Dear Marin Families,

Our playground mural is complete! This beautiful artwork was created by Emma Berger, a former Marin student, whose creativity and talent have brought vibrant color and joy to our campus. We are deeply grateful to our PTA and the Albany Education Foundation for the generous funding and support that made this project possible.

Halloween is right around the corner! I know that many students are getting excited about and planning for costumes, so here are a few school rules to keep in mind:

• Students can bring masks to wear with their costumes during recess, but they will need to be removed during classroom instructional time.

• Some costumes can be very scary to younger children - please keep costumes (especially masks) appropriate for elementary ages – we have young TK students on our campus.

• No weapons are ever allowed at school, even fake ones. Any knives, swords, or wands need to stay at home.

• Students should come to school in costume. There will not be any specific time or support to change into costumes.

The Halloween Parade will be on Friday from 12:50-1:20pm. All are invited to attend, just please plan to come a bit early and sign in at the office. The Curtis St. gate will be locked until the end of the parade.

Other important updates…

At our recent ELA Adoption Committee meeting, we selected Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) as our spring pilot (Jan-Apr). Here is a short video introducing CKLA’s newest 3rd edition. As a reminder, teachers are currently piloting Fishtank through December. Here is a brief overview of Fishtank and here is a video showcasing implementation in various schools & districts.

This past month, ELA Adoption Committee members also engaged colleagues in empathy interviews. At our recent meeting, we read 120+ direct quotes from teachers about what they need from our adoption process. The top themes and insights from these quotes are below. We will use these insights to inform our adoption process as well as our 3-5 year implementation plan once a curriculum is selected to recommend for board adoption in April:

• Easy to Use: Materials need to be well-organized and accessible, with built-in supports and scaffolds so teachers can focus on teaching rather than creating resources from scratch.

• Realistic to Implement: Lessons and pacing need to fit within the school day and across the year.

• Equitable Access for Students: All students must have access to grade-level content through clear, consistent, and rigorous instruction.

• Builds Knowledge and Vocabulary: The curriculum must intentionally build students’ background knowledge and vocabulary, which are key to strong reading comprehension.

• Culturally Relevant: Students need to see themselves reflected in what they read, and learn about the diverse experiences of others.

• Aligned Assessments: Assessments need to be consistent and connected to the curriculum, reducing the need for teachers to create their own and ensuring coherence across classrooms and sites.

• Strong Ongoing Support: Teachers need high-quality, ongoing professional learning, support, and collaboration to implement the curriculum effectively; while allowing teacher expertise and creativity to flourish.

At our first Math Vision Team meeting, we dug into shared values, agreements, and shared our personal mathographies. Curious to know more? Check out our Math Vision Team folder which houses agendas, the Team dashboard, and more.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Melisa Pfohl, Principal

Family Math Night - Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6:15p in the Marin MPR

Join us in the Marin Multi-Purpose Room for games and puzzles that illustrate the fun, creative, and inspiring side of math for kids and adults alike!

SWANA Ice Cream Social Grab a cone at the Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Parent Engagement Group’s ice cream social. All are welcome! Friday, October 24, starts at 5:30pm in the Cornell Multipurpose Room.  AEF Book Fair at Pegasus Books Starts Saturday! Support Albany schools while you shop at Pegasus Books! Albany Education Foundation (AEF) is having a book fair fundraiser at Pegasus Books on Solano Ave. starting Saturday. From October 25 through November 1, Pegasus will donate 30% of all sales when you mention "AEF" at checkout. Do you have friends and family who live out of town who would like to support our schools? Direct them to pegasusbookstore.com/albany-education during the AEF Book Fair and be sure to type "AEF" at checkout. All purchases at Pegasus qualify — books, gifts, gift cards, etc. If you would like to purchase a book for a classroom or library, Pegasus has lists — both in store and online — of requested books for each AUSD school. The AEF Pegasus Book Fair helps fund future AEF grants for teachers while supporting a valued local bookstore. Thank you! Diwali, The Festival of Lights The Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Parent Engagement Group is hosting a Diwali potluck get-together. All are welcome! Saturday, November 1, 1–3:30pm in the Ocean View Multipurpose Room.  Albany Community Craft Fair The AMS PTA’s Craft Fair returns on Sunday, November 2, 11am–3pm. Come for crafts, music, and food. All are welcome! Superintendent's Community Update Click here for the Superintendent's Community Update.