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Upcoming Events
District News
Dear Families and Staff,
The hustle and bustle of a school year makes it easy to forget how recently we opened new spaces on the Kent campus that are the result of years of planning and community support of Measure D. Being able to introduce these spaces tonight to members of the Kentfield Greenbrae Historical Society reminded me of how truly beautiful and state of the art the improvements are. Many of the tour participants attended Kent as students or their children did, and they were understandably awestruck by the music classroom and main office spaces. They were also interested in the technology additions, makerspace, counseling offices, and science classroom - which was apparently a home economics classroom at one time. I invited them all back in a year to see Bacich's completed construction and modernization.
Next on the planning calendar is the Back 50 at Kent. Thanks to the generosity of kik, we have a significant budget with which to improve that important play and P.E. area. Design is underway to increase its attractiveness, safety, and usefulness with construction slated for next summer. Ideas are welcome! Email me at lschott@kentfieldschools.org.
Liz Schott
Superintendent
School Board
School Board Information
Next Meeting: November 13, 2018 at 5 p.m. in the District Office.
- The Agenda will be posted by 5 p.m. the Friday before the meeting.
Bacich News
Dear Parents,
We are looking forward to Parent – Teacher Conferences scheduled for November 13-16, 2018. This is an opportunity for parents to hear from their child’s classroom teacher about their son or daughter’s progress during the first trimester of the school year.
Conferences are a wonderful time for teachers to share about each student’s strengths, outline areas that may need improvement, and set goals for the months ahead.
- Families who wish to have translators present at their conference should schedule their conferences for Thursday–Friday between 1–4 p.m. or by coordinating with the classroom teacher.
We offer online sign-ups for our parent conferences. We request that families of multiple households come together for the twenty-minute conference, which will be held in each teacher’s classroom.
Online conference sign-ups will open Friday, November 2, 2018 at 8 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
- Parents may access the conference sign-ups through the following link:
conferences.kentfieldschools.org,
- Simply choose Bacich, then select your child’s teacher and choose a conference slot to reserve your desired time.
Please note that Parent-Teacher Conference days are Minimum Days and follow the Minimum Day Schedule for each grade level.
Please plan for the shortage of parking around campus and make every effort to be on time for your child’s conference. You may reference the Safe Routes Park and Walk Map for Bacich to plan ahead for parking.
Thank you,
Sally Peck
Bacich Principal
Bacich All School Book Read for October
This month each classroom at Bacich will read the children’s book, All Are Welcome, by Alexandra Penfold. This is a wonderful book that celebrates inclusiveness and diversity; and reiterates the message to our kids and families that everyone is welcome in our school, in their classes, and the greater community.
We encourage you to ask your child about this story and continue the conversation at home.
Bacich Announcements
Halloween Parade: October 31, 10:45–11:45 a.m.
- We request that our students not bring or wear scary masks of any kind to school on Halloween, and we ask that they not bring any weaponry to school to accompany their costumes on this day.
- Parents and younger siblings are also asked not to wear masks on our campus during our Halloween celebrations.
- The annual parade will include all grade levels and all classrooms. The students will gather on the field at 10:40 a.m. and exit our campus to parade through the McAllister Avenue neighborhood.
Bacich Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
- On Friday, October 26, 2018 Bacich students will bring home UNICEF Trick-or-Treat boxes. Families who wish to participate may collect change on Halloween for kids from around the world.
Bacich Site Council
Next Meeting: November 5, 2018, 3-4 p.m., Bacich Library. All parents are welcome to attend.
- Please visit our Site Council page for meeting dates, agendas, and minutes.
Bacich Resources
Please visit our Bacich Families page for information such as the Bell Schedule, Parent Handbook, and other important resources and forms.
Follow Bacich on Instagram
Bacich Elementary School @bacichelementary
Bacich STEAM Projects @bacichsteam
Bacich Construction
Kent News
Greetings Kent Community,
I’m thrilled to share that the Marin Symphony has named our very own Mike Martinez as the 2018 Music Teacher of the Year! The award will be presented to Mr. Martinez by Supervisor Kate Sears onstage at the opening night concert this Saturday, October 27th at 8:00 p.m. at Marin Veterans’ Memorial Hall in the Marin Civic Center. All interested members of the Kent community are invited to attend the concert on Saturday to help celebrate Mr. Martinez. There is a special ticket code — "KENT" — that can be used to get 50% off tickets in any section. This ticket code may be used in person at the Marin Center Box Office, online at https://tickets.marincenter.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=251, or over the phone at (415) 473-6800. Mr. Martinez continues to have a profound impact on our young musicians at Kent, and is incredibly deserving of this great honor!
