SRCS Schools Open Today, Tuesday, Jan. 10

SRCS Schools Open Today, Tuesday, Jan. 10 Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, At this time, all SRCS schools and programs are scheduled to be open today, Tuesday, Jan. 10.  We will continue to monitor the weather and impact on our school facilities, and will make necessary adjustments to keep students and staff safe and our schools open. Please be extra cautious when traveling. Thank you for your continued support, and please, stay safe!     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, Jan 10 2023

Enrollment Launches for 2023-24 TK & Kindergarten; T...

January 6, 2023 Enrollment Launches for 2023-24 Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten TK Eligibility Expanded Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, It’s always exciting to think about new students and families joining our District! W e have launched our annual enrollment season for our new Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students, so we are sharing some important information that may be helpful for your own family, or to share with neighbors and friends.  Please also read on to learn more about our expanded Transitional Kindergarten program as well as reminders about our Dual Language Program. You can also view a flyer with this information . Information Session We're also happy to share that we're hosting a TK and Kindergarten Information Session at Venetia Valley School on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 6 - 7 pm with Spanish interpretation. The event is open to all interested families. District and school leaders, along with TK and Kindergarten teachers, will share information and answer questions. Learn all about our programs, what the typical school day entails, our Dual Language Program, aftercare opportunities, how to enroll and more. Transitional Kindergarten Eligibility   Expanded eligibility! Children whose fifth birthday falls between September 2, 2023 and April 2, 2024  are eligible for TK for the 2023-24 school year. TK is a high-quality early learning program the year before Kindergarten. Classrooms are language rich and joyful and promote learning through play, social emotional growth and self-regulation skills. Every SRCS elementary school will have at least one TK class next year. Kindergarten Eligibility   Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2023  are eligible to enroll for the 2023-24 school year. School Placement Every effort is made to place students at their neighborhood school. To find your neighborhood school, please visit www.srcs.org/enrollment or call (415) 492-3236. In order to attend a district school outside your attendance area, you will need to complete an intradistrict transfer application by March 1, 2023. If space is available after all neighborhood residents are placed, the district will follow board policy regarding consideration of intradistrict transfer applications. Registration New student registration for the 2023-2024 school year is NOW OPEN . Register Online: You can start the process online at www.srcs.org/enrollment.   Register In Person: Families from any SRCS school / attendance area can register at any of the registration events listed below, or by visiting the Student Enrollment & Family Center at the District Office (310 Nova Albion Way). Registration Events: 2 - 6 pm for all sites Bahia Vista - Wednesday, Jan. 11 Student Enrollment & Family Center - Tuesday, Jan. 24 Laurel Dell - Wednesday, Jan. 25 Student Enrollment & Family Center - Tuesday, Jan. 31 Venetia Valley - Wednesday, Feb. 1 Required Documents Completed Enrollment Packet Proof of Age Two Current (or Recent) Proofs of Residency Immunization Records Deadline To be considered for neighborhood school placement, completed registration packets are due by March 1, 2023. Completed packets received after March 1 are placed in order of date received. See above about intradistrict transfer applications. Dual Language Program Our new Dual Language Program will continue to grow next school year at Venetia Valley, and we're now enrolling TK and Kindergarten students. You can indicate that you want to enroll your child during the District’s registration process. Learn more: www.srcs.org/dual-language Learn More For more information, please contact the SRCS Student Enrollment & Family Center: 415-492-3236, www.srcs.org/enrollment , 310 Nova Albion Way #502, San Rafael, CA 94903. Our schools are also holding in-person tours for interested parents/guardians. You can visit the schools’ websites or call the offices to learn more and sign up. We are excited to welcome families to San Rafael City Schools as they start their educational journey! 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, Jan 06 2023

SRCS Monitoring Storm; Schools Expected to be Open o...

SRCS Monitoring Storm Schools Expected to be Open on Thursday Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, At this time, all SRCS schools are scheduled to be open tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 5.   We are monitoring the weather conditions and forecast, as well as the impact on our school facilities. We are also in contact with the Marin County Office of Education and local authorities. We will continue to monitor the situation and will update the SRCS community if there are any changes. Please be extra cautious when traveling. Thank you for your continued support, and please, stay safe!      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

