Dear Park Families,

Hard to believe how quickly we are moving through the school year.  One more full week of school and then we will be off from February 16-20 for mid-winter break.   We have just completed our mid-year assessments and information will be coming home via parent square and in backpacks.  Stay tuned from your teachers and me for what is coming when and please let us know if you have any questions.  

Have a nice weekend!

David

February is Black History Month, a time to raise awareness and acknowledge the rich and diverse contributions of African Americans to the United States. Teachers are celebrating and recognizing African Americans as part of Black History Month, as well as throughout the year. Additionally, throughout the month of February, there will be a school-wide focus on notable African Americans who have played significant roles in the history of the Bay Area. 

Survey for 4/5th Grade Parents!

Hello Park, Edna, Tam Valley, Old Mill and Strawberry Point 4th and 5th Grade Parents,

On March 26th at 6PM, we’re hosting a districtwide meeting for all 4th and 5th grade families to discuss technology use at this age and desired community norms as students approach the transition to middle school.

To help us prepare, we invite you (ideally one parent per household) to complete an anonymous 5-minute survey by Friday, Feb 13. The survey will help us better understand:

• Current technology and phone use among this age group

• Typical timelines families are considering

• Interest in taking collective action around shared norms

We’ll share key takeaways from the survey, along with tips/guides for topics of most interest, at the meeting in March. 

Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your perspective--it will help guide a thoughtful, community-wide conversation and ensure that we are providing helpful and tangible tips. 

Parent Education Opportunities (from the Marin County Office of Education)

We are delighted to share that, by popular demand, renowned psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Madeline Levine, Ph.D. will be returning to Marin County for two powerful and timely evening sessions focused on supporting adolescents’ mental health and emotional well-being.

Hosted by the Marin County Office of Education, these free virtual events are open to parents, caregivers, educators, and school staff throughout our community. Each evening includes a live Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to engage directly with Dr. Levine.

March 10, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM
Springtime Stress – Testing, Transitions, and the Road Ahead
As students face testing season and end-of-year transitions, Dr. Levine will offer tools to help them manage performance-related stress and approach future planning with confidence and emotional balance.

REGISTRATION

We hope you’ll join us for these inspiring sessions as we continue working together to support the well-being of our students and families.

Warm regards,
Marin County Office of Education

As a reminder, Mid-Winter Break is February 16-20. All MVSD schools will be closed that week.

We are pleased to share that Elizabeth Kaufman will be returning to work on Monday. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Esmeralda Mondragon for stepping in and supporting the district during her absence, her guidance and support have been greatly appreciated. Esmeralda has been working with the district for some time in a consulting role, and it was wonderful to have someone familiar with our community to call upon during Elizabeth’s leave. She will continue her work supporting the district in other important roles, including negotiations and other projects. 

As we head into the weekend, with winter colds and seasonal bugs on the rise, we hope families take a little extra time to care for themselves and each other, especially if you’re gearing up for some Super Bowl fun!  

School attendance is very important for your child’s learning, but it’s also important to keep them home when they’re not feeling well. For guidance on when your child should stay home, please visit our School Nurse’s page here.

Please keep your student home if:

• They have an oral temperature (under the tongue) of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.

• They have fever, chills, body aches, cough, other complicating symptoms, and/or extreme tiredness.

Students may return when:

• They are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine (e.g., Advil, Tylenol), and

• Other symptoms are improving and your child can participate comfortably in routine activities.