Coronavirus
Marin Academy is tracking news and information related to the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it may impact our community. This page provides information and resources for MA families and will be updated as the situation evolves.
Marin Academy Updates
- August 24, 2020: Welcome to the 2020-21 School Year
- August 9, 2020: Important Update on the Start of School
- July 17, 2020: Email from Travis: COVID Update
- May 29, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: Last Weekly Update
- May 27, 2020: Email from Travis: A Preview of the 2020-21 Academic Schedule
- May 22, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 6 Student Email
- May 20, 2020: Email from Travis: A Look Ahead at the 2020-21 Academic Year
- May 15, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 5 Student Email
- May 15, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
- May 8, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 4 Student Email
- May 8, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
- May 2, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 3 Student Email
- April 24, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 2 Student Email
- April 18, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
- April 10, 2020: Email from School Counselor: Support to Help Manage Student's Emotional Health
- April 10, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 1 Student Email
- April 9, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
- March 30, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
- March 27, 2020: Email from Travis: Level 4 Learning, Conferences, Grades, and more
- March 25, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
- March 23, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
- March 21, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
- March 17, 2020: Email from Travis: COVID-19 Exposure in Our Community
- March 16, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
- March 16, 2020: Email from Travis: Important Safety and Social Distancing Responsibilities for Students and Parents
- March 15, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: Preparing for Virtual Classes
- March 14, 2020: Email from Academic Dean to MARC Students and Families
- March 13, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: Upcoming Weeks/Days
- March 13, 2020: Email from Travis: Marin Academy's Plan for School Closure
- March 13, 2020: Letter to Faculty Regarding School Closure
- March 12, 2020: New Message about Junior Class Parent Potluck
- March 11, 2020: Virtual MA Celebrates - A Note from the Co-Chairs
- March 11, 2020: Coronavirus: Student Expectations
- March 11, 2020: Email from Travis: MA Distance Learning Practice Day
- March 10, 2020: Email from Travis: Important Update about March 21 MA Celebrates
- March 10, 2020: Announcement - Thacher Event Postponed
- March 9, 2020: Letter from MA Class Deans re: COVID-19
- March 6, 2020: Email from Travis: Coronavirus Update
- March 5, 2020: Email from school transportation service, KidzJet
- March 3, 2020: Press Release: Marin County Schools Prepare for Coronavirus/COVID-19
- March 2, 2020: Email from Travis: Coronavirus Update
August 24, 2020: Welcome to the 2020-21 School Year
Dear MA Students and Families,
Welcome to the 2020-21 academic year!
Much of our summer has been spent waiting and wondering. How will school start? When will something different happen? Who can we see? What will tomorrow be like? I’m sure, like me, you are feeling a mix of emotions. On the one hand, this year begins in a momentous time in history, one we will likely talk about for the rest of our lives. On the other hand, we welcome a return to routine and purpose. We’ll meet with teachers and classmates in virtual classrooms, we’ll juggle schedules and assignments, we’ll get involved in co-curricular activities. In a nutshell, it will feel very much like high school—students and teachers will meet each day to discuss, explore, think, write, and solve in a learning community that seeks to ignite each student’s passions.
But more than that, we are poised and prepared as a school to meet inevitable uncertainties with resilience, grit, and creative thinking. This has always been the MA way.
Assessing the Present, Charting the Future
We recently surveyed our faculty and staff as well as our students and families to gauge their readiness for the school year ahead. I’m deeply grateful for everyone who took the time to provide us with your comments and suggestions. The vast majority of our community is looking forward to a return to school as soon as it is safe (and permissible) to do so and with the right health and safety protocols in place. You’ll be hearing more about these protocols and preparedness in the weeks ahead as we build upon the work accomplished over the summer with an expanded team of people that now includes administrators, faculty members, and students. I am also pleased to announce that we’ve hired Gayle Masada, a registered nurse, as our COVID-19 coordinator to help us in the work of ensuring the health and safety of our community.
Many of you also encouraged us to find safe ways to bring small groups of students to campus during the fall L4L quarter to help students maintain a sense of connection with the school and to prevent social isolation. We hear this loud and clear. At orientation, students have learned about the many ways they can engage and get involved with their classmates, teachers, and advisors in the first quarter. We are also hosting a Zoom session on September 2 at 6:00 p.m. for parents/guardians to discuss their role in supporting student emotional well-being during remote learning. And you’ll hear more from the leadership team as we work through the complexities of opening campus to certain groups. The health and safety of students, teachers, and staff is our North Star in all of our decisions.
Planning for an Eventual Return to Campus
Like all of you, I hope to return to campus as soon as possible. How will we make this decision? It is complex, involving dynamics both within and beyond our control, including state mandates, the robustness of testing in Marin and surrounding counties, campus readiness, and where we are in our learning cycle. In other words, is it Safe? Are we Ready? Does it make Sense? (SRS)
Once we are closer to a date to return to campus, we will share our Return to the Circle protocols. These protocols will be based on the most up-to-date guidelines from the Marin County Office of Education, Marin County Public Health, California Department of Public Health, and the CDC, as well as input from medical professionals and learnings from other schools and universities. I am grateful to the expanded team of administrators, faculty, and students who will be involved in making these protocols effective and practicable for our community.
Keeping You Informed
As the school year gets underway, we want to continue to communicate frequently and openly as we find ourselves on paths that are both familiar and unfamiliar. I’ll be scheduling Zoom calls in the first few weeks of school for both new and returning families, with updates on virtual learning, our return-to-campus planning, and an opportunity to answer more of your questions. We have also scheduled a Town Hall with students on Friday, September 4 at 3:00 p.m., to continue the important conversation around systemic racism and to ensure we are leaning into our vision of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.
We begin this year in momentous times: a global pandemic, addressing systemic racism, and the challenges of a Presidential election year. The journey ahead requires our partnership and commitment to community, now more than ever. We will work together to find solutions with empathy, curiosity, and flexibility. We stand by these MA Competencies; they will guide our decision-making as we partner to create another meaningful year of learning and evolving at Marin Academy.
Warmest regards,
August 9, 2020: Important Update on the Start of School
Dear MA Families and Students,
I’m fortunate that I live within walking distance to the Marin Academy campus. Today, I stopped by the school garden for the first time in weeks. Figs, apples, plums, and persimmons are thriving in the school garden, and the next round of strawberries are ripening. Sunflowers tower in the SIC garden. Nature persists as do we.
Much has changed in these few weeks. This is the nature of life and decision-making in the midst of a pandemic that moves quickly and impacts each of us in very different ways. The governor’s announcement on July 17 has placed new restrictions on every public and independent K-12 school in Marin County and other counties in California on the watch list. Data trends tell us that the virus is still too prevalent in Marin and the Bay Area, causing many schools and businesses to reassess or retract re-opening measures. Daily, we see evidence of what happens when schools and businesses reopen too quickly—a spike in new cases and hospitalizations.
This new mandate by the State of California as well as our review of the data have led us to the decision to begin school at Level 4 Learning (100% remote) and remain at that level through at least the first quarter (October 16).
This difficult decision requires us to hold two contradictory truths: returning to in-person instruction is best, and doing so would pose health risks given current data trends. First and foremost in our decision-making is the health and safety of our MA community—students, employees, and families. We are justifiably concerned about the spike in COVID-19 cases in Marin and the Bay Area, that testing is still not widely available, and that test results aren’t obtained quickly enough.
It boils down to this: the likelihood of individuals in the MA community testing positive or spreading the virus at this stage of its trajectory presents a real health risk.
With an all-virtual Q1, we minimize health risks and the disruptions that seem likely, such as sending cohorts home if a member tests positive for COVID-19. We give ourselves another six weeks to monitor the pace of the pandemic in our community. More importantly, we afford ourselves the opportunity to take a gradual and safe approach to our return to campus at the time when the virus is better controlled and testing is easier and faster to obtain. For example, if and when circumstances allow, we want to find safe ways to bring small groups to campus so we can teach, learn, and practice the new health and safety protocols that will become part of our school experience when we do return.
Although I am heartbroken that we cannot return in person at this point, we are poised and prepared to provide an exceptional virtual learning experience for all of our students. At MA, we believe that education at its best incorporates experiential learning with intellectual rigor and global citizenship. We strive to create a learning community in which adults and students are engaged and connected — with each other and with the world around us. That’s our ‘why’, and it remains constant. Only our ‘how’ is changing. These are the steps we are taking to deliver on our educational promise:
We’re making remote learning highly effective.
We are confident that remote learning will be a very powerful way to engage and to connect. While teachers have worked hard to envision and plan for teaching in the L2L mode we had hoped for in August, starting with L4L will allow for more student group work, collaboration, and connection, given the health and safety risks that are present now.
Based on feedback last spring from students, faculty, and parents/guardians—as well as ongoing research and information shared by other institutions (local, national, and international)—we have made adjustments to our L4L instructional design. That is, L4L in the 2020–2021 school year will take the best parts of the spring experience and incorporate these learnings and your feedback.
We’re developing forward-leaning skills in remote learning.
I’m confident in this pedagogical approach in large part because of our remarkable faculty. Our teachers have spent significant time this summer redesigning our entire curriculum. They have been online learners themselves in a course on the best practices for online learning, supplementing this required learning with additional professional development and consulting in competency-based learning, developing community in virtual settings, caring for the well-being of all students, and continuing to focus on creating equitable and inclusive classrooms.
We’re investing in new technologies.
We’re launching a new Learning Management System, Canvas, that is far superior to the MyMA platform we were working with last year. Teachers have been meeting in small groups up to twice a week since the start of summer to get up to speed with the new platform, and we are genuinely excited about our new-found functionality in this realm. Teachers are building out robust course pages, and students will find that regardless of which level learning is occurring, all of their work will be consolidated in a single location and that they are able to Zoom with classes, submit work, and access a “to do” list of their asynchronous assignments all in one place. We’ve also equipped classrooms with enhanced audio and video technology for the moment when we do return to campus.
We will continue to help students thrive in all the ways MA is known for.
We know school this year will feel different for students, whether we are learning virtually or back in the classroom with new safety protocols in place and conditions permit. We’ll continue to offer ways to connect and feel supported as we travel unfamiliar paths together. Even in L4L mode, students will meet weekly with their advisors in small groups, have monthly class meetings, and join twice weekly all-school assemblies—via Zoom. Student clubs will continue to meet virtually, as will the student government. There will be virtual art shows and performances, as well as virtual wellness offerings such as yoga, mindfulness classes, and online workouts. Virtual events for parents will include new parent coffees with me, parent education, and Zoom meetings on a variety of topics. I am also looking at other ways to connect with our students, given our virtual presence. Everything that makes MA a great place to go to high school will be on offer — just in a format that respects COVID-19 concerns.
Since the onset of this pandemic, I’ve promised to communicate openly and frequently, sharing the best information as I have it. I will continue to do so as new information emerges. And now we need your feedback. We want to hear what you anticipate about remote learning, an eventual return to the classroom, and what ideas you might have for ensuring the best possible educational experience for our students. Please take a moment to complete this very short survey by August 7. Your input helps shape our decisions and provides feedback on the equity and educational effectiveness of our approach for the 2020-2021 school year.
I am looking forward to the start of school in spite of how different it will be. I’m confident that our learning community will lean into these new challenges with empathy, curiosity, and intellectual flexibility as we always do. Please refer to our updated FAQs for more information.
With gratitude and optimism,
July 17, 2020: Email from Travis: COVID Update
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Dear MA Students and Families,
In my June 26 letter to parents and guardians, I promised to share with you today our return to campus guidelines and other decisions about the start of school.
Since I sent that letter, our decision-making landscape has changed significantly. On July 3, Marin County was placed on the California watch list due to a spike in COVID-19 activity. On Wednesday, the Marin County Office of Public Health changed their guidance for reopening schools, pushing back in-person instruction. Today, the State of California mandated that all schools in counties that are on the governor’s COVID-19 watch list may not begin in-person instruction until the county has been off the watch list for 14 consecutive days. While our hope was to start classes in person, we will likely start school at the Level 4 Learning level, and continue in that mode until restrictions are lifted and guidelines evolve. I will be communicating with you more details in the coming weeks.
Since the first outbreak of the pandemic, our shared goal has been the health and safety of our students and employees. The developments of these past few days have put into very sharp relief for me just how important it is for us all to take personal and collective action to help slow and limit the spread of the coronavirus. We know what to do. Wear masks. Practice physical distancing. Wash our hands frequently. We are all deeply eager to return to campus in person. Now it is up to each and every one of us to take responsibility so we can help make this happen. It starts by doing our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Marin County.
This time has been exceedingly difficult for us as a nation; it has been a challenging set of circumstances in which to lead an independent school. That said, I’ve been encouraged by the enthusiasm and intention with which all members of our community have embraced these new and unfolding challenges. I’m also grateful for the fact that MA is well-poised to navigate the unfolding challenge of COVID-19 for the foreseeable future. First, we have exceptional faculty who have dedicated themselves this summer to extensive professional development in online and flexible learning modes. They are joined by talented administrators and dedicated staff members who are working diligently to ensure educational excellence for all of our students while protecting the health and safety of our community. Second, our campus affords us great flexibility for physically distanced in-person learning, both inside and outdoors. Finally, we have developed an incredibly robust plan for Instructional Continuity that will allow us to pivot quickly and intentionally between different learning levels as the pandemic evolves and guidelines change. In fact, our four-level learning framework and new quarter on/quarter off schedule positions us well for this very moment—and others to come.
We feel confident, well prepared, and nimble. And while we would very much love to welcome you to campus with open arms at the end of August, please know that we will welcome you with open hearts.
We will continue to communicate openly, honestly, and frequently as new information emerges.
Warmest Regards,
May 29, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: Last Weekly Update
Dear Scholars,
Here it is: my last weekly update of the 2019–2020 school year. Today marks the last “regular” classes for 9th–11th graders and the point at which all seniors submit their documentation of their passion projects. Next week the Festival of Learning will bring showcases of learning and exploration: thank you to all the students who are leading sessions, and a special shout-out to Miles Urban, Zack Cohen, and Jessie Fischer for helping create the FOL itself.
Festival of Learning
It’s almost here! It’s almost here! For three days you will have the opportunity to “Make Something,” “Learn Something” and “Be Active” as part of MA’s first-ever Festival of Learning. Thanks for signing up for your workshop choices; you’ll be getting your schedule from Sachi soon!
Booklists
Summer reading lists from the class deans and Derek will soon be arriving in your inboxes. We ask that all of you read at least one book off your particular grade’s list this summer, but also challenge you to read more. Read all the books off your grade’s list. Then read all the books on the other grades’ lists. Then check in with your local library and get more ideas. Read, read, read!
Next Year
Stella, Aaron, and I were glad to see so many of you at our webinars last Wednesday on next year’s schedule. Recordings of those webinars will soon be on your grade-level pages, but you can also read more on our website here. Note there’s still a lot we don’t know such as:
- What level will we start at next year?
- What protocols—like mask wearing or temperature taking—will be in place next year?
- What will happen with athletics and co-curriculars?
