• Message from the Superintendent: Thank You to Our Cl...

    Thank You to Our Classified Staff! Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, This week, SRCS is proud to celebrate Classified School Employee Week and recognize the incredible contributions of our classified employees across the District! While we are grateful for their dedication throughout the year, this week provides a special opportunity to honor their important work and the countless ways they support our students, schools and families every day. A heartfelt thank you to our classified staff! You are essential to our schools and District and we are deeply grateful for your dedication and service.  This year’s CSEA theme, “Students Thrive Where Classified Work,” perfectly reflects the impact our classified employees have on the success and wellbeing of our students. Whether working directly with students or supporting operations, our classified employees are trusted partners in education and essential frontline workers who help ensure our schools run smoothly and students thrive.  The SRCS Board of Education adopted a resolution in recognition of the outstanding work performed by classified employees. Our Board and District leadership are proud to celebrate and thank our classified professionals for their unwavering service, dedication and positive impact on the lives of students and families. We are also thrilled to highlight the following SRCS classified employees who were selected as 2026 Marin County Golden Bell Award recipients and will be honored at this annual event taking place this week:  Sandra Rubio, TK Instructional Assistant, Early Learning Center Cleo Gomez, Custodian, Laurel Dell Elementary School Ray Fiuren, Instructional Assistant II, Coleman Elementary School Donni Jo Pipkin, Registrar, San Rafael High School Donald Hamilton, Head Custodian, Terra Linda High School Rosa Loy, Student Data System Analyst, District Office While much of their work happens behind the scenes, the impact of our classified employees is visible in our classrooms, offices and school community across SRCS. Please join us in thanking and celebrating our outstanding classified employees this week! Sincerely, Carmen Diaz Ghysels Superintendent  San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 9490

    Tuesday, May 19 2026

  • Invitación a la reunión del DELAC - VIRTUALMENTE - H...

    DELAC (District English Learner Advisory Committee / Comité Distrital para Aprendices del Idioma Inglés) AGENDA Thursday, May 14, 2026 el jueves 14 de mayo de 2026 6 - 7:30 pm Zoom Info/Link: https://srcs-org.zoom.us/j/87362006409 Los invitamos cordialmente a nuestra última reunión de DELAC del año el jueves 14 de mayo, de 6:00 a 7:30 p.m., por Zoom. Nuestra agenda incluye: Una presentación sobre Educación en la Primera Infancia con Community Action Marin Una revisión del Plan Estratégico Revisado de SRCS Un reconocimiento a nuestros padres líderes de ELAC y DELAC por su liderazgo y apoyo durante todo el año La reunión se llevará a cabo en español y habrá traducción al inglés disponible a solicitud. Agradecemos sinceramente su colaboración, liderazgo y compromiso continuo con nuestros estudiantes y la comunidad de SRCS. Esperamos que puedan acompañarnos para celebrar juntos el trabajo que logramos este año. Enlace de Zoom:  https://srcs-org.zoom.us/j/87362006409 Please join us for our final DELAC meeting of the year on Thursday, May 14, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Our agenda includes: A presentation on Early Childhood Education with Community Action Marin A review of the revised SRCS Strategic Plan Recognition of our ELAC and DELAC parent leaders for their leadership and support throughout the year The meeting will be conducted in Spanish, with English translation available upon request. We sincerely appreciate your collaboration, leadership, and continued commitment to our students and the SRCS community. We hope you can join us as we celebrate the work we accomplished together this year. Zoom Link:  https://srcs-org.zoom.us/j/87362006409

    Thursday, May 14 2026

  • Message from the Superintendent: Thank You, SRCS Edu...

