Kentfield School District Newsletter April 26, 2021

Bacich News

KSD
Bacich Bears
Kent Falcons
KIK
KSPTA

Dear Bacich Families,

There are lots of exciting things happening at Bacich. Please read on for updates on this week and beyond.

Current staff, former staff and friends of Geoff Chin got together and made a beautiful dedication movie about Geoff, with a purpose. We showed the video in classes this morning and students are already excited about the eggs and caterpillars they have in class as well as planting milkweed seeds, all in the honor of Geoff Chin and his love for science and butterflies. Watch the video to learn more about the projects your children are doing.
Missed the Principal Chat on Social Justice Curriculum last week? Don’t worry! Here is the recording of the chat as well as the slide deck with links to curriculum and videos.
4th Grade Promotion will be held outside in the field this year following the safety guidelines set before us by the CDPH and Marin Public Health. We are planning for this now and will keep you posted as the details develop.
A new crosswalk has been created at Sir Francis Drake and Wolfe Grade and opens today. We continue to support students using the overpass for the safest way to and from school.
We will begin building next year’s classes in May. Teachers have had the opportunity to get to know your child in many different ways. When we build classes, we take into consideration several different factors: academic progress, social emotional needs, gender ratios and learning styles. Our goal is to create sound class profiles to be taught by any teacher. I trust our teachers’ expertise to make strong and cohesive classes for next fall. However, we acknowledge that there may be some special circumstances that we are not aware of that might help us place your child successfully. If this is the case, please drop me a note or email before May 3 so we can include your input (please do not identify a specific teacher, only attributes/needs of your child). Thank you!

Have a great week,

Mary Ann Spitzer
Bacich Principal
mspitzer@kentfieldschools.org

Bacich Announcements

Bacich Bear Broadcast: April 26, 2021

Next Bacich Principal Chat: May 19; 8:45 a.m.

April 21 Recording & Slides

Order Limited Edition Bacich Spirit Wear & 4th Grade Yard Signs

Bacich Art Blog

Visit Ms. Libby's latest blog post featuring the Bacich school wide K-4th grade community action step bookmark project and 1st grade bird sketches.
Please feel free to post a comment on the blog.

Bacich Library

Bacich Library Check Out and Curbside Pick Up

Email the books you want to check out to Librarian Ms. Warnick swarnick@kentfieldschools.org.
See the library blog for instructions on how to access the Alexandria Library Catalog to look for books.
Some books may be able to be delivered to the classrooms, and the others will pick up their orders on Friday. Ms. Warnick will let you know. Curbside pick up available every Friday in front of the Bacich Office. The books will be placed in plastic bags with your names on them on a cart.
Please return books on Friday in the red plastic bin labeled, "Return Bacich Library Books Here" in front of the office.

As we enter the final week of April, we look ahead to many important and exciting events occurring during the third trimester of school at Kent. Please see below for a summary of a few upcoming events to be aware of.

Week of May 3rd (6th/7th/8th), Week of May 10th (5th) - Administration of the MAP Growth Spring Assessment in Reading and Math. We will administer the MAP Growth Assessment to replace CAASPP as our spring assessment tool, this year only. 6th graders will take this assessment the week of May 3rd in their Expressions class. 7th and 8th graders will take this assessment the week of May 3rd in their English classes. 5th graders will take this assessment the week of May 10th in their classrooms.
Week of May 3rd - 5th Grade Family Life. 5th grade teachers will be presenting the 5th Grade Family Life Unit to students in class the week of May 3rd. This introductory experience around growth, development, and puberty is an important learning opportunity for our 5th graders. Please see your child’s 5th grade teacher with any questions.
Week of May 3rd - Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you for the incredible professionalism and commitment from our teachers, and to our community for the many ways you show our school staff your appreciation!
Week of May 10th - Teens in Transition/Huckleberry Youth - Healthy Sexuality Series. This year we partner with Huckleberry Youth to present our 8th graders with the Huckleberry Youth Healthy Sexuality Series. This will replace Teens in Transition for the 2020/21 school year. Students will have one lesson a day led by a Huckleberry Youth staff member, delivered through Zoom. For the remainder of 8th graders’ school days this week, they will attend their regularly scheduled classes.
Week of June 1st - 4th to 5th Grade Step-up Day. We will be hosting each 4th grade class for Step-up Day activities the week of June 1st. Activities will include a campus tour, an interview and presentation with a 5th grade teacher and some 5th grade students, and a Spirit Rally/Q&A with key school staff.
Thursday, June 10th @ 6 pm - 8th Grade Graduation. We are pleased to announce that we will host the 2021 Kent 8th Grade Graduation on Thursday, June 10th at 6 pm on the Kent field. This event will honor all graduating 8th graders for their many accomplishments over the years, and the bright futures ahead of them. Safety protocols from the state of California will limit attendees, guide the event set up, and prohibit additional parties/celebrations around the ceremony, however we know we can still honor our graduates in the ways they deserve through this culminating school experience!

