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Family Air Quality Update
Good morning, Mill Valley School District continues to monitor the air quality using multiple sources of information. This morning, the air quality indexes are fluctuating between “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” and “Unhealthy” depending on your location in the district. As a precautionary measure, the district has taken the following steps: Turning off HVAC systems at sites that operate them to negate pulling in external air into our facilities Closing windows and doors Implementing indoor PE and recess Utilizing the air purifiers that are located in all of our classrooms and offices We are sharing a reminder of the Air Quality Protocols developed with guidance and direction for the Marin County Department of Public Health. These are the guidelines currently in place that can be used when poor air quality is upon us. In general, the best place for students continues to be in school regardless of the air quality index level. As the protocols state, if we approach periods where air quality worsens into the very unhealthy range, we will receive guidance from Marin County Public Health, which MCOE will help communicate to all schools. As a reminder, air quality can be monitored on the AirNow.gov website, and resources are available on the MCOE website’s "Extreme Weather" page. We will continue to monitor the air quality and provide updates if needed.
Friday, Sep 22 2023
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Family Newsletter - September 20, 2023
IMPORTANT DATES COMING SOON September 21 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. MVMS PTSA General Board Meeting 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Edna Maguire DEI Committee Meeting September 22 7:45 - 8:45 a.m. Park Community Coffee 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Tam Valley Morning Assembly 2:30 - 2:45 p.m. MVMS Lockdown Drill Strawberry Point Picture Day September 27 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. DELAC Potluck at Strawberry Point 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Measure G Update - Public Forum September 28 9:00 a.m. Park Elementary School PTA General Membership Meeting 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Tamalpais Valley PTA Meeting 6:00 p.m. Annual Author Event at Edna Maguire Multi-Purpose Room Tam Valley Picture Day 1/2 September 29 7:45 - 8:45 a.m. Park Community Coffee 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Tamalpais Valley Morning Assembly Tam Valley Picture Day 2/2 Old Mill Spirit Day Superintendent Dear Mill Valley Families, On September 13, the Mill Valley Board of Trustees provided guidance regarding the renovation of the middle school. After analyzing all available sites, the current middle school site is the best potential location for our future middle school. Additionally, the discussion seemed to center on keeping all sixth to eighth-grade students together on one campus during the construction. Final decisions about the middle school site and temporary student housing will be made at the October 12, 2023, Mill Valley School District Board Meeting. I invite you to attend the Community Forum scheduled for Wednesday, September 27, 2023. The details for this meeting is in the flyer below. With sincere appreciation, Elizabeth Celebrations Please join us in congratulating the Green Team at Strawberry Point Elementary School! Zero Waste representatives, Jessica Carver and Casey Fritz, attended the September Board meeting to formally present the Platinum Zero Waste Award to Strawberry Point’s Green Team. This dedicated group of students, lead by Ms. Monty and Mr. Gasperini, have achieved quite the accomplishment - Strawberry Point is the FIRST school to certified Platinum Zero Waste! Way to go Green Team! Maintenance, Operations & Safety Safety Drills Mill Valley School District is committed to providing the safest possible environment for our students and staff by taking proactive steps. We conduct routine safety drills throughout the school year to train staff and students to respond quickly to various emergencies. Below is the schedule for the Lockdown Drill at the middle school: 2:30 pm Friday, September 22 - Middle School Lockdown Drill By practicing predetermined response actions together, we are enhancing our level of emergency preparedness. Please note that we have invited our “first responder” partner organizations to join these events to observe and provide feedback. Air Quality Protocols We are sharing a reminder of the Air Quality Protocols that were developed with guidance and direction for the Marin County Department of Public Health. These are the guidelines currently in place and are used if and when poor air quality is upon us. In general, the best place for students continues to be in school regardless of the air quality index level. As the protocols state, if we approach periods where air quality worsens into the very unhealthy range, we will receive guidance from Marin County Public Health which Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) will help communicate to all schools. As a reminder, air quality can be monitored on the AirNow.gov websites and resources are available on the MCOE website "Extreme Weather" page. Technology Reminder: Data Confirmation Window Closing The Data Confirmation window is still open! We appreciate you taking the time to fully complete this process - we must receive confirmed data from all families, for all students. If you encounter issues accessing your account or completing the information, please email aeriesportal@mvschools.org or reach out to your school office. Review all information and update as needed. As this is our first year using online Data Confirmation, we appreciate your patience and understanding with the process! To ensure the accuracy of student information in Aeries, please complete the Data Confirmation process in the MVSD Aeries Parent Portal by Friday, September 22, 2023. You can review the instructions here . Device Advice from our partners at Common Sense Common Sense Media is the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. From high-quality media recommendations to internet access for all learners, their goal is to make media and technology safer, healthier, and more equitable for kids everywhere. Mill Valley School District is a Common Sense “Connected District.” Throughout the year, we will be sharing resources and opportunities through Common Sense. If you are looking for resources to start the year off right with devices and technology at home, from movie, book and app reviews, to home technology use agreements, to information and tips on managing different platforms like TikTok or Minecraft, visit Common Sense’s “For Parents” website .
