Don't Miss These Announcements
Para español haga clic aquí / Click here for a Language Translation of Newsletter
- El boletín se convierten utilizando Google Translate. Entendemos que esto no es una traducción perfecta, sin embargo, esperamos que sea útil para las familias de que hablan español. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre la información, póngase en contacto con nosotros.
- This translation is provided by Google Translate and opens in Spanish, but can be used for other languages. We understand that Google Translate is not a perfect translation. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Board of Trustees Open Seat Interviews: February 7, 2019
- Applicant interviews will be held during open session of a special board meeting on Thursday, February 7, 2019, 4-5:30 p.m., in the District Office.
- Board of Trustees Open Seat Information
Current 4th Graders: Incoming 5th Grade Registration Event
- Wednesday, February 27, 2019: 1:30-3 p.m., Kent Office
- Please download and complete this Proof of Residency (POR) Affidavit before the registration event.
- Bring the form and your supporting documents with you to the registration event.
- As described on the Affidavit, you must submit two items from the Category 1 (the first column) and one item from Category 2 (the second column).
Student Survey Information – 3rd to 5th Grade Families
- Please read the District section for more information about this upcoming student survey.
- Please note: the first newsletter on 1/24/2019 incorrectly stated that fifth graders would be given the middle school survey. These students will receive the elementary school survey. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders will receive the middle school questions.
- Surveys will be administered sometime between January 28, 2019 and February 8, 2019.
- Youth Truth Parental Consent Letter - In English and Spanish
- Youth Truth Survey Questions
Lost & Found Items Will Be Donated on February 8, 2019
Eighth Grade Families
Attention Eighth Grade Parents
- We are no longer accepting baby photos for the yearbook. We extended the deadline twice, and the yearbook company has already set that page.
- Graduation Fundraiser Raffle: We are looking for gifts appealing to parents and/or kids. Suggestions: theatre or sporting event tickets, restaurant gift cards, headphones or other electronics.
- To donate contact Erika McGrath at erikabmcgrath@yahoo.com or (415) 378-5972.
- Don't have any items to donate? We can help! Click here to donate cash for the purchase of raffle prizes.
- Visit the graduation information website for graduation fundraising events, committee meeting dates, volunteer sign-ups, graduation events, and forms.
Walk & Roll to School Wednesdays
- February 6, 2019
- February 13, 2019 – Walk to School Umbrella Day
Caring For Our Community
Please make sure that in your travels to and from our campuses you display good citizenship and neighborliness. A recent visit from a Bacich neighbor who came with photos of his side yard full of litter and trash from people passing by prompted this reminder. While no one thinks our students or families are intentionally dumping their papers, cans, and bottles in our neighborhood, individual pieces of trash add up and create a real eyesore and problem for the homeowner whose yard is impacted. Living near a school can be challenging in the best of times. When that school is under construction, the limits of patience can be tested. We don't want to add to the stress with careless littering.
New Website Feature
A search function is now available at the top right corner of the Kentfield, Bacich, and Kent websites. Thank you to Andrew Korff, the district's Technology Director, for creating a custom search capability for the websites.
Upcoming Events
District News
Dear Kentfield Community,
California’s new educational accountability tool, the California School Dashboard, provides metrics on an interactive website that help schools and districts evaluate their progress toward LCAP goals and communicate with their stakeholders about that work.
The Dashboard shifts the focus of previous accountability measures from compliance to one that supports continuous improvement. There are four reports that evaluate this progress: equity report, status and change report, detailed reports, and student group report. The sheer amount of information can be daunting, but graphic aids such as the 5 x 5 placement grids help make sense of a whole lot of data.
Measures of many types of performance go into the Dashboard. Academic gains as assessed by the CAASPP results combine with data on suspensions/expulsions, chronic absenteeism, and English Learner progress to give a holistic picture of our district’s efficacy.
Our most recent Dashboard results provide very useful information about efforts identified in our LCAP, which focused on the underperformance of our socioeconomically disadvantaged students, English Learners, and students with disabilities. In those student groups, gains were made at both schools in Language Arts, but in Math, gains were only posted for Kent students with disabilities. White students posted gains in Math and Language Arts at both schools, and students of two or more races improved in all but Language Arts at Bacich.
The administrative team is working on plans to get Math results to trend in the positive direction of Language Arts, and to ensure continued growth in all areas assessed.
