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Principal’s Message
Hello Falcon Families and Friends,
📌 Youth Truth Survey
We are pleased to offer Venetia Valley, as well as all San Rafael City Schools and their families, the opportunity to provide feedback regarding your schools. The feedback you submit will be utilized to inform decisions aimed at enhancing the daily experience for students and families at Venetia Valley. Please take 10 minutes to complete the attached survey at your convenience, before Friday, December 19th, at 11:59 p.m. YouthTruth Family Link.
📣 New Districtwide Sign-in Procedures
Effective January 5th, Venetia Valley will join several other pilot schools in the district in implementing a new online check-in system for all non-district employees. This updated process will enable us to maintain an electronic record of all individuals entering our campus while students are present, thereby adding an extra layer of security. Upon signing in, guest information will be cross-referenced with a database that screens for individuals on the Megan’s Law list. This tool will facilitate the swift screening of all campus guests, helping to ensure the safety of your students while at Venetia Valley. A step-by-step Sign-In Guide is linked for your reference (English, Spanish)
❗️ Front Gate Times
We wish to highlight changes to the front gate schedule, commencing Tuesday, January 6th, to assist us in monitoring campus guests. Please observe the revised entry times for Venetia Valley Guests below:
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8:00 AM: Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) opens for early drop off
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8:30 AM: Front gates open for general campus entry
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NEW 8:50 AM: The majority of front gates will close. One designated front gate will remain monitored and open for student entry. Any adults seeking to enter Venetia Valley after 8:50 AM must enter through the Front Office and complete the online sign-in procedure.
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9:00 AM: The final front gate closes. Any late students must enter through the Front Office to obtain a Tardy Pass.
We appreciate your cooperation as we implement these new safety procedures to maintain a secure environment for your students at Venetia Valley.
Mr. O
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Happy Holidays from Venetia Valley Administration, Teachers, and Staff! We sincerely wish you all a FANTASTIC break.
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| ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S UPDATE |
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DLI Family Engagement Night: Fun & Games to Boost Biliteracy!
Mark your calendars, DLI Families!
We are excited to invite you to our DLI Family Engagement Night on Monday, January 29th, from 5:45 PM to 7:00 PM in the Venetia Valley MPR. This session is dedicated to giving you fun, practical strategies you can use at home to reinforce your child's Spanish language acquisition and reading skills.
Come learn a variety of engaging, low-prep activities you can use right away! We will be demonstrating how to use games and activities to build essential skills, including:
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Syllable and Phonics Practice: Learn quick ways to practice with flashcards and syllables, and use games like "Speller Invaders" and "Who Types It Faster."
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Reading & Comprehension: Discover how to use "Listen and Sketch" (listening to a story and then sketching) to boost comprehension, practice sequencing with story cards, and incorporate comprehension questions into daily reading.
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Interactive Games: We'll show you how to use bingo cards and counters to cover items, and utilize customizable board games (for syllables, letters, or High Frequency Words) and reading board games to make language arts practice enjoyable for the whole family!
Join us to get your hands on these resources and learn how to make reading and language practice at home fun!
We look forward to seeing you there!
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| DEAN OF STUDENTS' DETAILS |
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Cafecito with the Counselors and Family Center
Thank you to our families who attended our first Cafecito with the Counselors last week. We shared with our families all of the amazing work our school counselors do here at VV and the Family Center talked about how they can connect families to therapy in the community.
Our next topic will be “Helping manage big feelings and frustration.” We will send out the date in the next newsletter.
Here is the slideshow for you to review:
Cafecito with the Counselors
Happy Holidays
Thank you for a fantastic semester. Your support makes our community so special. As we head into winter break, I wish you peace, joy, and plenty of quality family time. Rest up, stay warm, and Happy Holidays!
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| COUNSELORS' CORNER |
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Dear Families,
As we begin the winter break, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible growth our students have shown this semester. Whether it’s navigating new friendships or building academic stamina, it is a privilege to support your children every day.
To help you better understand how we support our students' social, emotional, and academic needs, we are excited to share our coffee with the counselors' slides: Venetia Valley School Counseling Program. Please take a moment to view it and to see the various programs and services we offer.
We wish you a restful holiday season and a New Year filled with joy and health. We look forward to seeing everyone back in January.
Warmly,
Mariya Cree K, 2, 4, 6, 8 School Counselor
Barbra Katz 1, 3, 5, 7 School Counselor
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| A PEAK INSIDE THE ART CLASSROOM |
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Garden Update:
Thank you so much to all the families that came to this month's family work day on December 13! We made a lot of progress in planting and weeding. The kids had a great time and are feeling really proud of their efforts. Monthly work days will now take place on Saturday afternoons from 1-3!
The next work day is January 24th! See below for the full schedule. Hope to see you there.
Thanks also to Heads’ Up and Donor’s Choose for funding new gloves, bird boxes, and tools for the garden.
   
