KSD News
Dear KSD Families!
We are just days away from the start of the 2022-2023 school year, and thrilled to welcome our Bacich Bears and Kent Falcons to a new year of learning. I hope you enjoyed the summer break and were able to relax and relish in the slower pace of the season. I am grateful for the time I had with my family to rejuvenate and reconnect for a new year!
Last week, we welcomed back our faculty with a beautiful breakfast hosted by the KSPTA and shared inspiring words to begin the new school year. Our two art teachers Ms. Libby and Ms. Rubenstein guided staff in an activity where they visualized and created a symbol that represented a place of comfort, peace, or energy. It was remarkable to see folks coming together, chatting while creating art that spoke to who they are. The next day we worked with Marcus Moore and Lori Watson on a full day of professional and personal development to further our plans and understanding of culturally relevant teaching in the classroom. The two days were quite powerful and left me inspired and excited to begin this new year.
As the 2022-2023 school year approaches our theme and focus will be Connection and Heart. The work we do as educators, students, and parents/guardians requires us to connect meaningfully with each other. Powerful learning and a sense of belonging are cultivated when thoughtful and purposeful connections are the foundations for how we engage with one another, our students, and our families. I look forward to nurturing this focus on connection and heart, so students, educators, and families can strengthen Kentfield’s strong sense of community.
The KSD is destined for a wonderful year. On Wednesday, August 17th both school principals released these letters (Bacich - Maria Martin and Kent - Grant Althouse) offering specific details about the start of this school year. Please be sure you review this essential Back to School information. Additionally, below is information about other happenings as we prepare to welcome students. The 2022-2023 school year will be filled with joy, wonder, and learning – students will challenge us, staff will inspire us and parents/guardians will support us to truly make this a spectacular school year. I am honored to serve the Kentfield School District and look forward to what the future holds. Welcome Back to School KSD!
Sincerely,
Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org
District Announcements
KSD School Lunch Program | Bacich and Kent
The KSD is launching a new school lunch program in partnership with Dee’s Organic for the 2022-2023 school year. This program is based on the state mandate to offer school meals for all students. Students may access these meals at no cost or parents/guardians may donate to cover the cost of the school lunch service. The KSD is accepting donations for the meals as the KSD does not receive any additional funding to support this state mandated program.
Dee’s Organic is a local Bay Area catering agency offering locally sourced ingredients and meals made fresh daily. The KSD is one of two school programs contracting with Dee’s Organic for a school lunch program. Orders can be placed monthly or weekly. Following the initial launch of the program orders must be placed one week in advance of the service date. School lunch is available each school day. On early release days, students will be provided lunch in a to-go model.
- To sign up for school lunch follow this link: www.kentfieldschools.org/families/school-lunch-program
KSD data confirmation is now open for parents - please complete ASAP.
To ensure the accuracy of student information in Aeries, our Student Information System, please complete the Data Confirmation process in the Kentfield Aeries Parent Portal before Wednesday, August 24, 2022.
We need your help to ensure that your child's data and emergency contact information is accurate and current. Only one parent needs to complete the process for each child. Detailed instructions in multiple languages can be found at: bit.ly/KSDDataConf22
If you have more than one student in Kentfield, you will need to repeat the Data Confirmation process for each child.
For new families, we recognize that you may have recently completed your student's registration, but we still need to verify that all information is correct in our system. The annual Data Confirmation process each August is the final piece of registration, where you will log into the Aeries parent portal to complete required notifications and authorizations, and ensure that the information you provided has been imported accurately.
Keep in mind that important information such as student grades cannot be viewed in the parent portal until after you complete Data Confirmation. If you have any questions, please email me at data@kentfieldschools.org.
Thank you for your help with this important process.
Jim Bowlby
Data Systems Support Coordinator
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
- 5th Grade and New Student Orientation (5th Graders and New Students), 9-11 a.m.
- Kent Back to School Office Hours, 9-10 a.m.
- New Family Orientation (Families New to Kent), Library, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Bacich Family Welcome and Social, 5-6 p.m.
- School Board meeting, 4-8 p.m., agenda
- Please complete data confirmation in Aeries portal. See instructions in District Announcements section.
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
- First Day of School
- KSPTA Bacich Back to School Coffee on the black top near the big play structure, 8:15 a.m.,
Thursday, August 25, 2022
- KSPTA Kent Back to School Coffee on the Quad by the front office and library, 8:30 a.m.
- Kent Back to School Night, Lunch Plaza, program begins at 6 p.m., classroom visits at 6:40 p.m.
