December Newsletter

Your presence is a gift. Two hands surrounding a circle

The Gift of Presence at the Dinner Table

As a parent for four kids spanning between 3rd grade and senior year of high school, I have found many different ways to connect with my children over the years yet the single most beneficial family routine we have is sitting down to dinner together without screens. It is at our dinner table where we talk about upcoming plans, what’s happening at school, and instill family values. It is here where we laugh, debate current events, talk about hard things, and sometimes just eat quietly. It is also simply where we show up and are present with each other, a gift that can be so challenging with all of the impending tasks and needs in daily life. It is a routine I have come to value more and more as my oldest prepares to launch into the adult world taking with him all the moments I have been able to share before he is off on his own.

In December, the nights are long and dark and the days full of activity. Be sure to take time for yourself and time to spend with your children being fully present, which is simply the best gift of all.

As far as actual presents are concerned, I'm a huge fan of cards, puzzles, and board games which reinforce so much greatness from turn taking to probability and more.

Please take the site council survey if you have not yet done so

Totally not the Illiad Wed Dec 3rd and friday dec 5 at 7 pm bolinas community center tickets 12 dollars performed by the theatre arts workshop students directed by amber distaci written by magnolia cavette and amber dictaci

Winter Sing Along
Community and Connection
Thursday dec 18
Food and Hot Chocolate from 5 to 5:30 pm
Music from 5:30 to 7 pm
Volunteers needed for decoration set up and Quesada clean up. Contact the office to volunteer Please bring your own plates, cups, and utensils

Winter Sing Helpers Sign Up

Dear Bolinas-Stinson Families, from our Superintendent

We have an important ask of you that may not be on the top of your list.

If you drive to Bolinas School to drop off or pick up your child, please consider having your child take the bus, walk, or ride to school.

Taking the bus or walking and rolling to school has many benefits for your child, for our community, and for the school:

Less traffic in the parking lots and street each morning and afternoon. On several recent busy days, people, car, and bike traffic was dangerous.
Independence and responsibility: Getting to the bus stop on time with your stuff and with shoes on is an important job. As well, your child may be ready to take on walking or rolling to school on their own.
Social and cognitive benefits: Exercise improves concentration, focus, and memory skills. Social time on the bus can boost children's start to the school day. And our bus drivers love to see our students at the bookends of the day.
Environmental impact: Our electric bus has zero emissions, and our diesel bus has the capacity to replace dozens of automobiles with just one combustion engine.
Your time: Even if your commute to school is just a 1/2 mile, you are paid in time, every time your child takes care of their own transportation to and from school by walking, biking, or taking the bus.

We would love to see less traffic at the school, replaced by more walkers and rollers, and bus riders.

Thank you very much,

Leo Kostelnik

PS: In Stinson, please use the crosswalk. Your children are watching and following your lead.

Attendance: We want your kids here learning and playing with us

Some of you may have noticed we have implemented automatic attendance notifications for students who are marked absent by their teachers at the start of the day. Attendance calls are scheduled to be sent out at 9:30am. If your student arrives to school prior to 9:30am and they check in with the Bolinas office or their Stinson teachers they will be changed to tardy rather than absent and you should not be receiving the attendance notification. Please note that students will not be changed to tardy until they have checked in to the office upon arrival, so even if you have notified the school that they will be late, you might still get a call if they arrive after 9:30am.

Please remember: the instructional school day begins at 8:30 am in Bolinas and 8:40am in Stinson. Students arriving after this time are tardy. Students arriving before school are able to greet their friends and play before heading into the classroom.

Upcoming Dates:

December 2: Site Council, 3:15-4:15, Bolinas campus library

December 9: Board Meeting, 5pm

December 17: Cafecito, 8:45am

December 18: Winter Sing Along, 5-7pm

December 22-January 5: Winter Break

January 6: School resumes

January 13: Board Meeting

January 20: Site Council

E-Bikers Club Resources

E-Bike Laws for Safety

The laws in Marin County have changed to protect our youth. All legal e-bikes in California must have fully operable pedals and a motor that does not exceed 750 watts. There are three classes of legal e-bikes in California:

Class 1 only assists when you pedal and stops helping at 20mph. Legal for all ages.
Class 2 assists with a throttle up to 20mph and pedaling isn’t required. You must be 16+ to ride in Marin.
Class 3 only assists when you pedal and stops helping at 28 mph. You must be 16+ to ride anywhere.

What’s permitted on Marin County school campuses:

Elementary and Middle Schools

Allowed: Class 1 e-bikes, regular bicycles

Not Allowed: Class 2 & 3 e-bikes, illegal e-bikes (exceed 750 watts; can exceed 20 mph on motor power alone)

We’re proud to encourage biking as a sustainable, healthy way to get to school—and, with your partnership, we can make it safe for everyone.

Bolinas-Stinson Union School District