The Dashboard is available at www.caschooldashboard.org.
Liz Schott
Superintendent
YouthTruth Student Survey - Third-Eighth Grade Families
The Kentfield School District is asking your child in third through eighth grade to participate in the YouthTruth Student Survey in the coming weeks. The YouthTruth Student Survey is a nationally recognized survey used in hundreds of schools and districts across the country, surveying hundreds of thousands of students. The anonymous survey asks students about their experiences in the school and with their teachers, including how engaged they are at school, the rigor of their coursework, and their preparedness for the future. For information about this survey, please visit youthtruthsurvey.org and our district's website on the survey.
- Although we would like to hear from all students in third through eighth grade, participation in this survey is voluntary.
- Your child’s ratings will not be identified in any reports because results are shared at the group level. Personally identifiable information will not be released to any third party.
Please be aware that under federal law, you have the right to review a copy of the questions asked of your child. A copy of the survey has been attached. Please note the attachment includes questions for elementary, middle, and high school students. Third, fourth, and fifth graders will be given the elementary age questions and sixth, seventh, and eighth graders will receive the middle school questions.
- Please note: the newsletter on 1/24/2019 incorrectly stated that fifth graders would be given the middle school survey. These students will receive the elementary school survey.
Please complete the attached form if you would like your child to be excluded from the survey. This exclusion form is also available in the Bacich School office.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Superintendent Liz School, Bacich Assistant Principal Methinee Bozeman, or Kent Assistant Principal Jenny Walsh.
- Youth Truth Parental Consent Letter - In English and Spanish
- Youth Truth Survey Questions
School Board
Board of Trustees Open Seat Information
- Interviews will be during open session of a special board meeting on February 7, 2019 at 4 p.m. at the District Office.
School Board Information
Special Board Meeting for Board of Trustees Open Seat Interviews : February 7, 2019, 4-5:30 p.m.
Next Regular Meeting: February 12, 2019
Technology and Innovation Programs highlighted at February Board Meeting - 4-5 p.m.
- Join the Board of Trustees to learn more about technology and innovation in our district from 4-5 p.m.
- Regular meeting: 5 p.m. in the District Office.
- The Agenda will be posted by 5 p.m. the Friday before the meeting.
District Committees
Parent Partners Meeting
- Tuesday, February 5, 2019 9–11 a.m., District Office
Communications Committee Meeting
- Monday, February 11, 2019, 1-2 p.m., District Office
English Language Learners
February 6, 2019: Bacich ELAC meeting, 8-9 a.m., Bacich Portable 1. The meeting will cover an Aeries tour, Kindergarten registration, and other topics.
March 21, 2019: DELAC meeting, 5:45-7 p.m., District Office. We will cover topics such as roles of DELAC and ELAC, next year's meeting dates, and agenda items.
English Language Learner Resources and English Learners Website
Bacich News
Dear Parents,
Last week, I had the opportunity to start the day in one of our third grade classrooms. I led the class in their Morning Meeting. This meaningful time to check in with students is part of the Responsive Classroom program, which helps students build relationships with the teacher and one another and supports an optimal learning environment.
The Meeting begins with a question or a special greeting shared by each member of the classroom. I asked the students to share with me what they enjoy doing most outside of school. Most answers ranged from basketball to horseback riding to playing with their cousins. Five children shared with me that they love to play Fortnite, when they are not in school.
For those of you who may not be aware, Fortnite is a cartoon-like video game recommended by Common Sense Media for children over thirteen years old. Common Sense Media is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and their families understand and navigate the options available with today’s media and technology.
Their website points out that Fortnite is a combat-based game, with guns and violence. The content is mature and random strangers can participate in un-moderated chats with those who play.
With the onslaught of technology available to our children today, I encourage you to understand what your sons and daughters are playing on their phones or computers. And with the present frenzy of Fortnite, I hope you will take the time to explore this game for yourself and decide if it is something you want your child to play.
- The following link about Fortnite is published by Common Sense Media:
- www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/parents-ultimate-guide-to-fortnite.
Thank you,
Sally Peck
Bacich Principal
Bacich Bears Broadcast
Bacich Library Update
Bacich Announcements
Lost and Found items will be donated on Friday, February 8, 2019.
- Please check the bin to see if your child if your child is missing anything.
