KSD News
Dear KSD Community,
As this final week of the 2020-2021 school year kicks off we have much to look forward to in the coming days. At our Board Meeting tomorrow night we will celebrate our school community volunteers, honor our departing and retiring staff, and provide an update on plans for the new school year! We will conclude the week with our 8th grade graduation and 4th grade promotion. Each of these rite of passage moments will be memories for a lifetime following a year like no other.
Please join us at 5pm on June 8 for our next Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Take good care!
Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org
The latest Marin County Safe Routes to School newsletter features two highlights from the Kentfield School District.
"Acacia Street is Car Free During School Commute" highlights the work of the Kentfield School District Transportation Committee to create a safe, and physical distanced throughfare for walking and riding to school. Through a grant awarded by the Transportation Authority of Marin, the committee was able to close Acacia Street to traffic during morning and after school commute hours.
"Parent volunteers Bree Eaton and Allison Fortini-Crawford recruited Kent Middle School Leadership students who were trained (and occasionally rewarded with cookies) to put up and take down the barriers to limit street access during school hours. The students arrived before and after school every day for three months to diligently close and reopen the street. Safe Routes acknowledges the dedication of the following students for their exemplary service: Lucy Levine, Ryan Vaughn, Annabel Kidd, Wes Schulz, Alessandra Levi, Lauren Crawford, Liam Crawford, Holly Thomas, Julian Krantz, Elliot Song, Drew Song, James Hamill, Lucy Hamill, Avery Gunst, Georgia Thomas, and Skyla Thomas."
"Middle School Biking Surges" discusses how Kent's Walk and Roll to School days helped increase middle school biking in Marin County.
*For security, Zoom links and passwords for events are not posted on the District website, and are sent through ParentSquare.
Monday, June 7, 2021
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
- School Board meeting, 5-8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
- KIK Board meeting, 7:30-9 p.m.
Thursday, June 10, 2021
- 8th Grade Graduation, 6-7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 11, 2021
- Last day of school – please note adjust dismissal times.
- 11:50 a.m.: Kinder, First, and Second grades
- 12 p.m.: Third and Fourth grades, and all of Kent
- 4th Grade Promotion, 9 a.m., Bacich field
Monday, June 14, 2021
District Announcements
Districtwide Community Engagement
As shared at the past two Board meetings, the KSD is committed to working with all stakeholders – staff, parents/guardians and students in an effort to repair, restore and reconnect. In order to collectively collaborate on this process we are soliciting participation from the community.
- If you would like to be a part of this planning process, please submit your name HERE for consideration by June 7.
School Board Information: video recordings of meetings, community letters, minutes, trustee contacts
- Next Monthly School Board meeting: Tuesday, June 8, 2021, 5 p.m., Zoom
- All are welcome and encouraged to attend via Zoom.
- Addressing the Board
Online Town Hall to Cover COVID-19 Next Steps: June 10, 2021, 6 p.m.
So much is changing in June as our society, our businesses, and our lives ease back toward the pre-pandemic state of things. What is the next chapter for Marin County?
Some answers will be provided in a virtual town hall scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, June 10, hosted by the County of Marin. The discussion will focus on the steps toward reopening Marin and what that will mean for daily routines, including in relation to health care. The featured speakers will be Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis, District 4 County Supervisor and Board President Dennis Rodoni, and Dr. Laura Eberhard, Chief of Critical Care for Kaiser Permanente San Rafael.
Viewers may tune in via the County’s main Facebook page, and participants may join the videoconference and contribute to the conversation via Zoom.
The event will have English captions and ASL/CDI interpretation. If you wish to participate in Spanish, please attend using Zoom.
Save the Date! Community Public Health Meetings
- June 16, 2021: Marin Schools and Public Health Update on vaccinations, outlook for 2021-2022, and summer (flyer in English and Spanish)
- August 17, 2021: Public Health Guidelines for 2021-2022 School Year
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)
Vaccine Availability
Everyone who lives or works in Marin and is 12 years old or older may receive a vaccine.
COVID-19 Information & Resources – vaccines, testing, public health orders
In-Person Instruction Information – safety plans, exposure measures
Bacich Bears News
Dear Bacich Families,
Five more days of learning and fun for our Bacich students! Please read the Bacich section of this newsletter for many important updates.
