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Dear Kentfield School Community,

On Thursday, November 12, KSD launched Hybrid Instruction and had the opportunity to implement many new protocols and procedures (Bacich and Kent) to keep our students and staff as safe as possible. This week we will continue to welcome students to campus and monitor the implementation of our daily safety and instructional procedures as they become more routine for our school community.

Planning for the Holidays: Celebrate Safely

During last week’s November 10th KSD Board Meeting the Board determined the weeks of Nov. 30 - Dec. 3, 2020 and Jan. 4 - 8, 2021 would each be Distance Learning only weeks. This decision was based on Public Health guidance related to holiday travel and the recognition that families may choose to gather and travel outside of the Bay Area during the holiday season. KSD made this proactive decision in an effort to help families and staff plan and also to ensure a safer return to Hybrid instruction following holidays/breaks.

Below are key dates for the coming weeks:

Nov. 18: District Wide Distance Learning Only & COVID-19 Testing at Bacich School
Nov. 19-20; 23-24: Hybrid Instruction Districtwide
Nov. 25-27:* Thanksgiving Break - Please follow the Public Health Guidance guidance for staying safe from COVID-19 during the holidays.
Nov. 30: Students/parents may be asked to pick up Distance Learning Materials from school sites
Dec. 3: Districtwide COVID-19 Testing for all staff at both sites. Per Public Health families are encouraged to have their child(ren) tested on this day or prior to returning for school based learning. The sign up for testing at district sites will be forthcoming
Dec. 7: Resume Hybrid Instruction

KSD & KTA MOU Update

The KSD and KTA will be coming together on Thursday, Nov. 19th to address components of the current MOU which inform educational programming for our school community. An update on the negotiation session will be provided as soon as possible.

Marin County - Containing the Spread

On Friday, Nov. 13 Marin County Public Health Officer, Dr. Matt Willis, announced a plan to issue an order to tighten restrictions in our county to limit further spread of COVID-19. Effective Nov. 17th we will see various business sectors in our community following Tier II-Red guidelines of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. As this situation continues to unfold, KSD administration is monitoring updates from our local and state public health in order to determine any implications for the Kentfield School District.

The last number of weeks have been challenging and rewarding as we have welcomed our staff and students back to our school sites. In a season that highlights thanks and gratitude I continue to be appreciative of the dedication of the KSD staff and school community. We all have a common goal of educating our children. By working through differences and staying focused on our collective work I am confident we will emerge from this historical time stronger and more resilient.

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.

Daily: Virtual Crossing Guard with Ms. Stephens, 7:55-8:30 a.m., Zoom

Monday, November 16, 2020

• Bacich Site Council meeting, 3-4 p.m., Zoom, agenda

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

• Distance learning for all students
• COVID-19 Testing, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Bacich
  • Participants must must be registered in advance to participate (Testing Paperwork & Testing Scheduler)

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

• Trimester 1 ends

November 25-27, 2020: Thanksgiving Holiday

November 30-December 4, 2020: Distance learning for all learners

Monday, November 30, 2020

• Trimester 2 begins

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

• Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Zoom
• District English Language Learners Committee (DELAC) meeting, 6-7 p.m., Zoom

Monday, December 7, 2020

• Hybrid Instruction resumes
• KSPTA meeting, 7-8 p.m., Zoom

Wednesday, December 8, 2020

• School Board meeting, 5 p.m.

Thursday, December 9, 2020

• KIK Board meeting, 7:30-9 p.m., Zoom

Distance Learning and Hybrid Instruction Information

Student & Family Handbook COVID-19 Safety (Tier 3)- English

Manual del Estudiante y La Familia Seguridad COVID-19 (Nivel 3) - Spanish

Discover local case rates, trends, demographics, and resources to stay up to date with the status of COVID-19 in Marin at the Marin Recovers and Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Surveillance Update websites.

Book Donation to support Virtual Author’s Visit

Would you like to help spread the message of acceptance? Bacich students will have the opportunity to attend a school wide webinar on Dec. 3, 2020 with the author Michael Tyler. Students will create bookmarks to be delivered along with the donated books to underfunded schools in our community and the Bay Area. Please consider donating a copy of Michael Tyler’s picture book: The Skin You Live In

• Drop off your book donation at the Bacich office by Dec. 2, 2020.
• Learn more about the project.

Thank you for your help and support!

The Bacich Social Justice Team

• Board Statement on Appreciation and Unity: Read by Board President during the School Board meeting on November 10, 2020
• Letter to the Community, November 12, 2020: Gratitude for our dedicated team of teachers, staff, administrators, and particularly our custodial staff, for the successful transition today to in-person instruction.
• Board Meeting Highlights: November 10, 2020
• Board Meeting Video Archive
• Next Monthly School Board meeting: Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 5 p.m., Zoom
  • All are welcome and encouraged to attend via Zoom.
  • Addressing the Board

Learn how to get to school safely with these tips for Hybrid Instruction. (English | Spanish)

Parents/students should avoid the Laurel Grove intersection and the South side of SFD between Laurel Grove and McAllister this week (11/16-11/20). Work should be completed this week and open next week (11/23).

Path is now open between Manor Road and Wolfe Grade and overpass is accessible. On Thursday and Friday of this week (11/19 and 11/20), additional work is planned (metal beam guardrail work at the northeast corner of Wolfe Grade) and area should be avoided.