up and Con...

HEADSUP CARNIVAL WRAP UP Thank you to the over 300 Volunteers, district staff and site staff that made this event possible! We could not have done it without you!  Raffle Winners: Nick M. $1000 Raul P. $500 Tracey C. $250 Over 10,000 raffle tickets were sold! Our Top Seller are:    Coleman Belky Reyes Garcia Davidson Daisy Riley Glenwood Andrei Hirschfeld Laurel Dell Angel Gonzalez & Ulysses Leavitt San Pedro Sherlyn Vicente Sun Valley Roxanne Rosen TOP SELLER Venetia Valley 6-8  David Poroj Venetia Valley K-5 Zimry Vargas Venetia Valley sold the most tickets overall and Laurel Dell had the highest student participation! Their PTAs will receive $300 each! Kimberly Evans, Principal at Sun Valley Elementary was the lucky principal to kiss the bulldog. Bruno the bulldog visited Sun Valley this week for his special date. Thank you to Buzz Photo Booth for capturing the fun. All images can be downloaded for free  here . Thank you to our business partner, System Pavers, who are offering a  special discount   to all Carnival attendees. CONSISTENT ACHIEVERS ANNOUNCED HeadsUp was thrilled to host the Consistent Achievers Awards on Monday, May 8 to honor 2 students from each school in 5th, 8th and 12th grade. Consistent Achievers are selected by teachers and principals at each school and are students who have shown a commitment to developing their academic potential, good citizenship, to being dependable and enthusiastic and being supportive of fellow students and staff.  The 2023 Consistent Achievers are: Kendra Rodas - Bahia Vista Peter Vicente - Bahia Vista David Tayerle - Coleman Luna Alvarez - Coleman Ashly Gonzalez Barillas - Davidson Christopher Matul-Perez - Davidson Amelie Blumin - Glenwood Zachary Zimmerman - Glenwood Angelin Rodas - Laurel Dell Anyeli Ramirez de Leon - Laurel Dell Byron Alfaro Guillen - Madrone Johanna Tzun - Madrone Yudi Polanco - Madrone High School - Bridge Program Edilser Mendez - San Pedro Nancy Calderon - San Pedro Brayan Hernandez - SRHS Talia Harter - SRHS Aida Velasquez Perez - Sun Valley Isaul Alvarado Reyes - Sun Valley Sarah Mondesir - Terra Linda High School Wilder Puac Rodas - Terra Linda High School Noe Diaz - Venetia Valley TK-8 School Karina Reyes - Venetia Valley TK-8 School Santiago De La Rosa - Venetia Valley TK-8 School Suleyma Diaz - Venetia Valley TK-8 School THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS We can't do it without you! HeadsUp relies on generous donors like you to help us expanded programs, choices, and equity funding! Help ensure all student have access to arts education, mental health and wellness resources and college access support,  make a donation today! 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.

Thursday, May 11 2023

Tentative Agreement Reached Between SRCS and SRTA

Tentative Agreement Reached Between 
 San Rafael City Schools and San Rafael Teachers Association
 San Rafael City Schools is pleased to share that it has reached a fair and fiscally responsible tentative agreement with the San Rafael Teachers Association (SRTA), which represents our elementary and middle school certificated staff. We are proud that the agreement maintains our competitive compensation - it includes a total salary increase of approximately 15% over two years, an increase in health benefits and new stipends for hard-to-staff positions. The agreement better meets the needs of our students and calls for a seven-period schedule being implemented at Davidson Middle School beginning with the 2024-25 school year.  The District and SRTA recently participated in “fact finding,” in which a state-appointed panel chair oversaw the process. After 12 hours of meeting, the District and SRTA reached the tentative agreement. We appreciate that the session brought the parties together and led to a resolution in the best interests of our students, teachers and District. SRTA has informed the District that they are bringing the agreement to their members for ratification, and the District will then bring it to the Board of Education for approval at the May 22 meeting. This will conclude negotiations with SRTA for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.  Highlights of the agreement include: Salary 2022-23 school year: 8% ongoing salary increase retroactive to 7/1/22 2022-23 school year: 3% ongoing salary increase retroactive to 1/1/23 2023-24 school year: 4% ongoing salary increase effective 7/1/23 Health benefit caps increased to 75% of Kaiser premiums for 2022-23 and 2023-24 Seven-period middle school schedule  2023-24 school year: A working group will be convened to determine the seven-period schedule at Davidson. As a TK-8 school, Venetia Valley has flexibility in providing additional opportunities for students other than a seven-period schedule.   2024-25 school year: Seven-period schedule to begin at Davidson Stipends Added hard-to-staff annual stipends of $5,000: Middle school math; middle school science; elementary and middle school special education; bilingual teachers in a dual language classroom Increased bilingual stipends Protected prep time for TK-5 teachers of 50 minutes per week Additional 60 minutes per month for admin directed time for TK-5 professional development, meeting time, etc. TK-5 conferences for all students in fall and spring (includes teacher workday on Monday to accommodate) SRCS deeply values and respects all our teachers and classified staff. Their hard work, expertise and commitment help our SRCS community thrive. We have enjoyed positive and mutually beneficial relationships with all our labor partners, and we remain committed to continuing to collaborate in the best interests of our students, teachers, staff and the District.  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, May 10 2023

