KSD News
Dear KSD Community,
Today marks the first day of May and it looks like we have spring showers heading our way. Thank you for keeping your children layered and ready for whatever comes about weather-wise.
I wanted to touch on a concerning incident that occurred on the morning of Saturday, April 22 in the Kentfield-Greenbrae area and other neighboring communities. Across Marin County residents awoke to flyers in their driveways containing disturbing antisemitic content. Unfortunately, there has been an ongoing increase of antisemitic attacks like this over the last year and it is important we do not allow these situations to happen without acknowledging their impact.
This form of hate shall not be tolerated and it is essential that we lean on local agencies such as JFCS Holocaust Center and the Anti-Defamation League to help us respond with lessons and resources that assist our children in processing what they may have experienced. HERE are resources available to our parents/guardians to help you talk through these incidents of hate with your children.
Thank you for your partnership and support as we navigate these challenging and upsetting occurrences.
Sincerely,
Raquel Rose
Superintendent
rrose@kentfieldschools.org
UPDATE - Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Crossing Guard Adjustment | THANK YOU KSD
On Thursday, April 27 a number of KSD residents attended the TAM Board meeting and expressed significant concerns with the anticipated reductions of three crossing guards within KSD’s jurisdiction. Through our collective advocacy and action, the TAM commissioners voted to do an additional evaluation of the recommended list of crossing guards and have committed to not removing one of the three guards for the time being.
At this time the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Laurel Grove Ave (east) guard will remain for the first six-months of the 2023-2024 school year as TAM staff re-evaluate this location. The other two guards are still scheduled to be eliminated, although our Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Heather McPhail-Sridharan is in ongoing communications with the TAM staff, City Councils, and neighboring partners to address these proposed cuts.
Stay tuned for additional updates.
KSD Safety Highlight | Student Release Process
In the event the KSD needs to implement an emergency school-wide evacuation process we have adopted a system called “Tag & Ticket.” The goal of this approach is to reunite students with their families as quickly, smoothly, and safely as possible.
Learn More:
- Overview of the process in English and Spanish.
- Slides with Detailed Information on the Process in English and Spanish.
District Announcements
Family Partners Meeting on Tuesday!
Tuesday, May 2, 9-10 a.m., Kentfield District Office
Contact Virginia DiGirolamo, director of special education, vdigirolamo@kentfieldschools.org or 415-458-5126, with any questions.
Annually school districts across the nation begin their fall planning for the subsequent year as early as January of the current school year. Planning begins at this time to address education code parameters related to employment and budget development. The KSD monitors student enrollment to guide decisions about the number of classrooms for the subsequent year and engages in various feedback loops to be as informed as possible when making programmatic plans. Our main goal is to maintain student-to-staff ratios that are in alignment with state requirements, KSD Board Policy, our collective bargaining agreement, and ultimately in the best interest of our student population.
- Please see this Frequently Asked Questions resource offering more details about Fall Planning.
Spring Ordering Now Available
The KSD Spring lunch menu is available through June 16, 2023. Please pre-order your child/ren’s lunch to ensure we have the most accurate count of school lunches. Sign up for lunch here or contact info@deesorganic.com for support with ordering your child/ren's meal. If your child/ren has any food allergies, please report them to heather@deesorganic.com.
KSD Reclassification Ceremony: May 18, 2023, 6-7:30 p.m., Bacich Community Center
Join us to celebrate our students' amazing ability to speak two (or more!) languages and
highlight them as now being reclassified as English Proficient in our district.
View flyer in English, Spanish, Russian, Haitian Creole, and Japanese.
Download a PDF of the Board-approved 2023-2024 District Calendar.
Breakfast & Lunch Menu
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
- Family Partners meeting, 9-10 a.m., Kentfield District Office
- Kent Site Council meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Kent Room 11
- DELAC meeting, 5-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
- National Walk & Roll to School Day – please see Bacich and Kent sections for school-specific information
- Bacich Parents in Action, Bacich Room 7, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 4, 2023
- Kent Parents In Action, 8:30-10 a.m., Kent Room 11
Friday, May 5, 2023
- Marin County Championship Track Meet, College of Marin
Saturday, May 6, 2023
- School of Rock, KIK Spring Auction Event, Party at Bimbo’s 365 featuring Notorious
May 8-12: Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday, May 8, 2023
- Safety Committee meeting, 9-10 a.m., Zoom link
- 8th Grade Boys Volleyball at Del Mar, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
- School Board meeting, 5-8 p.m.
Wednesday, 10, 2023
- Bacich Parents in Action, Bacich Room 7, 8:30-10:30 a.m
Thursday, May 11, 2023
- First Grade Concert, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 12, 2023
- KSPTA General Membership, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Summer Camp Tips
Resources and tips on choosing a summer camp experience for your children from Ivette Villarreal, Kentfield School District Community Family Liaison.
Next Regular KSD School Board Meeting is on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Here is a link to where you can find the agenda once posted. Access to the meeting will be in person or via audio.
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
KSD Board/District Committees
- DELAC meeting: Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 5-6:30 p.m.
- Safety Committee meeting: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 9-10 a.m., Zoom link
- LCAP Strategic Plan Advisory Committee meeting: Monday, May 15, 2023, 4-5 p.m.
COVID Update
The latest COVID-19 subvariant, XXB.1.16, is increasing in the U.S. according to estimates from the CDC. It has been most documented in India but has been found in 29 countries, according to the WHO. This new subvariant is producing a new symptom: conjunctivitis (pink eye), especially in children.
MCPH is recommending COVID-19 testing for students who present with pink eye. Guidance will be updated to reflect this change.
California Department of Public Health encourages all students and staff to test for COVID-19 IF they feel sick, AFTER exposure, travel, or large gatherings, and BEFORE events or visiting high-risk people.
Please know that our school offices have COVID tests available if needed. Thank you for your support.
Please reference this exposure notice for symptoms, communicability, and prevention information. (English I Spanish).
Please keep your child home if they are sick. Please contact our school nurse Laurel Yrun (lyrun@kentfieldschools.org), with any questions about navigating illness and school this year.