San Jose Scorpion Scoop! Week of 3/22/2026 Principal’s Message Dear Scorpion Families, Good Sunday evening to you, Scorpions. Have you checked your calendar recently and realized that we are only two weeks out before Spring Break? A much-deserved week off is right around the corner! This is an excellent period of time for you to check Aeries, set some goals for submitting work and retaking assessments, and cruise into the break with nothing but rest and relaxation! Self-advocacy is one of the most important skills you'll ever build. Now is the time to speak up, ask for help, email a teacher, schedule a meeting, and strive for a great future.  This last week, we had five jam-packed days of spirit, and also honored Neurodiversity Week. Students were encouraged to consider some of the following thought processes: Think about the phones or computers we use every day. Some run on iOS, some on Android, and some on Windows. None of them are better than the other—they just have different operating systems. Neurodiversity is the idea that human brains don't all operate the same way. We all process information, movements, and sights differently. This week, we aren't looking for 'normal'—because 'normal' doesn’t actually exist. We’re celebrating the fact that our school is a collection of 500+ unique biological computers. Let’s spend the week learning how to respect everyone’s 'OS'! Did you know that we don't all experience the world at the same volume? For some of us, the sound of kids playing in the gym is just background noise. For others, it feels like being in the front row of a concert.  Neurodiversity means that the way we all process and sense things in the world around us is different. Some people need total silence to focus, while others need music or a fidget toy to keep their brain engaged. Today, let’s be mindful of our sensory footprint. Being a neuro-inclusive school means respecting that what feels "fine" to you might feel like "too much" for someone else. Thank you to our counselors for hosting a fun lunchtime fidget activity! Students were able to explore different fidgets and see which one felt the most comfortable to use. Thursday evening was beyond joyful! We welcomed hundreds of incoming Scorpion Families for our Incoming Family Night. The gym was packed as we shared what families can expect as they join our community next year. Then, for the first time ever, we opened up lower campus and families were able to mingle with staff, PTA, leadership students, tour wings and classrooms, and hear our jazz band serenade all who came. It was fabulous. Thank you SJMS staff, leadership students, and PTA for being so welcoming! Our staff was satiated and fulfilled on Friday after an absolutely delicious luncheon put on by parents/guardians from ELAC (English Learner Advisory Committee). Thank you, Ms. Regina, for coordinating with parents/guardians a wonderful lunch. It was lovely seeing the staff come together and spend time with you all! Leadership created awesome spirit days, and our Scorpions came out in full force! I think it's safe to say that this past week's Anything But a Backpack Day was the most creative and entertaining we've ever had. Scorpions, your spirit ROCKS and make our school super fun and engaging. Thanks for showing up to our Lunch on the Lawn, families! We look forward to scheduling more so we can get as many parents/guardians and loved ones on campus as possible. We recognize that our families can best plan when given advanced notice regarding events that are taking place on campus. Thank you so much for understanding that the students in our leadership class are finding the balance between excitement, planning, and communication of those plans. They are doing a great job planning events for our school, and we will definitely work on letting parents/guardians know what's coming up with as much advanced planning time as possible! Parents/guardians of 8th grade families - your student should've brought home to you a packet of information, including important dates as the year concludes and how to order a gown for Promotion. You also should've received a photo order form for 8th Grade Promotion pictures. We are working on obtaining a QR code for you to order electronically, but in the meantime, please mark your calendars with all of the dates, and get your gown form returned ASAP. Thank you! As you'll read below in the PTA update, we are eager to continue our beautification efforts on campus and are in need of your support! Please stop by the front office, if you get a chance, to grab a post-it with an item that could be useful in the variety of planting areas on campus. Can't stop by? Feel free to send your kiddo with a plant or bag of soil. You really can't go wrong! Then a piece of you will grow inside our campus in honor of your thoughtfulness. Thanks, Scorpions! Finally, I want to extend a HUGE shoutout to our staff and students, plus North Bay Security Group, for their excellent participation in San Jose's disaster drill. Despite uncomfortable temperatures, we powered through and practiced what to do in the event of a significant disaster. Mrs. Jones had us all prepared and it was a great success. I feel tremendously confident in our safety protocols.  Don't forget that you may use the link below to sign up your student for Scorpion Success Intervention (SSI), which is held every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday after school. This is an opportunity available to any Scorpion who needs a quiet place to work, catch up on missing assignments, get help from a teacher, study for a test, work on organization, and more! Sign ups are on a first come, first served basis. You will hear from a counselor, teacher, our community liaison, or an administrator that your child is confirmed to attend SSI. Please be sure you have made it clear to your Scorpion that you expect them to attend, and have planned a safe way for them to get home after they attend.  Link to sign up your student: Scorpion Success Intervention Parent/Guardian Sign Up In collaboration, Mrs. Whitney McEachern, Principal Upcoming Dates April: 📌4/3 - End of Progress Report Period #5 📌4/6-4/10 - Spring Break, NO SCHOOL 📌4/15 - 8th Grade Promotion Picture Day 📌 4/15 - School Site Council Meeting, 3:30-4:30 PM, Location TBD 📌4/15 - PTA Meeting, 6 PM, SJMS Library 📌4/13-4/17 - Wellness Week 📌4/21 - Multilingual Learner (Dual Language) Parent/Guardian Meeting, 10:45 AM, Location TBD 📌4/30 - Open House, 6 PM ***All athletic events are noted in the Sports Program section below. Please tune in there for opportunities to spectate and cheer on your fellow Scorpions!*** PTA Update Thank you to the families who have donated chess pieces and games! We are still hoping to get dirt for the plants. Don't forget to stop by the front office and grab a post-it from our campus beautification wishlist!  