During this busy time of year, students receive feedback from their teachers in a variety of forms. Through feedback on classroom activities, grades on tests and quizzes, anecdotal comments during learning experiences, hexamester grades, and/or student progress reports; teachers work to help students understand their areas of strength and areas for growth in each class.
On our weekly schedule we have two opportunities for students to receive additional help in classes that are presenting academic challenges for them. Aptly named Opportunities, this 30-minute class period on Wednesday and 40-minute class period on Thursday provides every student with additional time to work with any teacher from their schedule. The expectation is that every student is working with one of their teachers, and that every student comes prepared with materials and questions to fully benefit from the Opportunities session. Please check in with your child about how he or she is utilizing Opportunities class, and encourage your child to come to school on Wednesday and Thursday with a plan of action to get the most out of this time.
In conclusion, here is one final reminder about Halloween costume expectations prior to Halloween next week. Students may choose if they would like to participate, but for those who do, please adhere to the following guidelines:
- Costumes must not interfere with school participation, including P.E. and typical classroom activities.
- Students may not wear a mask that covers their face at school.
- Costumes may not feature any type of weapon (gun, sword, spear, etc.), silly string, or references to drugs/alcohol.
- Costumes shall be culturally sensitive and not negatively represent any race, religion, or gender.
Thanks to all parents who attended our Principal Chats this week. I look forward to seeing you at Kent soon.
Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
Kent Library
Book-a-Ween Pumpkin Contest! This year, our library council will host our first ever book-themed pumpkin decorating contest! Students may bring their entries to the library anytime between now and October 31st. The winning pumpkin decorator will receive a gift card to the Book Passage! The rules are as follows:
1. Your pumpkin must be decorated like a character from a book or related to the plot of a book.
2. You may carve or decorate your pumpkin on the outside.
3. Bring all entries to the library and make a name card with your grade and first and last name.
Día de Los Muertos: Ms. Roubinian has created an ofirenda again this year in the library in honor of Day of the Dead. If you would like to bring a photo of a loved one who has passed away and/or an object that reminds you of them, we would love to have you add your items to our altar anytime between now and November 1st. We will celebrate the Day of the Dead during lunch on Thursday, November 1st. We will watch Coco and enjoy some pan de muerto together.
Refugee All-School Read: We will be reading Alan Gratz's Refugee as a whole school this year. If you would like to purchase a book from the Book Passage for your child, you can do so by ordering online or printing out this form and bringing it to the library anytime before November 9th.
October Author Spotlight: Jacqueline Woodson
This month, we celebrate the incredible author and poet Jacqueline Woodson, who also happens to be the current national ambassador for young people's literature. Jacqueline has won many awards and has written incredible picture books for younger and older children, novels for middle grade students and young adult titles as well as poetry and an incredible memoir in verse called Brown Girl Dreaming. Her newest book, Harbor Me is geared toward middle grade students and is available for check out in the Kent Library! My favorite book by Ms. Woodson is If You Come Softly, a modern take on a Romeo and Juliet story. Check out one of her books from the library today!
Rebecca Jelen
Kent Librarian
Follow the Kent Library on Instagram
Kent Announcements
View Kent Daily Announcement on Kent website.
Kent Events – Mark Your Calendars
- Teens in Transition Parent Information Night: Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in the Kent Library, parents only please
- 8th Grade Transition to High School Meeting: Thursday, November 15, 2018 6:30- 8:00 p.m., Kent Library parents and 8th grade students are welcome to attend.
8th Grade Students Applying to Private High Schools in 2019-2020,
Please read this letter outlining the request process for transcripts and teacher recommendation letters to apply to a private high school.
- The final date to submit all requests for teacher recommendations and transcripts, to Kent, is Friday, December 7, 2018.
- No requests will be accepted during Winter Break, as the office will be closed.
Students Applying to Transfer to Another Middle School
- 5th, 6th, and 7th graders applying to a private middle school or moving should contact Lisa Sandberg at lsandberg@kentfieldschools.org, so that she can facilitate the process.
Kent Good Eggs Fundraiser
Funds raised will be used to purchase the book Refugee for our "One Book School" read in December and to bring the author, Alan Gratz, to campus in the spring.
- Sign up here using the code: FALCONS2018. View Good Eggs information flyer.
Kent Site Council
Next Meeting: November 6, 2018, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Main Office Conference Room
- All Kent parents are welcome to attend Site Council meetings. Please visit our Site Council page for meeting dates, agendas, and minutes.
