California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction law, often called SB 1383, establishes methane reduction targets for California by setting goals to reduce disposal of organic waste in landfills, including edible food.  Mill Valley School District has been composting since the bill came into effect this year, although our schools were already sorting waste products like bottles, cans, paper, cardboard and food waste.  Most of the school sites have their own garden and are actually using the compost on their plants!

Mill Valley School District’s LCAP goal of creating an educational experience to support balanced learners is one that our community understands, as evidenced by the recent approval of  Measure G .  Over the last few years, communities have become increasingly aware that to balance expectations of achievement, there must be a much higher emphasis on ensuring our youth are given the tools to build a resilient social-emotional component into their repertoire.

MVSD is excited to announce the appointment of Cyd Amaral to the position of Executive Assistant to the Cabinet and Communications Specialist.  Cyd comes to us bringing experience from the Reed Union School District, the Tamalpais Union High School District, and Kentfield School District.

MVSD administrators presented to the Board of Trustees updates on initiatives that are being funded by the Educator Effectiveness Fund, testing data, and steps being taken by MVSD to increase and improve student achievement.

The start of a new school year is always an exciting and momentous time for our youth, but this year students in Mill Valley School District
returned to find impressive upgrades!

The Mill Valley School District is pleased to announce our new Middle School Assistant Principal, Jonna Palmer. 

The Mill Valley School District is pleased to announce our new Director of Educational Technology, Kate Sprague.  Kate will join the team prior to the 2022-23 school year.

Mill Valley students are incredibly lucky to have individual school counselors in every elementary school, and one for each grade level at Mill Valley Middle School, bringing our ratio of student to counselor to 300:1, which is far below the Californian average of 527:1.

In August 2019, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Berman motivated the entire Mill Valley School District staff to participate in “30-Day Challenges” throughout the 2019-20 school year, with the intent of making small intentions into powerful changes every day.   Fast forward to May 13, 2022, 1001 days later, you will find four driven and dedicated Middle School staff continuing the challenge they started together two and a half years ago.

Recently our school community was treated to a cultural “show-and-tell” evening at Edna Maguire, hosted by students and families who celebrate the Islamic religious holidays of Ramadan and Eid. The special event, attended by over 150 people, included an informative presentation about the holiday and its customs, and fun and engaging activities such henna tattoos, Hijab styling, and craft stations, plus snacks and treats traditionally eaten to break the daytime fast. 

The inclusion of engineering in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as a key component of K–12 science learning has supplied both challenge and opportunity for elementary teachers. Old Mill 5th grade teacher, Sarah Ferner, has her students utilizing the District adopted Amplify Science curriculum, which correlates well with her science backed teaching approach

A STEAM education is an important priority and gives students technical knowledge that will be the foundation for future educational success and job skills.   In addition to our strong and vibrant arts program for students, this year in the Mill Valley School District, Instructional Technology Coach, Katie Fisher, has been targeting new ways to bring technology and engineering education to the forefront of our curriculum.

This article outlines the work being done by MVSD in preparation for the new Math Framework currently being reviewed by the California Department of Education.

The Mill Valley School District is excited to announce the selection of our new Mill Valley Middle School Principal for the 2022-2023 school year. Danny Chui has been approved for the position and will be joining our team in July.

On March 1, 2022, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond declared an urgent need to recruit mental health clinicians, and unveiled a bill that, if passed, could help to secure 10,000 clinicians in the state.  Mill Valley School District’s counseling team is now fully staffed, and the exploration of a Wellness Program in the district is underway.