Friday, August 26, 2022
- Kent Picture Day (Early Release Schedule, Dismissal at 1:13 pm) – Flyer Linked Here
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
- KSPTA general membership meeting, 7-8 p.m.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
- Bacich Back to School Night Grades 1-4, 6-7:30 p.m.
Monday, September 5, 2022
- Labor Day – no school
COVID Information
The Marin County Public Health continues to enforce the Marin County SMARTER Schools Plan for the 2022-2023 school year, this is the same plan that was implemented at the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year.
Marin County Public Health is urging COVID testing for symptomatic individuals, exposure and/or high risk activity. Here is guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) specifying situations in which to test. Families are urged to have test kits in the home, which can be obtained from the school offices during regular school hours or at local pharmacies.
If you test positive please report to Laurel Yrun at lyrun@kentfieldschools.org, no need to report negative test results. The KSD will continue to reference Marin County’s Public Health’s Isolation, Quarantine, and Travel Guidance for TK-12 Schools to address COVID exposure.
Next Board Meeting
Reminder, the KSD will have a regular Board Meeting on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 4 p.m. at Bacich School, 699 Sir Francisc Drake, Kentfield in the Bacich School Library.
Here is a link to the Agenda for reference, access will be available via in person or Zoom.
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
Bacich Bears News
Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year!
Dear Bacich Families,
I hope you have had many opportunities to relax, reconnect with family and friends, and rejuvenate this summer! We are thrilled to welcome 531 new and returning Bacich Bears on August 24th for our first day of school. Teachers are working hard preparing their classrooms and planning lessons to engage students in a year of learning and connection. Our amazing office staff are finalizing student registrations and class lists, organizing new materials and supplies, and supporting teachers in their efforts to launch a new school year. Our dedicated custodial staff are wrapping up their deep cleaning of classrooms and making our campus shine. We have already connected with our KSPTA and KIK Foundation partners to begin the process of planning events and connecting with volunteers. I am confident that the 2022-2023 school year will be filled with joy, learning and connection.
Facilities Updates
You may have noticed construction crews at Bacich this summer. They have been working on installation of air conditioning in those spaces that did not previously have air conditioning. This project is being funded by the Bond that was passed in the November 2014 General Election. Unfortunately, the actual air conditioning units are backordered and will not be available until November or December.
In addition to the air conditioning project, we have converted two former storage closets into student bathrooms. These are located next to Room 6 in our “new building.” The addition of these bathrooms is primarily to support our littlest Bacich Bears who will be in our Transitional Kindergarten class (TK).
We have added a small patch of artificial turf in our kindergarten yard, which will provide additional play opportunities for our kindergarten and TK students. The Bacich Garden is being refreshed and will be ready for students to enjoy. The basketball courts have been updated with new paint, new backboards, and rims. One set of basketball hoops have been lowered for our younger students and those new to the sport, while one court remains at the higher height for our older students. We appreciate the funding support from KIK for these projects.
Staffing Updates
We have had a few staffing changes since my last communication. Amber Hatfield, our former ELD coordinator and teacher, has decided not to return this year. We will miss Amber’s dedication to our students and families and we wish her the best in her new position with the Sonoma Valley School District.
As we continue to work to solidify plans for our ELD program, we are fortunate to welcome back Lisa Cicurel-Jones (Mrs. CJ), who will support the initial testing components of the ELD program. Mrs. CJ retired from teaching at Bacich a few years ago after a long career as a member of the Bacich teaching staff. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and supported the KSD this past spring by administering the ELPAC summative assessments. Additionally, Ivette Villarreal will continue in her role as a community/family liaison and will increase her time with the KSD to support our community outreach specifically with our English Learner families.
We also say goodbye to Nicole Galligioni who has been a paraprofessional, student teacher, and substitute teacher at Bacich for several years. We wish Nicole all the best as she pursues teaching opportunities in Sonoma County, closer to her home.
New Bell Schedule and Updated School Handbook
I am happy to share that this past spring a group of teachers were part of a Fall Planning Task Force that developed a new schedule designed to maximize student learning. Our new schedule includes common uninterrupted grade level teaching blocks, weekly assemblies, intervention/enrichment blocks, and a new grade level block for 1st through 4th grade dedicated to social emotional learning, which we are calling TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More). While our start and end times remain the same as last year, there are slight adjustments to recess and lunch. The new bell schedule is linked here for your reference.
Our Parent/Student School Handbook has been updated for the new school year. This document provides important information regarding school policies and expectations. We hope you will use this resource throughout the year. It is often a great place to start when you have Bacich related questions.
