Whale Tales

Dear Webster Families,

What an exciting week it has been! I’d like to extend a huge thank you to our students for their calm and organized participation during the unexpected earthquake drill this week. It was a great reminder of how we prepare for emergencies.

We're thrilled to announce the return of Webster Wear Fridays! The winning classrooms this week were Ms. Berman’s and Ms. London’s – congratulations! We can’t wait to see everyone’s school spirit shine each week.

Additionally, I like to express gratitude to the Malibu Education Foundation for connecting with our community and sharing ways to get involved in supporting our school and the entire Malibu Pathway. Their partnership truly makes a difference!

Please take a moment to review the important action items below to continue supporting our school:

• PTA Annual Giving Campaign: Whale Fund

As we return to nicer weather, we look forward to more outdoor fun and learning.

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!

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.

To further encourage participation, the first class to achieve 100% donation participation will win a pizza party and the chance to silly string me, Principal Diana!

Special thanks to our Whale Fund donors so far:

• The Abeyta Family
• The Begin Family
• The Bell Family
• The Bendler and Lam Family
• The Bulczynski Family
  
• The Cali Family
• The Celedonia and VanOrnum Family
• The Clarkson Family
• The Clyne and Saban Family
• The Craig-Smith Family
• The Devlin and Omar Family
• The Dunn Family
• The Ebeling Family
• The Eggers Family
• The Epstein Family
• The Estes Family
• The Fernald Family
• The Flores Family
• The Gardner Family
• The Ifft Family
• The Jackson Family
• The Jacobs Family
• The Kamins Fink Family
• The Kessler Family
• The Lorick and Halekakis Family
• The Magenheim and Thomason Family
• The Mancuso Family
• The Mashayekhi Family
• The Miller Family
• The Mlodzik and Rothholz Family
• The Nazemi and Tello Family
• The Orosz Family
• The Overton Family
• The Pabst Family
• The Peters Family
  
• The Peterson Family
• The Pritchett Skene Family
• The Rowe Family
• The Roy and Ruchalski Family
• The Ryan Family
• The Shilling Family
• The Sokoloff Family
• The Swain Family
• The Vasisht Family
• The Walling Family
• The Ward Family
• The White Family
• The Woollen Family
  

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

A big shoutout from the PTA to every student who joined in on the Brainfreeze-->Superbloom summer engagement program! Created with the help of our fantastic teachers, this program was designed to keep our students’ creativity and learning skills sharp throughout the summer. If you missed it, check it out HERE! Each participant received a brain teaser game to enjoy at home. Those who completed the program also earned a special Brainfreeze patch and were entered into a raffle to win a 3Doodler.

A huge congratulations to Sophia Abeyta, our lucky grand prize winner!

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's about being actively engaged and involved.

Attendance Awareness Month:

This month, we celebrate Attendance Awareness by urging families to:

• 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.

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 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.

The Weekend Bag Program (WeB) provides SMMUSD students with nutritious, easy-to- prepare bags of food containing 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 snacks for the weekends. The Weekend Bag Program is available to serve to all SMMUSD students. Student names are not identified to Weekend Bag Program volunteers to ensure participant privacy. Reusable plastic bags are packed by volunteers with enough shelf-stable food (including UHT milk) for breakfast, lunch and snacks for two days. Participating students pick up the opaque nondescript bags, usually from the school office after school on Fridays, and stick them in their backpacks. The menus have been evaluated by a dietitian to meet federal school nutrition standards and provide a balance of healthy, nutritious non-perishable foods. Families wishing to enroll their students should contact our school’s Bilingual Community Liaison, Alex Aspron-Ladesich, aaspron@smmusd.org 310 457-6801 x74272 and fill out a Program opt-in form.

El Programa de Bolsas de Fin de Semana (WeB, por sus siglas en inglés) proporcionará a los estudiantes de SMMUSD bolsas de alimentos nutritivos y fáciles de preparar para los fines de semana. Los estudiantes participantes de WeB se identifican a través de un formulario de registro de interés o a través de Enlaces Comunitarios Bilingües (BCL, por sus siglas en inglés). Los nombres de los estudiantes no se compartirán con los voluntarios de WeB para garantizar la privacidad de los participantes. Los voluntarios llenan bolsas de plástico reutilizables con alimentos estables (incluida la leche UHT) que contienendos días de desayunos, almuerzos y refrigerios, y luego las llevan a la oficina de la escuela o al espacio de distribución designado. Los estudiantes participantes recogen las bolsas de alimentos y las colocan en sus mochilas. Un dietista ha evaluado los menús para garantizar que cumplan con los estándares federales de nutrición escolar y brinden un equilibrio adecuado de alimentos no perecederos, nutritivos y saludables. Las familias que deseen

inscribir a sus estudiantes en el Programa de Bolsas de Fin de Semana deben comunicarse con Alex Aspron-Ladesich, aaspron@smmusd.org 310 457-6801 x74272, y completar un formulario para inscribirse en el programa.

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.

Johnny Strange Legacy Skate Program

BGCM is thrilled to offer the Johnny Strange Legacy Skate Program, an 8-week skateboarding course suitable for all skill levels, running from October 10th to November 18th. Sessions are held every Monday from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM at the Teen Center. The program fee is $200, covering professional instruction, safety guidance, and equipment. Register here (English) or here (Spanish).

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