Current Fourth Grade Families: 5th Grade Registration Event at Kent
- Proof of residency for registration event for fifth grade registration: Wednesday, February 27 2019, 1:30-3 p.m., Kent Office
- Please download and complete this Proof of Residency (POR) Affidavit before the registration event.
- Bring the form and your supporting documents with you to the registration event.
- As described on the Affidavit, you must submit two items from the Category 1 (the first column) and one item from Category 2 (the second column).
YouthTruth Student Survey
Third and fourth graders may take the District's YouthTruth Student Survey. Please read the District's newsletter section for more information on this survey.
- Surveys will take place between January 28, 2019 to February 8, 2019.
- Youth Truth Parental Consent Letter - In English and Spanish
- Youth Truth Survey Questions
Bacich Events
- Bacich ELAC meeting: February 6, 2019, 8-9 a.m., Portable 1. The meeting will cover an Aeries tour, Kindergarten registration, and other topics.
- Fourth Grade Families: Rancho Day is Friday, February 15, 2019. Volunteer information will soon be available.
- Third Grade Concert: Thursday, February 28, 2019, 6:30–7:30 p.m., Bacich Community Center
New Student Registration
- Kindergarten registration will open Friday, February 1, 2019
Bacich 2018-2019 Yearbooks Now on Sale
- Click here to order a Bacich Yearbook. Order by April 19, 2019.
Bacich Site Council
Next Meeting: February 4, 2019, 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 Library @bacichlibrary
Bacich Construction
Kent News
Greetings Kent Community,
Relationships matter. It’s true in parenting, teaching, learning, and countless other areas of our lives – relationships matter. A growing body of research suggests that when children feel a trusted connection with adults in their lives, youth are more likely to enjoy academic success, develop empathy and interpersonal skills, grow personal responsibility, and avoid risky behaviors. The more caring adult relationships a student has, the more likely the child is to thrive in these areas. We want this for every Kent student.
To that end, Kent teachers and staff have set this as among our top priorities in our classrooms and on our school grounds. Do we create space for interpersonal connection between all members of our school community? Most recently, we’ve explored the five elements of the Developmental Relationship Framework, a model from the Search Institute that identifies key elements in strong, trusting relationships. We’ve discussed and explored how this model can help us to deepen our relationships with our students. The behaviors that encourage strong relationships include expressing care, challenging growth, providing support, sharing power, and expanding possibilities. Click here to read about 55 ideas for deepening relationships, which includes suggested strategies for parents, teachers, youth leaders, and children.
While we can control the way we interact with our students at school, and the conditions we create for relationships to flourish, our students also must open themselves and respond to our inquiries. Check in with your child on who they would identify as their trusted adult connections at school. Encourage your child to work to expand that network, strike up a conversation with a teacher, staff member, coach, or principal, and work with us to build relationships that matter. Please know that we are all doing the same.
All my best,
Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
Kent Library
2019 is off to a great start in the library. After a successful All School Read of Refugee, students have been checking out many read-alikes and other titles by Alan Gratz. We have had so many classes visit the library from all the grades including:
- Eighth graders to research resources for the upcoming Innovation Project in science using our new and old databases.
- Seventh graders to check out new fiction books while “speedbooking.”
- Sixth graders to discover nonfiction books for their current reading unit and learn about our new databases.
- Fifth graders to refresh their knowledge of the Dewey Decimal system and practice finding nonfiction subjects and books.
In the month of January, almost one thousand books were checked out by students!
Thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers who help me shelve books and manage students in the library each day. I could not do it without you! Thank you to all of the wonderful and generous families who donated so many books to the library through the book fair. I wish I had time to write an individual note to every one of you, but there were just so many! Finally, a huge thank you to KSPTA for the incredibly generous grant that we are using to fund our All School Read and author visit with Alan Gratz. This is an incredible opportunity!
Mock Newbery Club: Our first ever Mock Newbery club was a great success. We met every other week beginning in November and altogether we had about 15 students consistently attend our meetings and read the 10 books we selected for our short list. Though we did not get the winner correct, our group had a great time reading the same books and discussing them with one another. For our results, we had a tie between Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhoades and Front Desk by Kelly Yang (who will be visiting Kent on June 6, 2019!). The actual winner was Mercy Suarez Changes Gears, by Meg Medina with honors going to The Book of Boy (one of our book club selections) and The Night Diary. All of the titles are available for check out in the Kent library! On Monday, club members had pizza together and watched the Newbery Award ceremony. It was a special group and we can’t wait to do it again next year!