    Thank You, SRCS Educators! Dear San Rafael City Schools Community,   This week, we are proud to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, an opportunity to honor the extraordinary work of our SRCS educators!  To all our educators, thank you for your unwavering commitment to our students, schools and community. We recognize your dedication and contributions not just this week, but throughout the entire year. We remain committed to celebrating you every day by fostering an environment where you can you thrive as educators and where all students can succeed. The care you bring to your classrooms and the positive impact you have on students’ lives are deeply valued. The SRCS Board of Education adopted a resolution recognizing our SRCS teachers and educators, highlighting their role in shaping our students for future success and strengthening our community. The Board and District administration are grateful for the commitment and excellence demonstrated across the District. Each May, public school educators from SRCS and all of Marin are recognized at the Annual Golden Bell Awards event. The following educators were selected as 2026 Marin County Golden Bell Award recipients and will be honored on May 21: Jen Waters - Early Learning Center Amy Tran - Bahia Vista Elementary School Joy Conway - Coleman Elementary School Nicole O'Neill - Glenwood Elementary School Caitlin Mabry - Laurel Dell Elementary School Danielle Diego - San Pedro Elementary School Donna Senn - Sun Valley Elementary School Valeria Luna - Venetia Valley School Shaye Blegen - Davidson Middle School Annie Yi - San Rafael High School Karen Arcangelo - Terra Linda High School As a community, we can be proud of our outstanding educators who are dedicated to doing their jobs well. Their work is demanding, but they remain focused on providing the best education for our students.   During this Teacher Appreciation Week, we extend our sincere gratitude to every one of our educators. Thank you for inspiring, encouraging and believing in our students. You make a difference, and we appreciate you! Sincerely, Carmen Diaz Ghysels Superintendent  San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 9490

    Wednesday, May 06 2026

  • SRCS Updates: News from around the District for our ...

    Completed MacPhail Sale to Fund Key Improvements Across Elementary Schools We are pleased to share that the sale of the MacPhail site has now been finalized, marking an important milestone in the District’s ongoing efforts to responsibly manage our assets in support of students. As previously shared, the MacPhail property was formally declared surplus, as the District had no current or anticipated educational need for the site. By thoughtfully surplusing underutilized properties, the District is able to convert these unused resources into meaningful investments that directly benefit students. Proceeds from the $6 million sale will be reinvested into the Elementary School District to support capital improvements and facility needs. While details and projects are still being finalized, these funds are expected to support enhancements at our elementary schools. Potential areas of investment include projects that were previously identified during engagement with the school communities, but were deferred due to the budget constraints. These may include new, full all-weather fields at Venetia Valley School, Coleman Elementary and Sun Valley Elementary, and as well as modernizing the library at Venetia Valley. These types of projects build on recent facility improvements across the District and reflect our continued commitment to providing high-quality educational environments. The site was sold to Pazala, a local private family foundation, who has shared its intention to use the site for a community center and open space, in partnership with the Santa Venetia Commons non-profit. We appreciate the community’s engagement and support throughout this process. The completion of the MacPhail sale will create lasting benefits for our District and the community.  Learn more.   Davidson Students Shine in Art Exhibit Earlier this month, Davidson Middle School came alive with color and creativity during its "Vibe Check" Spring Art Exhibit, featuring an impressive display of student artwork from across all grade levels. This year’s vibrant poster ( pictured right ) was designed using artwork by eighth grader Kira Shoup, capturing the energy and spirit of the showcase. The Thursday evening opening night welcomed families and community members for a fun event with snacks, giant bubbles and, of course, the cool and unique pieces created by the talented students. The exhibit remained open on Friday before and after school, giving  Davidson students time to check out and celebrate each other’s work. Beyond the art show, creativity continues to take shape on campus as students are also working on beautiful hallway murals. Pictured to the left is eighth grader Audrey Shelton in action, bringing one of the murals to life. Congratulations to the Davidson art team and student artists for a wonderful celebration of student voice, creativity and artistic expression! View photos of the exhibit's art pieces. San Pedro Elementary Unveils New Field We recently celebrated the ribbon-cutting of San Pedro Elementary School's newly-renovated field, marking a special milestone that has truly grown from a dream to a reality. Board members, District and school staff, parent leaders and students gathered for the official opening of the beautiful space. We were especially proud to welcome back former longtime Board Member Natu Tuatagaloa, a San Pedro alum. He shared inspiring words with students about the importance of working hard to achieve their dreams. Student Council members helped make the event especially meaningful by offering thoughtful remarks that highlighted how much this new space means to our students. Special thanks to our San Rafael voters and all who helped bring this project to life. It will bring joy, play and connection for years to come!  View photos. HeadsUp Carnival a Success On behalf of the District, thank you to all the volunteers, students, families, staff and community members for an incredible HeadsUp Carnival!  The day was a vibrant celebration of SRCS. It truly exemplified our values of equity, community and joy. It was wonderful to see the school pride, highlighted by the inspiring student performances. We are grateful to HeadsUp for their hard work and commitment to host the event, and for a community that continues to come together in support of our students and schools.  Read HeadsUp's message.  Madrone Students Explore Careers Madrone High School hosted its annual Project-Based Learning (PBL) Showcase in April. This year's project was focused on career exploration, and the culminating event was set up as a Career Expo.  Centered on the driving questions, “What are my career goals and how do I achieve them?,” students researched fields of interest. The event brought learning to life as students stepped into professional roles and shared their understanding of what it may take for them to achieve their goal.  They also developed a range of real-world materials, including resumes, cover letters and job applications. A highlight of the day was mock interviews. Staff members from other schools, community partners and District leaders volunteered to serve as interviewers, providing students with an authentic opportunity to present themselves as candidates and receive meaningful feedback.  This project was a significant undertaking, and we extend special thanks to Madrone teachers and staff for their hard work in supporting students every step of the way. We're also grateful to HeadsUp for their continued partnership and all the families who joined in celebrating student learning! Mental Health Month There are several events happening throughout Marin in May in recognition of Mental Health Month in May.   2026 Wellness Festival Saturday, May 2, 1 - 4 pm, Terra Linda High School Hosted by Marin Youth Leadership (YLI) with Marin 9 to 25/Find Your Way. Wellness workshops, fun and art and film showcase.  Learn more.  View the full lineup of events for May Mental Health Month Navigating Mental Health and Substance Use Join Let’s Talk for an important community conversation on May 6 on mental health and underage substance use. This virtual event will explore how stress, anxiety and other challenges impact teens, and what families can do to support healthy choices and well-being.  Register here and be part of a meaningful dialogue to better understand and support our youth. AlertMarin: Emergency Alerting A message from our local emergency response partners:  During the LA wildfires last year, some residents had as little as 10 minutes to evacuate - a powerful reminder of how fast conditions can change and how critical it is to receive alerts without delay. AlertMarin is the platform local agencies use to deliver urgent, potentially life-saving information. During emergencies such as wildfires, flooding, or evacuations, AlertMarin sends timely, accurate alerts tied to your specific address, so you know when action is needed and can move quickly to protect yourself and your loved ones. You can register up to five addresses, so you receive alerts not just for your home, but for the places that matter most: a child's school, your workplace, or a family member's residence. Alerts are delivered by phone call, text message or email, keeping you informed wherever you are. Sign up today at alertmarin.org — it only takes two minutes. San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 9490

