Del Mar NewsFlash 3.26.2025

Del Mar Open House Coming Up-April 17th 5:30-7 PM

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Open House event! This is a wonderful opportunity to visit our school, meet our faculty, and learn about the exceptional programs we offer. Our Open House will take place on Thursday, April 17th from 5:30 - 7:00 PM. During your visit, you will have the chance to tour our campus, see our classrooms, and learn about our school. Our dedicated teachers and staff will be available to answer any questions you may have and provide information. We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Open House event!

Del Mar Robotics Team Update for 2025-26 School Year

We are transitioning our Del Mar robotics team from an elective class back to an after school club program. This is how we had initially run this team in prior years. We have a robust robotics program and plan to continue that. We came to realize that the robotics team is better off being an after-school club program as opposed to an elective class. This way, our teacher/coaches can focus specifically on the robotics competition team.

We will still provide elements of robotics to all students enrolled in our Design Lab elective courses.
We are sending out the following communication to our students in the Student Bulletin next week:
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Join the Del Mar Robotics Team – Applications Now Open!

We are excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2025/26 Del Mar Robotics Team, for next year's 7th and 8th graders.
For the upcoming year, the Robotics Team will meet outside of regular school hours, rather than through the Advanced Robotics class. The team will gather for several hours each week at Del Mar and the Tiburon Library from August to February to work on building the robot and prepare for the thrilling FIRST Tech Challenge competitions on the weekends! Students will meet during lunch twice a week this Spring to get started on designing the robot.

Key Details:

Who can apply? All current 6th and 7th grade students at Del Mar are eligible.
Team Commitment: Weekly meetings from August to February outside of school hours.
Competitions: Several FIRST Tech Competitions held on weekends.
Application Deadline: April 4th.
Ready to build, program, and compete with cutting-edge robots? Apply now and be part of an amazing team!

Students Apply Here

Del Mar Recognized as a “School to Watch”

In 2022 our school was recognized by the California League of Middle Schools in their “Schools to Watch” program. Schools with this designation are recognized as a “high performing model middle school.” We are honored to be recognized again this year as a re-designation status, again as a “School to Watch.”

Recently, we were presented with our recognition award at their awards ceremony. Accepting the award for Del Mar and the Reed Union School district were (pictured below: left to right): Superintendent Dr. Kimberly McGrath, Board of Trustees member Afsaneh Zolfaghari, English teacher Catherine Chase and Assistant Principal Michal Song.

For 6th Grade Parents: VAX updates-

we still need records for most 6th graders ~ please send!

As your students head toward the end of their 6th grade year, Del Mar is required to collect evidence of:

1- TDAP booster shot

2- TWO varicella (chicken pox) shots

These vacinnations are required in order to start 7th grade, and are typically administered in 5th-6th grade. Please send us proof as soon as you are able. Hopefully you can log onto your medical provider's site to find the record, or make an appointment if your child does not yet have these shots. More info is attached HERE.

You can email the record to delmar@reedschools.org or drop it by the Del Mar office. Or your doctor can fax it to: 415-435-6190.

Staff Spotlight- Mr. Ikandu

By Leadership students: Tala, Jack, Anna and Rory.

This week’s staff spotlight is Del Mar’s very own Technology Lab Director, Mr. Ikandu! Mr. Ikandu grew up in the vibrant forests of Mount Kenya, Africa. Growing up, he was immersed in the world of education, as both of his parents were dedicated educators. His family hosted volunteers known as Peace Corps, volunteers from the United States, who were sent to Kenya by the U.S. government to support community and school-based projects. As a result, Mr. Ikandu was exposed to American culture and a different approach to teaching brought by the volunteers. Growing up in Kenya, Mr. Ikandu lived on the edge of the jungle on Mount Kenya. Living there, he was often visited by elephants, zebras, buffalo, and monkeys in his own backyard! In his early years, Mr. Ikandu cherished walking to and from school each day, soaking in the environment and connecting with the wonders of nature. To further nurture his love for the outdoors, Mr. Ikandu became a part of an organization dedicated to helping kids explore nature. Through this organization, he went on countless backpacking and hiking trips, visiting national monuments throughout Kenya. Even today, Mr. Ikandu remains passionate about exploring the world and visiting national monuments such as Yellowstone National Park.

