The SMMUSD Wave- Dec. 2023

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and Community Members,

As we head into the winter break and prepare to usher in the new year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared in the first half of the 2023-24 school year. Our students have been at the heart of every decision, and their growth and well-being continue to inspire us daily.

I am filled with excitement as we anticipate the opportunities and challenges that the upcoming months will bring. Together, we will navigate these experiences with a shared commitment to providing the best education and educational environment for our students.

Looking ahead, our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion remains steadfast. We will continue fostering a sense of belonging, igniting curiosity, and empowering every student and staff member to thrive. By working together, we strengthen our community and create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

In the spirit of the season, let's take a moment to express gratitude to our dedicated parents, educators, staff, and community partners. Your unwavering support and collaboration have been instrumental in our shared success.

While this is a wonderful time of the year, it can also be busy and stressful. I encourage each of you to take a well-deserved mental health break, finding moments of peace and relaxation to recharge. Please refer to our mental health and community resources page for support.

I want to extend my sincere best wishes for a joyful and restful winter break for you and your loved ones. May this season bring warmth, laughter, and moments of connection. I am honored to be your superintendent and eagerly anticipate all that we will achieve together in the New Year. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing elementary students back on Jan. 8, 2024 and secondary students on Jan. 9, 2024.

Sincerely,

Dr. Antonio Shelton
Superintendent

Superintendent reminder letter for illness prevention for return to school after winter break.

You can read prior Superintendent Messages here.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is proud to announce that 15 Santa Monica High School (Samohi) orchestra student musicians have been chosen, by audition, to participate in the highly selective California Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) December Honors Orchestras set to be held at Stanford University from Dec.1-2, 2023.

The full list of students selected for the orchestras can be found here: https://bit.ly/SamohiCODA2023.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/SamohiDecCODA2023.

In a groundbreaking initiative to inspire civic engagement and foster a deeper understanding of citizenship, third grade students from Will Rogers Learning Community embarked on an educational field trip to Santa Monica City Hall. The visit, organized as part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) unit – How We Organize Ourselves, aimed to connect students with local government and make their learning experiences more tangible.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/WRLCvisitCityHall2023.

Congrats Grant Geckos! The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is honored to announce Grant Elementary School as this fall’s winner of the Golden Sneaker award. Grant had the highest level of participation, at 89%, in the District during the Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! (BIWIBI) campaign, held Oct. 2-6, in partnership with the City of Santa Monica. The school also won the award in spring 2023.

The Board of Education recognized Grant as the winner and praised all families and staff who participated in this climate action program at the Nov. 2 Board of Education meeting.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/GrantBIWIBIwinnerfall2023.

Visual and performing arts programs at secondary schools in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District schedule several concerts and events throughout the holiday season that are open to the public at little or no cost. Please note if advance tickets or reservations are required as some events do sell out. Contact the sponsoring school for further information as noted. School addresses are on the district’s website www.smmusd.org.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/SMMUSDVAPAWinter2023.

Congratulations to Lincoln Middle School and Malibu High School mock trial teams for reaching the quarterfinals of Los Angeles County’s Mock Trial Competition! Out of 124 teams, they advanced with five others, aiming for a spot in the California State Mock Trial Finals in March 2024. Despite not progressing further, their journey is a remarkable achievement!

In an exciting collaboration, The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, partnered with the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs (SMMPTA), the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association (SMMCTA) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to deliver engaging programs for students and staff during United Against Hate week, held from Nov. 13-17. Throughout the week, SMMUSD schools hosted activities fostering belonging, encouraging respect, embracing diversity and reinforcing anti-bullying efforts.

Journalism students from Malibu High School attended the National High School Journalism Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. Hosted by the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), the three-day conference is the nation’s largest gathering of scholastic journalists, advisers and journalism teachers.

The students of Roosevelt Elementary School asked for more “Buddy Benches” and the Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica delivered! Buddy Benches are installed at schools and playgrounds as a place where kids who are feeling lonely or left out can sit to let others know they need a friend.

Thank you Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica.

Congrats to Malibu High football on a stellar 7-2 season that got them to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. Despite a playoff loss, they ended the season 7-3. Stellar job Sharks!

A huge congratulations are in order to the Samohi football team who made it all the way to the CIF Division 9 Finals. Despite the finals loss, the Vikings had a remarkable season. Fantastic job, Vikings!

Congratulations to Samohi’s Duke Loniak, ninth grade, Sabrina Glasser, 10th grade, and Naomi Gage, 11th grade, for receiving perfect scores on their PSATs!

Franklin Elementary School hosted it's annual Move-A-Thon! Teachers spent four weeks getting the students excited about the event. Sending pledge requests to family and friends, students work on raising the participation level of their class and they can see their progress on lightning bolts posted in their classroom. The fun day was filled with stations of play including inflatable obstacle course. Students had a great time enjoying the activities and a snack at the end.

Please join the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) for their holiday fundraiser and holiday social. Additionally, the next open meeting will take place on Jan. 10, 2024.

Meet Jesse Billauer, a resilient Malibu High School alum whose life took an unexpected turn after a surfing accident rendered him quadriplegic. Against all odds, Billauer emerged as a beacon of inspiration, not only conquering the waves as a three-time World Adaptive Surfing Champion but also dedicating himself to empowering others. Through the creation of the Life Rolls On Foundation, he's proving that life's challenges are opportunities for triumph.

Dive deeper into Billauer's remarkable journey here: https://bit.ly/JesseBillauer-Spotlight.

After years of hard work, patience, dedication and persistence, the new Malibu High School (MHS) classroom, administration, library, and cafeteria building is finally becoming a reality. To celebrate the major milestone a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

The Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District’s (SMMUSD) Board of Education, superintendent, MHS principal, SMMUSD staff, local elected officials, community members, students and building partners attended the celebration.

Read more about the groundbreaking here.

• December 25, 2023 - January 5, 2024 - Winter Recess (Schools and offices closed)
• January 18, 2024 - Artwork Critical Conversations featuring Zaretta Hammond
• January 19, 2024 - SMMUSD Mariachi and Ballet Folklorico Winter Performance, including a loving tribute to Dr. Jacqueline More, former assistant superintendent of educational services

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The SMMUSD Wave is published monthly by the SMMUSD communications team: Gail Pinsker, Community & Public Relations Officer; Diana Bouchaaya and Esmi Careaga, Communication Specialists. Do you have news or interest stories about our students, programs or staff? Please share through Let's Talk.

The SMMUSD Wave:

2023 Winner of the Award of Excellence by the California School Public Relations Association