Sea Lion Spotlight

Malibu Elementary Parent Newsletter #20 - January 16, 2025

Principal's Pen

Hello MES Families,

January 6 MES welcomed back our amazing students. Since then we have been "closed" and I have written to you several times about continuity of learning. I have also heard from many of you about circumstances. Again, I feel for you. Being evacuated is terrible. Not having power and not being able to communicate are not easy at all. Some families and staff lost their homes. My heart breaks for you.

We are going to reopen on Tuesday after the holiday weekend. We will make reopening day warm and welcoming for our returning and new students. We will get every thing and every activity at school back up scheduled again. Student-led shows, the annual staff holiday party, and PTA meetings will be rescheduled. Below are a few events to anticipate.

As a school community, we will grow from this disaster and "no power" closure days. The City had placed a TMobile portable cell tower on our campus but it is not there today. I have made an inquiry about this disappointment. However, the TMobile signal is still pretty solid. Soon (perhaps within a month) we will have StarLink and stronger batteries to run it and our intercom system. One way or another we need to be able to communicate to operate a school safely.

Today I walked around our campus. The winds have knocked over trash cans and taken down tree branches. The school gardener is there raking up the debris. We have a broken skylight in the cafeteria. We have no electric power nor gas. Once we have power, custodians will come in. When they arrive, they will finish bleeding our gas lines so that we may heat our buildings. The cafeteria team came today and emptied our refrigerators of spoiled provisions. They will return with small trucks via Kanan and restock the refrigerators once we believe we have sustained power. Barring an unsafe situation, we are going to reopen on Tuesday.

Thank you for your partnership,

Proud Principal Chris Hertz

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 Chris—we’d love to include it in upcoming newsletters.

Highlights

Important Dates Coming Soon

24-25 Academic Calendar

24-25 PTA Calendar

Mon 01/20 - Holiday / No School - MLK Jr Day
Tues 01/21 - School Reopens

Looking farther forward...

JANUARY

Thur 01/30 - SSC Meeting @ Room 16 (Agenda)
Fri 01/31 - Student Council Spirit Day - Sports Day

FEBRUARY

Fri 02/07 - End 2nd Trimester
Fri 02/14 - Valentines Pancake Breakfast / Morning

Report Cards Go Home
Classroom Holiday Parties (See Valentine's Articles Below)

Thur 02/20 - TK/Kindgarten Round Up / 1:30 - 2:30 @ Library and Kindergarten Yard (Info)

JUNE

Wed 06/11 - End of Year Beach 5th Grade Beach Field Trip / 8:30 - 12:30 @ Malibu West Beach Club
Minimum Day / 12:45 dismissal
Thur 06/12 - Last day of School / 12:45 dismissal

Articles for Parents

Superintendent’s Message for Malibu Schools: Goal to Reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025

Dear Malibu Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and Community Members,

We continue to keep a watchful eye on the Palisades Fire, which as of this evening is only 18% contained. We are also monitoring power, gas, road access and the continued threat of powerful winds. Our crews have begun the work to prepare for school reopening. Our goal is to reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 for all Malibu schools. That means that Malibu schools will be closed for the remainder of this week. We understand that many Malibu families and staff have a strong interest in returning to school as quickly as it is safe to do so. Our Board of Education and our leadership feel strongly about this as well.

The destruction the Palisades Fire has caused is unfathomable. We continue to learn of families and staff who have lost homes or are displaced. We are thankful that it appears to have moved away from more populated areas to the east and that is good news. We recognize there are still some evacuation areas and that power has been restored, however, we are getting reports of it being inconsistent in some areas of Malibu. We are thankful that our schools are in good condition and were not damaged by this fire. We have been assessing Malibu schools and there is considerable debris from the strong winds and some ash and soot that is in the process of being cleaned both indoors and outdoors. Webster was the most affected, right after it was restored and cleaned from the Franklin Fire damage. We continue to monitor air quality, which was in the good range today. This is all positive news.

A big challenge from a safety standpoint continues to be road closures. Currently, PCH, Malibu Canyon and Topanga Canyon are closed. This presents a very difficult situation for our Malibu staff, who come from the north and from the south, in addition to the local area. It also presents a challenge for our students who use our bus services and some families. The lack of multiple options for access presents a safety concern in the event of an emergency. Our Executive Director Isaac Burgess is in frequent communications with the City of Malibu Emergency Operations Center and they are closely monitoring the status of PCH and other aspects of this ongoing emergency.

We have spoken about our criteria to reopen schools. Here is a checklist: (See in the More Highlights Section below).

Several of these criteria are in progress, leading us to our goal of reopening in one week, following the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday.

