The SMMUSD Wave- March 2024
A Message from Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and Community Members,
Our schools have been buzzing with activity this month, which is wonderful to see. I have enjoyed visits to many of our sites and spending time in our classrooms with our teachers and students. It’s wonderful to see our students engaging in group projects, working solo, learning how to support and care about each other and find joy in learning.
I am pleased to share the remarkable success of our 73rd annual Stairway of the Stars concert, where nearly 900 talented student musicians and singers captivated a full house with their exceptional performances. This extraordinary event would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of our music teachers, Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator, Tom Whaley and our facilities use team. I am delighted to highlight the remarkable achievements of Stairway Honor Awardee, Julianna Di Giacomo, alumni of Lincoln Middle School and Samohi, who has since become a celebrated international operatic soprano. Her collaboration with our choir students was an incredible moment for students, teachers and the audience.
I would like to congratulate John Adams Middle School (JAMS) for its selection as one of the distinguished schools in the prestigious 2024 California Distinguished Schools Program, among 293 schools statewide. This recognition highlights JAMS excellence in both closing the achievement gap and showcasing exceptional student performance in English Language Arts and mathematics. JAMS success is a testament to the dedication of the entire school community and reflects significant progress in fostering an inclusive learning environment. Particularly noteworthy is the achievement of English Learner students, aligning with the district's commitment to proficiency in English through a rigorous curriculum. Congratulations again to the JAMS community, Principal Martha Chacon and the staff and students.
With spring break on the horizon, scheduled from March 25 to April 5, 2024, it’s a great time for students, staff and parents to take a breather, relax, refresh and get ready for the last two months of the school year. Take care of yourselves, your families and each other. Enjoy any travel and holidays you may celebrate during our break with your family and friends.
Upon return from spring break, I would like to remind everyone to stay home if feeling unwell. Your cooperation in this matter is crucial as we strive to maintain a healthy and supportive learning environment for all throughout the year.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our students and our school community. Together, we will continue to thrive as a District. Have a wonderful and relaxing spring break.
Sincerely,
Dr. Antonio Shelton
Superintendent
You can read prior Superintendent Messages here.
Photos from Around Our Schools
Franklin Elementary School
Grant Elementary School
John Adams Middle School
Lincoln Middle School
Malibu High School
McKinley Elementary School
Edison Language Academy seeking Spanish-speaking students! El Programa de Doble Inmersión está aceptando solicitudes de ingreso de estudiante cuya lengua materna es el español
El Distrito Escolar Unificado de Santa Mónica-Malibú (SMMUSD) continúa siendo un líder en la educación bilingüe a través del Programa de Doble Inmersión en la escuela Edison Language Academy. Todavía se están aceptando las solicitudes de ingreso para el año escolar 2024-25 de estudiantes cuya lengua materna es el español. En estos momentos la escuela tiene suficientes solicitudes de estudiantes cuya lengua materna es el inglés, por lo que habrá una lista de espera. Antes del receso de primavera se responderá a quienes solicitaron ingreso dentro del primer plazo establecido. Leer más aquí: https://bit.ly/DualimmersionPR.
SMMUSD Financial Oversight Committee Accepting Applications
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s Financial Oversight Committee (FOC) is seeking qualified candidates who will bring a depth of business and/or financial expertise to the committee. There is one (1) upcoming vacancy with a term beginning July 1, 2024. The committee will consider all applications received by April 26, 2024. Read more here: https://bit.ly/FOCApp2024.
John Adams Middle School Recognized as 2024 California Distinguished School
SMMUSD would like to congratulate John Adams Middle School (JAMS) for being selected as one of the distinguished schools in the prestigious 2024 California Distinguished Schools program. JAMS is one of 293 middle schools and high schools across the state selected for this recognition. Read more here: https://bit.ly/JAMS-DistCAschool2024.
Students at Will Rogers Learning Community Embrace Civil Rights History with Living Museum
In honor of Black History Month, Will Rogers Learning Community hosted its “Living Museum” on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Parents, staff and community members were invited to embark on a journey through time, gaining insight into the lives and legacies of civil rights leaders whose strong spirit continues to inspire generations.
