KSD News
Dear KSD Community,
I am delighted to share that this past week the Bacich Kindergarten team hosted the annual “Sneak Peek” for our incoming Kindergarteners.
We had a number of incoming students attend, in which children got a glimpse into the Kinder classroom and engaged in some one-on-one time with a staff member. Photos were taken and the start of new friendships and connections with the KSD community was ignited. It was wonderful to meet some new and returning families in-person as well as observe our remarkable staff interacting with their future students. This event was another symbol of our ongoing transition back to more traditional times.
Join us tomorrow night, Tuesday, May 25 at 5 p.m. for our Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees via Zoom Webinar - Link Passcode: 216184. We’ll have updates on end of school year activities, plans for our COVID Relief Funds, and the new school year as well as an update on the District budget.
Stay Well!
Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org
*For security, Zoom links and passwords for events are not posted on the District website, and are sent through ParentSquare.
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
- School Board Meeting 5-8 p.m.
Monday, May 31, 2021
- No School, Memorial Day
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
- Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Family Partners Meeting, 4-5 p.m.
- DELAC Meeting, 6-7 p.m.
Thursday, June 3, 2021
- Parent Volunteer Celebration, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Bacich
Friday, June 4, 2021
School Board Information: video recordings of meetings, community letters, minutes, trustee contacts
- Next Monthly School Board meeting: Tuesday, May 25, 2021, 5 p.m., Zoom
- All are welcome and encouraged to attend via Zoom.
- Addressing the Board
District English Learners Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting: Tuesday, June 1, 2021, 6-7 p.m.
Vaccine Opportunities for 12-15 Year Old Students
- Information Flyer
- Overview of Vaccine Opportunities for 12-15 year old students (English and Spanish)
- Emergency Use Authorization Fact Sheet for Pfizer Vaccination (English and Spanish)
- Vaccine Consent Forms (English and Spanish)
Student Vaccination Town Hall Recording
The Marin County Office of Education, in collaboration with Marin County Public Health and Kaiser Permanente, will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting and Panel Discussion on student vaccinations for parents, guardians and the school community.
Vaccine Availability
Everyone who lives or works in Marin and is 12 years old or older may receive a vaccine.
- Book an appointment
- Learn more during weekly vaccine informational sessions hosted by Public Health, every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 a.m. through May 27.
COVID-19 Information & Resources – vaccines, testing, public health orders
In-Person Instruction Information – safety plans, exposure measures
Bacich Bears News
Dear Bacich Families,
Congratulations to our new School Site Council members: Amy Wheeler, Joaquin Escoto, Andrea Buccine, Alle Schreiber, and Aubrey Leh. Thank you to these new members for their interest in joining our SSC team, and to all of the parents who took the time to vote them in!
This Thursday morning, we will have a schoolwide presentation about Differences – both visible and invisible, by Sam Drazin over zoom. Mr. Drazin’s company, Changing Perspectives, has been working this year with the county organization Dedication to Special Education (DSE) and we were lucky enough to schedule him for a presentation before the end of the school year.
Thank you to the KSPTA for organizing another successful Kids Closet! I witnessed how much work and coordination it entailed. Also, a big thanks to all of the parents that took the time to donate clothing. The Kids Closet was a great success and the Corte Madera library also donated books to give away. It is so wonderful to see how this community pulls together to create such a great event.
There are only 14 days of school left, so please make an effort to get your child to school on time for these final three weeks. We have seen a recent uptick in tardies the last few weeks and it is so important for your child to be in class on time to start the day off right. First and second graders start promptly at 8:10 a.m. and Kinder, 3rd and 4th begin at 8:30 a.m. You are welcome to drop your K/3/4 child off early with your first or second grader. Also, please do your best to make all student appointments after the school day ends. Thank you!
Have a great week!
Mary Ann Spitzer
Bacich Principal
mspitzer@kentfieldschools.org
June 11, 2021: 4th Grade Promotion Ceremony
Please RSVP to the invitation that was sent in ParentSquare. RSVPs are required so that we can plan the appropriate seating arrangements.
- June 11, 2021, 9 a.m., Bacich field
- Immediate family only. Event livestream and recording will be available.
- More information on safety guidelines will be available soon.
Bacich Announcements
Bacich Bear Broadcast: May 24, 2021
Did you miss the Bacich Principal Chat on May 20? Check out the video recording and presentation slides.
Get ready for Memorial Day with a special video from Ms. Warnick, and listen to her read a book about Memorial Day. Find more book recommendations and activities on the May blog post.
Bacich Library Check Out and Curbside Pick Up
- Email the books you want to check out to Librarian Ms. Warnick swarnick@kentfieldschools.org.
- See the library blog for instructions on how to access the Alexandria Library Catalog to look for books.