Those questions and more will be based on the precautions we are either required or guided to by health professionals, athletic organizations, and more. With the start of next school year still almost 3 months away, we know a lot can change. What we do know, however, is that next year will look different and so will our schedule. As you have become used to an every-other-day, 7-block, rotating schedule, it might be hard to imagine learning any other way. But 3 blocks at a time meeting daily in a quarter-on, quarter-off way is not unlike schedules that other schools have chosen unrelated to the pandemic. There is research around deeper learning with more retention, less stress and anxiety, and better balance connected to them. Anecdotally, I used to teach under such a schedule; my previous school moved from an every-other-day schedule to a Q-on, Q-off one more than a decade ago. We compiled data over three years to see if the quarters off resulted in lower SAT, ACT, or AP scores, lower scores on finals, increased anxiety in students, and more. What we found is that scores didn’t change, teachers and students preferred the schedule (90% of students preferred the schedule), and that self-reported levels of (student) anxiety decreased.
We’re still tweaking aspects of the schedule (focusing heavily on the lunch and S blocks for L2L and L3L), and more information will be coming throughout the summer. All schools are reimagining their campuses for next year, and I feel lucky that we have the physical campus and teachers that we do. I know you will continue to benefit from an MA education that is like no other, and I’m excited to engage with you next fall.
Closing Thoughts
We watched—some of us literally through video—another black man killed this week. And we’ve been watching and hearing about the citizens of the Twin Cities uprising through both peaceful protest and “rioting.” I put that word in quotes because it’s charged and there’s so much to unpack, certainly a lot more than can be put at the end of an email. However, right now I ask us all to remember the circles that surround us and that we hold: the intrapersonal (self), the interpersonal (close relationships), the communities we’re a part of, the larger local, and the world. When even a single one of these circles is filled with grief or sorrow or crisis, it’s hard. For some of you, many of those circles feel heavy right now. I know for me they feel full. The senseless death of George Floyd may hit close to home for some of you: it is a fear you and your family live with because of your being. I want to say I see you. And I’m sorry. And while it may seem this final update from me is ending on a low note, it is not. I write these words because you have all shown me, as students at MA, that you strive to be aware and informed. And then you care enough to make a difference. I am sad about many pieces of our world right now, but I am bolstered by knowing our seniors are going to be spreading themselves throughout the country (and world!) next year, bringing their commitment, caring, and competency to impact hundreds of communities and thousands of people. I am excited to know that all 440 of you are going to, someday, be making choices in the world that create better places for all of us. I know that while the shape of school may be different next year, the essence of MA will be strong because your teachers hold it and all of you hold it. MA has always been more than a campus—something that has evolved over the past 40 years—and more than a schedule—something that has also changed multiple times. It has always been about purpose and people, and I look forward to holding that—and you—as we move forward.
With great admiration,
KaTrina
May 27, 2020: Email from Travis: A Preview of the 2020-21 Academic Schedule
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Dear MA Families and Students,
As we enter Month 3 of our shelter-in-place routines, my thoughts remain with you and your families. I hope all of you are staying safe and healthy as we adjust to this “new normal.”
In last week’s letter, I shared with you how we are approaching the challenges of delivering an exceptional experiential education in the face of this global pandemic. As a first priority, we have focused on designing an academic schedule that is flexible enough to minimize the disruption of possible closures or outbreaks, is pedagogically proven, and prioritizes the health and safety of our community. Thanks to the diligent and thoughtful work of the academic planning team—with input from across our community—that is what we’re ready to share with you today.
An academic model built to flex
For many years, MA’s academic schedule has been based on a 6-day rotating block schedule, with classes taking place every other day. We had A,B,C days, and D,E,F,G days, with assemblies, class meetings, tutorial, free blocks, and activities as part of the mix. This type of block schedule gave students time to dig into a 6-7 class workload, balanced with time for community.
In a post-COVID world, with intermittent and unpredictable closures and absences, this type of block schedule is restrictive; students and teachers would miss too much if they were out for multiple days. More important, we need a simpler schedule that enables us to easily pivot, as circumstances warrant, across three modes: on-campus learning with required physical distancing; lower-density learning, with half of our students on campus for alternating days; and 100% virtual, where everyone is distance learning.
Our solution to this set of challenges and priorities for 2020–21 school year will be a more flexible block schedule model. Students in grades 9-12 will have an A,B,C schedule each day for Quarters 1 and 3, and a D,E,F schedule in Quarters 2 and 4. Each quarter, there will also be an “S-block” (or “small block”) class that meets Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, everyone will be learning remotely, giving the school a day for inevitable tasks such as deep cleaning and students an opportunity for collaborative work.
Join a webinar to learn more
This is an important and necessary shift in our rhythm as a school. Please join KaTrina Wentzel, Academic Dean, Stella Beale, Dean of Faculty and me for a deeper look during one of the following webinars. We will show you in more detail how students will experience the 2020-21 academic model, and how it can flex under various scenarios. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask questions (ideally submitted in advance so that we can make the best use of our time).
Thursday, May 28, 4:00-5:00 p.m.: Zoom webinar - Class of 2024 Families. Register here. Ask your questions in advance here.
Friday, May 29, 4:00-5:00 p.m.: Zoom webinar - Class of 2023 Families. Register here. Ask your questions in advance here.
Friday, May 29, 5:00-6:00 p.m.: Zoom webinar - Classes of 2022 + 2021 Families. Register here. Ask your questions in advance here.
Students had an opportunity to preview the new academic schedule today during lunchtime and ask questions as well.
For those of you who cannot make a webinar, please visit the Instructional Continuity page on our website where you will be able to find resources specific to the 2020-21 academic year and our coronavirus response. This page will include links to webinar recordings as they’re available, schedule details, FAQs, and more, and will be kept up to date as decisions are finalized.
What’s next?
With our scheduling framework in place, we can now fine-tune details around athletics, co-curriculars, social distancing and safety protocols, transportation, and more. We will share these decisions over the next several weeks.
Dates to note:
July 26: Individual student schedules available
Orientations:
- 12th grade: Thursday, Aug 20, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
- 11th grade: Monday, Aug 24, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
- 10th grade: Monday, Aug 24, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- 9th grade: Friday, Aug 21, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
August 25: Classes start
In closing, I leave you with this: next year is likely to see us pivoting across different learning modes, from face-to-face to virtual. This is the new normal. Regardless of the mode we may find ourselves in at any given time, we will continue to help students develop the skills and tools necessary to thrive in and contribute to our rapidly evolving world. We will continue to create a learning culture that equips our students with the skills to value diverse perspectives. Both within and outside the classroom, whether in person or virtually, we will help students learn ways to be healthy, manage stress, and navigate the highs and lows of life. We will continue to promote critical thinking—informed, independent, collaborative, and creative—as the hallmark of the Marin Academy experience.
As we lean into the challenge of this new landscape, I am confident that we will do it together as a community of compassionate, caring individuals. Look how far we’ve come in such a short time. I credit the adaptability and resilience of the MA community. I am grateful for who we are, and who we are becoming.
With gratitude,
May 22, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 6 Student Email
Dear Scholars,
Can you believe there is just one more week of regular classes? Time feels more abstract than ever these days, so it doesn’t surprise me that this snuck up on me, but wow. The year is quickly coming to a close. We are in a space right now where we are making plans to finish this school year while simultaneously thinking about next. Below are some important pieces about both.
Yearbooks and More
The yearbooks are here! The yearbooks are here! Today during advisory you’ll watch a short video about the yearbook. Then, thanks to MAPA, we have arranged a system where you can safely pick up your book in the coming days. Specifically:
- Seniors can come to campus today (Friday, May 22) between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. or tomorrow, (Saturday, May 23) between 10:00 a.m. and noon to pick up their cap and gown, yearbook, and a couple other special surprises. Please drive in the Circle, up to the porch at Foster Hall, wearing a face covering. You will not exit your car.
- 9th–11th graders can come to campus tomorrow (Saturday, May 23) between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. or Tuesday, May 26 between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. Please drive in the Circle, up to the porch at Foster Hall, wearing a face covering. You will not exit your car.
When you come to pick up your yearbook, grab any library books you need to return and bring them back to school. If you do, please make sure to put them in a grocery bag; note that we will only collect books that are bagged.
No student will be turned away from a yearbook, so please come get yours! Also, Jostens, our yearbook company, is releasing a way to collect signatures online and print them at home for inclusion in your book. I was hoping to include the link in this message, but it looks like it’s not officially released yet so I’ll have to send it in another email. Look for that soon!
Festival of Learning
Just a little over a week away, we can’t wait until the Festival of Learning. You will be hearing more from Sachi, but it will be filled with arts showcases, the farewell assembly, and more. And while some parts will be for our whole community (like the aforementioned), you'll also have the opportunity to join smaller workshops on a variety of subjects. You might, for instance hear from MARC students about their projects, take movement and mindfulness workshops with Mark, or take a Zumba class with Catie Scannell. You might have dedicated time with an epidemiologist to learn more about the pandemic, go on an iNaturalist exploration with Sebastian Melrose, or create tie-dye t-shirts with Miles Urban. With a wide range of student, faculty, staff, and outside leaders, the upcoming FOL will give you each time to learn, create, and explore. If you have a session you’d like to lead, it’s not too late. Let Sachi know!
Next Year
As you are aware, there are a lot of questions about what, exactly, school will look like next year. Because the fall of 2020 is still months away and there are many outside factors that we cannot control, it’s too early to answer all those questions. However, after spending a lot of time seeking out and listening to leaders in health and education fields; getting feedback on L4L from students, faculty, and parents; and collaborating with other schools in the Bay Area and beyond, we have some insights and direction. We are now putting some final touches on our schedule for next year, and on Wednesday, May 27 from 12:00–12:30, current 9th–11th graders will have a chance to log onto grade-specific webinars/Zooms led by me, Stella, and Aaron to learn more. Travis will send out an email to parents and guardians detailing our plans that same afternoon, and we’ll be hosting webinars for parents and guardians later in the week. It was critical to us, however, that you heard directly from us about the plans. I will be sending you invitations at the beginning of next week, and I hope you will join us to learn more. If you are unable to attend, don’t worry: we will record the sessions.
Concluding Thoughts
As you go into a three-day weekend, I hope that you can actually feel and enjoy that extra day. I plan to be cooking, strumming a uke, and hopefully getting chocolate croissants at Arsecault bakery. For my personal picture of the day, I leave you with one of my three happy ukes: my pineapple, my Koaloha concert, and my “Kena-inspired” 8 string (which arrived last week and makes me so happy). My special Koaloha uke is getting some extra love right now; it was blessed by Grammy-nominated ukulele player, Willy K, who died a couple of days ago after a battle with cancer. For a nice listen, you can hear his version of “Hallelujah” here.
May 20, 2020: Email from Travis: A Look Ahead at the 2020-21 Academic Year
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Dear MA Families and Students,
In last Friday’s Notes from the Circle, I shared with you how we are wrapping up this unprecedented school year. I also promised to provide you today our schedule for next year (please note below the new dates for the Zoom calls).
This is the first of what will be a series of communications over the summer. Today, we have the framing in place. Over the next weeks and months, we’ll be refining the details and sharing them with you in true MA style—open and collaborative.
At MA we like to say “everything is a question.” It perfectly encompasses how we think of our role as educators—to empower students in developing the tools and perspectives needed to solve challenging problems with no easy answers. COVID-19 has certainly tested our mettle when it comes to embracing questions and pushing boundaries. I want to thank everyone in the MA community for their resilience and creativity as we quickly solve for what an MA education looks like in the face of this global crisis.
The question I know we are all asking now is this: what’s next?
During the past several weeks, MA administrators, teachers, and trustees have been preparing for the coming fall semester and the 2020–21 academic year. This work has us assessing a range of issues and options in a world that has been changed significantly by the coronavirus pandemic. All of this planning work has been informed by three guiding principles:
Our vision and purpose as a school remains constant. Yes, we must adapt the way we meet and learn in a post-COVID world. But our fundamental vision for education remains the same: to help students develop the core competencies they will need to lead and thrive in a rapidly changing world. It may feel like the ground is shifting under our feet, but we do not need to re-invent the essence of a Marin Academy education.
We make decisions based on the best available data and ideas. We’ve spent countless hours accessing the most current information around COVID-19, its trajectory, and the likely scenarios we will be facing in the fall and beyond. We’ve reached out to professionals, attended webinars, and immersed ourselves in the literature. Our decision process has been informed by engineering, health, and education leaders. We’ve also exchanged ideas with colleges and other Bay Area schools, both public and independent, which has afforded us something akin to a rapid-testing lab for possible solutions. We know that information surrounding COVID–19, risk factors, and more is constantly evolving and we will continue to stay informed and nimble in the weeks and months ahead.
We listen and learn from our own experience. We also asked for input along the way as we pivoted to our L4L learning model for the final months of the spring semester. Feedback from students, faculty, and parents has informed our approach in building a successful educational model—one that will likely have us transitioning between in-person and virtual learning for some time to come, as circumstances change, at least until a vaccine is widely available.
We are still finalizing all the details for the 2020–21 academic year that will enable us to not only return to campus safely, but also include our signature co-curricular programs, athletics, the arts and more. There are, however, a few certainties that I can share with you today.
- Classes will start the week of August 24th as originally planned. Orientation for new students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors will take place the week of August 17th.
- Our schedule will be built to flex. We are prepared to meet the challenge of intermittent and unpredictable closures based on the trajectory of this pandemic, as well as the possibility that illness or immuno-compromised health may keep some students and teachers away from school for extended periods. We are building a schedule designed to minimize the impact of these inevitable disruptions in terms of scheduling, grading periods, workload demands, and assessments. Classes may be held face to face, or in a hybrid model, or in 100% virtual mode as circumstances warrant. The important thing to know is this: every day’s class schedule will remain constant even if the learning mode may vary.
- We will use our spaces differently. When we return to campus, we will do so in a way that complies with the most current guidelines and requirements for minimizing the risk of COVID-19 exposure for everyone in the MA community. This may include social distancing, minimizing overall campus density, grouping students and teachers into smaller classes, frequent sanitization measures, deep cleaning between groups, scheduled use of cafeteria and library, and re-envisioning our larger group gatherings such as class meetings, tutorials, and assemblies.
- Financial assistance will be available to families that need it. We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has created significant economic disruption for our community, and we expect more students will need tuition assistance in the coming academic year. Marin Academy has set aside additional funds for tuition assistance in order to meet the demonstrated needs of our students and families.
