Whale Tales

Dear Webster Families,

Thank you to our 3-5 families for attending Back-to-School Night this week. It was a wonderful evening and your presence truly made it special.

I’m excited to share that our students are buzzing with excitement about the return of our weekly gardening program with Justine Larsen. It’s a hands-on opportunity for them to engage with nature and learn about sustainability, and we’re thrilled to have this enriching experience back.

Please take a moment to review the important action items below in supporting our school that include:

• School Site Council
• PTA Annual Giving Campaign

Lastly, don’t forget to check the Weekly Calendar for the Picture Day schedule so your child is ready to smile for the camera.

We made it through this week’s heat wave by staying cool with an indoor movie day and the kids had a blast!

GO WHALES!!

Warmly,

Carina Diana

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 Diana—we’d love to include it on our social media or upcoming newsletters.

Thank you for helping us celebrate our school community!

An effective school thrives on collaboration between parents, students, teachers, administrators, and staff. We invite you to become an integral part of this process by joining the School Site Council (SSC). We currently have one opening for a parent/guardian to serve a 2-year term from August 2024 to August 2026.

What does the SSC do?

• Develops and revises the school’s Bylaws
• Analyzes and evaluates student academic achievement
• Receives recommendations from school advisories and committees
• Develops or revises the school plan and approves expenditures in line with state and federal regulations
• Participates in local, state, and federal program reviews for compliance
• Attends meetings where a quorum is needed for voting decisions

The SSC meets on Thursdays at 3:00 PM for approximately 60 minutes, eight times throughout the school year. Projected meeting dates for 2024-2025 are currently TBD.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please email a brief statement of interest to Principal Diana at cdiana@smmusd.org by Friday, September 13th. If an election is needed, names and statements will be included on an electronic ballot, and voting will take place the week of September 16th. Additional details regarding the election will be shared closer to that time.

Please include the following in your email:

• Your name, phone number, and email
• Your student’s name and grade
• A three-sentence candidate statement explaining why you would like to serve

We look forward to your participation and thank you for helping make our school the best it can be!

The PTA is excited to launch their annual giving campaign and are asking for your support!

The PTA enriches our students' experience at Webster Elementary by funding programs, staff, and supplies beyond what the district provides. Your donations support technology programs, the STEAM lab, classroom supplies, field trips, and community events. Every dollar of your contribution goes directly to support our school.

For 2024-25, they are requesting a donation of $1,000 per student. This amount is lower than previous years, thanks to additional community financial support and ongoing fundraising efforts from the Malibu Education Foundation.

We aim for 100% family participation, so contributions of any size are appreciated. All donors will receive a Webster car magnet to show their support. Plus, the first 15 families to donate get a choice of Webster wear!

Our preferred methods for donation are to drop off a check at the front office or to pay by Zelle to websterptamalibu@gmail.com. You may also donate by clicking HERE.

Special thanks to our Whale Fund donors so far:

• The Abeyta Family
• The Celedonia and VanOrnum Family
• The Eggers Family
• The Gardner Family
• The Magenheim and Thomason Family
• The Miller Family
• The Orosz Family
• The Rowe Family
• The Vasisht Family
• The Woollen Family

Thank you for helping us continue to provide an outstanding education at Webster!

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 Vitty McClung at vmcclung@smmusd.org. Be sure to include your child’s name, grade, date, and reason for the absence. You have 5 days to clear any student absences.

For more detailed information, please review the SMMUSD attendance policies by clicking HERE.

MALIBU EDUCATION FOUNDATION (MEF), launched as a community-focused organization dedicated to enhancing the educational journey of students in all of our Malibu public schools. Their fundraising supports vital resources, staffing, and enrichment programs, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive academically, physically, and creatively.

At Webster, Malibu Education Foundation funds four of our instructional aides and our arts teacher, lifting that fundraising need from our PTA.

We invite you to join us for a Coffee Pop-Up on Thursday, September 12th at drop-off to learn more about how MEF supports our school and how you can get involved.

We encourage you to learn more at www.malibueducationfoundation.org and consider making a donation to support all Malibu public schools, in addition to supporting our PTA.

