KSD News
Dear KSD Community,
Today, Dr. Ghaly from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) hosted a video press conference (see recording here) to share the most recent statistics on COVID-19 and an update specifically related to indoor masking. Per Dr. Ghaly, California’s school masking requirements will remain in effect, even as some of the state’s indoor masking protocols expire tomorrow, February 15.
Dr. Ghaly shared that COVID-19 cases, test positivity, hospitalization, and vaccination rates will be assessed through February 28, and if trends continue as expected, the Administration will announce additional updates related to indoor masking in school settings. Dr. Ghaly did not provide specific metrics that would be utilized to inform a masking mandate adjustment, saying only that the rates would be considered as a collective rather than individually assessed.
The KSD will continue to monitor Public Health Guidance and updates related to school operations. Indoor masking continues to be required for staff and students, no matter the vaccination status and outdoor masking continues to be optional. Along with the CDPH, we continue to urge all those eligible to get vaccinated and/or get boosted to help keep our community as safe as possible.
Take Good Care,
Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org
District Announcements
Thank you parents/guardians for your participation in the KSD’s YouthTruth Survey. We are now at a 25% participation rate!
The YouthTruth survey is a tool to help inform KSD about how to increase engagement, academic achievement and relationships within our school community. This spring we will share results of the survey and how it will continue to inform our school operations! Click HERE to complete your survey today.
The KSD YouthTruth survey window will close on Friday February 25.
KSD Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) Information
Registration is now open!
Learn how the KSD is designing and planning the UTK program beginning Fall 2022.
2021-2022 District Calendar & 2022-2023 District Calendar
KSD, KSPTA & Community Parent Education Opportunities Calendar
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
- Family Partners Meeting, 4-5 p.m.
- Family Partners welcomes Marysha Barney, BCBA, who will speak with us about strategies to improve children's behavior at home and in the community.
- KSPTA Equity & Inclusion Kick-off Committee meeting, 7-8:30 p.m., Zoom
Friday, February 18, 2022
- Bacich Lost & Found Donation Day - please check to see if your children have anything in Lost & Found.
- Kent yearbook order deadline - last day to order your a Kent yearbook. (Code: 7587)
February 21-25, 2022: President's Holiday, No School
Friday, February 25, 2022
- KSD YouthTruth survey window closes.
Monday, February 28, 2022
- LCAP/Strategic Plan Committee meeting, 4-5 p.m.
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
- DELAC meeting, 5-6:15 p.m., agenda
- Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
- Bacich Walk & Roll to School
- Bacich ELAC meeting, 8:30-9:30 a.m., agenda
Friday, March 4, 2022
- Kent Principal Coffee, 8:45-10 a,m., Zoom
Reminder"Guideline #30 Vaccination Verification Submission
In alignment with Public Health guideline #30, the KSD requests vaccination verification submission for ALL students who have received the COVID-19 vaccination. Parents/Guardians please submit verification digitally HERE, so the KSD may update the district’s COVID Vaccination Rate monthly.
Staff will be reaching out to families directly in the coming weeks to ensure all submission of COVID vaccination information has been received.
If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please report it to our school nurse, Laurel Yrun at lyrun@kentfieldschools.org immediately.
KSD COVID Information – Dashboard
Marin Public Health 32-Point Plan Public Health Update, effective 1/25/2022 Summary of Key Updates
Marin County Schools Quarantine & Isolation Guidance – Document subject to change
COVID-19 Tests: www.findacovidtest.org for up to date information on where antigen tests may be available.
School Board Information: video recordings of meetings, community letters, minutes, trustee contacts
- Next monthly School Board meeting: Tuesday, March 8, 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
- LCAP/Strategic Plan Committee meeting: February 28, 2022 4-5 p.m.
- DELAC meeting, March 1, 2022, 5-6:15 p.m., agenda
Bacich Bears News
Dear Bacich Community,
Happy Valentine’s Day! I loved walking around in a sea of pink and red here at Bacich today! Students were so happy to be sharing and receiving Valentines from their classmates and teachers. I had Valentine’s poems read to me by Mrs. Peters’ class and had the opportunity to participate in a fun activity in Mrs. Washburn’s class. Everyone was having a joyful time!
