Can you believe we only have 8 weeks of school left?  There are so many activities and events coming up.  Please make sure you read through my newsletter each week to be informed.  

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

Check out the Sports Calendar HERE

5/4 CAASPP Testing starts
5/6 MVMS & Redwoods May Day Celebration 

Parent Volunteers Needed
We invite you to join us at lunch time for supervision.  Please go to this link and sign up for lunch supervision.
If you have any questions, email Melanie Harris at mharris@mvschools.org.
Thank you for volunteering at MVMS.

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. 

• 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 

• Let’s Talk: Mental Health and Underage Substance Use - Wednesday, May 6th from 7:00 - 8:30 pm via Zoom.  Explore the connection between youth mental health and substance use. This discussion will highlight how stress and emotional challenges impact teens—and how parents can provide meaningful support.  More information and register here.

It Takes A Village (ITAV)
Learn more at 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

Celebrating Our Students’ Innovation in Coding

I am excited to share highlights from an inspiring year of learning in our district’s coding program. Across classrooms and grade levels, our students have demonstrated creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration through hands-on STEM experiences that bring learning to life.

At the end of 2025, I released an episode of “Inside the District” podcast focused on the growth of our coding program. The episode was hosted by parent James Sheppard and featured conversation about how coding and computer science are expanding learning opportunities across our schools.  

 Podcasts can be found here.

I was joined by our Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA), Ms. Katie Fisher, along with several of our coding students, who shared firsthand insights into their learning experiences. Their voices brought the program to life in a powerful way, highlighting both the skills students are developing and the excitement they feel as they engage in hands-on, future-ready learning.

In March, our middle school students transformed the library into a vibrant space of creativity and engineering through their “Petting Zoo” coding project. Students designed and built interactive robotic creatures using everyday materials such as cardboard and craft supplies, combined with engineering components like sensors, motors, and programmable microcontrollers including micro:bit and Hummingbird Robotics kits.  This project gave students the opportunity to design, build, test, and refine their ideas while integrating science, technology, engineering, art, and creativity.

The culmination of this year’s learning was showcased at this week’s Board meeting, where Ms. Petrini’s coding students proudly presented their work. The robots demonstrated at the Board meeting were the same “Petting Zoo” creations originally showcased in March.

Students shared their projects with confidence and enthusiasm, clearly demonstrating their technical skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Their work served as a powerful example of what students can accomplish through meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.

I would like to extend a special thank you to Sarah Petrini and Katie Fisher for their leadership and dedication in guiding students through this engaging, project-based learning experience, made possible through Prop 28 funding, which supports expanded arts and music education opportunities for students.

I am incredibly proud of our students and staff for their hard    work, creativity, and commitment to excellence. These experiences reflect our shared goal of preparing students with the skills and confidence they need for the future.

Next Regular Board Meeting: May 14, 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