Join us for the Coastal Cleanup with SMMUSD! Be part of one of the largest volunteer efforts to protect our beautiful beaches. The SMMUSD community is coming together to make a positive impact on our environment, and we need YOUR help! Let's work together to keep our coastlines clean and vibrant. Whether you're a student, parent, teacher, or community member, everyone is welcome!

Date: September 21st, 2024

Location: Santa Monica Beach at Ocean Park Blvd. (Tower 27) and Zuma Beach (Tower 2)

Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Register HERE.

To enhance student safety, the bottom gate near the Boys & Girls Club will remain closed as we no longer have adult supervision available for that area. Moving forward, there will be one main point of entrance and exit to the campus for grades K-5, which will be the gate by the main office. This change will help us ensure a secure and supervised environment for all students.

As part of our commitment to safety and being good neighbors, we kindly ask that you use the designated pick-up and drop-off lane each day. Additionally, please refrain from using the Our Lady of Malibu (OLM) parking lots and only park in the Webster lot.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we prioritize the safety of our school community!

As we prepare to start a new academic school year, all families are required to verify and update information for their students. We recommend completing this process on a Desktop or Laptop computer.

Please log in to your Aeries Parent Portal, or click the following direct link:

If you did not use the direct link above, please log in to your Aeries Parent Portal and select Student Info and click on Data Confirmation to take you to the correct form.

If you have forgotten your Aeries Parent Portal credentials, please use the Forgot Password? link located at the bottom of the website.

Our Student Office Specialist, Vitty McClung, will be reaching out to families that have yet to complete this process beginning next week to provide any needed assistance.

Breakfast and lunch are FREE to all students. Breakfast is served from 8:15 - 8:30 AM only, so please make sure your child arrives on time to enjoy a healthy start to their day.

Although all students will receive free meals this school year, we request all families complete the Online Meal Application for 2024-2025. This form impacts areas beyond school meals so widespread participation is essential, even if your child plans to eat something other than school meals.

Providing a fun, safe, and creative space for Malibu youth to thrive, the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu offers positive mentorship, life skills development, and social-emotional support. Enrollment is now open! Visit bgcmalibu.org to learn more and sign up. Our Clubhouses offer engaging educational activities and a nurturing environment for all members.

Run Malibu Kids' Run
Join us for the Run Malibu Kids' Run! The Run Groms Mile is open to kids aged 4-11 and will take place during the Run Malibu Event Expo on October 12th at 2:00 PM. All youth participants will receive a race bib and finisher’s medal, plus a supportive crowd cheering them on as they run around the track. Sign up here!

Wellness Center & Social Support

The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Wellness Center provides free social support and mental health counseling, both remotely and in-person, with no current waitlist. Visit bgcmalibu.org/wellness-center to learn more or request services. Missed a parent workshop? Find recordings at bgcmalibu.org/wellness-center-resources

Third Space is OPEN at Malibu Village!

A project of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, Third Space is a storefront, gallery, and innovation hub where youth are mentored and inspired. Made possible by generous community support, a percentage of all purchases benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu’s programs, including:

• Safe after-school spaces
• Mental health services for youth, families, and seniors
• Drug and alcohol prevention programs
• Innovative opportunities for youth
• Regenerative systems and educational initiatives

In our vibrant community, we value care, connection, and creativity. Third Space offers youth, families, and visitors a chance to explore products from local, sustainable, and socially-minded entrepreneurs. Visit thirdspacemalibu.org to learn more. Follow us on IG/FB: @thirdspacemalibu

Contact us at 310-457-1400 (Admin) or 310-241-3675 (Programs) or email info@bgcmalibu.org.

Stay updated by subscribing to the BGCM E-Newsletter HERE.

We’re excited to announce our new Instagram account! Follow us @websterwhales for all the latest school news, events, and fun happenings around campus. Stay in the know and connect with our vibrant school community, one post at a time!.

Carina Diana, Principal

Webster Elementary School

3602 Winter Canyon Rd

Malibu, CA 90265

Email: cdiana@smmusd.org
Website: www.smmusd.org/webster
Phone: (310) 456-6494
Instagram: www.instagram.com/websterwhales
Twitter: @webstermalibu