Through a dynamic and interactive initiative, Rogers’ fifth grade students had the opportunity to create a “Living Museum,” showcasing the lives and contributions of influential leaders such as Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr. and so many more.
Read more about how students brought these iconic figures to life here.
SMMUSD on the Go!
Stairway of the Stars Student Musicians Performed Beautifully
Nearly 900 SMMUSD talented student musicians and singers performed beautifully to a full house at the 73rd annual Stairway of the Stars concert! Thank you music teachers and Tom Whaley, visual and performing arts coordinator for producing such an amazing event! Stairway Honor Awardee Julianna Di Giacomo attended Lincoln MS and Samohi and is a successful international operatic soprano. It was amazing hearing her sing with SMMUSD students!
Dr. Shelton’s Road Show Continues!
The road show continues! Dr. Shelton has visited eight SMMUSD schools to share his goals and priorities for 2024-25. He also presented to the Pico Neighborhood Association and will present to the Ocean Park Assoc. He will be visiting the remaining seven schools between now and the beginning of May.
Watch the road show update here.
SMMUSD Ed Tech Director Bertha Roman Honored
In celebration of International Women's Day the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce honored five women in tech, including Bertha Roman, SMMUSD educational tech director, at a luncheon. Congrats to all honorees! March 8 is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
BAAPAC Black History Month Celebration
The Black/African-American Parent Advisory Committee (BAAPAC) held its Black History Month event in February. The event provided an opportunity for SMMUSD families to get to know BAAPAC better, in a more casual atmosphere, involving food, music, dance, and storytelling. Shoutout also to the Samohi Jazz Band for another outstanding performance! The event was attended by roughly 40 people, including keynote speaker and SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton.
BAAPAC exists to help any and all parents of SMMUSD students of African descent. This includes kids from pre-K through 12th grade. One of BAAPAC's core functions is to help facilitate the spread of vital information about school resources available to students and families in the district. At BAAPAC, we believe "knowledge is power," and the best way to empower students and their families is to actively spread knowledge. More info
Independent Study Program (ISP)
Attention parents of 6th-12th grade students this fall SMMUSD is offering an Independent Study Program (ISP) for your child. ISP offers individualized, self-paced learning, rigorous standards-aligned curriculum, individual and small group learning experiences and much more. Find out by visiting https://www.smmusd.org/ISP.
Franklin's Third Grade City Project: Building Civic Engagement through Hands-On Learning
Every year, the third-grade students at Franklin Elementary School get the opportunity to dive into an immersive city project-based learning activity that spans several weeks. This engaging project focuses on civics and economics. Each class gets to construct its own city government along with businesses that offer various products. From electing a mayor, vice mayor, and city board council members to appointing roles like police officers and bank tellers, the students get a taste of real-life governance. What's truly remarkable is that these third-graders turn their innovative ideas into tangible products using only recycled materials.
During this hands-on learning experience, classrooms turn into bustling marketplaces as students visit each other's "businesses" to sell their goods and earn profits. The excitement doesn't stop there; parents also get involved during the open house event, where they can purchase items.
To cap off this enriching learning journey, the students also get to embark on a field trip to the mayor's office in Santa Monica, bringing their classroom learning to life in a real-world setting.
Three Malibu High Students Recognized by Optimist Club of Malibu
Congratulations to Malibu students, Kylie Epstein, Chloe Loquet and Payton Pollack for being recognized by the Optimist Club of Malibu as part of their Essay Contest.
Samohi Apollo Night was a Huge Success!
Samohi’s Black Student Union (BSU) held its annual Apollo Night at Barnum Hall on Friday, March 15, 2024. It was a fantastic night showcasing the talents of our students. Great job to all those who participated. The audience enjoyed the evening of entertainment.
Grant Elementary School Dives into Reading Across America
Step into the vibrant halls of Grant Elementary School where excitement for literature knows no boundaries! As part of the Reading Across America initiative, Grant Elementary School Principal Christian Fuhrer embarked on a journey through the classrooms, captivating young minds with tales that spark imagination and ignite a love for reading! With each turned page, students were transported to far off worlds, fostering a community where the magic of books thrive.
