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