We will be monitoring all criteria closely all week and convening our EOC on Sunday to make the final announcement. Our continuity of learning plan continues. Families and students may connect with teachers regarding opportunities to stay connected and engaged.

The City of Malibu will be holding a town hall on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 at 7 p.m. at Malibu High School in the Arlene and Dick Van Dyke Auditorium. Seating is limited to the first 350 people. Live streaming will be available. The link will be shared in the coming days.

Continue to monitor City of Malibu alerts: https://malibucity.org/1168/Palisades-Fire and tune in to local Malibu radio, KBUU FM, RadioMalibu.net, and other official media outlets.

Our families and staff who have experienced loses or are still in harms way continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Antonio Shelton, Superintendent

Parent and Me Programs

For children ages 5 and under. Requires adult participation. Biological and adoptive parents, guardians, stepparents, grandparents, or other parenting relationships may attend. Programs allow adults to interact and nurture relationships during playful yet structured programs. All classes promote bonding while helping children develop cognitive, social, and motor skills and an opportunity to learn, play, and grow together. For details and/or schedule contact MalibuCity.org/Register.

Family Support Form
We hope you and your families are safe and well. We are reaching out to resend our Family Support Form link, for any families affected by the Palisades Fire. We realize the situation is evolving quickly, and want to make sure we are able to support and assist any of our families in need. Please click the link below to access the form.
Family Support Form

Support for the Malibu Community – Emergency Response

In this challenging time, the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Wellness Center stands with our community, offering free counseling, case management, and resource referrals to those in need.

If you or someone you know needs support, access emergency relief and social services via the Emergency Services Intake Form:

Emergency Intake Form: Wellness Center Request Support Services

Contact us with questions or concerns at (310) 457-6801 ext. 74141 or wellnessinfo@bgcmalibu.org. Together, we’ll navigate this crisis with strength and care.

Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Emergency Relief Fund

Our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastating impact of the wildfires currently affecting our beloved community. Families have been displaced, homes have been lost, and many are facing unimaginable challenges. In times like these, we must come together to provide hope, relief, and a helping hand.

The BGCM is working together with state and local officials and serving directly as fiscal operator for the Malibu Emergency Relief Fund to support the needs of the community.

Proceeds will go to support Malibu’s wildfire victims

DONATE TO SUPPORT MALIBU

DONATE

2025 5th Grade Overnight Field Trip - Pali Camp

Thanks to our PTA, MES has put down a deposit for the annual 5th grade trip to Pali Camp. Soon 4th grade parents will be invited to learn about the overnight field trip scheduled for October 15, 2025. The rough total cost is $19,000. We estimate that 34 fourth grade students and two teachers will attend. If each student's family were to donate $560, that would cover the full cost of the trip. Our next installment payment is due June 3rd ($5, 831.25). One way to cover this expense would be for 4th grade parents to run another Bingo Night this March. Again, soon 4th grade parents will be invited to learn about Camp and decide if they want to help pay for the trip through Bingo Night.

SMMUSD Cell Phone Regulations Change - MES Procedure Must Change Too

Back in November the SMMUSD Board of Education adopted a new Regulation for Student Cell Phones, “Regulation 5131.8: Mobile Communication Devices”. It is very simple and it is different from the way we have managed student cell phones the past five years (MES Cell Phone Waiver). Thank you for reading it and understanding your role in ensuring that students place their phone or smart watch in their backpack during school hours. We are still discouraging cell phones at school. They are highly problematic but they are not banned. Our Positive Discipline Plan has been revised accordingly (see page 4, rule 15)

How Should My Child Dress on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for PE?

Uggs, slippers, sandals, and boots are not safe for PE. Wear athletic shoes that grip the ground.

Malibu Middle School Orientaion for 5th Grade Parents and Students

MMS Counselor Lorene Whitehouse and Principal Greg Shellenberg want to welcome 5th grade parents and 5th grade students to Malibu Middle School. Below are key events to anticipate:

February - 5th grade parents MES/Webster tour MMS campus
February - Whitehouse & Schellenberg visit 5th grade classrooms
March - 5th graders take field trip to MMS

Holiday Parties

All holiday parties are to be coordinated in advance with the teacher. Parties may occur at any time of the day of the teacher’s choosing. Sugary foods are allowable, but craft activities are preferable. Please, first consult with the teacher. The three holiday party days are Halloween, Winter Holidays, and Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day

In elementary school, Valentine’s day is a day to celebrate friendships. It is NOT a day of early romantic relationships. To avoid hurt feelings and unnecessary drama, children who want to distribute Valentine’s cards must distribute the cards to all students in their class and the cards should have equal or comparable value. We don’t want children to feel isolated or left out.

MBGC Information

Link

Volunteering at MES

Link