Sea Lion Spotlight
Malibu Elementary Parent Newsletter #5 - September 9, 2024
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. More Highlights
7. Useful Resources and Links
Principal's Pen
Hello MES Families,
Safety is our greatest priority at MES. Our team of committed staff, parents, and emergency agencies work year after year to affirm or modify safety plans and set goals. This month I want to encourage parents to become familar with three plans: Fire, Intruder on Campus, and Reunion. When parents know what to expect from staff and staff know that parents will do their part, we can keep anxiety down and perform better under potential stress. To this end, please take time to read each of these plans. Again, student and staff safety are our top priorities. Please see our Safety Overview here. Here are three resources that may be helpful to you and your family during times of school tragedies:
- National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Parent Guidelines for helping youth after a shooting
- Common Sense Media: How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime and War
Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other.
Regular school attendance is extremely important to your child's academic growth. State and district attendance policies emphasize how consistent attendance supports student success and well-being. Parents play vital role in their child's academic journey. Here is an infograph that illustrates this point.
Thank you to our 3rd-5th grade parents for coming to BTSN this past week. Your involvement shows our students that you, the teachers, and support staff are united for their benefit.
Please complete your annual data verification in your Aeries Parent Portal now. Make sure we have the right numbers, emails, and health information for your child and family. The article below will guide you with this imporatnt task.
Thank you for your partnership,
Proud Principal Chris Hertz
Highlights
Important Dates Coming Soon
24-25 Academic Calendar
24-25 PTA Calendar
- Now: Annual Parent Data Confirmation Open in Aeries (Parents affirm their data.)
- Fri 09/13 - Character Counts Student-Led Assembly “Trustworthiness” / 8:30 @ blacktop (1 of 6) w/Harris & Ferguson
Looking farther forward...
SEPTEMBER
- Wed 09/11 - Classroom Complaint Period Closes / 2pm (see article below)
- Thur 9/19 - PTA Association Meeting / 8:30 - 9:30 @ https://meet.google.com/qiu-eono-rjc
- Sat 9/21 - Heal the Bay Beach Cleanup @ Zuma Beach Tower 2. (See flier below)
- Fri 09/27 - International Peace Day - Zoe's Lunchtime Theater - Audience: K-5 / 9am @ field
OCTOBER
Wed 10/02 - Picture Day (Details below)
Thur 10/03 - Local Holiday (Rosh Hashanah / No School)
Thur 10/10 - Make-Up Picture Day
10/16/24-10/18/24 - 5th Grade Outdoor School (Pali Camp!)
NOVEMBER
Tues 11/05 - Fri 11/08 - Parent/Teacher Conference Week (See minimum day schedule below)
Articles for Parents
Annual Parent Data Confirmation or Revision - Aeries Parent Portal
Beginning August 12, 2024
ACTION NEEDED: Malibu Elementary’s annual registration process is completed in the Aeries Parent Portal. You must complete data confirmation for each student.
Beginning August 12, 2024:
- Log in to your Aeries Parent Portal: https://santamonicamalibu.aeries.net/
- 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
We have worked to digitize the compliance and document portions of the “First Day Packet.” The Data Confirmation process is easy. 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
Weekend Food Bag Program
Picture Day
Picture Day is Wednesday, October 2nd. All students will be photographed. There is no need to fill out any forms or submit payment on Picture Day. Approximately 1-2 weeks after Picture Day, you will receive an email link to view your proof and order online. For more information and tips on what to wear, please see the PDF attached and click this video link: CLICK HERE TO WATCH!
MES Minimum Days Schedule / 12:45 Dismissal for All Students (TK-5)
- Nov 6 (Parent Conference Week)
- Nov 7 (Parent Conference Week)
- Nov 8 (Parent Conference Week)
- May 22 (Open House and Celebration of Learning)
- June 11 (2nd to last day of school)
- June 12 (last day of school)
School Hours
School opens everyday at 8am. Teaching and learning begin at 8:15. Dismissal times vary by grade level and day of the week. Take a look at our Bell Schedule so you can remind your child when snack time and lunchtime are. There a few special "minimum days" too for events such as back-to-School Night and conference week.
Interested 5th Grade Parents should Contact Mr. Hertz to Establish an End-of-Year Field Trip Celebration Interest Group
This group will work with the teachers to share ideas for the end-of-year Field Trip Celebration. The EOY Field Trip Group submits fundraising ideas formally to the Principal and PTA President using the Fundraiser Request Form in the Parent Handbook. The Group may have one of the two Bingo Nights. Funds will be used for the EOY field trip and may not be used for Private Parties.
