EAGLE NEWS
March 21st, 2021
I am really excited about this year's Tour of Novato! This is an NUSD community fundraising event hosted by School Fuel. This year 100% of the proceeds we earn will come directly back to Rancho! Our focus for this fundraiser is on the arts and arts integration for next school year.
The new format takes place all throughout April and will lead you to all parts of Novato! I can't wait to start the challenge and earn badges for visiting places such as: Mt Burdell, Stafford Lake, City Hall, Rush Creek, and even Novato High School! I hope to see many of you out there.
As an added incentive - I will sponsor the first 20 students/families who sign up! (See the write-up further down in the newsletter!). https://www.tourofnovato.org/2021/
Go RANCHO!
Online Book Fair - through March 23rd!
Sign up for Tour of Novato
- March 22 - MINUMUM DAY: 11:00 Dismissal for Cohort A, 11:15 Zoom for Cohort B
- March 22 - PTA General Meeting @ 6:00 via zoom
- March 25 - SPED Family Night @ 6:00 via zoom
- March 25 - Dine & Donate: MOD Pizza 10:30am-10:00pm
__________________________
- March 31 - Principal Chat @ 5:00 - ZOOM
- April 1 - May 1- Tour of Novato!
- April 2 - Remote Learning Day for FIP
- April 5 - 9 Spring Break
- April 12 - In-Person School EVERYDAY
- April 16 - Kona Ice 12:00-1:00
- April 23 - Rancho's Virtual Gala @ 7:00pm
APRIL 12th - In-Person 5 Days/Week
Starting April 12th all students will be on campus 5 days/week.
TK/K
8:40 - 12:00 - In Person
1st - 5th
8:40 - 1:00 - In Person
The new schedule will eliminate the majority of Zoom interactions for our students as they will be on campus, however some of our intervention sessions and resource sessions may still need to occasionally utilize Zoom.
Our teachers and staff are very excited about this and are already getting ready! Following all guidelines from Public Health, we are moving desks, gathering more PPE, revising recess, library, and RSP schedules, creating new "traffic flow" videos, planning in-person lessons, and more!
THANK YOU to the wonderful parents who came in to play "Rancho Tetris" last Wednesday. They moved desks and tables to and from different rooms and helped raise and lower desk legs to fit the students! We really appreciate you: Mark Perri, Ivan Belventosov, Dom Giampaoli, Ibrahim Germanos, Ozan Tosunoglu, Lupita Ocon, and Josh Bruckner!
7-11 Committee
As you know, the 7-11 Committee is looking at NUSD's enrollment data and what is best financially for the district and evaluating what will happen in the future. The committee is comprised of community members, NUSD parents, and administration. The first three meetings have revolved around looking at data from all NUSD schools. On March 10th, the committee did vote to close one elementary school. Over the next few meetings, the committee will be looking at different scenarios and deciding on what is best for the long-term financial health of the district. The ultimate goal is to be fiscally responsible and retain as many NUSD families and programs as possible.
While Rancho, as well as a few other schools, will most likely be brought up in the discussion for possible closure, there is no decision yet on what will happen.
As a community, right now the best thing to do is to become familiar with all the data the team is looking at and discussing at the meetings. You may want to watch and listen to the March 24th 7-11 meeting. All data and meeting recordings can be found here: https://nusd.org/711/
Please reach out if you have any questions. If you see anything on social media, I urge you to contact me before engaging any "back and forth" online, as there are often misconceptions that get published.
In the Spotlight
By Students - For Students!
