Sea Lion Spotlight

Malibu Elementary Parent Newsletter #18 - December 16, 2024

Principal's Pen

Hello MES Familes,

While we only had school one day this week (Monday), it was a very busy week for me and no doubt a very stressful week for many of you. I am so glad that the roads opened up around noon on Friday, December 13. As I drove in, I saw a dozen fire trucks leaving Malibu which I take to be a very good sign.

The teachers, support staff, and I are very much looking forward to welcoming our wonderful students back to school on Monday! As you know we are welcoming Webster students, Webster teachers, and Webster support staff to our campus Tuesday through Friday. Here is the "Welcome Webster Plan" that I pulled together to help make next week run smoothly for our MES community and the WES community. Of note, please see that our parking lot will be closed to parent parking Tuesday-Friday. Parents will of course be able to use our loading zone from drop off and pick up. Again, here is the plan.

The Nutcracker show is postponed to January. The Book fair is rescheduled to March. As you will read in the plan above, The Holiday Show is still going to happen on Friday, December 20. That will be so great to be a part of. I encourage you to come, but come early and park in the streets. The City will not be enforcing parking restrictions except on the north side of Fernhill. (This is because of the loading zone.). Here is the Final Holiday Show Schedule with exact start times.

The 5th Grade Class has put together an amazing Holiday Market for us on the day of the Holiday Show (you can even purchase Flower Bouquets for your kiddo!).

While this school is still ramping up, it is also time to start planning for next school year. So believe it or not, it's time to start the election process for next year's PTA. Below are key dates. It all starts with electing a Nominating Committee. Our PTA Parliamentarian: Ellen Farmer (ellen@1895films.com) is the key driver in launching this election. Please read all about the election process here and consider serving on the Nominating Committee: MES PTA Nomination Committee Procedure / 2025. The Nominating Committee has great influence on the future of the MES PTA.

Here is the election sequence:

November: Nominating Committee Election Begins Here (This where you put your name on the election ballot to serve on the Nomination Committee.)
December 19: Deadline for candidates for Nominating Committee to get their name on the Ballot (Sample Ballot) / 10 am
January 16 / 8:30: Nominating Committee Election Conducted at PTA Association Meeting (MES Parliamentarian runs secret ballot elections and appoints two tellers)
January 23 / 8:30: Nominating Committee reviews their duties, the offices they hope to recruit for (see Article V, Section 2 and Standing Rules 5 on page15), and selects a Chairperson. The five (5) member committee starts to recruit Officer Candidates.)
February 6 / 8:30: The five (5) members meet. All candidates for the ten (10) offices are discussed. The committee may interview candidates. The five (5) members decide which candidates will be placed on the Slate, one person per position. (See the CAPTA Nominations website for “Do’s and Don’ts.)
February 20 / 8:30: Nominating Committee submits Slate (Nominating Committee Report) at PTA Association Meeting
March 20/ 8:30: Election of Officers at PTA Association Meeting

Election Script to be read by the outgoing President, Parliamentarian and Nomination Committee Chairperson and Nominating Committee Report read by the Nominating Committee Chairperson.

Thank you for your partnership,

Proud Principal Chris Hertz

Check out these wonderful moments featuring our incredible students, staff, and parents! If you have a photo that you’d like to share, please send it to Principal Chris—we’d love to include it in upcoming newsletters.

Highlights

Important Dates Coming Soon

24-25 Academic Calendar

24-25 PTA Calendar

24-25 Malibu Community Events Calendar

Now: PTA Nominating Committee Recruitment begins

Mon 12/16 Welcome Webster Staff / MES School Resumes

Welcome Therapy Dogs will be here too!
Holiday Show practices resume

Tues 12/17 Welcome Webster Students (Welcome Webster Plan)
Thur 12/19 - PTA Members Meeting / 8:30 - 9:30 @ room 16 (Cafeteria busy with Holiday Show Rehearsal)
Deadline for candidates for PTA Nominating Committee to get their name on the Ballot (Sample Ballot) / 10 am
Fri 12/20 – Holiday Show! / 8:30 - 10am K-2nd & 10:30 - 12pm 3-5th @ cafeteria

Bake Sale (5th grade EOY Fundraiser) / 8:30 - 12 @ library courtyard
Holiday Show Final Schedule (Excact starting times listed here)
Last Day before Winter Break

Lost and Found to Charity / 2pm

Looking farther forward...

