Kentfield School District

September 8th, 2020

Kentfield School District News

Dear Kentfield School Community,

I hope you enjoyed the Labor Day weekend – and kept as cool as possible during our Bay Area heat wave.

On Friday, August 28 the Governor announced the new Blueprint for a Safer Economy which offers a simplified four-tiered color coded system to monitor status of COVID-19 across the state. This system tracks the number of new cases per 100,000 people and positive test rates. The tiers are set up as follows:

California Blueprint for a Safer Economy Tiers

Marin has been on the Purple Tier (previous “watch List”) for weeks and we had anticipated moving to the Red Tier today, but late last night the state delayed the transition. Marin Public Health announced today Marin County will remain in the Red Tier while the state conducts a further review. This news is disappointing for our community, but it also reminds us that our situation can shift quite quickly.

With the new Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework and rates in our County decreasing, I met with staff last week to discuss in-person options and how we may begin our gradual transition from full distance learning to offering some in-person instruction. We continue to prepare for this shift by finalizing our safety infrastructure – which includes items such as posting signage, determining outside learning spaces, physical distancing classrooms, and submitting our Site Specific Safety Plans to public health. A stakeholder survey will be distributed on Friday, September 11 to gather feedback on Distance Learning as well as solicit preference of hybrid models.

Let’s continue to hold the vision that students will physically return to school to receive their education, we all know this is what is best for each of them, although we must trust the process and take the time to ensure we have set up the safest environment for our students and staff to thrive. Let’s all continue to do our part and wear those masks, wash your hands and stay physically distanced...we are almost there!

Superintendent Signature


Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Friday, September 11, 2020

  • Stakeholder Survey will be distributed
  • Kent Student Leadership Board applications due to Ms. Stephens

Monday, September 14, 2020

  • School lunch pick up at Kent, 12-1:30 p.m.
  • Kent Falcon Fêtes optional destination lunch for 5th and 6th graders, 1:40-2:10 p.m.

Thursday, September 17, 2020

  • Kent Falcon Fêtes optional destination lunch for 7th and 8th graders, 1:40-2:10 p.m.
  • Finance Committee meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
    • Meeting will be held virtually. The link and password will be sent via ParentSquare. Community members who are not current Kentfield families, should contact Kirsten Starsiak for the link and password.

Friday, September 18, 2020

  • First meeting of the Kent Student Leadership Board

Monday, September 28, 2020

  • Yom Kippur Holiday – No School

Wednesday, September 30, 2020


School Board

Don't Miss These Announcements

Virtual Crossing Guard

Are your mornings missing some pizzazz? Are you feeling blue because you can no longer walk to school? If so, have we got the thing for you!

Starting Monday, September 14th, Ms. Stephens will be holding a daily virtual crosswalk crossing from 7:55-8:30 a.m. Just sign into the Crosswalk Zoom link, and she will welcome a few of you at a time to cross a virtual McAllister together. Once you are ready to start your day, you will leave the crosswalk meeting and more kiddos will be welcomed to the session! So, mark your calendars, save this zoom link, and we will kick off our mornings together! Crosswalk Connections...is there anything better?!

  • Families will be sent the Zoom link and code through ParentSquare.

Public Health Announcements


KSD Help Desk

Discover solutions and tips for technical issues. Submit a technical help request.


Free and Reduced Lunch Applications Available

Families need to re-apply for free and reduced-price lunches annually, even if you have been approved in the past. This year we will provide five school lunches in a box per week. You will pick up the box at Kent Middle School on Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) between the hours of 12 and 1:30 p.m.


District Committee Solicitation

Kentfield School District maintains a variety of district wide committees, which include Communications, Equity, Finance, Safety, Technology, and Wellness. As we prepare to launch and/or reconvene our committees we welcome stakeholder participation to support diversified perspectives and interests.

  • If you would like to participate in any of our committees for the 2020-2021 school year please complete this form by September 30, 2020.

Bacich News

Bacich Yearbook

Many thanks to everyone who submitted first day/week of school photos! Every student has a story, and every story deserves to be told. When we look back in history, this will be the yearbook your student never forgets! Please continue to capture candid (not-posed) moments of your student of anything that happens in your home that connects back to our school (whether virtually or in-person), no matter how “boring” you think it might be!

  • Photos can be submitted to bacichyearbook2021@gmail.com. Please follow the instructions below when sending your photos.
  • The images must be .jpg, .png, or .tif files and must be at least 300ppi resolution.
  • Please provide the following information with each image:
    • FIRST NAME and LAST NAME for the main student featured in the image (or the left-most person).
    • Grade of student(s) in photo.
    • Description.
    • Additional names separated by commas.