The new board for the PTA was voted on and is: President: Julia Cavanaugh Vice President: Megan Honiball Secretary: Melissa Sarantos Treasurer: Misty Rudolph Historian: Sianna Castillo We are excited to announce San Jose's Second Annual Wellness Week lineup below! Save the date for a Parent Night Presentation featuring Key Note Speaker Nathan Harmon on Wednesday April 15th at 6:30 at Novato High School Center for the Arts. A 60 minute keynote  and 15 min Q&A with parents, and community leaders.  Nathan’s keynote addresses how parents can support their kids navigate pressures that previous generations did not experience at the same level. As parents, our instinct is to protect our children from pain and disappointment. Nathan will help parents discover the right  balance between support, guidance and knowing when to step back.  Nathan will emphasize that every conversation you have with your teen matters, every moment of encouragement matters, and your presence, your belief in them and your love are some of the most powerful tools they will ever have. Our  goal as educators, parents and community  is to help teens develop strength to face challenges. Topics include : dangers of substances/ vaping, self image, mental health (I am not enough mentality), self-harm, suicide ideation, social media comparison, peer pressure, academic expectations, anxiety about the future, developing resiliency, integrity, confidence,  responsibility. Working through difficulties-setbacks is what helps teens keep moving forward. All of Nathan’s messages focus on instilling in teens that their value is not defined by outcomes, but by effort, attitude and character. AP's (Assistant Principal's) Corner  March 22: Happy Spring SJMS Families! The last week of winter brought unseasonably warm weather and a shift in energy around the school! While it’s wonderful to see the sun, the "spring fever" has brought a few situations to our attention that we need your help addressing at home. Middle school students live to socialize and they have many opportunities during school hours and during school sponsored after school activities.  Some students are deciding to wait for a later bus or to linger for a long time before they walk home after school so they can socialize with friends.  This creates a significant safety concern as we do not have staff available to supervise them once the school day concludes. To ensure every student remains safe and accounted for, we ask for your partnership in reinforcing the expectation that they must head home or to their designated after-school location immediately following dismissal. We have also recently noticed an increase in students bringing large amounts of cash to school, as well as instances of betting and selling personal items between peers.  Carrying large sums of money is a safety risk and often leads to distractions or disputes.  Students should not be selling items (toys, snacks, clothes, etc.) or engaging in any form of betting/gambling on school grounds.  We kindly ask that you know what your student is bringing in their bags to school to ensure non-essential or high-value items stay at home. Warmly, Juliette Jones Assistant Principal San Jose Middle School 1000 Sunset Parkway Novato, CA 94949 San Jose Middle School Athletics – Home of the Scorpions 🗓 2025–2026 Sports Program San Jose Middle School Spring Sports Update Please find the confirmed and tentative practice schedules for the Spring Sports season. Soccer and volleyball seasons begin next week.  Volleyball 6th Grade Mondays and Thursdays 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM 7th and 8th Grade Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM Soccer Schedule: Mondays and Tuesday Times: 2:45 - 4:15 PM Note: Active recruitment is underway for additional soccer coaches to support Coach Gutierrez. A follow-up will be sent once soccer times are finalized. Register for sports at SJMS here: Middle School Sports Registration 2025-2026 | Arbiter Track and Field Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays Times: 2:50 PM – 4:15 PM Volunteer Opportunities Middle school sports do not happen without the help of our parent volunteers. We are looking for parents to help coach and assist with our upcoming seasons in Track and Field, Volleyball, and Soccer. How to Help: If you are interested in coaching or assisting, please reach out to me directly at dgallagher@nusd.org or complete the Middle School Sports Volunteer Application Go Scorpions! Mr. Gallagher Athletic Director San Jose Middle School Counselor's Corner Dear Students and Families, Spring is near and we’re already planning for next school year!  Counselors visited 6th and 7th grader English classrooms this week to help students select their elective course choices for next school year using a Google form. Students learned about each elective course, the benefits in taking a 0-period or 7th period course, and answered questions about their interests to help us better support them. We encouraged students to review their choices with you by showing you their emailed results. Friendly reminder to 8th grade students and parents to check for any emails from programs and NHS and SMHS regarding admission status, course selection, or transfer information.  Take care, -SJMS School Counselor, Ms. K & Mr. E Megan Kovacevich for 6th graders, 8th graders with last names A-J: mkovacevich@nusd.org/ 415-798-5276 Evan Englar for 7th graders, 8th graders with last names K-Z: eenglar@nusds.org/ 415-798-5284 Wellness Hub Wishlist: We want to extend a huge thank you to every family that purchased or donated items from our Wellness Hub Wishlist! Your contributions directly ensure that we can provide students with essential resources like healthy snacks and vital coping tools. This support helps us keep the Wellness Hub a functional space for self-regulation. Thank you for investing in the well-being of our SJMS students. Wellness Hub Wishlist Below you will find an excellent resource to support your student in their education. We have designed a checklist that you can use throughout the year as you navigate topics like academic planning, time management, sleep and wellness, screen time, and more! Feel free to stop by the front office where you can pick up a hard copy. Parent Checklists for Success: Parent Checklist for Scorpion Success.docx Spanish Checklist for Scorpion Success.docx Community Expectations Below you'll find the 8th grade expectation letter that went home with every single 8th grade Scorpion on Friday, 1/23. Please be sure you have reviewed the letter with your Scorpion, and filled out and returned the bottom portion. We appreciate collaborating with you in support of your student! Please consistently review the Middle School Handbook, as well is the SJMS Behavior Matrix. Both consist of expectations that are reviewed regularly at school. We highly encourage you to discuss high expectations at home with your Scorpion. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your student knows how to be #ScorpionStrong! Middle School Handbook PDF: SJMS Copy of MS Student Parent Handbook 25-26 - ENGLISH.pdf MS Student Parent Handbook 25-26 - SPANISH.pdf SJMS Behavior Matrix:

