KSD News
Dear KSD Community,
Throughout the District we have a variety of committees to support our overall operations while increasing the engagement of our school community. Wendy Holmes, Kent Assistant Principal and Ann-Marie Skaggs, Bacich Assistant Principal are KSD’s Safety Committee facilitators. They have put together the below information to help our parents/guardians have a deeper understanding of how we are addressing safety within school sites. Read on to learn more about how we are keeping our students and staff as safe as possible.
Take good care,
Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org
KSD Safety Overview
One of the KSD’s main priorities within our district is to maintain the safety of our students and staff. We have many protocols and procedures to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for our students. We maintain strong partnerships with the Kentfield Fire Department, Marin County Sheriff Department, and the Marin County Office of Education Health, Safety and Support Department to keep our school communities safe. We would like to highlight a number of our safety practices currently in place.
Emergency Preparedness Plans
- Each school has a detailed plan outlining the specific protocols to be employed in different emergency situations. It also describes roles and responsibilities of the various emergency teams, such as Search & Rescue, First Aid, and Student Release.
Medical Trainings
KSD Staff is well prepared in the event of a medical emergency through participation in specific medical related training.
- In the coming months, all certificated staff who don’t already have CPR certification will be trained on CPR and specific first aid assistance (Stop the Bleed).
- The Marin County Office of Education received a grant to provide school districts across Marin county with Narcan to prevent an opioid emergency. Training in this area will be provided by our district nurse.
Safety Drills
- Monthly safety drills are held at both sites to give students and staff an opportunity to practice responding to three types of emergencies – fire, earthquake, and lockdown.
- Our large drill in November gives our schools a chance to deploy safety teams, practice their respective responsibilities, and engage in different scenarios. In addition, we will implement our student release process, Tag & Ticket, with students being picked up by authorized adults.
Facility Safety Improvements
- Door Magnets – Magnets on classroom doors allow them to be opened and closed while remaining in the locked position throughout the day. In the event of an emergency, the magnet can be quickly removed and the door will be closed in the already locked position.
- Gates – Gates are monitored and locked throughout the school day to maintain a closed campus.
- Window coverings – Windows throughout our campuses have been provided with window coverings. We are In the process of inventorying windows that need a covering in the event of a lockdown emergency.
The overall focus of our emergency preparedness work is to provide an efficient and organized response to emergencies, which includes clear procedures and processes. We ensure that staff are well trained and that our students are confident in what to do in the event of any type of emergency. Thank you for your support in maintaining the safety and wellbeing of our students.
District Announcements
Reminder: Non-Student Day (school closed)
Wednesday, October 5th is Yom Kippur Holiday Observed
Important E-Bike Safety Notice
KSD families,
We continue to receive messages from concerned citizens about student safety while riding bikes and e-bikes. Recently, a third grade student incurred injuries when struck by a student cyclist on a pathway in our community.
Though we support the independence that bikes provide, we urge you to consider the power you are placing in your child's hands, particularly with a heavier and faster e-bike, which is harder to maneuver and takes longer to stop. Here are a few questions for you to consider when making this decision:
- Does your child understand the rules of the road and multi-use pathways?
- Will your child watch out for the safety of other cyclists and pedestrians?
- Will your child follow laws, including wearing a buckled helmet?
This flyer provides more information to help you gauge your student's readiness for riding an e-bike responsibly on streets and pathways. If you have other questions, please feel free to contact our partners at Safe Routes to Schools: SafeRoutes@marinbike.org.
Monday, October 3, 2022
- KSPTA meeting, 7-8 p.m., Zoom link
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
- Governance Workshop, 8-10 a.m.
- Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30- 4:30 p.m., Room 11
- District English Learning Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting, 5-6 p.m., Bacich Library
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
- Yom Kippur (observed) – No School
Thursday, October 6, 2022
- Flag Football at Davidson, 4-5 p.m.
- 8th Grade Volleyball vs. Good Shepherd, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
Friday, October 7, 2022
- End of Hex 1
Monday, October 10, 2022
- Bacich Lost & Found donation - please pick up items before this day
- Flag Football vs Good Shepherd, 4-5 p.m.
- 6th Grade Volleyball Game at St. Raphael, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
- 6th Grade Volleyball Game vs. Mill Valley, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
- 7th Grade Volleyball vs. Good Shepherd, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
- School Board meeting, 5-8 p.m.
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
- International Walk to School Day
- Parents in Action, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Bacich Room 7
- Bacich ELAC Meeting, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
- Technology Committee meeting, 4-5 p.m.
- KIK Board meeting, 7-9 p.m., District Office
- KSPTA Parent Education Event: What Do You Say? How to Talk with Kids, learn more
Thursday, October 13, 2022
- Kent Picture Retake Day
- 8th Grade Volleyball at Good Shepherd, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
Friday , October 14, 2022
- Kent Principal Coffee, 8:45-10 a.m., Kent Library
Next KSD School Board Meeting is on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 5 p.m.
Here is a link to where you can find the agenda once posted. Access to the meeting will be via in person or audio.
School Board Information: video recordings of meetings, community letters, minutes, trustee contacts
- All are welcome and encouraged to attend in-person or via Zoom.
- Addressing the Board
KSD Board/District Committees
- District English Learning Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting, October 4, 2022, 5-6 p.m., Bacich Library
- Technology Committee meeting, October 12, 2022, 4-5 p.m.
If you are interested in joining a District Committee, please submit your name here.
ALERT! Be in the Know... Rainbow Fentanyl
Fentanyl (an extremely potent and dangerous synthetic opioid) continues to be a major contributor to drug overdoses in California, including among youth. According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard:
- Emergency department visits related to non-fatal opioid overdoses in California’s youth ages 10-19 years more than tripled from 2018 (379 total) to 2020 (1,222 total).
- Opioid-related overdose deaths in California’s youth ages 10-19 years increased from 2018 (54 total) to 2020 (274 total), marking a 407 percent increase over two years, largely driven by fentanyl.
- Fentanyl-related overdose deaths in California’s youth ages 10-19 years increased from 2018 (36 total) to 2020 (261 total), a 625 percent increase.
In addition to these concerning trends, brightly-colored fentanyl (referred to as rainbow fentanyl) has been identified as a new trend according to the United States (U.S.) Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Rainbow fentanyl can be found in many forms, including pills, powder, and blocks that can resemble sidewalk chalk or candy. Any pill (regardless of its color, shape, or size) that does not come from a health care provider or pharmacist can contain fentanyl and can be deadly.
The Marin County Public Health continues to enforce the Marin County SMARTER Schools Plan for the 2022-2023 school year, this is the same plan that was implemented at the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year.
Marin County Public Health is urging COVID testing for symptomatic individuals, exposure and/or high risk activity. Here is guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) specifying situations in which to test. Families are urged to have test kits in the home, which can be obtained from the school offices during regular school hours or at local pharmacies.
If you test positive please report to Laurel Yrun at lyrun@kentfieldschools.org, no need to report negative test results. The KSD will continue to reference Marin County’s Public Health’s Isolation, Quarantine, and Travel Guidance for TK-12 Schools to address COVID exposure.