About
Community Association
What We Do
Welcome to the Marin Horizon School Community Association page!
At Marin Horizon, the vibrant Community Association is an important part of our community. As you’ll see in our bylaws, we exist for three important purposes:
- To create inclusive ways for members of the Marin Horizon community to be connected with each other and the school.
- To promote clear and effective communication between parents, teachers, Administration, and Board of Trustees.
- Through our fundraising efforts, to provide resources to support the school’s mission and programs.
On this page, you will find all sorts of CA information, including our bylaws, our leaders, list of duties and responsibilities, and meeting schedule. There are still some leadership positions available – check out the below list if you’re interested. And don’t worry – if you just want to get involved but don’t want to lead a committee, there will be plenty of volunteer opportunities next year!
Who We Are
2021–2022 Executive Committee:
President: Jackie Donovan
Vice President and Inclusion Chair: Jen Coyne
Class Parents Chair: Jocelyn Corbett
Treasurer and Sustainability Chair: Ashley MacDonald
2021-2022 Officers:
Auction vice-chairs
- Auction vice-chair, coordination and strategy: Jocelyn Corbett
- Auction vice-chairs, event planning: Nicole Pace
- Auction vice-co-chairs, art projects:
- Auction vice-co-chairs, donations:
- Auction vice-chair, communications: Jen Coyne
- Auction vice-chair, parent parties:
- Auction vice-chair, family sponsorships:
- Auction vice-chair: corporate sponsorships:
- Auction vice-chair: graphic design:
Events
- Engineering & Innovation Night:
- Sip 'n' Shop: Sarah Davis
- Book Fair: Celemine Pastor
- Grandparents and Special Friends Day:
- Community Read: Jen Coyne
Walk n’ Roll: Veronica Perez
Parent Education: Jackie Donovan
Lost & Found: Jen Coyne and Sarah Slaymaker
Spirit Wear: Lindsey Tucker
Bulletin Board: Stephanie Rosa
Gardening: Ashley MacDonald
Community Hikes: Jenny Lasker and Tiana Wimmer
Decorations: Jen Coyne and Nicole Pace
Good Works:
Merchant Fundraising:
Teacher Appreciation:
Social Media Manager:
Community Hikes: Jenny Lasker and Tiana Wimmer
Decorations: Jen Coyne and Nicole Pace
Good Works:
Merchant Fundraising:
Teacher Appreciation:
Social Media Manager:
Community Association Contact:
Mary Bishop
Director of Development
415.388.8408, ext. 230
CA News
-
May Community Association Hike
Read MoreWednesday, May 18th8:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.Join us for the last Community Association Hike of the year: Dipsea Trail to Stinson Beach! We’ll hike from Main Campus to Cowboy Rock, then hit the Dipsea Trail. This historic trail heads down into Muir Woods, then back up and over "Cardiac Hill" before winding down to the beach. We’ll enjoy sweeping hillside, forest, and ocean views — and of course, Stinson Beach. After this moderately strenuous, approximately 7-mile journey to the beach, we’ll reward ourselves with lunch and drinks at Parkside Cafe! We will walk at a pace that suits everyone, so please allow 3.5+ hours for this one-way hike. Transportation back to school will be provided and we will return by 2:30 p.m. Please contact Jenny Lasker (jenniferslasker@gmail.com) if joining and to reserve transportation. -
April Community Association Hike
Read MoreWednesday, April 20th8:45-10:15 a.m.In honor of Earth Day, we’ll “green up,” i.e. walk and clean up litter on Mill Valley’s Bay Trail! An easy, flat walk of under two miles along the bay, our green up should take about an hour — but stay as long as you’d like! We’ll meet at 8:45 a.m. in front of the main campus and carpool to Tam Junction. Disposable gloves/bags will be provided but to reduce/reuse, feel free to bring your own. According to the local nonprofit group Clean Mill Valley, most trash reaches the seas via rivers, and 80% originates from landfills and urban sources. Just one cigarette butt takes 10 years to decompose and contains toxic substances. So every time we pick up a stray piece of litter, even “micro-trash,” we’re not only beautifying our community — we’re preserving the ocean environment for all of us. Please contact Jenny Lasker (jenniferslasker@gmail.com) if joining. Thanks and happy spring! -
Community Association Nominations for 2022-2023
Read MoreApril is the time of year when the Marin Horizon Community Association looks to our community of parents/guardians/caregivers for help and support of the CA and school through volunteering for various events and committees.Some roles require very little time, and others require more planning and execution. There is a role for everyone! Feel free to nominate yourself, if you are interested, or recommend a community member who you think would be interested. All nominations will be considered, and a member of the CA Executive Committee will follow up to answer questions and confirm placements for the 2022-2023 school year. Please submit your nominations here.Thank you so much, we really appreciate your feedback and all your nominations! -
Community Conversation Program: Marin Horizon is a Climate Champion!