Mr. Ikandu shared that schools in Kenya are very different from those in the United States. He said that growing up, he was never really exposed to technology, so every opportunity he had to use it, he eagerly took. After graduating high school, Mr. Ikandu made the major decision to move to the United States at nineteen years old to attend college at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California. While in college, he pursued his interests in technology and worked for a tech company as an engineering prototype technician. Mr. Ikandu mentioned that moving to America was a significant cultural shock for him, as life was so much different than in Kenya. One surprising thing we learned during the interview is that the school system in Kenya is very different from that in the United States. For example, instead of having a summer break, schools in Kenya run year-round, with longer holiday breaks. On the side, Mr. Ikandu also farms tea and coffee in Kenya, where he regularly travels back home to check on his family and work on his farm. Later in life, after volunteering at his children’s preschool almost every day, Mr. Ikandu was recommended to Del Mar by the superintendent of the school district. After the recommendation, Mr. Ikandu was offered a position as a janitor at Del Mar. He immediately accepted the job and has not looked back since.

Mr. Ikandu has been working at Del Mar for fourteen years! After just a few years of working as a janitor, a position opened in the tech department. Without hesitation, Mr. Ikandu decided to pursue his passion for technology and took the position. Mr. Ikandu says he loves his job in the tech lab because it allows him to use his compassionate skills to listen to students and staff members, addressing their needs and completing necessary tasks. He also enjoys using his technological expertise to help everyone become more productive in their learning and teaching.

One thing people may not know about Mr. Ikandu is that he organizes efforts to help conserve environments in Kenya. Furthermore, he ran a successful book drive a few years ago to gather old books to donate to communities in Kenya. He also sends old books from the Del Mar library to underprivileged communities throughout Africa. He believes these donations have significantly impacted the lives of those living in Kenya. Mr. Ikandu is a humble yet vital member of the Del Mar community, who, day after day, makes the lives of students much easier. He works tirelessly to ensure that all technology is functioning properly and that students can access the materials they need on their iPads to succeed. Mr. Ikandu stated that he would not want any other job than working at Del Mar. He loves Del Mar exactly as it is and believes that everyone is kind and supportive toward one another. One thing students can do to make his job easier is to take care of their iPads by not leaving them on the ground or in wet areas. Each year, Mr. Ikandu looks forward to the beginning of the school year where he works to set up each student's iPad.

Overall, Mr. Ikandu is incredibly grateful to the staff, students, and community for giving him the opportunity to serve them and help grow the community as a whole. All in all, Mr. Ikandu is one of the kindest and most passionate members of the Del Mar community, striving each day to meet the needs of both students and teachers. If you ever need assistance with your iPad or see Mr. Ikandu around campus, make sure to say thank you for everything he does to strengthen Del Mar!

For 8th Grade Families-Graduation Information

The Class of 2025 will be graduating in a few months! Attached HERE is an outline of upcoming graduation activities. This information has been emailed as well.

For 8th Grade Parents....Panoramic Photo

It is time to purchase the 8th grade panoramic photo from Dorian Photographers. If you use the QR code, plug in Del Mar, then click "What is My access key"--or call Dorian at 800-826-3535. See Dorian's flyer below

A low-quality screenshot of our outdoor 8th grade photo is below Dorian's flyer (the professional photo will be much better quality and will say Del Mar Middle School Class of 2025).

Lunches for the Month of April

✨ Your School Needs You! PTA Positions Open ✨
Looking for a meaningful way to support your child’s school? Consider stepping into a PTA leadership role! These positions are 2-year terms, giving you time to make a real impact. No special skills needed—just a passion for helping our schools and students thrive!
Contact ANY MEMBER of the Nominating Committee or fill out this INQUIRY FORM if interested.
For detailed job descriptions, email amy.dugdale@gmail.com or click HERE

RUSD Mission & Vision: Each student will be challenged and inspired to reach their fullest intellectual, social-emotional and creative potential to positively impact the world.

Chad Stuart, Principal