During this season of gratitude, I want to express my sincere appreciation to our greater SRCS community. The holiday season reminds us that our shared commitment to the well-being and success of all our students unites us.
I am deeply grateful to our dedicated educators, staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to create positive learning environments for our students. Your commitment to excellence and the well-being of our community does not go unnoticed.
To our students, may the joy of learning and the excitement of discovery continue to inspire you. Your potential is boundless, and I am confident you will continue to achieve great things in the coming New Year.
To our families, thank you for your continued support and partnership. Your involvement in the education and growth of our students is invaluable, and together, we can create a brighter future for the next generation.
With warm regards,
Carmen Diaz Ghysels
Superintendent
| Board of Education Updates |
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Board Member Martel-Dow Steps Down; Open Seat for Area 2
At the Dec. 16 Board meeting, Lucia Martel-Dow announced her resignation from her position as a member of the San Rafael City Schools Board of Education. SRCS is grateful for her distinguished service and leadership during her four-year tenure on the Board.
To begin the process of filling the open seat, the Board will hold a special meeting on Monday, Jan. 6 at 5:30 pm. At that time, the Board will consider the options of 1) conducting a provisional appointment process or 2) ordering a special election. A follow-up District communication will be sent following the Jan. 6 special meeting to share further details and next steps.
Ms. Martel-Dow was elected to a four-year term in 2022 to represent Trustee Area 2; therefore anyone who fills her vacant seat for the remainder of that term must reside in Area 2. Learn more about our trustee-areas and view a map of the areas.
Swearing In Ceremony
 Welcome, Isai Rodas! Mr. Rodas joins our Board of Education to represent Trustee Area 5. Marina Palma previously represented Area 5, and she chose not to seek re-election following the end of her term. We are grateful for her service and commitment to our students and families!
Incumbents Mark Koerner (Area 1) and Maureen "Mo" de Nieva-Marsh (Area 3) are also beginning four-year terms.
The three were appointed in lieu of the election to Board of Education as they were unopposed candidates in the Nov. 2024 election. They were sworn into office at Monday's Board meeting by Brenna Nurmi, Deputy City Clerk of the City Council of the City of San Rafael.
New Board Officers
As part of their annual reorganization, the Board selected their officers for 2025: Carolina Martín was elected Board President and Mark Koerner was elected Board Vice President.
Every Day Counts: Attendance During Cold and Flu Season
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Showing up to school every day is critical for children’s well-being, engagement and learning. During this time of year, we also recognize that sometimes students are too ill to attend school.
Please send your child to school if they are generally healthy and well. In general, children should stay home if they have the following symptoms:
- A fever of 100.4°F or higher
- Vomiting two or more times in 24 hours
- Diarrhea
Review the California Department of Public Health's flyer with recommendations and details on when to keep your child home and when they can return: English | Spanish
Be sure to contact a health care provider if your child needs medical care. Note that in most situations, a health-care provider’s note is not needed to return.
Students in grades TK-5 will take home report cards on Friday, Dec. 20 for the first semester. Report cards are a wonderful way to capture your child’s learning thus far in the school year. As we are part way through the school year, there will be things that have not yet been taught and/or that students are not expected to have mastered at this point. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions.
| First Interim Budget Reports |
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Like all California school districts, SRCS prepares and presents its first interim budget reports to detail our fiscal solvency and provide a snapshot on our revenues and expenditures. At its Dec. 16 meeting, the SRCS Board approved reports for our Elementary School District (grades TK-8) and High School District (grades 9-12). View the presentation | View the ESD files | View the HSD files
While the District budgets are complex and require a deep dive to fully understand, here are a few highlights:
- The First Interim is designed to show the connections to the Budget Adoption from this past June
- The District made difficult decisions related to budget reductions last spring; these steps have improved our budget situation and the impact is evident in the First Interim report.
- In wrapping up the actual expenditures from the 2023-24 school year, the beginning fund balance for 2024-25 was positively impacted.
