KSD News
Dear KSD Community,
Today marks the first day of May and it looks like we have spring showers heading our way. Thank you for keeping your children layered and ready for whatever comes about weather-wise.
I wanted to touch on a concerning incident that occurred on the morning of Saturday, April 22 in the Kentfield-Greenbrae area and other neighboring communities. Across Marin County residents awoke to flyers in their driveways containing disturbing antisemitic content. Unfortunately, there has been an ongoing increase of antisemitic attacks like this over the last year and it is important we do not allow these situations to happen without acknowledging their impact.
This form of hate shall not be tolerated and it is essential that we lean on local agencies such as JFCS Holocaust Center and the Anti-Defamation League to help us respond with lessons and resources that assist our children in processing what they may have experienced. HERE are resources available to our parents/guardians to help you talk through these incidents of hate with your children.
Thank you for your partnership and support as we navigate these challenging and upsetting occurrences.
Sincerely,
Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org
UPDATE - Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Crossing Guard Adjustment | THANK YOU KSD
On Thursday, April 27 a number of KSD residents attended the TAM Board meeting and expressed significant concerns with the anticipated reductions of three crossing guards within KSD’s jurisdiction. Through our collective advocacy and action, the TAM commissioners voted to do an additional evaluation of the recommended list of crossing guards and have committed to not removing one of the three guards for the time being.
At this time the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Laurel Grove Ave (east) guard will remain for the first six-months of the 2023-2024 school year as TAM staff re-evaluate this location. The other two guards are still scheduled to be eliminated, although our Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Heather McPhail-Sridharan is in ongoing communications with the TAM staff, City Councils, and neighboring partners to address these proposed cuts.
Stay tuned for additional updates.
KSD Safety Highlight | Student Release Process
In the event the KSD needs to implement an emergency school-wide evacuation process we have adopted a system called “Tag & Ticket.” The goal of this approach is to reunite students with their families as quickly, smoothly, and safely as possible.
Learn More:
- Overview of the process in English and Spanish.
- Slides with Detailed Information on the Process in English and Spanish.
District Announcements
Family Partners Meeting on Tuesday!
Tuesday, May 2, 9-10 a.m., Kentfield District Office
Contact Virginia DiGirolamo, director of special education, vdigirolamo@kentfieldschools.org or 415-458-5126, with any questions.
Annually school districts across the nation begin their fall planning for the subsequent year as early as January of the current school year. Planning begins at this time to address education code parameters related to employment and budget development. The KSD monitors student enrollment to guide decisions about the number of classrooms for the subsequent year and engages in various feedback loops to be as informed as possible when making programmatic plans. Our main goal is to maintain student-to-staff ratios that are in alignment with state requirements, KSD Board Policy, our collective bargaining agreement, and ultimately in the best interest of our student population.
- Please see this Frequently Asked Questions resource offering more details about Fall Planning.
Spring Ordering Now Available
The KSD Spring lunch menu is available through June 16, 2023. Please pre-order your child/ren’s lunch to ensure we have the most accurate count of school lunches. Sign up for lunch here or contact info@deesorganic.com for support with ordering your child/ren's meal. If your child/ren has any food allergies, please report them to heather@deesorganic.com.
KSD Reclassification Ceremony: May 18, 2023, 6-7:30 p.m., Bacich Community Center
Join us to celebrate our students' amazing ability to speak two (or more!) languages and
highlight them as now being reclassified as English Proficient in our district.
View flyer in English, Spanish, Russian, Haitian Creole, and Japanese.
Download a PDF of the Board-approved 2023-2024 District Calendar.
Breakfast & Lunch Menu
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
- Family Partners meeting, 9-10 a.m., Kentfield District Office
- Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Kent Room 11
- DELAC meeting, 5-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
- National Walk & Roll to School Day – please see Bacich and Kent sections for school-specific information
- Bacich Parents in Action, Bacich Room 7, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 4, 2023
- Kent Parents In Action, 8:30-10 a.m., Kent Room 11
Friday, May 5, 2023
- Marin County Championship Track Meet, College of Marin
Saturday, May 6, 2023
- School of Rock, KIK Spring Auction Event, Party at Bimbo’s 365 featuring Notorious
May 8-12: Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday, May 8, 2023
- Safety Committee meeting, 9-10 a.m., Zoom link
- 8th Grade Boys Volleyball at Del Mar, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
- School Board meeting, 5-8 p.m.