SCHOOL TOURS:
Dear Families,
As the new year approaches, many prospective families are beginning to explore school options for their children. Our families are our greatest champions and advocates, and your support means so much to us. If you know anyone who is considering enrolling their child in TK, Kindergarten, or Middle School, we would greatly appreciate it if you could encourage them to sign up for a school tour.
Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our community!
TOUR DATES:
January 7th, 2026, at 10 am
January 21st, 2026, at 10 am
February 4th, 2026, at 10 am
February 11th, 2026, at 10 am
February 25th, 2026, at 10 am
Sign up through this LINK
A HUGE THANK YOU!!
We know we can always count on our Venetia Valley community, and parents—you truly never fail to amaze us! Thank you so much for the incredible spread you provided for our staff dinner. From the drinks and salads to the chuchitos, pastas, and all the other delicious dishes, everything was absolutely wonderful. It was exactly what we needed as we head into winter break, and we are so grateful for your generosity and support.
See pictures below of our staff enjoying every part of it!
 
NOT A GOODBYE, BUT A SEE YOU LATER -- Ms. Adriana
As I prepare for my next chapter, I want to share a heartfelt see you later. I’ll be stepping away from my role as the Family Center Coordinator, as I move into the classroom to complete my student teaching hours and finalize my teaching credential and master’s degree.
I’m grateful to share that I’ll still be on campus, just in a different capacity, as I complete my student teaching with Ms. Skok in the middle school area. While my role is changing, my connection to this community remains strong.
This community has meant so much to me, and I’m incredibly grateful for the trust, partnership, and support we’ve shared. While I won’t be in this role, I’m excited to continue growing as an educator and to stay connected in new ways. The school is currently finalizing who the new Family Center Coordinator will be, and I know they will be welcomed with the same warmth and care that make this community so special.
This is truly not a goodbye, but a see you later. 💛
Attendance
Returning appointment notes to the Main Office
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It’s important to return any medical, dental, or other appointment notes to the school as soon as possible. These notes ensure that your child’s absence is officially excused and helps us keep accurate attendance records. Thank you for helping us support your child’s education by keeping their attendance up to date!
Technology: Chromebooks
Head Lice Guidance
The Marin County Public Library is a great, FREE resource with:
VISIT ANY OF THE 12 LOCATIONS
*FIND INFORMATION IN SPANISH HERE or change your browser language settings to Spanish for the above links.
Free English Classes in Canal Alliance:
Citizenship Classes:
 
Basic Digital Literacy Classes:
ELAC Meeting Tuesday 01/20 at 6 pm:
Temporary Food Distribution
 
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IMPORTANT DATES
12.22.25 - 1.6.26
- Winter Break -- NO SCHOOL
1.7.26
- Prospective Parent Tour at 10 am
1.9.26
- Coffee with the Principal
1.19.26
1.20.26
1.21.26
- 4th Grade Bike Rodeo
- Prospective Parent Tour at 10 am
1.27.26
- SSC Meeting at 4:30 pm in the Family Center
1.29.26
- Kindergarten Gallery Walk
- DLI Family Engagement Night
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