Principal's Message
Dear Families,
Site Council
I would like to introduce our School Site Council representatives: Kate Flores, Nikki Borella, Gina Espinosa, Vyvianne Kiriakis, Frances Bray, Danae Gamble, Stefanie Reinstein, Rachel Morse, Raquel Mata and myself. Many thanks to Erika Jensen who is stepping down after two years of service, for her commitment and contributions to school improvement. Throughout the year, this dedicated group will review our School Safety Plan and is responsible for the development and implementation of the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). The SPSA is a tool for schools to prioritize particular programs and strategies that will best serve their students, families and the community. It is a plan for achieving school goals that are aligned directly with the district goals, thus guiding our school-wide quest for continuous improvement. Each participant brings valuable perspective and expertise to their governance role.
Lockdown Drill
Each year, we conduct fire drills, earthquake drills, a shelter-in-place drill and a lockdown drill. We will be conducting our annual lockdown drill on Wednesday, September 16th at 8:35am.
The safety of all children and staff in our schools is of the utmost importance to us. To maintain a safe environment for our students and staff, it is necessary that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans by conducting drills designed to exercise our procedures. I will make an announcement that the lockdown drill will begin and that the students are to make their way to a safe spot in the classroom (previously identified by their teacher) and remain silent until Vyvianne or I open the classroom door. The blinds will be closed, lights turned off and the doors locked.
The staff and I are communicating with students the importance of practicing what to do in case of an emergency in student-friendly language, and highlighting the power it gives them to deal with a situation in a calm and thoughtful manner.
Families may exempt their child from participating in the drill. Please provide written notification of this choice to the school office (vkiriakis@mvschools.org) and the classroom teacher at least 24 hours before the drill. If you do not want your child to participate in the drill, please bring them to school between 8:45am - 8:50am.
Smile...It’s Picture Day!
Picture Day is coming! Mugsy Clicks will be on campus to take individual photographs on Friday, September 18th. All photographs will be taken outdoors, in the courtyard, using natural light.
Another District Volunteer Opportunity - Tech Use Subcommittee
Strawberry Point is looking for parent/caregiver representatives to join the Tech Use Subcommittee which will be established as a subcommittee of the Safety and Wellness Committee to develop the District Instructional Technology Use Framework. Members of the Safety & Wellness Committee who are interested in helping shape this work are invited to participate in both.
Tech Use Subcommittee Meeting Schedule
All meetings will be held from 3:30–5:00 p.m. at the District Office.
October 19, 2026
November 2, 2026
November 30, 2026
January 26, 2027
February 2, 2027
Please let me know if you are interested in serving on the Tech Use Subcommittee for the 2026–27 school year.
Traffic Safety Reminder
As a reminder, please follow all school traffic and drop-off procedures to help us maintain a safe environment for our students, families and staff. This week, we had an incident in which a driver drove around a volunteer who was standing in the crosswalk holding a stop sign. Please remember that when a traffic volunteer or staff member is holding a stop sign, all vehicles must come to a complete stop and wait for their direction before proceeding. Our volunteers are there to help protect students and families as they enter and exit campus, and their instructions must be followed at all times. We understand that drop-off and pick-up can be busy, but we ask everyone to slow down, remain patient and prioritize safety.
To assist our TK families during morning drop-off, Ms. Grace (TKIA) will be stationed on the sidewalk to greet students and walk them directly to the TK/K playground. Thank you for partnering with us to make our school parking lot and crosswalks safe for everyone.
Beginning-of-Year Assessment Reports
Beginning-of-year assessments are currently underway. We look forward to analyzing this data to ensure every student receives the tailored support they need to thrive.
i-Ready For Families Reports (Grades 1–5): Will be delivered electronically via ParentSquare on Friday, September 18th.
DIBELS Reports (Grades 3–5): Hard copies will be sent home in student backpacks on Friday, September 18th.
DIBELS Reports (Grades 1–2): Students in 1st and 2nd grade begin DIBELS testing next week; their reports will follow at a later date once testing is complete.
Kiddo! + Drama
Performing arts build public speaking skills, emotional intelligence, and creative confidence that serve students for a lifetime. Thanks to Kiddo!, our TK through 8th grade students enjoy rich, curriculum-integrated drama instruction!
Our specialist-led programs connect literature, history, and theater at every stage:
TK & K: Building physical storytelling and imagination through Jelly Jam Time.
2nd & 3rd Grade: Bringing history to life in Myth Makers and taking the stage in the 2nd-grade musical.
4th Grade: Mastering stagecraft and classical literature through Shakespearience.
5th Grade: Reenacting pivotal moments in history with Walk Through the American Revolution.
6th - 8th Grade: Connecting ELA to stage with Word for Word, drama electives, and the MVMS Spring Musical.
Drama is just one piece of what Kiddo! powers. They also fund studio art, music, poetry, STEM, and counselors for a complete, whole-child education.
Because state funding covers only the basics, these programs rely on community support. Learn more at kiddo.org and follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see our student performers in action!
Mill Valley PTA Speaker Series
Join us on Wednesday, September 16th, from 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m. at Tam Valley Elementary School for The Friendship Toolkit: How to Help Your Child Navigate Friendship. We are excited to welcome Elisabeth Stitt, an award-winning parenting coach, former teacher with 25 years of classroom experience and founder of Joyful Parenting Coaching. She will share practical strategies to help children and teens maintain healthy friendships, while equipping parents to guide them through the natural emotional ups and downs. Please RSVP here!
Sincerely,
Kimberley
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We are excited to share that the Mill Valley Public Library (MVPL) is offering a free library card to every Mill Valley School District student, with no fees or fines associated with the account.
As we all appreciate, having a library card opens the door to an incredible range of learning resources and opportunities. Our local library is also a wonderful community gathering place - whether your child needs a quiet place to do homework, enjoys story time, or wants to participate in family activities.
To make the process of issuing the library cards as easy as possible for families, MVPL will work with the District to automatically create library accounts. To do this, the District will provide student directory information, including the student's name, address, birthdate, phone number, email address, and teacher.
If you do not want the District to provide your child's information to the Mill Valley Public Library, please complete this opt-out form no later than Thursday, September 17, 2026.
We are grateful to MVPL for this opportunity to connect our students with the many resources available through our local public library.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to provide our students with opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive, both inside and outside the classroom.