Reminders

Dec. 18: Pajama Day Dec. 21-Jan. 1: SCHOOL CLOSED – Winter Recess Jan. 4: Teacher Work Day and Student Instructional Day (via Distance Learning) Jan. 5: In-person Classroom Instruction Resumes Jan. 18: SCHOOL CLOSED - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Feb. 4: Board Meeting 5pm via Zoom

Recordatorios Dic. 18: Día de Pijama Dic. 21- Ene. 1: ESCUELA CERRADA - Receso de Invierno Ene. 4: Día de Trabajo para Profesores y Día de Instrucción a Distancia para

Estudiantes Ene. 5: Reanuda Instrucción en Persona en Salas de Clase Ene. 18: ESCUELA CERRADA - Día de Martin Luther King, Jr. Feb. 4: Reunión de la Mesa Directiva 5pm via Zoom

Dear Nicasio Families, December 17, 2020

I can’t believe the final days of 2020 are upon us!

I can speak for the staff when I say this is has been the

longest year of our careers. I know as parents, you

probably feel that way too. On Monday, I sent a letter to

families about Winter Break, which begins next week. It

is also included in this edition of Cougar Tracks. Please

read and take note of the current Marin County Stay at

Home order. During Winter Break, please keep me

informed if your family has any COVID-related

incidents or health concerns. I will be checking my email once daily and will respond to public-health

related messages only. All other messages will be addressed when I return to campus in January.

At the School Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday evening we honored outgoing Board

President, Michelle Rutledge and welcomed new Trustee, Daniel Ager. We are very appreciative to

Michelle for all of her support and hard work over the years and know that Daniel will be an excellent

addition to the Board.

Friendly reminder that tomorrow (Friday) is Pajama Day! Also,

please help your children collect their Walk-A-Thon pledges and return their

envelopes to the main office by TOMORROW (December 18th).

As I shared the last several weeks, it was necessary to cancel school on

Monday, October 26th due to the PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff. We will make up this

instructional day on Monday, January 4th. Teachers will be sharing the plan and all students will

participate remotely this day.

Finally, it is with mixed emotions that we say goodbye to Ms. Monica

Snell as our classroom instructional assistant. Monica will be focusing on her

growing floral business, Stems Marin. We are thrilled for Monica and wish her

all the best! We are currently recruiting for her replacement (part-time

instructional assistant and lunch supervisor). If you know of anyone who

would be interested in joining our fantastic instructional team, please share

information found on the Human Resources page of our school website

(www.nicasioschool.org)

I wish you all a wonderful, restful Winter Break and look forward to making new memories

with you and your children in 2021!

Sincerely,

Barbara

Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke (bottom right) administers the Oath of Office to new Trustee Daniel Ager (center right) at Dec. 15th Board meeting. Trustee Ager fills the seat of departing Trustee Michelle Rutledge (bottom left). Thank you for ALL of your valuable work on behalf of NSD, Trustee Rutledge, and welcome aboard, Trustee Ager!

Nicasio School bids a fond

farewell to Monica Snell,

with much gratitude for

your many years and

countless contributions to

our school community.

Wishing you much success

with your flourishing floral

business. We will miss you!

Student Council member

Sophia K. sells raffle tickets

for the holiday teddy bear.

Last chance to buy tickets

before Friday’s (Dec. 18th)

drawing!

5555 Nicasio Valley Road, Nicasio, CA 94946

415.662.2184 / 415.662.2250 / www.nicasioschool.org

December 14, 2020 Welcome to the final school week of the 2020 school year! This year we have faced many challenges

as a school community and I want to say thank you for your partnership and commitment to our school. Winter Break begins next Monday, December 21st. I hope you and your family enjoy some rest and relaxation. As a reminder, Marin County has issued a Stay at Home Order until January 4th. Under this Order, all gatherings with members of other households, as well as non-essential travel are prohibited. According to the Marin County COVID-19 Safety-Decision Tree for Schools, families who are unable to follow the Stay At Home Order and engage in high-risk activity MUST

o Quarantine for 10-days following the risk activity they engaged in o Students may return to school after Day 7 with a negative COVID test performed

after Day 5 (diagnostic molecular rt-pcr tests only) and remain asymptomatic o Students who quarantine are expected to participate via distance learning