We know there are more questions, and we’re creating opportunities to hear them and respond. Look for our next letter on Wednesday, May 27th with more details about the 2020–21 Academic Schedule. In addition, please make note of the following webinars which are opportunities to learn more and ask questions:
Thursday, May 28, 4:00-5:00 p.m.: Zoom webinar - Class of 2024 Families. Register here. Ask your questions in advance here. (Please check your email for the links)
Friday, May 29, 4:00-5:00 p.m.: Zoom webinar - Class of 2023 Families. Register here. Ask your questions in advance here. (Please check your email for the links)
Friday, May 29, 5:00-6:00 p.m.: Zoom webinar - Classes of 2022 + 2021 Families. Register here. Ask your questions in advance here. (Please check your email for the links)
We are also scheduling webinars with students during lunchtime on Wednesday, May 27th, to preview the 2020–21 academic schedule and to provide the first chance for many of them to ask their questions.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge the tremendous work of our academic planning team, led by KaTrina Wentzel, Academic Dean. This group includes our Dean of Faculty Stella Beale, Dean of Equity and Inclusion Mya Sullivan, and Director of College Counseling Aaron Fulk. This team has developed a flexible learning model that can maintain MA’s high standards for education and community and at the same time adapt to our changing world. They’ve done so in short order and with continually evolving data and guidelines. They are my heroes.
I also want to express my gratitude for insights gained from my fellow Bay Area Heads of School. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, we’ve been meeting weekly to share what we know, brainstorm different approaches to education in a post-pandemic world, and explore the best ways to ensure the safety of our school communities. It’s been a true collaboration at a critical time, and we are all the better for it.
In these past several weeks, filled with urgency and ambiguity, I’ve experienced in a very direct and personal way the value of what we teach our students—to get comfortable with complexity, to push boundaries, and to think critically, creatively, and collaboratively about the possibilities ahead. These are the qualities I love most about MA. These are the qualities that will take us forward.
With great optimism,
May 15, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 5 Student Email
Dear Scholars,
I hope this email finds you well, enjoying the end of the fifth week of L4L. There is, at this point, much that you know. Everyone is aware of the grading plan for the semester. You’ve all become clear on the expectations of your classes. And seniors now know what their graduation celebration will look like: part virtual and part in-person spread out across 2 days and with a full in-person gathering later in the year. You all are aware that EOY is not happening, but that something—the Festival of Learning—is. To that last point, although some questions have been answered, others continue to remain. With both answers and questions surrounding us, this email serves as both a reminder of the pieces that have been decided as well as to offer transparency around some of the questions we’re still exploring.
Ending the Year: Classes and Grades and FOL (Oh My!)
Seniors finished regular classes on May 8 and are in the midst of their Passion Projects. Grades will be turned in for seniors on May 21, and college counselors will be reaching out to any senior who has finished with grades that put their college acceptances at risk. As a reminder, in order to graduate, seniors must have passed all their classes and completed a Passion Project, including presenting their work (at minimum on the website Sachi is putting together). Seniors also need to attend the Festival of Learning, June 1–3.
Ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders will have their last day of regular classes on May 29 and will attend the Festival of Learning, June 1–3. Grades will be live for all students on Monday, June 15th.
As for the Festival of Learning, Sachi will share more about the event—which will have a combination of self-selected workshops and shared experiences—in the coming days. Look for an email from her with details and more.
Yearbooks
All students who ordered yearbooks will be receiving them. Seniors will pick theirs up with their caps and gowns (instructions sent directly to senior families) and we are still in the process of figuring out pick-up/delivery for 9th–11th graders. Jostens, our yearbook company, is also releasing an online tool for students to collect yearbook signatures virtually; more to come soon!
Summer Programs
At this point, MA is not running summer programs. We will, however, be putting together a list of online opportunities—local and national—for students and families to explore.
Next Year
There’s not much I can share here yet. But I want you all to know that we are working tirelessly using learnings from educational, public health, environmental engineering, and medical leaders along with taking in student, faculty, and parent feedback. This collection of information is helping us develop multi-tiered plans for a range of circumstances next year for all aspects of school. While we still have many questions, one thing I feel confident in sharing is that it's clear that the fall of 2020 will look different from the fall of 2019. We are still working on the particulars as they relate to an MA experience and we expect to have general details about this to you in June, with updates throughout the summer.
Concluding Thoughts
My "weekend hope" for you all is that you each find time to both get outside and to have a creative endeavor, big or small. My 8-string uke arrived yesterday, so I am going to set aside time to play that. And while I may not get any further outside than my own yard, I'm planning on soaking in some Vitamin D!
Thinking of you all,
KaTrina
May 15, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
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Dear MA Families,
I wanted to provide an update on several end-of-year events taking place as we come closer to concluding this unprecedented year and culminating with the graduation of the Class of 2020. With our focus on innovation and collaboration, we continue to support the education of our students; we have got this. Last week was teacher appreciation week, I want to give a Wildcat shoutout to our teachers who are managing and holding so much personally and professionally. I also want to give a shoutout to MAPA who mailed much appreciated care packages to every MA employee. Wow!!! Each corner we turn, our community is right there to support each other.
Upcoming (virtual) events:
- May 15—2020 Senior Art Exhibit: A digital exhibition to celebrate senior art students for their dedication and hard work, both this year and throughout their time at MA. Our wonderful tradition of Night of the Arts, presented by our Visual Arts department, moves online to showcase art work and reflections of senior art students this year with the 2020 Senior Art Exhibition.
- May 26-27—Marin Academy Research Collaborative Wildcat Colloquium: Our Senior MARCers will present the results of their research projects and answer questions during the 2020 Marin Academy Research Collaborative Wildcat Colloquium. Student presentations will be held during two evening Zoom sessions and a virtual reception for all Senior MARCers, their families, friends, and mentors will follow the second evening session.
- June 1—Festival of Learning/Athletic Banquet: We will celebrate our Festival of Learning and honor our student-athletes at this special assembly. All families will receive a Zoom invitation to participate.
- June 6—The 47th Commencement Ceremony at Marin Academy: A blended graduation (some virtual, some partially in person) celebrating the Class of 2020. At 10:00 a.m., we will begin our virtual graduation with speeches and music to celebrate the achievements of this extraordinary class. At 1:00 p.m., in predetermined groupings, the Class of 2020 will come to campus in groups of 10 cars with one family per car, drive up into the Circle and graduates will be able to receive their diploma at MA, in person. More details to follow.
Please remember to also check TW@MA on Tuesdays in your inboxes for all of the latest news and information.
I want to thank all of you for the flexibility you’ve displayed as we go through this challenging moment together. On Wednesday, May 20, I will share with the community our schedule for next year which accounts for our need to continue social distancing amid COVID-19. This schedule will reflect our mission and accommodate our curriculum while remaining focused on the health and well-being of all of our community. On Thursday, May 21 from 7-8 p.m., I will hold a Zoom for the parents of the classes of 2021 and 2022; on Friday, May 22 from 3-4 p.m., I will hold a Zoom for parents of the classes of 2023 and 2024. Please look out for the Zoom invitations next week.
With much gratitude,
May 8, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 4 Student Email
Dear Scholars,
You have officially completed Week 4 of L4L. Perhaps the most notable demarcation of this time is that seniors are transitioning from regular classes to passion projects. The list of projects is wide and varied, including such endeavors as supporting family members with home projects, researching (including MA’s own history), learning or advancing new skills such as auto mechanics and app development, and creative explorations such as studio recording and fashion design. I learned long ago to never be surprised by MA student enginuity and interest, but reading through the list of passion projects filled me with a sense of overwhelming appreciation for the Class of 2020, who in this time continue to find ways to show up, be engaged, and to stretch. I look forward to the whole community getting to see the results of these projects!
There aren’t any other updates to share right now, though on a personal note, inspired by Kena Barshack, I bought another uke (an 8-string tenor!) to add to my collection. I am eagerly awaiting its arrival and will continue to bake in an unstoppable fashion until it does so. :-)
Have a great weekend all,
KaTrina
May 8, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
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Dear MA Families,
I have come to think of it as The Veering. Walking down the street, often on our way to MA, I gently nudge the boys to change their direction, cross the street, whatever is necessary, as we approach a fellow walker. For sure, there are greetings of good morning, but we must distance ourselves, change our intended direction, veer.
For me, the year began by dancing with the MA Wildcat; the Class of 2020 had just begun their senior year with the most extraordinary assembly, ending with a tunnel of carnation under which the whole school passed. Back from a summer of treatments, I was grateful to return to our School, ready to start again as only school communities do. Each year a feeling of possibility, of purpose, of excitement settles over me on the first day when the first class of the day begins: the hallway suddenly quiets, students and teachers fill the emptiness of summer classrooms, and we are back at it.
Although our classrooms are silent too soon this year, and we have indeed veered, we have not, however, lost our way. Today, I want to take this moment to reflect some very positive learnings about this time and some moments of extraordinary community connection and building.
Each year the Math Department sponsors Math Night. Our students work for months preparing presentations on various mathematical concepts with their teachers supporting them every step of the way. Generally, an audience of about fifty people witness their work. This year, rather than cancel the event, the Math Department veered. We had music, presentations, collaboration, and did you know that one of our students wrote a program that had a computer generate a credible Senior Speech? This year about 300 people witnessed our students exhibit creative and critical thinking. Think Zoom webinar and its advantages. If you missed it, view it here anytime.
At Assembly last week, the Class of 2021, on its own initiative, created a video montage thanking the Class of 2020 for their kindness and leadership. Rumor has it that there wasn’t a dry eye in homes around the Bay Area. There are also book clubs and cooking clubs that never existed before.
Finally, last weekend, every student at MA received a care package, all led and organized by our very own MAPA (Marin Academy Parents Association). Parents gathered to imagine, to create, and to deliver boxes filled with thoughtful items. The message: we see you, we care about you, we got you!
Even as my sons and I veer as we walk down the street, even as we greet strangers wearing masks, we make a point of saying hello, our eye contact direct, our voices filled with meaning. Even as we continue to deliver our dynamic teaching and learning, we are all committed to holding our community. As May progresses towards its predictable end, as culminating rituals arrive to mark the end of this year, we will inevitably veer from our known practices. And we will create a new way. The Circle holds us, and we hold the Circle.
With gratitude for each of you,
May 2, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 3 Student Email
Dear Scholars,
Sorry this email is out a day late. I thought I "Boomeranged" it, only to discover I didn't, so here it is in your inbox on a Saturday. The ways this pandemic has affected each of us is so individual, but for me, I've found that I am being harder on myself than typical. I'm trying to watch that, so instead of staying upset at myself for not getting this out to you yesterday, I'm simply going to say, I'm sorry. Know my intent is to provide consistency where I can for you, even if it is in simple things like receiving emails from me on a given day.
The most important thing I want to say, however, is thank you. So many of you have found ways to engage the community in new ways. Addie’s email getting us involved with the City Nature Challenge (and just getting us outside and using the iNaturalist app overall), Zack’s initiative to create a virtual cooking club (Ooh! New idea: we could name it Virtual Cooking Kitchen—Zack’s VaCK), and Will’s book club (fill out his survey about the next book choice here) are just a few examples about how MA is continually shaped by each of you. Thank you, and keep the ideas coming! I don’t have many updates to share, but here are a few.
Festival of Learning
As I wrote last week, we are working on creating a 3-day Festival of Learning—a series of workshops and other virtual experiences—to end the school year. We’d love to have some students involved in the planning, so please let me know if your wishlist includes “planning an event for 440 students” or “designing a complex multi-session, multi-day event” or “coming up with ideas and contacts for great virtual sessions,” because I can help with that.
Yearbooks
We’ve had a few students asking about yearbooks. First, yes! They are still arriving! Second, along with editors-in-chief (Parker and Ava) and some MAPA volunteers, we are working on a distribution plan. More info will come out when we know more.
Feedback
If you haven’t yet, please fill out this anonymous survey about L4L. We’re counting on your feedback to iterate and design for the future. Thank you if you have already done this!
Seniors
Seniors, thank you for your passion project proposals. We are excited about the directions you are examining and, like senior projects, we will soon share a spreadsheet where you will see your project standing. As you go into this last week of regular classes, please show up in the best of ways, leaving your teachers and classes with the leadership you began them with.
Concluding Thoughts
Thanks everyone, I hope this weekend is filled with something surprising—in a good way. By the way, thanks for your lemon-blueberry ideas! I intend to try them all, but this last week I ended up making individual lemon blueberry cakes, filled them with the remainder of my lemon curd, and made a cream cheese/whipped cream frosting to dollop on top using some variations to this recipe. I also made baked donuts, which were pretty awesome. I’m living vicariously in so many ways, so please share your cooking/baking creations with me!
Warmly,
KaTrina
April 24, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 2 Student Email
Dear Scholars,
My lemon tree overfloweth. So this week’s baking included making lemon curd and then lemon poppyseed muffins filled with said lemon curd—topped with lemon buttercream frosting. In other words, lots of lemon. I’m also a fan of the lemon-blueberry combo, so I’ll be thinking up something for that this weekend. Let me know if you have a favorite lemon (or lemon-blueberry) recipe! Here are the updates for the week:
Karen and Leslie
Karen (AKA KJ) has been the registrar for your entire time at MA. Starting today, however, Karen will transition away from that position and become the Assistant to the Head of School. When we’re back together on campus, you’ll be able to find her in that outer office next to Travis and across from Linsday. I know she’ll appreciate seeing you, so drop by with a “hello.” And it’s her birthday today, so both a huge thank you and happy birthday, Karen!
While I will miss having Karen right next door and our Academic Dean/Registrar shenanigans, I’m thrilled to announce that Leslie Rojas started on Monday as our new Registrar. Leslie is also going to be managing tuition assistance, so she will have a proverbial foot in two doors: Admissions and Academics. Leslie is an experienced registrar, having worked in the position for over a decade at Winward School in LA. Please welcome Leslie remotely for now (lrojas@ma.org), but in person when you can. Welcome, Leslie!
EOY Evolution
Each year, 9th–11th graders end their year with EOY, or End of Year projects. Once upon a time, MA ended the year with a finals week, not unlike what you experience at the end of first semester. Wise teachers and administrators, however, began to question this practice. While one could argue that traditional high-stakes exams have a place in a college-prep school, there is no compelling evidence to suggest that having them twice a year instead of once is a benefit. In addition, we want to end the year in the educational environment we value: one full of connection, creativity, problem-solving, and reflection. And thus, EOY was born.
This spring, however, it became clear that with our remote learning situation, EOY could not move forward. So. Instead of EOY, 9th–11th graders will continue in their regular classes through Friday, May 29. Then, from Monday, June 1–Wednesday, June 3 we will have a Festival of Learning. That’s right. A Festival. Of. Learning. What is this festival you ask? Well think of it as MA sprinkled with Coachella and hints of BottleRock. That might be an exaggeration, but it will be a time when all of you will get to attend online workshops led by faculty, staff, seniors, and outside experts in a wide variety of areas (from yoga to music lessons, from real-time baking tutorials to research findings) and will also participate in school-wide art showcases to recognize and celebrate our MA artists who didn’t get their shows this spring. More to come soon, but we’re excited that this in the works!
Seniors/Passion Projects
Seniors, I’ve enjoyed hearing about some of your renewed excitement for the possibilities open to you through Passion Projects. Just a reminder that the Passion Projects and the Passion Project Grants proposals are due on Monday. Please reach out with any questions. #MAPassionProjects
Feedback
While none of us could have anticipated how this spring would unfold, we have done our best to create a L4L and grading plan that would reflect the needs of this unprecedented time. We are committed to our current schedule and plans through the rest of this spring, however, we want to make sure we are hearing from you. It’s essential that we learn along the way and that your voice help inform both our regular program and any potential future distance learning models. With that in mind, please fill out this anonymous survey about L4L. Your voice matters! I will also ask you to give feedback at least one more time over these remaining weeks as folks’ needs may change over time. Seniors, in addition to this survey, which focuses on the academic program, you will be receiving another survey in the coming weeks specific to some of your unique circumstances.
