Principal's Weekly Message
Happy Friday Edna Families!
Another week at Edna has come and gone. We appreciate the PTA’s sponsoring of the Try It Truck this week and are looking forward to the Variety Show on Sunday.
Our 4th Grade team sent out a PS today to families with reminders about some of the school rules and the support from home that we need to help with us. I want to include part of their message here as it applies to all of our students:
To help maintain a focused, positive, and safe learning environment, please ensure that your child keeps toys, gum, and any non-school related items at home unless they are specifically requested for a classroom activity or party. All electronics, including smartwatches and cell phones, must remain in backpacks throughout the day. Failure to do so will result in confiscation of these items.
Thank you for your partnership in this,
Daniel
Staffing Updates:
We have had and will have some staffing changes this week and in the upcoming couple of weeks.
Yara Fraser joined Edna this week as an instructional assistant in TK (Room 1). We’re already grateful for her service to many of our youngest learners.
Angelica Silva has been acting as a Teacher on Special Assignment and leading our TLL (Targeted Learning Lab) intervention programming while our permanent TOSA was out on leave for much of the school year. Angelica’s last day in this role will be next week, and we want to thank her for her service. Jennifer Albin will be back from leave beginning on Wednesday, and we’re excited to welcome her back!
In the Art Room, Ms. Jackie has been filling in while our permanent art teacher had been out on leave. Jackie’s last day will be Thursday, and we’re grateful for her service to our Edna students. Bethany Womack (Ms. B) will return after Spring Break, and we look forward to her return.
Thank you, Edna Community, for taking a moment to thank and welcome these new, departing, and returning staff members.
Try It Truck:
Our Edna PTA sponsored the Try It Truck this week where our TK, K, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students were able to build and explore. What a great enrichment opportunity for all our students in the past two weeks.
Lost and Found:
With cool mornings and warm afternoons, our Lost and Found area is quickly growing with sweatshirts. Please make sure to check the Lost and Found for many missing items before Spring Break in one week. At that time, all remaining items will be donated to local non profits.
Food Drive:
Our Student Council is hosting a food drive. We are encouraging all students to participate. Thanks for helping support this community service project. The last day to donate is next Friday, April 3rd.
Plastic Film Packaging Recycling Drive:
The Student Council is also hosting a recycling drive, hoping to keep as much plastic film as possible out of the landfill. Plastic film includes plastic grocery bags, plastic padded envelopes, plastic food wrapping, storage bags/sandwich bags, among other items. You can drop off your plastic film items anytime until May 4th, when it will be collected.
If you would like more information about what we will be collecting, how you can collect and recycle these items at home, as well as questions on how these items are recycled, please check out this link: Edna Ridwell Drive. While we do not promote any particular company, we do promote environmental stewardship.
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)
Administration of the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments occurs this Spring for our 3rd through 5th grade students. Students will take the CAASPP in ELA and Math. Fifth grade students will also participate in the California Science Test (CAST). This testing will occur throughout the month of May. More details of exact testing dates will be provided by your student’s teachers.
From our DEI Committee:
The Connection Corner–Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Update
When students see women leading and supporting one another, it expands what they believe is possible. Moments like these remind us how important it is to celebrate contributions and continue building a culture of belonging.
Lets Get Thinking ?
How can seeing a variety of leaders influence what students believe is possible for themselves?
Stay tuned for more ways to connect and build community!
We’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts, reflections, or stories with us at dei@ednamaguire.org. Your voice matters. Be part of the conversation.
We care about this. You belong here. Let’s build this together.
Next up: DEI Meet UP! – Tuesday, April 21
Community DEI Zoom Meeting
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Join via Zoom:
https://zoom.us/j/4751946921?pwd=ivnaFH6PT00DgTPBydhpZ4faFaWcJP.1#success
Evening Community Discussion
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Edna Library
From the Garden:
Spring has officially arrived, and the garden is entering its most productive time of year!
We’d love for you to join us for a Garden Work Party this Sunday, March 29 from 10 AM–2 PM. All ages are welcome, and no experience is necessary—just come ready to dig in and have fun.
We’re also open every Wednesday from 1:30–3:30 PM for our Open Garden—stop by to shop our delicious, freshly harvested produce and spectacular cut flowers!
