Dear Bolinas-Stinson School Families and Community,
The first three weeks of school have been a whirlwind of activity with three successful Back-to-School nights (Pre-K through 8th grade), new enrichment programs, new after-school classes, and much more!
If you haven’t already seen it, please download our Bolinas-Stinson App for access to the most recent news and events. You can also enable emergency notifications and alerts for important busing and school information.
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend your child’s Back-to-School Night. It is always fun to have our Bolinas-Stinson School community gathering together. This is such a great time to check in with your child’s teacher and connect with other parents. If you were unable to attend, please find time to reach out to your child’s teacher and connect with them or reach out to your child’s homeroom parent for information you may have missed.
IMPORTANT DATES - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
All Parents ~ (Pre-K - 8th), Bolinas-Stinson School Community Coffee Chat, Thursday, September 19, Bolinas Campus Library, 9:30-10:30 AM
I hope you will join us as we meet to discuss current school issues, programs, needs, and more! All parents are encouraged to attend this casual gathering and get to know other parents as we address current items that parents want to discuss. Please come to this meeting if you have questions, concerns, or thoughts about our school or if you just want to hang out!
Stewards of the Land After School Program, Bolinas Campus, Grades 4th-8th, Thursday, September 19th, 3:00-6:00 PM
The Young Stewards of the Land is a local after school program that teaches students (4th-8th grade) skills in self stewardship, land stewardship and community care. Local specialists offer expertise through hands-on, cooperative learning experiences in the West Marin outdoors, empowering students to care for themselves, one another, the land, and the community.
Activities have included and will continue to include, learning about our local flora and fauna, farming, goat tending, fire skills, cooking with the Cobb oven, apple harvesting, outdoor survival and ancestral skills, making herbal 1st aid kits, orienteering, bird watching, animal tracking, shelter building, kayaking, water safety, Fall mid-series campout, and end-of-the-year campout! For registration forms or more information please visit: https://bostinysl.org. (Above information retrieved from http://bostinysl.org)
Worldwide Walkout for Climate Action!, Friday, September 20th, 11:00-2:00 PM
Join us in support of our children as we take action for the climate. Together with our students and the Bolinas community, we mark this momentous occasion of solidarity. We can make a difference in climate change and support the voices of our children. We will listen to local speakers on climate change and listen to what our students have to say. Permission form was sent home on Friday. Please return signed permission form by Tuesday.
Who? Students grades 2-8, staff, parents, and community members are welcome to walk with us and participate ~ We hope you will join us to address this important issue.
Students Grades Pre-K-1st will be conducting environmental activities on the Stinson Campus.
Where? We will be walking from the Bolinas Campus to St. Aidan’s Bell Tower (GATE), in Bolinas and Brighton Beach
When?
11:00 AM ~ Leave the Bolinas Campus. Participating 2-8th grade students will walk in solidarity to support climate action
12:00 PM ~ Students, parents and staff will participate in the Bell Ceremony at St. Aidan’s Bell Tower
1:00 PM ~ Walk to Brighton Beach to eat lunch and participate in beach clean-up
2:00 PM ~ Walk back to the Bolinas Campus
3:00 PM ~ Normal Dismissal
*Parents please note - If you would like to pick up your child from this event, you must sign them out with your child’s teacher before you leave.
Save the Date! All School Passport to Learning & Family BBQ, Thursday, September 26th, Bolinas Campus, 6:30-8:00 PM, Grades Pre-K-8th
I hope your whole family will join us for this new and exciting All-School event for Pre-K-8th Grade. Our annual Specialist BBQ was so much fun last year that we decided to expand it to include all our staff and parents this year! Come on out and have a bite, mingle with other families, and let your child lead the way!
Each classroom teacher/specialist will be hosting a fun and educational activity for their students. Students will be given a Bolinas Campus map and a Bolinas-Stinson School Passport. They will act as your family tour guide for the evening as they visit their homerooms, art shops, PE, and learning center and guide you through the various activities. Only students will be able to present their passports for a stamp at each area (parents cannot do it for them.)
This is a fantastic opportunity for parents to see first hand what your child is learning in their homeroom and with specialists, as well as a great time to connect with other parents. Our Stinson Campus teachers (Pre-K-1st grade) will have special “pop-up” classrooms on the Bolinas Campus for students to visit. Keep you eyes open for more details next week!
IMPORTANT SCHOOL NEWS
Staff Changes for 2019-20
Just as we enthusiastically welcomed our new staff members, it is with deep gratitude and fondness that we acknowledge staff who will be leaving us this year to pursue other interests and lifelong dreams. Anny Densmore our Music teacher; Carlos Contreras, our Physical Education Specialist; and Mechelle Cattell, our Resource Teacher, will be leaving us at different times this year. We will be acknowledging their many years of service and valuable contributions to our school at an upcoming event (more information coming soon). Please join me in appreciating them and wishing them all the best in their future endeavors!
Anny and Mechelle have taken advantage of an early retirement incentive that was negotiated by the teacher’s union last year. Anny has been on temporary leave to complete her Master's project and has taken the retirement incentive to continue her work, composing an amazing opera entitled, Bach's Daughter. We deeply appreciate the years of musical enrichment for our students as well as all the fantastic musical events she organized for our students. We all wish Anny the best and support her as she pursues her lifelong dream. Be listening for more information and opportunities to hear and support Anny’s work on her opera!
Congratulations to Mechelle Cattell, who recently received her Masters in Educational Leadership at the end of last year. She will be leaving us at the end of this school year and is looking to move into a school leadership role in the future. Mechelle has played a pivotal role in our school supporting all students, staff, and parents with her gentle spirit and kind heart throughout her many years of service to our school. She has been key in designing services, programs, and supports for our students and families. We all support her in this important career move and will miss her tremendously when she leaves us at the end of the year.
Carlos Contreras recently shared with staff and notified the district of his upcoming retirement in November. Carlos has dedicated his career at the Bolinas-Stinson School to delivering a top-notch physical education program. He has shared his passion and enthusiasm for physical education with countless students throughout his years of service. Carlos’ work to make PE activities not only educational but fun for our students, will be sorely missed when he leaves us. He has been the driving force behind the renowned Bolinas-Stinson Track and Field day for our school, as well as encouraging our students to participate in local track meets. We will greatly miss Carlos when he leaves us in November to pursue other interests. He will be leaving behind big shoes to fill!
Aeries Student Information System - Parent Portal Coming Soon!
Soon all parents will have access to valuable student information on our Aeries Student Information System. The Parent Portal will enable parents to view the last two years of state test scores and report cards; attendance reporting, emergency contact information and much more! We will be sending out login information and passwords in early October and will showcase how to navigate this robust student information system at an upcoming coffee chat in October.
Please feel free to reach out to me or stop by if you have any questions or just want to say “Hi!”
Warmly,
Michelle Stephens
Bolinas-Stinson School Principal
415-868-1603