KSD News
It is with great honor and privilege that I welcome you to the 2023-2024 school year. Our first days of school have been met with energy and enthusiasm as we come together with a common purpose of learning and connecting as a school community. Our children engaged in school assemblies to set the tone for the year and our teaching staff introduced routines and intentions for classroom learning. Our school district continues to prioritize embracing our diversity, inspiring our learners, and connecting with our community. I hope that you will see those values demonstrated as you visit your child’s classroom/s in the days ahead.
Last week, we held orientations and coffees, new family welcome events, and Back to School Night for TK and Kindergarten families. This week, we host Back to School Night at both Bacich (August 30, 6 p.m.) and Kent (August 31, 5:45 p.m.) as well as a Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, August 29, 5 p.m. It will be a busy and important week for parents/guardians as this will be an opportunity to have a glimpse into what you can expect this school year.
Being of service to the Kentfield School District community is an absolute joy — as I am surrounded by stellar staff, incredible students, and dedicated families. I thank you for making the KSD a special place to learn, educate, and grow -let’s make the 2023-2024 school year superb!
Sincerely,
Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org
District Announcements
Volunteer Fingerprinting Opportunity
Wednesday, August 30, 4-6 p.m., Bacich Community Center
In connection with our new Board policy relating to volunteers, all field trip drivers and overnight field trip chaperones are required to submit a Live Scan fingerprint report. If you anticipate that you may be volunteering to drive or chaperone on field trips this year or in the future please get fingerprinted now to ensure that you will be able to participate in trips throughout the year (and beyond). You will not be required to get re-fingerprinted every year.
Please sign up below for a slot on one of the days, or feel free to walk in for fingerprinting during any of the three sessions. If you are not able to attend one of these sessions, you can obtain a Live Scan fingerprint by taking the KSD Live Scan form to an authorized Live Scan center. Please visit the KSD Volunteer Portal to download the form and find a list of authorized centers. The report will be forwarded to our office by the Live Scan center.
For full details on volunteer categories, requirements, and instructions on how to fulfill requirements visit the KSD Volunteer Portal.
Make Every Day Count!
Over the last number of years, chronic absenteeism has become a more prevalent issue across the state and county, in large part due to COVID. As our schools return to operating in a more typical fashion we want to reiterate the importance of children being at school every day on time and ready to learn.
This year, the KSD will be reaching out to families early and often to reinforce the importance of school attendance.
If or when we see patterns of tardies and/or absences of students we will intervene in an effort to work together to mitigate and resolve the issue. The KSD will be providing families with specific thresholds of absences and/or tardies that may lead to a letter, a phone call, a conference, and/or a school attendance review board hearing. Through working in partnership to eliminate truancy and absenteeism we are confident we can subside attendance issues and support our children being at school regularly and ready to learn. Together, we can support our children to reach their full potential by having them at school. We are certain they will be able to positively soar academically and socially.
New Universal Meals Program
The KSD’s new Universal Meals Program launched last week and we served between 175-250 students per school site each day. We appreciate your support in this new partnership and we look forward to continuing to operate a productive and nutritious program for our KSD students.
The September menu is posted and can be accessed here. We have also made the Free and Reduced Lunch Applications available on our KSD websites here and/or you can pick up a form at either school office (Bacich or Kent).
It is important that qualified families complete this application even with the universal meal program implementation. Completing the Free and Reduced Lunch Application may help provide the Kentfield School District with funding and qualify students for individual benefits such as:
- State and Federal Funding for School Budgets
- Qualify students for individual benefits such as P-EBT Eligibility
- Qualify students for other individual site-based benefits such as suggested school supplies, yearbooks at no cost, etc.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Do you have a safe travel plan ready for back to school?
If you haven't checked out our NEW suggested safe routes to school maps for Bacich and Kent at the top of the Safe Routes section of the KSD website yet, now is the time! In particular, we encourage you to carefully review our Neighborhood's Safety Tips on page 2 with your entire family (and all caregivers) and What parents should know about e-bike safety.
Our neighborhood-focused program advocates for green travel alternatives and addresses traffic safety at our schools. The goal of our program is to offer students safer and greener alternatives to get to and from school.
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard Improvements
Marin County Public Works' collaborative project with Marin County Parks to replant trees along the median of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard continues to progress on schedule.
PROJECT UPDATE: With the academic school year starting back up next week, we're adjusting the weekday lane closure times. Starting Monday, August 21, until the end of the project (expected October 2023) the lane closure hours will be 10:00AM to 3:00PM on weekdays. There will still always be at least one lane open in each direction.
For more information on this project, please visit: bit.ly/SFDBreplanting
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
- Bacich Picture Day
- School Board meeting, 5-8 p.m., Kent Middle School Library
Wednesday, August 30
- Kent Full School Day - Late Release
- Finger Printing Session for Volunteers, 4-6 p.m., Bacich Community Center, sign up here
- Bacich Back to School Night, 6-7 p.m.
Thursday, August 31, 2023
- Kent Back to School Night, 5:45-8:30 p.m.
Friday, September 1, 2023
- Kent Minimum Day
Monday, September 4, 2023
- Labor Day – No School
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
- Family Partners Meeting, 9-10 am, District Office
- DELAC meeting, 5-6:30 p.m., Bacich Elementary Library
September 6-8, 2023: Bacich Intake Conferences & 5th Grade Intake Conferences - see school site sections for minimum day release schedule.
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
- Kent: Last day to register for Bye Bye Birdie
Friday, September 8, 2023
- KSPTA General meeting, 8:30-10 a.m. Bacich IDEA studio
- Kent: Singing and Acting Auditions for Bye Bye Birdie, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
- Kent: Dance and Movement Auditions for Bye Bye Birdie – Optional, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
- Deadline to submit your name for District Commitee selection. Please use this form.
- Bacich Family Pizza & Games Night, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Bacich Community Center
Updated Newsletter Format Coming Soon!
Beginning in September 2023 KSD will approach the weekly newsletter a bit differently. Families/guardians can continue to expect regular communication from the KSD, although we will alternate community messages by offering bi-monthly district newsletters and site newsletters via ParentSquare. This shift in practice is an effort to increase regular readership and streamline communications. We hope you will find this shift beneficial and more efficient when accessing district and/or site information.
Community Engagement - KSD Committee Solicitation
Are you interested in learning more about the KSD Operations? If so, please join one or more of our KSD Board Committees. Committees typically meet four times a year and offer advice on issues ranging from communications, equity and inclusion, safety, finance, and technology.
Please see the chart below for more information regarding each of these committees. We welcome you to join one of these groups as a committee member by submitting your name HERE by September 8.
Next Regular KSD School Board Meeting is on Tuesday, August 29, at 5 p.m., Kent Middle School Library
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
District Committees
- DELAC meeting, Tuesday, September 5, 5-6:30 p.m., Bacich Elementary Library