Student Placement
Our teachers and staff have put an incredible amount of effort into developing class placements for the new school year. We have carefully considered input from staff and families. Student learning styles as well as social dynamics have also been taken into account to ensure balanced classes. Thank you for being positive with your child and helping them understand that it is impossible to guarantee placement with a preferred best friend or teacher. Student placements for all grades are now available in the Aeries Family Portal.
You should have received a Parent Square email from our data director, Jim Bowlby recently. You will need to complete the data confirmation process outlined in his email or in the KSD section of this newsletter in order to access class placement information. If you have any questions about the data confirmation process, please send an email to data@kentfieldschools.org.
School Supplies
Recommended school supplies for Bacich students can be found through this link. Families may choose to purchase these items on their own, some families have pre-ordered through the KSPTA, and the school is able to provide supplies for children that need them.
Before and After School Classes at Bacich
We are pleased to announce that both Ross Recreation and Larkspur Recreation will be offering after school classes at Bacich. The class offerings include Ukulele, chess, lego, art, science, tinker tech, and Schafer Games. Please visit the Ross Recreation Department and the Larkspur Recreation Department websites for more information. Viva El Espanol will again offer morning and afternoon Spanish classes for Bacich students beginning September 12th. You can visit the Viva El Espanol website for more information. Skill Samurai will offer a coding class on Wednesday afternoons.
New Lunch and Breakfast Program
School lunch will be provided for all students who need lunch, though it must be pre-ordered through Hotlunch.com. Specific directions to register for a KSD account and sign up for hot lunch will be available on our website HERE. Additionally, grab-and-go breakfast items like granola bars, yogurt, and fruit will also be available for students who need breakfast or a snack upon arrival at school. Breakfast items do not need to be pre-ordered, and will be served in Room 33 from 7:45 to 8:05 am daily.
Covid-19 Safety Information
Please refer to the recent district communication regarding current KSD COVID-19 safety protocols.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions. I am excited to see you all soon!
With gratitude,
Maria Martin
Bacich Principal
mmartin@kentfieldschools.org
Upcoming Bacich Events
August 23, 2022, 5-6 p.m. – Bacich Family Welcome and Social
August 24, 2022 – First Day of School & KSPTA Parent Coffee at 8:15 a.m.
August 31, 2022, 6-7:30 p.m. – First through Fourth Grade Back to School Night
Kent Falcons News
Welcome to the 2022/23 School Year at Kent Middle School!
Greetings Kent Students and Families,
We eagerly await the arrival of our Kent students to launch the 2022-2023 school year together at Kent! The below information will help you and your child to prepare for a smooth and successful start to the academic year.
Student Schedules – Student schedules may now be accessed through the Aeries Family Portal. To access your student’s schedule simply log in to Aeries and click on the "Classes" tab. Students will receive a paper copy of their schedule as a part of their first period class on Wednesday, August 24. If students are not able to access their schedule for any reason, please know that staff members will be across campus before the beginning of school on the first day to ensure that each student can find their first period class. In order for parents to be able to view student schedules, you must first complete the annual data confirmation process; please look for a message today from our Data Coordinator Jim Bowlby or see below, for information about how to complete data confirmation.
Academic and Physical Education (PE) Lockers – 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be assigned an academic locker, and a Physical Education (PE) locker. 5th grade students will use backpack hooks outside of their classrooms. School combination locks are provided on academic lockers and must remain with each assigned academic locker. Students must use their school assigned lock and may not exchange locks or remove locks. To find the number of the academic locker for your 6th, 7th, or 8th grader, starting today you can navigate to the Aeries Family Portal, click "Student Info" and click "Demographics." The locker number will be on the demographics page under "Locker Number." To find the locker combination for your assigned locker navigate to the Aeries Family Portal, click "Student Info" then click "Supplemental." The locker combination will be on the Supplemental page under "Locker Combination." Here is video tutorial of how to open a combination lock, and here is a pdf direction template that students can use to practice. For students who may struggle to open a traditional dial lock, accommodations may be made in the front office to turn in the school issued lock and utilize a personal lock. Please have your child contact Jody Gustke (jgustke@kentfieldschools.org) to arrange to use an alternate lock. 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students must bring their own lock for their PE locker.
