Dear Families,

Bacich Elementary School and the larger Kentfield School District is committed to being an inclusive community where all students and families feel welcome. We celebrate and support the diversity of our students, and believe that by doing this, we are modeling the collaboration and understanding that students will need throughout their lives to be successful in an ever-changing world.

Learning about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This past week each class at Bacich participated in a lesson about the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The lessons included teacher-led read aloud books, classroom discussions, and student projects. Each class made a poster to decorate their classroom door in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The posters included a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr quote and student art work. We created an iMovie to capture the amazing work displayed on each poster! The link to the imovie is here: youtu.be/L7d0gZsZHFw.

Gender Identity Lessons

During the week of January 30th, each class at Bacich will participate in a grade level gender identity lesson. These lessons were designed by teachers during their grade level collaboration time. Teachers relied on past gender identity professional development training as well as resources from organizations such as Gender Spectrum and Teach Pride Elementary Educator Tool Kit. Each lesson includes a read aloud book and classroom discussion. Inclusivity is a key component to each lesson. Below is a short synopsis of each grade level lesson, including the title of the read aloud book:

• Transitional Kindergarten (TK) - Pink is for Boys, Rob Perarlman - be who you are! All are welcome!
• Kindergarten - Big Bob, Little Bob, James Howe - about open-mindedness, being accepting of others.
• 1st Grade- My Princess Boy, Cheryl Klodavis - everyone is unique.
• 2nd Grade- Red, A Crayon’s Story, Michael Hall - about labels, and how they are not your whole identity and there is more to me than you see.
• 3rd Grade- Julian is a Mermaid, Jessica Love - gender stereotypes, identity, and acceptance; being seen for who we are by someone who loves us.
• 4th Grade- I am Jazz, Jazz Jennings - about a person born with a “girl’s brain in a boy’s body;” gender identity and inclusivity.

It is also important to know what the lessons will not include. The lessons presented are not puberty or sex education; they do not specifically mention reproductive processes or terminology. These lessons are also not about sexual orientation, which is distinct and different from gender. Like disability, race, religion and nationality, gender is a form of diversity that is actually a “protected class” in the state of California. As with all types of diversity, it is important for students to not only understand their own experiences, but those of the peers and community members surrounding them, both currently and in the future.

Thank you in advance for helping Bacich be an inclusive community for all students and families. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at mmartin@kentfieldschools.org or 415-925-2220.