Dear SHUSD Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds your family refreshed after a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and excited for the upcoming holidays. This time of year is always special—a blend of reflection on the past year, gratitude for our blessings, and an energized focus for the year.
Thanksgiving offered us all a moment to pause and appreciate the many good things in our lives and community. On behalf of the entire district, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your partnership. Your commitment to your children's education, support for our educators, and active participation in our school community are critical components of our success.
The pride we feel for our students this season is immense! We have seen so many examples of their hard work, dedication, and leadership across our district:
- Athletic Triumph: A huge congratulations to our Varsity Football Team for an incredible season, culminating in a well-deserved League Championship title and a thrilling home playoff victory! They have shown us the true meaning of teamwork and dedication.
- Future Farmers of America (FFA) Excellence: Our FFA students demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurship and commitment by successfully raising and selling a significant number of turkeys for the holiday season. This hands-on work is a testament to the real-world skills they are gaining, as well as their dedication to supporting the needs of our community.
- Academic Gains: We are also thrilled to share news regarding our recent state standardized test scores. While we are already a high-performing district, data from the California Assessment of Student Progress & Performance (CAASPP) indicates gains in many key academic areas across our grade levels, reflecting the focused and supportive efforts of our students, staff, and families.
These achievements are powerful examples of what happens when students are engaged in relevant activities, supported by caring adults, and motivated to succeed.
Looking ahead to winter break, we are already planning for a smooth transition into the new year, with students returning to school on Monday January 5th. We encourage families to use the break not only for celebrations, but also for genuine rest and rejuvenation. Our hope is that every student and staff member returns in 2026 feeling refreshed and ready for an exciting second half of the school year.
Thank you once again for your dedication and support.
With warm regards,
Jodi McClay, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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Our SHUSD team gathered on Monday, December 8, 2025, for our annual Holiday Party at the Masonic Lodge in downtown St. Helena. It was a warm and joyful afternoon filled with connection, appreciation, and festive cheer. Staff from across the district came together to celebrate the season and to honor the incredible employees whose dedication and service make a daily impact on our students. Employees reaching longevity milestones in SHUSD of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years were honored with special gifts. Thank you to the Masons of St. Helena for their generosity and support, and to everyone who joined us and helped make this year’s celebration a wonderful way to close out 2025 together. |
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We are thrilled to share that every child from the 15 families on our Giving Tree now has a provider—thanks to the generosity and care of our school community. Your support ensures that all of our students and families feel seen and supported during this season.
In addition, our grade-level teams are already putting into practice the valuable strategies and ideas gained from the recent Response to Intervention Conference. Their collaboration and commitment are helping strengthen instructional practices and student support across our campus.
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We recently held a school-wide reading celebration to recognize all students who met their Trimester 1 reading goals. Their hard work and dedication to growing as readers truly shined.
We are also thrilled to celebrate one of our own, Eleanor Nelson, who was selected as a winner in Vine Transit’s county-wide contest inviting TK–5 students to name the animal mascots on their buses. Eleanor’s winning name for the Monarch Butterfly bus, “Mari,” was unanimously chosen. To honor her creativity, Eleanor and her entire class enjoyed swag bags and a special pizza party in her name.
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RLS is proud to celebrate our Instructional Leadership Team’s (ILT) participation in this year’s RTI Conference, where Aracely, Selene, and our K–5 ILT members engaged in valuable learning to strengthen instructional practices and student support across our campus. Their commitment to ongoing professional growth reflects the dedication of our entire school community. |
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Alma Robledo, Kate Brethauer, and Jen Marinace were awarded Napa Valley Education Foundation grants for their Innovative Schools applications. They received a surprise visit on Tuesday, December 9th, where they were presented with their grant award notices and giant checks in recognition of their outstanding work. These funds will benefit RLS students. |
One of the many reasons why SHHS continues to earn a place on the US News & World Report’s Best High Schools (every year for the last 13 years) is due to the high expectations and support for all students. This Spring will usher in SHHS’s 14th Dual Enrollment class! Facilitated by both NVC and SHHS, and because of our highly qualified teachers, St. Helena students will have yet another opportunity to accrue college credit during their time in high school. The benefits of Dual Enrollment are extensive:
- Saves time and money on college tuition
- Allows students to transfer/graduate faster
- Eases the transition to college
- Builds collegiate confidence
- Increases the likelihood of persisting and graduating from college
- Strengthens college application
- Boosts GPA
In addition to SHHS's ten (10) Advanced Placement and eight (8) Honors courses, SHHS students have both the opportunity and encouragement of faculty to pursue courses of rigor. Below is a complete list of Honors, AP, and Dual Enrollment courses at SHHS:
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St. Helena High School wrapped up an outstanding fall athletics season marked by strong competition, teamwork, and remarkable accomplishments. This season included two NCL I League Championships (football and girls’ cross country), twelve All-League athletes, a team NCS qualifier, and one individual state qualifier. A special congratulations goes to Corina Schlatter, who placed 7th at the NCS Cross Country Championships and went on to compete at the CIF State Meet for the second consecutive year—finishing 20th in Division 5. Her hard work and determination continue to inspire the entire Saints community.