Special Education Family Night - March 25th
WHEN March 25, 2021 6:00pm-7:00pm
WHERE Join Zoom Meeting https://nusd-org.zoom.us/j/81076612316
TOPICS NUSD Special Education Survey Review of Results NUSD Special Education
Q&A SPED PARENT NIGHT RSVP https://forms.gle/JZEUnEvHHTdFQEPs5 Interpretation Available Upon Request via RSVP by 3/19/21 Please submit Q&A questions prior to 3/19/20 using this form
Noche de Educación Especial para Padres
CUÁNDO Jueves 25 de marzo de 2021 6:00pm a 7:00pm
DÓNDE Reunión por Zoom https://nusd-org.zoom.us/j/81076612316
TEMAS Revisión de la Encuesta de Educación Especial Preguntas y Respuestas de Educación Especial de NUSD CONFIRMACIÓN DE ASISTENCIA A LA NOCHE DE ED ESP PARA PADRES https://forms.gle/JZEUnEvHHTdFQEPs5 Interpretación disponible previa solicitud mediante confirmación antes del 3/19/21 Envíe sus preguntas y respuestas antes del 3/19/21 utilizando este formulario
SURVEY LINK - Please fill out.
The Anniversary Effect
As we round the anniversary of the upending of our lives by the Covid19 pandemic, many of us are feeling its toll, subconsciously or consciously. CEO and executive vice president of American Psychological Association states, “We’ve gone through a collective trauma.” So if you are having a hard time sleeping, concentrating, noticing increased distress in your family, etc., it may be what psychologists call The Anniversary Effect, The Anniversary Reaction, or Grief Anniversary. Our bodies and brains store painful memories which can trigger distressing feelings on anniversaries of traumatic stressors.
While we share a collective experience of the pandemic, we also have our own personal, unique experiences that we hold. I’ll be honest, I cried when we moved to tele-therapy. I wanted to support clients in a way that I thought could only happen in person. I missed my clients; I felt concerned about them. I still remember seeing my first client who showed up on my screen and how exciting it was to reconnect. Eventually, I wiped my tears and realized through research studies and by felt experience that for many people online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy. I learned that tele-therapy enhanced treatment in some essential areas. I learned how to do my job in an entirely different, yet meaningful way.
Creating the online option in order to continue doing the work I love eventually felt empowering. We all react differently to stress. I witnessed colleagues lean into the new challenges and create great workarounds at a pace that did not seem humanly possible. Whatever your initial response, I hope you take moments to appreciate that you eventually figured things out under exceptionally difficult circumstances. Honor your experience through this journey without harsh judgment. Honor your ability to think flexibly about expectations, muddle through disappointments and intense fear while somehow taking care of others, finding new interests, experiencing growth, gaining new skills, taking on new challenges, or just getting through it.
Your child’s experience
As pandemic restrictions continue, kids (and grown-ups) are struggling to regulate themselves. Children are processing disappointment like all of us. Youth tend to view time through their group games and practices, dance recitals, or parties. Many of the pandemic restrictions are abstract, which makes it difficult for children to understand. Younger kids may not know how to name or process the way they feel.
Adults can help their children by acknowledging the situation honestly, then listening in a way that provides them a chance to respond honestly. Asking your child about their specific experiences, then listening patiently, may encourage them to process in a meaningful way.
Therapist tip: Asking questions about feelings while playing a game together allows the conversations to flow gently and authentically.
Now let’s give our hearts some love. You’ve probably heard about the importance of Self-Care, but what do you know about Self-Compassion? Self-Compassion is a way to address our own stress in a gentle, mindful way while maintaining a tone of acceptance towards ourselves and reminding us that we are not alone. To learn how to take “Self-Compassion Breaks” and lower stress, please watch this short video youtube.com.
Take good care.
Public Health Changes Covid Protocol
Starting March 15, Marin Public Health is updating their protocol for students that test positive for Covid. While schools will continue to work and consult with Public Health on positive cases, they are shifting from closing classes with positive cases to contact tracing for grades 3-12. Only those that are identified as a ‘close contact’ with a positive individual will be required to quarantine. With the very low number of positive Covid cases and transmission in schools in the county, Public Health is not recommending or requiring that the class ‘close’ or transition to remote learning for 3rd grade and up. We understand that Public Health will be updating and publishing updated protocols soon.
Updated COVID Information 3/1/21
Click on the link to view the most up to date documents. Including: The new handbook, decision tree, and protocols for quarantining.
THE MOST UPDATED HEALTH DOCUMENTS
RANCHO BOOKFAIR CONTINUES...on-line!