Sadly, we have to say goodbye to two of our most beloved staff members at the end of this school year. Our counselor, Maia Yamasaki, and her sweet family, are moving to Oregon in a few short days. Maia has been a favorite counselor at Bacich for nine years and will be dearly missed. Also, Jan Canon, the mother of us all, is retiring. Jan has worked at Bacich in different roles for almost 30 years. She will be missed for her caring, supportive nature as well as her witty sense of humor. Bacich will not be the same without her. Please join the School Board meeting tomorrow night where we will be honoring them and other Kentfield staff.
Oh, what a year it has been! The resilience of our students, staff and community is something to behold. I feel a sense of pride as the year is coming to an end, when I reflect on all that we have accomplished and survived together. Let’s be grateful for these obstacles as they only served to make us stronger!
It is so wonderful that Marin is now in the yellow tier and things are slowly returning to something more familiar. I wish for you a joyful summer with time to relax and renew.
Take care,
Mary Ann Spitzer
Bacich Principal
mspitzer@kentfieldschools.org
Bacich Art
Ms. Libby-Steinmann's latest blog post features the following art projects:
- Kindergarten: The Tree of Life inspired by Gustav Klimt
- 2nd Grade: Warm/Cool Color Sun and Moon
- 3rd Grade: Constellation Illustration
- 4th Grade: Realistic Soap Bubbles
June 7-June 9, 2021: Device and charger due to classroom teacher for in-person students
June 11-14, 2021: Device and charger due to the front office for distance learning students
Thursday, June 10, 2021
- Lost and Found items will be donated after 3 p.m.
Friday, June 11, 2021
- 4th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 9 a.m., Bacich field
- Dismissal Times: To keep with our covid safety guidelines, we would like to stagger our release times:
- Kinder, First, and Second grades dismissed at 11:50 a.m.
- Third and Fourth grades dismissed at 12 p.m.
Monday, June 14, 2021
- Report Cards and MAP assessment data (3rd and 4th only) will be visible in Aeries.
Bacich Announcements
Bacich Bear Broadcast: June 7, 2021
It is time to return devices, texts and library books to school! Please bring your school iPads and chromebooks to your classroom teacher no later than Wednesday, June 9. Distance learning students may return their devices through Monday, June 14.
Fourth Grade Promotion
- Friday, June 11, 2021, 9 a.m, in the Bacich field.
All attendees must be registered by name to be given admittance to the promotion. Only four or less attendees per household.
You may enter at the field gate by the baseball diamond from the parking lot on the Sir Francis Drake side, or at Gate E on the McAllister side beginning at 8:35 a.m. There will be no parking on campus as school will be in session, so please plan accordingly.
The Bacich K-3 siblings of 4th graders will watch the promotion in their classroom due to COVID safety regulations and logistics. The celebration will be livestreamed into every Bacich classroom in real time.
There will not be chairs provided for the attendees. Please bring a blanket or low folding chairs to sit on in the field. If you need special accommodations for handicap seating, please email Lynn Bartha at lbartha@kentfieldschools.org and we will be able to accommodate you.
Thank you for helping to make this promotion safe and special for our fourth graders after this unprecedented school year. The fourth grade team as created a joyful celebration for all of you!
Lost & Found: Last Chance for Pick Up!
The Lost and Found is displayed in front of the main office thanks to some wonderful KSPTA parents. It is available to peruse this week until Thursday.
After Thursday, June 10, at 3 p.m., the items will be bagged and donated.
Listen to Ms. Warnick's latest story time readings, and discover her summer book suggestions in the June Bacich Books Buzz blog post.
Kent Falcons News
Greetings Kent Families,
This week promises to be a week of learning, connection, acknowledgement, and celebration at Kent Middle School, as we look to successfully conclude the 2020-2021 school year together. Please see the important details in the Kent section of this newsletter about our final week of school.
Through each twist and turn this school year, I have most appreciated our tenacious and adaptable Kent Falcon students for their persistent hard work, and care for each other. Never before have our grade level throughlines of Independence, Impact, Perseverance, and Legacy meant so much to so many, as our students each explored these concepts through their work at school, and their observations of and engagement in the world around us. I could not be more proud of our 2020-2021 Kent students, as they prepare to be promoted to the next grade level.
I treasure the opportunities ahead to use what we’ve learned this year to make the 2021-2022 school year one of the best yet for our Falcons and our community. Have a spectacular summer, and we’ll see you at Kent next year!
Be well,
Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
galthouse@kentfieldschools.org
"The Hill We Climb," read by Kent Students and
Please enjoy watching this video of Kent students and staff reading "The Hill We Climb" by Amanda Gorman. Students and staff who volunteered were assigned lines to record, and this is the final result of our group recitation of this incredible poem!
