NUSD: 9.16.21 Community Connections From Supt. Jan La Torre-Derby

Press release from the Novato Unified School District:

lbenjamin

September 16th, 2021

9.16.21 Community Connections from Supt. Jan La Torre-Derby

Dear NUSD Community,

Novato has a hidden gem in the College of Marin (COM) Indian Valley campus which is ready for use by the community! The ribbon cutting for the new Jonas Center and the Miwok Aquatic Park were celebrated this month with Dr. David Wain Coon, President of the COM, praising the partnership with Novato Rotary in the completion of the Jonas Center. Christina Stroeh, daughter of Detrick Stroeh and Novato Rotary President, shared an enthusiastic appreciation and partnership with COM and encouraged community use. Dete would have been proud of this accomplishment, which was begun with the generous donation by the Jonas family to build a community center in 2008. It has been a project long in the making, but a dedicated group of Novato Rotarians fulfilled the promise to Bill and Adele Jonas to provide a community center for Novato residents to enjoy opportunities to come together. I encourage you to take a ride out to the Indian Valley campus and take a look around. You will be impressed! Congratulations for a job well done by all.

We need the Novato community and parent support on two fronts. Our first request is for volunteer attorney support for San Marin Mock Trial and secondly, also a San Marin need, is to help us keep everyone safe and enjoying “Friday Night Football”.

Mock Trial Attorney-Coach Needed

You may recall as announced in previous communication, that the San Marin Mock Trial Team won second place in the annual Mock Trial sponsored by Marin County Office of Education and the County of Marin. It is a partnership that allows our students to experience “court” and the roles and responsibilities of all aspects of a real trial.  Beating TAM High School was such a thrill because they have won first place every year for the last 25 years!  Now on to win first place!

The case for 2021-22 school year is as follows. “The legal issue will be arguing the facts of a first-degree murder versus a lesser charge of manslaughter as a result of lethal snake bite which caused the unsuspecting victim to die.  There will also be incriminating evidence based on the 4th amendment right against unlawful search and invasion oand f privacy.”

If you are interested in volunteering your time to support the students and work with the coaching team to prepare the students for “trial”, please contact  Eric Johnson at [email protected] or text/call parent-volunteer Maria Johnson at (415) 250-9698.

San Marin Friday Night Lights Support
We have determined it is essential to ensure everyone’s safety as we enjoy the Friday night football games at SMHS.  We have had three games thus far, two varsity, and one Frosh football. The first varsity game went well, but the second did not. Based on the activities experienced at the second game, SMHS, NUSD, and NPD/SROs have put together a plan to ensure everyone’s safety and to eliminate vandalism and challenging behaviors and violations of Education Code which is required by law.  Here are the guidelines that will be applied by SMHS, NUSD, and NPD to ensure everyone’s safety. We appreciate your support in doing your part to help us have an enjoyable time watching our amazing varsity football team, supporting the cheer squad, and enjoying an evening out as a family.

The mitigation strategies include:

Thank you for your support for “Friday Night Football at SMHS”, together we will get back on track!

Jan La Torre-Derby, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Novato Unified School District
1015 7th Street
Novato, CA 94945

415.897.4201

415.612.3500

[email protected]

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.