MARCH 2026

Art Meets Engineering and Belonging:

8th Graders Celebrate 20 Years of "It Takes a Village"

In honor of the 20th Anniversary of It Takes a Village (ITAV), eighth-grade art students were challenged to collaborate in small groups to create large-scale sculptures made entirely of cardboard. The goal was to celebrate, educate, and highlight the lived experiences of individuals with neurodiversity or disabilities.

This project was a deep dive into both research and empathy. Students explored their chosen topics as a group, brainstorming and researching to collect the knowledge and inspiration needed to translate complex human experiences into three dimensions. For many, the subject matter was personal, with students drawing on their own experiences with neurodiversity or disability. 

Beyond the message, the project required significant technical skill and engineering. Students had to utilize their creativity and structural knowledge to ensure their cardboard sculptures were strong, well-built, and free-standing. Upon completion, each group authored a statement to accompany their work, explaining how their vision was executed and why their topic was vital to them. The result was a powerful display of how our students use the arts to tackle academic research, technical engineering, and community advocacy.

As instructor Julie Leonard said: "As their teacher, I am immensely proud of the maturity and thoughtfulness each student exhibited. The sculptures are so unique, but also collectively work together to create a supportive and cohesive environment. All sculptures are made out of the same material, as we humans are, but vastly different in how we move through this world."

TEACHER GRANTS IN ACTION:

8th Grade STEM Night Sparks Curiosity

On February 23, Mill Valley Middle School 8th graders enjoyed an exciting evening of hands-on science exploration during STEM Night, made possible through a Kiddo! Teacher Grant in partnership with the Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley.

Students and their families rotated through a variety of interactive physics exhibits designed to spark curiosity and encourage free-flowing exploration. Phenomena included electricity, magnetism, mechanics, light and optics, sound, and fluid dynamics, giving students the chance to experiment, ask questions, and see science concepts come to life.



The evening was a wonderful example of how Kiddo! grants help bring engaging, real-world learning experiences to our students—igniting curiosity and inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators.

CABARET: Matilda, Jr.

Coming soon to the Mill Valley Middle School gym is Roald Dahl's musical, Matilda, Jr. A fun, rebellious musical featuring Matilda Wormwood, who's an intelligent young girl who uses courage, imagination and even a little magic to stand up to unfair adults. Get ready to be treated to classic songs like "Naughty" (Matilda realizes kids can change the trajectory of their own story), "When I Grow Up" (children imagining the future), and "Revolting Children" (the kids rebel against antagonist and terrifying headmistress Miss Trunchbull).

UPCOMING EVENTS

• March 18-20: Kiddo! Cabaret performance of Matilda in the MVMS gym, tickets $20/adult, $10/kids, cash or check accepted at the door, 6:30pm.
• Sunday, April 26: Kiddo!/Tam High Foundation Golf Tournament: Join the Kiddo!, Tam High Foundation, and the Mill Valley Golf Course for a tournament fundraiser benefiting students from TK through high school. Please click HERE to register.
• Memorial Day Weekend: Kiddo! Carnival and Day on the Green, May 22-25, advance discounted tickets will be available the week of Monday, May 18 at the Kiddo! Office, elementary school sites, and MVCC. Follow Kiddo! on Instagram (@kiddomillvalley) for details on ticket sales later this spring.