Concluding Thoughts
While we cannot make any assumptions about how each of us is experiencing our days, I hope that one thing this time has given all of us is an opportunity to notice and reflect upon the things that we enjoy and value. To that end, I hope this weekend brings you some of that joy, in whatever form it takes.
Thinking of all of you,
KaTrina
April 18, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
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Dear MA Families,
There certainly are challenges at this time as we shift our lives to support and create the best learning environment for our students. As we conclude our first week back from break with the knowledge that we will end the year in our distance learning plan, I wanted to share something making its rounds on social media. Like many things that circulate, this came uncredited.
“Schools have been out for weeks and if they cancel the rest of the school year, students would miss 2.5 months of education. Many people are concerned about students falling behind because of this. But what if instead of falling “behind," this group of kids is advanced because of this?
What if they value family and human connection even more? What if they have become more creative and equipped to entertain themselves? What if they have discovered or re-discovered a love of reading? What if they have learned earlier than we did to enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet? What if they now more readily notice the birds, emerging flowers and fruits, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower? What if they are better cooks, organizers of space, and sharers in household chores? What if they have learned to stretch a dollar or to live with less? What if they more readily value the small delights of the everyday? What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants, and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place? What if they have become more reflective, grateful, and aware?
What if they are ahead?”
Well, what if they are? I believe that our students’ experiences are many and varied, and there is deep wisdom in the words above. The deans will be writing soon with reflections about our distance learning to provide more context. As adults, we carry many real and practical concerns in this time equally as much as we carry our disappointment about the changed circumstances of our children’s lives. There is lots to worry about but your child’s education at MA is not one of them. We have a clear plan to culminate their academic learning this year, advisors and coaches are supporting students in many ways, and our partnership with you is stronger than ever.
There are things that we don’t know yet: how we will celebrate the end of the year, will there be prom, how we celebrate the cumulative achievements and contributions of the Class of 2020. And we are actively engaged in scenario planning, we are working closely with our Board of Trustees and MAPA. Yesterday, my sons created and placed in the window this message to all who walk by their home: We can do this. And we are, we can, and we will.
I will resume Zooms with parents this week coming and continue to drop in on student class meetings and other things. We are holding the Circle, and the Circle is holding us.
With gratitude for each of you,
April 10, 2020: Email from School Counselor: Support to Help Manage Student's Emotional Health
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Dear MA Families,
As we begin the transition back to online learning from our spring break, I thought I would reach out and connect in hopes of providing some guidance for helping to manage your teen’s emotional and mental health at home. This is a challenging and difficult time, and for many of us, our emotions are changing by the minute as we attempt to navigate this new normal. With that in mind, I’ve written out a few recommendations to help Marin Academy families cope with the continued shelter-in-place and virtual school. While I hope that these recommendations are useful, you know your child best and please adapt them for what makes the most sense for your family.
The Importance of Giving Ourselves and Our Teens a Break:
- Routines will be messy or nonexistent, things may feel very out of sorts, and productivity may be at an all time low. And that’s okay! The anxiety of the current situation is a lot for us all to manage, and giving ourselves and our children permission to prioritize our mental health is so important. Reassure your teens that everyone is struggling to adjust to this new reality.
- I find it helpful to focus on this rare and uninterrupted family time. Years from now, our children won’t remember the schedule they had during these strange months. However, they will remember how their families made them feel loved and gave them a sense of safety in a time where so much is uncertain and unknown.
Other Things to Consider:
- Self care. Don’t forget to take care of yourself and your own needs. It may be tempting to put ourselves aside to care for others in our family, especially when we see that our children are struggling. However, prioritizing our own mental and physical health is just as important.
- Create a safe space for your student to talk, if they want. Let them know that you’re here to talk with them whenever they feel ready, and allow them to determine when and if they want to engage. You might say something like “I know this is all really difficult and overwhelming. I’m here if you want to talk about it, and it’s also okay if you don’t want to talk.” Give them the choice and space to decide what feels best to them.
- See something, say something. If you are worried that something deeper is happening and you’re noticing changes in sleeping/eating patterns and behavior, name your worry. Again, no need to press them to open up, but letting them know that you’re worried might help them feel seen. You could say “I’ve noticed that you aren’t sleeping a lot these days and I’m worried. If there’s something you want to talk about, I’m here. And if you don’t want to talk, that’s okay, though I will probably check in with you about how you’re feeling because I love you and I care about you.” You can let them know that there are other supports available (school counselor, another trusted adult, outside therapist) available to them if they would feel more comfortable speaking to someone else.
- Work to validate and not solve. When your students come to you with a social, academic, or personal issue, I imagine most parents are ready with a list of amazing suggestions to help. However, for many of us when we’re feeling upset or anxious, we just need to talk and have someone hear and validate our feelings. Let your teen know that you completely understand their feelings, and that you’re feeling frustrated too. Let them know that they’re doing a great job balancing all of these new challenges and that if they want to talk through ideas of ways to manage this time, you’re here to help them brainstorm.
- The importance of naming feelings. Right now, emotions are running high and when your teen yells at you, lashes out at their sibling, or won’t come out of their room (all ways of externalizing their emotions), they might need your help in naming what’s happening for them. Simply saying “It sounds like you’re angry that you can’t see your friends, and I totally understand that feeling” can help calm them down and reduce their anxiety.
On Friday April 17th, Lynne Hansen, Dean of Students, and I are offering a Zoom drop in at 2:30 PM. Here is the link to participate in the drop in. Based on how the chat goes on the 17th, we will determine how to provide ongoing communication and support systems. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns about your teen.
All the best,
Sarah Janoff-Brinn ‘03
School Counselor
April 10, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: L4L, Week 1 Student Email
Dear Scholars,
As you come to the end of your break—though my guess is for many it hardly felt as such—I hope you take some time to do something that brings you joy or contentment. For me, it’s been baking. Chocolate chip cookies, triple-layer chocolate cake, biscuits, scones, and more have filled the house. (Insert appropriate meme about eating during shelter-in-place here.)
I know this email likely finds you unhappy with the news that we will not return to campus this spring. 97% of you responded in the yearbook survey that you rather have school resume after spring break rather than continue online. And I imagine that a portion of the 3% who felt differently didn’t imagine it meant not returning to campus at all this spring. I’m so sorry. I wish it were in my power to make things different. If there are some lessons to be learned right now, however, they might include 1) listen to scientists and 2) it is important to make decisions for the health and wellbeing of society, even when they are personally difficult.
This email is meant to share some key information about the upcoming weeks, but I want to acknowledge it will not answer all your questions. We are still working on many pieces, and I’ll be communicating as we know more. For now, however, here’s what I can share.
L4L
As a reminder, we will be in Level 4 Learning (L4L) for the remainder of the year. Seniors will continue in their classes through Friday, May 8 (one week longer than originally planned—read more below). Students in grades 9–11 will continue in their classes through Friday, May 29th. While that last Friday was originally slated to be the first day of EOY, we will instead use it to close out a modified 4-day week in which all classes meet. The modified schedule for that Memorial Day week can be found here.
GRADING
I know that many of you—and teens and folks across the country—are feeling stress, anxiety, and loss associated with the pandemic and the effects of it on our individual and collective lives. As we work to develop plans for each aspect of school life, grading was one on the top of our minds. As you hopefully saw in TW@MA, we examined grading from many lenses, including gathering information from college and university admissions offices (including the UCs), reaching out to colleagues in the Bay Area and beyond, and considering our own values.
Where we’ve landed is, in a broad brushstroke, students who remain engaged in their classes and classwork will receive a Semester 2 grade equal to or greater than their grade before spring break/L4L. (Note: this is not necessarily the same as Q3, which ended two weeks previous to spring break.) The only students in jeopardy of a lower grade are those who don’t attend class (unexcused absences during L4L) or who don’t engage in the work (missing work or work that doesn’t meet minimal “C” requirements). You can see the full grading policy here.
EOY
Given the many, many restrictions in front of us, EOY as we know it will not happen this year. The class deans, Lynne, Mya, and I, however, are working on an alternative for June 1–4. Our goal is to end the year in a low-stakes/non-evaluative way that combines community building, demonstrations of learning, entertainment, and more. Look for that information soon!
REGISTERING FOR CLASSES
Reminder: If you are 9th–11th grader, you should be thinking about scheduling for next year. You can see the webinars Karen and I presented for each grade before break on your class pages; the slide decks can be viewed here (freshmen, sophomores, juniors). The 2020–2021 catalog is live on the MA website here and also on your MyMA resources page, and it is a great resource for learning about potential options for next year. Remember, use the following forms for preparation for course registration only, which will take place between April 14–23 at your scheduling conference with your parent(s)/guardian(s) and advisor. Note that this year you will not be turning in any forms or getting any signatures.
- 9th Grade Practice Form: Registering for Sophomore Year
- 10th Grade Practice Form: Registering for Junior Year
- 11th Grade Practice Form: Registering for Senior Year
In addition, if you want to apply for math or world language courses that you aren't recommended for—for example, apply to take a regular-level course when you are recommended for honors or vice-versa—please read this letter about 1) how to find your department-recommended course for next year and 2) how to apply for a non-recommended course. Do note that any application/petition is due via Google Forms by this Monday, April 13th.
SENIORS
Seniors, I know you have a lot of questions, and right now we don’t have all the answers. But here’s what I do know.
- You will remain in your regular classes for 4 weeks after break, ending on May 8. As noted earlier, this is one week longer than you originally planned.
- You will NOT (unlike what I wrote when I thought we would be returning to campus on May 4) continue in your classes working on “non-evaluative work that focuses on creativity and connection.” Instead, between May 11–29 you will work on a “passion project” (individually or partnering remotely with peers) and you will have a range of options from which to choose, including “design your own project.” The restrictions will be looser than the original senior project; instead, you will focus on and dedicate time to a particular area of need, interest, or growth that you would like to pursue. We will create space to virtually share out these projects between June 1–3. Juliet, Lynne, Mya, and I are working on these details, and we will get them to you as soon as possible.
- There’s no easy way to say this. Senior experiences—WQ, backpacking, environmental studies, and night photography/car camping—have been canceled. We are examining what types of optional opportunities might be able to be put together for the future.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I look forward to seeing your faces on Zoom, and hopefully before too long, in person. I encourage you to feel all the feels—including any sense of loss—and to reflect upon the gifts of this time. How are you fortunate? What “gifts” have you been given? (More sleep? Greater connection with family? The ability to sit still or appreciate the smaller things? More time with your pet? More reading for pleasure? ) Know that all of you are in the forefront of my mind, and the minds of all employees at MA, as we make decisions, craft plans, and design protocols for this unprecedented time.
With gratitude for all of you,
KaTrina
April 9, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
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Dear Marin Academy Community, Parents, and Students,
As our spring break comes to an end and we resume our distance learning on Monday, April 13, I wanted to send you some thoughts. I have continued my daily walks to MA; it is as beautiful as ever though much too quiet for my taste. As an extrovert, I have been learning how to work in these times when hallways are replaced by Zoom drop-ins, where even an unexpected drop-by to someone’s office or classroom has become a text to “check to see if you can talk now.” Those spontaneous moments that we extroverts (and others, of course!) live for require a kind of intention that has left me at loose ends on occasion. That said, like many of you, I have developed some new and useful routines, spent more deliberate time outside, and I am reading a lot.
I know that you have all received our most recent academic communication about how we will move forward around grades and other academic issues. By Friday, you will receive another communication about assemblies, Zooms with our school counselor, Sarah Janoff-Brinn, and other important co-curricular issues.
Today, I must also announce that Marin Academy will continue distance learning through the end of this school year. We will be acting in concert with MCOE and other independent high schools in the area. Although I knew that COVID-19 could bring us to this decision, I had held out hope that we would return to campus to conclude this school year.
Although I feel grief about this decision, I know that it is the right thing to do for the health and safety of MA and our greater community. I feel especially deeply for the Class of 2020 and their families and for all of us who were looking forward to celebrating their accomplishments. The Class of 2020 began the year with an embracing style of leadership and an intentional commitment to community that I have rarely witnessed in my years as an educator. We are actively thinking about and creating as meaningful and memorable celebrations of the extraordinary group of scholars, artists, and athletes that are the amazing Class of 2020.
There are many issues yet to work out with this final news, and I promise that we will communicate as quickly as possible. Here are a few things that we already know:
- Although coaches will continue to communicate with their teams, there will be no more practices, games or final contests—the spring season has concluded;
- We will be communicating by the end of next week about the end of year from an academic perspective, including how we will conclude final arts performances and shows;
- I will continue doing Zooms for parents and also with students;
- We are working on our end of year culminating events, including graduation, and will communicate in the next two weeks or so.
Our commitment remains the same as it was on March 13 when we first announced moving to our distance learning model: we will keep our mission statement as our guiding principle and what is best for our students as our North Star. Grief and disappointment are natural and understandable responses to this new news. And, after a time, I am confident that we will all join together and draw this year to a close in a way that recognizes the growth of our students, that celebrates the many contributions and the leadership of the Class of 2020, and that holds our community with strength and gratitude and grace.
With much care,
March 30, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
Dear Families,
As I made my daily walk to MA, I took these two pictures that I tweeted out earlier today. The view from Foster Hall with Mt. Tam in the distance and our Portal. As I stood on the steps of Foster Hall and saw the portal, I experienced the convergence of two seemingly opposing states of being: our bricks and mortar school and our portal that has connected our students to artists, students, and leaders across the world since the fall. Each is transformative, each requires their own skills, both provide learning by expanding the reach of our students and our curriculum. Perspectives widen, other voices enter the conversation, vastly unique experiences inform everyone who engages. It is the essential both/and thinking that characterizes our School.
This morning started with breakfast and reading in our house. I found myself wondering how the Classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 began their first day of “break.” Did students sleep in late, check their email and social media first thing, have breakfast with family (or lunch, or dinner)? Was there a chance to relax, were they antsy? What hardship are people experiencing? What opportunities are they finding? What seems impossibly hard?
I hope that the information provided about our distance learning, resuming on April 13 and continuing until May 4 at the earliest, will help to spur conversations between parents and students about expectations and about All the things there are to learn now. Our students will continue their MA learning experience, both an opportunity and something to be grateful for at this time. When many schools are simply closing for the year, both home and abroad, I am proud that our faculty, students and parents continue to be committed to their work and are able to engage in it. Our students will make progress and learn and all of it will not be within the planned curriculum.
As I mentioned in my earlier letter to the community, I am going to offer three Zoom drop ins this week for parents: one for the parents of 9th and 10th graders on Wednesday, April 1 at 4:00 p.m., one for parents of 11th graders on Thursday, April 2 at 4:00 p.m., and one for parents of our Class of 2020 on Friday, April 3 at 4:00 p.m. Zoom invites will be sent directly to parents some time tomorrow.