- Some books may be able to be delivered to the classrooms, and the others will pick up their orders on Friday. Ms. Warnick will let you know. Curbside pick up available every Friday in front of the Bacich Office. The books will be placed in plastic bags with your names on them on a cart.
- Please return books on Friday in the red plastic bin labeled, "Return Bacich Library Books Here" in front of the office.
Kent Falcons News
Greetings Kent Families,
I’m pleased to share the Kent Middle School Summer Reading List for summer 2021. Kent’s teacher librarian, Rebecca Jelen, has curated some of the most current, high-interest texts for our Falcons to explore as a part of their summer reading life. The purpose of summer reading at Kent is to promote student choice, extend learning beyond the classroom, introduce students to new genres of literature, and to offer new perspectives on the people, places, and ideas that make up our world. Developing a reading life both inside and outside of school is an important indicator of future academic success, and general student wellness. Start preparing for summer, and grab some of these titles from a library or book store near you!
Eighth grader Tessa recently designed, created, and published a Volunteer Directory website for students and families in our Kent community. "Kids want to volunteer in their communities but can struggle to find organizations that will accept young volunteers," Tessa explains, "I want to make it easy for kids to find places to volunteer and encourage them to take action in their community. So, I have created a volunteer directory for middle and high school students."
Tessa’s website, The Bay Area Youth Volunteer Directory, is linked here and on our Kent Middle School Website. Students can pick a topic they are passionate about and find a variety of organizations that can benefit from volunteer services, including over 30 Bay Area organizations for students to select.
Perhaps reading and service to others will play a significant role in your Kent Falcon’s summer, thanks to these two helpful resources!
Be well,
Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
galthouse@kentfieldschools.org
Friday, May 28, 2021
- 8th grade graduation RSVP – final names due.
Thursday, June 10, 2021
- 8th Grade Graduation: , 6 p.m., Kent field
Kent Announcements
Summer Reading Lists Now Available!
- Each student is required to read three books from their grade level list.
- All books can be found in hard copy print version from the Marin County Free Library, as an Ebook or audiobook on Sora, or on Learning Ally.
- Get the Kent Summer Reading List here.
8th Grade Graduation : June 10, 2021
Greetings 8th Grade Parents,
As you know, we are hard at work preparing for our in-person 8th grade graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 10 at 6 p.m. This linked FAQ document can help address many of the questions you may have at this time.
Per guidance from the state of California, we are required to pre-register every attendee prior to the graduation ceremony. The purpose of this email and the linked form below is to collect the names of the household members who will be attending the ceremony (4 maximum per graduate). Also, the form asks for you to share the way you would like your graduate’s name to appear on their diploma certificate.
If you submitted your RSVP, attendee names can be edited through Friday, May 28, through the "edit responses" feature on the Google form.
Graduation Frequently Asked Questions
Kent Counselors Wellness Hub: Easily access resources to help navigate this challenging time.
Kent Library
- Email Ms. Jelen at rjelen@kentfieldschools.org to check out books.
- Return books to the same cart where you pick up books – right outside the Kent gate when it's not raining and right in front of the library when it is.
Student Wellness Opportunity
The Youth Leadership Institute is hosting a virtual Mental Health Panel for Middle School students. The panel will provide middle school students with the opportunity to ask current high schoolers questions they may have regarding the transition to high school, how to prioritize their mental health, manage classes, practice self-care, etc.
Students interested in attending the panel should complete this form: bit.ly/mhpanelregistration
May 28, 2021, 4-5:30 p.m., Zoom
- Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99129905007
- Meeting ID: 991 2990 5007
KIK News
ANNUAL COMMITMENT — May Update
With only 3 weeks left in our school year—there’s about $200,000 left to “get to the top”—to support our students and the high-quality programs that serve them.
- $1M Annual Commitment Status : $786,809 (net) to date
- Auction proceeds and Fund-a-Need donations report coming in June
PLEASE DONATE to keep our school programs strong
We’ve Got This—We are Stronger Together!
KIK ENRICHMENT SPOTLIGHT - Kent Squawk Talk Podcast
Kent Teacher Librarian Rebecca Jelen who normally leads the Broadcast Enrichment class partnered with the 8th grade Language Arts team who asked students to write and record pieces for Squawk Talk. It’s been a great success!
Squawk Talk is produced each day:
- Kids develop content and record segments from cooking, sports, and jokes to book recommendations, current events and more.
- Mr. Althouse adds his intro and outro; 8th grader Julia Bouligny edits the episode; and then Mr. Korff uploads it onto the school server.
- Every episode includes the voices of 5th-8th grade students (anyone can submit something!), staff voices, and the positive beat of Mr. Althouse.