Assembly
Last Friday was our fourth school wide assembly outside on the blacktop. After singing Six Simple Words accompanied by Mrs. Poon, we reviewed our Character Pillars of respect, fairness, caring and trustworthiness and then added a new one, responsibility. Several first grade teachers, under the guidance of Mrs. A, did a skit to demonstrate responsibility in action and the students loved it! We also encouraged students to participate in Random Acts of Kindness week by practicing acts of kindness and recording them all week. We always end the assembly with the Bacich Bell Song. Upon dismissal, an impromptu dance party broke out and several classes stuck around to dance.
Buddy Classrooms
Our buddy classrooms have been having so much fun together! At Bacich, older classrooms "buddy" with younger classrooms for different learning activities, socialization, and camaraderie. Recently, I had the opportunity to witness these buddies in action making valentines cards and symmetry mobiles. Here are a few pictures of our buddies working together.
Have a great week!
Mary Ann Spitzer
Bacich Principal
mspitzer@kentfieldschools.org
Bacich Announcements
Bacich Lost & Found: Pick up by Friday, February 18.
Please stop by the Bacich Lost & Found to retrieve any items before they are sent to donate on Friday, February 18.
Carline Procedures
This is the time of year that our students receive a review of classroom and recess procedures, so I would like to review our carline procedures with the grown-ups too! Thank you for paying attention to these guidelines as it keeps everyone safe. Remember, there will always be a wait in the carline.
- Please do not park in our handicapped spots, even for just a minute. The sheriff will ticket you! These spots are used daily by our families who need them for drop off and pick up.
- Please use caution when entering or exiting the school grounds – both entrances are used by pedestrians, bicyclists, buses as well as cars.
- Please pull forward as far as possible to make room for other cars to pull up into the loading and unloading areas.
- Please have your child ready to go with their backpack and exit/enter the car on the sidewalk side.
- Please do NOT pass stopped or slow moving vehicles in the loading areas.
A special thank you to all of the parent volunteers who help carline run smoothly!
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.
Bacich Library
February Blog Post Now Available!
Check Out the February issue of the Bacich Library Book Buzz: bacichlibrarybookbuzz.blogspot.com
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.
- February 18: Bacich Lost & Found Donation Day - please check to see if your children have anything in Lost & Found.
- March 2: Bacich Walk & Roll to School & Bacich ELAC meeting, 8:30-9:30 a.m., agenda
- March 9: Bacich Principal Chat, 8-9 a.m.
- March 21: Bacich Site Council meeting, 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Kent Falcons News
Greetings Kent Community,
Valentine’s Day at Kent included many kind words of appreciation and adoration shared between students and staff alike. It also included a few sweet treats shared among friends. The palpable feelings of anticipation, connection, joyfulness, and fun that reverberated through the campus today exist in stark contrast to the subdued and distant Valentine’s Day from last school year. Sometimes it’s the return of simple celebrations, routines, and traditions that remind us to be thankful for what we have.
Our school is deeply committed to developing critical readers and persuasive writers poised to learn and communicate through the written word. A common thread across all curricular areas, competent reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills lead to access and success in each class. Our English Language Arts department strives to support our students in applying literacy skills across subject areas. One strategy we’ve recently employed includes highlighting techniques and skills taught in English classes that can be referenced when expecting reading, writing, listening, and speaking tasks in other subjects.
For example, last month many teachers across curricular areas referenced ‘boxes and bullets’ in their classes as a highly effective strategy to organize one's thinking before writing, when applicable. ‘Boxes and bullets’ is a strategy that is actually introduced in our writing curriculum in 4th grade, and emphasized and practiced each year through 8th grade. By giving teachers across curricular areas insight into this strategy and the language around it, students are queued to apply a set of skills and experiences they have developed in English, to another curricular area. This month teachers are highlighting transition words and phrases as a way to connect ideas and explain evidence. We relish the opportunity to find explicit connections between student learning across subject areas, and know that our efforts to communicate between departments will serve our students well.