The fall season also showcased the heart and unity of our student-athletes, with football completing one of the most memorable seasons in school history. Their dedication, sportsmanship, and resilience left a lasting impact, supported by countless volunteers who helped make the season a success.
Winter sports are now underway, with early momentum in girls’ basketball and girls’ soccer and promising performances across boys’ soccer, wrestling, and both basketball programs. The annual Sutter Home Basketball Tournament brought exciting action to campus, highlighting growth, competitive spirit, and strong community support. Wrestling athletes also kicked off their season with standout performances, including multiple top finishes in early tournaments.
As the year continues, the Saints look forward to building on this positive energy. Go Saints!
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The 7th grade boys’ basketball team is off to an impressive start, opening their season with a strong 4–1 record. Standout performances from Carmelo Hurtado and Benicio Vigil have helped set a competitive tone for the Blue Devils. The 8th grade boys’ team is currently 1–3, and while the season began with some challenges, players like Barett Dunstan and Peter Herdell have delivered exciting moments and solid play.
Both the 7th and 8th grade girls’ volleyball teams are also off to a great start, each holding a 3–1 league record as they head into winter break with strong momentum.
Co-ed wrestling will begin in January, and additional updates will be shared as the season gets underway.
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As a reminder, all students in California, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, have the right to attend school free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, or intimidation.
Recent California laws (AB 49 and SB 98) strengthen protections for immigrant families and ensure that schools remain safe and welcoming for every student.
For more information, please review the flyer below or scan the QR code to read the California Attorney General’s guidance. You can also visit the District website for questions or concerns regarding immigration policies.
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Your child may already have free college or career training money through CalKIDS, a California state scholarship program. Eligible students can receive up to $1,500 for tuition, books, and required supplies — but families must claim the account to use the funds.
Claim your child’s scholarship today:
Scholarships are automatically created, but not automatically claimed.
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Our DELAC parent leaders came together in an incredible act of unity and compassion by preparing tamales and champurrado to sell in support of one of our staff members who was recently involved in a serious accident. Their hard work, generosity, and commitment to community allowed all proceeds to go directly to the staff member’s family during this difficult time. We are deeply grateful for their leadership and the way they continue to uplift and support our school community. |
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SHES/SHPS Principal’s Coffee Chat
December 16 | 8:30 AM
St. Helena Primary School
SHUSD Community Clothing Exchange
December 15–18 | 2:30 –5:30 PM
Vintage Hall, First Floor
Winter Break (No School)
December 22 – January 2
DELAC Meeting
January 13 | 9:00–10:30 AM
Vintage Hall Board Room
Phone-Free Childhood Workshop #2
January 12 | 5:30–6:30 PM
St. Helena Primary School
Anxious Generation Parent Book Club
January 27 | 5:30–6:30 PM
St. Helena Public Library
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We are grateful to the UpValley Family Centers Education Team for hosting an engaging and informative Parent Night focused on supporting student well-being. During the event, the team shared valuable information about their CLAR@ mentoring services, along with practical tools and strategies families can use to support their students’ mental health. We truly appreciate our ongoing partnership with UpValley Family Centers and their dedication to empowering families and students. |
As the Community Liaison Director, I’m here to support families with resources, connections, and questions about the district. Please feel free to reach out anytime.
Selene Robledo
Community Liaison Director
C: 707-227-0874 | P: 707-967-2708, Ext. 5011
srobledo@sthelenaunified.org
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