I will be in touch at the end of the week again and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible this week on Zoom.
With much gratitude,
March 27, 2020: Email from Travis: Level 4 Learning, Conferences, Grades, and more
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Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,
First, it was wonderful to “see” everyone who could be there on the parent zoom on Friday. These are challenging and fluid times, and now that we know we will not be returning to campus until May 4 at the earliest, I’m writing to share some logistical information about classes, conferences, and more. I am sending it now so that families can discuss how they will manage the three weeks of learning between the resumption of distance learning on April 13 and our hopeful return to campus on May 4.
L4L—LEVEL 4 LEARNING
When we first wrote our 40-page plan for instructional continuity, we did so proactively, when it was hard to imagine that we would need to move to L4L—distance teaching and learning for more than one full rotation of classes—for any considerable period of time. However, when spring break concludes and classes begin anew on April 13th, that’s exactly where we’ll be. We have used the real-time feedback we've received from experts, students, and teachers over the past two weeks of distance learning to fine-tune our Level 4 approach. As such, when we return to distance learning between April 13–May 1 (or longer if needed), this is the schedule we will follow. Lynne and Mya are working out what assemblies, senior speeches, and more will look like. Kacie is figuring out athletics. Class deans are working out class meetings and advisory. As we figure out all the components to keep our student and adult community connected and vibrant, we continue to utter the following words: Flexibility and Generosity.
CONFERENCES
Given the realities of our situation and the challenges associated with pivoting to L4L, we are not canceling classes for conferences on a single day, April 21, as designed. Instead, for consistency for students and to provide as much class time in a scenario where that is already limited, advisors will be reaching out to families to set up virtual and mutually-convenient conference times between April 14–April 23. Note that spring conferences will be for 9th-11th grades only and will be solely focused on registering for next year’s classes. If you have any general questions (summer ideas, SAT subject tests, school climate, etc.), please reach out to Katrina Wentzel (Academic Dean), Lynne Hansen (Dean of Students), Stella Beale (Dean of Faculty), Mya Sullivan (Dean of Equity and Inclusion,) or Aaron Fulk (Director of College Counseling). If you have more specific concerns or questions you feel must be addressed more immediately, please, as always, contact your child’s teacher, advisor, or class dean. Again, however, our focus during online conferencing will be scheduling classes for next year.
GRADES AND GRADING
As colleges and some boarding schools have publically moved to pass/fail or other grading options, please know we are in near-constant conversation with colleges and universities, Bay Area schools, the UCs, and more examining what grading may look like this semester. At this point, we are continuing to give A–F grades for the semester and have asked teachers to be flexible and generous with both students and themselves during this time. We want to ensure that third-quarter work isn’t disproportionately weighted and that all students continue to have opportunities to show learning and growth and have that accounted for.
SENIOR PROJECTS, SPEECHES, AND ARTS
As seniors have already heard, it was with a sense of loss that we made the difficult decision to cancel senior projects. This decision came from several leading factors: 1) we cannot guarantee that things will be back to normal. While we are now planning on a May 4 return, we do not know this for sure. 2) Even if shelter-in-place and other restrictions have been removed, we expect that many projects as originally planned will not be able to be carried out. We do not want seniors to have the added stress of designing new projects, especially in these uncertain times. 3) With the time students have needed to spend apart, we want any weeks they can be together to be doing exactly that. Senior projects are focused on individual and small-group experiences, not large group ones. 4) Lastly, we are hoping for senior leadership at school when we return. Senior presence in classes, hallways, stages, fields, and everywhere in between is wanted and needed. Instead of senior projects, seniors will be returning to their regular classes. However, the goal for them over these three weeks is not to continue school as usual, but, similar to EOY or Minicourse, to create a time when experience is first and foremost and assessment, homework, etc. are not significant components. Teachers will be designing some non-evaluative lessons and projects for seniors to explore with creativity and connection (more to come). At this point, we are planning that senior experiences—WQ, backpacking, environmental science, and photography and car camping—will still happen.
Juliet, as Senior Class Dean, has reached out to the 30 seniors still slated for senior speeches and arts. Together they are crafting plans to make sure those experiences still happen in a meaningful way; we look forward to seeing how these develop!
RETURNING TO CAMPUS
Right now we are working under the assumption that we will return to campus on May 4. While originally slated as a professional development day, that is no longer the case. When we do return to campus, there will be a unique one-day schedule that will allow for more community time—both formal and informal—and touchpoints with every class and advisory. The regular schedule will resume the second day of classes, which we hope to be May 5th. I know that’s a lot to take in, but as promised, we are trying to communicate with clarity and in a timely fashion. I want to thank our deans for their great work in designing and executing our instructional continuity plans. While spring break is likely not what many of us anticipated, I do hope everyone gets an opportunity to share some laughs, get some rest, and reconnect to an old hobby or discover a new one.
With gratitude for this community,
March 25, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
Dear Parents,
Each afternoon, I walk to MA with my two boys to check on our School. I find it both comforting and reassuring to see the Circle, the towering redwoods, the studios, the field, the deck. There MA stands solid and real. And I am reminded that our community is more than these physical places. The words I have received from our community about our virtual MA demonstrate our values around encouragement and compassion. Here are some of those voices: I am leaning in; what are some things that we can do as a family; I love seeing my teachers’ faces and those of my friends; it is hard to connect; MA feels even more connected; we are in this together, we will get through it together; can we have less spring break; I am exhausted after a zoom class; my students are really engaged; it’s different, but I am learning; thanks to everyone at MA for your leadership.
Today we learned that the Marin County Office of Education has aligned with seven Bay Area health officials and superintendents to extend school closures through Friday, May 1. Marin Academy will join this alignment and continue distance learning through Friday, May 1. Classes will resume in person on campus on Monday, May 4 unless something changes. We will run a modified schedule on that day.
Our deans will be communicating this information to students tomorrow morning. In the interim we will be shaping and evolving our distance learning model for our return to virtual school on Monday, April 13. We appreciate your patience and trust as we use this time to design further the best model. We have heard feedback from students and parents. We will be able to communicate this plan explicitly during our second week of break.
I know that there will be many questions about what those final weeks in May will look like and especially for the Class of 2020 who has led our student body with such compassion and intention. Rest assured that we are contemplating the issues at hand and will communicate directly with you as soon as we can. From performances to athletic events, we will be defining these final weeks. As always, what is best for students will be our North Star.
As distance learning continues for several weeks, we will be putting teaching, learning and the sustaining of our community first. I hope that this break, while different than any of us could have anticipated, brings a moment to catch your breath.
As I mentioned in my last email to you, I will be hosting a parent gathering on Zoom this Friday, March 27th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and I look forward to hearing from the field how you are and what is on your minds. Please see below for the Zoom details.
All my best,
----------------
Travis Zooms with MA Parents
Friday, March 27⋅11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://marinacademy.zoom.us/j/961685772?pwd=YzFLT1ZhYStoNThUM01rTnk4MjVPdz09 ID: 961685772
Password: dojfui
March 23, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
Dear Parents,
The weather seems immune to COVID-19 as flowering trees and bushes introduce the promise of spring. We have been at this for a week, and we know there is more to come. In this week, our students, your children, will finish their first real rotation of distance learning. They have been in classes, engaged with their teachers, and connecting with each other.
I have had the chance to zoom on Sunday morning with the two Presidents of Senate, and we discussed how they could continue to lead their class and how we could work together to design virtual experiences that would hold our community together and move it forward. I zoomed into the Class of 2020 meeting this morning where Juliet and Aaron provided community, direction, and information around this next phase of the college process. Not only are classes continuing, but so too are the many other aspects that create the MA experience.
At MA, both/and thinking is one of our attributes. With ourselves and our family and friends, it is important to acknowledge that we are adjusting to a new way of living our lives and amidst the challenges, there are positive opportunities. As we approach a two week vacation, I wanted to share some thoughts. First, connection matters for all of us. It is important that we stay in touch with our own friends and family, both locally and elsewhere. Virtual gatherings can feel awkward at first, and they are one way to engage beyond ourselves. I have been able to have “dinner” with friends back East, and we celebrated the birthday of the boys’ grandfather; it was helpful! Second, establishing a routine to the day and to the week provides a real sense of control over what unfolds. I think that this established sense of direction supports accomplishment and healthy choices. It is helpful for adolescents as much as it is for adults and younger children.
Finally, most of us have not spent this amount of time with our children in the same space in a long time. This moment may be one of the rare ones in which parents and children can connect in ways often lost to us in the busyness of life. This time will challenge families, and in the midst of that I hope you also make discoveries and set new norms that deepen relationships. I know how hard it is to think this way when there is so much upheaval and so much uncertainty. And it can be a certain comfort.
At the end of this week on Friday, March 27th from 11:30-12:30 I will be hosting a parent gathering on zoom; I look forward to hearing from the field how you are and what is on your minds. Please look for the zoom invitation in Wednesday’s email.
All my best,
Please note:
- If you need to reach the school during this time of closure, please email reception@ma.org instead of calling.
- If your child will be absent please email attendance@ma.org.
- If you have a concern about your student please email Lynne Hansen.
March 21, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
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Dear Families,
I must confess that while I normally look forward to March Madness, this is not what I had in mind! As we end our first week of online learning, I am impressed by our collective ability to move into these evolving challenges. We have completed our second day of official online learning on Friday, with Monday having been our practice day. I’ve been impressed by the learning and teaching that is happening. Yesterday, I zoomed into Advanced Biology for a little bit where students were learning about vaccines with a Ph.D. candidate from UCSF’s Fraser Lab who led a presentation on developing one for COVID-19. Timely, I thought!
I know that shifting to virtual classes has required flexibility and patience from students, faculty, and parents/guardians. Here is what I have “seen” and heard about this week: Many teachers and parents have been reporting in about successful distance learning taking place; students are prepared, highly engaged, and deep discussions have been occurring; and in line with “think, question, create,” faculty have shown great thought and creativity in curriculum design for online learning. I feel fortunate to be part of a community that leans in and lives its mission daily.
Sustaining our sense of community is a priority. In addition to meeting individually with members of the MA community, I have zoomed with a virtual staff drop in, all employees have met in Chambers on Thursday, and I’ve hosted virtual office hours with faculty and staff this week. Next week, I will host a drop in for students and one for parents—look out for an invitation from me to a Zoom call. Lynne and the class deans are working on plans to maintain a sense of community for students, as well. All of this is to say that while there is much uncertainty, we are continuing to teach and to provide meaningful and challenging learning. There is no doubt that each day will bring new issues. Maintaining the strong connections within our community will help us through these unprecedented times. As I said in an earlier letter, social distancing does not mean social isolation. We need to help ourselves and our children to connect, to get outside, and to see the possible in this difficult time.
It is my pledge to communicate directly with parents twice per week on Mondays and Wednesdays, and with our students on Tuesdays and Thursdays going forward. As you know, Spring Break will begin after classes next Thursday, March 26. We communicated earlier that our plan would be to return on Monday, April 13. I have been asked if we will continue with this plan. Given Governor Newsom’s recent announcement and the fluidity demanded by this situation, I am not yet able to make that decision. We will, however, make that call with ample time for everyone to make plans. We have been prepared, and we will continue to do what is in the best interest of our students and our School community.
On March 26, we move into a two week spring vacation where teachers will be on break. I will be communicating during that time although teachers will be offline. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. I hope this weekend brings time for a collective breath!
All my best,
Please note:
- If you need to reach the school during this time of closure, please email reception@ma.org instead of calling.
- If your child will be absent please email attendance@ma.org.
- If you have a concern about your student please email Lynne Hansen.
March 17, 2020: Email from Travis: COVID-19 Exposure in Our Community
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Dear Families,
I continue to hear from parents and students that the first day of learning went well. As you know, today and tomorrow are teacher work days, and we will resume our Distance Learning on Thursday, March 19. I am impressed by everyone’s ability to transition to this new way of teaching, learning, and working. It has certainly been a learning curve for me, so I encourage patience with yourself and others! At home, we are focused on creating routine and finding the opportunities in this new environment. Just today, I held a Zoom meeting with about 50 staff and faculty members, with many sharing wonderful moments of learning that have taken place in their classes.
Today I also write to let you know that a parent in our community has tested positive for COVID-19; therefore, one of our students has had a confirmed exposure. I share this in the spirit of transparency and with respect for individual privacy. I also share this as a reminder that many families may have travel plans for the upcoming spring break period and should be mindful of travel to geographic areas with widespread or sustained community transmission of COVID-19.
There have been recent travel bans instituted by the federal government and any travel at this time carries risk since the location of outbreaks around the world remains fluid. If you have known exposure to someone who tested positive to COVID-19 or has visited an area identified by the CDC at Level 3 or higher, we would ask that you follow CDC guidelines for self-quarantine. Please also know that Level 2 areas may change to Level 3 unexpectedly. Remember that your actions have an impact on our whole community, and we would like you to be in contact with the school if you’ve traveled abroad prior to returning to school or if you, or someone close to you, have tested positive for COVID-19. Please email me travis@ma.org and Francesca Johnson, Director of Human Resources, at fjohnson@ma.org.
I will continue to keep our community informed with the latest news surrounding this issue and remind you to visit our COVID-19 page for all of the latest updates.
Warm regards,
Correction from a previous email:
- If you need to reach the school during this time of closure, please email reception@ma.org instead of calling.
- If your child will be absent please email attendance@ma.org.
- If you have a concern about your student please email Lynne Hansen.
March 16, 2020: Email from Travis: Notes from the Circle
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Dear Families and Students,
Today was the official beginning of MA’s distance learning program. While we all wish the circumstances surrounding the need for this exercise were different, we have also been excited at the prospect of expanding teaching and learning in this new way.
While on campus today, I was able to drop in on some virtual classes, including Biology and Betsy Muir’s Modern World History 1, and they seemed to be going very well. Yinshun Wang, our Chinese teacher, reports that she sailed through three classes with her students. I am so grateful to our talented faculty and administrators who have been working tirelessly to create these online experiences and who want the best academic and social experience for their students. There were a few glitches, confirming the need for our practice day in order to work these issues out.
As you must know by now, the public health officers of seven jurisdictions, including Marin County, issued a legal order directing residents to shelter at home for three weeks beginning tonight at midnight. Based on this recent news, students will not be able to come back to campus tomorrow to retrieve any items for the duration of this order. As we’ve all been experiencing, this situation is fast-moving and constant communication will be essential.
There are a few pieces of important information for everyone to be aware of:
- Please do not call the school during this time and leave voicemails, communicate through email only.
- If your child will be absent please email attendance@ma.org, and if you have a concern about your student please email Lynne Hansen.
I am committed to communicating with students three times a week and also with families several times a week, and I will make it possible for anyone in our community to meet with me virtually. In addition, I will be hosting virtual community meeting sessions through Zoom and encourage you to join if you can. Please look out for an invitation to the sessions. We will continue to provide our strong educational program in engaging ways. Equally important, is our need to connect as a community while social distancing; technology is our asset. I urge all of us to engage in physical activity, avoid social isolation, and all other aspects of self-care.
