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Rancho Elementary

About Us

A Message from the Principal

A woman with dark hair and a red floral top smiles at the camera.

Dear Rancho Community, 

It is an honor to serve as principal of Rancho Elementary school community. At Rancho, we are committed to providing every student with a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment where all children are known, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential.

I am fortunate to have had a career in education for over 15 years. I have had the privilege of serving students as a special education teacher, elementary principal, and high school assistant principal. Throughout my career, I have remained passionate about creating schools where every student has access to high-quality instruction, is engaged in meaningful learning, and feels valued, connected, and supported each day.

I believe that every child can succeed when they are challenged, supported, and encouraged to grow. By partnering with our dedicated staff and families, we will continue to foster a culture of curiosity, kindness, and high expectations. I am grateful to be part of the Rancho community and look forward to an incredible year of learning, growth, and celebration together.

AnnaMaria Young
Principal, Rancho Elementary School

 

Read on for more about our school…

 

 

  • A young girl runs towards a building with a green roof, surrounded by trees and a paved driveway. A young boy ties a white ribbon to a fence with the message 'Do Good. Be Kind.'
     

     

    Rancho is a Transitional Kindergarten through 5th-grade neighborhood and open-enrollment public school with a typical enrollment of about 400 students, and one of eight elementary schools within the Novato Unified School District.  We have a staff that is dedicated to supporting students and their families socially, emotionally, and academically, along with a P.T.A., English Learners Advisory Committee, and School Site Council who work collaboratively to support our students. 

    Through the First School foundations (i.e. Culture of Caring, Culture of Competency, and Culture of Excellence) of learning, we develop the “6 C’s” of the NUSD Graduate Profile which include: Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Conscientious Learning, Cultural Competence, and Character.

    Our commitment to the social-emotional growth of our students is evident in the expectations instilled in our motto “Do Good. Be Kind.” and the Eagle Pledge, and our Restorative Justice practices.  In fact, Rancho’s Restorative Justice practices have gained public recognition and server as the model for other elementary schools. 

    Our aim is to prepare young adults for success in high school, post-secondary learning, and the workplace, and support their development into capable, responsible, and caring citizens.

  • A close-up portrait of a young woman with curly brown hair, wearing a white shirt, looking directly at the camera with a soft smile.

    Rancho Elementary School is committed to a culture of learning that promotes a growth mindset and motivates each and every student to maximize his or her potential. Our staff, students, and parents model and foster a positive and collaborative educational environment. Together, we will strive to instill in each student a sense of responsibility, citizenship, and pride in achieving academic excellence.

  • Two young boys stand near a chain-link fence, each holding a strip of paper with a positive message written on it. The messages read "Do Good" and "Be Kind."

    Every child will learn and grow in a highly enriched environment with rigorous standards and integrated learning practices. We commit to high personal standards, instill meaningful lifelong skills, foster responsible connections, and inspire positive impacts within our global community.

  • A young girl smiles as she writes in a notebook, standing in front of a chalkboard.

     

    • Academic excellence
    • Partnership between staff, parents, and students through a strong school/home connection
    • Consistently high expectations for student learning and behavior
    • Instilling exemplary behavior through character development, community building, as well as relevant and meaningful restorative practices
    • Inspiring students to develop into socially aware, responsible citizens through community service and environmental awareness
    • Developing an understanding, appreciation and respect for all cultures and becoming conscious of the connection between their studies and the world
    • Technology integration

  • Rancho Elementary Office Staff

  • We have an especially diverse student body and believe that greatly enriches our community.  Our team works hard to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment where all students can thrive, whatever their individual needs, abilities, backgrounds and economic circumstances.

     

    A chart showing percentages of people who are financially disadvantaged, English language learners, have disabilities, and are homeless.

    A pie chart showing the racial makeup of a population, with the largest segment representing White.

     

     

     

     

  • A speaker addresses a large audience seated in a school auditorium, with the words 'Rancho Elementary School' visible on the wall.

     

    It is the goal of Rancho Elementary to assist students in their social and personal development as well as academics. 

     

    The Student Success Team (SST) and Coordination of Student Services Team (COST) meet regularly to discuss student supports. The team is made up of the principal, school counselor, restorative practice facilitator, special education teacher, and regular education teachers.

    Families who have a concern about their child, whether it is academically, behaviorally, or socially related, are encouraged to first speak to their child’s teacher. As a result of noted concerns, the teams may recommend various interventions and/or counseling in support of the student’s success. Assessment for special education eligibility and support may be considered when a severe discrepancy between ability and achievement is suspected.

    Support personnel are available to serve the needs of Rancho students:

    • Community Liaison
    • Data/Student Support Teacher
    • EL Specialist
    • English Learner Para-Educator
    • Reading Intervention Para-Educator
    • Speech and Language Pathologist
    • Occupational Therapist
    • Resource Specialist
    • School Psychologist
    • School Counselor
    • Restorative Practices Facilitator

    Individualized Education Plans

    Rancho Elementary provides Special Education services to students who are assessed and found to be eligible for Special Education. Programs and services designed to meet students’ needs are identified in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The Resource Specialist Program serves students with exceptional needs who are able to function in the regular classroom for the majority of the day. They receive individual, small group, or classroom instruction designed to meet their identified needs.

    Designated Instructional Services are provided to students who are eligible for Occupational Therapy, Speech/Language Therapy, or other services.

    English Language Learners

    Rancho Elementary School teachers offer our English Language Learner (EL) students English Language Development instruction during the instructional day. All Rancho teachers are CLAD or SDAIE trained. All teaching staff is trained and participate in year-long ongoing training with Clark Consulting. An EL Para Educator works with our beginning EL students on foundational skills. 

  • A boy and a woman high-five in a library setting, with bookshelves in the background.

    Rancho’s philosophy emphasizes the importance of the home school partnership. Volunteers are at the heart of the program at Rancho Elementary School. 

    Parent support begins with the “Welcome Back Day”, where parents sign up for volunteering in classrooms along with a host of PTA committees, and continues throughout the year.

    Rancho School has an active and committed PTA which not only funds supplementary programs for our students such as: field trips, assemblies, yoga, community building activities, and family nights but also orchestrates the efforts of volunteers.

  • A group of people, including children and adults, participate in a discussion in a circle formation.

    Rancho was originally constructed in 1961 and is comprised of 23 classrooms, one multipurpose room/cafeteria, one library, one staff room, one wellness hub (Eagle’s Nest), and four playgrounds. Rancho Elementary is located at the end of a cul-de-sac. TK and Kindergarteners have their own fenced-in playground.

    The school’s library, staffed by a full-time Library Clerk, provides an extensive variety of reference and special interest materials, in addition to hundreds of educational and recreational books. Students visit the library on a weekly basis with their classes and are encouraged to visit before and after school. 

  • A young girl with pigtails smiles as she uses a laptop at a table.

    Rancho is devoted to the integration of technology in the classroom to increase student engagement and achievement. With support from the “One to World” program funded by Measure G, our 1st through 5th-grade students have regular access to a personally-assigned Chromebook, and TK and Kindergarten classes have access to iPads in the classroom.

    Each teacher has a learning station comprised of a laptop, document camera, and LCD projector, and the ability to check out a Chromebook or iPad carts to provide a 1:1 ratio of devices to all students. 

    Computer skills and concepts are integrated throughout the curriculum and teachers follow a district-provided scope and sequence for Digital Citizenship.

There’s a place for you, too. Join us and thrive here.