KSD News
Dear KSD Community,
Please join us tomorrow evening, Tuesday, January 11th for our Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees - attendees may join in person at Kent Middle School or via Zoom Webinar. The meeting will have an education showcase highlighting 4th grade instruction, a COVID-19 update, and other timely items.
Take good care,
Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org
District Announcements
New English Learner Resource Website
Scan the QR code to access the new English Learner website or click sites.google.com/kentfieldschools.org/eld-kentfield
The site features information on DELAC, ELAC, English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPAC), teacher supports, and valuable resources for parents and guardians.
COVID-19 Updates
Marin County Schools Quarantine & Isolation Guidance – Document subject to change
KSD COVID Information – Dashboard
Marin County School Guidelines, January 6. 2022
Please see updates and request for information below to support KSD’s alignment with the Marin County Guidelines for Site Based Classroom Instruction.
- REQUEST: Guideline #30 Vaccination Verification
In alignment with Public Health guideline #30, the KSD is requesting vaccination verification of all students who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, this includes 5-15 year olds. Parents/Guardians please submit verification digitally, so the KSD may update district COVID-19 Vaccination Rate monthly. Please note that no personal identifiable information will be shared. - UPDATE: Guideline #31 School Related Youth Activities
Other school-related youth activities (i.e., student transportation, sports, music, drama, after school care, etc.) will follow updated CDPH and Marin County Public Health guidance. Only parents and/or legal guardians who are fully vaccinated and boosted (if booster eligible) can attend indoor sports games or performances. Attendance cannot exceed 50 spectators. They must wear face coverings. Public Health urges use of enhanced face coverings (see #24). Schools are responsible for implementation of vaccine verification and adherence to face covering order. Other spectators are prohibited until further notice.
Marin Public Health Update: Return to School 2022, Thursday January 6, 2022
If your child tests positive for COVID-19 please report it to our school nurse, Laurel Yrun at lyrun@kentfieldschools.org immediately.
YouthTruth Survey: January 31, 2022
Make your voice heard! Help us reach our goal to engage, support, and challenge all of our students. YouthTruth is a national nonprofit organization that gathers student, staff, and parent/guardian feedback to help make schools stronger and increase student outcomes. YouthTruth’s surveys have been rigorously tested for validity and reliability and are grounded in research about what matters most for student success.
To learn more, you can visit youthtruthsurvey.org.
2021-2022 District Calendar & 2022-2023 District Calendar
KSD, KSPTA & Community Parent Education Opportunities Calendar
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
- Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- School Board meeting, 5-8 p.m.
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
- Bacich Principal Chat, 9:30 a.m., Zoom
- KIK Board meeting, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Monday, January 17, 2022
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Non Student Day
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
- Bacich Site Council meeting, 3:15-4:15 p.m.
- Finance Committee meeting, 4-5 p.m., agenda
- Project Homekey Community Forum, 6-7 p.m.
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
- KSPTA meeting, 7-8 p.m., with special guest Argavan Nilforoush, "How to Fuel your Child for Optimal Success "
School Board Information: video recordings of meetings, community letters, minutes, trustee contacts
- Next monthly School Board meeting: Tuesday, January 11, 2021, 5-8 p.m., in-person in Kent Middle School and Zoom audio, agenda
- All are welcome and encouraged to attend in-person or via Zoom.
- Addressing the Board
District Committees
- Board Finance Committee meeting: January 18, 2022, 4-5 p.m., agenda
- Board Equity & Inclusion Committee meeting, January 25, 4-5 p.m.
- LCAP/Strategic Plan Committee meeting, January 31, 4-5 p.m.
Bacich Bears News
Dear Bacich Community,
Many thanks for your attention to the new safety protocols that are affecting our school community. Students are doing an excellent job wearing their masks correctly and at all times, indoors and out. Our district nurse, Laurel Yrun, has been fielding questions from families who are being extra careful about following the quarantining and isolation precautions. Faculty are adapting beautifully to the changes in protocols and the student and staff absences. Flexibility and caring continue to be the themes that guide us through these times together. And with all this, great things continue to happen at Bacich!
Principal Chat
As we have our Bacich Principal Chat this Wednesday, we will address the Marin County COVID-19 public health updates and how they are playing out at Bacich. Nurse Yrun will be join us to answer any questions you may have. Please join me, Ms. Duran and Ms. Yrun on zoom at 9:30 a.m. (new time!) this Wednesday, January 12. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Social Justice
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is next Monday. In the next couple of weeks, students in all Bacich classrooms will learn more about Dr. King and how he believed in the power of the collective voice to bring justice and peace to our world. Connected to this day is the 1,000 Cranes for Peace project where Bacich Students fold and string 1,000 cranes to show that, like Dr. King, we can work together for peace and unity, at our school, in our country, and in our world. In February, students will celebrate Black History Month and learn about important black historical figures as well as current black heroes.