    Thursday, Apr 30 2026

  • Thank You for an Incredible Carnival + Raffle Winner...

    Thank you for another amazing HeadsUp Carnival! Thank you for showing up in such a big way at this year’s HeadsUp Carnival! It was a joyful, high-energy day filled with connection, laughter, and so many smiling faces. From the games and food to the performances and community booths, it truly felt like a celebration of everything that makes our San Rafael schools so special. This year was especially memorable with the addition of Youth in Arts’ C Street Celebration. Seeing our elementary students take the stage, full of confidence, creativity, and pure joy, was such a highlight of the day and a beautiful reminder of the power of arts in our schools. Beyond the fundraising, what stood out most was the spirit of the day, families coming together, students shining, and our entire community showing what it means to be Rooted in San Rafael. Thank you for being part of it. We couldn’t do this without you. RAFFLE WINNERS AND TOP SELLERS We are grateful to all of you who supported the raffle, whether by purchasing tickets, helping your students sell, or spreading the word. Your participation makes a real difference for our schools. A huge congratulations to our winners and a special shoutout to our top sellers for their incredible effort and enthusiasm! Raffle Winners First Prize $1000 - Manuel (No. 18432) Second Prize $500 - Brayan (No. 14961) Third Prize $250 - Nehemias (No. 33704) School Winners - $300 Each Sun Valley Sold the most Tickets Overall  Short ELC had the Highest Participation Top Sellers - $50 Each Bahia Vista  -  Amaris R.V. Coleman -   Theodore H. Glenwood  -  Oriana R. Laurel Dell -   Mila O. San Pedro  -  Justin R. M. & Ashley G.D. Short ELC -   Maya F. Sun Valley  -  Henri L. Venetia Valley  -  Nayeli E.G. Theodore was the top seller districtwide! MASCOT DANCE OFF Our mascots battled it out in our mascot dance off and it was close, so close our judges could not decide and called it a tie between the Davidson Cougar and the San Rafael Bulldog. All of our mascots did an excellent job! KISS THE POOCH Coleman Principal Mr. Peck is the lucky winner of the Smooch the Pooch contest. Our HeadsUp Bulldog, Stella, will be visiting Coleman on Wednesday morning! BUZZ PHOTOS ARE UP Thank you to Buzz Photo Booth for being on hand for some fun photos. You can see all of the  images here and download yours for free.   WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU We learn something new every year and try to continually improve the experience of Carnival. Let us know what worked well and any ideas you may have for making it better.  Please complete this  feedback form or send us an email with your feedback. THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS

    Tuesday, Apr 28 2026

  • Invitación a la reunión del DELAC - VIRTUALMENTE - H...

    DELAC (District English Learner Advisory Committee / Comité Distrital para Aprendices del Idioma Inglés) AGENDA Thursday, April 16, 2026 el jueves 16 de abril de 2026 6 - 7:30 pm Zoom Info/Link: https://srcs-org.zoom.us/j/87362006409 En la reunión de hoy de DELAC compartiremos los resultados de la encuesta familiar de YouthTruth 2025–2026 y tendremos tiempo para escuchar sus valiosos comentarios. Nuestra reunión comenzará a las 6:00 p.m. El enlace de Zoom se encuentra a continuación y también en la agenda adjunta. ¡Esperamos contar con su participación esta tarde! At today’s DELAC meeting, we will share the results of the 2025–2026 YouthTruth Family Survey and provide time to hear your valuable feedback. Our meeting will begin at 6:00 pm. The Zoom link is linked above and also in the attached agenda. We look forward to your participation this evening! The meeting will be conducted in Spanish. English interpretation is available upon request.

    Thursday, Apr 16 2026

  • SRCS Updates: News from around the District for our ...

    Celebrating our Multilingual Learners We proudly hosted our District’s Fifth Annual Reclassification Ceremony on March 26, honoring 210 outstanding students who have met all criteria to be reclassified as English Proficient! This achievement reflects each student’s perseverance, growth and dedication, and marks a significant academic and personal milestone in their educational journey.  The celebration embodied our values of equity, community and joy. It was moving to see families, educators and staff come together in recognition of our students' hard work and the rich linguistic and cultural diversity that strengthens our schools every day.  We extend our deepest gratitude to: Our students, for their commitment and determination Families, for being essential partners every step of the way Teachers, counselors and staff, for their unwavering support and encouragement This achievement opens doors to new opportunities and continued success, and we look forward to all that lies ahead for our students. Don't Miss Carnival on April 25 The beloved HeadsUp Carnival returns on Saturday, April 25, at San Rafael High School, and promises to be bigger and better than ever. Attendees can look forward to new games, musical performances, the return of the animal zone, delicious food and more. New this year, our community partner Youth in Arts will bring their C Street Festival to the Carnival. We invite families and community members to join us for a day of fun and connection, all in support of our community. Student Innovation Meets Sustainability Last week, Terra Linda High School's  Marin School of Environmental Leadership (SEL) presented its Green Business Leaders Mixer, an inspiring showcase of student innovation, entrepreneurship and environmental leadership. The event marked the culmination of months of work by MarinSEL juniors. Through a dual enrollment entrepreneurship course with College of Marin, students took on the roles of CEOs and founders, transforming ideas from initial “Shark Tank” style pitches into  fully realized, sustainable businesses . Families, staff and community members gathered to experience student entrepreneurship in action. Students teams shared the passion, creativity and purpose behind their ventures, and attendees explored and purchased a range of the eco-conscious products. The energy continued with a “Day After” event, providing teachers, staff and district leaders another opportunity to engage with students and witness their work firsthand. Left and center photos by Mark Sims     Highlights of Bond Program Construction Work We  are excited to share our latest progress on our Bond Program construction projects! Across multiple campuses, significant milestones are being reached, reflecting our ongoing commitment to providing modern, safe and high-quality learning environments for our students. From the final plastering of the new pool at San Rafael High School ( pictured right ) to the installation of structural footings at Venetia Valley School's Kindergarten building to the community-focused Butterfly Garden at Sun Valley nearing completion, these projects highlight the breadth and impact of our work.  