DECEMBER

Dec 23 - Jan 3 Winter Break

JANUARY

Mon 01/06 - School Resumes
Fri 01/10 - Jaxx Performance / 6pm @ cafeteria
Sat 01/11 - Jaxx Performance / 6pm @ cafeteria
Thur 01/16 - PTA Members Meeting / 8:30 - 9:30 (Agenda: Elect Nominating Committee)
Thur 01/23 - TK/Kindgarten Round Up / 1:30 - 2:30 @ Kindergarten Yard

JUNE

Wed 06/11 - End of Year Beach 5th Grade Beach Field Trip / 8:30 - 12:30 @ Malibu West Beach Club
Minimum Day / 12:45 dismissal
Thur 06/12 - Last day of School / 12:45 dismissal

Articles for Parents

SMMUSD Cell Phone Regulations Change - MES Procedure Must Change Too

Back in November the SMMUSD Board of Education adopted a new Regulation for Student Cell Phones, “Regulation 5131.8: Mobile Communication Devices”. It is very simple and it is different from the way we have managed student cell phones the past five years (MES Cell Phone Waiver). Thank you for reading it and understanding your role in ensuring that students place their phone or smart watch in their backpack during school hours. We are still discouraging cell phones at school. They are highly problematic but they are not banned. Our Positive Discipline Plan has been revised accordingly (see page 4, rule 15)

Join the Health & Safety District Advisory Committee( DAC)!

The SMMUSD Health & Safety District Advisory Committee (DAC) is seeking passionate community members to apply for a three-year term. DAC members play a vital role in supporting health and safety initiatives across the district. Meetings are held once a month from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

If you're interested in making a difference, apply today! The application is available here: DAC Application (English/Spanish).

We encourage you to get involved and help shape a safe and healthy environment for all

How Should My Child Dress on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for PE?

Uggs, slippers, sandals, and boots are not safe for PE. Wear athletic shoes that grip the ground.

🧑‍🎨 REFLECTIONS CONTEST UPDATE 🧑‍🎨

We would like to thank all of the students who entered the Reflections Art Contest this year. We had 48 entries! Everyone showcased incredible creativity in this year’s competition.

This year’s Reflections theme, "Accepting Imperfection," was the inspiration for art, music, dance, writing, filmmaking, and photography. Here are our MES winners:

Visual Arts K-2: Clay
Visual Arts 3-5: Shea
Choreography K-2: Luna
Choreography 3-5: Olivia
Literature K-2: Jax
Literature 3-5: Reyan
Music Composition K-2: Ciel
Music Composition 3-5: Rumi
Photography K-2 - Bickleigh
Photography 3-5: Leva

Additionally, these students below, came in 1st in the district, beating hundreds of entrants throughout 11 schools. They're now representing the school in the LA County round.

In first place:
Luna (Dance Choreography)
Jax (Literature)
Ciel (Music Composition)

2nd place Awards of Merits, where again, the students were judged against 11 schools in Santa Monica and Malibu.

In second place:
Olivia (Dance Choreography)
Rumi (Music Composition)
Bickleigh (Photography)

Congratulations to these talented students for their outstanding work! We are so proud of you for representing our school. And we are proud of everyone who entered.

Official certificates and ribbons will be coming next week for our students who represented our school.

Picture Day - Pictures Ready

Original and Make-Up Day portraits taken by Cornerstone Photography are both available for viewing and ordering! To view your portrait, click the link below and enter your online code which is MLBU and your Student ID. If you do not know your child’s student ID, please contact our school office and we will provide it for you.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW YOUR PORTRAIT

Online Code:MLBU+Student ID (For Example: MLBU123456)

For additional questions, you may contact customercare@cornerstone.photo or (805) 529-1635.

Malibu Middle School Orientaion for 5th Grade Parents and Students

MMS Counselor Lorene Whitehouse and Principal Greg Shellenberg want to welcome 5th grade parents and 5th grade students to Malibu Middle School. Below are key events to anticipate:

February - 5th grade parents MES/Webster tour MMS campus
February - Whitehouse & Schellenberg visit 5th grade classrooms
March - 5th graders take field trip to MMS

5th Grade End-of-Year Celebration Field Trip

Our 5th grade teachers are grateful to our 5th grade parents who worked to develop several options for an EOY celebration field trip. The teachers have selected the Malibu West Beach Day trip. The trip is on June 11. Thank you to the parents who organized the Bingo Night fundraiser that is financing both the Promotion Ceremony and the field trip.

PARTY BOOK is LIVE!

🥳 Interested in hosting your own Party Book? These are privately hosted events that raise funds for MES 💙!

There are so many ideas you can do for the upcoming holidays and it can be for adults and/or kids! Some ideas:

- Gingerbread house decorating

- Ornament creating / decorating

- Class on flower arranging

- Mimosas and Tablescapes (?! ) a how-to for the holidays!

- Mindful Movement into the Holidays - yoga and meditation

- ???

The list is endless and the world is your oyster on what kind of event you'd like to host. Reach out to emilyrreynolds@yahoo.com with the following info:

short description of event (specify if its for adults and or kids)

capacity

cost per person

host name(s)

host email

location

time

https://mes.onlinepartybook.com

MBGC Information - Annual Holiday Drive is On

Link

Volunteering at MES

Link