Kent News
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Greetings Kent Community,
During opportunities class on Thursday, our new student council members gathered to launch student leadership at Kent for the 2018-2019 school year. This strong group of creative and passionate student leaders is made up of student council officers elected by their peers as well as two student council representatives from each advisory class. I’m honored to announce our capable slate of student council officers for this year.
2018-2019 Student Council Officers
- Presidents Arjun A. and Ben. R.
- Vice Presidents Maddie E. and Gabby L.
- Mascots Eliza B, Claire S., and Owen W.
- Secretaries Sarani P. and Zach B.
- Treasurers Alexander G. and Casper W.
- Sergeant at Arms Ashley B.
I’m looking forward to working with this engaged group of students to learn about their ideas, goals, and aspirations for our school. Stay tuned for future student council updates!
I plan to periodically use this newsletter to highlight my observations of the student experience at Kent. This week in P.E., I observed eighth graders completing a rope swing challenge, tasked with safely swinging across a divide in the MP Room. It was uplifting to see the students turn this seemingly individual task into a supportive group exercise, as they guided each student into a safe landing and cheered their classmates on. During a brain break in Spanish class this week, the class broke into song with a full-class rendition of Me Voy by Julieta Venegas, with their teacher leading the class on the guitar. Across the quad in drama class, students were acting out Song-a-grams, short vignettes utilizing the lyrics of a song to present a short scene. After each Song-a-gram, the remaining members of the class offered compliments and words of encouragement for each performer.
Each student at our school is a member of diverse classroom communities and our larger school community. I appreciate the many ways that our students and staff build communities of trust and support at Kent.
Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
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Dear Families,
On Thursday, October 18th, California will hold its annual earthquake practice called The Great Shake Out. This yearly event is to bring focus on being prepared in the event of an earthquake – at home, work, and school. On that same date, our district will hold our annual schoolwide evacuation drill in which we simulate an earthquake. The Kent drill will begin at 10:08 AM and last approximately forty minutes. We have developed procedures that account for your kids and keep them safe in the event of an earthquake or other emergency that requires evacuation from the school. In our annual drill, we test our procedures, collect feedback and adapt as needed. You can never be too prepared for an emergency and this is something that we take very seriously. We have practiced these procedures for 10 years. We also want to remind parents of what you should do in the event of an evacuation.
Phone alert: If there is an emergency that requires the students to be evacuated, our automated phone system will call the telephone numbers you have provided to the school as your contact telephone numbers. A recorded message will provide you with information you need about the situation.
- Use the Aeries Parent Portal to keep your telephone contact numbers up to date.
Parking at school: The school’s parking lots will be closed – so walk to school or park away from the school campus. Entering campus: Entry and exit for the schools is restricted to certain gates. At Kent, these are the main entrance on College Avenue and the bike path gate at Stadium Way.
Student Sign Out: Students will be on the field. Before taking a child from school, you need to sign them out – photo ID required – so we have a record of who has collected them. Only parents, guardians, or other people provided to the school as your “Authorized Adults” can collect your child.
- Use the Aeries Parent Portal to add/edit "Authorized Adults" for your child.
Medication: Any medication you have provided to the school will be brought out from the classrooms and the nurse’s office. It is recommended that the school have medication for 72 hours for use following an emergency.
- If your child needs medication during school hours or during a potential 72 hours in an emergency, please complete this form and submit to the office.
- Medication Form in English and Spanish
- 72 Hours Medication Form in English and Spanish
- Medication Policy
When you come to pick up your children: The students are split into alphabetical groups on the school fields based on their last name. There are colored signs to guide you to them. To sign them out – photo ID required – go to the Student Sign Out tables. Student Sign Out is on the new sprint track near the Stadium Way gate.
We have also developed procedures in the event of a lockdown. In the event of a lockdown, our automated phone system will call the telephone numbers you have provided to the school as your contact telephone numbers. A recorded message will provide you with information you need about the situation. Please do not come to the school or call the school during a lockdown. We will notify you if you need to come to pick up your children.
There are many resources available to help you prepare at home. One place to start is with Earthquake Country’s Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with future emergency planning, please contact me via email at jwalsh@kentfieldschools.org.
Thank you!
Kindly,
Jenny Walsh
Kent Announcements
View Kent Daily Announcement on Kent website.
Kent Good Eggs Fundraiser
Our Good Eggs fundraiser began October 1st and ends November 30th. If you haven't used Good Eggs before, check it out and use the new customer discount. If 20 new customers join, using our code, Kent will receive a $500 fundraising bonus. Our school's code is FALCONS2018.
As always, we remain extremely grateful for our community's support of our school.
Kent Events – Mark Your Calendars
- Wednesday, October 24, 2018, 8:45-9:45 a.m., 5th/6th grade Principal Chat in the Kent Library
- Thursday, October 25, 2018, 8:45-9:45 a.m., 7th/8th grade Principal Chat in the Kent Library
- Teens in Transition Parent Information Night: Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in the Kent Library
- Thursday, November 15, 2018 6:30- 8:00 p.m., 8th grade transition to high school meeting with Parents and 8th grade students in the Kent library
Kent Site Council
Next Meeting: November 6, 2018, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Main Office Conference Room
- All Kent parents are welcome to attend Site Council meetings. Please visit our Site Council page for meeting dates, agendas, and minutes.
Kent Library
![All School Read, Refugee by Alan Gratz](/media/images/9780545880831_mres.width-400.jpg)
Kent All School Read
- Learn more about the book and author, Alan Gratz, here.
- Alan Gratz will be speaking about his book, Grenade, this Friday evening at 7 p.m. at Book Passage. No tickets are necessary. Grenade is his follow-up to Refugee, that tells the stories of kids making their way through war.Event details.
- The book can be found in the Kent Library, Marin County libraries.
- If you would like your own copy of the book, Book Passage has provided this book order form (paper or online) to purchase your copy of Refugee. Mention Kent Middle School while purchasing and Book Passage will donate of percentage of the sale to our school.
Student Activities
7th & 8th Grade Girls:
Looking for a safe space to talk about body issues? Laura and Suzanna are starting a group that'll meet during advisory to explore this topic. Fill out a counseling slip and let us know you're interested!
Attention 8th Graders:
Are you a sports fan? Do you live and die with every pitch? Touchdown? Goal? Basket? Do you like sports trivia? Fantasy leagues? Talking about your favorite teams? Come to room 30, first bell at lunch on Tuesday, 10/16 and join the Letterman's Club.
Kent Athletics
Kent Athletic Director: Ryan Palmer, kent-athletics@kentfieldschools.org, website
- Please note that all volleyball games are at 3:45 p.m. at Davidson, unless the venue is changed by coaches.
Kent Resources & Forms
Visit our Back to School page for the Parent-Student Handbook and important reminders and forms.
The District Resources and Forms page contains all forms and notices for the entire district.