Thursday, Jan 05 2023

Tragic News Regarding Fatal Car Accident

Tragic News Regarding Fatal Car Accident Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, As we begin this New Year, I am reminded more than ever of the importance of families, friends and community, and how fragile life and joy can be. You may have heard of the heartbreaking news about a fatal car accident on Dec. 29 on Highway 101 in Novato involving five teenaged youths from Marin County. It is with great sadness that I share that Terra Linda High School student Jameson Zamlich passed away as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. Jameson was a junior at TLHS and a member of the Varsity basketball team. He grew up in our community and attended Vallecito Elementary and Miller Creek Middle schools. Further information about a memorial service will be shared with the TLHS community in the near future. Tragically, Danielle Elizabeth Leaf, a senior in Novato Unified School District’s NOVA Independent Study High School, also lost her life in the accident. Our deepest condolences go out to Jameson’s and Danielle’s families and friends.     The other three passengers suffered a range of injuries. I am relieved to share that Thomas Middleton, Terra Linda High School student, is home and recovering after surgery. We wish him and his family continued strength on his road to recovery. Another female passenger from out-of-district who was slated to attend Madrone High School this January was also injured. While she has not yet attended our schools, she has connections to our San Rafael community and she remains in our thoughts. We also send our best wishes to Tam High student Emma Gaskell who was injured.   Tragedies such as these are immensely difficult to process, and everyone responds differently. It is in these times that we do best by coming together with compassion and understanding. We anticipate that many youths in the county know one or more of those involved in the accident and may need support. Our high schools’ Wellness Centers and our elementary and middle schools have services available for any student or staff member who would like to speak with someone. SRCS also partners with Care Solace, who can help guide and connect you to mental health services. You can  use this link  or call 888-515-0595 to start the process.  Here are some resources from the National Association of School Psychologists with tips and information for coping with loss and  here is a guide for understanding teen grief and how to provide support.   We are here for each other and I thank you in advance for your support of our students and staff. School resumes tomorrow, Wednesday, January 4, and we recognize it may be difficult, but helpful, for students and staff to connect with their school community. Please be extra cautious on the roads, as inclement weather  with wind and widespread rainfall is expected in the coming days. 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, Jan 04 2023

Happy Holidays from San Rafael City Schools

Happy Holidays from San Rafael City Schools Happy holidays from San Rafael City Schools! We wish all of our students, families, teachers and staff a wonderful winter break and a happy new year. We look forward to welcoming teachers and staff back on Tuesday, January 3 and students back on Wednesday, January 4. Please watch our short video message from Superintendent Jim Hogeboom below. 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, Dec 16 2022

Invitacion a Nuestra Charla de DELAC - VIRTUALMENTE ...

DELAC  (District English Learner Advisory Committee / Comité Distrital para Aprendices del Idioma Inglés) Estimados padres de familia, Únase a nosotros para nuestra reunión del Comité Asesor de Aprendices de Inglés del Distrito (DELAC) HOY a las 6:00 p.m. Nuestro tema será: Criterios y procedimientos de reclasificación y los requisitos “A-G” para la escuela secundaria. 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. Dear Parents, Please join us for our December District English Learners Advisory Committee meeting (DELAC) TODAY at 6:00 p.m. Our topic will be: Understanding the Reclassification process and the A-G high school requirements.  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 Quintana-Pérez Director of English Learner Programs [Friday, Dec 9 at 1:45 PM] Dear Parents, Thank you to everyone who attended last evening’s DELAC meeting. It was great to share important information about Reclassification and A-G requirements with you and answer your questions. As promised, here is the presentation link for you to review: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ErMTqWadv2QonJpEAmYZQJob-G-Ju3pH/view?usp=sharing Some reminders: - If your child has not yet been reclassified, the SRCS reclassification timeline is currently in place until mid-January. If you have any questions about your child’s eligibility for reclassification, please reach out directly to your child’s school/teacher/counselor. - If your child has an IEP and receives special education services, they may be eligible for reclassification under the Alternative Reclassification criteria. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s special education team (speech teacher or learning specialist). Our next DELAC meeting will be on Thursday, January 12 from 6:00-7:30. You will receive information about the meeting in January. Happy Holidays! In community, Cecilia Quintana Perez Director of English Learner Programs cperez@srcs.org 415-492-3143

Thursday, Dec 08 2022

Board Seeks Input in Next Superintendent; Public Sur...

Board Seeks Input in Next Superintendent Public Survey Now Available The San Rafael City Schools Board of Education has begun the process to find a highly-qualified candidate to serve as our next leader. Input from the greater SRCS community is a key component of the search. You are invited to share your feedback on the characteristics and qualities the Board should seek in a new superintendent  - our brief input survey is now available. Please complete the survey by December 23, 2022. English Survey - Click Here Spanish Survey - Click Here This survey is one of the ways the Board is gathering input from our community; there will also be a series of community engagement sessions in the new year - please stay tuned for more information. In other next steps, the Board is seeking proposals for an executive search firm to lead the search process. At its open meeting on Jan. 9, the Board will hear presentations from interested search firms and consider selecting a firm. After the selection, this Board will work with the firm to identify an extensive timeline that will be shared with the public. Superintendent Jim Hogeboom has announced that he will retire effective June 30, 2023; the next superintendent is expected to be in place by July 1, 2023. Visit www.srcs.org/next-leader to learn more.   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, Dec 12 at 10:50 AM] As a reminder, the Board is seeking your input on our next superintendent. English Survey: https://forms.gle/QPYhV6v3kNxKH9RM6 Spanish Survey: https://forms.gle/H6fpEiK1FoCvX66R8 Thanks to those who already completed the survey!