Please use this survey to express your interest.
Thank you for your consideration,
Principal Hertz
MBGC Information - September
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
LCAP Parent Advisory Committee (LCAP PAC)
MES IS SEEKING TWO (2) PARENT VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE ON THE SMMUSD LOCAL CONTROL ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN (LCAP) PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC). IT IS IMPORTANT THAT MES IS REPRESENTED ON THIS CRITICAL COMMITTEE. PLEASE READ BELOW.
The passage of the legislation implementing the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) establishes a role for parent advisory committees in the development of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). Education code 52063 requires that districts establish two distinct parent advisory committees to review and comment on the LCAP prior to submission to the local board: the Parent Advisory Committee and the English Learner Parent Advisory Committee.
The Parent Advisory Committee must be composed of a majority of parents or guardians of pupils and include parents of pupils to whom the definitions of education code 42238.01 apply. These include parents or guardians of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, English learners, and foster youth. Sites can also include other subgroups, such as Latinx, Black/African-American, Students with Disabilities.
MEETINGS ARE FROM 4:00 – 6:00 PM (Virtual Meetings)
2024 - 2025 Meeting Dates: September 12, November 14, January 29, March 5, May 14, and Tentatively June 11.
PLEASE CONTACT PRINCIPAL Hertz IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN REPRESENTING MES at chertz@smmusd.org.
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REPRINTS Below
Join the PTA!
The simple act of joining the PTA provides instant financial support for our students! It's also a great way to stay informed about what's happening at school, and connect in meaningful ways with other parents. https://www.malibuelementary.org/membership
Class Lists/ Complaints
Class assignments will be emailed Wednesday, August 21st in the afternoon. Please help us embrace the new year with enthusiasm and positivity. We want your child’s return to school to be met with joy, curiosity, and wonder. Children look to you for guidance and if they see you are excited about the new school year, they too will feel good about the year to come. We believe deeply in all our teachers here at MES. No changes to class assignments will be made during the first three weeks of school and we prefer not to make changes at all. Read more here.
Volunteering at MES
5th Grade Pali Camp Overnight Field Trip - Donations Needed
We are excited for our 2024 - 2025 5th grade class to again have the opportunity to attend outdoor school in October 2024. Outdoor school is perhaps the greatest highlight of elementary school for many students and is a sort of rite-of-passage. We are asking 5th grade parents to donate now so that we may make our next installment payment.
Thank you to teacher Tracy Kooy for leading the annual fourth grade parent orientation to outdoor school back in April. Thank you to all the parents who turned out. Parents decided to not fundraise, but rather to make voluntary donations to cover the $20,795 trip.
Thank you to the twenty (20) families who have donated. So far we have collected $10,880. We need at least sixteen (16) more donations to be able to make our third installment of $8,200 by the September due date. See Group Payment Schedule below for more details.
All or None
If we don’t raise enough funds for ALL students to participate, we will ask the PTA to fund the difference. If there is not enough available funds or support from PTA, then the trip will be canceled; we will refund all donations but lose our original PTA deposit. Also, to help prevent canceling the trip, any families who won’t be able to voluntarily contribute the full $520 will be asked what if anything they can donate. Perhaps $300, $200 or $50? Anything helps. Finally if there are families who would like to cover another student, we will accept donations above and beyond $520.
Trip Date
Trip date: 10/16/24-10/18/24.
Group Payment Schedule
MES must make installment payments dates to Pali Camp:
June ($7,315)
September ($8,200)
October we pay for the charter bus ($3700)
Two Ways for Parents to Donation
Please visit the PTA store. Select Pali Donation: https://www.malibuelementary.org/shop PLEASE make your Voluntary Donation now.
4th grade parents also have an option to pay via zelle to malibuestreasurer@gmail.com or using the Zelle QR Code link. PLEASE make your Voluntary Donation now.
Informational Websites
Consistent attendance is crucial for your child’s academic success. Every student, every day matters! When students are present, they are more likely to stay on track with their learning and build positive relationships with their peers and teachers.
Absence Reporting Procedures:
If your child will be absent, please report the absence by emailing Kim Rivetti at krivetti@smmusd.org. Be sure to include your child’s name, grade, date, and reason for the absence. You have 3 days to clear any student absences.
For more detailed information, please review the SMMUSD attendance policies by clicking HERE.
More Highlights
September is Trstworthiness Monthat MES
MES' Trustworhiness Book
Weekend Food Bag Program
Useful Resources and Links
Principal Chris' Past Newsletters
PTA Website and Store
PTA Spirit Wear "Akaway Collection"
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 Marion Mayer: mmayer@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