Marin Horizon is a Climate Champion!Read More
Tuesday, April 19th
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Library and Zoom
During this month’s Community Association Meeting we will continue our Community Conversation Program: Restore Our Earth!
The Spring Program will include a conversation about what we are doing at Marin Horizon to enhance sustainability on campus and combat climate change. Join in person or by Zoom to hear from our own Upper School students who are part of the “Green Team,” and their leader, science teacher, and climate champion, Mo Poxon, about their ongoing work towards sustainability on campus. We will also discuss the school’s use of solar power and how solar and battery reliance can help the planet (and your wallet!). -
Friday Coffee on the Playground - April 22nd
Read MoreFriday, April 22nd
8:30-9:30 a.m.Calling all parents and guardians! We welcome you and your children to come and start the day on the playground. Coffee will be provided, or bring your own beverage! Mix and socialize with other parents while your kids transition to their day. This casual gathering was an informal tradition before health mandates forced us to make changes to drop-off. We would love to once again welcome families to gather on campus before school. Hope to see you there! -
Volunteer Spotlight: Celimene Pastor
Read More“If you want something done, ask a busy person…”
-Lucille BallPerhaps Lucy had someone such as Celimene Pastor in mind when she uttered these words. Celimene is mom to four Marin Horizon students (Neo ‘23, Manu ‘24, Kai ‘26, and Giselle ‘33) and still found time to take on leadership of the 2022 Marin Horizon Book Fair.This opportunity appealed to Celimene as she wanted to encourage culturally diverse reading among Marin Horizon students. She hopes that by familiarizing students with diverse authors through the Book Fair’s Author Events students will begin to create their own diverse home libraries.Author Francie Latour - speaking on Wednesday, at 5:30 p.m. - shares a Haitian heritage with Celimene. This shared background inspired Celimene to reach out to Ms. Latour who gladly accepted the invitation to speak with the students at Marin Horizon.Award-winning author Mahtab Narsimhan – speaking on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. – was born in Mumbai and made her way to Canada working in the IT industry before writing her first book The Third Eye. Ms. Narsimhan’s experiences on her path to becoming a writer could inspire yet another book!Please join me in thanking Celimene for her tireless efforts in creating an amazing experience for the Marin Horizon 2022 Book Fair. -
Community Corner - March 2, 2022
Read MoreMarin Horizon Book Fair!
Friday, March 11th - Friday, March 18th
We will be having a Book Swap on campus during Parent/Teacher conferences this year and need a few hands to help set up. Sign up here for a 30 or 60-minute time slot to help out.Community Association Meeting
Friday, March 18th, 8:45-10:00 a.m
Homestead Valley Community Center, 315 Montford Avenue
In keeping with our Book Fair theme, you will hear from Sondra Lender, author and parent to Ziggy (4th grade) and Marsden (1st grade). Sondra will share from her most recent book, The Kid’s Clutter Solution: Simple Sustainable Solutions to Transform Your Home from Chaotic to Calm.
Save the Date!