Thank you for your continued patience and support as we build for student success! Davidson Middle School MPR Exterior: Plaster scratch-coating has begun on the exterior walls, and all storefront window frames have been installed. Interior Development: Drywall installation is currently closing up interior walls, and pendant light fixtures have been installed in the open area. HVAC & Solar: HVAC units were placed on the roof recently, with hookup work starting now. Solar panel clip layout is also underway. Venetia Valley K-8 Structural Alterations: New interior concrete footings and restroom slabs for Kindergarten Buildings was poured. Roofing Updates: The existing K roof has been fully removed, and new plywood sheathing is being installed in preparation for the new roofing system. Sun Valley Elementary Monarch Butterfly Garden: The garden relocation is nearly complete. Final Touches: The remaining plants and fencing materials are scheduled for delivery and installation this month, followed by final mulching. San Rafael High School Pool Preparation: The new pool is being plastered and prepared for filling and equipment startup. Scoreboard installation and gas line connections are also ongoing. PE Building Upgrades: Interior work includes the installation of rubber sports flooring in team rooms and weight training areas, alongside final interior and exterior painting. Paving Operations: Paving is continuing behind Gym-2 and in parking areas west of the PE building. Terra Linda High School Aquatic Center Progress: Work is moving into finishing stages with the installation of lockers.  Site Work: Crews are currently casting sleeves for tables and benches, with paver installation to follow. The final Pool light pole is being set by crane. Weight Room: Window installation is underway. Campus Fence: The campus fencing project is nearing its final stages, awaiting the arrival of specific door hardware and panels. Refocus on Farmerworkers' Contributions At the March 24 Board meeting, SRCS Board President Carolina Marin, along with fellow Board members and leaders of our labor groups, shared statements in response to the deeply troubling and serious allegations regarding Cesar Chavez. The messages shared common themes of standing in firm solidarity with the survivors who have courageously shared their stories, and the importance of the broader recognition of the farmworkers movement. While we remain committed to teaching the important history of the labor and farmworker movements, we believe our schools must prioritize the safety, dignity and well-being of all students and individuals. In alignment with these values, we are reviewing our educational resources and commemorative practices. At the meeting, the Board unanimously approved a revision to its resolution to rename the March 31st Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day. The State has also acted to rename the holiday. Staff and Families Bring Back CABE Learnings R ecently, SRCS proudly sent more than 50 teachers, administrators and parents to the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) conference in San Francisco. Thanks to a partnership with Yoots Transportation, a San Rafael-based nonprofit, we were able to expand access to this valuable professional learning opportunity to over 20 parents and family members. At the conference, families and staff learned from experts about best practices for supporting multilingual learners across all grade levels. Our participants gained insights into upcoming policy changes, effective instructional practices and innovative family engagement strategies. They returned with meaningful ideas and strategies to share at their schools; their learnings are already helping to further strengthen and enrich our SRCS community. Rolling Out the Mental Health and Wellness State Initiative Mental health is a priority, and we're taking an important step forward! SRCS is piloting the state-wide Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) at a few of our schools. CYBHI is a first-of-its-kind effort to ensure all students can access mental health support in schools. The new CYBHI fee schedule program makes it easier for students to get critical services at school  at no cost, while also helping to sustain existing student wellness programs.   Parents’ partnership is essential to access these additional resources. California’s health plans and insurers are now required to reimburse public schools for covered mental health services provided to students at school. This will bring additional funding directly back to our schools and students!   Most importantly, state law protects families, guaranteeing zero impact to your insurance coverage: No bills, copays or deductibles No increase to premiums No reduced or impacted plan benefits No effects to coverage No denial of private services if/when the same service is provided at school As we learn from this initial pilot, we will be expanding to more schools this spring, with a goal of implementing District-wide for the 2026-27 school year. We are proud to partner with the Marin County Office of Education to bring this essential work to our District. Learn more . San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 9490

