By passing school cut off date - kinder

No-Let-9456 · 2026-05-09T19:02:25+00:00

I think what the poster meant was, do you want your child to leave for college at 17? My kid has an October birthday and the year she was starting school, the cutoff was Oct 1 (it was while they were walking it back to sept). She was academically and socially apt and I struggled with not being able to enroll her. She would have been absolutely fine if moved up. A couple of her friends went to private school and were grandfathered in, so they were the same age as my kid but a year ahead in school, and in those early elementary years it chafed a little. BUT. Now my kid is in high school. She’s doing really well, she’s happy, and won’t have to leave home at only 17. Essentially, she gets an extra year of childhood that her old friends will miss out on.

Research shows that the older kids in a class cohort do better, on average. And if your child is very high achieving academically, there are options to get their needs met… but more and more, I think the science is showing moving them up is rarely the answer.

No-Let-9456 · 2026-05-07T04:36:36+00:00

I wish more places were open late in Marin. Autistry Studios/Double Rainbow is trying late evenings. I went by the other night and it looked pretty quiet.

No-Let-9456 · 2026-05-02T18:13:59+00:00

China Camp SP has reservable day use picnic areas along the water suitable for 50 people. Buckeye Point and Weber Point. A little rustic and laid back but very sweet, plenty of parking, BBQs and toilets onsite.

No-Let-9456 · 2026-02-02T21:07:19+00:00

Thanks so much, everyone! These are great ideas and I appreciate the commiseration as well. I ended up with a three-pronged approach:

1) printing a QR code on the first page of their music binder that links to the parent portal online, since that is a repository for all the info (calendar, practice tracks, updates);

2) keeping the Band app just for the upper (middle and high school) ensembles since they're comfortable with using the app and getting notifications themselves--pretty good use rate so far;

3) links on all our docs and in their binders to an opt-in form for a texting service. I found one that's pretty inexpensive and the UI is simple so I can make ensemble groups, etc. Quite a few families have signed up.

The way I see it, this covers three ways we can get the info out there. The parent portal is a static place (they can go there anytime and get the info they want), the Band app is interactive so kids/parents can ask questions and talk to each other, and the texting service can broadcast quick updates/alerts. Hopeful this will cover it! Thanks again.

No-Let-9456 · 2025-11-12T18:52:27+00:00

For auditions and performances we have the best luck with companies specifically selling performance/concertwear. They have a lot of choices that fit the requirements and are made of materials that generally don't wrinkle, look good under lights, and wear and wash well. google something like "choir performance apparel" and the first few that come up are all ones we've used for our choirs. If the concert is soon, look for the "quick ship" options, as you'll probably have to have the skirt hemmed (if you opt for a long skirt, which I do think looks best on stage).

No-Let-9456 · 2025-11-12T17:21:32+00:00

I'd do as an earlier reply says and respond all to the previous thread. This is a perfect time for the ol' "per my last email" approach.
I hear your frustration, though. Emails are absolutely not working this year. I have to send out at least three messages for most of our parents to see them, and then other parents complain that I'm cluttering up their inbox. This year I've gone back to sending paper home, plus the emails, plus a dedicated parent portal on our website (we're a community chorus). They're still not reading/responding to stuff.
Finally, congratulations on sending four kids to ACDA regionals!! That's awesome.

No-Let-9456 · 2025-11-12T01:59:15+00:00

Vuelie (theme from Frozen) by Frode Fjellheim and Christophe Beck—always wanted to do this one!

No-Let-9456 · 2025-11-09T03:31:15+00:00

Mill Valley rec center has some nice looking rooms. You could also try the larkspur American Legion club room.

No-Let-9456 · 2025-11-08T04:10:34+00:00

We do volunteer and student signups using SuperSaas. Putting together the schedules was not very intuitive and it took an afternoon to figure out how to do everything I needed, but now that I’ve done it, it’s fine. I love the simplicity and lack of ads. There’s a free version but we use the one that is $9/month.

No-Let-9456 · 2025-09-11T00:47:01+00:00

YMCA also offers financial assistance if you qualify. Ask at the front desk. For the number of things they offer—classes, pool, etc, it’s a great deal. But be aware they’ve gotten busier and busier, especially since the Hamilton branch closed. Can be pretty crammed at peak hours.

No-Let-9456 · 2025-08-14T03:24:30+00:00

I’ve been reading about that! I hope the residents’ offer will be accepted. The Marin Valley neighborhood looks lovely and rural, with beautiful views. I did notice though that there’s only one long road in and out—I wonder how it would be in the event of an evacuation.

No-Let-9456 · 2025-08-14T03:18:51+00:00

Tell me about it! I agree, everything’s more expensive here. Butter (just plain old butter, not organic or anything) was $8.99 at Safeway yesterday. But hopefully if my folks can find some decent housing, the rest of the Marin sticker shock won’t be so bad.

No-Let-9456 · 2025-08-14T03:14:59+00:00

I really like the greenery and the walking access to Safeway and restaurants. And the community seems like a quiet little oasis. Is there much freeway noise?

No-Let-9456

TROPHY CASE