Our SRCS Community Newsletter

We’re excited to bring you the first SRCS community newsletter of the 2025-26 school year! Each month, we’ll share highlights, celebrations and important updates to help keep families, staff, and community members connected to what’s happening across our schools.

Watch for it in your inbox the third week of each month - unless we need to share something urgent or time-sensitive sooner. We welcome your feedback and suggestions anytime at communications@srcs.org

Every Day Counts

Arriving at school on time each morning is critically important to your child’s academic success. Every instructional minute counts, and being present from the start of the day sets your child up for success.

• If your child rides the bus, please be sure they are at the stop early, ready and waiting before the bus arrives. 
• If you drive your child or they drive themselves, we encourage you / them to leave home with extra time in case of traffic or delays.

For families who experience frequent challenges with tardies or absences, our School Attendance Review Team may reach out to meet and work together on a supportive plan. These meetings are designed to partner with families, understand obstacles and help create strategies so every child can thrive. Thank you for partnering with us to make sure your child makes the most of every learning opportunity.

Suicide Prevention & Awareness

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. Suicide is complicated and tragic, but it is often preventable. Knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can help save lives. Learn about behaviors that may be a sign that someone is thinking about suicide {English | Spanish].

Below 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
• The Trevor Project: 24/7 LGBTQ+ specific crisis counseling. Call 1-866-488-7386, text ‘START’ to 678-678 or chat online.

Our schools also have mental health and wellness programs and services, including Wellness Centers at Davidson Middle School, San Rafael High School and Terra Linda High School; school counselors in our elementary schools; and Family Centers at targeted elementary schools.

Additionally, the Marin County Office of Education has compiled some upcoming parent / caregiver education events that are open to families throughout Marin.

• Care in Action: A Virtual 988 Conference: Sept. 19 | 9:30 am - 2:30 pm |  Zoom | Register
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Walk: Sept. 20 | 9:30 am | San Francisco | More information
• Crisis Response in Marin County: How Does it Work? Sept. 23 | 6 - 7:15 pm | Zoom | Register

Additional Resources

• Marin County Suicide Prevention Collaborative, working to prevent suicide by talking about it openly and having compassionate conversations. 
• Training Catalog to Support Youth Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Efforts: Lists training options tailored for youth, parents, caregivers, educational settings, and service providers.

What is Digital Literacy?

Digital literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, create and communicate information using digital tools. It includes a range of academic, technical and social skills. This includes critical thinking to assess online information, staying safe to protect personal data and the ethical use of technology to participate responsibly in the digital world. It also involves how to be creators and not just consumers of online content and ways tools can help allow a person greater accessibility to learning and materials.

This year, SRCS will be working on a TK-12 Digital Literacy Plan. This will include opportunities for feedback from different groups, including students and parents. More information and updates coming soon!

Elementary Digital Citizenship Week

In October, our elementary schools will be engaging in a District-wide Digital Citizenship Week. This is to bring awareness to students and parents about a person’s “digital life,” and how our online life can influence our actual lives in different ways. Stay tuned for information next month for families and home activities for children of all ages!

Video: What is Digital Citizenship? [English | Spanish]

Honoring Hispanic Heritage

We are proud to recognize and celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month! During this time, we celebrate and honor the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. We especially pay tribute to those in our own SRCS community who have positively influenced and enriched our District.

We are pleased to share a curated list of books and resources from our teacher librarians to highlight the beauty and diversity of la Cultura Latina. Find more information, resources and ways to celebrate. Our schools have many events planned throughout the month, and we encourage you to check them out and attend! 