    Tuesday, Mar 31 2026

  • Scam Email Sent to SRCS Student Email Accounts

    Scam Email Sent to SRCS Student Email Accounts Dear Families, The safety of our students, both in person and online, is a top priority. We want to make you aware of a phishing email that may have briefly appeared in some students’ SRCS email accounts yesterday afternoon. What Happened Late yesterday, our team was notified that a phishing message promoting a “relocation sale” offering discounted items was sent to a number of student email accounts from a compromised employee account. The message asked recipients to respond using a personal email address to “learn more.” We have confirmed that similar messages were also sent to other school districts in the county. Our Response Our IT Services team responded immediately and took swift action to contain and address the issue. Steps included suspending the compromised account, identifying the fraudulent message and removing it from student inboxes. This morning, schools also followed up with students about this email and instructed them to contact our IT Services team if they responded to the email.   Next Steps As a precaution, we encourage you to check in with your child to confirm that they did not reply to the email. If your child did respond and provided a personal email, we recommend changing that personal email password as a best practice. If any financial information such as a credit card or bank account number was shared, please review your accounts and contact your financial institution to report any suspicious activity. SRCS has multiple safeguards in place to protect our students, staff and systems, and to quickly respond when suspicious emails enter our network.  Situations like this also provide an opportunity to reinforce important digital safety habits for students and families - please see the information below. Thank you for your partnership in helping keep our students safe online. Sincerely, SRCS IT Services it-services@srcs.org   What is Phishing? Phishing is the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by disguising oneself as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Attackers often pose as district or school leaders or other staff, and sometimes ask the individual to click on an attachment that is corrupt or provide personal information. Because phishing emails can sometimes look convincing, a healthy amount of caution is essential. When reviewing an email, consider:   Do you recognize the sender’s email address? Does the message seem unusual or unexpected from this sender? Is the sender asking for money, personal information or passwords? Are you being asked to click a link or open an attachment? If a message seems questionable: Do not reply to the message or click on the links or attachments.  Report the message as spam/phishing on the message itself from your inbox. Forward the email to IT Services at DOsupport@srcs.org so we can investigate.  San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 9490

    Wednesday, Mar 11 2026

  • SRCS Updates: News from around the District for our ...

    Reminder: Digital Literacy Surveys for Parents As a reminder, we are asking parents to complete our short 10-minute Digital Literacy surveys to help us better understand how students use technology and what you feel is most important for them to learn. Your feedback will help us create a better plan for our schools and support our students.  Please select your child’s grade level to participate: TK-5 Grade: English | Spanish   6-8 Grade: English | Spanish 9-12 Grade: English | Spanish Your voice is very important! Spring Into Reading Week Is Almost Here Spring Into Reading is coming to our school libraries during our TK-5 and Venetia Valley conference week, March 17-20! Each year, our elementary and middle school students celebrate the joy of reading with a week full of special events, creativity and book-filled fun. Students will design their own bookmarks, share favorite reads, buddy up with another class for reading time and enjoy visits from inspiring community guest readers. We’re also thrilled to welcome incredible authors and illustrators to our campuses! It’s a joyful celebration of stories, imagination and the power of books—and we’d love for you to be part of it. Snuggle up with a favorite story at home or stop by the school library with your child to discover some new favorites together.  Let’s Spring Into Reading!  Rolling Out the Mental Health and Wellness State Initiative Mental health is a priority, and we're taking an important step forward! At this time, SRCS is piloting the state-wide Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) at a few of our schools. CYBHI is a first-of-its-kind effort to ensure all students can access mental health support in schools. The new CYBHI fee schedule program makes it easier for students to get critical services at school  at no cost, while also helping to sustain existing student wellness programs.   Parents’ partnership is essential to access these additional resources. California’s health plans and insurers are now required to reimburse public schools for covered mental health services provided to students at school. This will bring additional funding directly back to our schools and students!   Most importantly, state law protects families, guaranteeing zero impact to your insurance coverage: No bills, copays or deductibles No increase to premiums No reduced or impacted plan benefits No effects to coverage No denial of private services if/when the same service is provided at school As we learn from this initial pilot, we will be expanding to more schools this spring, with a goal of implementing District-wide for the 2026-27 school year. We are proud to partner with the Marin County Office of Education to bring this essential work to our District.  Learn more. Short-Term Independent Study Contracts For Remaining of School Year A reminder that if your family is expected to be away from school for an extended vacation or family emergency up to 15 school days, please reach out to your school to request a Short-Term Independent Study Contract . We will stop approving contracts at the end of March for this 2025-26 school year  due to the end-of-year assessments and culminating activities. Students and families are encouraged to reach out to your school's main office for more information. Upcoming Parent Education Opportunities The Marin County Office of Education has compiled some upcoming parent / caregiver education events that are free and open to families throughout Marin, including a “Raising Healthy Families” series in March in partnership with the Community Institute for Psychotherapy of Marin (CIP Marin). Parenting Teens in a Time of Risk: Understanding Development, Spotting Red Flags, and Responding to Substance Use March 2 | Flyer |  Register Starting the Conversation: Suicide, Stigma, and Support March 12 | Flyer |  Register Call of the Wild: Helping Teens to Resist Extremist Political Ideologies March 16 | Flyer |  Register Emotional Suffering in Children & Teens: What Parents Should Know and When to Act March 30 | Flyer | Register Let's Talk Online Parent Session on Youth Nicotine Use The next  Let’s Talk Marin  event is March 4 from 7 – 8:30 pm on Zoom. The session is focused entirely on youth nicotine use — something which continues to be on the rise, especially with the constant stream of new and changing products designed to appeal to teens.  The event, “The Latest Nicotine Products Targeting Youth,” will feature Dr. Jeremiah Mock from UCSF, who will break down what these products are, how they’re being marketed and what families should know. We’ll also hear directly from a local student and MHYP Youth Ambassador. Spanish interpretation will be available.  Learn more and register.  San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 9490