As we adjust to our new ways of operating I understand that any sort of change presents a myriad of disruption and can be hard on everyone. While we will not be face-to-face, we still have our MA community surrounding us and supporting us. And, as we learn more from our community about what works well, we will share that out with everyone during the course of our communications.
Take good care,
March 16, 2020: Email from Travis: Important Safety and Social Distancing Responsibilities for Students and Parents
Dear Families and Students,
On Friday, I sent out a communication on MA’s plans for school closure and distance learning, and provided times that campus would be open this week should students need to retrieve personal items. In this email, we asked that students not arrive in groups and leave campus once they have retrieved what they need.
I’d like to stress some important guidelines for all members of our community in these coming weeks. From the beginning of communications, I have stressed the need for individual responsibility and community commitment, not only at MA but also in our broader communities.
I ask that you follow the strictest social distancing practices as much as possible during this uncertain period of the COVID-19 pandemic and I direct this to students as well as to adults and families. Please do not allow your children to congregate with others and limit them and yourselves to a small group of individuals that you will be in physical contact with. I wrote separately to all students on Friday to say "for once I am encourging you to use your technology." Parents, we need you to support your children by keeping them AND others safe. The CDC has been clear and common sense requires this response.
We all have a responsibility to do our part to make sure we keep the entire community safe. Please keep in mind that there are essential staff members and people at MA and beyond who are risking their health and the health of their families to perform necessary functions in our school and in our communities right now. Front line employees including custodial and maintenance crews that are still at schools cleaning classrooms and offices to make our school a safer place for those who are still coming to work during closures. There are also dedicated medical personnel, bus drivers, law enforcement officials, day care workers, firefighters, grocery store cashiers, and many more who are all essential for our communities to function. Please respect their service to the community by doing everything you have the responsibility to do in this circumstance. As I mentioned before, the major reason for MA’s closure is to engage in social distancing. Although families will need to make their own decisions, I advise you strongly to be mindful about gatherings and multiple contacts between students and suggest no congregating in ways that can help spread this virus.
Thank you for making this a priority. Working together, and individually, we can help support the health and welfare of the larger community. And parents, please look for more regular communications from me during this closure.
Warmest regards,
March 15, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: Preparing for Virtual Classes
Dear Scholars,
As we prepare for a different sort of teaching and learning these upcoming weeks, I wanted to reach out for several reasons.
First, thank you. Thank you for the kindness and flexibility you're showing to your teachers and your friends. Please don't forget to show it to yourself as well. You'll be learning in new ways, you may be separated from friends, and you may feel a degree of sadness over loss of sports, planned trips, or more. Be kind to others, and also remember to be kind to yourself, too.
Secondly, and related to the first point, find ways to stay connected. Social distancing could lead to feelings of isolation. As Travis shared, we are encouraging you to connect socially online as best you can. Use the apps you're used to—Facetime and more—but also explore other things you can do. Here are some virtual fieldtrips you can take with friends, join (or start!) a virtual book club, or keep Facetime (or Zoom, or some other virtual meeting space) open as you try recipes together, make music, or take Bob Ross classes and learn how to paint together.
As far as classes, some reminders:
- Remember to check your email at least daily. Teachers will be communicating through it, and you don't want to miss anything.
- Look for Zoom or Google Hangout meeting requests from your teachers. That's how you'll be able to "get into" your virtual classrooms. (Pro etiquette tip: always mute yourself when not speaking.)
- Remember backdrop matters. Whether using Google Hangouts Meet or Zoom, please don't video chat from your bedroom or from other spaces that have overly personal items in the background (the horror stories we've heard ...). I also realize this isn't possible for everyone: with parents, siblings, or others also needing to work remotely, space may be challenging. So wherever you are, DO make sure your background is appropriate for school. Worried about showing any of backdrop? If you're using Zoom, you can also use a computerized backdrop. See how here.
- As a reminder, we will have regular class times tomorrow and then starting Thursday for one full week. There are no classes this Tuesday and Wednesday (March 17–18), nor are there classes on Friday, March 27.
- Teachers will be available for tutorial on all class days. Look for Google Hangout/Zoom invites to join. If you need one-on-one support, please email your teacher directly.
- Advisory will happen on Wednesday, March 25. Look for the invite from your advisor.
- There are no assemblies during the next two weeks.
If you have any overall questions, please let me know. I am here—as are your teachers, advisors, class deans, and others—to support you.
With care,
KaTrina
March 14, 2020: Email from Academic Dean to MARC Students and Families
Dear MARC Students and Families,
As you are aware, we, out of an abundance of caution, have made the decision to transition from on-campus classes at Marin Academy to our distance learning model starting on Monday. I realize that for MARC students, there may be other questions, particularly around long-term experiments happening on- and off-campus.
Stori and Mary Kay have examined each individual student situation and made determinations about whether or not experiments can continue without attention until after spring break (or can be worked on from home). For most students, this will be possible, and in those cases, we ask that students suspend their lab work while continuing with other important pieces—journal research, writing, working on presentations—remotely. In addition, any student working with human subjects must also suspend their experiments and focus on the non-lab components of their work. For the very few students, however, for whom more frequent labs are critical, you have two options, though the second option may be removed at any point as information is constantly evolving:
Option 1: Suspend/end your lab work. You will not be penalized in any way for this; instead, you will shift to focusing on presentation work (planning, writing, speaking, etc.) during these upcoming weeks. Stori and/or Mary Kay will work with you to determine what can be salvaged or revisited in the lab once classes resume on campus.
Option 2: Because the campus is closed for social distancing reasons—at the point of writing this, there have been no cases of COVID-19 tied to Marin Academy—we will allow, with the following restrictions, MARC students to work in the MA lab. (Again, this option may, at any time, be revoked based on updated information we receive either locally or nationally.)
- The student wants to work on the project and chooses to be on campus
- The parent(s)/guardian(s) consent to the student being on campus to work on their MARC project
- There are no more than 2 students in the lab at a time
- Stori or Mary Kay voluntarily choose to be in the lab with the student(s)
- The day/time is scheduled with Stori or Mary Kay during appointed times and KaTrina is made aware
While we have oversight over our own campus and decisions around it, we do not have those same powers over other institutions. For students whose lab work is being completed off-campus, we ask that they and their parents/guardians—along with the labs/institutions MARC students are partnering with—make decisions around whether or not to continue to go. Note that choosing not to continue lab work off-site will in no way jeopardize your ability to pass MARC. Similar to those working on-campus, you will not be penalized in any way for this; instead, you will shift to focusing on presentation work (planning, writing, speaking, etc.) during these upcoming weeks. Stori and/or Mary Kay will work with you to figure out next steps.
To be clear, there is no pressure from the school, Stori, or Mary Kay for students to continue their lab work during these unprecedented times. We also realize, however, that some of these experiments represent almost two year’s worth of work, and even when not that long, still many, many individual hours and commitment. We are trying our best to honor all students and their work while keeping our entire community—both MA and beyond—safe.
Stori and Mary Kay will be reaching out to individual students and parents/guardians about their projects. If you have any overarching questions, however, please let me know. And thank you, once again, for your flexibility and understanding during this time.
Best regards,
KaTrina Wentzel
Academic Dean
March 13, 2020: Email from Academic Dean: Upcoming Weeks/Days
Dear Scholars,
As you read from Travis, out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to transition from on-campus classes at Marin Academy to our distance learning model, based on a protocol we’ve developed for when school is closed for up to 6 days, beginning next Thursday, March 19. Athletics and other co-curricular activities (including Outings) will be suspended beginning today, March 13th. Marin Academy itself is not ‘closing’; academics will continue online as previously shared.
Timeline and Virtual Instruction Processes
As indicated just a few days ago, we will move to a distance-learning model using the video conferencing software Google Hangouts/Meet, something you already have access to. (Note: it is possible some teachers will use Zoom, but they will prepare you for that if it occurs.) As a reminder, the MA class schedule will remain constant, though online, with students and teachers meeting at their regular times but in a virtual classroom. Learning will happen both synchronously (students working together), and asynchronously (students learning at their own pace, not all at the same time). We will follow this schedule through Thursday, March 26th.
Here are what the remaining days leading up to spring break will look like:
Day |
Where |
What |
Information |
Monday, March 16 |
Remote |
Practice Day |
DEFG classes are remote. Campus is open from 9–3 for students to gather materials, supplies, and sports equipment if they wish. |
Tuesday, March 17 |
//////////// |
NO CLASSES |
Faculty training, planning, and preparation. Campus is open from 9–3 for students to gather materials, supplies, and sports equipment if they wish. |
Wednesday, March 18 |
//////////// |
NO CLASSES |
Faculty training, planning, and preparation. Campus is open from 9–3 for students to gather materials, supplies, and sports equipment if they wish. |
Thursday, March 19 –Thursday, March 26 |
Remote |
Level 3 (school closed for up to one rotation) Begins |
The MA class schedule will remain constant, though online, with students and teachers meeting at their regular times but in a virtual classroom. Learning will happen both synchronously (students working together), and asynchronously (students learning at their own pace, not all at the same time). As a reminder, follow these guidelines and expectations. |
Friday, March 27 |
///////////// |
NO CLASSES |
Spring break begins one day early. School undergoes deep clean. |
I have greatly appreciated hearing from many of you about your desire to continue learning and from seeing your willingness to move forth with flexibility and generosity. Thank you. We will do this together!
With care (but with appropriate social distance),
KaTrina
March 13, 2020: Email from Travis: Marin Academy's Plan for School Closure
Dear Families and Students,
Ever since I first communicated with you about the COVID-19 virus over a week ago, the global, national, and local landscape has changed rapidly. We are all accustomed to the rhythm of our lives, and the routine of school provides predictability, continuity, stability, and a ready community. The disruptions posed by COVID-19 are unsettling for all of us. In the midst of this dynamic event, I have been grateful for your patience and support.
We have navigated each decision with much thought, counsel, and the health and safety of all of our community as our North Star. The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared COVID-19 a pandemic, multiple universities and colleges have sent students home, and many Bay Area schools, public, independent and parochial, have decided to close. We have been taking our counsel from multiple sources; in addition we know that the number of currently available test kits is highly limited.
I write today to let you know that Marin Academy will transition to our distance learning model that I referenced in my letter just two days ago. I want to stress that there have been no positive tests for COVID-19 in our community. We are acting out of an abundance of caution and a desire to do our part as a school in this uncertain time. At this point, we anticipate returning to school at MA on Monday, April 13, following our regularly scheduled two week spring break. During this time all school co-curricular programs will be suspended, including athletics (both practices and games), outings, etc.
Students will not be allowed on campus during this time. It will be critical for students and parents to check email regularly. Parents and students should use email to communicate with teachers, staff, or administrators as we will be working remotely and not reachable on campus.
MA’s Academic Dean, Katrina Wentzel, will be sending students a direct communication very soon about our distance learning schedule and expectations. During this time, I encourage parents to be clear with their children about their own expectations. Although students will be focused on their learning, a portion of it will be asynchronistic. Furthermore, the major reason for MA’s closure is to engage in social distancing. Although families will need to make their own decisions, I advise you strongly to be mindful about gatherings and multiple contacts between students. Personal responsibility driven by community needs has never been more important. I believe that mutual frustration can be mitigated by clear communication between parents and students. Because we have technology assets, social distancing does not have to mean social isolation.
I want to take this moment to thank our faculty, staff and administrators for all that they have done to make this transition smooth. It has required flexibility and creativity. As teachers, staff and administrators were putting on our 16th annual Conference on Democracy and writing comments, they were also preparing to begin distance learning. The attitude and approach on campus has been classic MA: think, question, create. We are in great hands!
The list below shows what the remaining days leading up to spring break look like. Please read it carefully as there are a few days which will be teacher work days when no classes will be held.
I will hold each of you in my thoughts as we all continue to exercise flexibility, compassion, and bravery amidst this uncertainty. I will remain in close contact during this time. Community matters, and our MA community will draw on its strength and the enormous care demonstrated daily. Please take care of yourselves and know that MA stands with you and your families. Please let me know how you are doing!
Warmest regards (and sending an elbow bump virtually),
----
Here are what the remaining days leading up to spring break will look like:
Monday, March 16
Practice Day
Remote
DEFG classes are remote. Campus is open 9:00-3:00 for students to gather materials, supplies, and sports equipment if they wish. We ask that students not arrive in groups and leave campus once they have what they need.
Tuesday, March 17
NO CLASSES
Faculty training, planning, and preparation. Campus is open 9:00-3:00 for students to gather materials, supplies, and sports equipment if they wish. We ask that students not arrive in groups and leave campus once they have what they need.
Wednesday, March 18
NO CLASSES
Faculty training, planning, and preparation. Campus is open 9:00-3:00 for students to gather materials, supplies, and sports equipment if they wish. We ask that students not arrive in groups and leave campus once they have what they need.
Thursday, March 19–Thursday, March 26
Level 3 Begins (school closed for up to one rotation)
Remote
The MA class schedule will remain constant, though online, with students and teachers meeting at their regular times but in a virtual classroom. Learning will happen both synchronously (students working together), and asynchronously (students learning at their own pace, not all at the same time). As a reminder, follow these guidelines and expectations. Beginning Thursday campus is closed.
Friday, March 27
NO CLASSES
Spring break begins one day early. School undergoes deep clean.
March 13, 2020: Letter to Faculty Regarding School Closure
Dear Colleagues,
Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to transition from on-campus classes at Marin Academy to distance learning, beginning next Thursday, March 19. That this time, we will enact a “Level 3” event. Athletics and other in-person co-curricular activities (including Outings) will be suspended beginning Friday, March 13th. Marin Academy itself is not ‘closing’; academics will continue, though neither you nor your students will be required to be on campus after next Tuesday, March 17th.
While we have anticipated that this time might be coming, we are also keenly aware of the challenges this situation poses and, no doubt will continue to pose. Please know that we are tremendously grateful for your courage and resilience during this difficult time. Be gentle with yourselves and, if possible, extend yourselves the same sort of generosity you have already offered your students. If there is anything at all Lynne, Mya, Kyle, Russ, Derek, or we can do to support you, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
What follows is a detailed schedule and set of plans for faculty and students through spring break (which will now include Friday, March 27th). For administrators and staff, your direct supervisors will be in touch shortly (if they have not already) about adjustment to your work schedules.