Bacich staff continues to learn and evolve as we prioritize teaching our students about identity, diversity, justice and action. Next week, all of the Bacich staff will receive a training called "The Complexity of Gender" and in February we will have a Disability Awareness training. It is so wonderful to be growing together as a school community, making our school and our world a better place.
Growing Up Green Week
Do you want to support the Bacich gardens? This is "Growing up Green" week at Sloat Garden Center. That means that if you make any purchases between January 7-16 and mention Bacich School to the cashier, we get 10% of the purchase back for use in our school gardens! The school with the highest participation gets 20% of purchases back!
Have a wonderful, sunny week!
Mary Ann Spitzer
Bacich Principal
mspitzer@kentfieldschools.org
Bacich Announcements
Kent Tutors Marin: Free virtual tutoring to K–6th graders in all subjects during school, after school, and on weekends. Spanish-speaking tutors are available. Sessions are 30-45 minutes via Zoom.
Paraprofessionals Wanted!
Are you looking for a way to get involved in your child’s school? Do you want to help teachers and students? We are still looking for a few more motivated paraprofessionals to work in classrooms with small groups or one on one under the direction of the classroom teacher. Paraprofessionals generally work 3-4 hours in the morning, 4 days per week. Please contact Mary Ann Spitzer or Kristine Duran if you are interested in learning more about being a classroom paraprofessional.
Bacich Library
The Bacich Library is open every morning, snack recess, lunch recess, and after school.
To Check Out Books: Visit: sites.google.com/kentfieldschools.org/bacich-library
- Watch this how to video to learn how to check out Bacich Library books.
Bacich Library Book Buzz: bacichlibrarybookbuzz.blogspot.com
Check out Ms. Warnick's blog for valuable information about the library, volunteering, and what classes have been working on in the library.
January 12: Bacich Principal Chat, 9:30 a.m., Zoom
January 18: Bacich Site Council meeting, 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Kent Falcons News
Greetings Kent Community,
We are working hard to employ changing health and safety guidelines to keep our students and staff as safe as possible, and our campus operating smoothly, in the face of this Omicron variant surge. The below updates to our COVID-19 mitigation strategies, and our approaches to safe schooling, reflect recent adjustments prompted by the Public Health department as of Tuesday, January 4, 2022.
- All individuals on our school campus must keep a mask secure over their mouth and nose indoors and outdoors, with the exception of when they are eating or drinking outside. No eating or drinking is permitted inside.
- During rainy day recess and lunch periods, students will not be permitted to eat indoors. Students will eat snack and lunch outside under overhangs, though they may play inside classrooms following our rainy day lunch practices as long as they are masked and not eating/drinking.
- Kent will not hold any large school gatherings of more than 50 people. This standard does not apply for academic purposes, like multiple PE classes sharing the Gym during a class period.
- The Library will be temporarily closed before school, during recess, and during lunch given the large number of students who circulate through this space, and the challenges with contact tracing during unstructured time in the Library.
- Only vaccinated and boosted parents/guardians of team members will be permitted to attend indoor sporting events. Kent has partnered with a security agency to help complete vaccine verification and enforce masking requirements at Kent basketball games. Basketball games have been postponed until the week of January 24.
- Any essential volunteer working with children will be required to submit vaccination/booster verification prior to volunteering.
- If your student tests positive for COVID-19, please notify the school immediately. Students who are quarantined due to a positive COVID-19 case or a COVID-19 close contact will have access to classwork through the Google Classroom site for each class.More information can be found on this linked letter.
- If your child tests positive for COVID-19, they must enter a 5 day isolation period. A negative test is required on day 5 or 7 to return on day 6 or 8, otherwise individuals return on day 10 with no test if symptom-free and fever-free without medication for 24 hours. Please provide the school with the negative test results before sending your child back to school.
Last Friday morning our school counseling team, assistant principal, and I led a Principal Coffee discussion about Social and Emotional Learning at Kent, as well as the many ways that our team supports students’ social, emotional, and mental health at school. If you missed the Principal Coffee presentation and discussion, linked here is a recording of our session together (password: BzP?2zzk).
Thank you for your cooperation and partnership as we all adjust to the fluid landscape of this pandemic, and the individual sacrifices we are all making to keep others safe and school operating smoothly. Please reach out to me anytime with any questions or concerns.
Be well,
Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
galthouse@kentfieldschools.org
Kent Announcements
Kent Tutors Marin: Free virtual tutoring to K–6th graders in all subjects during school, after school, and on weekends. Spanish-speaking tutors are available. Sessions are 30-45 minutes via Zoom.
Kent Library
Mock Newbery Club: meets Mondays at lunch outside the library. The club reading list can be found here.
Newspaper Club: meets on Tuesday during study session.