    Friday, Feb 27 2026

  • 2026 State Testing Parent Notification

    2026 State Testing Parent Notification  California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Summative Assessments, California Science Test, and Physical Fitness Test Assessments Dear Parent/Guardian: Every year, California students take several statewide tests. When combined with other measures such as grades, class work and teacher observations, these tests give families and teachers a more complete picture of their child’s learning. You can use the results to identify where your child is doing well and where they might need more support. Your child may be taking one or more of the following California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and Physical Fitness Test assessments. Pursuant to California Education Code Section 60615, parents/guardians may annually submit to the school a written request to excuse their child from any or all of the CAASPP assessments. This exemption does not exist for the Physical Fitness Test. CAASPP: Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Math Who takes these tests? Students in grades 3–8 and grade 11. What is the test format? The Smarter Balanced assessments are computer-based. Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards. CAASPP: California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA and Math Who takes these tests? Students in grades 3–8 and grade 11 whose individualized education program (IEP) identifies the use of alternate assessments. What is the test format? The CAAs for ELA and math are computer-based tests that are administered one-on-one by a test examiner who is familiar with the student. Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards through the Core Content Connectors. CAASPP: California Science Test (CAST) Who takes the test? Students take the CAST in grades 5, 8, and grade 12. What is the test format? The CAST is computer-based. Which standards are tested? The California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS). CAASPP: California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for Science Who takes the test? Students whose IEP identifies the use of an alternate assessment take the CAA for Science in grades 5, 8, and grade 12. What is the test format? The CAA for Science is a series of four performance tasks that can be administered throughout the year as the content is taught. Which standards are tested? Alternate achievement standards derived from the CA NGSS. CAASPP: California Spanish Assessment (CSA) Who takes the test? The CSA is an optional test for students in grades 3–12 that tests their Spanish reading, listening, and writing mechanics. What is the test format? The CSA is computer-based. Which standards are tested? The California Common Core State Standards en Español. Physical Fitness Test  Who takes the test? Students in grades 5, 7, and 9 will take the FITNESSGRAM®, which is the test used in California. What is the test format? The test consists of five performance components: aerobic capacity, abdominal strength, trunk strength, upper body strength, and flexibility. Which standards are tested? The Healthy Fitness Zones, which are established through the FITNESSGRAM®. San Rafael City Schools strongly encourages all students to participate in CAASPP testing. Parents/Guardians will have access to a digital score report through our student information system (Aeries) that summarizes performance on the CAASPP assessments. Student Score Reports will only be available electronically. Please contact your school for more information on how to activate your Parent Portal account to view scores.  To learn more about the CAASPP, go to the California Department of Education Parent Guides to Understanding webpage . You also can look at sample test questions on the practice tests, which can be found on the  CAASPP Web Portal . Schools will communicate more details about their testing schedule.   Sincerely,  Education Services Department   San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org 310 Nova Albion Way San Rafael, CA 94903

    Monday, Feb 23 2026