Kent Athletics
Kent Athletic Director: Ryan Palmer, kent-athletics@kentfieldschools.org, website
- Please note that all volleyball games are at 3:45 p.m. at Davidson, unless the venue is changed by coaches.
Kent Resources & Forms
Visit our Back to School page for the Parent-Student Handbook and important reminders and forms.
The District Resources and Forms page contains all forms and notices for the entire district.
Safe Routes News
Walk & Roll Wednesdays
Thanks to everyone who participated in International Walk and Roll To School Day on Wednesday, October 10th. Keep up the people-powered transportation throughout the year on Walk and Roll Wednesdays.
The Kentfield School District encourages all families to actively participate in our nationally-recognized KSD Safe Routes to School Program, a neighborhood-focused initiative to advocate green travel alternatives, and address traffic safety at our schools.
A team of Neighborhood Parent Captains provide suggested safe route maps and carpooling options all customized by neighborhood. We also advocate for traffic safety concerns on behalf of the families in our district's neighborhoods.
- Locate "Safe Routes," "Park and Walk" spots, visitor parking, bike/scooter racks for Bacich and Kent. Note in particular that the designated parking lot for your neighborhood at Bacich. Determine your neighborhood and contacts with our zone map, then visit the neighborhood map for Berens Route Plan, Greenbrae Route Plan, Kent Woodlands Route Plan, Laurel Grove Route Plan, Murray Park Route Plan, and SFD Firehouse Route Plan.
- Public bus option for middle school students: The Marin Transit Bus 29 has a route designed perfectly for our Kent Middle School students. The bus picks up on SFD and Eliseo at 8:12 a.m. and drops off at College of Marin at 8:17 a.m. It's a short walk to the crosswalk and then to Kent. It costs $1 per child.
- Safe Routes to School Safety tips in English and Spanish.
kik News
Any contribution at any level makes an impact on our schools.
Help us reach 100% participation for our schools.
Save the Date! kik Auction | Dinner | Dancing
May 11, 2019
KSPTA News
Second Trimester Lunch Ordering Now Open
- Deadline to order is Monday, November 12, 2018.
- Delicious school lunch from Good Earth Natural Foods and Stefano's Pizza
- Order at goodearthlunch.com
- Service Session for Kent: November 13, 2018–March 8, 2019
- Service Session for Bacich: November 19, 2018-March 8, 2019
Calling All Crafters!
Vendor Applications now available online for the 6th Annual Kentfield Craft Fair.
- Applications due November 9, 2018
- Kentfield Craft Fair is on Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 1:30-6:30 p.m, Bacich Community Center
School Board Candidate Forum Hosted by KSPTA
Did you miss the Candidate event for folks who are running for the KSD School Board Seats? Your KSPTA has your covered. Check out a video of the opening and closing statements and read their written answers to five important questions here.
Your KSPTA Needs You!
October is when we run our membership drive, so if you haven't renewed for 2018-2019, make sure you head on over to our store, to renew today. And as a special bonus for families, if you renew with two or more memberships (say one for every adult in your house), we will give you a $5.00 Jamba Juice gift card. Isn't that nice of us?
KSPTA Events
Please join us for the following KSPTA-sponsored events
- 11/5/2018: KSPTA General Meeting, 8:30-10 a.m., Kent Library
A special offer from Good Eggs
Use this code, BACICH18, when signing up for Good Eggs to support our schools. Click here for details
Connect with KSPTA!
Community News
These programs are not sponsored by the Kentfield School District. Distributing flyers and information is a community service and does not imply endorsement.
Fun and Free Art Classes for Parents
- Join us, and invite a friend for one or perhaps all class: Saturdays, October 27, 2018.
Join Bacich art teacher Barbara Libby-Steinmann and Kent parent and artist Anna Rochester, as they guide you through three different hands on activities: Coffee Stain Painting, Wrangle the Wires Sculpture, and Veggie Patterned Tea-Towels.
Engage in art lessons that you can do with your kids in your own home. Find ways to support your kids exploring different materials to express themselves in the arts. And best of all, it is fun and free!
"Encouraging Resilience In Your Kids" Workshop
- Saturday, November 3, 1-3 p.m. or Saturday, November 17, 9-11 a.m.
Join Jennifer Bull, AMFT for an informative workshop to learn how to help strengthen your child’s internal resources. Choose one of two Saturday sessions.
Kentfield Girls Softball
Kentfield Girls Softball is for 5 to 15 year old girls living in Kentfield, Greenbrae, Ross and North Larkspur.
Registration is during the month of November and practices start in late February 2019.