Wednesday, 10, 2023
- Bacich Parents in Action, Bacich Room 7, 8:30-10:30 a.m
Thursday, May 11, 2023
- First Grade Concert, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 12, 2023
- KSPTA General Membership, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Summer Camp Tips
Resources and tips on choosing a summer camp experience for your children from Ivette Villarreal, Kentfield School District Community Family Liaison.
Next Regular KSD School Board Meeting is on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Here is a link to where you can find the agenda once posted. Access to the meeting will be in person or via 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
- DELAC meeting: Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 5-6:30 p.m.
- Safety Committee meeting: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 9-10 a.m., Zoom link
- LCAP Strategic Plan Advisory Committee meeting: Monday, May 15, 2023, 4-5 p.m.
COVID Update
The latest COVID-19 subvariant, XXB.1.16, is increasing in the U.S. according to estimates from the CDC. It has been most documented in India but has been found in 29 countries, according to the WHO. This new subvariant is producing a new symptom: conjunctivitis (pink eye), especially in children.
MCPH is recommending COVID-19 testing for students who present with pink eye. Guidance will be updated to reflect this change.
California Department of Public Health encourages all students and staff to test for COVID-19 IF they feel sick, AFTER exposure, travel, or large gatherings, and BEFORE events or visiting high-risk people.
Please know that our school offices have COVID tests available if needed. Thank you for your support.
Please reference this exposure notice for symptoms, communicability, and prevention information. (English I Spanish).
Please keep your child home if they are sick. Please contact our school nurse Laurel Yrun (lyrun@kentfieldschools.org), with any questions about navigating illness and school this year.
Bacich Bears News
Dear Bacich Community,
Thank you to all of our parent volunteers who supported our KSPTA-sponsored Phenomenal Physics Day. The Lawrence Hall of Science provided engaging stations for students to explore. These special events provide enriching hands-on learning opportunities for our students. This was certainly a successful event!
Draft School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) - Bacich 2023-2024
The Bacich School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) for the 2023-24 school year is a comprehensive document that provides details about the school’s planned actions to support student outcomes and overall performance. The goals and actions in the SPSA connect to the Kentfield School District’s Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), which lays out goals for the entire District. The Bacich SPSA for 2023-2024 contains four goals and specific action steps to achieve the goals. We would like to solicit your feedback on this important plan. Please take a few minutes to review the DRAFT SPSA and provide feedback using this Google form.
Wait Until 8th Pledge
The KSPTA is sponsoring the Wait Until 8th Pledge. This initiative supports waiting until children are in 8th grade to provide access to a smartphone. The Wait Until 8th organization lists five top reasons to postpone access to a smartphone:
- Smartphones are changing childhood
- They are distracting and addictive
- Smartphones expose your child to inappropriate content
- They increase the risk of anxiety and depression
- Cyberbullying is an important concern
There are many devices that parents can use to be able to get in touch with their children, other than a smartphone. The Wait Until 8th website has additional information for parents. The KSPTA has identified a parent class champion at each grade level who is available to answer questions you may have. Please refer to this document for more information about the KSPTA Wait Until 8th campaign. I encourage you to consider taking this pledge!
Sincerely,
Maria Martin
Bacich Principal
mmartin@kentfieldschools.org
National Bike to School Day Wednesday, May 3!
This Wednesday, May 3 is our final official Walk-n-Roll event for the year. Please walk, bike, scoot, or carpool to school. We will be handing out the final Jedi Raffle ticket for a chance to win a Cleary bike and helmet. The winner will be announced by the end of the week.
For those students who do not win, don't fret! Cleary Bikes is offering you an awesome deal of 20% off all summer long on Cleary bikes. Please see this flyer. See you on Wednesday!
Four Open Positions
Bacich Site Council
The School Site Council is made up of parents, teachers, and administrators who meet monthly to advise the principal on student academics, parent engagement, and school safety. We currently have four Site Council members whose two-year terms will end in June. We are eager to welcome four new members to the group.
