San Marin Sun - September 27, 2026

Our Vision for Student Learning

At San Marin, every student is greeted by name and heard, reasons aloud with classmates through problems they cannot solve alone, drives their own thinking and revision, and leaves San Marin ready to think, contribute, and lead.

From Principal Boone

A note on how this newsletter gets made, for anyone who has wondered. Every Sunday I sit down with an AI assistant and we build it together. It does not start Sunday, though. Through the week I work with the same assistant, and when something comes up that belongs in the Sun, an event, a date, a thank you I do not want to forget, I ask it to remember it for the draft. This week it went like this. The assistant read our project files: the template, a facts file that holds every date we have confirmed, and the notes from the six issues before this one. It pulled the week's athletics schedule from our Athletic Director's spreadsheet and ran a script that built the contest table and counted the contests, so the number below is computed, not typed. It read the submissions our staff turned in for the week, a memo from our counseling office, two flyers I sent it, and the district's Data Confirmation numbers, and it read the performing arts website for the new section below. Twice, with my permission, it opened a browser on my computer: once to read a coach's post I wanted in the Mustang Way section, once to find the performing arts video. Then it drafted each section. Then a second script ran 24 checks on the finished file: every date matched to its day of the week, every link, and a sweep for characters that break translation and screen readers.

Then I read every word. I cut, I rewrite, and I approve. One assistant, three scripts, 24 checks, one principal. I wanted you to see the process, not just the result.

This Week

The first progress report period closed Friday. Teachers enter progress grades and comments through Tuesday morning, so check Aeries later this week. A progress report is a snapshot, not a final grade. If the report is not what your student wanted, the question that matters is what happens next. Talk with the teacher. Come to the Learning Lounge on Tuesday. Ask for help during Access, our Wednesday tutorial period. That is what Mindset looks like at San Marin, and it is our Mustang Way focus this week.

One number I am proud of. 1,080 San Marin families have completed Data Confirmation, more than any other school in the district, and up from last year. Thank you to Carmen Moreno and our office team for the calls, the emails, and the help at Back to School Night that got us there. If you are one of the 101 families still pending, it is waiting for you in Aeries, and Carmen can help in Spanish at carmenmoreno@nusd.org.

Homecoming is set. The theme is Night in the City. The parade is Thursday, October 22 on Grant Street, crowning is at halftime on Friday, October 23, and the dance is Saturday, October 24. Details are in Coming Up and further down.

Seniors, your one-on-one meetings with counselors start this week. Watch your email for the sign-up link.

The Mustang Way

What do you do when the work gets hard? We start the second trip through the Mustang Way this week, back at the foundation. The first progress grades of the year post in Aeries this week, and for some students the report will say the work is hard right now. That is information. What a student does with it is Mindset.

Here is what it looks like at San Marin. A student reads the report and picks one class to work on first. A student asks the teacher what to do next instead of waiting to be told. A student walks into the Library on Tuesday afternoon for the Learning Lounge, or uses Access on Wednesday morning to get unstuck. None of that requires talent. It requires deciding to respond.

Our athletes hear this every season. Geno Auriemma, the UConn women's basketball coach, teaches five things about mindset: let your body language show your effort, treat failure as part of growth, focus on the process instead of the outcome, stay hungry, and build trust with the people who coach you. He wrote them for a locker room. Every one of them works in a classroom. A progress report is a scoreboard at halftime. It tells you where you are. Mindset is what you do with the second half.

Families, the question works at the dinner table too. Ask your student what they plan to do about the hardest class on that report. Then ask yourself what you do when your own work gets hard. They are watching.

Coming Up

Full district calendar at nusd.org →

E-Bikes

Officers from the Novato Police Department began visiting secondary school campuses last week to inspect parked e-bikes, and the visits will continue. Officers place notification tags only on e-bikes that are determined to be illegal for street use, to inform students and families. This is an informational initiative led entirely by NPD.

Homecoming 2026

Three days, one theme.

Parade. Thursday, October 22, 6:00 to 7:00 PM on Grant Street. Clubs, teams, and classes can enter a float. Register at the link below.

Crowning. Friday, October 23, at halftime of the home football game.

Dance. Saturday, October 24, 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the gym. Students bringing a guest from another school need a guest pass form, available in the front office. Forms are due Thursday, October 15 in room 804 with $30, cash or check.

Hispanic Heritage Month

We are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15. Flags are up around our school to recognize and honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of the Hispanic community.

The flags represent some of the countries and cultures that are part of our school community. They are a small reminder of the many backgrounds, traditions, and experiences that make our school stronger.

ELAC and ELD

ELAC is our English Learner Advisory Committee: parents and staff who advise the school on programs and services for English learners. Meetings are for all families, not just families of English learners. The next one is Wednesday, October 7, 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the Library. This year's information is at the link below, in English and Spanish. Carmen Moreno (carmenmoreno@nusd.org) or the Counseling Office can answer questions.

