MVMS Panther Pride - March 8, 2026
Wonderful Panthers,
Remember to set your clocks one hour ahead. Tomorrow is the first day of the new trimester. We can't wait to see you!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at kkriss@mvschools.org. You are always welcome to make an appointment to meet with me, also.
Thank you,
Kelly Kriss, Principal
Bell Schedule for This Week
What's Happening
3/10 Special Board Meeting
3/11 Spring Village Fest
Check out the Sports Calendar HERE
Cell Phone and Watch Reminder
Just a friendly reminder, cell phones can be used outside of the building until 8:30am. The building opens for students at 8:15am. Cellphones and watches need to be turned off and in your backpack upon entering the building. Thank you!
MCOE Resources
| Upcoming Trainings for Families |
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It Takes A Village (ITAV)
Spring Village Fest
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Join the Mill Valley school community for Spring Village Fest on Wednesday, March 11 (5–7pm, quiet hour 4–5pm) at the Mill Valley Community Center!
Learn about neurodiversity and disabilities and celebrate community and belonging with:
Crafts & sensory stations
Quiet and active zones
FREE pizza and cupcakes for kids
Music & Movement and The Bubble Lady
Therapy dogs & face painting
Community resources
Let’s build a more compassionate, connected community together.
RSVP here to let us know you are coming! And please consider volunteering here.
It's that time of year when your PTSA is planning for the Executive Board for next school year. Our roles have to be proposed with names by our March General Meeting, and as such we are posting this message now to see who among you might be interested in joining!
It's such a great way to get to know the School Administration, to understand the issues and decisions made in the background of your MVMS community, and to have direct impact on your child's school experience. Not all roles are big lifts, and most of our board members are full time working parents. We highly encourage you to reach out for more information to see how you can get involved! Below are the open roles for next school year. Reach out to Ashley Droege with inquiries!
-Vice President
-DEI Lead
There is only one Exec Board Meeting per month, and much of your role can be remote. It really takes a village to make all this work-please consider joining our team for your school!!
Please see our website here for ways you can support us. We are still below our participation goal for the year, and we truly appreciate any way you can support. As you can see, it goes to great use, and the staff and PTSA Board are so grateful for this community!
Raising the Bar
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We are proud to partner with Raising the Bar, a county-wide initiative committed to keeping youth events substance-free through policy that prohibits adult drinking or drug use at youth-centered events.
Research shows that parents and caregivers play a powerful role in shaping young people’s attitudes and decisions around alcohol and other substance use. By working together, we can make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our youth – reducing the short- and long-term consequences of underage substance use for adolescents, families, and our broader community.
Raising the Bar, a program of Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships works in collaboration with Marin Prevention Network, Marin County Office of Education, Marin Health and Human Services, Marin schools, youth sports teams and organizations and other local community based organizations. Together, we aim to shift norms around substance use and encourage healthy choices by promoting positive adult role modeling.
We request that all adults abstain from using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other substances at youth-centered events, during youth sports competitions, and at team celebrations. By collectively promoting healthy behaviors, we can support a safer, healthier environment for all youth.
To learn more, please visit rtbmarin.org or email lisa@mhyp.org.
Thank you for your support in helping our young people thrive.
Kiddo!
PTSA, Kiddo!, and MVSD work closely together to maintain educational excellence for our students. Kiddo! plays a vital role by fully funding arts education, and this year, we stepped up to provide crucial additional funding to protect elementary counseling and add STEM electives at MVMS. These essential programs rely entirely on the generosity of our community; without your donations, the salaries for these dedicated teachers and the programs they lead would simply not be covered, and these opportunities would vanish. If you haven't yet, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Kiddo! today at a level meaningful to your family. Every single dollar directly supports our students by ensuring these high-quality, essential programs continue. www.kiddo.org
Superintendent's Report
Friday, March 6, 2026
Board Budget Study Session
On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., the Board will hold a Budget Workshop in the Middle School Library. The agenda for the meeting is attached. During the workshop, the Board will review the district’s current financial status and discuss the assumptions that will guide the development and adoption of the 2026–2027 budget, as well as the district’s multi-year financial projections.
Members of the Budget Advisory Committee, MVTA, CSEA, Kiddo!, PTA, and the Parcel Tax Committee have been invited to participate in table discussions with Trustees during the workshop. Audience members will also have an opportunity to provide feedback using note cards.
In April, Assistant Superintendent Paula Rigney and I will visit campuses again to provide parents with updates and an opportunity to ask questions.
Spring Village Fest
I would also like to highlight the Spring Village Fest, sponsored by our PTA DEI Committee, on March 11 from 4:00–7:00 p.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center. In recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, this gathering is designed to provide families with a welcoming space to learn more about neurodiversity and disabilities while connecting with community organizations and local resources.
To help ensure the event is accessible and comfortable for all, a Quiet Hour will be held from 4:00–5:00 p.m., featuring limited amplified sound and a smaller, more relaxed environment. Activities throughout the evening will include therapy dogs, arts and crafts, sensory exploration opportunities, outdoor games, music and movement, and informational tables.
The event will also recognize the 20th anniversary of It Takes a Village (ITAV), Mill Valley’s special education PTA. Janet Miller, founder of It Takes a Village and former MVSD School Board Trustee, will join the community in marking this meaningful milestone.
Opportunities such as this reflect our community’s ongoing commitment to awareness, inclusion, and fostering a strong sense of belonging for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Feel free to reach out to any of our administration:
Kelly Kriss, Principal, kkriss@mvschools.org
Melanie Harris, Assistant Principal, mharris@mvschools.org
Rob Celli, Dean, rcelli@mvschools.org