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Superintendent's Newsletter 10.15.24

LCMSD Update 10.15.24
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TLDR:

  • Coffee Chat on October 18 at Neil Cummins from 9:00-10:00 (all district families welcome)

  • Pulse survey coming soon for Imagine Tomorrow Together 

  • Outdoor education was a big success

  • Safety Update Video (SpanishPortugueseChineseKorean)

  • Board Meeting October 23

  • Get to know the Board Candidates on Tuesday October 29 at 7:30pm (Zoom link)


Dear LCMSD Community,


As we transition into the fall season, I am excited to begin this newsletter by honoring National Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. These observances celebrate the rich cultural contributions and histories of our Hispanic, Latin American, and Indigenous communities, whose resilience and traditions have shaped the fabric of our society. At LCMSD, we believe that diversity is our strength, and these celebrations remind us of the importance of inclusivity and understanding as we build a future for all of our students. Speaking of the future, we are excited about the key District initiatives currently underway—each one focused on fostering a thriving and safe learning environment. Below you will find the LCMSD updates.


Dr. Brett Geithman

Superintendent


Coffee Chat: Let’s Connect!

Parent, staff, and community engagement is essential to our District’s success. Join me for a Coffee Chat on October 18 from 9:00-10:00 AM at Neil Cummins for an open discussion. Parents from Cove, Hall, and Neil Cummins are welcome, and all topics and questions are encouraged. I look forward to seeing you there!



LCMSD 2036: Imagine Tomorrow Together 

Our visioning initiative is in full swing, and we’re excited about the progress being made! The Guiding Coalition (see photo above) - composed of Hall and Redwood students, parents, teachers, staff, community and business leaders, and elected officials - met for the second time recently. During this meeting, we reviewed all feedback gathered from surveys, student engagement sessions, community sessions, and the Board. These data were compiled and shared with the coalition, which then worked in teams to create prototypes of the Graduate, Adult, and Systems Portraits.


The next step in this process is a quick pulse survey for all stakeholders to help identify the most important elements of each portrait. Please keep an eye out for this survey in the next two weeks—your input is invaluable as we shape the future of LCMSD together!


Outdoor Education: Learning in Nature

Last week, our 5th graders from both Cove and Neil Cummins had an unforgettable experience at Nature Bridge. They spent three days together immersed in outdoor education, exploring nature, fostering teamwork, and applying classroom learning to real-world environments. These hands-on experiences not only enhanced their understanding of the natural world but also created strong bonds among students. It was a wonderful opportunity for growth and learning beyond the classroom. Thank you 5th grade teachers, staff, and parent volunteers for making this such a fantastic experience!


Safety Updates   Safety Update Video (SpanishPortugueseChineseKorean)

Ensuring the safety of our students and staff remains a top priority. Here’s a look at the recent and upcoming actions we are taking to enhance our safety measures:


Incident Response Protocol: In partnership with Critical Friends, we recently introduced this protocol that works in coordination with our district’s discipline matrix, particularly for incidents involving a protected class. This protocol focuses on education and repair, ensuring responses are both grade-level appropriate and constructive. Our goal is to support student growth through meaningful learning and restorative practices.


Summer Safety Summit: Over the summer, we held a district-wide Safety Summit that brought together staff and safety experts. The summit focused on best practices in restorative circles, first aid and CPR certification, intruder table top exercises and the incident response protocol mentioned above. The insights and strategies developed during this summit are now being integrated into our daily operations. Thanks Amanda Estes and Dr. Toni Brown for your leadership as LCMSD Grant Coordinators!


Neighboring School District/Organization Threat Protocol: We have reviewed and updated our protocols following the September 13 threat to TUHSD. There have been threats to neighboring schools/organizations in the past; however, we haven’t had one at the start of school, which created a unique situation. We have shared this with the School Safety Task Force and trained all staff. Additionally, Dr. Lisa Miller and Scott Ostendorf from MCOE trained all staff in restorative practices specifically during an emergency or potential threat. 


Safety Task Force Meetings: We are continuing to prioritize safety through our ongoing Safety Task Force. The next meeting dates are scheduled for December 4, February 5, and April 30. All parents and community members may join us in these critical discussions even if you didn’t fill out the interest form in the beginning of the school year. Your feedback and involvement are vital as we work together to strengthen our safety practices.


Board Updates

On October 23, 2024 the Board will meet at 6:00 in the Hall Library. Trustees will be presented with an update on the 2024 CAASPP results, the literacy adoption process, and the enrollment and staffing report. Additionally, Trustees will vote on Hall’s single plan for student achievement, the elementary LCAP, and 2024-25 professional services contracts. The meeting will be live-streamed via Zoom (link; passcode - lcmsd). Please know, public comments will only be taken by in person attendees; public comments via Zoom will not be available. We hope to see you there. All agendas can be found here.


Get to Know the LCMSD Board Candidates 

Please join Neil Cummins, Cove, and Hall parents at the "Get to Know the LCMSD Board Candidates" virtual event on Tuesday October 29 7:30 - 8:30 pm hosted by our schools’ PTO/As. The LCMSD Board candidates will introduce themselves and answer a few questions from our parent community selected in advance. There will be no live audience Q&A so if you would like to submit a question to be considered for the event please add it to this survey by midnight on 10/23. PTO/A reps will select 2-3 of the questions submitted to ask the candidates. The event will be recorded. Zoom link to join meeting - we look forward to you joining us Tuesday October 29 at 7:30pm.

LCMSD Board of Trustees
Amir Movafaghi, Vice President 
Beth Blair, Clerk
Natalie Medved
Eric Schmautz
Annie Sherman
 
Superintendent
Brett Geithman, Ed.D.