As a reminder, we will hold a level 2 lockdown drill at Kent on Tuesday, February 15th at 1:20 pm. Please see our newsletter from last week for more detailed information about our preparations for this drill, as well as what the drill will include. We look forward to a successful lockdown practice on Tuesday, while also emphasizing that our school will continue to be a safe and supportive place for all of our students.
Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
galthouse@kentfieldschools.org
Kent Announcements
Attention Golf Enthusiasts!
We are looking for an energetic and qualified golf coach for the 5-8th grade golf team.
All matches will be played on Mondays at McInnis Golf Club in San Rafael. Our schedule begins on Monday, March, 14. Interested parties, please contact Kent athletic director Ryan Palmer at rpalmer@kentfieldschools.org.
Final Deadline to Order a Yearbook: This Friday!
Friday, February 18, is the final deadline to order a Kent yearbook!
www.yearbookordercenter.com Code: 7587
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.
Basketball Schedules
- 6th Boys Practice: Friday, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
- 6th Girls Practice: Monday, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
- 7th Girls Practice: Thursdays, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
- 7th Boy Practices: Tuesday, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
- 8th Girls Practice: Friday, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
- 8th Boys Practice: Wednesday, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Kent Library
Newspaper Club: meets on Tuesday during study session.
Need Book Recommendations?
Email me at rjelen@kentfieldschools.org and follow us on Instagram @kentmiddleschoollibrary.
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!
- February 18: Last day to order a Kent yearbook! (code 7587)
- March 1: Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- March 4: Kent Principal Coffee, 8:45-10 a.m.
KIK News
A VALENTINE RECIPE…
INGREDIENTS FOR AN AMAZING COMMUNITY
2 - Outstanding Schools, Bacich & Kent
1100 - Awesome Kids learning & growing
140 - Terrific Teachers, Staff & Admin
700 - Fantastic Families
$1M - Goal to help fund school programs
30+ - Enrichments & Programs
321 - Donors and counting
Blend all of the above, add in heaps of kindness and goodwill and you've got yourself one sweeeeeet community to be a part of—we love our KSD Community!
Yours Truly,
Kentfield School Foundation
CONGRATS TO GRADE LEVEL PARTICIPATION WINNER…
4TH GRADE CROWNED KIK SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!
End of Game Report:
- The game came down to 3 major contenders for the Lombardi Cornhole Trophy: 4th, 5th and 7th Grade racked up impressive donation “yardage.”
- Kindergarten and 3rd Grade also brought their donation grit to the gridiron.
- We saw a couple of “Hail Marys” come in on the last days, but 4TH GRADE was able to dive into the end zone time after time—WELL DONE AND THANKS TO ALL GRADES FOR PARTICIPATING!
Thank you to every Donor from the start of the school year—all donations factored into the total Grade Level scores. Every gift is appreciated; and we acknowledge every effort to participate in giving to our schools' enrichments and programs. Thank you in advance to all who intend to give in the spring or by June 30, 2022.
Fourth graders will celebrate their big win with a Tailgate Treat Party to be scheduled soon. They will also hoist the first-ever Lombardi Cornhole Trophy and perhaps do a celebration dance of their own!
SPECIAL THANKS to KIK Super Bowl Sponsor: Allison Fortini Crawford.
KIK PRESENTS THE ROARING TWENTY 20’S!
Please Donate Now, no later than March 1!
Plans are underway for our annual Spring Event, which includes an online auction, the largest event fundraiser of the year, as well as a celebration party and live auction at Bimbo’s 365 in San Francisco on Saturday, April 30.
In order to raise as much funds as possible, we need sponsors and unique, bid-worthy items:
- Sponsorship opportunities available from $250 - $10,000.
