Whale Tales

Dear Webster Community,

What a great week at Webster! I hope you all enjoyed the fun roller coaster we had earlier today—yes, I mean the earthquake! 😊

IMPORTANT REMINDER: School will be closed from Wednesday, November 27th through Friday, November 29th in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Additionally, this edition of Whale Tales will be the last one until Friday, December 6th, so please read everything in its entirety—it’s packed with important updates and events!

Highlights of My Week:

• Thank You to Malibu Village Books: What an amazing and successful book fair on campus! Don’t forget, the book fair continues at the bookstore through Saturday, November 23rd. Let’s keep celebrating our love of reading!

• Math Classroom Visits: I had the privilege of spending time in every classroom this week while students worked on CGI (Cognitive Guided Instruction) math problems. They persevered through problem-solving, worked collaboratively, and explained their thinking in unique ways. I can’t wait to see their journey as mathematicians and how they apply these practices to other areas of study.

• Webster Wear Shout-Outs: A special shout-out to Ms. Berman and Ms. London for continuing their impressive Webster Wear streak—and we have a new winner this week, Ms. Morris!

Save the Date:

• 4th Grade Music Informance: Tuesday, December 3rd at 10:35 AM
• Malibu Middle School Preview (Parent-Only Event): Wednesday, December 4th at 8:45 AM
• Student Leadership Committee (4th and 5th grade students only): Wednesday, December 4th
• MEF Holiday Market + Tree Lot Community Night: Friday, December 6th
• 5th Grade Music Informance: Thursday, December 12th at 11:00 AM
• Holiday Show: Wednesday, December 18th
• Room 8’s Winter Holiday Play: Friday, December 20th

Important Reminders:

• California School Parent Survey 2024-2025: Your feedback matters! The survey is open until November 26th, takes just 10-15 minutes, and is completely anonymous. Staff received their survey link as well—thank you for your participation!

• Thanksgiving Donation Drive: Help support Malibu C.A.R.T. and Malibu Community Labor Exchange by donating socks, shaving cream, and hygiene wipes from November 21st-26th.

• Volunteer Training Requirement: Don’t forget to review the "Teaming up for a Terrific Year" section for details about required volunteer training.

• Malibu Middle School Preview: A special event for 5th-grade parents only at Webster.

• Student Leadership Committee: Open to 4th and 5th-grade students only.

As we prepare to celebrate the season of gratitude, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the kindness you’ve shown me as your new principal. Each day, I am inspired by our amazing students, the dedication of our staff, and the sense of community that makes Webster such a special place. Together, we are building lasting memories and fostering a school filled with love, learning, and connection.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving with loved ones!

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 in upcoming newsletters.

Thank you for helping us celebrate our school community!

A huge thank you to the incredible staff at Malibu Village Books for hosting an amazing book fair on campus! It was wonderful to see so many students excited about their new books and enjoying reading all around campus. Your support helped bring the joy of reading to life at Webster!

But the excitement doesn’t stop there! The fundraiser will continue at Malibu Village Books on Friday and Saturday, November 22nd & 23rd. Bring your voucher (shown below) and shop for holiday gifts or personal reads! 10% of all sales on these days will go back to our school.

This is the perfect opportunity to check off your holiday shopping list while supporting Webster!

Webster needs you! Join the Student Leadership Committee to make a difference, share your ideas, and become a leader in our school community. This is your chance to get involved and help shape our school!

🗓 When: Wednesday, December 4th
👩‍🎓 Who: 4th & 5th Graders Only
📍 Where: Mr. K's Room (Room 17)

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to make your voice heard!

Webster's 5th-grade parents are invited to a special presentation by Malibu Middle School Principal Greg Schellenberg and Counselor Lorene Whitehouse. Join us on Wednesday, December 4th, 2024, at 8:45 AM in the Webster Elementary School Cafeteria to learn about the life of a 6th grader.

This parent-only event is a great opportunity to get insights into your child's transition to middle school. We look forward to seeing you there!

This Thanksgiving, help us give back to our Malibu community!

Webster is hosting a Thanksgiving Donation Drive to benefit the Malibu Community Assistance Resource Team (CART) and Malibu Community Labor Exchange. We are collecting adult-sized casual/athletic socks, shaving cream, and personal hygiene wipes (e.g., baby wipes, wet wipes) to support those in need.