Wednesday, Sep 20 2023
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Family Newsletter - September 20, 2023
IMPORTANT DATES COMING SOON September 21 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. MVMS PTSA General Board Meeting 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Edna Maguire DEI Committee Meeting September 22 7:45 - 8:45 a.m. Park Community Coffee 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Tam Valley Morning Assembly 2:30 - 2:45 p.m. MVMS Lockdown Drill Strawberry Point Picture Day September 27 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. DELAC Potluck at Strawberry Point 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Measure G Update - Public Forum September 28 9:00 a.m. Park Elementary School PTA General Membership Meeting 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Tamalpais Valley PTA Meeting 6:00 p.m. Annual Author Event at Edna Maguire Multi-Purpose Room Tam Valley Picture Day 1/2 September 29 7:45 - 8:45 a.m. Park Community Coffee 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Tamalpais Valley Morning Assembly Tam Valley Picture Day 2/2 Old Mill Spirit Day Superintendent Dear Mill Valley Families, On September 13, the Mill Valley Board of Trustees provided guidance regarding the renovation of the middle school. After analyzing all available sites, the current middle school site is the best potential location for our future middle school. Additionally, the discussion seemed to center on keeping all sixth to eighth-grade students together on one campus during the construction. Final decisions about the middle school site and temporary student housing will be made at the October 12, 2023, Mill Valley School District Board Meeting. I invite you to attend the Community Forum scheduled for Wednesday, September 27, 2023. The details for this meeting is in the flyer below. With sincere appreciation, Elizabeth Celebrations Please join us in congratulating the Green Team at Strawberry Point Elementary School! Zero Waste representatives, Jessica Carver and Casey Fritz, attended the September Board meeting to formally present the Platinum Zero Waste Award to Strawberry Point’s Green Team. This dedicated group of students, lead by Ms. Monty and Mr. Gasperini, have achieved quite the accomplishment - Strawberry Point is the FIRST school to certified Platinum Zero Waste! Way to go Green Team! Maintenance, Operations & Safety Safety Drills Mill Valley School District is committed to providing the safest possible environment for our students and staff by taking proactive steps. We conduct routine safety drills throughout the school year to train staff and students to respond quickly to various emergencies. Below is the schedule for the Lockdown Drill at the middle school: 2:30 pm Friday, September 22 - Middle School Lockdown Drill By practicing predetermined response actions together, we are enhancing our level of emergency preparedness. Please note that we have invited our “first responder” partner organizations to join these events to observe and provide feedback. Air Quality Protocols We are sharing a reminder of the Air Quality Protocols that were developed with guidance and direction for the Marin County Department of Public Health. These are the guidelines currently in place and are used if and when poor air quality is upon us. In general, the best place for students continues to be in school regardless of the air quality index level. As the protocols state, if we approach periods where air quality worsens into the very unhealthy range, we will receive guidance from Marin County Public Health which Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) will help communicate to all schools. As a reminder, air quality can be monitored on the AirNow.gov websites and resources are available on the MCOE website "Extreme Weather" page. Technology Reminder: Data Confirmation Window Closing The Data Confirmation window is still open! We appreciate you taking the time to fully complete this process - we must receive confirmed data from all families, for all students. If you encounter issues accessing your account or completing the information, please email aeriesportal@mvschools.org or reach out to your school office. Review all information and update as needed. As this is our first year using online Data Confirmation, we appreciate your patience and understanding with the process! To ensure the accuracy of student information in Aeries, please complete the Data Confirmation process in the MVSD Aeries Parent Portal by Friday, September 22, 2023. You can review the instructions here . Device Advice from our partners at Common Sense Common Sense Media is the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. From high-quality media recommendations to internet access for all learners, their goal is to make media and technology safer, healthier, and more equitable for kids everywhere. Mill Valley School District is a Common Sense “Connected District.” Throughout the year, we will be sharing resources and opportunities through Common Sense. If you are looking for resources to start the year off right with devices and technology at home, from movie, book and app reviews, to home technology use agreements, to information and tips on managing different platforms like TikTok or Minecraft, visit Common Sense’s “For Parents” website .