Timeline
Monday, March 16 Online Practice |
As we indicated in our correspondence on March 11, 2020, we will move to a distance-learning model using the video conferencing software, our regular Day 6 Schedule, and MyMA for attendance. |
Tuesday, March 17 All Classes Meet on Campus |
Tuesday, we will run a modified schedule wherein all classes will meet (schedule to follow tomorrow). This will be our last on-campus day through the end of spring break. Please use this time to wrap up any loose ends, share any learnings from the online practice day, encourage students to gather their materials, etc. We will also gather for a last chambers (before break) at 3:00. |
Wednesday, March 18 Teacher Work Day |
Wednesday is a non-teaching day. Faculty are encouraged to take the day to finish comments (they will now be due at 9:30 on Thursday), engage in remote or in-person (if you choose) professional development related to online teaching, and prepare for the full-cycle of online instruction that will begin on Thursday. |
Thursday, March 19 Level 3 Begins (and continues through March 26) |
Thursday marks the first day of our Level 3 cycle. From Thursday, March 19 through Thursday, March 26 (day 3 through day 2) the MA class schedule will remain constant, though online, with students and teachers meeting at their regular times but in a virtual classroom. Learning will happen both synchronously (students working together), and asynchronously (students learning at their own pace, not all at the same time), and, as is the case with our typical MA classrooms, instruction will contain multiple learning activities, broken up into short chunks. |
Friday, March 27 Spring Break Begins |
Thursday the 26th will mark the end of our Level 3 event. Friday will now officially be considered one of the days of spring break. |
We are also pushing back the timeline for grades and comments. KaTrina has outlined a new schedule here. Please note that as we will be preparing and assembling these comments remotely, we will not have an official period of proofreading. Rather, we strongly encourage you to use Grammarly and to find a peer who is willing to look over your comments.
As you prepare for next week and beyond, we are pleased to announce that Zoom is now available to use with your classes if you prefer that to Google Hangouts Meet. While the consistency of using one platform has its advantages, now that we have the correct licensing for Zoom, some of you—either already-familiar with it or who are interested in its enhanced features such as “break-out rooms” for small groups—may want to use it instead of Google Hangouts Meet. Either is fine; however, note that you must use the Zoom account provided by the Tech Dept with your MA email address (invites should arrive soon). There is no need to create a password because you can choose the reliable 'Login with Google Account' option. If you are not familiar with Zoom, there is no need to learn a new system. We are simply making this software available for those of you who are already accustomed to or desire it.
Finally, in addition to the ever-growing list of resources you all have been building on this google doc, Kyle and his team are in the process of collecting as much information and resources on distance learning as possible and putting them into one easily accessible place. That place is the distance learning section of the technology website at https://sites.google.com/ma.org/technology/distance-learning. Right now it is spare, but they are working as quickly as they can to create a usable hub for all of us. Kyle and team are also looking at licensing other resources that may be of assistance now and in the future, including a license to Swank K12, an online streaming service that will allow students to have access to many films and documentaries for viewing asynchronously. More to come soon.
Thank you for supporting one another, for enduring with flexibility and grace, and for modeling such incredible generosity and empathy. These are trying times. There will be moments when we are not at our best. This is okay. We are human. And we are full of gratitude for the ways in which we all—students, staff, faculty, and administrators—are learning, leaning in, and leading. Thank you.
With care (and appropriate social distance),
Stella & KaTrina
March 12, 2020: New Message about Junior Class Parent Potluck
Hello Junior Class Parents. In an abundance of caution, we have decided to cancel the Junior Class Parent Potluck this weekend (March 15) with the hopes of rescheduling at a later date. We would like to thank Erica Hunt for offering to open her home to us and all of you who offered to bring items to the party. Please be on the look out for a new date should the opportunity arise to revive this fun get together! Sincerely, Monika Farrar and Carrie Egan
March 11, 2020: Virtual MA Celebrates - A Note from the Co-Chairs
Dear MA Community,
Historically, MA Celebrates has always had two goals - community building and raising funds to help support two critical school priorities: faculty and staff professional development and tuition assistance. Yesterday, we made the decision to cancel the physical event and we are placing our entire focus on the online auction.
We are still hopeful this can be our most successful online auction to date. In order to pull this off, we need your online bidding support more than ever! We need every family involved to meet our financial goals. Here’s how you can help:
Please Bid Online!
- MA Promise: Fund-a-Need: Please consider supporting this innovative program to fund next year’s MA Promise Scholars. Under the MA Promise, any admitted family whose income falls below $100,000 annually will pay no tuition. Additionally, families who earn more than $100,000 annually will pay only what they're able to afford. Our goal is to fund several students for next year’s 2024 class. You can donate in increments from $250 - $25,000.
- Parties & Gatherings: Secure your spot at 20+ incredible MA Parties! There is something for everyone - class parties, intimate dinners, Ultimate Frisbee, CrossFit, yoga, and outdoor hikes. These parties are fun and engaging ways to connect with other MA families. Parties fill up quickly!
- MA Exclusives: Our community members have donated an unbelievable array of unique vacation homes, sporting events, and once in a lifetime experiences. Here you will find your only chance to buy Dead & Company tickets with backstage passes, BACKROADS trip or coveted MA student parking spaces. Bid soon, as these items are going fast.
- Wine: We have over 90 lots of unique and collectible wine donated by our MA community. Help us reach our two bids per item goal by placing your bid today! We have an outstanding online wine catalog - lots range from $60 to $1,000. Historically we have sold about 90% of the auction wine at the actual event, so this year it’s even more important to bid online. Don’t miss out on these rare finds.
Tickets
As a result of the physical event being canceled, the value of your tickets is now fully tax-deductible. This also applies to faculty/staff sponsored tickets. Gift acknowledgment letters will be issued post-event for your tax purposes. Alternatively, if you would prefer a refund, please call Megan Wheeler at 415-482-3271.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your support and participation in making this Virtual MA Celebrates a great success.
With gratitude,
March 11, 2020: Coronavirus: Student Expectations
Overview:
The arrival of COVID-19 in the Bay Area has created a dynamic situation for all of us. Our greatest concern is always the health and well-being of members of our community, and as such, we have partnered closely with the Marin County Department of Education and Marin County Health and Human Services, and both organizations are recommending that schools remain open and that we continue business as usual. Behind the scenes, however, teachers and administrators have been exploring the ways we—as a caring and creative community of educators—might support your well-being and academic progress when the conditions for teaching and learning are best transitioned to a space that doesn’t require us to be on campus. You, too, can be preparing, and we ask you to partner with us to make this as seamless an experience as possible.
Community Expectations During School:
- Stay home if you are sick or if you have a persistent cough. Teachers, advisors and class deans will support your catching up while out. Please remain home for 48 hours after you are free from fever and a productive cough.
- For students recovering at home, check MyMA and contact your classmates and teachers to determine the best way to stay involved with the work at school.
- Wash hands right before and right after class.
- Protect others from your cough or sneeze. Your best choice is to cough/sneeze into a tissue and quickly dispose of it, and the second choice is into your elbow. Clothes that you cough/sneezed into should be washed before wearing again.
- Avoid hand to hand contact by waving or greeting with elbows instead of handshakes, high fives, fist bumps, etc.
- Be informed: follow and listen to the CDC and county departments of health and be mindful of the rise in racism towards Asians and Asian-Americans—in both the media and in our communities—since the start of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Academic Preparation:
To prepare for a possible campus closure, please do the following:
- Test the camera and microphone on your laptop and make sure they both work. If not go to the tech office for help ASAP.
- If you do not have reliable internet service at home, please let KaTrina and/or Kyle know so we can help find a solution for you.
- View and read emails daily.
- Bring home textbooks, novels, classwork, folders, devices, chargers, and any other resources that might be necessary for learning daily.
- Determine, with family support, the best place to attend class virtually. This should be a spot with minimal distractions and with nothing too personal (or inappropriate for school) in the background.
- Make sure your laptop is fully charged or able to stay plugged in before classes begin.
- If you have them, identify headphones/earphones you can wear and make sure they are charged if necessary.
- Run a practice Google Hangouts Meeting to test equipment and space. Family members can assist you with this, being a collaborator from another room, or you can set up a test meeting with a group of peers.
- If your teachers review their online plans with you as a class, help them think of any ways you as students can be helpful in a virtual school experience. Also, help them to think about obstacles that you might encounter in the type of work you typically do in that type of class.
- We all need to work together to move through this with flexibility and generosity.
- If you know school will be meeting virtually, look for and accept any Google Hangouts/Meet “invites” by teachers (for classes, advisory, etc.)
Overall Academic Expectations During School Closure:
If school closes, CLASSES WILL CONTINUE ONLINE and you will be expected to attend those classes. In order to keep our commitment to continued learning, we ask students to be aware of the following:
- Continue to dress in school-appropriate attire
- Continue to follow school and class guidelines for respectful discourse and behavior
- Get online several minutes before each class; have MyMA course page open as well as Google Hangouts Meet
- Login to your classes using the Google Hangout Meets calendar invites sent by teachers
- Follow your teacher’s instructions for each class
- If you become ill while at home, please 1) have your parents email lneville@ma.org and report your illness and 2) inform your teachers, advisor and class dean, all of whom will support you getting back on track once you are feeling better.
- Communicate! If you are struggling with the lessons or workload for any reason, please let your teachers and advisor know so you can get the support you need.
- be flexible
- be curious
- be generous of spirit
If Campus Is Closed for 1–6 Days
Classes will meet on the regular schedule (Days 1-6). Your teachers will invite you to class via Google Hangouts/Meet. Classes will begin at their regularly scheduled time and attendance will be taken.
- Students and teachers will begin together at the start of class on the regular schedule. Classes should all start with a Google Hangouts/Meet.
- Class time and work time should equal 75 minutes. Learning can happen both synchronously (students working together), and asynchronously (students learning at their own pace, not all at the same time).
- Advisory and tutorials will continue online. Your teachers/advisors will communicate more about this.
If Campus is Closed for More than 6 Days
Teachers will continue to communicate with you via email, MyMA class pages, and Google Hangouts/Meet. However, we will operate on a modified schedule that allows for classes to proceed on a model not so different than the one used by the BlendED consortium. That is, you will meet synchronously with your teachers and classmates once a rotation while working asynchronously on your coursework.
MODIFIED CLASS SCHEDULE
- A Block: Day 1 (8:00–9:00)
- B Block: Day 3 (1:00–2:00)
- C: Block: Day 5 (1:00–2:00)
- D Block: Day 2 (8:00–9:00)
- E Block: Day 2 (9:30–10:30)
- F Block: Day 4 (9:30–10:30)
- G Blocks: Day 6 (9:30–10:30)
March 11, 2020: Email from Travis: MA Distance Learning Practice Day
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Dear Students and Families,
As you know, the arrival of COVID-19 in the Bay Area has created a dynamic situation for all of us. As we noted in a recent community letter, our greatest concern is always the health and well-being of members of our community. We have partnered closely with the Marin County Department of Education and Marin County Health and Human Services, and both organizations are recommending that schools remain open. Behind the scenes, teachers and administrators have been exploring the ways we—as a caring and creative community of educators—might support students’ well-being and academic progress when the conditions for teaching and learning aren’t ideal or like anything we’ve experienced before.
Yesterday you learned about our need to cancel MA Celebrates; today we are writing to let you know about our plans should such a need for school closure arise and that on Monday, March 16, we will engage in a practice virtual learning day. Here is a summary of our long-term plans as well as our plans for Monday's practice virtual learning day, where students will engage in distant, online learning at home.
Increased Absences
In the event that school is open but students find themselves unable to attend for a prolonged period of time, we have asked teachers to supplement their MyMA pages with robust materials and, when appropriate, screencasts/videos so that absent students will be able to follow along. As shared by the class deans in a recent email, MA already has systems in place to support individual students when they are out for any number of reasons. That said, if there are a substantial number of students absent, we will adapt certain teaching strategies and protocols. For example, while we typically discourage video conferencing or calling into the classroom for a number of reasons, if enough students are out but not too ill (eg. are quarantined but not feeling sick), we will shift this policy.
Campus Closure and Remote Teaching and Learning
In the event that our physical campus is closed, we will move to a distance-learning model using the video conferencing software Google Hangouts/Meet, something all students currently have access to. If the campus is closed for the short-term (between one and six school days) the MA class schedule (as found in the MA Planner as well) will remain constant, though online, with students and teachers meeting at their regular times but in a virtual classroom. Learning will happen both synchronously (students working together), and asynchronously (students learning at their own pace, not all at the same time), and, as is the case with our typical MA classrooms, instruction will contain multiple learning activities, broken up into short chunks.
If the campus needs to be closed for the longer term (more than six school days), we will rely on our strong learnings from our years as a BlendEd Consortium school; not only are we equipped with knowledge and experience around pedagogy in online learning, but we also have a model—where students work primarily asynchronously but meet synchronously in an online meeting once every one to two weeks—that has worked well. As such, if our campus closes for longer than six school days, we are ready to move forth with a modified class schedule in which the curriculum has been revamped and retooled for maximum learning in a distance-learning format. In either closed-campus scenario, teachers will adapt curriculum and assessments and remain available for Tutorials. Advisories will also meet.
Student Expectations and Preparation for Remote Learning
Though we may need to move to remote learning, school rules—including dress code, tardies, etc.—continue to apply during the school day. In addition, as teachers are preparing for a distance learning scenario, students can and should also prepare. Bring your school materials, devices, and chargers home each evening. Set up a consistent “classroom space” in your home where you will attend class if it is online. Find a space where there isn’t anything distracting, school inappropriate, or too personal in the background (notice posters up on walls, for instance). We recommend not using bedrooms when video conferencing for classes. Practice a Google Hangouts/Meet with friends Online sessions are typically better with headphones. If you have some, check the batteries/charging situation and make sure they are ready. Should you have unstable wifi or lack of access to wifi, please contact KaTrina Wentzel and/or Kyle Vitale right away.
Athletic, Co-curricular Activities, Meetings, Speakers, etc.
When School closes, the campus will be closed and, as such, all school events will be postponed or canceled. Such a closure would include all practices, games, concerts, plays, speakers, and meetings.
Monday’s Practice
On Monday, we are asking all students and faculty to conduct classes online, off-campus, and at home. This day will serve as a practice day should we need to enact a more permanent remote learning plan. Monday is a “D, E, F, G” day. Therefore, students should be logged on and ready to join a Google Hangout/Meet online group for their D block classes at 8:00 am. The schedule for the rest of the day is as follows:
8:00 D Block
9:20 G Block
10:40 Tutorial (optional)
11:15 E Block
1:30 F Block
Students will receive links from their teachers to join their video classrooms. Teachers then, according to our plans, will either conduct class virtually and/or assign independent work that has been designed to take approximately 75 minutes (the length of a regular school period). Students are not required to be online during lunch or any free blocks. We anticipate that there will be bumps in the road on Monday; we ask your patience as we engage in this trial run, as we know that this period of practice will help us better anticipate how we want to move forward in the event of a more lengthy closure. If you have any questions about this process and practice day, please reach out to KaTrina Wentzel, Academic Dean.
Although classes will practice virtual online learning on Monday, March 16, we will hold practices at MA and games at their assigned venues. Practices will be held at their usual times, and coaches will be in touch with teams about when to arrive at game sites. Although we will not provide transportation to practices, we will run our usual late bus and KidzJets from MA at 5:30 p.m.
Our commitment to you is frequent and clear communication. For current details and up-to-date information, we recommend you visit and bookmark the MA Coronavirus response website: ma.org/coronavirus. As such, we will ask that all constituents check email frequently. Students will also need to be especially attentive to their MA email and MyMA. To be clear, however, in the case of a complete school closure, everyone will be notified initially through our emergency response system.