As you can see, we have a lot to look forward to this Spring! Beyond the important and exciting activities above, we will continue to maximize the time we have with our students to ensure that we conclude this year with curiosity, intrigue, challenge, and learning for each Kent Falcon!

Be well,

Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
galthouse@kentfieldschools.org

Kent Announcements

Community Update

The latest newsletter from Be the Influence, a parent education program on youth substance use, is on the health risks of “wellness” vaping products (essential oils, vitamins) that we are seeing in Marin middle schools, as well as nicotine products (pouches, gum, lozenges). The newsletter also covers new research on the addictiveness to youth of today’s cannabis compared to alcohol and other drugs and the opportunity to discuss with your child given last week’s “420 celebrations.” Read all about it here.

Be the Influence’s website has a wealth of information on the substance use our youth face. Please consider joining by making their Parent Agreement or signing up to receive their informative bi-monthly newsletters on what’s going on in Marin with respect to adolescent substance use. It’s never too early for parents to get educated and start talking with your middle schooler about this important topic!

Order Limited Edition Kent Spirit Wear & 8th Grade Yard Signs

Next Principal Chat: May 14; 9:15 a.m.

Daily school lunch program at Kent: visit KSPTA to learn more.

Kent Counselors Wellness Hub: Easily access resources to help navigate this challenging time.

Kent Library

Email Ms. Jelen at rjelen@kentfieldschools.org to check out books.
Return books to the same cart where you pick up books – right outside the Kent gate when it's not raining and right in front of the library when it is.

KIK News

KSD
Bacich Bears
Kent Falcons
KIK
KSPTA

SPRING AUCTION WISH LIST — we still need your help!

The KIK online auction is next week, May 2-8, but we can still accept donations. If you are willing to donate a gift card or item from the wish list, we would really appreciate it.

Thank you for your support—the dollars we raise helps ALL KSD students!

Donations & Questions: events@kikschools.org
Auction updates: Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

PARTY AT HOME KITS!

This year, we’ve partnered with Farm to Function for gourmet charcuterie boxes and William Tell House for drink kits for you to enjoy at home. 20% of Farm to Function sales and 25% of William Tell House kits will go back to support Bacich and Kent.

Order your Farm to Function charcuterie box and William Tell House drink kits by Tuesday, May 4th.
Enjoy them as you shop for the auction or surprise someone (or yourself!) for Mother’s Day!

The pick up party will be on Friday, May 7th from 4-6pm at 100 McAllister.

KIK BUSINESS PARTNER & AUCTION SPONSOR DONATIONS:

A diamond necklace from Ben Shemano Jewelry
Thanksgiving dinner for 14 from Woodlands Market
A personal training session from Bianca Buresh
An outing from MacRostie
Three $100 gift cards to use for SF2BAY pop-ups: Burma Superstar, Oren’s Hummus and Dumpling Time
A dinner party at Left Bank
A Coffee Table Bundle from Together Home

Gift cards from International Orange, Mollie Stones, Proof Lab, Sloat Gardens, Folio, Village at Corte Madera, Woodlands Pet, Just Nails

THANK YOU TO OUR AUCTION SPONSORS & DONORS

Check out the complete list of all of our Spring Auction business and family donors and sign up party hosts. Thank you for supporting our schools!

FUND-A-NEED 2021-22: KIK GRANTS FOR KSD KIDS, administered by the KSPTA

Get ready for this year’s KIK Fund-a-Need during the Spring Auction!

Donations will fund grants to provide innovative and creative programs and resources for our Bacich and Kent students.
Grant funds are raised by KIK and managed with the help of the KSPTA. Together we can further enhance Bacich and Kent students’ classroom experience by raising dollars for this Fund-a-Need program.
Check out this past year’s KIK Grants awards and more information on Fund-a-Need projects and programs.

TUES 4/27: KIK FAMILY MEALS WITH LEFT BANK, 20% TO KIK

Every Tuesday Left Bank creates a KIK family dinner for $50 and donates 20% back to KIK. Opt in to get a weekly email reminder to order.

April 27: BBQ ribs, caesar salad, mac & cheese, broccoli
If your family needs extra portions of the meat or different sides, call Ryan at Left Bank and he can customize a Family Meal that works for you: 415-927-3331
Check out another Left Bank promotion that also gives back to KIK!

ORDER NOW for pickup on Tuesday. Select “KIK Family Meal.”

Menu updates & reminders: Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

ANNUAL COMMITMENT — April Update

There are still nearly 3 months left to the school year and $275,000 to raise to support our students and the programs they love. We welcome your support.

$1M Annual Commitment Status : $771,162 (net) to date
Thank you to all donors who gave to the March Madness Challenge—your generous participation helped move the Annual Commitment donations to the next level!

Thank you to the 346 KIK Donors and counting that have been committed to our students this year!

See Current Donor Wall

KIK is committed to raising $1 million for our Bacich and Kent students for the 2020-21 school year

For Installments or Matching Gifts, Print Donor Form in English and Spanish

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Kentfield School District

April 26th, 2021