Technology Distribution – For the 2022-2023 school year Kent Middle School will employ a "One to One" technology plan to ensure that students have access to a device in each of their classes, and that all students will have access to a device at home. In 6th through 8th grades, students will receive a school-issued Chromebook and charger that they are expected to bring with them to each of their classes, and that may be brought home to complete homework assignments. In 5th grade, each student will be assigned a computer for use from computer towers in their two core academic classrooms, though the computer will remain in each classroom. We will distribute Chromebooks to students during our second day of school, at which time we will also review our One to One Technology Use Agreement (English / Spanish). Please discuss this change with your child, and work together to make a plan for how they will transport and charge their Chromebook each day, to ensure that they have a charged Chromebook with them everyday at school.
Kent Daily Bell Schedule – Our typical daily school bell schedule is linked here for your reference, and will be the schedule we follow starting on Monday, August 29th. For the first week of school Wednesday August 24th will release at 3:28 p.m., Thursday August 25th will release at 3:28 p.m., and Friday, August 26th will release at 1:13 p.m.
Lunch and Breakfast Offerings at School – School lunch will be provided for all students who need lunch, though it must be pre-ordered through Hotlunch.com; specific directions to register for a KSD account and sign up for hot lunch will be available on our website here. Additionally, grab-and-go breakfast items like granola bars, yogurt, and fruit will also be available for students who need breakfast or a snack upon arrival at school. Breakfast items do not need to be pre-ordered, and will be served next to the front office from 8:05 to 8:25 a.m. daily.
School Supplies – Recommended school supplies for Kent students can be found through these 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade links. Families may choose to purchase these items on their own, some families have pre-ordered through the KSPTA, and the school is able to provide supplies for children that need them. PE uniforms will be available to purchase from T&B Sports at Back to School Night night on August 25th. The required PE uniforms for all grades, and other Kent apparel, will be available for purchase. If you are unable to attend Back to School Night, you may purchase the uniform at the T&B Sports store in San Rafael (after August 25th) or online at www.tandbsports.com. Please note the uniforms will not be available for purchase at the store until after Back-to-School night. Please contact Jody Gustke (jgustke@kentfieldschools.org) if you need the school to provide a PE uniform for your child.
Music Program – The Zero Period Music Program begins the first week of school, including our first day of school! The Band will meet Monday and Wednesday of each week from 7:45 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. The Orchestra will meet on Tuesday and Thursday of each week from 7:45 to 8:20 a.m. Students should have two years of experience or study privately on their chosen instrument. The Choir will meet on Friday from 7:45 to 8:20 a.m. All students who are interested in singing in a large vocal ensemble are welcome. If you have any questions or for more information please email Kent Music Director Mr. Martinez at mmartinez@kentfieldschools.org.
Parking Lot and Bike Parking – Please make a plan with your child for how they will get to and from school each day. For students who bike to school, 5th and 6th graders must park their bikes in the bike cage behind Room 8, while 7th and 8th graders must park their bikes on the bike racks between Room 28 and the Gymnasium. For parents who drop students off at school, drivers must please drive all the way down the driveway and drop students of all grades in front of the Gymnasium (not in front of the office), to reduce back up in the driveway and College Ave., and avoid potentially unsafe conditions for cars, bikes, and pedestrians. Thank you for ensuring that your child understands these expectations. Linked here is a map of our school for your reference.
Parent-Student Handbook – Our Parent and Student Handbook provides a summary of many of the elements that make up our school, including school policies and expectations. We hope this is a helpful resource to reference for you and your child.
Covid-19 Safety Information – Please refer to the recent district communication regarding current KSD COVID-19 safety protocols.
We look forward to a year of connection, challenge, learning, and joy at Kent Middle School, starting on Wednesday, August 24th!
All my best,
Grant Althouse, Principal
All my best,
Grant Althouse
Kent Principal
galthouse@kentfieldschools.org
Kent Middle School hosts Back to School Night on Thursday, August 25th!
The evening begins with a full community gathering in the Kent lunch plaza at 6 p.m, where principal Grant Althouse and assistant principal Wendy Holmes will share insights into Kent's shift in feedback and grading practices this year, followed by short presentations by key school staff and community partners. Classroom presentations begin at 6:50 p.m. in 1st period classes and run through 8:30 p.m. following a 1st through 7th period schedule.
Your Kent student will create a schedule for you as a part of their 7th period class on Thursday to bring home.
Additionally, parents can purchase PE uniforms from T&B Sports in the Library Plaza at Kent throughout the evening.
There will be limited parking in the Kent parking lot, and paid parking at College of Marin.
Back to School Night is a parent only event, with no supervision offered for children while presentations are occuring.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday evening to learn more about what your child will experience this year in middle school!
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 9-11 am – 5th Grade and New Student Orientation (5th Graders and New Students)
Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. – New Family Orientation (Families New to Kent), Library
Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 8:30 a.m.-3:28 p.m. – First Day of School (Full Day Schedule, Dismissal at 3:28 p.m.)