October Spotlight: Substance Misuse Awareness in Our High Schools

This October, our high schools' Wellness Centers are highlighting Substance Misuse Awareness with several important student-centered initiatives and learning opportunities, along with some parent education events:

• Oct. 1: Launch of a Vaping Reduction Poster Campaign 
• Oct. 1:  MCOE Event: Straight Talk: The Triangulum of Nicotine, Vaping & Cannabis, presented by Stanford REACH Lab  |  6:30 - 7:45 pm  |  Zoom  |  Learn more  |   Register
• Oct. 8: Let’s Talk: Underage Substance Use in Marin  |  7 - 8:30 pm  |  Zoom  |  Learn more  |  Register        
• Throughout October: Huckleberry Youth Program will provide student harm reduction education.

We encourage you to support these efforts by engaging your children in conversations about healthy choices and reminding them about the resources available through our Wellness Centers. Together, we can create awareness and empower students to make safe and informed decisions.

Report Highlights Progress Transforming Our Schools

Thank you to our Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee and their dedication and service! They recently presented their 2023-24 Annual Report to the SRCS Board to highlight the bond projects and the related expenditures. 

Thanks to strong voter support, school bonds continue to transform SRCS in meaningful and lasting ways. This ongoing bond program is enabling the District to modernize learning environments, integrate advanced instructional technology and ensure safe, adaptable spaces that support 21st-century teaching and learning. 

Appointed by the Board, CBOC members review bond program expenditures. Their work is shared with the Board and the public to demonstrate that school bond funds are invested as the voters intended and that projects are completed wisely and efficiently.  View the report to see a snapshot or complete projects, those in process and work still to come. 

Customize Your ParentSquare Notification Settings

SRCS uses ParentSquare as our primary school-to-home communication tool. This unified platform is designed to keep parents and families informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with SRCS. 

In ParentSquare, you can fine-tune your notification settings for posts for each school and the district - you can select if you want a daily digest or instant notifications. 

How to update your notification settings: 

• Using web browser: From Home, in the upper right under your name, select "My Account" and then "Notification Settings."
• Using mobile app: From home screen tap the triple bar menu at top left, select "My Account" and then "Notifications."

Watch this quick instructional video or read more here.

Reminder: Get Involved and Make a Difference in Our Schools

We believe student success depends on strong partnerships with families, staff and our community. One way to get involved is by joining a District committee, where members collaborate, share ideas and provide feedback on decisions that affect all students.

If you're able, we encourage you to join us to be part of the important work we do together for our students! Learn more about the various opportunities to participate this school year. 

Board Affirming Commitment to Well-Being and Belonging

At its meeting on Aug. 26, the Board of Education approved Resolution #2526-1, proclaiming the District's dedication to serving the needs of each and every student through ongoing recognition and awareness. Through the resolution, SRCS declares its annual support of diversity, community, equity, inclusion and mental health and wellness of students and staff, and acknowledges recognition days, weeks and months throughout the school year. Read the resolution. 

Supporting Healthy Youth Choices

SRCS is proud to partner with Raising the Bar, a county-wide initiative committed to keeping youth events substance-free through policy that prohibits adult drinking or drug use at youth-centered events.
 
Research shows that parents and caregivers play a powerful role in shaping young people’s attitudes and decisions around alcohol and other substance use. By working together, we can make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our youth – reducing the short- and long-term consequences of underage substance use for adolescents, families and our broader community.
 
Raising the Bar, a program of Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships works in collaboration with Marin Prevention Network, Marin County Office of Education, Marin Health and Human Services, Marin schools, youth sports teams and organizations and other local organizations. Together, we aim to shift norms around substance use and encourage healthy choices by promoting positive adult role modeling.
 
SRCS requests that all adults abstain from using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other substances at youth-centered events, during youth sports competitions and at team celebrations. By collectively  promoting healthy behaviors, we can support a safer, healthier environment for all youth. Learn more.

State Cell Phone Discount Program

California Lifeline is a state program that provides discounted home phone and cell phone services to eligible households. If you have questions or need assistance in understanding this program, contact your child’s school community liaison. Learn more [English | Spanish]

San Rafael City Schools www.srcs.org  |  communications@srcs.org     310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 94903