Book Passage: Don’t forget to mention Kent Middle School the next time you shop for books at the Book Passage. Each time you do, a percentage of your sale goes back to the library! Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful on everything from the hottest graphic novels to ways to challenge your kids with new books they will love. Mark your calendars for our May 3, 2019 Kent Shopping Event at the store featuring our band, student performances, and more!!
Refugee Follow Up: At this point, most of our students have read Refugee, and we have had some great post-reading discussions across the grade levels. We will continue the conversation as we near our visit with Alan Gratz on May 13, 2019, including an essay contest that will be announced in the coming month. A winner will be chosen from each grade, and these students will have the opportunity to have lunch with the author that day. Stay tuned for more information.
- If your child would like to read a book related to the topics explored in the novel or participate in any follow up activities, click here.
Book Clubs: On Tuesday, February 5, 2019, Sarah from the Corte Madera Library will be here to discuss our latest book club selection Be Prepared, by Vera Brogsal. Students who have read this book are encouraged to bring their lunches to the library to chat about the book with us!
Rebecca Jelen
Kent Librarian
Kent Announcements
YouthTruth Student Survey
- Please note: the newsletter on 1/24/2019 incorrectly stated that fifth graders would be given the middle school survey. These students will receive the elementary school survey. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders will receive the middle school questions.
- Surveys will be administered sometime between January 28, 2019 and February 8, 2019.
Please read the District's newsletter section for more information on this survey.
- Youth Truth Parental Consent Letter - In English and Spanish
- Youth Truth Survey Questions
View Kent Daily Announcement on Kent website.
Yearbook Are Now On Sale!
- Don't miss out on this important memento for your Falcon! Just go to this link: www.yearbookordercenter.com. Our school code is 7587.
Lost & Found Items Will Be Donated – Friday, February 8, 2019
- Please check the bins if your child is missing something.
Eighth Grade Announcements
- We are no longer accepting baby photos for the yearbook. We extended the deadline twice, and the yearbook company has already set that page.
- Eighth Grade Graduation Information: Check this page for graduation fundraising events, committee meeting dates, volunteer sign-ups, graduation events, and forms. Volunteer sign up now open!
Graduation Fundraiser Raffle:
We are looking for gifts appealing to parents and/or kids. Suggestions: theatre or sporting event tickets, restaurant gift cards, headphones or other electronics.
- To donate contact Erika McGrath at erikabmcgrath@yahoo.com or (415) 378-5972.
- Don't have any items to donate? We can help! Click here to donate cash for the purchase of raffle prizes.
Kent Events
- Wednesday, February 6, 2019: Pizza fundraiser for 8th grade graduation after school sale, 1:15-1:45 p.m. $5 for a slice, drink, and cookie. $3 for each additional slice.
- Wednesday, February 13, 2019: 8th grade graduation fundraiser bake sale, 1:15-1:45 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 27, 2019: Incoming 5th Grade Registration Event, 1:30-3 p.m., Kent Office, download Proof of Residency Affidavit
Kent Site Council
Next Meeting: February 5, 2019, 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 Resources
Please visit our Kent Families page for information such as the Bell Schedule, Parent Handbook, and other important resources and forms.
Follow the Kent Library on Instagram
Safe Routes News
Upcoming Walk & Roll Wednesdays
| February 6, 2019 | February 13, 2019: Walk to School Umbrella Day |
Walk to School Umbrella Day
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
View Flyer to learn more about this fun Walk & Roll Wednesday!
- Walk & Roll Wednesday Welcome Table Volunteers Needed - Please sign up to host the table and hand out “trinkets” to the kids who walk or carpool to school. The kids really love getting these. This is a great way to encourage foot and bike travel to and from school. It’s an easy volunteer job and does wonders for awareness of the importance of carpooling, walking and rolling to school.
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 morning route that can work for 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
Save The Date: Saturday, May 11th.
kik Auction | Dinner | Dancing
There are lots of ways to help make our auction a success. Can you donate a gift certificate? Sponsor the event? Want to host a sign up party? We have lots of ideas, from hosting a fun themed party for parents to a movie night for kids!
Contact us if you can help:
Any contribution at any level makes an impact on our schools.