Need Book Recommendations?
Email me at rjelen@kentfieldschools.org and follow us on Instagram @kentmiddleschoollibrary.
Kent Basketball: Important Update on Games
ATTENTION: Kent Basketball Parents:
I have received word that the Kent basketball season will be on hold until the week of January 24 in light of the recent developments with the omicron variant of the Coronavirus. All games that were scheduled for the weeks of January 10 and January 18 are canceled and will not be made up.
This decision was made after careful consideration and multiple conversations between the commissioner, coaches and athletic directors. I hope it is the best decision for everyone involved.
Teams will continue to practice at their designated times in the Kent gym so long as players and coaches are masked at all times.
Go Falcons!
Ryan Palmer
Kent Athletic Director
rpalmer@kentfieldschools.org
6th Grade Teams: Schedules, please note all games are on hold until 1/24
- 6th Boys Practice: Friday, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
- 6th Girls Practice: Monday, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
7th Grade Teams: Schedules, please note all games are on hold until 1/24
- 7th Girls Practice: Thursdays, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
- 7th Boy Practices: Tuesday, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
8th Grade Teams: Schedules, please note all games are on hold until 1/24
- 8th Girls Practice: Friday, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
- 8th Boys Practice: Wednesday, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Kent Homework Club: Every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 3:30-4:45 p.m., Kent Library
- Designed for students who need a quiet and supported environment in which to complete assignments. Any student who is ready to focus and work is welcome to attend with us!
Kent Lunchtime Clubs: All are welcome! Simply show up at the meeting location on the correct day to join in the fun!
- January 11: Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
KIK News
NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS
KIK Grants for KSD Kids is the 2021-2022 grant program that offers specific funding for educational needs and special projects. Students, teachers and parents submitted applications in the Fall. Round 1 awards were announced in September and Round 2 awards were selected in December. The awarded programs will reach every grade, K-8, and find their way into Bacich and Kent classrooms in the new year.
See a complete list of programs and materials funded by KIK Grants for KSD Kids. Thank you to the Fund-A-Need donors who generously gave to this year’s grants!
BACICH BOOKS & SUBSCRIPTIONS
funded by KIK GRANTS for KSD KIDS
Your KIK GRANTS dollars support leveled classroom books for K-1st grade and reading intervention materials / training for K-4th grade:
- High interest, leveled K-1 books for our youngest readers. They reinforce material taught through fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and critical thinking skills practice.
- Windsor Learning Readers are in chapter book format; their detailed illustrations encourage students at any grade level to feel confident while learning how to read. The library of books benefits the learning center program and is an available resource for grade levels K-4 grade.
Third graders benefit from an annual subscription to Pixton, a creative storyboard and writing application.
- Create a graphic novel, storyboard, or comic strip! Pixton is the fun tool with cool content that kids will want to create with whether explaining a science concept, writing a short story or summarizing a book.
Second and Fourth graders benefit from an annual online subscription to Reading A-Z!
- Reading A-Z allows teachers to differentiate reading instruction so students can access reading material at specific levels to target their needs. Without a reading specialist in fourth grade, this subscription is especially crucial.
KENT GARDEN + CHICKEN HABITAT
funded by KIK GRANTS for KSD KIDS
KIK is proud to sponsor the newly refurbished Kent garden and chicken habitat headed by Mr. DeBoi, Design / Shop / Startup Teacher.
In years past, Kent had a garden and chickens, but lack of funding prevented program upkeep and development. Mr. Althouse and Mr. DeBoi heard from students who asked to work in the garden after being “cooped” up during distance learning.
With your KIK GRANTS, fundamental equipment was procured and the process of hatching chicks reared by our students was well underway — and since early Fall the joy of chickens and the delight of children has returned to the garden! Sammy, Albert, Oreo, Toast, and Minnie provide a natural, lively outdoor classroom for our students as well as a social-emotional outlet for the students who visit daily, including weekends!
The garden and chickens also offer these valuable benefits to our Kent kids:
- Shared park-like space and experience offering social-emotional benefits
- Observable, botanical education
- Selection of plantings after doing research for the garden
- Chance to observe biological aspects of the chicken life cycle, embryology and other developmental topics
- Sense of responsibility for, and connection with, the natural world and develop a sense of care for the chickens
- Opportunity to eat a fresh egg, pull a corn husk, and taste the freshness of produce that isn’t store-bought
- Ability to organize themselves to care for the chickens during summer
- Sense of wonder, pride and stewardship
KIK PRESENTS THE ROARING TWENTY 20’S!
KIK is thrilled to announce that plans are underway for our annual Spring Event, that includes an online auction, the largest event fundraiser of the year! Current plans also include a celebration party and live auction at Bimbo’s 365 in San Francisco on Saturday, April 30. Stay tuned for party details in coming months.
