Dear MPCSD Families,

Thanks to our generous community, the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation granted $3,920,900 to MPCSD for 2026-27. This includes a base grant of $3.6M plus funds for Jeanie Ritchie innovation projects, Fund-A-Need to support student physical health and well being, and professional development through the MPAEF Endowment for Excellence in Teaching. Thank you to every donor, volunteer, and the MPAEF staff who worked so hard to make this possible.

The MPAEF grant is not supplemental to the district's budget. It is a dependable funding source that is critical to maintaining the quality of education in MPCSD. As Superintendent Gracia said at the June 4 board meeting, MPCSD excellence is only possible with the MPAEF through the long-standing partnership that is rooted in shared understanding and commitment to an excellent education for every student. MPAEF Co-Presidents Sally Loverro and Laura Low Ah Kee presented the symbolic check.

A Message from the 2026-2027 One Community Campaign Volunteer Leadership Team:  

The annual fall fundraiser led jointly by the MPAEF and school PTOs, known as the One Community Campaign (OCC), is a major component of the grant received from MPAEF. It also almost completely funds your school's PTO. In advance of the fall, please read the FAQs about the OCC, including an increase to the suggested donation next school year. Thank you for your continued support of excellence at our schools!

Our talented Hillview musicians, under the direction of retiring Instrumental Music Director Kathy Murdock, enjoyed a magical trip to Disneyland and even performed on Disney's legendary Hollywood Backlot Stage and experienced a real live recording studio. Their selections over the packed trip included Radetzky March, Defenders of the Realm, Feel it Still, Star Wars The Force Awakens, The Pink Panther, Golden, and Freedom Finale as well as a playlist of Disney classics. The students sharpened core skills like intonation, musical balance, and tone quality, and discovered exactly how phrasing, dynamics, and articulation can bring pure emotion to any piece of music to help tell a story. Back at school, they were able to watch iconic Disney movie clips synced up with the custom soundtracks they had recorded in the studio! 

This trip is always a meaningful capstone to a year’s hard work. While learning is front and center, the fun of Disneyland makes the practice and commitment to their instruments all the more celebratory. Incoming Hillview students who continue with band and orchestra have so much to look forward to as the level of musicianship just keeps getting stronger. Congratulations, Hillview musicians, and of course a huge thank you to all the parent organizers and chaperones, without whom the program and this adventure, would not be possible.

Revamping our lunch program was a frequent request by students and parents and we are happy to report that the board approved a contract with Revolution Foods beginning in the new year. A rigorous selection process included interviews and food tastings with students, staff, and families, and rigorous scoring and evaluation. We looked for: 

• Quality (fresh prepared meals students will actually eat), 
• Wellness (allergen-aware, allergen and dietary inclusivity with district wellness policy), 
• Equity (strong universal-meals execution and outreach to all families), and 
• Stewardship (transparent pricing and long-term financial sustainability). 

Revolution Foods was identified as the vendor best aligned with the district’s priorities, and we think your children will love it! You can see sample menus (chicken Caesar salad pictured here), nutrition, and allergen information at Revolution’s Resource page. 

If you haven’t used the lunch program yet, the fall might be the perfect time to start. School lunch is provided free to all students, with state and federal funds reimbursing the district for food costs and staff time. It can save you time in the morning, provide community among students who grab lunch at school, and even allow us to hire more lunch support staff in the future. Currently about 30% of students use the lunch program, but with a new vendor promising nutritious meals that really taste good, we would love to see that number grow. Look for more information in the fall.

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers and coaches who supported us this year! We know a great crew is ready to step up again in the fall. If that includes you, please read these important updates and reminders.

Continuing volunteers who completed the fingerprinting/TB assessment this year are all set. No need to repeat the volunteer process.

New volunteers and coaches for 2026-27, complete these steps:

• Complete the online Volunteer & Coach Registration Form
• Complete Live Scan fingerprinting 
• Provide a TB test or TB risk assessment 

All coaches - there is a new mandatory training requirement (California Senate Bill 848) for new and current coaches:

• Mandated Reporter Training: This must be completed before coaching begins. 
• Annual Renewal: This is an annual requirement for both new and returning coaches. 
• Human Resources will email the required training link and instructions to all current coaches on June 12, so there is flexibility to complete this requirement over the summer. 
• Please note that new and returning coaches may not begin coaching until HR has received confirmation that the required training has been completed. 

Questions? To verify your current clearance status or ask any questions about the process, please contact Human Resources at hr@mpcsd.org.

Superintendent Gracia and Reading Specialist Jacqui Cebrian were at the Menlo Park Farmers Market this week talking about summer reading! In case we missed you, check out Jacqui’s summer reading recommendations. There is something for every age, even adults! And kids are never too old to be read to. Grab a good book and keep those imaginations going. Happy reading!

The board approved Mobile Communications Board Policy and Administrative Regulations. Beginning in the new year, clear signage will 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 already been implementing an “off and away, all day” practice, so we anticipate a seamless transition to this new policy.

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.