This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the inner workings of our school and make an impact on its improvement. This committee reviews school data and programs in order to monitor our progress on Bacich's School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). Throughout the year, the members update and improve upon the SPSA and keep us headed in the right direction for student success. We generally meet once a month on Monday afternoons.
To apply, please fill out this Google form by May 12. The form asks for a short summary of your interest and qualifications to serve on this committee. I will then post these summaries for the school community to review and vote for the new members the week of May 15. Newly elected SSC members will begin their membership in August 2023 and will serve until June 2025.
If you have any questions about the School Site Council, please contact me or the 2022-23 SSC chairperson, Alle Schreiber (alle.schreiber@gmail.com).
Bacich Principal Chat Update
Thank you to those who attended the April Principal Chat. This month’s Chat included a discussion about student behavior, specifically bullying. We also talked about differentiated teaching and learning at Bacich. Our final topic was an update on staffing and enrollment projections for next year.
At this time we are anticipating staffing five classes at both third and fourth grade for the 2023-2024 school year. This projected staffing level is based on the social-emotional needs and challenges these cohorts of students have experienced, in part as a result of factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we continue to explore options for the future, including combination classes, at this time we do not anticipate any combination classes for the 2023-2024 school year.
- Please see this slide deck from the Principal Chat.
- These Frequently Asked Questions (English Version) (Spanish Version) provide further information about the fall planning process.
I hope to see you at the next Principal Chat on May 22, 2023 at 8:30 a.m.!
Family Math Nights
The Marin County Office of Education is hosting “Family Math Nights” for parents and caregivers of children, ages birth to 6 years. The virtual sessions are facilitated by Lisa Kaplan Shaanan from Early Education Equity. Spanish translation provided. The Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before the session.
Please join us on one or more of the following sessions on Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Registration Link
- May 11
- June 8
La Oficina de Educación del Condado de Marin está organizando "Noches Familiares de Matemáticas" para padres y cuidadores de niños, desde el nacimiento hasta los 6 años. Las sesiones virtuales son facilitadas por Lisa Kaplan Shaanan de Early Education Equity. Se ofrece traducción al español. El enlace de Zoom se le enviará por correo electrónico el día antes de la sesión.
Únase a nosotros en una o más de las siguientes sesiones los jueves de 6:30 p. m. a 7:30 p.m. Enlace de registro
- 11 de mayo
- 8 de junio
TK / Kindergarten Registration Now Open
Universal Transition Kindergarten Information Session Slides - Spanish and English
- Incoming Kindergarten students will need to turn 5 years of age by September 1, 2023.
- Incoming Universal Transitional Kindergarten students will need to turn 5 years of age between September 2, 2023 and April 2, 2024.
Bacich Library - New May Blog Post!
Welcome the month of May with Ms. Warnick's favorite books and activities to honor May Day, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the bacichlibrarybookbuzz.blogspot.com
Learn more about the library and search for books: sites.google.com/kentfieldschools.org/bacich-library
Susan Warnick
Bacich Librarian
swarnick@kentfieldschools.org
Upcoming Bacich Events
2022-2023 Bacich Bell Schedule
Wednesday, May 3 & 10, 2023: Bacich Parents in Action, Bacich Room 7, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 11, 2023: First Grade Concert, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 12, 2023: Bacich School Site Council applications due.
Monday, May 22, 2023: Bacich Principal Chat, 8:30 a.m.
Kent Falcons News
Dear Kent Middle School Families,
At some point your family has likely engaged in the conversation that we all have with our middle school children: When is the appropriate time to introduce a cell phone into your middle schooler’s life? There are many variables that parents/guardians consider, and ultimately each family determines what feels right for each one of their children. This decision alone may have the most significant impact on the remainder of your student’s childhood, more than perhaps any other change we introduce in the middle school years.