First, in order to raise as much funds as possible to service our children, we need help from our KSD community to secure and donate items for the online and live auctions:
- If you have access, or are willing, to donate vacation homes, unique experiences, golf at members-only clubs, airline tickets, travel packages, restaurant, grocery, spa or retail gift cards, home goods or kids activities, please contact Holly Myers.
- No donation is too small and can be bundled with other similar items to create a wonderful auction package.
- Family and friends can also contribute by purchasing items off the Amazon auction wish list. It’s an easy way to be part of the auction and help KIK reach the $1M goal for our Bacich and Kent students and schools.
All donations must be submitted by March 1. THANK YOU!
KIK EVENTS + DINE & DONATE
JAN 11 - $50 Dine & Donate - Left Bank KIK Family Meals
Gives 20% to KIK, Opt in for weekly order reminder.
- Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, & Caesar salad
JAN 24 - “Scheduled KIKoff Time” - Let’s Get Ready to Rrrrrrumble!
KIK Super Bowl Challenge - Grade Level Participation Contest begins
FEB 09 - “Game Day” - KIK Super Bowl Challenge ends!
MAR 01 & 03 - Bacich Wildcare Program funded by KIK GRANTS for KSD KIDS
APRIL 30 - Save the Date - THE ROARING TWENTY 20’S
KIK Spring Auction Event, Party at Bimbo’s 365 Club featuring Mustache Harbor
CONNECT WITH KIK
KIK $1M ANNUAL GOAL — Update
We’re closing in on 75% of our fundraising goal for our Bacich and Kent schools — outstanding! Thank you to our Family Giving Donors and Business Partners for their support of our students and the programs they love.
- $1M Annual Fundraising Status : $717,830 (net) to date / $1M GOAL
- Thank you to the 291 Family Giving Donors to date, and counting, who are committed to our students and schools! Can we add your name to this list?
- Learn how KIK Invests in Kids
For Installments or Matching Gifts, Print Donor Form in English and Spanish.
KSPTA News
Next KSPTA Meeting: Wednesday, January 19, 7-8 p.m., Zoom, information
Lunch Volunteers Needed at Bacich and Kent
Our lunch program is 100% run by volunteers organized by the PTA. We still have many open slots in the coming weeks. Please help us by signing up to volunteer.
The KSPTA is working on bringing some great parenting education events to Kentfield this school year. There are also lots of great resources, often free, in our community. Regularly, we'll be sharing information about community events with you.
Complete list of parent education opportunities and archive of available recordings for 2021-2022
Parent Education Opportunity: January 17, 2022 , 7 p.m. PST
How to Fuel your Child for Optimal Success - This will be a part of the general PTA meeting.
Nutritionist, Argavan Nilforoush join us to speak about XXXX.
Stay up to date with KSPTA!
Follow kentfieldschoolspta on both Facebook and Instagram
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.
Shop at Sloat Gardens and Support Bacich & Kent during Growing Up Green Week
Shop at any Sloat Garden Center location during your school’s Growing up Green week, mention your school, and your school will receive 10% of purchases back in the form of a Sloat gift card, which can go towards your school’s beautification projects, fundraisers or classroom activities. The school with the highest participation will receive 20% of purchases back. Please note: Purchase of gift cards do not apply.
Next Growing Up Green week: January through 16. Just mention your school to the cashier!
View flyer and learn more at www.sloatgardens.com.
Kentfield Girls Softball Registration Now Open
View flyer: Kentfield Girls Softball Registration 2021-2022
Find out more: www.maringirlssoftball.org/kentfield
Community Forums: Project Homekey
On Thursday, November 18, the County of Marin, Episcopal Community Services, and Opening Doors Marin co-hosted a webinar forum geared towards providing parents/guardians and staff of the Kentfield School District detailed information about the Project Homekey initiative planned for 1251 S. Eliseo Blvd.
Here is the recorded video of the event for your reference. If you would like to provide more questions for the agencies to answer please submit them here and responses will be included in a comprehensive FAQ.
Read Supervisor Rice's update on December 8, 2021.
You may receive regular updates about the project through registering here.
Crisis Text Support Line
Marin County is offering our youth another means of mental health support through a crisis text line.
Text MARIN to 741741 for Support that Cares
If you are ever in need of support, Crisis Text Line is always available to offer help. Connect with a trained Crisis Counselor and share your feelings in a safe space. Text MARIN to 741741 for free, 24/7, confidential support that cares. Available in Spanish 2022.
Marin Health Hubs
Health hubs, we provide free and bilingual services such as food distribution, nutrition education, health screenings, and information about community organizations.
Food pantry items are provided by the SF-Marin Food Bank and by the ExtraFood.org Program, and the health screenings are provided by our wonderful nurses!
Everyone is welcome to attend the health hubs food pantry and to help us run it!
Parent & Youth.Helpline
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