You can still continue to shop online through March 23rd and 25% of sales will go towards Rancho! Here is the link to Rancho's Scholastic Book Fair: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=ranchoelementaryschool
Time to Register for Tour of Novato!
Tour of Novato is an annual community event and fundraiser for all Novato schools organized by School Fuel.
When: April 1 - May 1, 2021
Community Event Info: This year, Tour of Novato has been redesigned with public health considerations and COVID-19 in mind. Instead of a one-day gathering, the Tour of Novato this year will be a series of Discovery Stops and challenges that you and your family can complete on your own timeline. As a family or cohorts, you can explore historic and special places of Novato at your own pace and earn digital badges by visiting Discovery Stops all around town. You can tour Novato April 1st through May 1st.
Fundraising Info: 100% of all donations for Rancho will go directly to Rancho! Funds raised will go toward bringing Arts to Rancho Students! With your financial support, Rancho can provide opportunities with Youth in Arts, Arts Attacks, school mural projects, guest artists/assemblies, family art nights, and more for the entire school community. Arts education promotes creativity, social emotional development, and improves student engagement.
When: Now - May 20, 2021
REGISTER before April 7th and get a FREE T-SHIRT
https://www.tourofnovato.org/2021/registration/
See you around town!
Rancho's Virtual Gala - Let's Mix It Up!
Let’s MIX IT UP! We are getting ready for our last major PTA fundraiser of the year and first ever virtual gala on April 23rd at 7:00pm. It’s time for adults to have some fun!
There is NO COST to join the virtual event! You will be able to sign in from the comfort of your own home. You can choose to order and pick up some appetizers and drinks at cost or use your own favorites from home. There will be Cheers Hero games (the last person to bid, wins!). Hear our teachers speak about this school year and enjoy pictures of our kids in an inspiring video about how Rancho Eagles keep soaring! Join the pledge to keep our school's basic necessities, enrichment, and community events going! The whole evening is for a good cause - our kids and school!
Keep a look out next week: Tommy Salsa Appetizers and Drink Mix Kits (created by our very own "Fairy Godbartendar") will go on sale! Our Fairy Godbartendar will teach you how to mix the drinks during the gala. It'll be a good time :)
PTA General Meeting - Monday, March 22nd 6:00pm
Please join us for our forth PTA General Meeting - Monday, March 22th 6:00pm. Join other families and staff members to hear about and discuss what is happening in our Rancho community. There are still many fun things planned and volunteer needs for the year! We will also hold our PTA Board elections for the 2021-2022 school year. The agenda is posted on Konstella announcement.
PTA's goal is to build connections, provide fun opportunities to get involved and meet other families while helping our school, and find unique fundraising events this school year to support Rancho. However, there is never any pressure to sign-up or participate.
Zoom Link: https://nusd-org.zoom.us/j/81437297074?pwd=K3owNnpJMEhrZ2JIWUowbjZoRUVZdz09
Password: 13579Dine & Donate MOD Pizza! Thursday, March 25th 10:30am-10:00pm
Restaurant Website
Visit MOD Pizza's online order website. Use the promo code of "GR181373R" and 20% of your meal’s price will be donated back to Rancho Elementary.
Storefront Walk-in
Visit the location at 140 Vintage Way, Ste. G3, Novato 94945 and they will take your order from their storefront for take-out. Mention that you are with Rancho Elementary before placing your order.
Enjoy pizza for lunch or dinner and support our school!
MOD Pizza has 30+ toppings and whatever toppings you choose for your pizza or salad, you’ll pay one set price.
Please read the instructions above, so that MOD Pizza knows you are with the GroupRaise Meal for Rancho Elementary, and your group will get 20% of your meal’s price donated back!
PTA Needs a Treasurer for 2021-2022!
We still need a ONE person to volunteer for a PTA Board position in order to have an operating PTA next school year! We need a Treasurer! And we'll support you along the way! Our current Treasurer, Matt DeVita's, two year term is up. He will still be a parent at Rancho and will be available for guidance throughout the next year. Plus, this year's Financial Secretary, Dante Esparza, will continue next year. He records and makes all deposits.