There are many benefits to owning a smartphone, yet there are also many drawbacks and an appropriate level of maturity is required to realize the positives without getting overwhelmed by the negatives. As a middle school administrator, I get to see some of the most significant examples of when smartphones introduce danger into children’s lives. When digital communication outside of school starts to have an impact on students’ time while at school, it becomes our collective obligation to respond. This school year alone I have encountered hate speech directed between students, anonymous online cruelty of teachers and students, sharing of explicit photographs with and without student permission, viewing and sharing of online pornography, purchasing of dangerous objects from online marketplaces, vulgar and hateful comments in text threads, and scheduled in-person meet-ups with strangers met online. Each of these examples happened in our own community of Kent students and came to my attention prior to the attention of the participating child’s family in most instances. Most of these examples happened with students in 5th through 7th grades.
We work to navigate through each circumstance with the children involved, committed to identifying key learning opportunities that will help students make safe choices going forward, yet by the time situations such as these have come to my attention much damage has already been done. I also realize that what gets brought to my attention reflects only a small fraction of the full reality of what our children are encountering in their digital lives.
So, whenever you decide that your child is ready for a smartphone, I implore our parents/guardians to set the expectation that trust is earned and that there is no expectation of privacy in our children’s digital lives. There are simply too many dangers and too much left to learn for our children to exist in digital space completely unsupervised. For families of children who already have smartphones, parents should periodically read and monitor their child’s text messages, social media content, app usage, and any tools frequently used on their child’s smartphone. Express curiosity about your child’s digital life just as you do about their analog life, and be prepared to respond without judgment when something difficult may be uncovered. Our children deserve guidance in this area of their lives, not criticism.
Each family must carefully consider when it is right to introduce a smartphone into their child’s life. Simply put, children must have developed the appropriate maturity to be able to safely navigate the circumstances they will encounter through the use of a smartphone. Many Bacich and Kent families have taken the Wait Until 8th pledge as a way of showing their commitment to withhold access to a personal smartphone until their children are in 8th grade. This approach significantly reduces exposure to harmful content, delays the distractions and addictions that come with smartphone use, and prolongs childhood just a little bit longer.
Thank you for your partnership in this complicated task of raising and educating our children in the 21st century.
Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
galthouse@kentfieldschools.org
Wednesday, May 3 is National Bike to School Day!
The Kent Eco-Action Club is celebrating National Bike To School Day on Wednesday, May 3! The Kent Eco-Action students will be handing out raffle tickets to win one of two Tommy Breeze hats, or one of two Hydroflask water bottles. We’ll also have healthy JAMBARS to give to students.
CAASPP Testing - CAASPP testing begins at Kent next week, and we want to support your child to be comfortable and confident while showing us what they know and are able to do on these important standardized tests. Please see the notes below to help anticipate what to expect with CAASPP testing at Kent starting next week, and to help prepare your child for successful test sessions.
- Linked here is the testing schedule for Kent. Please note that students will be taking the assessment in their regularly scheduled English classes the week of May 1st, and their regularly scheduled math classes the week of May 8.
- The entire CAASPP assessment is computer-based, and students will be taking the assessment with their school-issued Chromebook (6th-8th grades) and their classroom Chromebook (5th grades). Students must come to school with a fully charged Chromebook each school day during CAASPP testing.
- All parts of the CAASPP test are untimed, and students will be provided with as much time as they need to complete the assessment. If students do not finish during the time allotted, we will have make-up sessions offered the week of May 15.
- During Advisory this week, we will be reviewing the testing schedule and discussing how to set up for success on the CAASPP this year at Kent. We will also be watching this video that explains how to access universal tools designed to help students while they are taking the assessment.
- Testing sessions will be occurring during regularly scheduled English and math classes, meaning that testing time will happen at different times each day for your child depending on the day of the week. Please ensure that your child gets a good night’s sleep each night, eats a nutritious breakfast, and has a plan for access to nutritious food during the school day.
- 5th and 8th graders will be taking the California Science Test (CAST) the week of May 22, in Nest class in 5th grade and in science class in 8th grade. The CAST is presented in an identical format to the CAASPP.
If you have any questions about your child’s testing experience or if you need to exempt your child from CAASPP testing this year, please contact our school site testing coordinator and assistant principal, Wendy Holmes (wholmes@kentfieldschools.org) or me (galthouse@kentfieldschools.org). We look forward to supporting our Falcons in their successful completion of their 2023 CAASPP assessment.