The goal of Reading Across America is to enhance comprehension skills and cultivate lasting reading habits among students.
Malibu High Visits Malibu Elementary
In an effort to get our younger Malibu students excited about the fantastic music and program available at Malibu Middle and High School, the high school students visited Malibu Elementary to showcase their artistic and musical talents.
Samohi Marching Band Gets A New Trailer
It’s out with the old and in with the new for the Samohi Marching Band. After 37 years the marching band has received a new trailer. While the old trailer was leaking and had numerous maintenance related issues that made it unsafe to continue using, the new trailer has safe ramps and powered stairs and everything is powered by solar panels on the roof! No need for expensive generators. Kudos to all the staff, community members and Financial Oversight Committee members for making this happen for the award winning Samohi Marching Band!
MHS Students Celebrate World Language Day
During World Language Day the students of Malibu High School designed tourist trips to French and Spanish speaking locations. They delivered sales pitches to convince audiences to “buy” trips. This gave the students a chance to demonstrate presentational speaking skills in another language.
Special Education Community Resource Fair Attended by Families of SMMUSD, BHUSD and CCUSD
Three school districts joined together to welcome special education families to a community resource fair in March. The Santa Monica-Malibu USD, Beverly Hills USD and Culver City USD comprise the tri-city SELPA or Special Education Local Area Plan, created a Saturday event that offered more than 30 exhibitors to visiting families. Parents and students immersed themselves in the experience that included speakers, resources and supports for students. SMMUSD is committed to providing all students with programs and resources that support their development, academic and social emotional progress and success in a safe school environment.
Malibu Boys & Girls Club Celebrates Youth of the Year
The Malibu Boys & Girls Club honored four outstanding students during the 2024 Youth of the Year event held in February, announcing Emily, a Malibu High School senior as the winner.
The students, senior Azalea, junior Irina and sophomore Diego, along with Emily, shared their stories of perseverance, challenges and goals, along with the impact the Malibu Boys & Girls Club has had in their lives. Congrats to all!
Read more in the MBGC newsletter
The SMMUSD Spotlight
Nefertari Perez-Figueroa, Samohi PBL ‘24
Meet Nefertari Perez-Figueroa, a senior at the Project-Based Learning (PBL) Pathway at Santa Monica High School (Samohi). Her creativity and love for fashion design have fueled her transformative educational journey and success within PBL.
Read more about Perez-Figueroa here: https://bit.ly/NefertariPFigueroa-Spotlight.
Malibu High School Reaches New Heights with the Topping Out Ceremony Celebration
Construction of the new Malibu High School campus is well underway, with significant progress made in its development and enhancement. On Thursday, March 21, 2024, a steel topping out ceremony helped mark a major milestone in the construction of Phase 1 of Malibu High School’s Campus Plan. The event was attended by members of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton, Malibu Principal Patrick Miller, staff, students, local elected officials, community members and building partners, signifying a collaborative effort towards the evolution and improvement of the campus.
A groundbreaking event was held in October 2023. Read about groundbreaking here: https://bit.ly/NewMalibuHSGroundbreakingPR2023. Watch the groundbreaking video here: https://bit.ly/NewMalibuHSGroundbreaking2023.
Samohi Exploration Building and Gold Gym Tour
SMMUSD staff, along with Samohi Principal Marae Cruce and PTA President Erika Bell, embarked on a tour of Samohi’s new Exploration building and Gold gym. Construction of these facilities are currently in progress and visibly taking shape. Attendees were given the opportunity to explore the site and pose inquiries about the educational design. The anticipated opening for these buildings is scheduled for August 2024.
Events & Important Dates
- March 25 - April 5, 2024 - Spring Break
- April 21, 2024 - The Santa Monica Education Foundation Wine Auction
- April 26 - 28, 2024 - Malibu High present Mean Girls- High School Version
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The SMMUSD Wave is published monthly by the SMMUSD communications team: Gail Pinsker, Community & Public Relations Officer; Diana Bouchaaya and Esmi Careaga, Communication Specialists. Do you have news or interest stories about our students, programs or staff? Please share through Let's Talk.
The SMMUSD Wave:
2023 Winner of the Award of Excellence by the California School Public Relations Association