There are so many benefits to join, including meeting families, being apart of event/fundraiser discussions, getting to know Mrs. Nam and teacher representatives, and most importantly contributing to the way your child experiences school!
Please see the basic description below and contact Aubin Giampaoli to learn more and ask any questions: ranchoschoolpta@gmail.com
Treasurer* (current and two-year term is ending: Matt DeVita)
The treasurer keeps the books for our PTA, recording all income and expenses using PTAeazy (PTAs accounting platform). She/he pays bills and write creaks. She/he reports regularly at PTA board meetings and presents the treasurer’s report at the general meetings. The treasurer works on next year’s budget in the spring with a budget committee.
We Need Your Help...and Pictures!
To upload photos to the Rancho Yearbook yourself, go to commpe.pictavo.com and use Rancho’s code 95789. Select “upload photos” on the right hand side. If you have a login from last year you can still use that. If you are a new user please create a login and then upload your photos. Please use the sub folder categories because I don’t know who all of the students are or what grade they are in.
If you have any questions please contact Amanda Roe at AmandaRoe716@gmail.com
Order Yearbooks before April 5th
Appreciations...
Thank you to Rancho Families for your donations to support Rancho Student Readers and giving to Teacher Book Wish Lists! We have such a generous and caring community. There was a lot of heart this week!
The Scholastic Bookfair took a village! Thank you Mrs. Nam for her constant support, Jessica Paradise, Christen Law-Hing, Maribel Esparza, Samantha Bowers, Mary Provines, Jennie and Mike Olson, Jody Kicherer, Pam and Ron Griffin, and Peter Malnai! From setting up book cases on a windy a Monday, to selling in the cold, and readjusting yet again on a rainy Thursday, to staying late Friday so teachers could shop too, thank you for all the efforts for students to enjoy the excitement of reading! And thanks again to Eva Gabjorak for re-visioning and finding a way to continue a beloved tradition!
A very big THANK YOU goes to the Okay Family who made a generous donation to our Rancho Family Giving Program. Their donation will help support our students and their families with extra food as well as other household items. They heard about our program, and even though their kids are still a few years away from joining our kindergarten, they reached out to support us! A quote from the family - "We are happy to do it and are grateful to belong to a community that does so much to help each other out. As I said earlier, I am amazed at how much you and the school are able to do given the circumstances surrounding COVID."
Rancho Spirit Wear
Kids are growing quickly! Order your kids new Rancho T-shirts and sweatshirts to show off their Rancho School pride! Adult sizes available, too.
The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization - you can choose Rancho! Click this link to find and support our Rancho Eagles!
Celebrate your child's birthday in the Eagle News and on the Marquee!
Your child's birthday will be mentioned in the weekly Eagle News AND on the marquee in front of the school, and even more on their birthday! Be sure to drive by to pose and take a picture too.
This is a PTA fundraiser to help with our school’s essential needs this school year. (See Siyaa's above!)
Click on the link or scan the QR Code below to celebrate your child's birthday!
Community ZOOM LINKS
Welcome Wednesdays:
https://nusd-org.zoom.us/j/87945915759?pwd=bDZ0bTZHSkJoUkUxcGJObjhPYjQ0UT09
ELAC Meetings:
https://nusd-org.zoom.us/j/84379415768?pwd=cldlQmVCTktHTFRFaHVyZVhQK3Aydz09
Principal Chats:
https://nusd-org.zoom.us/j/81337374329?pwd=Q0RIdmtlMkxCNmNKTmtQaEJKbitaQT09
SITE Council Meetings:
https://nusd-org.zoom.us/j/84449332824?pwd=OUFpQlRCcHVCb012NW8zTTBQQ2R4dz09
PTA General Meetings:
https://nusd-org.zoom.us/j/88525075268?pwd=ekppSHJSZXZsdDRuZ2pHNFZhOXl3UT09
NUSD "In Motion" PE Movement: (Monday through Friday @ 8:20)
https://nusd-org.zoom.us/j/89824495686?pwd=Y1l2UzRCWXNwbDk1dlllRDJCUGdXQT09
Password for all meetings: 13579