Two Open Positions
Two parent seats on the Kent Site Council are open for the 2023-2024 school year, and any interested incoming 5th or 6th grade parent/guardian are invited to submit their name for consideration for one of these three-year terms.
The Site Council meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the Kent campus.
If you are interested in serving on our Kent School Site Council, please email site council members Tory Grigg (tory.grigg@gmail.com) and Megan Hirschbein (mchirschbein@gmail.com) by next Friday, May 5. All applicants are invited to share a short summary of their interests and qualifications to serve on this committee.
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, May 2, 2023: Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Kent Room 11
Wednesday, May 3, 2023: National Bike to School Day
Thursday, May 4, 2023: Kent Parents In Action meeting, Kent Room 11, 8:30-10 a.m.
Friday, May 5, 2023: Kent Site Council interest submissions are due to Tory Grigg (tory.grigg@gmail.com) and Megan Hirschbein (mchirschbein@gmail.com).
KIK News
GETAWAYS
- A Week in a Beautiful Newport Beach home
- 5 Nights in Beachfront San Diego Condo
- Long Weekend in Palm Springs
- 4 Nights at Kings Beach Lake Tahoe
- 2 Nights at Santa Barbara's Mar Monte Hotel
- San Francisco Weekend Getaway
GOLF
- Golf for 4 at Marvelous Mayacama Golf Club
- Golf for 4 at The Olympic Club
- Round of golf at Meadow Club
- Golf for 3 at the Richmond Country Club
- Round of Golf at Marin Country Club
- Gift Card to Golf Mart
HEALTH & FITNESS
- 2 Weeks of Classes at the Dailey Method
- Bay Club Marin 3 Month Individual Membership
- Cardio Tennis Clinic for 8 - Lagunitas Club
- A Gift Box of Botanical Care from Vertly
- One Month of Unlimited Metta Yoga Classes
- 5 New Client Group Classes at Mighty Pilates
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
- Boating on the Bay for 8
- Dinner for 8 at Charles Phan's Moonset
- 4 Tix to Super Diamond at Bimbo's
- Party for 6 at Left Bank
- Tickets to Duke Univ. Men's Basketball Game
- Principal for the Day at Kent
FUN FOR KIDS
- Kentfield Fire Truck Birthday Party
- Two Games of Mini-Golf at Urban Putt
- Cupcake Birthday Party for 6 at Epic Cooking
- A Week at Galileo Camp
- 4 Admission Passes to Cal Skate Rohnert Park
- Two 1-Day Tix to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
SIGN UP PARTIES
- Hike and Brunch at Perry’s
- Ladies Golf at McInnis
- Backyard Yoga & Brunch
- Dave Levine Adult All Star Shooting Competition
- Mother & Child Tea Party
Kids’ Sign Up Parties (scroll down page)
FUND-A-NEED :: NEW iPADS + CHROMEBOOKS
This spring’s Fund-a-Need will support the purchase of new iPads and Chromebooks for our kids. There are devices in almost every grade level that have reached the end of their useful lives and need to be replaced.
New iPads & Chromebooks will:
- Provide our students with individualized learning
- Allow our students to create multimedia videos and portfolio projects
- Be used in virtually every aspect of the schools: from robotics in Maker and Enterprise to Coding to Individualized Learning and Creativity in all grades Kindergarten to 8.
Separate from the Annual Goal, please consider donating to the FUND-A-NEED today.
SCHOOL OF ROCK SPRING EVENT & LIVE AUCTION
Kentfield Schools Foundation, Kentfield Invests in Kids (KIK), proudly presents:
- Dinner, Dancing, Live Auction*
- Saturday, May 6, 2023 - 6PM - 11PM
- Bimbo’s 365 Club, San Francisco
- Round trip transportation included
- Benefiting our Kentfield Schools and Kids
**EVENT NOTES**
Pre-registration highly recommended — allows quick entry.
If you do not pre-register, please bring a credit card for check in.
All guests must have a credit card on file to enter event.
