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Novato Unified School District

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Community Cornerstone from Supt. Dr. Tracy Smith - April 30, 2026

Posted Date: 04/30/26 (11:45 AM)
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Community Cornerstone

from Supt. Dr. Tracy Smith

April 30, 2026
Dear NUSD Families and Community, 

One of the many visions that Novato Unified prides itself on is providing incredible opportunities and choices for our students, especially at the high school level, when students are identifying their strengths and interests as they begin exploring potential career paths. We could not provide these opportunities without the support, dedication and vision of our community partners/donors including School Fuel, the Marin County Office of Education, and the College of Marin. 

This involvement and support is leading to newly developing programs located at the Novato High School campus and available to all of our high school students. These programs will focus on learning more about the Automotive and Construction trades. We will be sharing these new opportunities for students soon and are thrilled to continue to amplify options for students and their interests. Thank you, community partners, for making this possible!

Please join us for the Tour of Novato on Saturday, May 9th and support your local school community OR School Fuel itself. More information can be found below.

In partnership,

Dr. Tracy Smith
Superintendent

School Fuel - Tour of Novato - May 9!

Participants can walk, run, or ride while raising funds for the programs that matter most. Best of all, 100% of the money raised goes directly to your designated NUSD school or club, making a real impact for students across our district.

Register, donate or volunteer at the Tour of Novato website.
Classic Ride - Family Ride - Downtown Walk - Community Fair - Student Presentations

Thank you to our generous sponsors!
  • Bank of Marin
  • BioMarin
  • Brayton Purcell
  • Love2Dance
  • Marin Community Foundation
  • Matt & Jeff's Car Wash and Retail Center
  • Redwood Credit Union
  • Savvey Print
  • Thirty-Seven Wines
  • Tommy's Salsa

Safe Routes to School - School Maps

We’re pleased to share new Safe Routes to Schools recommended route maps to support safer walking and rolling to school for our elementary and middle schools. You can find the maps here on the Safe Routes to School website.

These maps were developed with input from parents, students, and community stakeholders, reflecting commonly used routes, existing Crossing Guards, and key safety concerns. The maps were also reviewed by the City of Novato’s Public Works Department for accuracy. While these maps highlight recommended routes, please note that no route is completely safe. Caregivers should use their own judgment and discretion when choosing the best route for their child.

NUSD Board Meeting - April 21, 2026

Five people, including two adults and three children, stand together in front of a wall displaying student artwork.

Lu Sutton Elementary School

Presentation: Principal Karen Freemantle and two students talked about how Building Thinking Math Classrooms is working at Lu Sutton Elementary School. You can view the presentation at minute 25.13.
San Marin High School Reshaping ELD Regular Board Meeting April 21, 2026 title slide.

San Marin High School

Presentation: Principal Andy Boone and Assistant Principal Shawna Torres introduced Madeline Panacci who spoke about how San Marin is addressing their English Language Development program. The presentation starts at minute 52.13.
Staff Report: Anna McGee and Secondary Counselors presented an update on the implementation of CaliforniaColleges.edu, California’s official college and career planning platform. It’s free for California 6th - 12th grade students, their parents, and educators. The presentation begins at minute 1:26:50.

Discussion Action:
  • The Board approved the adoption of Benchmark Advance/Adelante for English and Spanish Language Arts and English Language Development Curriculum as recommended by the elementary pilot team. The presentation can be viewed at 2:00:02.
  • The Board also approved a resolution designating May as Novato Unified School District's Annual Employee Appreciation Month.

📺 Missed the meeting? You can watch all these highlights and more in the full recording here. The complete agenda and reports can be found here.
A purple background with a colorful starburst logo and the text 'Novato Unified School District' and 'Upcoming Board Meeting' in yellow.

Upcoming Board Meeting, May 5, 2026

The next Regular Board meeting is May 5 2026, and starts at 6:00 pm. You can watch from home on our NUSD YouTube channel.
The Board packet will be published on Friday, May 1, 2026. The complete agenda and reports can be found here.

Congratulations to Our April 2026 Modeling the Way Recipients!

Here are our outstanding April 2026 Modeling the Way recipients! These individuals—whether classified staff, certificated staff, or administrators—exemplify leadership, dedication, and a commitment to excellence. 

Katie Stafford

Katie is the STEM Coordinator at San Marin High School. Her video can be viewed here.  👏👏👏

Erin Chase

Erin is a Teacher at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.  Her video can be viewed here.  👏👏👏

Joe Murdoch

Joe is the IT Technician for Novato High School. His video can be viewed here.  👏👏👏

Kristy Chipman

Kristy is a Teacher at Rancho Elementary School. Her video can be viewed here.  👏👏👏
✨ Know someone who goes above and beyond? Parents, community members, and colleagues are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals who make a difference. The nomination form is open all school year: Modeling the Way Form.

May Holidays and Observances

A calendar lists holidays and observances for May 1-31, 2026, including cultural and religious celebrations.