Marin Horizon School Auctionel CaribeSaturday, May 14th
6:00-10:00 p.m.The Clubhouse at Peacock Gap, San Rafael
Marin Horizon Auction 2022 is almost here! The Auction team is working hard behind the scenes to create this year's amazing live event, El Caribe, but we need your help! What is the "one thing" you will do to contribute to this community celebration? Volunteer time, event ideas, donations for our Live Auction or Super Silent Auction, family or corporate sponsorships? It takes a village and we need each and every one of YOU to do your one thing! Please sign-up to help here. -
Parent Education: Nutrition for Children with Susannah Wallenstrom
Read MoreMarin Horizon School Community Association
Presents Parent Education
Nutrition for Children with Susannah Wallenstrom, MPH, RDN
Tuesday, February 15th, 2022
5:30 p.m. on Zoom
Zoom link: https://marinhorizon.zoom.us/j/6715485689
Feeding your family well isn't always easy. Planning and creating healthy meals that everyone likes can be challenging. And it isn't just about what food you are serving...it's also about how you are serving it. Food battles at the dinner table are no fun. Maybe you have turned into a short-order cook because you have some picky eaters in the house. Maybe you have a teen who has suddenly decided to become a vegetarian. Or perhaps you are struggling with your own food issues, and you are tired of all of the conflicting information on the internet.Susannah Wallenstrom is a registered pediatric dietitian nutritionist with over 20 years of experience working with families in the Bay Area. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Virginia as well as a Masters in Public Health and Nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Susannah has a private practice, Marin Nutrition Consulting, and she is also the dietitian for Golden Gate Pediatrics and Tamalpais Pediatrics, two of the preeminent pediatric family practices in The Bay Area. Susannah loves working with kids of all ages and their families to establish healthy eating habits and to create a lifelong positive relationship with food. She is also the mom to three teenage girls and loves to be outdoors with her two golden retrievers on the beautiful trails in Marin.
To RSVP and to send Susannah a question ahead of time, please fill out this form. -
December Community Association Meeting
Tuesday, December 14Read More
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Marin Horizon Library
We will be participating in a holiday service project so please join us for a night of community and service! Join other parents and friends to support the greater Marin County community. We will be decorating bags for Ritter Center in San Rafael to use in distributing holiday meals to local families facing poverty. The CA will provide decoration and crafting materials and you are welcome to bring what you have at home along with all your creativity, talent, and passion. -
December Community Hike
Read MoreWednesday, December 158:45-10:30 a.m.By popular demand: Jen Coyne will lead us on a short, moderate hike from our Main Campus! We’ll meet at 8:45 a.m. in front of the school and hike up the Homestead Trail (via Maverick), up to Four Corners, with a beautiful vista of the Bay, Alcatraz, and the Valley. We’ll loop back, totaling about 3.5 miles and just 1.5 hours. Come get your steps in and check out some fun trails from school! Contact Jenny Lasker if joining. -
Thank You for a Wonderful First Community Conversation!
Thank you to everyone who attended the Community Conversations: Becoming a Climate Champion in Our Community event, and to everyone who has shown interest in Marin Horizon's sustainability initiatives.Read More
Over 40 people attended the program last Wednesday in person or via Zoom, and we had representation across all factions of our community: students, families, teachers, and administration. We heard from 3 inspiring speakers, including Marin Horizon parent Al Grumet, who shared their stories and personal journeys to climate activism. Marin Horizon science teachers Mo Poxon and Nikki Tokar discussed our science curriculum and some of the things our kids are doing to learn about and combat the climate crisis. We also saw climate passion in action through the homemade movie created by 5th grader Mia Terfort! -
Community Corner - October 20, 2021
Read MoreThank you to those who joined last night’s Community Association Meeting!
It was a great turnout! We heard fantastic input from Head of School, Bill Perrine, about our Experiential Learning Program. We also learned more about Zero Waste Marin from Ashley McDonald, as well as community events coming up in the next few months.Volunteer opportunities are open for these and other events. To help us connect you with specific roles we have created, please complete this brief survey. Let us know how we can work together to incorporate your time and talents into our innovative and inspiring Marin Horizon environment. The Community Association will be contacting respondents in November.Community Conversation: Be a Climate Champion in Our Community
Wednesday, November 3, 5:30-7:00 p.m., Marin Horizon Library
The Marin Horizon Community Association presents an interactive community conversation about the important topic of climate change and how we can all become climate warriors in our community. The discussion will be held in the school library (Zoom access will be available) and will be led by a panel of local environmental experts.All community members (adults and students) are welcome to attend and resources are selected to appeal to a broad age range. Click here for a selection of resources to help inform the conversation.Note: The October 20th Community Association hike was cancelled due to rain. The next hike is scheduled for Wednesday, November 17th, 2021. We will meet in front of the school at 8:45 a.m. -
Reminder! Evening Schedule for October Community Association Meeting
Read MoreOctober’s Community Association meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 5:30pm in the Marin Horizon School library, and via Zoom.If work or family commitments have kept you away from attending these meetings before: WE HEARD YOU! This year, monthly Community Association meetings will alternate between Friday mornings and Tuesday evenings. We hope to see you there! -
Spring into Action!