LIVE AUCTION PREVIEW | MAY 6 - BIMBO’S 365 CLUB
3 NIGHTS AT FABULOUS RISA RANCH NAPA VALLEY
Enjoy a three night stay at Risa Ranch, a 150 acre estate only a short drive from Napa Valley. The property has a total of 10 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms between the main house, pool house, and cottage. Enjoy the outdoor pond, pool, or the deck after you have hiked the trails, played tennis, pickle ball, bocce ball, or volleyball. The onsite property manager Jorge will cook a complimentary breakfast for KIK winners, and he is a resource to orient guests on the ranch. Retail value is $15,000
SPECIAL THANKS TO PREMIER AUCTION SPONSORS
Woodlands Market - is an invaluable KIK business partner and, as our upscale neighborhood market, they offer delicious deli sandwiches, gourmet food, organic produce and ready-made eats and spirits.
Allison Fortini Crawford, Sotheby’s Int’l Realty - is an award winning, top producing real estate professional serving both San Francisco and Marin County. She has earned a reputation for tactical negotiating, trust and an astute attention to detail, and she has the knowledge, experience, skill, and passion to bring you and your family home.
OWN Marin - Marin County’s #1 real estate team since 2015, Barr Haney, Whitney Potter, and their team have helped over 650 clients achieve their goals. Ranked #1 in Kentfield, OWN Marin makes buying or selling a home easy—Let’s go get your home.
THANK YOU TO ALL AUCTION SPONSORS!
Woodlands Market
Allison Fortini Crawford, Sotheby’s Int’l Realty
OWN Marin
Boulevard Real Estate, Bitsa Freeman |
Carey Hagglund Condy Team | Luxury Marin Homes
Left Bank | Fuel 24:7 / Shineology | Marin Ortho | MacRostie Winery & Vineyards | Ben Shemano Jewelry | Colleen Fitzpatrick | Golden Gate | Sotheby's International Realty | Bowman Real Estate Group | Eye Institute of Marin | Mynsberge, Ruggles & Yang Oral Surgery | Deb Stevens Marin Living Homes | Dr. Vicki Garfola D.C. | Marin Family Chiropractic | Berg | Thakral Family
Check out the growing list of all of KIK Spring Auction Business and Family Donors and Sign-up Party Hosts. Thank you for supporting our schools!
KIK $1M ANNUAL GOAL — UPDATE
We have reached over 90% of our annual $1M fundraising goal. Thank you to all of the families who have donated so far this school year. If you have not donated yet, we are counting on your support to reach our goal. Our annual $1M commitment goes directly into the school district's budget to fund crucial programs for our kids (PE, Art, Music, Library, Drama, and more). Let's KIK this together!
- DONATE NOW
- How much should I donate?
- $1M Annual Fundraising Status: $904,279 (net) to date / $1M GOAL
- Thank you to the 347 Family Giving Donors to date who are committed to our students and the programs they love! Can we add your name to this list?
- Learn how KIK Invests in Kids
KIK CALENDAR
SPRING AUCTION
APR 27 - MAY 4 - KIK School of Rock Online Auction
MAY 6 - Save the Date - School of Rock
KIK Spring Auction Event, Party at Bimbo’s 365 featuring Notorious
CONCERTS Brought to You by KIK
MAY 11 - 1st Grade Family Concert - 6:30PM
MAY 25 - Kindergarten Family Concert - 8:30AM
DINE & DONATE
ORDER EVERY TUESDAY - $50 Dine & Donate
Left Bank KIK Family Meals — 20% of proceeds go to KIK. Opt in for a weekly order reminder.
- May 2 - Chicken Paella, Mixed Greens, & Steamed Broccoli
CONNECT WITH KIK
Love us and Follow us! Get the latest KIK updates!
For Installments or Matching Gifts, Print Donor Form in English and Spanish.
KSPTA News
Learn more at kspta.org
Next Meeting: May 12, 2023, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Kent (coffee social during the first 15 minutes)
Join the KSPTA for a cup of coffee while discussing important topics that affect our school community. This is a great opportunity to get relevant updates and connect with other parents. Everyone is welcome!
