Dear Kent Middle School Families,

Last week the Kent Middle School campus came back to life with the triumphant return of our Falcon students and staff. Positive energy and optimistic anticipation abound throughout lively classrooms and bustling school halls as the 2023-2024 school year awaits with promise and possibility. Your Kent staff will work daily to support all students to achieve their fullest academic, social, and creative potential. Let’s fly Falcons!

At our beginning-of-school assembly last week Ms. Holmes and I introduced a school year where we will all strive to reach high, work hard, and be kind daily. We asked all students to consider what helps to establish a sense of belonging in a community. We shared quotes from our 8th grade student leadership team about what they have come to learn about belonging and our shared commitment to creating a school community where all members feel that important sense of connection. We are committed to creating a school environment where everyone feels safe to challenge themselves while reaching high, they feel supported to persevere while working hard, and that we all give and receive kindness daily. We look forward to sharing more about what our 8th grade student leaders taught their peers as a part of our Back to School Night community gathering at 6 p.m. this Thursday evening.

Speaking of Back to School Night, please plan to join us this Thursday evening at Kent for this annual beginning-of-school event! Please see the notes below with details for your participation.

• Parking will be available to community members in the Kent driveway, and also behind the Gymnasium (take a right at the end of the driveway) or at College of Marin in lot #6 or #7 (directly across College Ave. from Kent. Please put a note that says Kent Back to School Night in your dash.
• At the end of the school day on Thursday, students will complete this Back to School Night schedule and will be asked to give this to parents/guardians to help them navigate the event. Linked here is a school map for your reference, maps will also be available on campus that evening.
• Physical Education uniforms will be available for purchase from T&B Sports in front of the Kent office for the full duration of the event, and can also be purchased from T&B Sports in San Rafael following the event.
• Learning Center and Zero Period Music presentations begin at 5:45 p.m.
• Ms. Holmes, a variety of school and community partners, and I will be addressing our school community at a gathering in the lunch plaza starting at 6 p.m.
• Starting at 6:50 p.m., families will follow their students’ 1st through 7th period schedule for 10-minute presentations per class and 5-minute passing periods, concluding at 8:30 p.m.
• Back to School Night is a parent-only event, with no supervision available for children while the event is in session.

In closing, we are thrilled to offer the second year of musical theater at Kent, with this fall’s performance of Bye Bye Birdie Youth Edition. Any student in 5th through 8th grades can participate in this musical theater experience, with shows planned for early November. Tryouts will be held on September 8 and 10, and registration closes on September 6. Please register your child through this link if they’re interested in participating in the show. Thank you to Kentfield Invests in Kids for their support of musical theater at our school!

Let’s have an incredible year of learning ahead!

In partnership,