Environmental Youth Forum 2026 April 1st | Rafael Theater (Grade K-12) | 10 AM - 1 PM The FREE Environmental Youth Forum invites students and educators to explore environmental stewardship through powerful films and hands-on learning experiences. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!  https://www.cafilmedu.org/eyf/

Get Your Yearbook now! Here's a special message from Ms. Mastro, our teacher yearbook coordinator:  Buy your SJMS Yearbook TODAY for $45.00! - BEAT THE RUSH! To use a credit card to order your yearbook, go to www.YearbookOrderCenter.com and use order number 6690. Paper order forms are available in the front office. Return an order form with a check for the amount shown below to the SJMS office. Please make your check payable to SJMS.

Novato Open Gym Information

Location: The weight room inside Gordon Gym

• Format: Open Gym is a voluntary opportunity focused on general athletic development (basic weight training and movement for fitness and safety).

• Instruction: There is no sport-specific instruction. Coaches are present only to supervise for safety.

• Who can attend: Rising 9th graders only (current 8th graders entering high school next year).

Parents are welcome to reach out to Coach Simmons at: joseph.simmons0623@gmail.com

Education Opportunities for Parents/Guardians

• CIP Marin’s Raising Healthy Families - Community Education Series (digital flyer) including these upcoming events:

• Call of the Wild: Helping Teens to Resist Extremist Political Ideologies. Monday, March 16th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm in-person and via Zoom. More information and register here.

• Emotional Suffering in Children & Teens: What Parents Should Know and When to Act. Monday, March 30th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm in-person and via Zoom. More information and register here.

Dear Educators, Staff and Parents/Caregivers: 

We are delighted to share that, by popular demand, renowned psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Madeline Levine, Ph.D. will be returning to Marin County for a powerful and timely evening session focused on supporting adolescents’ mental health and emotional well-being.

Hosted by the Marin County Office of Education, this free virtual event is open to parents, caregivers, educators, and school staff throughout our community. The evening includes a live Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to engage directly with Dr. Levine.

March 25, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM (No Longer March 10th)
Springtime Stress – Testing, Transitions, and the Road Ahead
As students face testing season and end-of-year transitions, Dr. Levine will offer tools to help them manage performance-related stress and approach future planning with confidence and emotional balance.

