Welcome Back, Families!

With less than ten days before school starts, we are writing with a refresher on the role of Kiddo! in the Mill Valley School District (MVSD) and the programming we offer to all students, TK-8. Excellent schools require the engagement of the entire community. Kiddo! is proud to partner with MVSD and the Mill Valley Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) to ensure that every student in our district benefits from this outstanding education.

Arts education rounds out the amazing education our students are already receiving to introduce them to the arts, and it offers older students the opportunity to dive deeper into an area of their choosing. Additionally, beginning this year, Kiddo! is providing funding to MVSD to support wellness and counseling, new STEM electives at MVMS, and transitional kindergarten. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our community. In fact, nearly 80% of our annual fundraising comes directly from families, like yours, in the MVSD. We ask for an annual donation of $1,450 per student, but all donations are welcomed and appreciated. Please consider giving at a level that is meaningful to your family.

We also offer a monthly payment plan that spreads your donation across 12 months. To meet the suggested annual donation of $1,450 per student, you can contribute:

$125/month for one student

$250/month for two students

$375/month for three students

You can also enter any amount for your monthly contribution that works for your family.

If you currently have a monthly payment plan in place, it will continue automatically. Please contact us at info@kiddo.org if you have any questions about your existing donation.

Back to School Parent Party at Sweetwater Music Hall

Featuring Jon Chi & the Pacific Syndicate!

Join us on Thursday, September 4th for a night out to kick off the school year at Sweetwater Music Hall. This event would not be possible without the generous support of our long time Kiddo! Business Partner - Sweetwater Music Hall. Please support the businesses that support Kiddo!. Purchase tickets here.

What Is Kiddo!?, Anyway?

Kiddo!, the Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation, was founded in 1982 in response to the passage of Proposition 13, which drastically reduced property taxes and, correspondingly, public school funding. Our mission is focused on ensuring a well-rounded education for our students by funding arts education and more in all Mill Valley Schools, in partnership with the school district. 

What Programming Does Kiddo! Provide for My Student?

In all five elementary schools, students receive weekly art and music classes taught by fully-credentialed teachers, employed by MVSD with funding from Kiddo!. Also, across the elementary schools, Kiddo! funds dance, poetry, and curriculum-integrated drama programs. Dance is offered to students in TK, K, 4th, and 5th grades, with a performance for families at the end of the lessons. Students in Grades 1, 3, 4, and 5 participate in a poetry unit. Curriculum-integrated drama programming occurs in 2nd grade, 4th grade (the beloved Shakespearience program), and 5th grade. Additionally, beginning in 2025-2026, Kiddo! will provide additional funding for elementary counseling (for three years) and for transitional Kindergarten (for one year).

At Mill Valley Middle School, Kiddo! funding provides for both electives and in-class programming. All MVMS students can choose among arts-focused and other electives that are offered four days a week. Kiddo!-funded electives include Studio Art 6, 7, 8, Orchestra, Band, and Chorus. And, new for the 2025-2026 school year, Kiddo! funding will support a portion of the STEM electives. Additionally, 6th grade students engage in a poetry unit with California Poets in the Schools. All MVMS students, Grades 6 through 8, participate in a curriculum-integrated drama unit in their ELA classes. Kiddo! also provides funding for the Robotics club and partial funding for the annual MVMS Spring Cabaret/Musical.

Finally, we offer annual Innovative Teacher Grants to fund programming related to and beyond the arts-education focus. This program is funded through generous parent support at our bi-annual Kiddo! Gala Fund-a-Need. Our 2025 event raised more money than ever before to fund teacher grants for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years! Our next gala will be in March 2027.

How Can I Get Involved?

There are many ways to help Kiddo! and Mill Valley schools provide outstanding teachers and programs like art, music, drama, poetry, and dance. The annual, per student ask is $1,450 to fund all existing programs in our schools for the upcoming school year, although donations of any amount are welcome and appreciated. Families who are able to give more help offset those who are not able to donate. Excellent schools need everyone’s support and our Mill Valley students will thank you! 

We also host fundraising and community events throughout the year, including our Back to School Night After Party at Sweetwater. These events help Kiddo! raise additional funds and help us all come together as a community to support our children. To make these events possible, we have several volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Email us at info@kiddo.org to learn more about volunteering.