Superintendent's Newsletter

Dear RCSD Community,

Two weeks ago, our school district followed California and San Mateo County health guidance modifying a public health protocol that we had practiced for the last two years--wearing a face mask. Our decision to move in this direction took place after, in late February, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) updated its guidance announcing that schools could move from “requiring” the use of a mask in school settings to the “strongly recommended” level. I am pleased with how our learning community has handled this transition.

In the last two weeks, I have personally witnessed the respect we have shown each other as we all made different choices. While the vast majority of our employees and students continue to wear their masks while in the school setting, all of us have kept in mind that we have a collective responsibility to maintain safe learning and working environments in our school district, which includes inclusive and respectful environments for a diversity of individuals to learn and work together.

I am very proud of the kindness, courtesy, and respect we are showing, recognizing that individuals make choices that may look different from ours. This will be of great importance to keep in mind as California continues to move through the four levels of masking requirements--required, strongly recommended, recommended, and optional.

As we enthusiastically welcome Spring Break, I respectfully ask that we celebrate while also staying cautious. We continue to see low numbers of cases reported in our schools and it is a priority to maintain our safe learning environment at all 12 schools and other district work locations. We care for the health and well-being of all our students and each member of Team RCSD and we want you to be strong and healthy, learning in person together.

Please take good care of yourself and each other.

John Baker
Superintendent

The RCSD Child Nutrition Services team has always focused on serving healthy, nutritious, and balanced meals that provide the energy that students need to succeed in school throughout each day of learning, playing, and exercising. However, as COVID-19 forced schools to pivot and teach students from home, the cafeteria was also forced to pivot and temporarily shift its serving model to pre-packaging family meals with non-perishable goods that families picked up from select school sites weekly. Read More.

This is the first time RCSD students will participate in the CAASPP in two years after California canceled the summative assessments in the spring of 2019-20 due to COVID-19. Last school year, in 2020-21, California provided options to school districts and RCSD opted for its local assessment tool, iReady, to be used as the end of year assessment. With most California children now back learning in-person on school campuses, schools throughout California will participate in the CAASPP. Read More.

The most recent School Accountability Report Card (SARC) for each of Redwood City School District's (RCSD) 12 schools is now available.

Published annually, the purpose of the report card is to provide families and the community with important information about each school. A SARC contains information about curriculum and instruction, fiscal data, teacher and staff information, class sizes, school safety plans, and demographics.

The report cards primarily focus on the previous academic year but may include information about other past school years.

Parents can view their school’s SARC on the school district’s website. They may also request a paper copy of a SARC from any school office, the District Office, or by sending an e-mail to info@rcsdk8.net.

The SARCs are required by state and federal law and parents have a right to request a hard copy of these reports.

The preschool program forms the foundation for later life learning in all domains of development, including socio-emotional, language, literacy, and mathematics. Offering flexibility to parents, the preschool program is available in part-day and full-day services. Full-day classes are generally open from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and operate year-round to accommodate working parents. Read More.

RCSD is an award-winning PreK-8 district serving Redwood City and portions of Atherton, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Woodside.

Website: https://www.rcsdk8.net
Phone: 650.482.2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedwoodCitySchoolDistrict
Twitter: @RWCSchools