REGISTRATION

We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring session as we continue working together to support the well-being of our students and families.

Estimados educadores, personal y padres/cuidadores:

Nos complace informarles que, debido a la gran demanda, la reconocida psicóloga y autora de bestsellers, Madeline Levine, Ph.D., regresará al condado de Marin para una sesión vespertina enriquecedora y oportuna centrada en el apoyo a la salud mental y el bienestar emocional de los adolescentes.

Organizados por Marin County Oficina de Educación, estos eventos virtuales gratuitos este evento virtual gratuito está abierto a padres, cuidadores, educadores y personal escolar de toda nuestra comunidad. Incluye sesión de preguntas y respuestas.

Marzo 25, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM (Ya no es el 10 de marzo)

Estrés de primavera – Exámenes, transiciones y el camino por delante

Con la llegada de la primavera, también aumenta la ansiedad relacionada con los exámenes estatales, las transiciones de fin de año y la planificación del próximo capítulo académico. En esta sesión, la Dra. Levine continuará la conversación sobre la planificación del futuro y abordará las presiones únicas que surgen en esta época del año. Los participantes obtendrán herramientas para ayudar a los estudiantes a manejar el estrés relacionado con el rendimiento y a enfrentar las transiciones con confianza y equilibrio emocional.

REGISTRESE

Con afectuosos saludos,

Marin County Oficina de Educación

Joint message from the City of Novato, Novato Police Department and Novato Fire District

Youth Safety Matters

Novato Police and Novato Fire personnel are seeing a concerning rise in injuries involving e-bikes and e-motorcycles, especially among youth. Over the past year, the Novato Fire District has responded to 15 incidents involving an e-bike or e-scooter, several resulting in serious injuries — and more than half involving riders under the age of 18. Across Marin County, children ages 10–15 are five times more likely than other age groups to require emergency transport following an e-bike crash.

As we head into the holiday season, the City of Novato, Novato Police Department and Novato Fire District urge parents and guardians to understand the differences between e-bikes and e-motorcycles before purchasing one for a child. While e-bikes can offer a fun, eco-friendly and convenient way to explore Novato, not all models are the same, and some may be unsafe or even illegal for young riders.

Understanding E-bike Classifications

Under California law, all e-bikes must have fully operable pedals, and the motor must not exceed 750 watts. Marin County has adopted additional safety regulations for Class 2 (throttle-assisted) e-bikes. Here’s a quick break down:

• Class 1: Pedal-assist, up to 20 mph. The ONLY e-bike legal for all ages in Marin County. Helmets are required for riders under 18 and strongly encouraged for everyone.

• Class 2: Throttle-powered, up to 20 mph. In Marin County, riders must be 16 or older, and helmets are required for all ages.

• Class 3: Pedal-assist, up to 28 mph. Riders must be 16 or older and helmets are required for all ages statewide. These e-bikes are not allowed on multi-use pathways in Marin County.

Important

Some retailers may market a vehicle as an “e-bike” when it is actually an e-motorcycle. These often don’t have pedals, have motors over 750 watts, or go faster than 28 mph.  E-motorcycles require a driver’s license, registration, insurance, and a DOT-approved helmet. They cannot be ridden on bike paths, sidewalks, multi-use trails, or in parks. 

Safety Tips

Safety Tips for Riders and Parents

• Know the law: E-bikes and e-scooters follow the same traffic rules as cars and bicycles.

• Understand classifications: Only Class 1 e-bikes are legal for all ages in Marin County. Classes 2 & 3 e-bikes are illegal for riders under the age of 16.

• Practice before riding in traffic: Learn how to accelerate, brake, and handle turns safely under parent supervision. 

• Ride predictably: Stay visible, use signals, and avoid sudden movements.

• Stay alert: Avoid distractions such as phones or headphones.

• Wear protective gear: Helmets are required for all ages. Gloves, eye protection, and closed-toe shoes add an extra layer of safety.

• Parent guidance: Teach your children responsible riding habits, including riding solo (no additional riders on the back) and ensure their e-bike is age appropriate.

• Maintain equipment: Regularly check brakes, tires, and batteries.

By choosing the right e-bike for a child’s age and skill level, families can enjoy Novato’s roads, trails and parks more safely.

Watch our youth e-bike safety PSA to learn more.

Educational and Safety Resources:

• Marin County Safe Routes to Schools – E-Bike Education

• Marin Health & Human Services – Bike Safety Dashboard

• County of Marin – “E-Bikers Club” Campaign

• California Highway Patrol – E-Bike Safety Overview

Click here for more information