Sea Lion Spotlight
Malibu Elementary Parent Newsletter #10 - October 9, 2023
Table of Contents
2. Highlights - Photos of Recent Events
3. Important Dates - Coming Soon
4. Looking farther forward - Events to anticipate farther out in time
5. Articles - Timely information for parents
6. Useful Resources and Links
7. More Highlights
Principal's Pen
Hello MES Sea Lion Families,
Thank you to our amazing PTA for their help recruiting volunteers for our classrooms and playground. Here is the link to become a volunteer that PTA helped create with me. Please get involved! Our school thrives when more caring parents lend a hand!
Thank you to the MES PTA and all who have already donated to this year's fundraising drive. It's not too late to participate. As of Friday we have raised over $122,000 towards our $500,000 goal! Please remember, when they say 100% participation, it means everyone donating at whatever level works for you and your family. We just want our community to have the feeling that each family has contributed SOMETHING to the essential fund that helps support MES in so many important ways. I do hope you'll join us in this endeavor and get us to 100% participation as a community. Donate here: https://www.malibuelementary.org/donate.
Last month's Peace Day Lunchtime Theater with Zoe was awesome. Lunchtime Theater returns to MES today. The theme is Dia de los Muertos / CoCo Musical Show. The big event is schedule for the morning on Friday, November 3rd. Exact times can be found in the calendar below. The theme is celebrating the cycle of life and honoring our ancestors. Thank you for our parent sponsors Hamilton and Erin Von Watts for funding this month's program.
Our new perimeter fence-ever is nearly finished. The old fence was only 4 feet tall out on the corner of Fernhill and Greyfox and it was unsightly. The new fence is now consistently 6-feet for the entire perimeter of our school. It should hold up better because of the green coating that slows rust. Staff are preparing for disaster/crisis. Since the beginning of the school year, we have refreshed all our disaster supplies. We have reviewed lockdown procedures with the Sheriff, begun using a secret app that allows us to communicate safely during a crisis (We practice during every drill.) , and reviewed our triage/search & rescue skills. The GreatShakeOut earthquake drill is coming up next week and we will put all our skills in use then! Practice is so important!
Last week our Red Cross spoke with students and distributed fire and earthquake safety learning materials. Students in grades 3-5 brought home a Red Cross Pillowcase with images of safety supplies on them and a Pillowcase Preparedness Workbook. The workbook has resources on fire and earthquake preparedness, and coping skills. Students in grades K-2 received a story book called Prepare with Pedro that focuses on earthquake safety. Both books have a message for parents/guardians. You are encouraged to speak with your child about personal and family safety preparedness plans and resources, and use the checklists in the books to prepare. We hope that our partnership with the Red Cross helps all our families to feel and be safer.
Speaking of safety; this week is Digital Citizenship Week “Every student needs a refresher every year about being safe and smart while online.” Take a look at the lessons your children will receive: (Lessons Link). Notice that each lesson has a parent/guardian speaking point. You too can help your child stay safe and act kindly online. Thank you for your partnership.
Each month at MES we will have a professional assembly that underscores our curriculum and shared values. We have had two so far. On October 27th, we have an assembly called Island of the Blue Dolphin! Assemblies are part of our school plan to help maintain a school pride.
I will be in touch with you next week.
Thank you for your partnership,
Proud Principal Chris Hertz
Highlights
Important Dates Coming Soon
- NOW: Donate to the PTA
- Mon-Fri 10/09-10/13 Digital Citizenship Week “Every student needs a refresher every year about being safe and smart while online.”( Lessons Link)
- Thur 10/12 PTA Association / 9 @ Video call link: https://meet.google.com/qiu-eono-rjc
- Volunteer Training / 10:30 - 11:00 @ zoom. See sign up details in the articles below.
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Looking farther forward...
- W-F 10/18 - 10/20 5th Grade Overnight Trip to Pali Camp (Bus rolls at 8am on Wednesday the 18th)
- Thur 10/19 Great Shakeout - Earthquake Drill / 10:19
Fri 10/20 Student Lead Assembly with Whitman’s Class / 8:30 @ assembly area
- Mon 10/23 - PTA Art Contest Submissions Due (See article below)
- Fri 10/27 Island of the Blue Dolphin Assembly / 9 @ cafeteria
- Trunk-or-Treat PTA Event / 5-6pm @ MES Parking Lot
- Oct 30 - Nov 3rd Book Fair @ MES Library (Details coming)
Tues 10/31 Halloween Parade / 8:30 @ blacktop (Details)
Fri 11/3 Dia de Los Muertos Lunchtime Theater CoCo Show / 9am @ cafeteria
Mon 11/06 Pupil-Free Day for Parent/Teacher Conferences
- M-Th 11/06 - 11/09 Parent-Teacher Conference Week
Fri 11/10 Holiday - Veterans Day / No School
Wed – Fri 11/22-24 - Thanksgiving Break / No School
Fri 12/22 / Last Day of School Before Winter Break
Mon 01/8 / Return to School from Winter Break
Articles for Parents
Halloween Costumes & Parade
We look forward to our annual parade. Parents may watch and cheer. As always, no weapons or discriminatory, sexist or hateful costumes are allowed. Masks may be worn during the parade but not during class instructional time. Link to Parade Map
Instructional Assistant Needed!
