Webster Weekly
January 26, 2024
WEbster Nation,
Another eventful week here on campus. We're knee-deep in thinking and learning, inspiring field trips, community events, Talent Show auditions, project planning, and so much more. It's at the end of week's like these that I want to wrap my arms around you all (students, staff, and community) and give you a big hug and a thank you for all you do to keep us moving. It's mean a great deal and I'm super grateful. There are all kinds of goodies in this week's newsletter...enjoy!
Have a beautiful weekend, friends!
With gratitude,
- Tedd
twakeman@smmusd.org
(310) 456-6494
EVENTS, REMINDERS, and DATES to REMEMBER
JANUARY 2024
1/26 Talent Show Auditions #1 (1:30p)
1/27 The Ultimate Nerf Battle - PARTY BOOK
1/30 Talent Show Auditions #2 (3:00p)
FEBRUARY 2024
2/1 Webster Board Presentation (The Power of Project Based Learning)
2/5-2/9 Sustainable Book Fair
2/9 Talent Show Rehearsal (1:30p)
2/9 Girl Scout Cookie Sales (1:15-2:30p)
2/7 OUTDOOR EDUCATION KICK-OFF (8:30a) Astrocamp - 4th grade, Yosemite - 5th grade
2/10 2nd Annual Webster Bowl - PARTY BOOK
2/13 Talent Show Rehearsal (3:00p)
2/15 School Site Council Meeting – 3:00p
2/16 Girl Scout Cookie Sales (1:15-2:30p)
2/19 President’s Day Holiday (no school)
2/20 Talent Show Dress Rehearsal (3:00p) This is a date change!
2/23 Talent Show (8:45a - student show) (6:00p - Community Show)
MARCH 2024
3/8 Math Field Day - 8:40a-12:00p
3/12 Pepperdine Science Night - 6:00-7:30p
3/15 Jog-A-Thon
3/16 Stairway Concert
3/21 SPRING DEEP LEARNING EXPO – 6:00p (minimum day)
3/22 Last Day before Spring Break
APRIL 2024
4/8 School resumes
A CONVERSATION WITH LLOYD
It was brought to my attention recently that one of our 2nd graders, Lloyd Kessler, loved oysters. I couldn't help but find the idea of sitting down to enjoy a plate of oysters with one of Webster's young thinkers a rare and wonderful opportunity. So we set out this afternoon for our local Whole Foods, which has a 12 for $12 special going on Fridays, and the rest is history. Here are a few highlights from my conversation with Lloyd:
As the two of us walked over to the fresh seafood counter, I asked Lloyd how he got hooked on oysters. It seemed such an uncommon food choice for a 2nd grader. "It happened when I was about 6 or 7 years old. I just really liked the flavor...and that's how it all started." We looked at the variety of gnarled shells behind the glass and settled on a dozen Blue Points.
Lloyd had been charged by his father with performing all calculations for food costs, including sales tax. He was definitely up for this challenge and approached it with savvy and efficiency. It was during these calculations I realized his desire for fairness and equality. He expressed that, "Since we're sharing the oysters, after sales tax, we'll each have about $17 dollars left."
I contemplated a 79 cent lemon, but pivoted to the shrimp cocktail (which included lemon) and Lloyd quickly tallied my new total. In this moment, I was thrilled to find that sharing and kindness were also really important to my companion. He was eager to share things and delighted in coming to agreements about what we should purchase together.
We got our goods and settled in at a table out front. I asked, "If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go?"
"Ecuador," Lloyd replied. "The Galapagos. It's a very tropical place. It has a lot of different species and they probably make a lot of great seafood." I asked if he had been there before...he hadn't.
"If you were Webster's principal, what changes would you make?" I wondered.
Lloyd slurped down an oyster, doused with a splash of peanut sauce from his spring roll, and pondered for a moment before responding, "I would probably change it to make less homework for the 5th graders. Then...less homework for the 4th graders. That's pretty much it."
I took this as a compliment. Then I couldn't help but wonder if this was also a sweet nod to his older siblings...a 4th and a 5th grader. Lloyd is clearly a good brother.