Read MoreBiodiversity—Reprise
Check out our amazing 4th graders learning about native and invasive species in Reed Creek—and pulling some French Broom—with Marabeth Graham. Way to go 4th graders! And thank you, Gavin, for arranging this and helping our kids learn how to keep our environment healthy and sustainable.
Unbelievably, we have our 4th and final installment of our Spring into Action / Earth-honoring Community Read event. We kicked off this event during Earth Day week last month, beginning with the suggestion that everyone read or watch The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Now, as we conclude our Spring into Action program, we return to the topic of alternative energy, as addressed in the story.
Alternative Energy and Conservation- There are so many exciting developments in the world of alternative energy.
- Solar energy is now the cheapest form of energy so it will continue to gain momentum. Check out the huge solar array on the roof of Marin Horizon (a former Art Auction Fund-a-Need project)!
- Wind, wave and geothermal developments are advancing every day. Alternative energy production is forecasted to more than double in the US by 2050.
- Turn off lights when you are going to be out of a room for at least 15 minutes. Make a game out of this activity with your kids!
- Carpool (safely), ride a bike or walk to your next outdoor adventure, game or errand. The fewer cars on the road, the better for everyone.
- Look into solar panels for your property.
- Consider purchasing an e-bicycle.
- Be sure that your dishwasher and washing machines are running at full capacity.
- Choose Clean Energy for your home or business. Contact Marin Clean Energy or your local provider to choose to receive energy from up to 100% renewable sources.
- Join the Resilient Neighborhood program to commit to reducing your household’s carbon footprint. Receive tips and encouragement from your fellow committed families!
-
Community Corner: May 12, 2021
Read MoreJoin us for our next virtual PA meeting
Friday May 14, 9:30am
Zoom link
The Parent Association is ready to leave this virtual reality and we are looking ahead to next year with enthusiasm! Come to our next PA meeting where we will talk about open positions, events, and goals. If you cannot join the meeting but have feedback about the PA, events, or how we can improve our programs and include more community members, please contact Jennifer Coyne (jbliebman@gmail.com) or Aubyn Demian (aubyn@marinhorizon.org) to share your thoughts.
Final PA meeting: June 4th, off campus, in person, time and place TBD
Mark your calendars! This is a chance for the PA Executive Committee to thank YOU, our community members, for all of your love, support, help, and hard work.
Don’t forget!
Every Wednesday is Walk 'n' Roll to School Day! Stop by Veronica’s desk for a special sticker to honor your commitment to the earth when you walk, bike, scoot, skate, or car-share to school. We’d love it if you send us your pictures also! -
Spring into Action: Week 3
The Issue: Food WasteRead More- Currently, about 1/3 of all food grown in the world is wasted. It takes land, water, energy, and resources to produce this food. Much of this food ends up rotting in landfills. All of this results in about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reducing food waste is one of the most effective ways to slow global warming.
- If we reduced our food waste, we could potentially feed two billion people who are otherwise suffering from food insecurity or starvation.
- Shop locally and thoughtfully. Check out our local Farmers’ Markets! Buy what you need from farms and producers as close to home as possible.
- Donate to organizations that connect farms with food banks.
- Take a “shelfie”! Photograph your cupboard or refrigerator shelves before you head out to the grocery store. You can refer to it when you are wondering if you should purchase an item or not.
- Compost! It is so important to keep food waste out of landfills. Decomposing food trapped in a giant hole in the earth generates methane (a greenhouse gas) and leachate (a toxic sludge that leaks out into groundwater). We are so lucky to have amazing access to composting facilities here in the Bay Area.
- Discover creative tips for using food scraps in local author Anne Marie Bonneau’s new book, The Zero Waste Chef.
- Support our school’s transition to Zero Waste! Throughout the 2021-22 school year, Marin Horizon will be implementing the Zero Waste School Program.