- Donate one of the following items:
- Vacation homes and getaways
- Unique experiences (members-only golf clubs, spa packages, exclusive sports tickets, bike adventures, backstage passes to shows)
- Jewelry, art, autographed sports and music memorabilia
- Gift cards to local restaurants, grocery and retail stores
- National retailer gift cards
- Host a sign-up party for adults or kids.
- Purchase items off the Amazon auction wish list.
- No donation is too small!
Please contact Holly Myers at events@kikschools.org if you can sponsor or donate. THANK YOU!
KIK EVENTS + DINE & DONATE
FEB 15 - $50 Dine & Donate - Left Bank KIK Family Meals
Gives 20% to KIK, Opt in for weekly order reminder.
- Fried chicken, mac & cheese, house salad, green beans
MAR 01 - Deadline to Receive Donations for SPRING ONLINE AUCTION
Call for Auction Items
MAR 01 & 03 - Bacich Wildcare Program funded by KIK GRANTS for KSD KIDS
APRIL 21-28 - KIK SPRING ONLINE AUCTION - THE ROARING TWENTY 20’S
KIK Spring Online Auction Event, Donate items by March 1
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 at nearly 80% of our fundraising goal for our Bacich and Kent schools — fantastic! 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 : $778,000 (net) to date / $1M GOAL
- Thank you to the 321 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.
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.
Update from Supervisor Katie Rice
The State of California formally announced that 1251 S. Eliseo Homekey proposal has been awarded. The site will be owned and operated by Episcopal Community Services (ECS) in partnership with the County of Marin.
A hearing of the Board of Supervisors will be held this Tuesday, February 15, to consider formally accepting the grant and confirm the County’s commitment of match funding. The meeting begins at 9 a.m., and the topic is first on the agenda.
Participation can be virtual or in-person, but please note that attendance in the Board chamber (Suite 330) is limited to 100 people given public health restrictions related to COVID-19. In the event the chamber reaches capacity, we will allow those waiting in alternative areas the opportunity to walk-in and provide comment at the appropriate time. The full agenda and information on how to access the meeting can be found on the meeting archive.
For more information, read the press release and visit the project website including comprehensive FAQ’s. You can submit any questions you have through the website and sign up for updates.
Multiple Services to be Offered at Marin City Event
Clean Slate program to address justice-related & health needs
February 17, 2022, 4-7 p.m., parking lot of Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church, 101 Donahue Street, Marin City.
People in need of help with justice-related tasks such as clearing one’s record, terminating one’s probation, or dismissing a conviction will be able to walk in with documentation and receive help from the Public Defender’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, or the Probation Department.
The Department of Health and Human Services will be on hand for assistance with public benefits such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh food assistance, CalWORKS services, employment training, and general financial relief for families. COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots will be available as well.
Summer Camp Fair
Five free Summer Camp Fairs around the Bay Area offer families a one-stop fair to learn about camps, educational programs, sports organizations, and more resources for their children’s enrichment, recreation.
View flyer and learn more at www.BayAreaCampFairs.com
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
KSPTA News
Next KSPTA Meeting: Monday, March 7, 7-8 p.m., Agenda
KSPTA Equity & Inclusion Committee
Join KSPTA for the kick off meeting of the Equity & Inclusion Committee.
- Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 7-8:30 p.m., Zoom
Bacich Lost & Found: Last Day to Claim Items
Has your child lost a jacket, sweatshirt, water bottle, lunch box, or some other item that went to school and never came home?
Come take a look at the Bacich lost and found located near the community center.
All items will be donated next Friday February 18.
Lunch Volunteer Sign Ups
Our school lunch program is run by the KSPTA and staffed completely with volunteers. These dedicated volunteer parents who've been feeding our kiddos all year are tired and need a break! Please help us out. Between Bacich and Kent we need to get over 1500 lunches into the hands and mouths of our hungry students. Consider a regular shift - either weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Connect with other parents and see your children in the wild. We particular need help this month so sign up now!
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
Stay up to date with KSPTA!
Follow kentfieldschoolspta on both Facebook and Instagram