Thursday, August 25, 2022, 8:30 a.m-3:28 p.m. – Second Day of School (Full Day Schedule, Dismissal at 3:28 p.m.)
Thursday, August 25, 2022, 6-8 p.m. – Back to School Night, Lunch Plaza at 6 pm, Classrooms at 6:40 p.m.
Friday, August 26, 2022 – Picture Day (Early Release Schedule, Dismissal at 1:13 p.m.) - Flyer Linked Here
KIK News
WELCOME BACK, STUDENTS & FAMILIES!
KIK wishes KSD students and families a great start to the 2022-2023 school year!
- As we start this school year, we want to thank all of our family and business donors who continue to support critical programs like Art, Music, STEM, Drama, PE, and more, for our kids.
- KIK is proud to support our students as we raise over $1 Million this year!
WHAT IS KIK?
KIK (Kentfield Invests in Kids) is our community’s non-profit Kentfield Schools Foundation that has been raising funds for the Kentfield School District for over 40 years
- Powered by parent volunteers, KIK raises over $1M each year that directly contributes to the KSD School Budget
- KIK’s annual commitment to the district directly funds enrichment programs at Bacich and Kent Schools including Art, Music, PE, Library, and STEM
- Most of KIK’s funding comes from your family donations (88%)
- With these funds, the district is able to maintain its high-quality standards of education, including low class sizes and numerous, engaging enrichments
Your participation counts! Please consider donating today — THANK YOU!
KIK EVENTS | DINE & DONATE
AUG 23 - $50 Dine & Donate
Left Bank KIK Family Meals — 20% of proceeds go to KIK. Opt in for a weekly order reminder.
- Chicken Paella, Mixed Greens, & Broccoli
SEP 25 - KIK Family Fun Day - 10am - 3pm - details coming soon
CONNECT WITH KIK
KSPTA News
Learn more at kspta.org.
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! There are many different opportunities to volunteer during school hours and for before and after-school community events. Please see the links below to discover KSPTA volunteer opportunities. Please complete the form for the opportunities that interest you, and a KSPTA committee representative will be in touch, thank you!
Bacich School Wide Volunteer Opportunities
Bacich Lead Room Parents/Art for Bears Coordinators/ Carline Coordinators
Upcoming KSPTA Meeting
KSPTA General Meetings take place most months of the school year. All are welcome to attend.
Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 8:30-9:30 a.m.*, Bacich Room 16
*please note this is a new time from last week's newsletter.
- Hear from our school principals about what’s happening at Bacich and Kent.
- Be an active member of our school community and help us improve communication between our schools and our parents.
- Become a PTA member so that you are eligible to vote on certain agenda items. Sign up online or at the meeting.
- The entire school community is welcome to attend, including younger children.
Jamba Juice Orders Now Open!
Online ordering is now open for Jamba Juice smoothie snacks! The next session of Jamba Juice Lunch Snack are September 19 through February 10. The last day to order is September 11, 2022.
Bacich Jamba Juice Smoothies – Grades 1-4 only
- Friday: Five Fruit Frenzy All Fruit 8 oz. Smoothie
Kent Jamba Juice Smoothies
- Monday: Peach Perfection All Fruit 12 oz. Smoothie
- Tuesday: Strawberry Whirl All Fruit 12 oz. Smoothie
- Thursday: Strawberry Whirl All Fruit 12 oz. Smoothie
- Friday: Five Fruit Frenzy All Fruit 12 oz. Smoothie
Learn more and order here: kspta.org/store
Stay up to date with KSPTA!
Follow kentfieldschoolspta on both Facebook and Instagram
Community News
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.
Smart Train Youth Pass
SMART offers a 31-day pass for youth train passengers for $67.50. Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit hopes that parents will take advantage of this discounted fare to enable their students to travel to school using an alternative mode of transportation.
Crisis Text Support Line
Marin County is offering our youth another means of mental health support through a crisis text line.
Text MARIN to 741741 for Support that Cares
If you are ever in need of support, Crisis Text Line is always available to offer help. Connect with a trained Crisis Counselor and share your feelings in a safe space. Text MARIN to 741741 for free, 24/7, confidential support that cares. Available in Spanish 2022.
Marin Health Hubs
Health hubs, we provide free and bilingual services such as food distribution, nutrition education, health screenings, and information about community organizations.
Food pantry items are provided by the SF-Marin Food Bank and by the ExtraFood.org Program, and the health screenings are provided by our wonderful nurses!
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