As our plans stand now, Marin Academy will not close unless we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 within our community, or if a parent or other family member in the home has a confirmed exposure. That could change, but we will keep you posted.
There are many resources—internal and external—available to support all constituents of Marin Academy. Please don’t hesitate to seek support when you need it. And, of course, if you feel sick, please stay home!
Best,
KaTrina Wentzel, Academic Dean
Stella Beale, Dean of Faculty
March 10, 2020: Email from Travis: Important Update about March 21 MA Celebrates
Dear MA Community,
I want to thank everyone for your patience and partnership as we continue to navigate the rapidly evolving situation around COVID-19. I would like to take this moment to share that we have decided that we must cancel the in-person portion of this year’s MA Celebrates scheduled for Saturday, March 21. While social distancing is the proper course at this time, we still have a need for the support of our community. As an administration, we support the MA Celebrates leadership in their decision to redirect this event to an online auction.
I also want to thank everyone who has already contributed to this important event - from those who have purchased tickets and sponsorships to those who have volunteered to lead parties and gatherings and those who have contributed over 200 fantastic and unique auction items. It is this spirit of generosity from our community that will carry us through challenging moments in time.
Tomorrow, you will hear more from our MA Celebrates team about the next steps and how you can support our school through our online auction. My gratitude goes to all of you who will continue to virtually partake in the MA community’s favorite social event. I am grateful for your ongoing commitment to our students and faculty.
Warmest regards,
March 10, 2020: Announcement - Thacher Event Postponed
March 9, 2020: Letter from MA Class Deans re: COVID-19
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Dear Parents,
We wanted to follow-up on the email Travis sent out regarding COVID-19. While we’re hopeful the school and the larger community will not be impacted by the virus, we did want to reach out to remind and reassure you all that should your child get sick and need to miss school, we are here to support your child as they return to school.
Often times we hear the refrain, “missing school is too hard. You get too far behind.” We understand and appreciate our students’ commitment to their studies, and it’s really important that your child stay home from school if they’re not well. Should their absence be longer than a day or two, there is a support team waiting to help them when they return. To give you an idea of what we mean, here is how we’ve supported some students with prolonged absences:
- The advisor contacts all of the teachers asking about missed work. Missed work is usually collected in a Google Doc and shared with both the student and family.
- As needed, the advisor (in conjunction with the class dean) puts together a plan for making up missed assessments.
- Teachers show empathy as students get back on track.
Some families have asked whether students have the option to be virtually present in a class when they’re ill. At this time, this is not an accommodation we are offering. Our teachers and classrooms are not set up for this option for short term absences.
Luckily, most students don’t have experience with prolonged absences, so sometimes they may feel like they have to go it alone. That is not the case, and we want to make sure that you and they know how they’ll be supported. We also recognize that different students need different levels of support, and our goal is to be there for your child, regardless. Please keep your child home if they’re unwell. Their focus when ill should be health, wellness, and recovery.
Please reach out to any one of us should you have any questions.
Take Care,
Kevin Rees (Freshman Class Dean)
Jared Baird (Sophomore Class Dean)
Mary Collie (Junior Class Dean)
Juliet Dana (Senior Class Dean)
March 6, 2020: Email from Travis: Coronavirus Update
Para ver este mensaje en español, haga clic aquí.
Đọc ở đây cho người việt nam.
Dear MA Families,
We continue to closely monitor the latest information about the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), including regular updates from the Marin Department of Health and Human Services, the Marin County Office of Education, the CDC, as well as the World Health Organization. Our priority is to maintain the health and safety of our school community and to keep you informed. As we mentioned in our previous email update, our administrative team is driving the development of a contingency distance learning program should COVID-19 disrupt classes and force the temporary closure of school. We will communicate our plans about what this would look like with our community early next week.
For the moment, we wanted to announce our newly established school webpage to track news and information related to the spread of COVID-19 and how it may impact our community. This page includes the latest relevant information for our community including updates on related school event cancellations, college test and college visit changes and information, tips on staying safe and healthy, and links to the CDC, WHO, local public health organizations, and other resources.
We remain vigilant with health and hygiene around campus, and teachers and staff continue to remind our community to wash hands frequently during the day or to use hand sanitizer if handwashing is not possible. Our custodial crew has been working hard daily after-hours cleaning and sanitizing our campus and other spaces each evening, wiping down desktops and frequently-touched objects like doorknobs, to ensure a clean work and study environment during the school day. And, we have increased efforts to provide disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers around campus.
Please continue to practice the preventive steps that are recommended to keeping our community safe from COVID-19. Again, if you are feeling sick we ask you to remain at home until you feel better. Have a great weekend, and I hope to see you at the girls’ soccer match at Branson on Saturday at 2 p.m.!
Warmest regards,
March 5, 2020: Email from school transportation service, KidzJet
Good morning.
With the global events surrounding the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak we at KidzJet have taken preventive measures to ensure the safety and health of students and our staff. KidzJet has a variety of established policies, plans and procedures to ensure the smooth continuity of business operations.
PREVENTIVE ACTIONS
- Increased and regular van cleanings and disinfection, as well as the accessibility to disinfectants, hand sanitizer and face masks for “positions” that need them.
- We are requesting students to stay home when they are sick. Also students should follow preventive measures provided by the CDC.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Best Regards,
KidzJet Customer Service
650.235.4210
March 3, 2020: Press Release: Marin County Schools Prepare for Coronavirus/COVID-19
Press Release: Marin County Schools Prepare for Coronavirus/COVID-19
For Immediate Release
March 3, 2020
Contact: Mary Jane Burke
Marin County Superintendent of Schools
(415) 499-5801
Marin County Schools Prepare for Coronavirus/COVID-19
Marin County, CA – School leaders and health experts in Marin County are coordinating efforts to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 and determine how schools will respond in the event that a case is identified at a school site. Working closely Dr. Matt Willis, Public Health Officer, and his team at the County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), school leaders are receiving the most current information related to the virus along with guidance about keeping students and staff safe.
A community forum is scheduled for March 9 from 6-7:30p.m. at the Marin County Office of Education located at 1111 Las Gallinas Avenue in San Rafael. The forum will include health experts from the DHHS and Kaiser Permanente. Facebook live streaming will be available through the Marin COE Facebook page https://tinyurl.com/tb2odfx.
“We are taking this situation very seriously for the sake of our students, staff and community at large,” said Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke. “While this situation is evolving, we are following the recommendations of local health experts.”
The DHHS recommends common sense guidelines for protecting against the spread of infectious diseases including:
- Encourage students and staff to stay home when they are sick.
- Those who have a fever at school should go home and stay home until fever-free for at least 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication.
- Separate sick students and staff from others until they can be picked up to go home.
- The Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
- Promote hand hygiene among students and staff through education, scheduled time for handwashing, and availability of soap and water and/or hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Teach and encourage proper cough etiquette—cough or sneeze into a tissue, sleeve, or arm (do not use hands).
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
The Marin County Office of Education has a dedicated web page related to the coronavirus at www.marinschools.org. The page includes written communications from the DHHS and resources related to hygiene, talking to kids about the virus and distance learning.
The Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) is also working with the DHHS to update its infectious disease emergency response plan, which was developed in 2009 in response to the H1N1 virus. The document serves as a plan for schools to manage an infectious disease emergency.
In the event that a case of coronavirus occurs at a school site, the school’s crisis response team will work with public health officials to determine next steps, which may include closing a school for up to 14 days.
County Superintendent Burke praised the collaboration efforts of school leaders to prepare a database of online and paper-based learning resources for schools to use in the event of a closure and to support the continuity of teaching and learning.
“All of these efforts are reflective of our community’s ability to come together in a time of need. While we are hoping that we will not need to implement our plans for a worst case scenario, we will be ready.”
###
Mary Jane Burke (She/Her/Hers)
Marin County Superintendent of Schools
(415) 499-5801
@Burkemaryjane (Twitter)
March 2, 2020: Email from Travis: Coronavirus Update
Para ver este mensaje en español, haga clic aquí.
Đọc ở đây cho người việt nam.
Dear All,
As we return from Minicourse tomorrow, I wanted to provide our community with an update of our response to the emerging outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As you know, the developments surrounding COVID-19 have created a dynamic situation both domestically and internationally. The situation is a community issue which will require all of us to act individually with an eye toward the collective good.
Our greatest concern is always the health and well-being of members of our community. We are consistently consulting and monitoring the situation with the Marin County Office of Education, the CDC, and the World Health Organization and will provide timely updates to the community as the situation progresses. Given that this situation is evolving and will require fluidity on everyone’s part, I want to urge first and foremost that individuals remain at home should they be sick or demonstrate any symptoms.
We are currently confirming our plan to avoid interruption of teaching and learning should school closures become a part of our response. Our Administrative Team is driving the development of a contingency distance learning program should COVID-19 disrupt classes. MA’s experience in leading the Bay Area BlendEd Consortium gives us a unique ability to make this a seamless transition for students should this need arise. The primary concern right now is to ensure our community remains safe and healthy.
What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?
According to the CDC, symptoms of the virus include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. The CDC believes that symptoms of Coronavirus may appear within 14 days after exposure. The illness can be more serious for individuals with a weakened immune system, the elderly, or those with underlying respiratory problems.
The CDC has established a COVID-19 website with comprehensive information about reducing the risk of infection, advice related to international travel, and what to do if you think you may be sick. These preventive steps are common-sense approaches that we can all take to help keep our community safe and healthy, including:
- Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash or sanitize hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
To date we have confirmed with the School’s cleaning service that all products meet rigorous standards to ensure the most sanitary school environment. We urge everyone to be particularly diligent with preventive hygiene and vigilant in monitoring for symptoms, especially if you have been in contact with anyone traveling internationally in the past few weeks. Please also take this time to update your emergency contact information in MyMA so we will be able to connect with you on all of the latest information and updates.
I encourage you to engage the news you hear with a critical eye. Rumors and supposition will impede our ability to act effectively with confidence and clarity. We at Marin Academy will base our decisions on sources such as the CDC, the World Health Organization, and state and local agencies. I want to thank all of the faculty, staff, and administrators who are working to monitor, assess, and respond to the needs of our community. In the face of this evolving situation, we can’t ignore the lessons of compassion and empathy. I ask us all to hold in our thoughts the nations and communities impacted by COVID-19.
All the best,
Challenge Success Workshop: Navigating Remote Learning for Families
Many families are concerned about the impact that remote learning will have on their child’s academic journey and what role they should play along the way. If you were not able to attend this Marin Academy workshop, please see the resources below including a recording of the 45-minute webinar with Challenge Success that explores practical tips and guidelines for what families can do to best support student well-being and engagement with learning right now.
- Video: Navigating Remote Learning for Families
- Additional Tips and Resources
- Q&A Videos from Denise Pope Sorted by Topic
Video: Navigating Remote Learning for Families
Additional Tips and Resources
A Message to Our Challenge Success Family by Denise Pope
How to Talk to Your Child about the Coronavirus by Madeline Levine
Q&A Videos from Denise Pope Sorted by Topic
Marin Academy Family Community Action
We can continue to feel connected through service, and there are ways we can support our community partner organizations at this time.
MA Community Partner Organizations You Can Help Support
There are many organizations and individuals in need at this time and we encourage you to provide support in whatever way you and your family can. If it is helpful to have some concrete options, we have listed here the requests of some of our closest MA partners:
St. Vincent de Paul in San Rafael needs volunteers to create and provide packed lunches for those experiencing food insecurity. You can sign up here for a specific day to prepare and deliver meals at 10am or 3pm.
Gilead House provides housing for single mothers and children in Novato and clients are in need of hygiene and other supplies including toilet paper, dish soap, detergent, garbage bags, hand soap. You can also support them with gift cards and other donations. More info here.
SF-Marin Food Bank has volunteer opportunities in both San Francisco and Marin with their pop-up pantries as well as through donations.
Canal Alliance supports local immigrants and their families with a variety of resources and services and is in need of donations toward their Client Support Fund. More info here.
Downtown Streets Team, San Rafael provides housing, employment and services to some of San Rafael’s most vulnerable and is in need of supply donations and financial support. More info here.
American Red Cross is in critical need of blood with the COVID-19 outbreak, and although we had to cancel our annual MA blood drive this spring, there are opportunities to safely donate blood locally to support those in need.
Thank you and be well!
MAPA Recommendations for Support in the Community
Our MAPA community of parents are always tirelessly working in a myriad of ways to support members of our community. During this pandemic, there are many ways to get involved and volunteer to support your neighbors, the elderly, and those communities that are hardest hit. Below are some ways you can get involved:
MAPA Recommended Community Support
MA-Affiliated Businesses and Services to Support
Perry’s Deli No. 3
1916 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Fairfax, CA 94930
Open for take-out and occasional delivery
Mon – Fri 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sat and Sun 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Conscious Kitchen
consciouskitchen.org
consciouskitchen.org
North Marin Community Services
Serves low income families, youth, seniors, and other vulnerable community members who are in need of housing, rental assistance, and other various levels of support. Requesting monetary, in-kind, and gift card donations to help support those struggling in the COVID-19 crisis.
Other Ways to Support Our Community
Help With COVID is a marketplace of opportunities for parents to put their professional skills to use in support of various projects around the virus. They especially need help from engineers, software developers, bio, medicine, and manufacturing, but they need more generalized help as well. Click here for more info.
"Bags of Sunshine" are being distributed to families in need in Marin City. Donations of soup, noodles, pasta sauce, fresh fruit, veggies, soap, toilet paper, sweets, protein bars, and other goodies can be brought to the home of Stephanie Young, an MA parent, in Mill Valley. Her email is: stephaniedaleyoung@gmail.com
Mon Ami connects young people with the elderly who need someone to talk to. Click here for more info.
Whistlestop is coordinating volunteers to drive seniors to get to medical appointments and the grocery store in Marin. If you are under 65 and can volunteer only short-term, you can help by giving rides in your car through our CarePool volunteer driver program. We may also need assistance with a grocery delivery program. To volunteer, email carepool@whistlestop.org or call 415-456-9062 x103
Kaiser is now accepting homemade masks to protect "nonclinical staff and guests." See instructions here.
ExtraFood is a nonprofit county-wide food recovery program in Marin: volunteers pick up excess food from local businesses and immediately deliver it to nonprofit partners — like homeless shelters, food pantries, and after-school programs. In four years they've recovered and delivered over 2,000,000 pounds of food from 200+ donors to 104 sites across Marin, and are reaching nearly 7,000 people every month with deliveries of healthy, fresh food. Contact Sharon Starr at volunteerrelations@extrafood.org or call 415-997-9830 to sign up for one of the next orientation sessions. extrafood.org
North Marin Community Services is a local non-profit that empowers youth, adults and families in our diverse community to achieve well-being, growth and success. See how you can support their efforts by visiting their website here.
For more information, you can visit this website resource created by MAPA's VP of Community Engagement and Inclusion, Darcy Ellsworth Yow, who is also the Director of Community Engagement at Marin Country Day School.
Mindfulness Resources for Parents, Teens, and Young Adults
Here is a list of helpful resources for mindfulness and mental health practices amid the Coronavirus pandemic.