NUSD: 8.31.21 Community Connections From Supt. Jan La Torre-Derby

Novato CA

01 September, 2021

10:23 AM

Description

Press release from the Novato Unified School District: lbenjamin August 31st, 2021 8.31.21 Community Connections from Supt. Jan La Torre-Derby Dear NUSD Community, I am thoroughly enjoying going to Back to School Nights and seeing so many families participating.  NUSD has traditionally had strong parental support and we are certainly experiencing that right now.  See you there! Back to School Nights are still in progress: Marin Oaks SMHS Friday Night Lights August 27 After a long-awaited anticipation for San Marin High School lights, the game against Kelseyville happened on August 27 with an enthusiastic and grateful group of spectators!  It was a thrill to so many experience the exhilaration of playing football under the lights. Special thanks to everyone who contributed to the agreement and administrative regulations to allow lights on the San Marin field for 8 home games. Special appreciation to community member, Mike Joly, for his collaborative spirit and respectful interaction with all parties. Thanks for working with our team to create opportunities for our students. Scholar Athletes and University Scholarships Several of our students are thriving as they make their way to college. They are academically and athletically enjoying recognition for their tremendous efforts in the classroom and on the fiel5d. Thanks to Coach Denise McIntyre, Athletic Directors Michelle Smith and Reed Nottingham for sharing the following information about their students' successes. Big congrats to all!! Novato High School All American Academic Athletes for Swimming Madeline Finkle, Cate and Lulu O'Leary, Josh Chu, Bianca Bayer San Marin High School Won MCAL Football League (No MCAL football playoffs due to COVID) University Scholarships   Lauren Picardi-Davis Pascale de Buren-Tufts Katie Sullivan-Davis Mack Carter-West Point Tyson Gerasi-Chico State University Ava Scafani-Davis Bianca Bayer-Chapman Bella Harding-Occidental Lucy Morgan-UC Santa Barbara Nico Herrera-Humboldt Samantha Campopiano-Dominican   Ashley Casper-Bethany Lutheran College Mental Health Counselors at Each School We are so delighted to let you know that NUSD received a generous grant to provide mental health counselors at each of our schools. A wellness app has been placed on all student chrome books for easy access to available resources.  We are also in process of hiring a district-wide wellness coordinator to work directly with the site mental health counselors. Additionally, there will be two classified behavior technicians to support interventions.  We are so delighted to share this enhanced level of service to each of our schools. COVID Antigen Pilot We recently learned that Marin County will be piloting the Binax Rapid Antigen Tests for the state and that one of our schools will be participating in this pilot.  Other districts piloting these tests include Nicasio, Ross, and Ross Valley districts. A small sampling was requested to refine the process prior to full district implementation and NUSD received 450 test kits for Lu Sutton to begin the pilot last week. We are grateful and delighted that Principal Mira Patel and the Lu Sutton team were willing to pilot the COVID rapid antigen testing. However, as we began to get ready to implement the pilot, we found out that the supply of these tests are now limited due to supply chain issues. Marin County Public Health and the Marin County Office of Education are now developing a new strategy for these tests, and we are awaiting further information and guidance. Once we have more information, training will be provided for on-site testing and reporting of adults and at home testing for students. Any adults or student experiencing symptoms should stay home and not come to school. If anyone does arrive at school feeling ill, we are hoping to send them home with a Binax test and results will be provided to the principal. Test results must be reported within an hour of testing completion. Reporting will occur within the district and through Marin County Public Health. As you are aware, we are required to always wear face coverings inside and Public Health continues to strongly recommend wearing masks outdoors as well. Leslie Benjamin, Director of Communications, is our COVID lead, and the COVID team includes: Amanda Langford Principal at San Ramon, Mike Casper Principal at San Jose, Mark Brewer Principal at Novato High, Jennifer Larson Assistant Superintendent Education Services, Jennifer Albini CSEA Representative, Mariah Fisher President of NFT, and myself. Board of Trustees Accomplishments The NUSD Board of Trustee has been busier than ever!  While they conduct their meetings in public twice a month, they are also engaged in the community and participating in additional committees. You may have seen them at Back to School Nights. Here are a few of their accomplishments: Approved the Agreement and Administrative Regulations for the San Marin High School Lights and PA System in collaboration with the Coalition to Save San Marin Hired a new Superintendent Approved the formation of a Budget Advisory Committee Moved public board meetings to 6 pm Approved the Budget and Local Control Accountability Plan for 2021-2022 Listened to the community and did not move forward with closing of a school Some of the committees they attend include: Parcel Tax Oversight Committee Independent Citizen's Bond Oversight Committee District English Language Acquisition Committee District Safety Advisory Committee District Special Education Advisory Committee Marin County School Boards Association Marin County Joint Legislative Action Committee Enjoy the end of summer events with your families. Fall sports and performing arts are about to begin and keep us all very busy supporting our students. That brings all of us great joy! Respectfully, Jan La Torre-Derby, Ed.D. Superintendent   Novato Unified School District 1015 7th Street Novato, CA 94945 415.897.4201 415.612.3500 [email protected] Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM       This press release was produced by the Novato Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.