Donation Drop-Off
🗓 Dates: Thursday, Nov. 21 - Tuesday, Nov. 26
📍 Locations: Marked boxes in the front office and outside during morning drop-off

🍂 28th Annual Malibu Community Thanksgiving Dinner 🍂
The 28th Annual Malibu Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held on Thursday, November 28th, from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Malibu United Methodist Church.

All are welcome to attend! This cherished community tradition brings everyone together to enjoy a delicious meal and fellowship. Volunteers and donations are also needed to help make this event a success.

We are THANKFUL for your generosity and support!

Dear Parents/Guardians:

We need your input! SMMUSD is conducting the California School Parent Survey for 2024-2025 to gather your valuable thoughts about our school. Your feedback will guide our efforts to promote a safe environment, improve learning supports, and boost student achievement. The survey takes only 10-15 minutes and is open from November 1 to November 26.

Why Your Participation Matters:

• Your opinions provide vital insights into school safety and student success.
• The survey is anonymous and designed to protect your privacy.
• Completing it helps shape positive changes in our school community.

Important Details:

• You only need to complete one survey, even if you have multiple children at Webster. Please use your oldest child as a reference.
• The survey is accessible in 18 languages.

How to Take the Survey: Access the survey directly at: Webster Parent Survey.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the school office. We greatly appreciate your time and input in helping us create the best possible learning environment for our students.

Thank you for your participation!

We are thrilled about the exciting year ahead and all the fantastic events we have planned! However, we need your help to make these occasions as special and successful as possible. We hope that each family can volunteer for 2-3 events throughout the school year. With just a small contribution from each of you, we can continue to bring meaningful joy and brightness to our community. Plus, volunteering is not only fun for our students—it’s rewarding for you, too!

Here’s a quick peek at some upcoming events:

• 🎼 Winter Program: Scheduled for December 18.

You can view the full calendar and sign up for events that interest you most at Webster Events Sign-up. Whether it’s the Talent Show, Field Day, Science Night, or Teacher Appreciation Week, there’s a spot for everyone to contribute, even from home outside of school hours!

Volunteer Training Requirement for Campus Activities

All adults (parents, guardians, and family members) working directly with children or participating in activities where children are present on campus must complete volunteer training. Each individual must attend, even if their partner is already trained.

We are offering multiple training opportunities, including some evening Zoom sessions, to accommodate everyone’s schedules. Please note that paperwork must be completed in person at Webster.

Starting in January 2025, only trained adults will be permitted to work with students on campus. Thank you in advance for helping to keep our campus safe!

There are multiple ways to give back to our Malibu schools this season, and MEF has two fantastic opportunities for you to get involved:

🎄 Holiday Market + Tree Lot

From November 29th to December 15th, MEF is hosting the annual Holiday Market + Tree Lot. Fresh Oregon trees will be available, along with a festive Holiday Market featuring local artisans every Saturday from 2-6 PM. All proceeds benefit Malibu public schools!

🌟 How You Can Help:
1️⃣ Volunteer: Sign up to staff the Tree Lot and spread holiday cheer! Volunteer Sign-Up.
2️⃣ Shop Local: Purchase your tree and unique gifts while supporting our schools.

📌 For more details and updates, visit: MEF Holiday Market + Tree Lot.

🎪 Cirque du Soleil KOOZA
Experience the magic of Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA while supporting MEF!

🎟 Save up to 20% on select seats and dates using this link: Cirque du Soleil Tickets.
💝 A portion of every ticket sale will benefit Malibu public schools.

For VIP Packages or groups of 10+, email Sarah.Hudson@cirquedusoleil.com for special offers (mention Malibu Education Foundation for added savings).

Whether you’re shopping local, volunteering, or enjoying a world-class performance, your participation makes a difference for our schools.

We are excited to introduce this year’s School Site Council (SSC) members who will help guide important decisions to support our school community:

Meeting Participants

• Staff Representatives:

  • Carina Diana, Principal
  • Dee Dee Cooper, Certificated Representative
  • Amy Stark, Certificated Representative
  • Vincent LoGreco, Classified Representative
  • Dayna Walley, Classified Representative

• Community Representatives:

  • Larisa Braun, PTA Representative
  • Vicky Farrell, Parent
  • Sara Jasper, Parent
  • Marni Kamins, Parent
  • Chad Peters, Parent

Alternate:

• Isaura Terry, Classified Representative

The SSC plays a critical role in guiding school decisions, aligning resources, and supporting teaching and learning. It provides a platform for collective input into the educational process and ensures that instructional resources and funds are used effectively to benefit all students.

