Dear Parents and Guardians,

In June the board approved MPCSD’s Mobile Communications Board Policy and Administrative Regulations limiting campus use of student personal devices, including cell phones and smart watches. Clear signage was installed over the summer to alert students to turn their phones off and their learning on. The policy will apply throughout our entire campuses whenever students are there for school and school-sponsored events. MPCSD has been implementing an “off and away, all day” practice for many years, so we anticipate a seamless transition to this new policy.

The new policy also supports MPCSD’s overall efforts to prioritize hands-on learning, pen-to-paper writing, and problem solving, while thoughtfully utilizing technology to support teaching and differentiating learning. We believe this is fundamental to creating conditions for student belonging and academic excellence.

Volunteers, Coaches, and Visitors - Thank You, Welcome, and Updates

Thank you to everyone who volunteers and coaches! So many of the district’s beloved programs rely on your dedicated service. We also welcome visitors to our campuses and have a new and improved check-in process this year.

Volunteers and coaches who have not yet completed the clearance process can find more information at the volunteer/coach webpage. For student safety, all volunteers and coaches must be fingerprinted and provide TB screening. The school check-in process is simpler this year and every cleared volunteer will receive an email detailing how to check in at our schools. TLDR: No QR code needed in advance and no QUICKPINs! Read more in your email from Human Resources (HR).

Coaches must take a state-mandated training course and provide our Human Resources team with the completion certificate which we are required to keep on file. When interested coaches complete the volunteer/coach request form, HR will reach out to provide details on the course.

As always, visitors must check in at the school office when arriving on campus. We think you will find our new process to be a welcome improvement. If you run into any trouble at a kiosk when arriving at our schools, please let the front office know, and they will be glad to help.

Large events like shows/performances, movie nights, parades, fairs, and clapouts do not require visitor check-in.

MPCSD is now using Revolution Foods (their chicken dumplings meal pictured here) as its school meal provider. All students, regardless of household income, are eligible to receive free meals at school as part of California’s Universal Meals Program. It’s easy! There is no pre-ordering; students simply join the meal line and select their food. The August menus are ready to view at our Food and Nutrition Program webpage (ELC families receive menu information through their newsletters).

If your child has food allergies, please consult the "Allergen & Nutrition Report" posted at the menu link (scroll past the menus to find the reports). Revolution Foods does not have a 100% allergen-free kitchen. If your child has severe food allergies, please consult your physician. 

If you haven’t used the lunch program yet, the new year might be the perfect time to start. It can save you time in the morning, provide community among students who grab lunch at school, and with more students using the program, even allow us to hire additional lunch support staff in the future. Questions about our meal program? Contact lunch@mpcsd.org.

MPCSD promotes active transportation to school and supports the City of Menlo Park’s efforts through the Safe Routes to School program that includes customized walk and roll maps to each of our campuses. There are many ways to get involved with SRTS at your campus, too. While walking and traditional biking are encouraged, please remember that last fall the board approved our E-bike/e-moto policy that prohibits students and minors under age 16 from riding and/or parking throttle e-bikes on our campuses. Student safety is our top priority.

The OCC is our district’s annual fundraiser, funding each school PTO as well as providing a critical portion of our district’s budget. It is through your support and generosity that we are able to continue to provide excellence in education and enrichment for each and every student. Our goal is to raise $4.1M with 100% participation by September 25 - the suggested donation is $3,000/student, but every dollar counts and every donation matters. Learn more about the OCC and stay tuned for more information when we launch at Back-to-School Nights!

Community notice: The Hillview Library will give away old or unused library books/novels FREE to the public—first come, first served. There will be many choices! Remember to bring your own bags. Give these books a new home and help the school make space for new learning materials!

Where? Hillview Middle School, 1100 Elder Ave, Menlo Park, outside the front office (no need to check in). When? The week of August 24-31. Following this public giveaway, these books will be donated or disposed of.

Kristen Gracia, Superintendent | mpcsd.org

Governing Board:

Jed Scolnick, President

Josh Spira, Vice President/Clerk

Sherwin Chen

Scott Saywell

Francesca Segrè

Board Meeting Calendar. Board meeting agendas and Zoom links may also be found at the district homepage 72 hours prior to every regular meeting.