Whale Tales

Dear Webster Community,

What an interesting week we’ve had! I want to thank you all for your patience and understanding as we managed the impacts of this week’s wind event, which led to the Broad Fire in Malibu. A heartfelt thank you to our staff for their calm presence and for keeping our students safe, and to both teachers and parents for their flexibility in rescheduling conferences, whether over Zoom or in the coming weeks.

Reflecting on safety protocols, it’s essential that all families update their emergency contact information in AERIES to ensure your children can be safely released to a trusted adult during emergencies. Details on how to do this are provided below in the AERIES section.

Important Reminders:

• Veterans Day: School will be closed on Monday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.

• California School PARENT Survey 2024-2025: Your feedback is crucial! The survey is open from November 1 to November 26 and takes only 10-15 minutes. It is anonymous, and staff received their survey link last week.

• Spring 2025 Bus Service Update: Bus routes for Malibu Middle, High School, and Webster Elementary will continue in Spring 2025, with the district maintaining current routes with staff drivers and buses. Special education transportation and CIF athletic/field trip services will also continue.

• Volunteer Training Requirement: Please review the "Teaming up for a Terrific Year" section for important information about the volunteer training requirement for all adults working with students or participating in campus activities where children are present.

I hope everyone stays safe this weekend and finds some much-needed rest.

GO WHALES!

Warmly,

Carina Diana

Check out these wonderful moments featuring our incredible students, staff, and parents—including highlights from our 5th grade and TK buddy program, where our oldest students showcase leadership and empathy by working with and supporting some of our youngest learners! 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!

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’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.

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!

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.

• 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.

• Dino and Fairy Gardening Workshop: Register for the workshop on Tuesday, November 19th, 3:00-4:30 PM. Let your child create their own magical mini-garden. Sign up at MalibuCity.org/Register.

• 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