Kentfield School District News
Dear Kentfield School Community,
We live in a county that is filled with individuals of different cultures, beliefs and ethnicities. This diversity of backgrounds and experiences makes our community beautiful and unique, which should be celebrated and valued. When any member of our community discounts or uses hate speech or hate-motivated behaviors it is our duty to speak out.
We have recently learned that local social media accounts (Community Letter in English and Spanish) have targeted our Jewish students and families with Anti-Semitic messaging. This behavior is absolutely unacceptable and the acts should not be tolerated, minimized, or ignored. It is unfortunate that we continue to have this kind of behavior occurring locally and nationally, but it also reminds us of our role in not being bystanders or silent, but rather to take action by expressing our concern and rejecting acts of bigotry. As adults, our actions demonstrate for our children that we must act against injustice by modeling behavior that values differences and embraces the notion that we all have something valuable to share.
In February of this year, our Board of Trustees adopted a new Strategic Plan that acknowledges diversity and embraces our differences as an asset and a promise. A Board Committee of Equity and Inclusion was developed and will convene this year to assist in developing a plan to increase equity and inclusion practices across the District. Our staff has engaged in a districtwide read of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. And our team of teachers are working collaboratively to integrate social justice curriculum across our grade levels. These tangible steps to educate and reflect on our practices are what lend to change and help unify our community.
Kentfield School District acknowledges that all our students have a fundamental right to feel welcome, safe, and included in our schools. We celebrate diversity and recognize that together we stand against anti-Semitism, hate, and racism in our community and beyond.
Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org
Discussing Hate and Violence with Children Resources
The Anti-Defamation League offers families and educators excellent age-appropriate information and resources for discussing hate and violence with children.
"Children are aware of what is happening in the world around them. Family members and educators cannot assume that children are unaffected by global events. When frightening and violent incidents occur, both children and adults may experience a range of emotions including fear, confusion, sadness and anger.
To counteract fear and give reassurance, adult family members, teachers and day care providers can provide opportunities for children to express how they feel and channel their feelings into positive actions.
Discussions between adults and children in difficult situations can be an opening for reinforcing family and community values, beliefs and traditions. Here are some strategies on how to begin these discussions and how to prepare your children."
Upcoming Events
*For security, Zoom links and passwords for events are not posted on the District website, and are sent through ParentSquare.
Daily: Virtual Crossing Guard with Ms. Stephens, 7:55-8:30 a.m., Zoom
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
- Community Survey responses due
Thursday, September 24, 2020
- Superintendent Community Office Hours, 4-5 p.m.
Thursday, September 17, 2020
- Kent Falcon Fêtes optional destination lunch for 7th and 8th graders, 1:40-2:10 p.m., Zoom
- Finance Committee meeting, 3:45-4:45 p.m., Zoom
Friday, September 18, 2020
- First meeting of the Kent Student Leadership Board, Zoom
Monday, September 28, 2020
- Yom Kippur Holiday – No School
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Monday, October 5, 2020
- KSPTA meeting, 7-8 p.m. Zoom. All are welcome to attend.
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
- Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Zoom
- District English Language Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting, 6-7 p.m., Zoom
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
- School Board meeting, 5 p.m., Zoom. All are welcome to attend.
Friday, October 16, 2020
- Staff Professional Development Day – No School
School Board
- Board Meeting Highlights: September 8, 2020
- Board Meeting Video Archive
- Next Monthly School Board Meeting: October 13, 2020, 5 p.m., All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Don't Miss These Announcements
Parent/Guardian Feedback Distance Learning & Return to School
Information from the survey will be used to inform ongoing planning and program implementation.
- Survey: English Version or Spanish Version
- Please complete by Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020
Thank you for your engagement!
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!
Every school day morning from 7:55 to 8:30 a.m. students can have a quick drop-in virtual crosswalk crossing with Ms. Stephens. The Zoom link is available from any Bacich teacher or admin.
Internet Safety
Many of you have been inquiring about the filters on our district devices and google platform. Here are the answers to your questions, straight from our IT director, Andrew Korff.