Counseling and College

Seniors, optional one-on-one meetings with your counselor run Monday, September 28 through Friday, October 9. Counselors email the sign-up link. If you missed the presentation in English class, the slides and the senior packet are below.

Dual enrollment lets students take college courses while in high school. College of Marin is on campus every Wednesday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, in the College and Career Center to help with applications and questions. See your counselor to book an appointment, or stop by.

Volunteers from 10,000 Degrees are in the library every Tuesday from 1:55 to 3:10 PM to help seniors with college essays and Personal Insight Questions. Sign-up sheets are in the College and Career Center.

Mr. Glasgow, the Marin County Office of Education career liaison, is on campus every Thursday. He meets with students about internships, volunteer opportunities, and career exploration. Families and students can join his Remind group to hear about programs and deadlines as they come up.

There are also great opportunities for students in healthcare careers, with training length and pay laid out for each one.

Parent and Family Education

Let's Talk fall webinars. Let's Talk is an initiative of Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships. The fall series runs on Zoom, with youth speakers, time for questions, and live Spanish interpretation at every session. Coming up for middle and high school families:

Wednesday, September 30, 7:00 to 8:30 PM: Underage Substance Use in Marin.
Wednesday, October 7, 6:00 to 7:00 PM, in Spanish: Hablemos, cómo nos cambia la vida familiar al llegar a este país.
Wednesday, October 14, 7:00 to 8:30 PM: Nicotine Pouches, Cannabis Edibles, and Other Emerging Products.
Wednesday, November 4, 7:00 to 8:30 PM: ADHD and Youth Well-Being.
Wednesday, November 18, 7:00 to 8:30 PM: Fentanyl and Overdose Protection.
Wednesday, December 2, 7:00 to 8:30 PM: The Adolescent Brain.

The Marin County Office of Education keeps a public calendar of free parent and family education events across the county, with registration links for each one. It is worth a bookmark.

Volunteering and Driving

Planning to volunteer or drive for San Marin or any NUSD school this year? Every volunteer completes the volunteer application, mandated reporter training, and TB clearance before starting. The district page below has all of it. Completed paperwork goes to Lisa Sosa, Office Manager, in the main office.

Drivers, including student drivers, also complete the district driver form.

Student Travel Opportunity

Japan, June 2028, with WorldStrides. A teacher-led ten day cultural and educational tour: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and more. This is not a school event and not an NUSD approved trip. Questions go to the trip leaders at mlemieux@nusd.org or rwatson@nusd.org. Trip information →

STEM Marin

STEM Stampede prices rise Monday, October 5. The Stampede is Saturday, November 14 at 5:00 PM at Indian Valley Golf Course, a country western evening supporting the STEM Marin program. Buy before October 5 for the early bird price. Buy tickets →

STEM Marin runs on family giving. The program needs more than $65,000 a year to operate, and that money pays for the labs, equipment, and materials students use in Engineering, Biotechnology, and Art in Science. The suggested contribution is $250 per student. Any amount helps, and a contribution of $250 or more comes with a swag bundle.

Prefer a check? Make it payable to STEM Marin Fund. Drop it at the school office, or mail it to San Marin High School STEM Program, 15 San Marin Drive, Novato, CA 94945.

The STEM Marin September newsletter is out, and the September STEM Students of the Month are featured there. Read the newsletter → Questions about the program itself go to stemmarin.org →

San Marin Performing Arts

Three programs, one department. The Pasta Social and Fall Concert is Friday, and The Addams Family opens October 15. Here is who puts them on.

Twelve minutes inside the program, made by Starnstruck Media, San Marin Class of 2020. Watch the video →

Concerts, productions, tickets, and how to get involved, at sanmarinperformingarts.org →

Athletics

Twenty five contests this week, fifteen of them at home. Football and cheer have a bye this week. Home contests are at San Marin. Student athletes with a release time leave class early that day. Every team, every result, at sanmarinathletics.com →

Green and Gold Roundup

Auction donations are due this Thursday, October 1. The auction is built by this community. Donated items, experiences, gift certificates, services, and sponsorships are all welcome. The team guide below covers team wish lists, the dessert auction, and themed team baskets. Ask your student athlete about it.

San Marin Athletics does not happen without you. Come for the party. Show up for our kids. We are bringing the entire San Marin community together for one unforgettable Green and Gold night at Corda Ranch. BBQ. Games. Music. Dancing. Auctions. Mustang Pride.

Come hungry. Play some games. Bid on something amazing. Hit the dance floor. Bring your friends. Country chic, cowboy casual, Green and Gold encouraged.

This night is about more than throwing a great party. The Green and Gold Roundup is our community's opportunity to help keep ALL San Marin sports going strong. Every sport, gender, season and program.

Tickets are $100 for individuals, $180 for couples, and $1,000 for a VIP table that seats ten. On sale now.

Donate an auction item → Team guide for coaches →

Around Campus

Fifteen home contests this week. Come out and see a team you have not seen yet.

Go Mustangs. Go Green & Gold. 🐴