Save the dates:
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 1:30–3:30 PM
Our annual Plant Sale launches!
Looking for delicious tomatoes, fresh strawberries, or artichokes? Prefer flowers instead? We’ve got you covered with an extensive selection—including our award-winning dahlias.Sunday, April 26 | 10 AM–2 PM
Garden Work Party + Plant Sale
Come lend a hand and shop your favorites!
We hope to see you in the garden soon! 
From Kiddo!
Tee Off for Education
Kiddo!, Tam High Foundation, and the Mill Valley Golf Course are teaming up once again for an exciting community fundraiser benefiting Mill Valley students from TK through high school. Gather your friends, family, or colleagues and enjoy a fun, friendly tournament while supporting the programs that enrich our local schools.
Date: Sunday, April 26th, tee times between 7:00 - 1:00 pm
Format: Four-person, nine-hole team scramble. Teams can register as adults, students, or mixed.
Click here to register and secure your tee time.
Questions? Contact us at info@kiddo.org.
From ITAV:
Mill Valley PTA Speaker Series: What To Do Now, So They're Ready Then: Parents & Teens in the 21st Century with Jeff Leiken
Date: Wednesday, April 15
Time: 7:00-8:45pm
Location: Edna Maguire Library
ITAV proudly presents the Mill Valley PTA Speaker Series for 2025–26, held every third Wednesday of the month, featuring inspiring talks on topics that matter to parents.
7:00–7:15 pm: Grab a snack, chat, and find your seat
7:15–8:45 pm: Presentation + Q&A
All ITAV events are free and open to the public. Please RSVP and share with friends!
It Takes a Village Monthly Hike
When: May 6 from 9-11am
Where: Tennessee Valley Trailhead (in case of heavy rain, meet at the cafe inside of Good Earth)
Upcoming:
Variety Show is March 29th
Gold Rush Day (4th grade) is April 2nd
Spring Break is April 6-10 (No school this week)
Dear Families,
As you know, we pride ourselves for our educational excellence in Mill Valley. For the past three years, our elementary teams have focused on implementing evidence-based literacy programs to support the success of all students. We are reporting strong gains in student achievement, including meaningful progress among historically underserved student groups, following a multi-year investment in evidence-based literacy and instruction.
Recent CAASPP results show the percentage of students exceeding grade-level standards increased from 40.88% to 47.83%, while the percentage not meeting standards declined from 6.51% to 4.83%. Growth is especially notable among student groups that have historically experienced disparities. The percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged students exceeding standards nearly doubled (12.79% to 24.27%), and students who are both economically disadvantaged and Hispanic/Latine saw gains from 4.55% to 17.24% . Students whose families have a high school level of education also showed significant increases in advanced performance, while students whose parents hold graduate degrees increased their rates of exceeding standards by over 10 percentage points (46.35% to 56.43%) - demonstrating progress across all student groups.
We attribute these gains to a focused approach to strengthen multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). TK-5 teachers and administrators participate in ongoing training and coaching on structured literacy and practices grounded in the science of reading through district grade level collaboration days to support our adoption of CKLA, our new high-quality literacy program. This year, we have added a new literacy assessment and dyslexia screener, mClass DIBELs, to our assessment protocol so that all classroom teachers have information about students’ reading performance and strategies to support their growth. Coupled with our Targeted Learning Labs staffed by trained interventionists who deliver high-quality intervention supports, student performance on DIBELS also reflects our successful implementation of science of reading practices, as seen in the table below:
As California advances legislation such as AB 1454 and AB 121 to promote evidence-based literacy instruction, Mill Valley’s results demonstrate that the impact of this work has been underway. The district remains committed to ensuring all students have access to high-quality instruction and the opportunity to succeed. By working together - students, families, and educators - we can ensure that every child grows as a reader. Regular assessment, targeted instruction, and family support all play a vital role in helping students reach and exceed reading goals.
For more information, see the links below.
For more information about Dyslexia Screening: IDA Universal Screening
For more information about MClass DIBELS
For more information about MTSS: Amplify Complete MTSS Framework
For more information about Structured Literacy: IDA Structured Literacy (MTSS) Approach
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s learning journey!