In this update:

  • Reopening Update
  • Martin Luther King Day
  • Mental Health Parent Education Night
  • Reading Power
  • Enrollment Begins on January 20th!
  • TK/Kindergarten Information Sessions
  • Middle School Information Nights


Reopening Update
Our District remains committed to reopening as San Mateo County transitions to the Orange Tier. While local metrics have continued to slip, there is a reason for optimism. State-wide, there are indications that our current surge is plateauing. Additionally, San Mateo County is beginning to prepare for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to the next Priority Group (1B Tier 1), which includes educators across the early learning, TK-12, and higher education communities.  

Unfortunately, San Mateo County will not meet the Orange Tier metric by February 1st. We will continue to monitor county metrics and provide updates as conditions change. We continue to work closely with our teachers to prepare for our transition. Once we've notified teachers of their teaching assignment, we will notify families of their assigned model, likely in late January. We appreciate our community's patience and understanding.

Martin Luther King Day
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke and wrote about the importance of education. He believed that true education was one that combined "Intelligence plus character" and that "the complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate." Through nonviolent protest, Dr. King taught us about tolerance, civil discourse, and our shared responsibility to the cause of justice. Martin Luther King Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. In observance and honor of Dr. King's work and service to others, Monday, January 18th, is designated as a school holiday.

Mental Health Parent Information Night
On Thursday, January 28th, 6-7:30, the Special Programs Department and StarVista will be hosting a Mental Health Parent Education Night. This event will be a very informative evening focusing on depression and anxiety with topics that include strategies for parents and children, caring for a child's mental health, signs and symptoms, and more. For more information and to RSVP, click here.  
Reading Power
Reading Power encourages the love of reading in our students and raises money for our schools through SchoolForce. Money raised with Reading Power allows SchoolForce to fund literacy programs (including reading specialists and libraries) in all BRSSD schools, along with Science, Music, Technology, Art, Sports, and more! Students will log minutes read and donations collected in an online form. Detailed information and instructions can be found at https://schoolforce.org/events/reading-power/

Enrollment Begins on January 20th!
The first enrollment period for the 2021-2022 school year starts this month! Siblings of current students in grades K-5 should enroll between January 20th, 2021, and February 28th, 2021, to receive sibling priority assignment. All other new students (including current TK students) should enroll between February 3rd, 2021, and February 28th, 2021, to receive a first-round school assignment. To enroll, families must complete the online registration form on the BRSSD website and submit all required supplemental documents. BRSSD will accept document submissions electronically or by drop-off at a designated location. Please refer to the enrollment section of the BRSSD website at https://www.brssd.org/online-enrollment for more information on the enrollment process and timeline.

TK/Kindergarten Information Sessions
Beginning next week, each site will hold information sessions on our TK/Kindergarten program. These sessions will be held via Zoom. 

Fox
Thursday, January 21st, 6–7 p.m. Save to your calendar 

Central
Thursday, January 21st, 10–11 a.m. Save to your calendar

Cipriani
Friday, January 22nd, 9–10 a.m. Save to your calendar
Friday, January 29nd, 9–10 a.m. Save to your calendar

Nesbit
Thursday, January 21st, 9–10 a.m. Save to your calendar
Thursday, January 28th, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Save to your calendar

Redwood Shores
Monday, January 25th, 9–10 a.m. Save to your calendar

Sandpiper
Tuesday, January 19th, 9–10 a.m. Save to your calendar

Middle School Information Sessions
Please note the corrected time for Sandpiper's Middle School Information Session. These sessions will be via Zoom. 

Sandpiper Thursday, January 21st, 6:30–7:30 p.m.* Save to your calendar
Nesbit Monday, January 25th, 6–7 p.m. Save to your calendar
Ralston Tuesday, January 26th, 6–7 p.m. Save to your calendar

* Corrected time

Middle School Choice forms are due by 4 p.m. on February 5th.

The Special Programs Department will host a Middle School Special Education Information Night on January 20th from 6:00-7:00. You can find information on the event and how to RSVP can be found here.