Sea Lion Spotlight
Malibu Elementary Parent Newsletter #6 - September 16, 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,
As you have read in my previous newsletters, our school has grown significantly. We are thrilled to welcome new students and families and are humbled that you chose us. However we are having a challenge with morning parking. I am asking for parents' help in two ways. Please do not park in the teachers' spots along the perimeter. Teachers will be forced to double park. Please consider parking across the street and saving the center spots for our families with TK and Kinder-aged students. Remember to mind parking restrictions posted on Fernhill. This will help so much. Thank you.
September is Attendance Awareness Month. Quoting our Superintendent of School, “Showing up is a valuable life habit – it represents more than attendance, it’s an attitude – it’s showing up, being present, and being engaged. Strong attendance is the foundation for academic success, personal growth, and the building of a robust school community." Thank you for your partnership.
Earthquakes happen so let's be ready. Parents are encouraged to read our MES Earthquake Plan. MES conducts drills quarterly. Here is a great resource for your family: https://www.shakeout.org/california/ .
Parents can access score reports for CAASPP, ELPAC and Star Renaissance assessment results on their Aeries Parent Portal. Hard copy score reports are not mailed home. These videos help explain to students & parents/guardians on how to access their portals. Student Portal Parent Portal. This guide helps parents locate your child's test scores and State Test Scores Reports: Parent Portal: Test Scores [Aeries]-attachment.
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 important 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.)
- 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)
Looking farther forward...
SEPTEMBER
- 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!)
10/21 - 10/25 - Book Fair Week (Details coming from PTA)
Thur 10/31 - Yearbook 10% off discount promotion ends (Coupon Link)
NOVEMBER
- Tues 11/05 - Fri 11/08 - Parent/Teacher Conference Week (See minimum day schedule below)
- Tues 11/05 – Pupil Free Day for Parent-Teacher Conferences (No School)
- Wed 11/06 – 12:45 Dismissal for for Parent-Teacher Conferences (Minimum Day)
- Thur 11/07 – 12:45 Dismissal for for Parent-Teacher Conferences (Minimum Day)
- Mon 11/11 – Holiday (Veteran’s Day / No School)
- November 27, 28, & 29, 2024 -- Thanksgiving Break (No School)
- Fri 12/20 – Last Day before Winter Break
Articles for Parents
Report Safety Concerns to the Principal
Parents, if you see a safety concern, please send me an email at chertz@smmusd.org or call me at 310-457-9370 ext. 78-202. Your observations and ideas have been extremely valuable over the past years. I look forward to working with you to make our school even safer. Also, please tell your child to contact me or a staff member if they think there is a dangerous incident. This includes aggression on campus, stranger danger, or if someone talks about harassment or suicide. Your child’s safety is of utmost importance to each of us.
Learning While School is Inaccessible/Closed due to Road Closures, Fire, Power Outage
If two or more roads into/out of Malibu are closed, then Malibu schools will close. This decision is rendered by the Executive Director of the Malibu pathway no later than 6:30am the day of. Please know that the safety of our families and staff are the priority with these decisions.
We must still offer learning opportunities to students. We will be consistent across all grades.
Students may use Lexia, read AR books, use DreamBox, use Reflex, write about what they did that day, and for grades 4 & 5 - use google classroom.
Teachers will not take attendance. Teachers will not email or Zoom with students. This is a School Closure Day.
Unincorporated LA County Road Closures Website: https://pw.lacounty.gov/roadclosures/
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
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.
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
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
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
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