Greetings Kent Middle School Families,

I have long been a proponent of the philosophy that middle level education can be so much more than the awkward period of life between elementary school and high school. Last week at Kent showcased numerous examples of how middle school can be a fun, exciting, dynamic, and engaging social experience for our students, helping middle school to stand out as a highlight of our childrens’ K-12 education, rather than simply a time to get through before the excitement of high school.

Kent hosted a cross-country track meet last week that celebrated runners of all ages as they ran their hearts out against a number of middle schools in our area. Runners laughed, talked, ran, and competed together on that warm fall afternoon along the bike path. On the Falcon news all week, short segments highlighted student dance-offs, with smiling Falcons showing off their best dance moves for our daily broadcast. Our Student Leaders’ Antiracism Movement (SLAM!) Group assembled with expert facilitator Dr. Lori Watson on Thursday to raise racial consciousness, and to envision strategies and actions to improve the student experience at our school. Cheers from multiple grade levels volleyball games reverberated through the Gym across the week as we hosted volleyball games against teams from across the county. During lunch 5th graders reconnected with their 8th grade WEB leaders at WEB Reconnect gatherings, and before school large zero period ensembles of cross-grade-level groups chipped away at new music in preparation for winter concerts. Kent Middle School is alive with activity and social connection, and we strive to create a space for each Falcon to shine during their middle school years!

In classrooms, teachers are working to deepen student connection, understanding, and skills in each content area through engaging and student-centered learning activities. At this point in the school year, teachers are deepening understanding of each students’ areas of strength and challenge, and working to leverage strengths to support growth in challenge areas.

One tool that we use in Kentfield School District to understand more about our students' learning is the MAP Growth assessment. MAP Growth is a computer adaptive assessment in Reading and Mathematics, designed to provide teachers with information about what each student is ready to learn. Information gathered from the assessment helps teachers to identify areas of focus for the class as a whole, as well as insights into instruction that each student can benefit from next.

During the week of October 10th we will be administering the MAP Growth assessment in 6th through 8th grade English and Math classes, and through 5th grade nest classrooms. The assessment takes approximately two 60 minute sessions to complete, which teachers will administer in place of lesson blocks during the test administration window for each grade level. The assessment is designed to help us with next steps for instruction, and in no way contributes to a student's grade or formal school performance measure.

The success of the MAP Growth test administration week does rely on each 6th through 8th grader arriving at school on Monday with a fully charged school-issued Chromebook. Thank you for helping to ensure that Chromebooks get fully charged next weekend, and brought to school next Monday!

Let’s continue to work together to help Kent Middle School provide the best possible academic and social experience for our children!

Kent Middle School All School Read for 2022-2023: Judy Heumann's Rolling Warrior

Judy shares her journey of battling for equal access in an unequal world — from fighting to attend grade school after being described as a “fire hazard” because of her wheelchair, to suing the New York City school system for denying her a teacher’s license because of her disability. Judy went on to lead 150 disabled people in the longest sit-in protest in U.S. history at the San Francisco Federal Building. Cut off from the outside world, the group slept on office floors, faced down bomb threats, and risked their lives to win the world’s attention and the first civil rights legislation for disabled people.

We hope that all Kent students can bring a copy of the book to school by Monday, October 10 (available at Book Passage – be sure to mention Kent when checking out!), on Amazon or wherever you like to buy or borrow books.

• All School Read begins on Monday, October 17
• Author visit with Judy Heumann on Friday, October 28

The Kent Middle School Library Presents…

A community film showing of the Netflix documentary “Crip Camp”*

Friday, October 14, 2022, 5-7 p.m.

Kent Multipurpose Room

Pizza, drinks, candy, and popcorn will be sold at the event

All proceeds and donations will go to our author visit with Judy Heumann for our All School Read Rolling Warrior

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*This film is rated R for language and some references to drug use. You may want to preview this film ahead of time to decide what is right for your family, but the themes are suitable for most students.

Happy Reading!