Help us reach 100% participation for our schools.
kik Speaker Series
KSPTA News
Next KSPTA Meeting
March 4, 2019, 8:30-10 a.m., Kent Library
KSPTA Lunar New Year Celebration: Year of the Pig
Please join your KSPTA to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year with a morning filled with Korean Drummers, Taekwondo Performance and a Chinese Lion Dance.
- Date: Saturday, February 2, 2019
- Location: Kent MP Room
- Time: 10:30 a.m.–12p.m.
- Cost: $5 per person*, includes light food
*Additional food and cultural items will be available for purchase. All are welcome, despite ability to pay.
RESCHEDULED: Parent Education Free Event, Now February 8, 2019
High: Everything You Want to Know About Drugs, Alcohol, and Addiction.
- Date/Time: February 8, 2019, 7-8:30 p.m.
- Location: Book Passage in Corte Madera
- RSVP: highbooktalk.eventbrite.com
Join KSPTA and Book Passage for a book talk by bestselling father/son team David and Nic Sheff discussing High: Everything You Want to Know About Drugs, Alcohol, and Addiction. David Sheff is the author of Beautiful Boy (2008), and Nic Sheff is the author of Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines (2008), and their latest book is the ultimate resource for learning about the realities of drugs, alcohol, and addiction for middle grade readers and draws on their experiences.
Bacich Yearbooks Now On Sale
See your kids smile in pictures, then see them smile at your in real life because you ordered one.
- Order deadline: March 25, 2019
- Cost: $28.00 Order here.
Want to get more involved with you KSPTA?
We are now forming our Nominating Committee. Please contact Christy Chandler at christyhchandler@gmail.com 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.
2019 Raising Healthy Families Community Education Series
The Marin County Office of Education, in collaboration with Raising Healthy Families and the Community Institute for Psychotherapy, invites you to attend a series of informative, educational presentations that will examine important issues facing today’s families. The presentations will be led by noted Bay Area experts, and will offer tools and strategies to empower caregivers to raise children who are curious, compassionate, and resilient. Please see details below.
Admissions is free, and attendees must register in advance at www.cipmarin.org or by calling (415) 459-5999, ext. 101.
Suggested donations, sliding scale, $75, $50, $25. All event proceeds go directly to support Community Institute for Psychotherapy’s safety-net programs.
Teen Cannabis and Alcohol Use: What Parents Can Do
Presented by Adam Nelson, MD
Saturday, March 2, 2019, 9-11 a.m.
Marin County Office of Education, 1111 Las Gallinas Avenue, San Rafael
Raising Boys to be Heroes in an Age of Villains
Presented by Mark Edwards, LMFT
Tuesday, March 12, 2019, 6-8 p.m.
San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
Embodied Resilience: Mindfulness for Challenging Times
Presented by Shai Lavie, LMFT
Thursday, March 28, 2019, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael, CA
Inviting all kid-loving dogs to apply for a job!
Kent Librarian Rebecca Jelen is working with 4Paws, a local organization that brings dogs to libraries to be reading buddies. 4Paws offers workshops to train your family dog become a reading buddy.
Incoming Kindergarten Families: Sign up for Kinder Camp!
This class has been specially designed by Marin County Kindergarten teachers to help your child make a smoother transition into kindergarten. The two week class's curriculum is based on what students will experience in the upcoming year. This gentle, stress-free introduction occurs as they have fun in the actual kindergarten classrooms with experienced teachers. The ratio is 1:15 maximum, plus each class will have an incredible teen aide to ensure your children have a fun, positive experience. The students will enjoy a lively, sunny experience with tactile projects in arts, crafts, listening, nature, building, and laughter. We even try to put them in a class with a buddy of their choosing!
Dates:
- Session I June 17- June 28, register here: larkspur.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1606
- Session II July 1 -July 12 (no school on July 4,) register here: larkspur.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1607
- Both sessions run from 8:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Prius Raffle To Support Special Education in Marin
The parent volunteers of Dedication to Special Education announce the kick-off of our 14th Annual Prius Raffle. We fund supports that special education students need in the classroom throughout Marin’s public schools. Look for our volunteers at The Village Shopping Center every weekend through February 10th at shopping centers and farmers markets around town selling chances to win. Special Education families at your school should have tickets available.
Jenny Novack at (415) 812-5366 can provide more information or get tickets to you. Go to specialed.org for more details.