Introducing Glenwood's New Principal, Jacob Hodgson

Introducing Glenwood's New Principal, Jacob Hodgson Dear Glenwood School Community, I am pleased to announce that at their meeting on Monday evening, the San Rafael City Schools Board of Education approved Jacob (Jake) Hodgson as the new Glenwood Elementary School Principal!  During the selection process, Mr. Hodgson rose to the top as a talented and dedicated educator with proven experience in meeting students’ academic and social emotional needs. He leads with the belief that all students deserve access to an engaging, supporting and safe learning environment. I am confident that he has the skills and qualities to further enrich the school community and ensure academic excellence in partnership with teachers, staff and families. Mr. Hodgson recently visited Glenwood as part of the hiring process. As he onboards, he will be visiting Glenwood again to further connect with students, teachers, staff and families. In the meantime, I would like to share some of his own words about why he’s looking forward to this opportunity: “I am honored to have been selected as the principal of Glenwood Elementary School. I am extremely excited to begin my tenure within such a wonderful community of joyful learners, dedicated staff and supportive families. While I have had the chance to meet several staff members, parents and had the opportunity to explore the Glenwood campus, I look forward to getting to know everyone better over the course of the next few months as we work in partnership toward a successful 2023-24 school year.” Mr. Hodgson comes to SRCS with more than two decades of experience in education. He’s been principal at Lafayette Elementary School in the San Francisco Unified School District for the past five years. During his tenure at Lafayette, he’s worked diligently with the staff to implement a robust and student-centered community of learning with a focus on social-emotional development, as well as a strong academic program. Previously, he was principal of New Traditions in SFUSD; principal at Bayshore Elementary School in Daly City; and an assistant principal at Lafayette. He began as a teacher in the Sacramento area. Mr. Hodgson earned a Master's degree in education administration from San Francisco State University. He officially assumes the role of Glenwood principal on July 1, 2023.  Throughout his career, Mr. Hodgson has developed a stellar reputation of leading his school communities with a clear, student-centered vision. Building strong school communities is one of his top strengths. His ability to connect and build trust with staff and families have fostered supportive and collaborative school cultures, while also holding high expectations for all. He’s successfully implemented programs and initiatives that have led to improved student achievement and exemplary learning environments.  I strongly believe that Mr. Hodgson is the ideal leader for Glenwood.  Please join me in congratulating and welcoming him!    Sincerely, Jim Hogeboom Superintendent San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way San Rafael, CA 94903

Thursday, Apr 06 2023

Carmen Ghysels Appointed as San Rafael City Schools ...