Helping Kids Navigate Friendship Ups and Downs with Resilience - Recording Available
Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC is a school counselor at Sheridan School in Washington, D.C., a therapist who works with kids and families in private practice at The Chrysalis Group in Bethesda, Maryland, and an author and journalist. She's the author of the bestselling books Middle School Matters and Middle School Superpowers and a frequent contributor to The Washington Post. She also freelances for publications including Psychology Today, CNN, Working Mother, U.S. News & World Report and Your Teen, and her ideas have been shared in outlets including The New York Times,The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Edutopia, Mindshift, and NPR. Phyllis speaks at schools and organizations nationally and internationally on a broad range of topics related to counseling, education, and parenting. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband and three children.
Learn more about Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC atphyllisfagell.com.
Let's Talk Series: Mental Health & Underage Substance Use
May 3, 2023, 7 p.m. PST
Let's Talk Community Discussion Series
- Learn more & register here - Sponsored by Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships.
- View flyers in English and Spanish.
The last Let's Talk Discussion on Mental Health and Underage Substance Use features Dr. Emily Tejani, a guest expert who trained at the Yale University Department of Psychiatry and board certified in three medical specialties: child & adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatry, and addiction medicine. Student speakers include Sophia DeMoe, a sophomore at Novato High School and MHYP intern, and Leo del la Huelga, a sophomore at Tamalpais High School and MHYP intern.
Live Spanish translation will be available.
Evidence-Based Parenting with Emily Oster
May 4, 7-8:15 p.m. PST
Emily Oster is a professor of economics at Brown University and the author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. Her books analyze the data behind choices in pregnancy and parenting. Oster’s academic work focuses on health economics and concerns methods for learning causal effects from observational data. Oster currently serves as a Faculty Research Fellow for the National Bureau of Economic Research and was named to TIME’s list of “The 100 Most Influential People of 2022.” Her latest book is The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years.
Sponsored by The Vera and Harold Stein Lecture Series on Advancing Children’s Mental Health with The Center for Children and Youth.
Real Talk Matters: Fighting Fentanyl and Its Impact on Mental Health
- May 9, 2023, 4 p.m., Zoom
- Live Spanish interpretation
Join us for a discussion on the connections between substance use and mental health, and raise awareness for both as we celebrate May Mental Health Month and National Fentanyl Awareness Day. For questions, contact: info@odfreemarin.org.
Stay up to date with KSPTA!
Follow kentfieldschoolspta on both Facebook and Instagram
Community News
Summer Camp Tips
Resources and tips on choosing a summer camp experience for your children from Ivette Villarreal, Kentfield School District Community Family Liaison. Read more.
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.
Washington D.C./Williamsburg Parent Meeting
Thursday, May 4, 2023 6:30-7:30 p.m, Kent MP room
We will discuss a possible itinerary and answer any questions that you may have!
Kentfield Futbol Club
Registration is now open!
- Program for Bacich students: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th
- Separate teams for boys and girls.
- All skill levels are welcome
- Practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting September 5, 2023. Games on weekends.
Learn more and register at www.kentfieldfc.org.
If parents need assistance with financial aid/scholarship applications, please contact Ivette Villareal, ivillarreal@kentfieldschools.org.
KidzToPros Summer Camp at Bacich
KidzToPros, an educational enrichment provider, is offering exciting and educational STEM, arts, and sports summer camps at Bacich Elementary for grades PreK-5 this year. We’d love for your children to join us!
This digital flyer with more information, including dates, grades, and more. To register, please follow this LINK. You’ll find numerous options to fit every child’s interests.
If you have any further questions, please email KidzToPros directly at contact@kidztopros.com.
Girls Lacrosse Camp
Caroline Corzel, assistant women's lacrosse coach at the University of California, Berkeley is running a youth lacrosse camp through US Sports Camps at Redwood High School from June 12-15 from 9-12 p.m.
Larkspur Library Touch Trucks Event
Sunday, May 7, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Redwood High School East Parking Lot. Free parking in the RHS west lot.
Kids of all ages are invited to attend Touch Trucks sponsored by the Friends of the Larkspur Library. This fun family event will benefit the new Larkspur Library. Get up close and personal with 30 cool trucks and their drivers ranging from a firetruck, cement truck, recycling truck, tow truck – even a puppy truck!
- Food is available for purchase.
- Purchase tickets at the door or at Touch Trucks Tickets.
- View flyer to learn more.
