Sea Lion Spotlight
Malibu Elementary Parent Newsletter #4 - September 2, 2024
Table of Contents
2. Highlights - Photos of Recent Events
3. Important Dates - Coming Soon
4. Looking farther forward - Events to anticipate farther out in time
5. Articles - Timely information for parents
6. More Highlights
7. Useful Resources and Links
Principal's Pen
Hello MES Families,
Thank you for coming to our events this past week. Your involvement shows our students that you, the teachers, and support staff are united for their benefit.
Please complete your annual data verification in your Aeries Parent Portal now. Make sure we have the right numbers, emails, and health information for your child and family. The article below wil guide you with this imporatnt task.
Thank you for your partnership,
Proud Principal Chris Hertz
Highlights
Important Dates Coming Soon
24-25 Academic Calendar
24-25 PTA Calendar
Looking farther forward...
SEPTEMBER
- Wed 09/11 - Classroom Complaint Period Closes / 2pm (see article below)
- Thur 9/19 - PTA Association Meeting / 8:30 - 9:30 @ https://meet.google.com/qiu-eono-rjc
- Fri 09/20 - International Peace Day - Zoe's Lunchtime Theater - Audience: K-5 / 9am @ field
- Sat 9/21 - Heal the Bay Beach Cleanup @ Zuma Beach Tower 2. (See flier below)
OCTOBER
Tues 10/03 - Local Holiday (Rosh Hashanah / No School)
10/16/24-10/18/24 - 5th Grade Outdoor School (Pali Camp!)
NOVEMBER
Tues 11/05 - Fri 11/08 - Parent/Teacher Conference Week
Articles for Parents
Annual Parent Data Confirmation or Revision - Aeries Parent Portal
Beginning August 12, 2024
ACTION NEEDED: Malibu Elementary’s annual registration process is completed in the Aeries Parent Portal. You must complete data confirmation for each student.
Beginning August 12, 2024:
- Log in to your Aeries Parent Portal: https://santamonicamalibu.aeries.net/
- Be sure to read, review, and discuss all the materials with your student.
- Very Important: We need to gather information from you for emergency contacts. Please add at least two non-parents. While there are many boxes to fill, at minimum include name, relationship, and phone number.
- We also need to gather information from you for health documents.
Note: You may decide to print some of the documents for future reference. For a tutorial on how to complete this process, please click here English
We have worked to digitize the compliance and document portions of the “First Day Packet.” The Data Confirmation process is easy. This includes items like Emergency Cards, Parent Handbooks and Policies and Authorizations. We have many important documents and plenty of information for your family within the online registration site, accessed via your Aeries Parent Portal. Note: You must complete data confirmation for each student. Please be sure to read, review, and discuss all the materials with your student. We also need to gather information from you for emergency contacts and health documents. You may decide to print some of the documents for future reference.
For a tutorial on how to complete this process, please click here English
MES Minimum Days Schedule / 12:45 Dismissal for All Students (TK-5)
- Sept. 3
- Nov 6
- Nov 7
- Nov 8
- May 22
- June 11
- June 12
School Hours
School opens everyday at 8am. Teaching and learning begin at 8:15. Dismissal times vary by grade level and day of the week. Take a look at our Bell Schedule so you can remind your child when snack time and lunchtime are. There a few special "minimum days" too for events such as back-to-School Night and conference week.
Interested 5th Grade Parents should Contact Mr. Hertz to Establish an End-of-Year Committee
This committee will work with the Room Parents (Selected by Teachers) to develop goals and fundraising ideas. The EOY Committee submits fundraising ideas formally to the Principal and PTA President using the Fundraiser Request Form in the Parent Handbook. The Committee may have one of the two Bingo Nights. The Committee supports 5th grade teachers with End-of-Year activities such as Promotion and a possible Pool Party at MHS. Funds may not be used for Private Parties not officially sponsored by MES.
Please use this survey to express your interest.
Thank you for your consideration,
Principal Hertz
MBGC Information - September
The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu aims to provide a fun, safe, and creative environment for all Malibu youth to thrive, find support through positive mentorship, develop important life skills, and receive social and emotional support. We are currently offering: Link
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REPRINTS Below
Join the PTA!
The simple act of joining the PTA provides instant financial support for our students! It's also a great way to stay informed about what's happening at school, and connect in meaningful ways with other parents. https://www.malibuelementary.org/membership
Illness Prevention
We encourage parents to be informed about illness prevention as we start the new school year. The Los Angeles County Dept of Public Health has these recommendations: English / Spanish. Note the only current masking requirement is to mask for 10 days following a positive case of Covid-19. The most up to date COVID instructions are also on our website located here: https://www.smmusd.org/Page/4059. The District has some supplies of masks for any staff who requests. Please check with our School Nurse Marion Mayer mmayer@smmusd.org. Our new District Coordinating Nurse is Priscilla Guzman, pguzman@smmusd.org.