Thursday, Dec 08 2022

Supporting our HeadsUp Foundation

Supporting our HeadsUp Foundation Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, I am writing today to encourage you to consider supporting our amazing HeadsUp San Rafael Public Education Foundation with an end-of-the-year donation . We are truly fortunate to have an active, caring and supportive foundation that is committed to our goals of equity, community and joy. I have worked in six school districts, and I have never met a more dedicated group of parents and partners who are willing to support ALL of our students to make sure they have the skills and opportunities to succeed. Last week, HeadsUp kicked off their campaign with Giving Tuesday, and have included videos of some of our students as they have progressed from kindergarten to high school. They also have a generous match of a $10,000 grant from business partners The Dutra Group and Meritas Wealth Management to increase the impact of donations. I believe there are many reasons you should consider supporting HeadsUp. Their primary work is to provide direct financial support to all of our schools to help them pay for important enrichment programs that they would not otherwise be able to afford. In our elementary schools, they help fund our Youth in Arts programming, which makes sure that all elementary students have arts enrichment at their school on a weekly basis. They also fund middle-school enrichment, including after-school programs. In our high schools, HeadsUp supports our wellness centers and funds our college counseling consultants to make sure students have a resource to help them navigate the college application process. Across the District, they also provide our teachers and staff with grants to support school enrichment in the arts, health, technology and literacy that would otherwise go unfunded. Ensuring our students have every opportunity to succeed does take financial resources, and HeadsUp helps to support our schools with essential resources that we simply don’t have the ability to fund. Please consider donating to HeadsUp – it will make a big difference to all of our SRCS students. 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, Dec 06 2022

Next Steps in Selection of a Superintendent; Public ...

Next Steps in Selection of a Superintendent Public Survey to Launch Next Week Dear San Rafael City Schools Community, Last month, Superintendent Jim Hogeboom announced that he will be retiring at the end of this school year. During his four years with SRCS and his decades of service in education, he has made a remarkable difference for thousands of students.  We look forward to celebrating Superintendent Hogeboom’s many contributions to SRCS in the months to come! Hiring a new superintendent is among the Board of Education’s most essential responsibilities. The Board has begun the next steps to find a highly-qualified candidate to serve as SRCS’ next leader, who is expected to be in place by July 1, 2023. Given the importance of this process, the Board has decided to seek proposals for an executive search firm to provide advice and support. At its open meeting on Jan. 9, the Board will hear presentations from interested search firms and consider selecting a firm. After the selection, this Board will work with the firm to identify an extensive timeline that will be shared with the public. The Board has emphasized that public input is a key component of the search process, and has plans to begin this work right away. There will be multiple opportunities to gather input and help shape the search for a new superintendent. This will include a survey that will launch next week for our greater SRCS community to share feedback on the characteristics and qualities the Board should seek in a new superintendent. Please watch for the survey and more information next week! The website www.srcs.org/next-leader will contain the latest information. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact communications@srcs.org. Sincerely, Gina Daly and Carolina Martin Superintendent Search Board Subcommittee 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, Dec 02 2022

Share Your Feedback: TK Expansion at Laurel Dell, Su...

Dear Laurel Dell, Sun Valley and Coleman Communities, San Rafael City Schools is excited to expand our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program! TK is being phased-in over the next several years, with expanded eligibility each year until the 2025-26 school year when all four year olds will be eligible. The TK expansion requires additional classrooms and outdoor spaces, and there are limitations for doing so given the current campus configurations, specifically at Laurel Dell, Sun Valley and Coleman.  The District is in the fortunate position to have bond funds available to improve our school facilities thanks to the San Rafael community’s generous support, but those funds are limited and a number of other projects and priorities outside of TK have been identified for the school. We also are fortunate to have space at Short School (35 Marin St, San Rafael) to potentially serve as a central TK space for Laurel Dell, Sun Valley and Coleman. As we weigh the options on how to expand TK for these school communities, we need your feedback!  In this survey , you'll find three scenarios for expanding TK at Laurel Dell, Sun Valley and Coleman. Please complete this survey by Monday, Nov. 28. You are also encouraged to share it with families in your community who have young children that are not yet in our District. ENGLISH SURVEY LINK: https://forms.gle/zz2fCgU7Lgjkwdsq5 SPANISH SURVEY LINK:  https://forms.gle/x6W8mHF4oPdUP2jz9 Overall, we recognize that this is a complex issue as we try to balance having ideal physical environments for TK, while also ensuring our elementary school campuses as a whole get the needed improvements and continue to have additional, flexible spaces (art, music rooms, etc).  This survey is one of many important steps in our TK and facilities planning process; there will be additional discussion at the staff and Board level before any actions are taken. We appreciate your input! Thank you! San Rafael City Schools ENGLISH SURVEY LINK: https://forms.gle/zz2fCgU7Lgjkwdsq5 SPANISH SURVEY LINK:  https://forms.gle/x6W8mHF4oPdUP2jz9 [Monday, Nov 28 at 2:30 PM] Thank you to everyone who has already completed this survey! If you haven't yet, please take 5-10 minutes to share your feedback on the growth options for TK at Laurel Dell, Sun Valley and Coleman. English Survey: https://forms.gle/zz2fCgU7Lgjkwdsq5 Spanish Survey: https://forms.gle/x6W8mHF4oPdUP2jz9 Please see below for more information. Thank you!

Monday, Nov 14 2022