- Insightful, fun, and a wonderful way to listen to our Kent students, Squawk Talk has kept us connected throughout this past year—thank you for this gift to our community!
PLEASE SUPPORT FUND-A-NEED: KIK GRANTS FOR KIDS
Give to Fund-a-Need today: KIK Grants for KSD Kids
- KIK Grants will be administered with the help of the KSPTA.
- These grants directly fund and support learning across all grades at Bacich and Kent.
Thank you to this year’s Fund-A-Need donors. Can we add you to this list? Please support KIK Grants today—donations accepted through June.
TUES 5/25: KIK FAMILY MEALS WITH LEFT BANK, 20% TO KIK
Every Tuesday Left Bank creates a KIK family dinner for $50 and donates 20% back to our schools. Opt in to get a weekly email reminder to order.
- May 25: 4 chicken & 4 steak tacos with salad & homemade tortilla chips with fresh pico de gallo
- If you need extra portions of the meat or different sides, call Ryan at Left Bank to customize a Family Meal that works for you: 415-927-3331
- Check out another Left Bank promotion that also gives back to KIK!
ORDER NOW for pickup on Tuesday. Select “KIK Family Meal.”
THANK YOU TO FAMILY GIVING DONORS!
- Thank you to the 354 KIK Donors and counting that have been committed to our students this year!
- Can we add your name to the Donor Wall? Give Today
KSPTA News
Make school supplies shopping easy — get everything your child needs for next year, and support your KSPTA!
Order School Supplies! Save a trip to the store, support sustainability, and raise funds to support school programs like art, PE, music, and more! Order now through June 14.
Thank you to families who donated to the Kids Closet collection!
Thank you to families who purchased limited edition tees and signs.
- Signs will be delivered the week of May 24 by the end of day May 29. Tees will be available for distribution before the end of the year — stay tuned!
Connect with KSPTA!
Website: kspta.org
Twitter: @KentfieldPTA
Instagram: kentfieldschoolspta
Facebook: Kentfield Schools PTA
Visit the KSPTA Distance Learning Resources
KSPTA is proud to support Be the Influence.
Community News
Information, events, and news provided in our newsletter's "Community News" is offered as service to our community, and are not sponsored by the Kentfield School District. Placement does not represent an endorsement.
Discover a Volunteer Opportunity!
Created by Tessa, a Kent student, for as a project for a Girl Scout Silver Award, the Bay Area Youth Volunteer Directory makes it easy for kids to find places to volunteer, and encourages them to take action in their community. Volunteer opportunities are organized around the issues and topics that they care about with over 30 Bay Area organizations.
Girls Volleyball – Now Registering!
Registration is open for the Fall 2021 Volleyball Season. Player evaluations will be held Monday, August 23 and Tuesday, August 24 at St. Anselm School. The season begins the second week of September and ends by first week of November. Practices are mandatory and twice a week – once on a weekday evening and once on Saturday and games are on the weekends. Detailed information and schedules will be available in late August. Practices depending on coach availability would start late August.
- Register at https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/stanselmscyoca
- Registration deadline: June 15
- View flyer
Nighttime Work Slated for Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
The Upgrade the Drake project, which began construction almost a year ago along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Marin County, recently started several weeks of night work. The hours of operation will be Sunday nights through Friday mornings from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The construction timeline, which was presented during in a virtual public meeting before work began, is on track to be completed this fall.
First week of paving operations (starting June 1) will be day work (8 a.m to 5 p.m). from Ross Terrace to Laurel Grove and remaining segments will be night work. Project team will make an effort to do daytime grinding (June 1 to June 4) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the area between Wolfe Grade and Rosebank east to mitigate the impact on the school drop off and pick up and student bike and foot traffic.
Thanks to all for patience and allowing a bit of extra time.
Rediscover Summer Fun & Support KSPTA! Deadline Approaching!
At Camp Galileo, pre-K through 5th graders tackle hands-on art and science challenges that ignite their inner innovator and boost their creative confidence—all in COVID-safe cohorts that spend 75% of the day outdoors (and 100% of it having unforgettable fun).
Flexible enrollment policies and financial assistance scholarships available. Program running June 21 - August 6 at Kent Middle School. Optional extended care. Learn more at www.galileo-camps.com.
Support KSPTA
Galileo is thrilled to announce their School Rewards program! From now through the end of May Galileo will donate $25 to KSPTA for every family that enrolls at Camp Galileo. Plus, you’ll get $25 off camp with code 2021REWARDS19.
Curbside Information and Book Bundles
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 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Thursday 3-7 p.m.
Call our “Talk with a Librarian” number: 415-473-2272 Monday-Friday, 9-6 p.m. English and Spanish with any questions and information.
Learn more about Book Bundles for Emerging Readers and Audio Books
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