Wednesday, Sep 20 2023
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Family Newsletter - September 14, 2023
IMPORTANT DATES COMING SOON September 14 5:30 p.m. Middle School Back to School Night - Tonight September 15 8:15 a.m. Strawberry Point PTA General Meeting 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Old Mill PTA Meeting September 18 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Edna Maguire Site Council Meeting September 21 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. MVSM PTSA Board Meeting September 27 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. DELAC Potluck at Strawberry Point 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Measure G Update - Public Forum - MVMS Library September 28 9:00 a.m. Park Elementary School PTA General Membership Meeting 6:00 p.m. Annual Author Event at Edna Maguire Multi-Purpose Room Dear Mill Valley Families, The Board meeting yesterday was full of celebrations, recognitions, and information. The Green Team from Strawberry Point Elementary School was formally recognized for their exemplary work in achieving the status of Certified Platinum Zero Waste! This group of conscientious and dedicated students, led by Ms. Monty and Mr. Gasperini, has the distinguished honor of being the first school to be certified at this level. We could not be more proud or more inspired! The Board recognized the following employees for their dedication and commitment to Mill Valley School District. The combined total for this amazing group of educators is an astounding 510 years!: Ten Years: Nichole Borella, James Cleland, Stacey Gibson, Erika Jensen, Sara Lowenstein, Kathryn McLaughlin, Lulu Monti, Fabien Sanchez,John Sy, Nicol Thebaut, Alexandra Vargas, Bethany Womack Fifteen Years: Catherine Cohen, Katie Fisher, Daniel Guliasi, Susann Gutschmidt, Katherine Hale, Anna Harris, Karen Ingle, Patricia Manwaring, May Neupauer, Ann Marie Padilla, Heather Sappington, Dena Shapiro, Angela Sohn, Kate Sprague Twenty Years: Carlos Ramirez Avalos, Mary Scrivner, Benjamin Wien, Barbara Velasquez Twenty-Five Years: Darby Doyle, Erica Eagle, Tricia Garlock, Jay Schulman, Lynne Watenpaugh Recent Retirees: Sandy Agajan (15), Robin Alderson (25), Lori Boeri (25) Additionally, as part of the Measure G Bond program, the Board received information and recommendations regarding the selection of the site for our new middle school and the plans for the temporary housing of students during the middle school construction phase. All community members are invited to attend a Public Forum on this topic in the Mill Valley Middle School Library on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. The meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. Finally, in an effort to improve our common engagement, we have shared updated protocols for Public Comment at Board meetings. This guidance clarifies when to comment on items that are not on the regular Board meeting, as well as when and how to comment on items that are on the regular Board meeting agenda. With sincere appreciation, Elizabeth Community Partners Author Visit The District is excited to welcome author and illustrator Dan Santat to Edna Maguire to Edna Maguire! Dan is the award-winning author of many children’s books, including Are We There Yet? and The Cookie Fiasco. All families are invited to attend this free event, but space is limited. Please reserve your space here , and we will see you in the Edna Maguire Multipurpose Room on Thursday, September 28, at 6:00 p.m. ITAV Would you like to connect with other parents with children in Mill Valley School District? ITAV (It Takes a Village) is inviting all Mill Valley School District parents to connect through a casual hike on Wednesday, September 20. For more information, please see this flyer . Safe Routes to School Walk & Roll Wednesdays are back! All are invited to participate in this weekly event that includes walking, biking, scootering, carpooling, or taking a bus to school. This countywide campaign is a great way to reduce traffic, increase exercise, and have a positive impact on our entire community. Let’s do this together!
