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NEWS
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Welcome to the Mill Valley School District News
page. If you
would like to receive monthly updates via
email, please sign up in the box
to the left.
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Important Dates |
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September 11
Sept 5
- Elementary
Sept
19 - Middle School | |
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| Superintendent's
Message |
 As
we start a new school year in Mill Valley, what better
commitment can we make to each other than to work together for
our children? Each new school year brings with it the
promise of high levels of learning for our students.
That learning is made possible by the collaboration of a
learning community that includes a dedicated professional
staff, educational partners committed to the school district's
mission, and parents who not only support their own children,
but the hopes and dreams of all children in our
community.
As
I do each year, I encourage you to visit one of your local
schools to experience the quality of teaching and learning
that takes place each day. It is made possible because
all of our staff care deeply about supporting kids.
It also happens because caring community
members like you support this fabulous learning
community.
Sincerely,
Ken Benny
Superintendent
"Let us put
our heads together and see what life we will make for our
children."
-Tatanka Iotanks (Sitting Bull, Lakota
Sioux) |
| Maasai Dancers Perform in Our
Schools |
 The Mill Valley School
District is pleased to welcome the Friends of Sironka
Maasai Dance Troupe, a group of talented young Maasai who use African
music and dance as an expression of culture to
international audiences.
The Maasai Dance Troupe will be
performing in our schools September 17-21. Performances
include a dance recital with post
performance workshops in bead-making, hair braiding,
song and dance, storytelling, and batik art.
Host Families Needed
 We are looking for families
to host the dancers while they are here. Hosting
involves inviting two dancers into your home for a stay of 5
nights from September 14-19 or from September
19-24. Hosting families are asked to provide lodging,
meals, and a warm and inclusive welcome. Dancers stay in
pairs and can share a room in your
home.
If you would like to get
involved or would like more information please
contact Mill Valley parent Andrea Brandeis at abrandeis@aol.com or call
415.383.9800.
Funding for school performances has been generously
provided by our Parent Teacher Associations.
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| Enrollment Continues to
Increase |
| Good News Provides
Challenges and
Opportunities
 For the third consecutive year,
enrollment in the Mill Valley School District has
increased
significantly. No other school district in Marin County
has experienced such a phenomenon. On opening day,K-8
student enrollment was 2429, up nearly 100 students from
the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. This
included 320 entering kindergarten students, which will be the
largest entering kindergarten class since at least 1992.
From October 2004 to day one of this school year, the Mill
Valley School District has grown by nearly
200 students. This three year increase has
resulted in the hiring of eleven new classroom teachers just
to keep pace with growth as well as the addition of support
staff to do the same.
To know that families want to be a
part of this District is great news. We hope you will
stay tuned as we work through the year and develop a 2008-09 operating budget that
anticipates continued growth
and makes it possible for continued
quality learning.
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| Board Commissions Facilities Master
Plan |
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With results of a conditions
assessment that
identified over $19 million dollars in 'basic repairs' and a
concern about meeting future enrollment growth, the Board of
Trustees authorized District staff to conduct a Facilities
Master Plan that will shape the future of school district
facilities for at least the next ten years.
Vanir Construction Management
Inc. will conduct the development of the plan and report
to the Board in February of 2008. The Master Plan will
evaluate needs at each site, at the District Office and will
involve staff and parents the process.
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| High Levels of Achievement
Continue |
| STAR Results
Published
We can all be proud of our students and staff in
Mill Valley as annual results of the California Standards Test
(CST) were made public on August 15, 2007. Additionally,
Academic Performance Index (API) scores for schools and
districts were released on August 31,
2007.
As has been the
case since 2003, the District has demonstrated continuous,
incremental improvement on all assessments and at all grade
levels, with the vast majority of our students either meeting
or exceeding state expectations. While this is but one
measure of success for our students, schools, and District, we
can celebrate these
accomplishments.
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| Strategic Plan Update |
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A Focused Strategic Plan Drives Our
Decisions
To guide its major initiatives
for the next three years, the Board is expected to approve an
updated strategic plan in October or November of 2007. The 2002-2007
Strategic Plan and various other projects of the District have
provided guidance to a core team of trustees, staff, parents
and community members over the past several months and
included community feedback meetings this past spring.
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