Carmen Ghysels Appointed as San Rafael City Schools Superintendent The San Rafael City Schools Board of Education is pleased to announce that at their meeting this evening, they voted unanimously to appoint Carmen Ghysels as the District’s next superintendent.  Ms. Ghysels' appointment follows an extensive search, which brought an excellent field of 19 highly-qualified candidates, including eight superintendents and five from out of state. The Board's decision is a reflection of input gathered from key stakeholder groups in the District regarding the qualities desired in SRCS' next leader. “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve this great district,” said Ms. Ghysels. “It is inspiring how the community embraces its schools and students, and I’m thrilled and ready to partner with the dedicated and talented teachers, staff, families, partners and Board to take all our schools and programs to the next level for every student’s success.” A longtime educator of 38 years with deep experience, Ms. Ghysels is known as an authentic and collaborative leader with a relentless belief that all students can learn and thrive. Currently, she is the superintendent of the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, where she has led the district of approximately 4,200 students for the past three years.  “We are thrilled to have Carmen as our next superintendent,” said SRCS Board President Gina Daly. “With her decades of experience in improving student achievement and prioritizing student well-being, we are confident she will lead our district with compassion and effectiveness. As a bilingual educator and the granddaughter of immigrants, Carmen brings a deep understanding of the diverse needs and challenges of our students. We are excited to work with her to ensure that all our students have the support and enrichment they need to flourish personally and academically.” As a student-centered visionary, Ms. Ghysels is committed to closing the opportunity gap. She leads with a warm, inclusive approach with a focus on building strong community relationships and engaging teachers and students. She has earned a reputation for guiding well-performing teams and nurturing staff at all levels. Her leadership skills include highly-effective communication; courageous and transparent decision-making; and demonstrating ownership, accountability and enthusiasm in undertaking initiatives and challenges. Ms. Ghysels has a proven track record of success as an instructional leader, and in particular, has exceptional experience and skills in instructional technology. Above all, her love for serving students and her investment in their success is evident in all she does. As part of the hiring process, Ms. Ghysels interviewed with a variety of SRCS stakeholders who served on a community advisory panel. They represented groups such as students, teachers, staff, parents and partners.  “The San Rafael Federation of Teachers is pleased to welcome our new Superintendent Carmen Ghysels,” said panelist Morgan Agnew, a high school teacher and SRFT president. “The Board has selected an experienced leader who knows the job of superintendent, has family ties to San Rafael, and who will be able to connect with all members of our school community. We look forward to building a collaborative, candid, and mutually respectful working relationship with our new Superintendent, much as we have had with Superintendent Jim Hogeboom, who we thank for his service and wish a happy retirement.” Brianna Padilla, an elementary and middle school instructional coach and president of the San Rafael Teachers Association, was also a panelist and shared, "SRTA is excited to welcome Ms. Ghysels to the San Rafael community. SRTA educators look forward to collaborating with her in advocating for the highest quality educational experiences for our students, for purposeful and impactful professional development for our educators, and for a more equitable San Rafael community. ¡Bienvenidos a San Rafael, Carmen!” CSEA president Tania Morales represented classified staff, and added, “CSEA is looking forward to working with and developing a collaborative relationship with incoming Superintendent Carmen Ghysels. We are hopeful that her experience in education, both personal and professional, will serve our students in an equitable and beneficial manner. CSEA Chapter 341 welcomes you to SRCS and looks forward to establishing a cohesive relationship.” Prior to Tahoe Truckee Unified, Ms. Ghysels gained rich, in-depth experience in numerous positions in various diverse schools and districts. She’s served as a bilingual teacher, special education specialist, special day class teacher, instructional coach, principal, special education director, assistant superintendent of human resources, student services and health services, deputy superintendent and now, superintendent. She had long tenures at Mountain View Whisman and Sunnyvale school districts and honed her skills earlier in her career in several districts in the Southwestern United States. She began as a bilingual kindergarten teacher in Houston, Texas. Raised as an English learner, she is fluent in Spanish. Ms. Ghysels graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education and she earned a Master's in Instructional and Educational Technology from San Jose State University.  Ms. Ghysels’ tenure with SRCS officially begins on July 1, 2023. Over the next several months, she will begin getting acquainted with the District and transitioning into the role alongside retiring Superintendent Jim Hogeboom. The District will share meet-and-greet opportunities for the SRCS community before the start of the next school year. She is excited to join members of her family who currently live in San Rafael.  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

Tuesday, Apr 04 2023

SRCS 2023-24 School Year Student Calendar

2023-24 School Year Student Calendar Below and attached is the calendar for TK-12 SRCS students for next school year.  The first day of school for students will be August 23, 2023.    English Click to view Spanish Click to view 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, Mar 31 2023

Message from the Superintendent: Nashville School Sh...

Message from the Superintendent: Nashville School Shooting Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, We are all deeply saddened by the latest horrific school shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, which feels especially tragic as it involves the death of innocent, young elementary-aged children, as well as school staff. We extend our condolences and sympathy to the families who lost loved ones and all those impacted. I know you share the same feelings I do when I say it is truly senseless that our nation must endure yet another tragedy as what transpired yesterday.  While mass shootings, and school shootings in particular, seem to be happening almost every day, we must not become complacent and we will not become desensitized. We are called on again to support our children, each other and our community. Below are some resources for coping and best practices for having conversations about school shootings and gun violence. If any of our teachers, staff or students need any assistance, please contact your principal, supervisor, school counselor or mental health professional or any trusted adult.  I also want to take a moment to speak to our teachers and staff. When a violent act like this occurs in any school setting, regardless of where it happens, it can be difficult to process for those who serve in education on a daily basis. Our staff who serve on the front lines with our students in our schools can feel threatened, attacked and in danger, and events like this are no doubt very unsettling. Please know that we are here to help. It is important that you take some time to engage in self-care and tend to your own mental and emotional health. Personally, I feel so helpless in the face of these tragedies and wonder when and if things will ever change for our nation. I can say that in SRCS, we are constantly reviewing our security measures and have recently added many layers of safety. Each school has been updating their safety plans in detail; we’ve added security fencing and window coverings at many schools; “LockBloks” have been added to all classroom doors so they can be locked quickly in an emergency; additional security cameras have been installed; all phones have a three-digit emergency number to call all phones in the school offices; safety drills and evacuation procedures are practiced regularly; and more. We work closely with safety consultants, local law enforcement and the Marin County Office of Education to make sure we have the best practices in place. We also urge everyone to speak up if they see or hear anything that could represent a potential threat to school safety.  Times like these remind me of how grateful I am for our SRCS community, and I thank you for joining me in keeping the Nashville community in our thoughts at this time.  Sincerely, Jim Hogeboom Superintendent Resources for Schools and Families Talking to Children about the Shooting (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network) Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (National Association of School Psychologists) Managing your distress in the aftermath of a shooting (American Psychological Association) Coping in the aftermath of a shooting (American Counseling Association)  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

Tuesday, Mar 28 2023