Thursday, Sep 14 2023
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Family Newsletter - September 6, 2023
IMPORTANT DATES COMING SOON September 4-8 National Substitute Appreciation Week September 5 to September 8 iReady ELA Assessment (Grades 1-8) September 5 Elementary ELA Pilot Begins September 7 6:00 p.m. Elementary Back to School Night September 8 World Physical Therapy Day September 11 9:00 a.m. Special Board Meeting - Governance 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Community Drop-In Zoom Meeting (Board Agenda Items) September 13 6:00 p.m. Regular Board of Trustees Meeting September 14 6:00 p.m. Middle School Back to School Night September 28 6:00 pm Annual Author Event at Edna Maguire Multi-Purpose Room Dear Mill Valley Families, Welcome to September! As we continue our second week of school, I want to invite you to join us in the Elementary Back To School Night tomorrow, September 7th, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. The Middle School will host its Back to School Night on Thursday, September 14th, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Please plan to arrive a bit ahead of time, as parking for these events is always challenging. At the September 13, 2023, Board meeting, the Board will hear a presentation from our architects and our Measure G project management team regarding the selection of a site for our new Mill Valley Middle School campus. We will also discuss interim housing for middle school students during construction. We plan to have interim housing in place for Fall 2024 and break ground on the new middle school campus during the first quarter of 2025. To gather your insights and feedback, a community forum will be held via Zoom on September 27, prior to a Board decision on October 12, 2023. Please attend and/or send any questions or recommendations to us at communications@mvschools.org . Finally, as many of you know, our district is in the process of selecting an evidence-based structured literacy program to begin in grades TK-5 in August 2024. Please click here to see a parent letter explaining our structured literacy efforts. With sincere appreciation, Elizabeth Celebrations! Congratulations to Edna Maguire, who were awarded a garden grant by Sloat Garden Center this week! Students commented on why they love their school garden! The garden is an amazing place with amazing fruits and vegetables. There are tomatoes, and fruit trees so we can make apple sauce, salsa, pear bread, and all sorts of yummy foods. All the extra food goes to a food bank. I enjoy collecting sunflower seeds, picking dead marigolds and dusting potatoes. There even chickens! — Ella We love our garden because it is outside! Our garden is helpful and healthy. Our garden is a beautiful paradise. Our garden has yummy delicious amazing fruit. We love our Garden! — Liam Our Edna Garden is a place where we can be with nature and eat delicious food. I love making bread and apple sauce. Sometimes we even make salsa out of delicious tomatoes. I love our garden. If there was not garden, I would not go to school. — Teddy We love our garden! Our garden has all types of food and some of our food goes to the food bank! It has plants, fruits, vegetables, and more. Our garden is so beautiful. The garden makes me happy and makes me smile. To our garden! — Juliet Wellness World Physical Therapy Day - September 8th In 1996, September 8th was designated as World PT Day. This is the date World Physiotherapy was founded in 1951. I I n 2023, the day will focus on arthritis, with an in-depth look at some forms of inflammatory arthritis. For more information, click here . National Healthy Aging Month - September The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services national health observance for September spotlights healthy aging. They have gathered some resources to help spread the word to various audiences. We hope you’ll join the conversation! Healthy Aging Month Every September, we recognize Healthy Aging Month to promote ways people can stay healthy as they age. Explore our efforts to promote health for older adults , bookmark the Healthy People 2030 Healthy Aging Custom List , share our Move Your Way® materials , or check out the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report — it’s all about strategies to help older adults stay active. Educational Services Elementary Open House All elementary schools will host an Open House night on September 7, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Please see your school Principal’s Friday newsletter for specific information. DELAC, September 27th, 5:00-6:00 p.m. District English Language Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting on September 27 from 5-6 p.m., in person, at Strawberry Point School. Please see this flyer for more info! Board of Education Community Input Nights Superintendent Kaufman and Assistant Superintendent Rollins will host a Zoom meeting the Monday before each Board meeting. The drop-in Zoom link will be live between 6:00-7:00 p.m. We encourage you to “stop by” and ask any questions on upcoming agenda items. The first of these meetings will be held on Monday, September 11, and the Zoom link can be found here . Facilities and Maintenance Measure G Input Nights With Measure G project planning and progress speeding up, the District and construction management team, AECOM, have partnered with communication specialists En2action. AECOM, MVSD, and En2action are planning community meetings between Board meetings to inform and engage the community. The community forums will allow community questions and will drive a FAQ page on our website. The dates for the fall are: ● Wednesday, September 27 (6:00-7:30 p.m) ● Wednesday, October 25 (6:00-7:30 p.m.) ● Wednesday, November 29 (6:00-7:30 p.m.) Our topic on September 27 will be the identification of the new middle school site and plans for the interim housing of our 6th-8th grade students during the construction of the new middle school. Technology Aeries Data Confirmation Reminder The Data Confirmation window is still open! We appreciate you taking the time to complete this process fully - we must receive confirmed data from all families for all students. If you encounter issues accessing your account or completing the