Medications at School Form
No medications may be given to any student at school without this annual form. If you have questions, please contact School Nurse Marion Mayer mmayer@smmusd.org . Link to Form
Spirit Wear!
Parents are encouraged to purchase spirit wear. Our PTA has two different collections of wear: Classic Collection and the Akaway Collection. Wearing spirit wear, especially on Fridays sends a message to one another that you are invested in the greater good of our school. Our colors are blue and green so if you don't yet have PTA Spirit-Wear, please consider showing up on the first day of school in these hues.
Class Lists/ Complaints
Class assignments will be emailed Wednesday, August 21st in the afternoon. Please help us embrace the new year with enthusiasm and positivity. We want your child’s return to school to be met with joy, curiosity, and wonder. Children look to you for guidance and if they see you are excited about the new school year, they too will feel good about the year to come. We believe deeply in all our teachers here at MES. No changes to class assignments will be made during the first three weeks of school and we prefer not to make changes at all. Read more here.
Volunteering at MES
Jaxx After-School Theater is Back - Wizard of Oz
Here are the dates for Jaxx. There will again be a first semester and a second semester show. The first semester show is the Wizard of Oz. Linked here is the Flier with details.
Jaxx Dates 2024 - 2025
- Auditions: 9/16
- Classes: 9/23, 30
- 10/7, 14, 21, 28
- 11/4, 18, 25
- 12/2, 9, 16
- Tech Week: 1/6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- Shows: 1/10 & 11 @ 6PM
- Load Out: 1/25
5th Grade Pali Camp Overnight Field Trip - Donations Needed
We are excited for our 2024 - 2025 5th grade class to again have the opportunity to attend outdoor school in October 2024. Outdoor school is perhaps the greatest highlight of elementary school for many students and is a sort of rite-of-passage. We are asking 5th grade parents to donate now so that we may make our next installment payment.
Thank you to teacher Tracy Kooy for leading the annual fourth grade parent orientation to outdoor school back in April. Thank you to all the parents who turned out. Parents decided to not fundraise, but rather to make voluntary donations to cover the $20,795 trip.
Thank you to the twenty (20) families who have donated. So far we have collected $10,880. We need at least sixteen (16) more donations to be able to make our third installment of $8,200 by the September due date. See Group Payment Schedule below for more details.
All or None
If we don’t raise enough funds for ALL students to participate, we will ask the PTA to fund the difference. If there is not enough available funds or support from PTA, then the trip will be canceled; we will refund all donations but lose our original PTA deposit. Also, to help prevent canceling the trip, any families who won’t be able to voluntarily contribute the full $520 will be asked what if anything they can donate. Perhaps $300, $200 or $50? Anything helps. Finally if there are families who would like to cover another student, we will accept donations above and beyond $520.
Trip Date
Trip date: 10/16/24-10/18/24.
Group Payment Schedule
MES must make installment payments dates to Pali Camp:
June ($7,315)
September ($8,200)
October we pay for the charter bus ($3700)
Two Ways for Parents to Donation
Please visit the PTA store. Select Pali Donation: https://www.malibuelementary.org/shop PLEASE make your Voluntary Donation now.
4th grade parents also have an option to pay via zelle to malibuestreasurer@gmail.com or using the Zelle QR Code link. PLEASE make your Voluntary Donation now.
Informational Websites
More Highlights
The Malibu Chili Cook-Off kicks off tonight at 4pm! Tickets can be purchased here. All proceeds from the Chili Cook-Off benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, which provides after school enrichment programs focusing on character and leadership, the arts, academic success, health and wellness, and diversity, equity, and inclusion at all four Malibu public schools--including Webster. So come on out and enjoy food, rides, and community--we'll see you there!
Useful Resources and Links
Principal Chris' Past Newsletters
PTA Website and Store
PTA Spirit Wear "Akaway Collection"
Student Services Registration Documents 23/24
MES Minimum Days - 2023 - 2024
Volunteering at MES: Information and Signup form
Medications at School Form Send to School Nurse Marion Mayer: mmayer@smmusd.org
Connect with Chris Hertz
Email: chertz@smmusd.org
Website: malibues.smmusd.org
Location: 6955 Fernhill Drive, Malibu, CA, USA
Phone: 310-457-9370
Twitter: @hertzinator