MVMS Panther Pride - March 29, 2026
Wonderful Panthers,The 6th Grade Aloha Dance was a HUGE success Friday night! Thank you WEB, PTSA, parents and staff for all your help!
A friendly reminder that Spring Break is almost here - April 6th - 13th.
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
Mark your calendars... Spring Break is April 6th - 10th
Check out the Sports Calendar HERE
Your Help is Needed!
First, if you are interested in participating in our MVMS Math Steering Committee, please use this link to sign up. We will be meeting, Thursday, April 2, 2026 At MVMS beginning at 3:30pm. The steering committee will be looking at the different math pathways.
Second, if you are available between 12:15 and 1:15pm, we could use your help for lunch supervision. Please sign up on the following form.
School Reminders
Students, please remember to have a pass from your teacher whenever you leave class, even if it is to get water. We appreciate your help!
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!
Budget Presentations
On March 10, 2026, the Board of Trustees held a budget study session in the Middle School library to review the district’s budget history, consider the current fiscal outlook, and discuss key questions as we plan for the 2026–2027 budget. The session brought together representatives from across our community, including teachers and classified staff (MVTA/CSEA), district and site administrators, and parent and community partners from Kiddo!, PTA, BAC, and DAC. A copy of the presentation from the session is linked here.
Trustees rotated among small group discussions to listen to perspectives on several topics, including reserve levels, whether to include a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in long-term projections, considerations for addressing the projected deficit, and ways to improve transparency and confidence in the budgeting process.
To continue the conversation, district leaders will host school site meetings with parents in April and a districtwide staff meeting to share information and gather additional feedback.
Edna Magurie Monday, April 13, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
Old Mill Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
Park Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
Strawberry Point Friday, April 17, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
Tam Valley Monday, April 20, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
MVMS Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
Community members are also invited to share their perspectives through a Google feedback form linked here. Input from these conversations will help inform the development of the 2026–2027 budget.
MCOE Resources
| Upcoming Trainings for Families |
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It Takes A Village (ITAV)
PTSA
Please see our website here for ways you can support us.
Raising the Bar
Learn more about Raising the Bar, a program of Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships.
Kiddo!
Tee Off for Education
Kiddo!, Tam High Foundation, and the Mill Valley Golf Course are teaming up once again for an exciting community fundraiser benefiting Mill Valley students from TK through high school. Gather your friends, family, or colleagues and enjoy a fun, friendly tournament while supporting the programs that enrich our local schools.
Date: Sunday, April 26th, tee times between 7:00 - 1:00 pm
Format: Four-person, nine-hole team scramble. Teams can register as adults, students, or mixed.
Click here to register and secure your tee time.
Questions? Contact us at info@kiddo.org.
Superintendent's Report
Dear Families,
As you know, we pride ourselves for our educational excellence in Mill Valley. For the past three years, our elementary teams have focused on implementing evidence-based literacy programs to support the success of all students. We are reporting strong gains in student achievement, including meaningful progress among historically underserved student groups, following a multi-year investment in evidence-based literacy and instruction.
Recent CAASPP results show the percentage of students exceeding grade-level standards increased from 40.88% to 47.83%, while the percentage not meeting standards declined from 6.51% to 4.83%. Growth is especially notable among student groups that have historically experienced disparities. The percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged students exceeding standards nearly doubled (12.79% to 24.27%), and students who are both economically disadvantaged and Hispanic/Latine saw gains from 4.55% to 17.24% . Students whose families have a high school level of education also showed significant increases in advanced performance, while students whose parents hold graduate degrees increased their rates of exceeding standards by over 10 percentage points (46.35% to 56.43%) - demonstrating progress across all student groups.
We attribute these gains to a focused approach to strengthen multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). TK-5 teachers and administrators participate in ongoing training and coaching on structured literacy and practices grounded in the science of reading through district grade level collaboration days to support our adoption of CKLA, our new high-quality literacy program. This year, we have added a new literacy assessment and dyslexia screener, mClass DIBELs, to our assessment protocol so that all classroom teachers have information about students’ reading performance and strategies to support their growth. Coupled with our Targeted Learning Labs staffed by trained interventionists who deliver high-quality intervention supports, student performance on DIBELS also reflects our successful implementation of science of reading practices, as seen in the table below:
As California advances legislation such as AB 1454 and AB 121 to promote evidence-based literacy instruction, Mill Valley’s results demonstrate that the impact of this work has been underway. The district remains committed to ensuring all students have access to high-quality instruction and the opportunity to succeed. By working together - students, families, and educators - we can ensure that every child grows as a reader. Regular assessment, targeted instruction, and family support all play a vital role in helping students reach and exceed reading goals.
For more information, see the links below.
For more information about Dyslexia Screening: IDA Universal Screening
For more information about MClass DIBELS
For more information about MTSS: Amplify Complete MTSS Framework
For more information about Structured Literacy: IDA Structured Literacy (MTSS) Approach
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s learning journey!
Next Regular Board Meeting: April 16, 2026
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