Schools
NUSD: 8.31.21 Community Connections From Supt. Jan La Torre-Derby
Back to School Nights are still in progress:
lbenjamin
August 31st, 2021
Find out what's happening in Novatofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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!
Find out what's happening in Novatofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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
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.