Safe Routes to Schools 2021 Bike Hero Award
Congratulations to Miles Partain and Mac Sellers on their nominations for the Safe Routes to Schools 2021 Bike Hero Award!
Thank you, Miles and Mac, for your collective efforts in encouraging biking and walking to school, and for sharing safe methods to do so with your fellow Kent Falcons.
Tuesday & Wednesday, June 8-9, 2021
- Due to a delivery delay, yearbooks will be handed out on these days outside the library
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
- 8th Grade families will receive final seating and arrival confirmations for graduation
Thursday, June 10, 2021
- 8th Grade Graduation, 6-7:30 p.m., Kent field
- Unfortunately, the guest list for graduation is restricted to staff and select family members of graduates. The graduation will be live-streamed for any community member to view, and the link will be sent via ParentSquare.
- Chromebook and charger due to first period teacher
- Library books are due
Friday, June 11, 2021
- 12 p.m dismissal
- We will run a special schedule on Friday which includes a 15 minute session of each class, as well as approximately an hour as a grade level to watch a goodbye video from staff, to eat a cool treat (thank you KSPTA!), and to celebrate outside with peers and teachers.
Monday, June 14, 2021
- Third trimester grades will be visible in Aeries at 5 p.m.
- Spring summative assessments will be sent to families
Kent Announcements
Students should check around the house for any school materials that should be returned to Kent including library books, classroom library books, textbooks, and other materials on loan from Kent Middle School. Thank you for ensuring that the many items sent home return to Kent for use next year!
Teachers will be collecting school-issued Chromebooks and Chromebook chargers in first period classes on Thursday. It is essential that we have all devices returned to school for maintenance, repairs, and processing over the summer. Distance learning students can please return school-issued Chromebooks in the office following the conclusion of school.
8th Grade Graduation : June 10, 2021
IMPORTANT UPDATES - please read for the latest information to help plan for graduation
Graduation Frequently Asked Questions
2020-2021 Kent Middle School yearbooks will be available for pick up by families who pre-ordered a yearbook, this Tuesday and Wednesday right after school on a table at the front of the school.
There are a limited number of extra yearbooks for families who may desire to purchase books now.
Spring Assessments
Our spring summative assessment to replace CAASPP this year (MAP Growth) reading and mathematics scores will be shared with families on Monday, June 14 by 5 p.m.
The KSD Administrative Team will hold a parent education session next week (date and time TBD) to share more information about how to interpret MAP Growth results, and how to use the information to plan for the future.
Books Due and Summer Reading Lists
Library Books Due
- All books are due to the library by June 10.
- Books can no longer be checked out for the remainder of the year.
Kent Library Bookmark Contest winners are available in the library for pick up!
Enjoy your summer reading with a new bookmark by Kent students!
The Falcon Swoop, our new student newspaper, published our first issue and we handed it out on Monday. Special thanks to Eleanor Bentley and Vivienne Fitzgerald for your efforts to pull this together in just a few weeks! We will start next school year with a newspaper club... stay tuned for details on when and where we will meet.
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.
KIK News
HIP HIP HOORAY, KENT GRADS + BACICH 4TH GRADERS!
Dear KENT GRADUATES,
KIK honors you as you bring your KSD time to a close this Thursday, June 10. We hope your time in our Kentfield Schools were filled with inspired learning and fond memories. Best wishes for great success on your journey into high school and starting a new chapter!
Dear BACICH 4TH GRADERS,
KIK also recognizes you as you complete your education at Bacich and will officially be promoted this Friday, June 11. We are excited for this next step in your learning adventure—kudos to you!
Here’s wishing you all many confetti-worthy days ahead ~ CONGRATULATIONS!
Fondly,
KIK - Your Kentfield Schools Foundation
LET’S FINISH STRONG BY JUNE 30: Annual Commitment
Only 4 days to go in the school year! —and about $100,000 left to “get to the top”—to close out the support for our students and the high-quality programs that serve them.
- $1M Annual Commitment Status : Approx. $900,000 (net) to date
- Tory and Houston “Ride Again” for Family Giving
FUND-A-NEED: KIK Grants for KSD Kids
Please support Fund-a-Need today: KIK Grants for KSD Kids
Donations accepted through end of June.
- Current Fund-a-Need donations: approx. $15,000
- These grants directly fund and support learning across all grades at Bacich and Kent.
