Sea Lion Spotlight

Malibu Elementary Parent Newsletter #24 - January 29, 2024

Principal's Pen

Hello MES Sea Lion Families,

Our students enjoying everything that our beautiful campus provides. Our scheduling on the playground is working very well as the students have lots of opportunities to play and we are able to manage our coverage. I am still looking for volunteers to help organize basketball and soccer games. Even four square, handball, and gaga ball games can be enhanced by watchful referees. Let me know when you want to have some fun with our wonderful little athletes.

Our outstanding student attendance has declined from 96% in September to 88% in December. About half of that decline has been attributed to illness. Thank you for keeping sick students home. The other half were due to elective vacations. I will be calling the parents of those students to see if we can make a change in the future. But overall, attendance rates this school year is the best year yet in the last five years.

The teachers and I are working carefully to help our students with academic achievement. We focus on determining best curricular and instructional shifts based on both emperical and subjective data. Our most recent data affirms that our students are achieving greater results. Here is data released by the CDE in December based on annual required Federal/State exams. Locally we put emphasis on our January Star assessments because we get the results immediately, the data is very granular, and because we must submit our annual plan for growth to the BOE by May. The January Star:

Star Early Literacy: 33% of K-1st students achieved 852 SS. We matched last year’s percentage but did not reach our goal of 40%.
Star Reading: 74.1% of 2nd-5th students achieved above 40%. We surpassed last year’s percentage (70%) but did not reach our goal of 75%.
Star Math: 79.4% of 2nd-5th students achieved above 40% . We surpassed last year’s percentage (79%) but did not reach our goal of 82%.

Remember that each Friday is a spirit day. Unless otherwise specified, students are encouraged to either wear their MES spirit wear or the school colors of blue or green. Our next special spirit day will be February 23 - Dress up as your Favorite Book Character Day.

Thank you for your partnership,

Proud Principal Chris Hertz

Highlights

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Below are some recent photos of our amazing students, staff, and parents. There are more photos in the last section of the newsletter! If you have a great photo, please send it to Principal Hertz for consideration. Thank you!

Important Dates Coming Soon

Full Academic Calendar Link

Tues 01/30 Prospective Family Tour / 11-11:30 (Sign Up Here)
Thur 02/01 Volunteer Training / 11 @ Zoom (Details & Sign Up Here)
Fri 02/02 Winter Report Cards Sent Home

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Looking farther forward...

Fri 02/09 Zoe’s Lunchtime Theater Presents “Talent Show” / 9 - 9:40 @ cafeteria
Fri 02/16 Pancake Valentines Breakfast / AM

Mon 02/19 Presidents’ Day Holiday / No School
Fr 02/23 - Dress up as your Favorite Book Character Day / Spirit Day!
Wed 03/13 Bingo Night! / 5-7 @ cafeteria
Fri 03/22 Last Day of School before Spring Break
Mar 25 - Apr 5 Spring Break
Mon 04/08 Return to School from Spring Break
Mon 05/27 Memorial Day Holiday / No School
Wed 06/12 Last Day of School
Spring Report Cards Sent Home

Articles for Parents

Aeries Parent Portal - Why?

Thank you to all the families who have completed the mandatory data confirmation via the parent portal in AERIES. We still have several newly enrolled families along with a handful (4) of families from the original fall start who still need to complete this task.

Those of you who need to complete this and those who have already done so...Please remember to add other people to your emergency contacts. If you ever need to have anyone other than you pick up your child during the day we will not be able to release them if they are not listed as an emergency contact.

Student Star Assessment Results will be found on your Parent Portal and will not sent through snail-mail anymore.

MALIBU MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICAL

The 2024 Malibu Middle School Musical will be Frozen JR. and the show dates are February 8th-10th at 7:00 PM and February 11th at 1:00 PM.Come enjoy a story of true love where two sisters experience mysteries of magic, tragedy, and a long journey to find their confidence and inner powers. The sisters, Anna and Elsa, deal with matters of friendship, family, and love with some irresistible characters along the way including Olaf the snowman, Sven the reindeer, Oaken, Pabbie and Bulda and the Hidden Folk. It is truly a magical frozen tale! Tickets and more info atwww.malibums.smmusd.org

MBGC Information - January

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

More Highlights

WAIT UNTIL 8TH

The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. By banding together, this will decrease the pressure felt by kids and parents alike over the kids having a smartphone. Please note that this pledge is for smartphones only! If you would like your child to have a basic phone that just calls and texts, you still can sign the pledge! The basic phone avoids many of the distractions and dangers of the smartphone.

Top 5 Reasons To Delay Getting a Smartphone

1 Smartphones are changing childhood.

2 They are distracting and addicting.

3 Smartphones expose your child to...

4 They increase risk for anxiety and depression.

5 Cyberbullying is an important concern.

To learn more, please visit www.waituntil8th.org or check out Wait Until 8th’s Instagram account.

Third Space is OPEN at Malibu Village! Third Space is a storefront, gallery and an innovation space for youth to be mentored and inspired. A project of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, made possible by many generous community contributors. A percentage of all store purchases benefit BGCM:

· Safe spaces after-school

· Mental health services for youth, families and aging population

· Drug and alcohol prevention programming

· Innovative and inspiring opportunities for youth

· Regenerative systems and educational initiatives

Here, in our vibrant community, we value care, connection, and creativity. We offer youth, families, and visitors of all ages the chance to explore products from local, sustainable and social entrepreneurs. To learn more, visit thirdspacemalibu.org Follow us on IG/FB: @thirdspacemalibu

"We are so thrilled to welcome the community to Third Space. We love being able to highlight products and art created by local, young entrepreneurs including Malibu High and BGCM alumni! This is a very special space made possible by amazing community contributors and we're excited to continue welcoming everyone to experience Third Space and all that it has to offer". Kasey Earnest, Boys & Girls Club of Malibu CEO

Third Space is made possible by the following contributors: Blue Star Painting • Bold LA • Devon Meyers Photography • JL Designs • 129 Builders Inc. • Jones Builders Group • Koum Family Foundation • The Little Market • The Dorn Family • Peak Power Electric • Quality Indoor Air - Heating and Air Conditioning • Venue Creation Resources