information, please email aeriesportal@mvschools.org or contact your school office. Review all information and update as needed. As this is our first year using online Data Confirmation, we appreciate your patience and understanding with the process! To ensure the accuracy of student information in Aeries, please complete the Data Confirmation process in the MVSD Aeries Parent Portal by Friday, September 22, 2023. Aeries Parent Portal Access for CAASPP Scores Reminder: The Aeries Parent Portal has CAASPP score reports for 4th-8th graders! Note: This is the same Aeries Portal that all families use to access Data Confirmation. There is a menu option for Test Scores and State Test Score Reports for students in grades 4-8. What is CAASPP? CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) assessments are given across California to students in 3rd through 8th grades, and 11th grades, in the spring of each school year. All students take the English-Language Arts and Math assessments; 5th and 8th grade students also take the Science assessment ( CAST ). CAASPP Score Reports The CAASPP score reports provide an overall score and scale score for English-Language Arts and Math (and Science for 5th and 8th graders). The overall score for each test is provided as Standard Exceeded, Standard Met, Standard Nearly Met, or Standard Not Met. “Standard Met” and “Standard Exceeded” are the state targets for all students. Students are also provided a scale score; ranges of scaled scores correspond to the Standard Met, etc., overall scores. Due to the Covid pandemic, CAASPP tests were not administered in 2020 or 2021. In 2021-22, the state of California issued a shortened CAASPP assessment for English-Language Arts and Math, and this shortened assessment was used again this year (2022-23). Due to the shortened nature of the assessment, there are no Area Performance sub-scores. Instead, students only received an overall score and scale score. Instructions for Access Log in to your Aeries Parent Portal account. ( Portal login page here. ) Go to the TEST SCORES menu tab on the left. Menu tabs are across the top in the “old” Aeries Portal - find TEST SCORES there if you do not see it on the left. Select STATE TEST SCORE REPORTS. Under CAASPP, you will see a clickable button for any test score reports for which your student took the CAASPP assessments. Click on the button for ENGLISH next to 2023 to see your student’s score reports from the spring 2023 CAASPP administration. If your home language is a language other than English, there may be an additional button for a score report in a language other than English. That is provided by the state of California. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide score reports in languages other than those available automatically in the Aeries Portal. Problem-Solving If you have difficulty logging onto the Aeries Parent Portal, please email aeriesportal@mvschools.org for support. You can find additional information about the Aeries Parent Portal as well as a link to the portal login page at https://www.mvschools.org/aeriesportal , including information about what will be available via the portal when your student is enrolled in middle school.
Wednesday, Sep 06 2023
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MVSD Aeries Data Confirmation - August 28, 2023
Good afternoon Mill Valley families, we hope that the first two days of school went smoothly for you all, and that you now get to enjoy a weekend before the first full week of the school year. In this week's Family Newsletter we notified you that you will be receiving a ParentSquare message asking you to log into your Aeries Parent Portal account to confirm your student's data and emergency information. Clear instructions, including how to access your Aeries Parent Portal account, will be included in the message. This message will be sent out on Monday, August 28th to ensure that families are supported by MVSD staff should help be needed. If after receiving the message you find you do need help or guidance, please contact your school site office .
Friday, Aug 25 2023
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Family Newsletter - August 23, 2023
IMPORTANT DATES COMING SOON August 24 - First Day of School August 31 - Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee Meeting September 4 - Labor Day (no school) September 7 - Elementary Back to School Night September 11 - Community Drop In Meeting September 13 - Board of Trustees Meeting September 14 - Middle School Back to School Night Dear Mill Valley Families, It is with great pleasure that we welcome back our dedicated students, parents, and staff to what promises to be a year of growth, discovery and shared accomplishments. When your children enter our school doors tomorrow, please know that they will be greeted by compassionate, caring adults who will teach, nurture, and guide them to excel not only academically but also social emotionally so that they are prepared with the empathy and resilience to make meaningful contributions to their communities. We are dedicated to cultivating environments where every child feels valued, included, and supported. Here's to a wonderful 2023- 2024 school year! With sincere appreciation, Elizabeth Kaufman STAFF WELCOME BACK & COMMUNITY BUILDING On August 10th and 11th, the Mill Valley School District Cabinet and all school administrators participated in restorative practices training provided by Dr. Keisha Allen of the Black Family Development Incorporation ( https://www.bfditraininginstitute.org/ ). The purpose of our two days was to explore proactive opportunities to develop community, belonging, and inclusion in our day-to-day work with students, with staff, with families, and with each other. On August 21, 2023, we welcomed all district staff and participated in district-wide community building through a series of listening circles focused on how we can work together to meet the needs of all learners in Mill Valley. Please stay tuned for more information about restorative practices in Mill Valley. STAFF APPRECIATION On behalf of the Mill Valley School District staff, we would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to It Takes A Village for providing us with delicious coffee and treats