Sea Lion Spotlight

Malibu Elementary Parent Newsletter #9 - October 2, 2023

Principal's Pen

Hello MES Sea Lion Families,

Thank you to the MES PTA and all who have already donated to this year's fundraising drive. It's not too late to participate. I just learned that we have raised over $120,000 towards our $500,000 goal! Please remember, when they say 100% participation, it means everyone donating at whatever level works for you and your family. We just want our community to have the feeling that each family has contributed SOMETHING to the essential fund that helps support MES in so many important ways. I do hope you'll join us in this endeavor and get us to 100% participation as a community. Donate here: https://www.malibuelementary.org/donate.

Freaky Friday was so much fun. Thank you to our Student Council for organizing a great day. Student Council also held their first of nine estimation contests in which a student from each class wins by being the closest estimate to the true number of items in a jar. So much fun. Each Friday we also celebrate students who make their DreamBox goal of completing five activities a week. This week 119 students made the goal!

At our Heal the Bay assembly we discussed the beach clean-up last week and then why it is important to keep the ocean clean. We talked about how the ocean is connected to things we use everyday like toothpaste or brownies. These products contain algae that grows in the ocean. We also talked about watersheds, storm drains, and how the worst kinds of trash are the small pieces that always end up in the ocean. Each month at MES we will have a professional assembly that underscores our curriculum and shared values. Next week the Red Cross will engage students in basic disaster safety at home. On October 27th, we have an assembly called Island of the Blue Dolphin! Assemblies are part of our school plan to help maintain a school pride.

I will be in touch with you next week.

Thank you for your partnership,

Proud Principal Chris Hertz

Highlights

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Below are some photos of our amazing students, staff, and parents the first weeks of school. 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

NOW: Parents Complete Annual Forms online beginning today (See article below)
NOW: Basic Comfort Bag Program (Parents put child comfort items in a 1 gallon ziplock and send it to the teacher. /details link/sample family note
Thurs 10/05 Volunteer Training / 10:30 (See sign up information in article below)

SSC / 3:30 - 4:45 @ zoom (Agenda)

Fri 10/06 Student Safety Assemblies with the Red Cross (Disaster Prep)

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Looking farther forward...

Mon-Fri 10/09-10/13 Digital Citizenship Week “Every student needs a refresher every year about being safe and smart while online.”( Lessons Link)
W-F 10/18 - 10/20 5th Grade Overnight Trip to Pali Camp (Bus rolls at 8am on Wednesday the 18th)
Thur 10/19 Great Shakeout - Earthquake Drill / 10:19
Fri 10/20 Student Lead Assembly with Whitman’s Class / 8:30 @ assembly area
Mon 10/23 - PTA Art Contest Submissions Due (See article below)
Fri 10/27 Island of the Blue Dolphin Assembly / 9 @ cafeteria

Trunk-or-Treat PTA Event / 5-6pm @ MES Parking Lot

Oct 30 - Nov 3rd Book Fair @ MES Library (Details coming)
Tues 10/31 Halloween Parade / 8:30 @ blacktop (Details)
Fri 11/3 Dia de Los Muertos Lunchtime Theater Show / 9am @ cafeteria
Mon 11/06 Pupil Free Day for Parent/Teacher Conferences
M-Th 11/06 - 11/09 Parent-Teacher Conference Week
Fri 11/10 Holiday - Veterans Day / No School
Wed – Fri 11/22-24 - Thanksgiving Break / No School
Fri 12/22 / Last Day of School Before Winter Break
Mon 01/8 / Return to School from Winter Break

Articles for Parents

Halloween Costumes & Parade

We look forward to our annual parade. Parents may watch and cheer. As always, no weapons or discriminatory, sexist or hateful costumes are allowed. Masks may be worn during the parade but not during class instructional time.

Instructional Assistant Needed!

We are looking to hire four more Instructional Aides for the 23-24 school year (Job Duties).

The position is for 15 - 20 hours a week position, paid $16.00 - $20.45 Hourly. Ideally the hours are in the morning but we are somewhat flexibible depending on the teacher's schedule.
The Personnel Commission will be scheduling interviews soon. Click here to apply. If anyone may be interested, please have them email me at chertz@smmusd.org. My goal is to fill this position before mid-September.

Instructional Aides are critical to helping teachers run centers, differentiate instruction, prepare supplies, and supervise children at play.

PTA Art Contest! Reflections.. - Sign Up Now

All MES Students are invited to take part in this years PTA Reflections Art Contest. This years theme is “I am Hopeful Because…”

To virtually submit an original piece of artwork in one of the 6 creative categories for your child’s age division: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography or Visual Arts… Please email submission to MESReflectionsChair@gmail.com by OCTOBER 23rd, 2023 with the required ENTRY FORM.

A recognition ceremony will be held in November to celebrate our MES submissions, which have the opportunity of moving onto a state-wide judging.

The required “Entry Form”, and Rules and Guidelines for entry can be found here: (In English) (In Spanish)

Volunteering at MES / To Be A Cleared Volunteer

Details - click here. Sign up for your training: Link

Volunteer Pick Up Games to Support our Students

Approved volunteers are asked to help organize games at recess and lunch. Kids love structured games and mini tournaments. Basketball? Baseball? Soccer? Four Square? Handball? GaGa? The hours are 8-8:15 (blacktop games only please due to wet grass and more limited supervision), snack recess, and lunch playtime. See the bell schedule below to know the hours for various age groups. So if you an approved volunteer on a fairly reliable schedule, please reach out to Principal Chris.

MBGC Information - October

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

Jaxx After-School Theater in Back! - Register Now

MES is teaming up with Jaxx Theater again to help serve the students of Malibu Elementary. Please see the flier link here for all the details on the theme, dates, and next steps for parents.

First Day Packet - Annual Forms to Complete are Now Digital

Beginning August 24, 2023

ACTION NEEDED: Malibu Elementary’s annual registration process is now completed in the Aeries Parent Portal. 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.

Beginning August 24, 2023:

Log in to your aeries parent portal.
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

Again, MES and SMMUSD have worked to digitize the compliance and document portions of the “First Day Packet.” The Data Confirmation process is easy for you and your student through Aeries Parent Portal in place of our previous process. 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