"The Kentfield School District employs two layers of filtering for all student internet access, both on campus and when using school-owned devices at home. The first filtering layer is provided by a service called Cisco Umbrella, which is provided to all districts by the Marin County Office of Education. This filter is automatically applied to all school-owned iPads or Chromebooks, and blocks websites based on filtering rules we have established. The second filtering layer is specific to Google. Our DNS server is configured to force all Google searches to use Google's "SafeSearch" setting, which filters out explicit content. This applies to all web searches as well as all image searches originating from our network, and also cannot be disabled. YouTube access for students is also configured to use "Restricted Mode", which similarly filters out mature or inappropriate content. Our filtering rules through Cisco Umbrella are often more stringent than Google's SafeSearch, and at times this can result in the name of a blocked website appearing in Google's search results. If a student were to click on the search result, however, they would be blocked from visiting the website itself."
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.
- Download Application in English or Spanish
- Return application to Maureen Moulton, Assistant to the Superintendent, mrnoulton@kenlfieldschools.org
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
Kent News
KIK News
DONATE ONLINE NOW
For Installments or Matching Gifts, Print Donor Form in English and Spanish
TUES. 9/15 – KIK FAMILY MEALS WITH LEFT BANK – 20% TO KIK
KIK is excited to announce our fundraising partnership with Left Bank! Every Tuesday, beginning September 15th, Left Bank will create a special family dinner for 4 for $50 and donate 20% back to KIK. Tell your family, friends and neighbors!
- Sept 15: Fried chicken, mac n cheese, cole slaw, french fries, broccoli
- Sept 22: Paella with sides
- Sept 29: Chicken and carnitas tacos with sides
- Oct 6: BBQ Ribs with sides
Place your order online and select KIK Family Meal beginning on Monday for pick up on Tuesday.
Please follow our social media pages for reminders and updates on menus:
Facebook: Kentfield Schools Foundation - KIK
Instagram: kikinvestsinkids
FAMILY GIVING : LET’S KIK THIS TOGETHER!
Family Giving donations help support a large number of educational programs, safety and wellness plans, as well as enrichment programs at Bacich and Kent. It contributes the largest portion of the $1M Annual Commitment to our schools.
Learn how KIK is Committed to Kids.
FAMILY GIVING Fundraising Status : $63,000 / $1M GOAL
THANK YOU, FAMILY GIVING DONORS
Together, we are investing in over 1100 Bacich and Kent students and ensuring they receive a top quality education for the 2020-21 school year. Our community is grateful for your commitment and generous support.
FUND-A-NEED COMMUNITY GRANTS
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.
Thank you Fund-a-Need Donors!
See a list of Round 1 awarded grants.
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.
CONNECT WITH KIK
NEW Website : kikschools.org
Instagram : kikinvestsinkids
Facebook : Kentfield Schools Foundation - 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.
Join Kentfield Schools PTA!
100% of membership dues fund school activities and programs such as P.E. equipment, library books, and more
- Access parent education workshops and resources.
- Discounts at Urban Sitter, Academy of Sciences, and Legoland to name a few.
- Everyone is welcome to join—multiple family members, grandparents. and caregivers.
- Learn more about KSPTA benefits and opportunities.
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”
- Find out more
- School Foodies pick up time: 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!
Website: kspta.org
Twitter: @KentfieldPTA
Instagram: kentfieldschoolspta
Facebook: Kentfield Schools PTA
Community News
Discover local options for Learning Hubs and Childcare during distance learning.
While the Corte Madera Library building is currently closed, you may request and return items, and find details about Curbside Service at marinlibrary.org .
Curbside Hours:
- Tuesday & Wednesday 11:00-3:00
- Thursday 3:00-7:00
Call our “Talk with a Librarian” number: 415-473-2272 Monday-Friday, 9-6 p.m. English and Spanish with any questions and information.
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.
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
Spare The Air Alert through Monday, September 14
More Information on Marin Air Quality and Wildfire Preparedness
Marin County Office of Education Extreme Weather Information: Power Outages, Extreme Heat, Air Quality, and Winter Weather
College of Marin and Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Construction Project Updates: September 14 – September 20
- 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.
