Lagunitas Community School by The Committee for Quality Valley Schools
• Civil Rights Trip: It’s dif- ficult to make the Civil Rights Movement feel real to 8th graders in
Support the Heart of Our Valley: Renewing the Parcel Tax for Lagunitas Community School For over three decades, the San Geronimo Valley has stood firmly behind the Lagunitas School District, renewing a local parcel tax that funds more than 20% of the Lagunitas Community Schools annual budget. This steady commitment has made it possible to keep class sizes small, retain exceptional teachers and sup- port staff, provide instructional aides, and offer the kind of enrichment oppor- tunities that make our schools extraordinary. In November, our community will have the opportunity once again to renew this vital funding. Parcel taxes are one of the most direct and effective ways communities can invest in their local public schools—and here in the Valley, we’ve shown time and again that we believe in taking care of our children. With potential budget cuts looming, this renewal is more important than ever. A strong school system benefits every resident, not only by shaping the next generation but also by strengthening the fabric and property values of our community.
Marin County, where injustice can seem distant. Teacher Katherine Sanford, plus parents and students fundraise all year for a transformative trip to Alabama, visiting key sites. They walk in the footsteps of Civil Rights leaders and gain a deep and lasting understanding of our nation’s history. • School Branding: The school adopted the name Lagunitas Community School and developed a refreshed mission, vision, and visual identity. A new logo, designed pro bono by an alumna and their world class design team, reflects the school’s culture of progressive education and community involve- ment. Through a big parent volunteer effort, new signage, a website, and other branded materials are coming this year. Branded merchandise is now available online, with proceeds benefiting the school: https://leap-lagunitas. printify.me/category/all/1. • Makerspace: The school’s new Makerspace is a hands-on lab for grades K–8, fostering curiosity and innovation through model building, circuitry, sewing, materials exploration, and other STEAM activities. Students visit weekly or bi-weekly, and middle schoolers can choose Makerspace as an elective.
Check Out Some of Our Major Achievements at Lagunitas Community School
The district has made major strides in the past two years!
• Combined Elementary Program: Since merging its elementary schools, the district has seen increased enrollment, particularly in the new TK/K class. A new outdoor play area for the TK/K is underway, and LEAP (the parent fun- draising arm) continues to provide art, music, Spanish, garden education, and other enrichment programs. • Local Organic Food Program: The new scratch-cooked breakfast and lunch pro- gram has been a huge success (as sighted in the Point Reyes Light), dramatically increasing participation. The organic fresh breakfasts are motivating children to arrive early to eat with friends and coming to class well fed. Chef Meggan Arnoux, recently honored with the 2025 Golden Bell Classified Award, leads the effort with support from parent volunteers and Conscious Kitchen. • The Garden Grant: A new grant is transforming the space between campuses into a vibrant organic garden. Under garden teacher Michelle Myers’ guid- ance, students and volunteers will learn about science and gardening while producing fresh ingredients for the school kitchen.
With our community’s continued support, Lagunitas Community School will continue to build an incredible school that brings us all together and where our children thrive. Let’s vote to renew the parcel tax and preserve the heart of public education in the San Geronimo Valley. It should be noted that residents 65 and over have the option to apply for an exemption to this tax ensuring that older adults on a fixed income are supported if needed. The Committe for Quality Valley Schools is comprised of the following: Alexa Davidson, Allison Fitzpatrick, Anna Corral, Bill Bowles, Dave Cort, Eddy Scafani, Felicia Yui Evans, John Carroll, Kelly Sylvester, Maya Friedman, Megan Robleto, Michelle Granelli and Sasha Gulish. grant to renovate the center’s two play yards. Working with a seven-member proj- ect team—including Louis Torelli, the early childhood designer behind SGCC’s toddler space—Margaret helped lead a major transformation of the outdoor areas. Margaret’s commitment to San Geronimo extends well beyond SGCC. A resident of the Valley since 1957 and a graduate of the Lagunitas Community School Class of 1960, she has long been an active member of the broader community. She and her husband, Kit, are recipients of the Edie Robinson Award in recognition of their many years of service through the Presbyterian Church, the local food pantry, and other community organizations. Though officially retiring, Margaret has no intention of stepping away entirely. She has expressed a deep interest in document- ing the 60-plus-year history of the San Geronimo Childcare Center, preserving the stories, images, and milestones that have defined this special place for generations. We are profoundly grateful for Margaret’s years of service, and we know her pres- ence will continue to be felt in the classrooms, the garden, the playgrounds, and the hearts of all who pass through SGCC. As she moves into this new chapter, we celebrate her legacy and the countless ways she has helped make our Center a place where children grow, families connect, and community thrives. A few weeks ago I had a wonderful conversation with Renee Poppe at Fairfax Market. For those of you who do not know Renee, she is now 96 years old, sharp as can be, still driving and spending quality time with four generations of her family. Renee began teaching at the Lagunitas School in the early 1950’s. She taught generations of Valley students in the historic building which now is home to the Community Center, on the lower campus and upper campus. I first met Renee in 1984 when I volunteered in her classroom as an intern from Sonoma State University. Renee stays closely in contact with many of her former Lagunitas School colleagues and they meet regularly for lunch. I have so much gratitude for Renee and my conversation with her. Last, Ted Van Midde and Van Midde Concrete continue their decades long sup- port of the Community Center and the Lagunitas Community School. This sum- mer the Van Midde crew repaired the bridge on Lagunitas School Road leading to the San Geronimo Campus. Thank you Ted for your incredible generosity.
Grati tude by Dave Cort, Community Ambassador
I am sending Gratitude to local residents who have let me know about recent births in the San Geronimo Valley and Nicasio. With Joy, we celebrate the birth of Kingsley August Killion on July 14th to Gabe and Lindsay and their families. We celebrate the home birth on July 19th of a baby girl to Lani and Dave Yadegar and siblings Zoë and Zyah. Monique Paltrineri, Board President of the San Geronimo Valley Childcare Center (SGCC) and Sadie Carter SGCC Administrative Assistant shared this with me about our beloved Margaret Krauss. Thank you Monique and Sadie for sharing! After more than two decades of service, Margaret Krauss is retiring from the San Geronimo Childcare Center, leaving behind a legacy of love, learning, and deep-rooted community connection. Margaret began her journey at SGCC as a substitute teacher and officially joined the full-time staff in 2002. Since then, she has been a steady, compassionate presence in both the Toddler and Preschool classrooms, shaping the lives of countless children and families with her wisdom and warmth. Margaret’s ties to the San Geronimo Childcare Center span four generations. Her mother, Barbara Prather, was one of the early teachers at the school. Margaret followed in her footsteps, and her daughter, Jessica Krauss, later worked as a teacher’s aide. All four of Margaret’s grandchildren attended SGCC as students. Few families can say they have been so thoroughly woven into the life of a school, and Margaret’s dedication has helped anchor SGCC in its values of care, continuity, and community. Over the years, Margaret contributed far beyond the classroom. She published the school’s family newsletter—weekly in its early days, and later monthly—keeping parents informed andconnected. She coordinated parent engagement activities and played a key role in organizing some of the center’s biggest and most beloved fun- draisers, including the Storyland Festivals and Pancake Breakfasts. Between 2022 and 2024, she took on the significant task of writing and managing a large state
SGV Community Center Stone Soup Page 9
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