from Red Whale Coffee . ITAV made sure that there was a warm welcome for all staff when we all gathered for our annual kick-off of the new school year. What a wonderful way to start the year! Thank you, ITAV! AERIES DATA CONFIRMATION This week you will receive a ParentSquare message asking you to log into your Aeries Parent Portal account to confirm your student's data and emergency information. Clear instructions, including how to access your Aeries Parent Portal account if you do not have one or have not accessed your account before, will be included in the message. After receiving this message, if you need support completing the data confirmation process, you can contact your school site office for assistance . COMMUNITY DROP-IN MEETINGS One of our commitments as an organization is to ensure belonging and transparency. We want to be proactive and responsive in addressing your interests, questions, and concerns. One forum we will use to build this culture is called “Community Drop-In Meetings.” Our first community meeting will be held on Monday, September 11, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Dr. Michele Rollins, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, and Dr. Elizabeth Kaufman, Superintendent, will take this hour to review the Board agenda with any interested community members, listen to questions, and attempt to answer the questions prior to the September 13, 2023 Board meeting. As can be anticipated, there may be questions we cannot answer; however, we will do our best to respond either during the drop-in meeting or in a follow-up communication prior to the Board meeting. MEASURE G UPDATES At the August 10th School Board Meeting , Mill Valley School District’s Director of Maintenance, Operations & Safety, Julio Arroyo, and representatives from construction management firm AECOM, updated the Board of Trustees and the community regarding the current Measure G progress. Some of the highlights from the presentation included the project assignment that includes full architectural and engineering services for Tamalpais Valley Elementary School, as well as announcing the two firms that the district has identified to provide support for the California Environmental Quality Act and a Hazmat consultant. LUNCH ORDER REMINDER The Lunchmaster is currently accepting lunch orders through September. If you are returning this year, and have an existing account, please update your student account to reflect the current grade level before placing your order. As with previous years, orders must be placed by 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday for the following week. Mill Valley will continue to pursue our goal of Zero Waste. Please help us to achieve that goal by reminding your students to pick up their meals as ordered. BELL SCHEDULES Elementary Schools Grades TK - 5: 8:15 am - 2:35 pm (M, T, TH, F) All Grades: 8:15 am - 1:45 pm (W) MVMS 8:35 am - 3:05 pm (M, T, TH, F) 8:35 am - 2:00 pm (W) A MESSAGE FROM THE CENTRAL MARIN POLICE DEPARTMENT August is Back to School Safety Month: Slow Down and Look for Children in School Zones As students head back to the classroom, the Central Marin Police Authority reminds parents and residents to slow down, follow the speed limit and be extra careful driving through school zones. “Please drive like it is your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew walking or riding their bike to school,” Traffic Officer Anthony Halligan said. “Pick-up and drop-off times can be hectic, but it’s important to be patient and stay safe as children are getting to and from school. It is better to be slow than sorry.” If you are behind a school bus with a stop sign and flashing red lights, drivers need to stop so students can safely get on and off the bus. Drivers must remain stopped while the red lights are on. Drivers in both directions must stop on any two-lane road without a median or a center turn lane. The Central Marin Police Authority offers the following tips to stay safe around schools: Slow down and follow the speed limit. Adhere to school policies and procedures for dropping off and picking up students. Stop for school buses. Watch for children rushing to catch the bus or exiting. Whenever possible, avoid blocking the crosswalk while waiting to make a right-hand turn. For parents with children walking or biking to school, teach them safe walking and riding behaviors, such as looking both ways before crossing the street, using sidewalks when available, and crossing at marked crosswalks with stop signs or signals. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL AND E-BIKE SAFETY The mission of Safe Routes to School is to increase the number of children walking and biking to school. They work closely with schools and local government to create a healthy lifestyle for children - and a safer, cleaner environment for everyone. In addition to providing professional instruction to teach safe bicycling and pedestrian safety skills, Safe Routes to School is also committed to providing e-bike information to families. Please take a moment to review this graphic if you have or are considering procuring an e-bike for your family. In addition to the varieties of e-bikes that are available, there are local ordinances that you and your rider should know and understand before you embark on that first ride. Mill Valley Police Department has also created a graphic to provide e-bike education. PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION In case you missed it, please take a moment to review the Newsletter that was sent out on August 16, 2023. It is filled with information that you will find useful all year. Parent Annual Notifications - Every year the District is required by law to share with you certain notifications and information. This was sent to every family via ParentSquare today and can be seen here . SUPERINTENDENT’S CONTACT INFORMATION The Mill Valley School District team is here to support you at the beginning of the school year and always. While the best first source of information is always your school site, I am also here to assist in any way I can. Please reach out to me if you have any questions via email at ekaufman@mvschools.org , my office phone at 415-389-7705, or my cell phone at 415-634-8085.