We encourage everyone to stay informed! All meeting agendas and minutes can be accessed here: SSC Agendas & Minutes.Thank you to our SSC members for their dedication to the success of our school and students!

We’re excited to share that the bus service for the spring 2025 semester will continue with the same routes as fall 2024: two routes serving Malibu Middle and High Schools and one route serving Webster Elementary School. SMMUSD will maintain the current setup, utilizing staff bus drivers and district buses. Special education students will continue receiving designated transportation per their IEPs, and bus service for CIF athletics and field trips will remain available for the 2024-25 school year.

Important Information for Bus Passes:

• Applications: Complete the bus pass application here.
• Payment Options:
  • By check (mail with the application).
  • Online payment (include student name and school in the description; mail or email the application).
• Note: Payment is invalid without the completed application.

Seats Available: Each route has 65 bus passes available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bus Pass Fees for Spring 2025:

• Regular Fee:
  • 1 student: $405.41
  • 2 students: $693.00
  • 3 or more: $987.80
• Free/Reduced Meals Pricing:
  • 1 student: $153.62
  • 2 students: $265.10
  • 3 or more: $433.40

Families eligible for free and reduced meals can purchase bus passes at the discounted rate. For questions, please contact Steven Carrillo at s.carrillo@smmusd.org.

For more detailed information, please click on the PDF below.

Consistent attendance is crucial for your student's academic success. It ensures that every student stays on track with learning, builds positive relationships, and contributes to a robust school community. Strong attendance goes beyond just being present; it involves being actively engaged and involved in the educational process.

Encouraging Regular Attendance:

• Make Attendance a Priority: Ensure your student doesn't miss out on crucial learning opportunities.
• Set a Positive Example: Motivate consistent attendance with your involvement.
• Establish a Routine: Help your student set daily routines for a smooth transition to school.
• Open Communication: Reach out to us if there are challenges affecting your student’s attendance.
• Celebrate Success: Acknowledge and celebrate your student's attendance milestones.

Absence Reporting Procedures:

If your student is absent, please report the absence by emailing Vitty McClung at vmcclung@smmusd.org with your student's name, grade, date, and reason for the absence. Absences must be cleared within 5 days. For more detailed information, please review the SMMUSD attendance policies by clicking HERE.

Each new academic school year, all families are required to verify and update their student’s information, including emergency contact details, which are critical for effective communication during urgent situations. We recommend completing this process on a desktop or laptop computer for the best experience.

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

https://santamonicamalibu.aeries.net/

If you did not use the direct link above, please log in to your Aeries Parent Portal and select Student Info, then click on Data Confirmation to access 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 who have not yet completed this process to offer any needed assistance.

The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu provides a fun, safe space for youth with positive mentorship, life skills, and social-emotional support. Enrollment is open! Visit bgcmalibu.org to learn more.

• Important Closure Notice: BGCM Clubhouses will be closed November 27th-29th in alignment with SMMUSD in observance of Thanksgiving.

• Wellness Center: Offering free mental health support with no waitlist. Visit bgcmalibu.org/wellness-center for more info or to request services. No waitlist for services. Missed parent workshops? Watch them at bgcmalibu.org/wellness-center-resources.

• BGCM & Prince Street Pizza Fundraiser: Support BGCM by ordering the “Roasty Toasty” pizza at Prince Street Pizza (Malibu location). 20% of proceeds benefit BGCM’s mental health and educational programs.

• Community Program Interest Survey: The City of Malibu and BGCM are gathering feedback for future afterschool programs. Complete the survey here.

• Winterfest Toy Drive: Join the 41st Annual Winterfest Toy Drive on December 14th at Fred L. Williams Elementary, Oxnard. Donations of wrapped toys or gift cards are welcome. Drop off gifts on December 4th at 30215 Morning View Dr., Malibu (Bungalow P4). Contact: Siugen Constanza at siugenconstanza@bgcmalibu.org.

• Holiday Drive: BGCM is collecting clothing, toys, small appliances, and food for their annual Holiday Toy Drive, benefiting 200+ Port Hueneme students in need. Donations can be dropped off at any BGCM clubhouse. Questions? Email Violetway@bgcmalibu.org.
  

• Third Space at Malibu Village: A creative hub and gallery supporting BGCM programs. Explore local, sustainable products, with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club. Visit thirdspacemalibu.org or follow @thirdspacemalibu.

For more info, contact 310-457-1400 (Admin) or 310-241-3675 (Programs) or email info@bgcmalibu.org. Stay updated by subscribing to the BGCM E-Newsletter 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!

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