Free Family Dance
How Do You Dance? Free Family Dance with Luna Dance Institute
Families and their young children join Luna Dance virtually for some fun and joyful movement activities.
- Saturdays, 9:30-10:15 a.m. on May 6, and June 3
- Spanish translation available
- Registration Link: forms.gle/yB73bG2ywRgsLFA59. A Zoom link will be sent out prior to the event.
¿Cómo bailas? Baile Familiar Gratis con Luna Dance Institute
Las familias y sus niños pequeños se unen virtualmente a Luna Dance para disfrutar de algunas actividades de movimiento divertidas y alegres.
- Sábados, 9:30-10:15 a.m. el 6 de mayo y 3 de junio
- Traducción al español disponible
- Enlace de registro: forms.gle/yB73bG2ywRgsLFA59. Enlace de zoom enviado por correo electrónico antes del evento.
Outlandish!
Queer LifeSpace, a mental health nonprofit in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco, is launching a new program called Outlandish! that aims to bring LGBTQIA+ youth out into nature for day-long hikes and other activities. The participants, accompanied by qualified adults, will be immersed in the natural world, where they can learn about themselves and the complex ecosystems around them.
We serve youth ages 13-18, and our trips are free to a low-cost sliding scale for our adventures to be accessible for everyone!
The next trip is on May 13 to the Muir Woods for 16-18-year-olds to participate in their Community Science Program and hike through the forest.
View flyer and find out more about our program at www.queerlifespace.org/outlandish.
Dance-A-Thon Supporting Marin's Foster Youth
Saturday, May 13, 2023, 4-6 p.m.
Every year, from Cloverdale to Corte Madera, over 3,500 children have open cases in the dependency system and dozens of families are impacted by trauma associated with abuse and neglect.
The Marin Foster Care Association's 5th Annual Dance-a-thon, raises awareness for two very important programs necessary to support Marin, Sonoma and Solano County’s Foster Youth.
Our Opportunity Project & Say Yes Fund make it possible for the MFCA to fund services for a particular foster child's physical, mental or emotional well-being as well as offset or cover the cost of obstacles to saying “Yes” to a foster child.
This dance party is a great way to teach our young children all about volunteering, showing up for their friends in need and doing it by having a fun time.
Marin Auditions: San Francisco Boys Chorus
The San Francisco Boys Chorus is announcing 2023-2024 season auditions!
Saturday, May 13, 2023
Audition & Rehearsal Location: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1123 Court Street, San Rafael
Rehearsals occur after school, usually between 4-7 p.m. The SFBC teaches boys with unchanged voices how to sing, read music, and perform. Our boys perform with the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera and go on tours domestically and internationally.
View flyer and sign up for the May 13 audition or more information: www.sfbc.org/ auditions.
Summer Camps at the Charles Schulz Museum
Have questions about your child’s learning, development, or behavior?
Help Me Grow Marin connects parents, caregivers, and providers with information and resources about early childhood development.
Families can learn about community resources and tools to support your child’s development or family's needs. Whether it be assessing your child’s development, helping to apply for health insurance, or helping with finding a food bank, parenting class, information on child development, or low-cost medical clinic, we are here to help!
- View flyer in English and Spanish.
- Learn more at helpmegrowmarin.org.
Opportunities
Homework Helpers: Multi-subject support for grades 3-10.
Drop in for FREE help from local high school students! Every Saturday at the Corte Madera Library from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Please visit this link to sign up for when and what you need help with!
Homework Helpers: Multi-temas de support para grados 3-10.
¡Entra para recibir ayuda GRATIS de estudiantes secundarios locales! Cada Sábado en la biblioteca Corte Madera de 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Por favor visita este enlace para registrarse paracuando y para qué necesita ayuda.
Weekly Crafternoons and a once-monthly Lego Club: Thursdays 3:30 p.m. for ages 5-12.
Crisis Text Support Line
Marin County is offering our youth another means of confidential mental health support through a crisis text line that is available 24/7.
Text MARIN to 741741 for Support that Cares.
Marin Health Hubs
Health hubs, provides free and bilingual services such as food distribution, nutrition education, health screenings, and information about community organizations. 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