The SMMUSD Wave- Aug.2024
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students, and Community Members,
Welcome back after a well-deserved summer break. I hope you had an opportunity to relax and enjoy summer with your family and friends.
I would like to thank teachers, staff, administrators, parents and students for the very smooth start to the school year. Our leadership team and school board members visited our campuses on the first few days of school and reported happy, smiling students, and educators and staff ready to support student academic and social emotional success.
Access and opportunity for all students continues as front of mind awareness so that all students may reach their full potential. As I start my second year as your superintendent, we will continue to build on our focus of diversity, equity and inclusion, belonging, curiosity and empowerment. Adding to this foundation, I have set six priority areas for this school year. Priorities include: transformative approaches, guaranteed viable curriculum, reclassification, special education, maintenance and fiscal services. This video provides an overview of these priorities: https://bit.ly/SMMUSDpriorities2425.
Refer to my full letter for information regarding our staff convocation, school safety, facility readiness, indoor air quality, staying home if sick, Covid-19 and staying connected and informed. https://bit.ly/WelcomeBackLetter2425-SMMUSD.
Sincerely,
Dr. Antonio Shelton
Superintendent
You can read prior Superintendent Messages here.
Dr. Francisco Dussan Named New Student Services Director
Congratulations and welcome Dr. Francisco Dussan as the new SMMUSD Director of Student Services! Dr. Dussan brings a wealth of student services experience to SMMUSD from LAUSD and is also a licensed clinical social worker.
Read more: https://bit.ly/DussanNewDirector080624.
Denise Johnson Named New Assistant Principal of Malibu High School
Congratulations and welcome to Denise Johnson named as the new Assistant Principal of Malibu High School! The SMMUSD Board of Education approved her appointment at the Aug. 15 regular meeting. Let’s give a warm welcome to Ms. Johnson as she steps into this exciting new role!
Read more: https://bit.ly/JohnsonAnn2024.
Many Pieces, One Team!
SMMUSD staff came together on Aug. 19, 2024 for an inspiring day dedicated to enhancing how we support and empower our students. With the theme 'Many Pieces, One Team,' we explored the importance of collaboration, creativity and play in building a brighter future for our students. Check out the video below to see how we're strengthening our commitment to their success!
Photo by Owen Purcell, Samohi '23
Coastal Cleanup Day!
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: 9/21/24
Location: Santa Monica Beach at Ocean Park Blvd. (Tower 27) and Zuma Beach (Tower 2)
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Register here.
Building Futures for Malibu Middle School
Malibu Middle School, situated on the shared Malibu High School campus, has undergone several modernizations over the years, most notably the creation of designated spaces for the middle school only. Half of the new middle school has been constructed with the addition of the classroom building and the new library classroom and administration building. From renovating classrooms with state-of-the-art technology to upgrading and modernizing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, changes in every corner of the school can be seen and experienced. SMMUSD is continuing to transform Malibu into a progressive, cutting-edge campus for future learners.
There’s more work to be done to construct a unique and future ready middle school. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s Board of Education passed a resolution to place a Malibu bond measure on the November 2024 ballot to fund the next series of needed improvements at Malibu MS.
Learn more here: https://bit.ly/MalibuMSBFsummer2024.
Building Futures for McKinley Elementary School
Construction of the new McKinley Elementary School classroom building has finally begun. After more than a year delay to receive environmental clearance, the project is now in full swing with anticipated opening in August 2026. The construction site is properly secured with safety procedures deployed as the campus is prepared for school to resume.
Learn more here.
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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