We are looking to hire four more Instructional Aides for the 23-24 school year (Job Duties).
The position is for 15 - 20 hours a week position, paid $16.00 - $20.45 Hourly. Ideally the hours are in the morning but we are somewhat flexible depending on the teacher's schedule.
- The Personnel Commission will be scheduling interviews soon. Click here to apply. If anyone may be interested, please have them email me at chertz@smmusd.org. My goal is to fill this position before mid-September.
Instructional Aides are critical to helping teachers run centers, differentiate instruction, prepare supplies, and supervise children at play.
PTA Art Contest! Reflections.. - Sign Up Now
All MES Students are invited to take part in this years PTA Reflections Art Contest. This years theme is “I am Hopeful Because…”
To virtually submit an original piece of artwork in one of the 6 creative categories for your child’s age division: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography or Visual Arts… Please email submission to MESReflectionsChair@gmail.com by OCTOBER 23rd, 2023 with the required ENTRY FORM.
A recognition ceremony will be held in November to celebrate our MES submissions, which have the opportunity of moving onto a state-wide judging.
The required “Entry Form”, and Rules and Guidelines for entry can be found here: (In English) (In Spanish)
Volunteering at MES / To Be A Cleared Volunteer
Details - click here. Sign up for your training: Link
Volunteer Pick Up Games to Support our Students
Approved volunteers are asked to help organize games at recess and lunch. Kids love structured games and mini tournaments. Basketball? Baseball? Soccer? Four Square? Handball? GaGa? The hours are 8-8:15 (blacktop games only please due to wet grass and more limited supervision), snack recess, and lunch playtime. See the bell schedule below to know the hours for various age groups. So if you an approved volunteer on a fairly reliable schedule, please reach out to Principal Chris.
MBGC Information - October
The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu aims to provide a fun, safe, and creative environment for all Malibu youth to thrive, find support through positive mentorship, develop important life skills, and receive social and emotional support. We are currently offering: Link
Jaxx After-School Theater in Back! - Register Now
MES is teaming up with Jaxx Theater again to help serve the students of Malibu Elementary. Please see the flier link here for all the details on the theme, dates, and next steps for parents.
First Day Packet - Annual Forms to Complete are Now Digital
Beginning August 24, 2023
ACTION NEEDED: Malibu Elementary’s annual registration process is now completed in the Aeries Parent Portal. We have many important documents and plenty of information for your family within the online registration site, accessed via your Aeries Parent Portal. Note: You must complete data confirmation for each student.
Beginning August 24, 2023:
- Log in to your aeries parent portal.
- Be sure to read, review, and discuss all the materials with your student.
- Very Important: We need to gather information from you for emergency contacts. Please add at least two non-parents. While there are many boxes to fill, at minimum include name, relationship, and phone number.
- We also need to gather information from you for health documents.
Note: You may decide to print some of the documents for future reference. For a tutorial on how to complete this process, please click here English
Again, MES and SMMUSD have worked to digitize the compliance and document portions of the “First Day Packet.” The Data Confirmation process is easy for you and your student through Aeries Parent Portal in place of our previous process. This includes items like Emergency Cards, Parent Handbooks and Policies and Authorizations. We have many important documents and plenty of information for your family within the online registration site, accessed via your Aeries Parent Portal. Note: You must complete data confirmation for each student. Please be sure to read, review, and discuss all the materials with your student. We also need to gather information from you for emergency contacts and health documents. You may decide to print some of the documents for future reference.
For a tutorial on how to complete this process, please click here English
More Highlights
Useful Resources and Links
Principal Chris' Past Newsletters
Student Services Registration Documents 23/24
MES Minimum Days - 2023 - 2024
Volunteering at MES: Information and Signup form
Medications at School Form Send to School Nurse Daniel Gorton dgorton@smmusd.org
Connect with Chris Hertz
Email: chertz@smmusd.org
Website: malibues.smmusd.org
Location: 6955 Fernhill Drive, Malibu, CA, USA
Phone: 310-457-9370
Twitter: @hertzinator