- KIK Grants will be administered with the help of KSPTA.
Thank you to all Fund-A-Need donors. Can we add you to the list?
TUES 6/8: 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.
Left Bank Family Meals will continue all summer long!
Opt in to get a weekly email reminder to order and follow us on Facebook & Instagram for menu updates.
JUNE MENU:
- June 8: New item! Lamb Navarin with spring peas, carrots and snap peas, fingerling potatoes and caesar salad
- June 15: Roast chicken, mac and cheese, salad verte, green beans
- June 22: 4 chicken and 4 carnitas tacos with salad, homemade tortilla chips and fresh pico de Gallo
- June 29: Chicken or vegetarian paella with caesar salad, steamed broccoli, mac and cheese
- 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 360 KIK Donors and counting that have been committed to our students this year!
We started the year with an invitation of "Let's KIK This Together."
And, we did. We really, really did.
We Zoomed. Distance-learned. Home-schooled.
Worked from home. Wore masks. Socially distanced.
Made bread. Lots and lots of bread.
Mountain biked. Kayaked. RV'ed.
Virtual Movied. Drive-in movied.
Netflixed. Lots and lots of Netflix.
We board meeting'ed. We office houred.
We hybrid-learned. We quarantined. We full-in-person-learned.
We loved our kids. We hugged our kids.
We fought for our kids. We taught our kids.
We came together. We raised dollars for our kids.
We Galvanized.
For KIK-ing This Year Together:
THANK YOU!
There’s still time—Can we add your name to the Donor Wall?
Give Today
KSPTA News
June 14 deadline approaching to order school supplies!
Make school supplies shopping easy — order school supplies online now for the fall!
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.
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.
New Soccer Program at Bacich!
Introducing a new soccer program at Bacich run by Joaquin Escoto, a Bacich parent, starting this fall!
- Pre-registration is open now! Schedule to be released soon.
- Scholarships will be available. No tryouts required and Kentfield FC is open to all Bacich students (incoming K-4th graders).
Learn more about the Kentfield Futbol Club at KentfieldFC.org
Full Immersion Spanish Classes at Bacich & Kent Next Year
Join Viva el Español and learn Spanish through games, songs, stories and art projects. This full-immersion approach is offered before school several times a week, which assists in reinforcing lessons learned. Students will learn vocabulary related to a variety of everyday themes, practice using it within sentences, and master many useful phrases. They will also learn about various traditions of different Spanish speaking countries. Curriculum for continuing students builds on what they have learned in previous years, expanding to new subject areas and more complex phrases.
Classes will be held September 19, 2021 - May 27, 2022. Classes follow the school's schedule. No classes will be held during Parent-Teacher Conference Week.
Viva El Español at Bacich
- Bilingual Spanish (Bilingüitos), New Students; Tuesday and Thursday; 7:20-8 a.m.
- A new Viva el Español program specifically designed for bilingual children! This is a unique opportunity for your child to play games, sing songs, read books, write and do art projects alongside other Spanish-speaking kids. What a great way to get your child using the Spanish they learned at home in an interactive, social setting!
- 1st-2nd grade, New Students Spanish; Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; 7:20-8 a.m.
- 3rd-4th grade, Continuing Students Spanish; Monday-Friday; 7:20-8 a.m.
Viva El Español at Kent
- 4th-5th grade New Students Spanish; Monday-Friday; 7:30-8:10 a.m.
- 6th-8th grade Continuing Students Spanish; Monday-Friday; 7:30-8:10 a.m.
For more information please visit www.vivaelespanol.org or call 925-962-9177
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
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.
Nighttime Work Slated for Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
June 7 – July 2, 2021
Grinding and paving work will occur on approximately 2.2 miles of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in three areas over a 4-week time frame, starting at the northwest end of the project at Ross Terrace. On Tuesday, June 7st, the Upgrade the Drake contractor will begin four days of daytime pavement grinding on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in the first area between Ross Terrace and Laurel Grove Avenue.
Starting on Sunday, June 13th at 6:00 p.m., the contractor will begin nighttime paving operations on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from Ross Terrace to Highway 101. The work will move from west to east with asphalt milling (grinding) occurring in each work area prior to new asphalt placement. For all nighttime grinding and paving work, construction will take place from Sunday night to Friday morning from 6:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. Traffic re-routing will begin after 6:00 p.m. on construction days. Please expect delays after 6 p.m.
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