We'll do our best to include as many as possible. Thank you in advance!

KIK News

FUND-A-NEED COMMUNITY GRANTS

Thank you, Fund-a-Need Donors!

KIK is the funding arm of the 2020-21 Fund-a-Need program and has partnered with the Kentfield Schools PTA (KSPTA) to administer these grants, which help support our school community.

See a list of Round 1 awarded grants.

KIK FAMILY MEALS WITH LEFT BANK – 20% TO KIK

KIK is excited to announce our fundraising partnership with Left Bank! Each Tuesday, Left Bank will create a special KIK Family Dinner for 4 for $50 and donate 20% back to KIK. Take the night off from cooking and support Bacich and Kent every week!

  • Sept. 15: BBQ Chicken, Mac ‘n Cheese, Green Salad
  • Sept. 22: Paella
  • Sept. 29: Chicken & Carnitas Tacos

Order, pay online, and select KIK Family Meal or call 415-927-3331.

NEW WEBSITE

We’re “KIK-ing off” a new website for the new school year! Find useful information detailing the Kentfield Schools Foundation efforts in serving our Bacich and Kent kids.

Visit KIK Website

CONNECT WITH KIK

KSPTA News

Next General KSPTA Meeting: Monday, October 5, 2020, 7-8:30 p.m.

  • Kentfield families and members will receive the Zoom link and password. If you do not receive the link, please contact info@kspta.org.

Become a Member of the Kentfield Schools PTA

  • 100% of membership dues fund school activities and programs such as P.E. equipment, library books, dance with Mr. S, and more

Membership has its benefits. Discounts at Urban Sitter, Academy of Sciences, and Legoland to name a few. Become a member today!

New School Lunch Program with School Foodies

Order online, pick up at Kent on Mondays for the week. Choose which weeks you order, and order for the whole family!

Sign up at schoolfoodies.com, registration code “bacich” or “kent” or Find out more

School Foodies pick up time is Mondays, 12-1:30 p.m. at Kent.

Distance Learning Resources at KSPTA

We are committed to supporting the Bacich and Kent communities with programs like the expanded Buddy System and more.

Visit the distance learning resources page to learn more. Suggestions and ideas are welcome at info@kspta.org.

Connect with KSPTA!

Community News

While the Corte Madera Library building is currently closed, you may request items and find details about Curbside Service at marinlibrary.org .

Curbside Hours:

  • Tuesday 11:00--3:00
  • Wednesday 11:00--3:00
  • Thursday 3:00--7:00

You may also return items at these times.

And for any questions you may have, call our “Talk with a Librarian” number: 415-473-2272 Monday-Friday, 9-6 p.m. English and Spanish.

Support Kentfield Schools

When shopping in-person or online at Book Passage, please remember to mention your school – a portion of every purchase goes directly to our schools!

  • For online shopping, enter your school name in the comments field.

Marin Enrichment (ME) will offer on-site childcare at Bacich School for KSD students and staff to support students with Distance Learning in small groups while maintaining safety protocols and procedures outlined by public health.

Marin Community Learning Hubs

Marin County community organizations are working together to provide Marin Community Learning Hubs during the 2020-2021 school year. Marin Community Learning Hubs are safe spaces with adult supervision for TK-8th grade students. Students will receive connection support for distance learning and access to WiFi during school hours.

This opportunity is offered for families for free who meet specific criteria. Eligible families include those that qualify for free or reduced lunch program, work with the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), foster youth children, students new to the country, or families unable to access or support distance learning.

Academic Support for All Families

The Marin Equality in Education Project provides equal access to educational support regardless of ability to pay or socioeconomic status.

California Parent & Youth Helpline and Online Support Groups

This free helpline provides free trauma-informed, evidenced-based emotional support to parents, children and youth in any language via calls, text, live chat, and email.

  • Available 7 days a week from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Parents can join a Weekly Online Support Group through the website: caparentyouthhelpline.org.
  • Helpline #: 855-427-2736

College of Marin and Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Construction Project Updates – September 7 – September 13

  • When using the crosswalk on College Avenue, please remember to activate the flashing signals. It is the only way the large construction vehicles exiting the driveway know that there are pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Measure B Landscape Master Plan Meeting: September 9, 2020, 6-7:30 p.m., Focus: Kentfield Campus