We are all faced with difficult decisions this holiday season. I will miss seeing my extended family and attending the usual festivities. But as I have already told my own children, this Stay at Home Order is temporary and will ultimately be a small part of their long and healthy lives. This is true for your children as well. Thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe and to allow our school to remain open for in-person instruction. On Monday, January 4th all students will participate via distance learning. This is a make-up instructional day for the day PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff on October 26th. Students will meet with their teachers via Zoom at 9 am and then participate in asynchronous (independent) classwork for the remainder of the day. We will reopen for in-person instruction on Tuesday, January 5th. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and look forward to better times and new memories ahead in 2021! Sincerely, Barbara Snekkevik Principal

NEWS RELEASEwww.marincounty.org/news

For Immediate ReleaseNovember 09, 2020

Public Health Emphasizes Safe Holidays and TravelOfficials from 9 Bay Area jurisdictions, including Marin, issue

recommendations

San Rafael, CA – Public health officers from the counties of Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa,Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma, and thecity of Berkeley have issued joint recommendations for staying safe during the holidays.The recommendations cover gatherings and travel, with recommended steps to reduce riskduring the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With cases rising around the country, and beginning to increase here in Santa ClaraCounty as well, we all must come together and keep up our efforts to reduce transmission,”said Dr. Sara Cody, Health Officer for the County of Santa Clara and Director of the PublicHealth Department. “When people who live in different houses or apartments are togetherat the same time in the same space, risk of COVID-19 spreading goes up, even when thepeople are relatives or friends. Please celebrate safely this year and protect yourself andyour family by including masks, keeping a distance, and staying outdoors.”

The joint recommendations for traveland gatherings advise that in-persongatherings be small, short, stable (nomore than three households over anextended period), and outdoors. Also,nonessential travel, including holidaytravel, is not recommended. Traveloutside the Bay Area will increasechances of infection and potentiallyspread the virus. For those who aretraveling, there are tips to help avoidcatching COVID-19 or spreading it tofellow travelers. Those travellingoutside the Bay Area are stronglyrecommended to self-quarantine for14 days upon return if activities while travelling created higher risk of getting COVID-19.

Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis said family and friends who plan to travelto a holiday gathering should consider being tested for COVID-19 before and after thegatherings. He said it’s more important than ever to practice the usual precautions, such asa wearing a face covering, washing hands frequently, avoidance of touching surfaces andother people, using hand sanitizer often, and maintaining a minimum of six feet fromothers.

Contact:Dr. Matthew Willis

Public Health Officer

Health and Human Services

3240 Kerner Blvd.

San Rafael, CA 94901

(415) 473-4163

Email: Dr. Matthew Willis

Marin HHS website

Travel outside the Bay Area will increase chances of

infection and potentially spread the virus.

Mental Health Crisis Hotlines 24/7National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Buckelew Suicide Prevention Hotline (Local): 415-499-1100California Youth Crisis Line: 1-800-843-5200 - For youth (ages 12-24) and familiesThe Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 - For LGBTQ youthThe Friendship Line: 1-800-971-0016 - For seniors and caregivers Crisis Text Line: Text MHA to 741741

Mental Health Support LinesBehavioral Health and Recovery Services Access Line: 1-888-818-1115 - For mentalhealth or substance use assessmentSAMHSA's Disaster Distress Line: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 The Peer-Run Warm Line: 1-855-845-7415Community Action Marin: 415-459-6330 - Mental Health Warm Line

COVID-19 PANDEMICMENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

COUNTY OF MARIN

Other ResourcesHHS COVID-19 Information Line: 415-473-7191General Resources: 211National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233Food Locator website: https://foodlocator.sfmfoodbank.org/

Updated on 4/22/20