Kent Falcons News
Greetings Kent Community,
The final week of school is upon us, and we look forward to this time of celebration and acknowledgement with each of our students. I hope that your child concludes this week with confidence and pride for the many accomplishments they have achieved during this school year. On Friday afternoon, we celebrate the 8th grade class that will be officially graduating from the Kentfield School District and promoting to high school. The graduation ceremony will be on the Kent Middle School field from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and is open to any community member who may like to come and cheer on our graduating class of 2022.
Summer break can present a welcomed refuge from the academic rigors of the school year, yet it is important to maintain some healthy literacy and numeracy habits even when outside of school. To assist with book selection for our falcons over the summer, school librarian Rebecca Jelen has compiled extensive and inspiring summer reading lists for each grade level. The purpose of summer reading is to promote student choice, extend learning beyond the classroom, introduce students to genres of literature that they will encounter throughout the coming school year, and offer new perspectives on the people, places, and ideas that shape students’ worlds and experiences. As a part of their summer reading, each returning student is required to read three books from their grade level list OR three books of their choice. Maintaining daily reading habits over the summer helps to ensure that students continue to build reading strategies and skills that will lead to success with the next grade level’s curriculum.
While experiencing summer break with your child, encourage dialogue about their perspectives on current events, and look to find connections between summer experiences and concepts explored at school. Podcasts and online learning channels can be another great way to kickstart the pre-teen/young-teen critical thinking brain, and can encourage powerful dialogue. Consider resources like Crash Course Videos on Youtube, or Podcasts like Star Talk Radio, But Why?, or Throughline Podcast (7th/8th). Please review content for appropriateness prior to sharing with your child, but do consider that podcasts are a great way to introduce your child to intellectual discourse while experiencing summer break.
On June 10, we also say farewll to a number of beloved staff members retiring from Kentfield School District. Please join me in congratulating 6th grade science teacher Alison Griffin, 6th grade mathematics teacher Tim Lentini, school counselor Heidi Longo, administrative assistant to the principal Lisa Sandberg, and 5th grade teacher Jennifer Sterling. Over their many years of service these incredible professionals have nurtured and guided thousands of children through their middle school experience with expertise and compassion. We wish our retiring educators health and happiness in all of their future endeavors!
Enjoy this final week of school at Kent, and may your summers bring you relaxation and joy! We’ll see our returning students back at Kent on August 24!
All my best,
Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
galthouse@kentfieldschools.org
Kent Summer Reading Lists for Rising 5th–8th Graders
Summer Reading: The purpose of summer reading is to promote student choice, extend learning beyond the classroom, introduce students to genres of literature that they will encounter throughout the coming school year, and offer new perspectives on the people, places, and ideas that shape students’ worlds and experiences. Reading transports us out of our daily lives and into worlds we can connect and empathize with, opening our hearts and minds to new experiences and ways of life.
Each student is required to read three books from their grade level list OR three books of their choice. If you would like to continue your reading beyond that, choose more books from your grade level list or from the lists before or ahead of yours. Books that are for older students increase in the complexity of subject matter and reading level. Books that are considered “young adult” are noted with an asterix and contain more mature content. Here is a tic-tac-toe board for you to fill in if you want to keep track of what you read.
All books can be found in print from the Marin County Free Library, as an Ebook or audiobook on Sora (accessed through the Kent Library Website), or on Learning Ally. Visit the Kent Library homepage for instructions on how to use these resources throughout the summer! Also, don’t forget to check out our amazing local bookstore Book Passage and mention Kent when you check out so we can earn funds to buy more books for next school year!
Next year’s All School Read is Rolling Warrior by Judith Heumann. We are encouraging all families who are able to get a copy of this book in preparation for the 2022-2023 school year. Click here for a description of the book!
If you have any questions or need MORE book recommendations, email Mrs. Jelen at rjelen@kentfieldschools.org. Don’t forget to follow the Kent Library on Instagram throughout the summer for book recommendations, author recommendations and news @kentmiddleschoollibrary.
Happy Summer Reading, Falcons!
Links to lists by grade level (note- lists are for students going into the grade listed)
*Link to 5th grade summer reading.
*Link to 6th grade summer reading.
*Link to 7th grade summer reading.
*Link to 8th grade summer reading.
*Other Helpful Links to Choose Books*
Coretta Scott King Award Winners
Books for Kids Recommended by New York Public Library
AAPI Reading Lists by Age from Berkeley Unified School District
Marin County Free Library Summer Reading Program
Register for SYNC and receive two Young Adult audiobooks a month throughout summer!
Kent Announcements
4th to 5th Grade Step Up Presentation Recording
If you were unable to make the 4th to 5th Grade Step Up day presentation for parents from last Friday's meeting, please click the link below and use the password to access the recording.
4th to 5th Grade Step Up Day Presentation Recording
Passcode: E9?kUpC=
Kent Yearbooks: Pick up and Extras
Yearbooks will be handed out for those who have purchased them after school starting Monday, June 6.
If you did not purchase one, there will be extras that we will sell on a first come, first served basis starting Tuesday, June 7 after school. The cost is $40 and must be in cash since the books are closed.
A huge thanks to our amazing yearbook staff for pulling together this stellar memento!
Kent Graduation Information
Find out the details - location, arrival, parking, dress, and read the FAQ here: kent.kentfieldschools.org/families/graduation
CALLING ALL 8TH GRADERS - YOU’RE INVITED TO GRAD NIGHT 2022
Friday, June 10, 8-10 p.m.
Kent MP Room
Let’s Glow Crazy
DJ. Dancing. Prizes.
neon attire. anything white glows.
Presented by the Class of 2022 8th Grade Parents
2022-2023 Kent School Supplies
Order Kent School Supplies for next year: www.edukitinc.com/schools/12390/
Lifeguards Needed!
Greetings Kent Community,
As we approach the end of the school year, each grade level is planning for a fun end of year celebration with their students.
5th and 6th grades are each planning separate pool parties at the College of Marin pool next door. After looking far and wide, we have yet to be able to secure lifeguards for this event. If you know of any certified lifeguards who may be available to support these events, please let us know as soon as possible! Thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to offer in finding certified lifeguards for our 5th and 6th graders!
Date: Tuesday, June 7 (6th) and Thursday, June 9 (5th)
Time: 1-3:30 p.m.
Place: College of Marin pools (competitive pool and diving pool)
Pay: $100 for full event, compensation negotiable
*Preferably a college-aged lifeguard — We need 3 or 4 for each date. Lifeguards must have received lifeguard certification.
Contact:
5th - Warren Beales (wbeales@kentfieldschools.org) and Megan Dunn (mdunn@kentfieldschools.org)
6th - Lisa Bridges (lbridges@kentfieldschools.org)
Not Returning to Kent Next Year?
- If your student is not returning to Kent in the fall, to please contact Lisa Sandberg, lsandberg@kentfieldschools.org.
Kent Athletics
Please remember to return any Kent athletic gear to Kent Athletic Director Ryan Palmer at rpalmer@kentfieldschools.org.
Kent Lunchtime Clubs: All are welcome! Simply show up at the meeting location on the correct day to join in the fun!
June 6: Yearbook pick up for students who ordered their yearbook.
June 7:
- Extra yearbooks will be available for $40 with limited supply.
- Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
June 10:
- 8th Grade Graduation, 2:30 p.m.
- 8th Grade Grad night, 8-10 p.m.