Thursday, Aug 24 2023
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Family Newsletter - August 16, 2023
Dear Mill Valley Families, Welcome back to the Mill Valley School District! As we prepare to embark on another enriching academic year, I am delighted to be joining you as Superintendent. Through the continued leadership and dedication of our educators, families and community, Mill Valley has earned a reputation for educational excellence. I look forward to partnering with you to ensure our district’s students continue to flourish. The Mill Valley School District Vision states, “Our learning community is dedicated to developing globally-minded, compassionate, resilient, and courageous students to learn and lead change in their world.” At the core of our district's mission is the belief that everyone should feel welcome, safe, accepted, and prepared. Strong partnerships with Kiddo!, the Mill Valley Parent Teachers Associations, and It Takes a Village support our educational community in addressing one fundamental question: "What is best for every Mill Valley School District student?" As Superintendent, I commit to holding this question central to my leadership. I take the responsibility of “in loco parentis (in place of a parent)” very seriously and attempt to approach every day and each decision as if your children are my very own. I value high-level accountability and transparency and welcome feedback from our community to ensure that I remain responsive to your needs. As we approach the 2023-24 school year, our focus will center on the themes of belonging and transparency. Our goal is to foster a collaborative community that models respect for all students, high achievement, and a happy, engaged student body. We are dedicated to creating an environment where students feel they belong, and where our staff and families feel supported, heard, and valued. Together, we create exceptional educational experiences for all our students. As we welcome our children back to school, I encourage you to reach out, share your thoughts and ideas, and be an active participant in the growth and success of Mill Valley School District. Please feel free to contact me by email at ekaufman@mvschools.org , by my office phone at (415) 389-7705, or by cell phone at (415) 634-8085. We look forward to a year of learning, growth, and achievement, and we thank you for your continued support and partnership. Warm Regards, Elizabeth Kaufman Superintendent Mill Valley School District District Back to School Information Overview (Please expect additional communication from your school principal) Class Placements and Student Schedules Elementary Class Placements Middle School Student Schedules Friday August 18 th at 4:30 p.m.: Class placements will be sent to parents via ParentSquare If you do not have ParentSquare access, please click here to set up your account Friday, August 18 th : Sixth grade schedules provided to students during the WEB Orientation Wednesday, August 23 rd : Seventh and eighth grade students may access their schedules online through the Aeries Portal . A note regarding class placement: Classroom placement is complex and many factors enter into the decision making process to form equitable classroom communities. In the Mill Valley School District, we are fortunate to have an exceptional group of teachers and staff to work with all of our students and families. We feel confident that students are placed in classrooms in which they will be successful, and changes to class assignments will not be made. Daily Bell Schedules Elementary Schools : M, T, Th, F: 8:15 a.m. - 2:35 p.m. W: 8:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. Middle School : M, T, Th, F: 8:35 a.m. - 3:05 p.m. W: 8:35 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. School Meal Program The Mill Valley School District, in partnership with The LunchMaster, offers free pre-ordered breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in the district. Please follow the instructions here to sign up for this optional program.If you are a returning family, please make sure that you update your students grade level before placing your order. All orders must be made one week in advance. Breakfast Supervision Elementary Schools : Breakfast service and yard supervision begin at 7:45 a.m. Breakfast service ends at 8:00 a.m. Students may continue eating until 8:10 a.m. Middle School Breakfast service and yard supervision begin at 8:00 a.m. For Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Families with Children at Other Elementary Sites Mornings: If your older children attend a site other than Edna Maguire or Park, please plan to drop them off during breakfast supervision time before dropping your TK child at school. You may then proceed to drop off your TK child. Afternoons : Please collect your TK child first. TK students are available for early pick up starting at 2:15 p.m. Following your TK pick up, you can proceed to your older child’s school. TK students remaining at Edna Maguire or Park will be engaged in play until the end of the day at 2:35 p.m. Ways to Stay Informed As partners in your children’s education, it is important to us that you have information about our schools and district readily available to you. In addition to our district and school websites, we offer the following ways to stay informed and engaged: ParentSquare will continue to be our primary tool for communicating with you for school and district information. ParentSquare provides a simple and safe way for everyone to connect. You’ll be able to receive all school and classroom communication, view the school and district calendar, sign up to volunteer or participate in activities and communicate directly with your teachers and school principal. Additionally, ParentSquare gives parents/guardians the ability to contact other families in their classroom to build community. Newsletters are sent regularly via ParentSquare from the district, each school, and our parent partner organizations. Please look for district newsletters on Wednesdays, parent organization newsletters on Thursdays, and school newsletters on Fridays. Board Meetings are typically held once per