Back-to-School | Part 2 + PDC Reminder

Posted Date: 08/07/26 (02:33 PM)

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VISIT OUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL PAGE

Everything you need – all in one place

REMINDERS

DUE AUGUST 15

PARENT DATA CONFIRMATION

AUGUST 18

MEET THE TEACHER

Yulupa 3:30 – 4:30 (TK–3rd)

Strawberry 4:30 – 5:30 (4th–6th)

AUGUST 19

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Ready, Set, School!

– Part 2 –

This is our second back-to-school message.

We've included content from the first message at the bottom.

NEW IN THIS MESSAGE

1 ▶ Our Exceptional Staff

2 ▶ Educational Benefits Form

3 ▶ BVEF Family Contribution to the Arts

1 ▶ STAFF INTRODUCTIONS & CELEBRATIONS

Families have choices, and we know it's the reputation of our staff that draws so many of you to our small, but mighty district.

NEW IN 2026–2027

BRITTANY MARTIN
Student Services / Attendance

ALEX MERIDETH
Music Teacher

MARY PETERSON
Speech & Language Pathologist

JULIA SEMPRINI
Student Support / 3rd Grade Para / EL Assistant

LESLIE THOMAS
4th Grade Teacher

SARAH TRANTER
School Nurse

Returning
SOPHIE SNYDER
RSP Teacher

New Position
CAROL VIDENA
ELOP Coordinator

GRATITUDE

We'd like to thank the BVUSD team members who have been busy preparing for your return. Here's a little more about who's been keeping things running over the summer.

ANDEE BARIDON
stayed busy with financial reports, overseeing business operations, and making sure resources go where they're needed most

TINA BARRETT
kept our technology running, from classroom devices to family-facing tools like ParentSquare and Aeries

SONALI BUHARY
ensured every vendor and service provider was paid and kept busy behind the scenes

CASSANDRA FURAY
continued to support hiring, onboarding, and support for new and returning staff

LAVON MANEY
continued to be the first friendly face (and voice) families reach at the District Office

JIMMIE HUGHES & the BVUSD Maintenance & Operations Team

A big shout out to the entire Maintenance & Operations Team. While our campuses were quiet, our M&O team kept our spaces safe, clean, and beautiful while managing a variety of facilities projects.

THANK YOU: BRENDA • ERIK • ETHAN • JUAN • RYAN • VINNY

ON TO NEW ADVENTURES

Some of our beloved team members have moved on to other things in the coming year. We'd like to thank the following for their service, and wish them well in their next adventure:

THANK YOU: Tatum Amador, Midori Avikainen, Melody Barbour, Kim Busavage, Leilah Ferguson, Bryan Maney, Helen Konkoff, Eliza Sater, Steve Steinberg, and Lorrain Suter.

Plus, on a temporary departure for the year: Keely Tassano.

BVUSD ANNIVERSARIES

We'd also like to recognize those on our team who have been showing up for the first day of school for a decade or more:

40 YEARS

SUE THURSTON

30+ YEARS

LAVON MANEY • ANNA NELSON

20+ YEARS

SONALI BHUARY • DEB CAPURRO • LYNN CLARKE • TANYA FAUSTINO • ASHLEY FECHTER • TRISTA FORGY • KAREN FRANK • LARA FUTCH • KELLI GARWAH • RYAN HIX • MOLLY LOURENCO • LISA MANTOOTH • ANNE MARTINEZ • NICOLE MCCONNELL • ANNA NUNES • MICHELE PADGETT • ANDREA WESTROPE

10+ YEARS

CARRIE ABRAHAM • TINA BARRETT • LISA BALLONE • TIERSA FILIPPETTI • CASSANDRA FURAY • JAMIE HOYER • ANNA LEA • JESSICA LEDUC • JUAN LOPEZ-OCHOA • ETHAN MARTIN • MELISSA MATERAZZI • DAWNA MCKENNA • DANA MCNEELY • KELA MOORE • BRITTANY MURRAY • JASMINE RIGGLE • ALISON ROHLAPP • JULIE SCHULTZ • VINNY SEIBERLING • ERIK VICINI • TRICIA WARD • JULIA ZIMMER

2 ▶ EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FORM

COMPLETE FORM HERE

bvusd.org/incomeapp

For "District" select: Rincon Valley, Bennett Valley & Kenwood SD

YOUR 5 MINUTES HELPS EVERY STUDENT

Formerly the Household Income / Meal Application, this is our most important back-to-school form.

WHAT

A short, confidential form reporting household income to the state. This is separate from PDC's two income questions, and not a meal application. Meals are already free for every student.

WHY

MORE FORMS = MORE FUNDING

Plus possible savings for your own household.

Every year, incomplete forms mean BVUSD loses funding and eligible families miss out on opportunities for support. This includes no-cost and reduced-cost before and after school care.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility changes annually, but estimated scales for 2026–27 are below. Even if you're outside the window, we encourage you to apply. It takes 5 minutes.

Estimated monthly income, by household size

1 person — $2,500

2 people — $3,400

3 people — $4,300

4 people — $5,100

5 people — $6,000

6 people — $6,900

7 people — $7,800

8 people — $8,600

3 ▶ BVEF FAMILY CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTS

DONATE HERE

bvef.net

INVEST IN CREATIVITY. INSPIRE A LIFETIME.

The Bennett Valley Education Foundation (BVEF) funds the vibrant art programs in our schools.

MUSIC ART DANCE THEATER

BAND CHOIR ODYSSEY OF THE MIND

– all made possible by families like yours –

WHAT

Every BVUSD family is invited to contribute. Suggested amounts are $125 per student or $225 per family.

STUDENT — $125

FAMILY — $225

See flyer to learn more

WHY

Without these donations, school days would not include important classes like art, music, dance, and theater.

— NEW INFORMATION ENDS HERE —

Everything below is repeated from our first message.

Ready, Set, School!

(Message #1)

In this message…

Parent Data Confirmation ParentSquare updates

ANNUAL PARENT DATA CONFIRMATION

PLEASE COMPLETE BY

AUGUST 15

– or via the Aeries app –

iOS App • Google Play

WHAT

PDC is an online exchange of information

Families review and update student information; schools share important information.

WHO

All families

Every enrolled BVUSD family, for each child.

WHY

Confirm your spot for 26–27

Teacher assignments will only be shared with families who have completed the PDC by August 15.

Plus, accurate records keep your child safe and the district in compliance.

HOW TO LOG IN

NEW FAMILIES

Create a NEW ACCOUNT with the USERNAME and PASSWORD found in your July 27 or 28 Parent Portal Account email.
You may have received two Portal Account emails. Do not use the Student Account email.
Select PARENT as the account type. Student accounts cannot change data.

RETURNING FAMILIES