- Student attendance rates have improved, which increases our state revenue as well as student achievement. Let's keep it up!
- The First Interim also forecasts our reserves and multi-year projections
- Elementary District - Healthy reserve at 14.6%, but trending down in the out years
- High School District - Lower reserves at 4.9%, and trending down in the out years
- Given the current status and that the Board has a goal to have reserves at 17%, any additional spending the District takes on should be commensurate with reductions.
- The State sets an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA), which directly impacts how much funding we receive per student. At this time, the 2025-26 projected COLA of 2.93% is questionable and could be more like 2.0%, impacting our revenue growth.
- Our final COVID-related grants are sunsetting; reductions will need to be made to the budget for the 2026-27 school year.
Our Budget Advisory Committee meetings are a great opportunity to further discuss the financial operations of our district. Learn more and sign up for the committee.
| Incoming TK & Kindergarten Info Sessions |
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Are you, or do you know a local family, who is interested in learning more about Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten at SRCS? The District is hosting Informational Sessions for parents who are considering TK or Kindergarten for their child for the 2025-26 school year.
District and school leaders, along with teachers, will share information and answer questions about our TK and Kindergarten programs, what the typical school day entails, our Dual Language Program, aftercare opportunities, how to enroll and more. View the flyer.
Open to all interested SRCS families
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At Bahia Vista Elementary School
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 6 - 7 pm
Presented in Spanish with English interpretation
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At Coleman Elementary School
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6 - 7 pm
Presented in English with Spanish interpretation
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| Wellness Support and Holiday Toolkit |
As Winter Break approaches, we invite you to take a moment to slow down, recharge and embrace the peace this season can bring. The holidays are often filled with joy and connection, but they can also bring challenges — whether it’s missing a loved one, juggling holiday preparations or managing the pressures of the season. While each of us celebrates in our own way, it’s important to acknowledge all feelings that may arise and remember it’s okay to ask for support.
Here are some resources should you or someone you know need help:
- National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
- Marin Mobile Crisis Unit: Call 415-473-6392
Additionally, SRCS partners with Care Solace as one way to support the wellbeing of our community. They have put together a Holiday Toolkit to help people unplug, reconnect and step into the new year with a healthy mindset. Inside, you’ll find goal-setting activities, mental health tips, grief resources for families, reflection sheets and self-care tips for teachers. Download the Holiday Toolkit: English | Spanish
Whether you or a family member need support with mental health or substance use, Care Solace can connect you to care options that meet your needs—quickly, confidentially, and at no cost to you. How to access support:
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Winter Break Ideas for Elementary-Aged Students
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The Winter Break is often full of unexpected surprises for families and students, many of which are joyous and filled with loved ones. It is also a great time to continue a few “school” traditions, such as reading daily, writing (thank you letters, journaling fun experiences, etc.) and library visits with those new library cards. In the New Year, if possible, please take a few days to transition into a more typical school-year routine with bedtimes and more to prepare for the transition back to school on Jan. 7!
Monthly Tech Tips: Managing Screen Use and Parental Controls
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With the holiday season upon us, many children may receive new devices, gadgets or games as gifts. Setting up and managing new tech in partnership with your child is a great way to communicate about use. Common Sense Media has resources as you consider setting a screen-use schedule and talking with your child about their tech habits. For those getting ready to buy their child their first phone, here is a video on some things to consider and ways to help them.
Experts have shared that there's no magic number when it comes to how much time your kids spend on screens; what's important is the quality of the content, how it fits into your family's lifestyle and how your kids engage with it.
| Vigilant Parent Trainings on Youth Online Safety |
This coming January, the Marin County Office of Education will be hosting two Vigilant Parent Training opportunities, both of which emphasize best practices for keeping youth safe in online spaces. The first session on Jan. 14 will focus on social media how-tos, vault apps and exploitation, while the second session on Jan. 21 will focus on sexploitation, AI and deepfakes. Session 1 flyer | Session 2 flyer
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