-
Annual Art Auction is Saturday, April 24
Please join us for the virtual event hosted by our amazing emcees, Lauren Brody-Clarke and Charlie Denby, and all-star auctioneer, Marin Horizon parent Paul Levitan, plus other fun surprises!Read More
When: Saturday, April 24 at 6:00 pm
Zoom link -
Community Corner: March 17, 2021
Read MoreHappy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone!
Time sprang forward this weekend with the change to Daylight Savings Time…and we are
springing forward into Auction and Action, with new developments happening every week!
Please see above for Auction news and updates.
PA Meeting Recap—Board of Trustees
Thank you, Bill and Angie, for leading an informative discussion about the Marin Horizon Board of Trustees at our PA meeting last Friday! If you missed the meeting and are interested in learning about the board of trustees and how it functions to keep our school happy, healthy, and forward-thinking, please reach out to me (jbliebman@gmail.com) and I will share the details about Bill and Angie’s presentation.
Spring into Action
This spring, the Parent Association and the Board Diversity Committee are launching
a community building program, asking our families to “spring into action” to improve our
environment - locally and beyond.
To kick off this season-long event, we invite you, along with your children, to read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by and about William Kamkwamba. There are many different versions of the book including a movie, TED talk, and other iterations of this inspiring story of perseverance, determination, and environmental altruism.
Starting later this month, we will share tips, ideas, and suggestions of ways that you can make a positive impact on the environment. Look for the weekly tips in the Wednesday Bulletin, where we will also post pictures and other updates on the “green” actions we are taking as a community.
And, speaking of green,
Go Green!
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, the next Growing Up Green Week at Sloat Garden Center is March 19 to 28.
The Growing Up Green fundraising program is a great opportunity for Marin Horizon to earn
Sloat Garden Center gift cards. During the last Growing Up Green Week, our community
earned Marin Horizon a $40 gift card! Thank you, everyone. Please take advantage of
Growing Up Green to purchase vegetable starts, flowers, soils, garden tools, etc. to earn gift cards for our school. Please tell your friends and family, too! Shoppers just need to mention Marin Horizon to the cashier during the specified week to receive credit for purchases. -
Community Corner: March 3, 2021
Read MoreSpring is just weeks away, and we can feel it in the air! Marin is now in the red tier, teachers are getting vaccinated, and things are looking BRIGHT at Marin Horizon!Please join us for our special March PA MeetingFriday, March 12 at 9:30amHead of School, Bill Perrine, and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Angie Knauf, will share a joint presentation about the relationship between the Head of School and the Board, who the Board is and what the Board does, and will answer questions about this dynamic relationship. This is a meeting you do not want to miss! We will also share additional details about the Art Walk and the virtual auction event planned for April 18 and April 24, respectively. See you there!The next spots of bright news are the upcoming Art Walk and Art Auction fundraiser events!Yes, this year is different—and in a good way! We are excited that all of our grades, Toddler through 8th, and Horizon Community School, will be creating art projects for the Annual Art Auction this year AND that we will be able to peruse all of the works of art—in person—during the first annual ART WALK on Sunday, April 18! More information about the individual and class art projects will be shared in the coming weeks. (The suspense is worth it!)Family Sponsorships are available now! Please consider being among the first supporters of the Art Auction fundraiser. Your sponsorship will inspire others to participate and will help get our fundraiser off to a bold start. You can help include our teachers and staff in the festivities as well. Click HERE for more information and to become a sponsor. Bold Giving = Bright Futures at Marin Horizon!Corporate Sponsorship opportunities are also on tap! Do you own or frequent a local business that would be interested in some direct marketing opportunities to our school community? We will promote and acknowledge our corporate sponsors in all of our auction communications and at our events. Please contact Jocelyn Corbett at corbett.jocelyn@gmail.com for more information or to recommend a business for corporate sponsorship.Spring will also bring us another Community Read and "season of action" semester-long event! The theme for this community-building event is environmental justice—and action. Please check future Wednesday Bulletins and the March PA Newsletter for more information about this interactive program, launching soon.
1/19
When We Meet
The PA meets on the second Friday of every month on Zoom, with some exceptions due to the school calendar. Head of School, Bill Perrine looks forward to starting each meeting with a school update!
Marin Horizon School
Non-discrimination policy: We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, gender identification, disability or other category protected by law.