month and can be attended in person or through Zoom. The Board meeting schedule can be found here . Meeting agendas and minutes can be found here and video recordings are available here . School staff emails and telephone contact information is available at each school’s website. District Office Edna Maguire Elementary Mill Valley Middle School Old Mill Elementary Park Elementary Strawberry Point Elementary Tam Valley Elementary Ways to Get Involved The active involvement of parents is a hallmark of what makes Mill Valley schools outstanding. We welcome parent participation in multiple venues. Together, we make our schools great! Parent Partner Organizations : The following organizations are instrumental to the success of our schools, contributing significantly to the excellent educational opportunities available to Mill Valley children: Kiddo! is the Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation, an organization made up of parents, teachers, businesses, and active members of the community, who help fund vital programs including art, music, drama, poetry, dance, and teacher grants. Mill Valley PTAs are non-profit organizations at all five elementary schools and the middle school, who organize events at their site, increase pare nt involvement, and fund site-specific needs, including student enrichment programs. It Takes a Village (ITAV) promotes the academic success of all students in Mill Valley schools who learn differently, through parent education and advocacy, and recognizes and supports challenges in parenting and educating children with learning differences. Volunteering : In addition to volunteering with our parent organization partners and traditional ways of volunteering in your child’s classroom, each site relies upon the involvement of parents for daily yard and meal supervision, helping to monitor students during morning school drop off and afternoon pick up, and myriad other ways. For more information about volunteering, please visit our website here or speak to your site Principal. Working in MVSD: Joining our MVSD team as a district employee is another great way to support your children’s education. If you are interested in learning more about full-time or part-time work, please check our MVSD Job Opportunities. Substitute Teaching: We often need substitute teachers to support instruction during staff illness or absence. Parents who hold a bachelor's degree and meet the CTC basic skills requirement may be eligible to apply for an Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit , which would allow them to substitute in a MVSD classroom. More information about becoming a substitute teacher is available on the MCOE website . COVID-19 Test Kits : If you are in need of COVID tests, family tests are available at all school site offices or the District office. Safe Routes to School : With ongoing traffic congestion in Mill Valley, we are asking families to please consider walking or cycling to school when possible. Information about pedestrian and bicycle routes to each of our campuses is available at SR2S website here . Waitlist Information If your student has not yet been offered enrollment at your preferred school site, please have your child attend your assigned school beginning Thursday, August 24, 2023. Your child will remain on the waitlist and you will be notified of openings that occur throughout the school year. Please find Board Policy 5111.4 - Student Enrollment and School Assignment , as well as Administrative Regulation 5111.4 - Student Enrollment and School Assignment , linked for reference.
Thursday, Aug 17 2023
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Negotiations Update - June 13, 2023
Update from MVSD Regarding Negotiations with MVTA June 13, 2023 Good afternoon Mill Valley Families, We are pleased to announce that Mill Valley School District and Mill Valley Teachers Association have collaboratively reached a tentative agreement. MVSD and MVTA have agreed to the following terms for the 2023-2024 and the 2024-2025 school years: 10% salary increase for the 2023-2024 school year, effective July 1st, 2023. 4% salary increase for the 2024-2025 school year, effective July 1st, 2024. Hourly pay rate has increased from $45/hour to $55/hour. Increased stipends for various positions to support student learning programs to enrich educational offerings, including TK-8 teacher leaders and Middle School WEB coordinators. Stipends for Doctorate degrees and National Board Certification increased by $500/year to $1,500/year. Increase years of service honored for new hires from 15 to 20 years, phased in on a gradual basis, by the 2027-28 school year. Credit for up to 5 years of relevant service outside of public school for nurses, counselors, including speech and language pathologists. Release time for TK-5 grade teachers to administer one-on-one student assessments. Codifying current levels of planning and preparation time of 200 minutes for elementary and two planning and preparation periods for middle school unit members. Maintaining current levels of instructional aide support at all grade levels. Increased compensation and instructional aide support should class sizes exceed a certain level for classes TK-8 . MVTA members have ratified the tentative agreement. The next steps include incorporating new language into the contract, submitting the tentative agreement to the Marin County Office of Education for approval as required by law, and approval by the Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees. It is anticipated that Board consideration will take place at a Special Board meeting on June 23, 2023. Both parties are pleased to have reached this agreement, and we recognize and appreciate the hard work of both negotiating teams. In addition, both parties recognize the benefits of having this process completed before the end of the school year. Once again, a hearty thanks to the bargaining team members: MVTA MVSD Erin Frazier Catherine Elder Tara Ordoñez Ann Marie Padilla Ben Wien Michele Rollins Dagmar Derickson Jason Matlon Danny Chui Roman J. Muñoz Sincerely, Erin Frazier Michele Crncich Hodge MVTA President MVSD Board President
Tuesday, Jun 13 2023