Things were going swimmingly. The oysters were delicious and the conversation was lovely. I wondered if Lloyd had any thoughts about how his new brother might change aspects of his life. "So far it's pretty good...not really much has changed. My heart might beat faster because I will have to catch him when he's running. Also, maybe how much free time I get."
These were acute observations about life on a Friday afternoon.
We spent the rest of our time discussing Lloyd's love of playing Dungeons and Dragons with his brother. I had many questions about the nuances of the game and he had all the answers. I have to say, it was a truly awesome afternoon of delicious food and great company. Oh, and Lloyd had a final wish for all of you as we head into the weekend..."I hope that you all have a good one!"
Thanks for a great afternoon, Lloyd.
GETTING OUR HANDS DIRTY
As you might imagine, it was one part chaos, one part the thrill of roaming the campus, one part gross out, and 3 parts CLEAN!! A huge thanks to all the kids, teachers, and parents who came out to help clean up our campus on Wednesday in preparation for our Enrollment Extravaganza. The big Community Clean was a fun afternoon of work, play, and community building. Who knew that an opportunity to wear latex gloves would give the kids such a thrill. Big thanks to Rachael Sokoloff for organizing!
OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD
A huge thanks to the dedicated members of our PTA and other parent and student volunteers for storming the campus this week to make our enrollment event a huge success. From campus beautification and homemade cookies, to new bulletin boards and the Dunn's wavy tube guy, we are so grateful to our community for welcoming prospective families and showing why WEbster is the right choice for them and their kids. (Tatiana Jacobs, Kate Ward, Rachael Sokoloff, Shannon and Joel Dunn) We couldn't do it without you. Big shout out to Kelsian Kidd and Isaura Terry for stepping up on the back end to work on all the enrollment logistics, to Christine Manning for helping us out with the TK presentation, and to Rem Sokoloff for showing us all what a Webster Alumni stands for. Thanks, buddy. Thank you to 4th graders, Layla, Maisy, Tulee, Penelope, Gisselle, Naomi, and Veronika for leading tours of our campus. Shout out to the BGCM for supporting as well. All around, it was a really lovely event. Well done, community!!
HOMEMADE DELICIOUSNESS
Mrs. Cooper's class, with support from Rachael Sokoloff, helped out with our big enrollment event by making some delicious treats for new students and parents. These were not just any old treats. These were delicate bars of goodness. Slightly sweet and slightly savory, these cookies were made with herbs from Webster's own garden. The students did the job of carefully, hand-picking the rosemary and other greens from the garden before mixing them into the batter. There were a few left over at the end of the event yesterday and, if I'm being honest, I took "several" of them home. Thanks, team!!
5th GRADE HITS THE OBSERVATORY
The 5th graders in Miss Johnson’s and Ms. London’s classes had an incredible field trip this week to the Griffith Observatory! The kids were thrilled to get off campus, and to delve into all things outer space.
We started out the day by learning all about comets, and even got to see how to make one. It’s easier than you think, and the secret ingredient, of all things - Windex! From there, we were delighted by a mesmerizing Planetarium show, where students discovered more about what it takes to have life on a planet, what makes Earth so special, and if there is the possibility of life anywhere else in space. It’s safe to say that the show instilled a sense of wonder in the 5th graders, as they tried to comprehend just how big our universe is, and realized just how small all of us are. From there, we were treated to a personalized tour of the Griffith Observatory, where the students learned all about which planets they weigh the most/least on, different types of stars, elements and how they make up our universe, different waves of light, and more! They even gained an understanding about why some people say, “We’re all made of stars.”
The field trip really made learning come to life for the students. Our 5th graders even had a chance to showcase their knowledge and expertise from their experience last year at Astro Camp. So much so, the educational leaders at Griffith were incredibly impressed by our students’ answers to their questions, and by the depth of the questions they asked. All in all, 5th grade had a fantastic experience on our field trip!
TIME TO SHINE
Coming back to Webster next month, the famous Talent Show is set for Friday, February 23. There will be a morning show for our student body at 8:45am and an evening show for the entire community at 6:00pm. This is a beautiful opportunity for our students to show courage and put their talents on display. We celebrate this event in the spirit of supporting and encouraging one another...NOT in competition. Now that applications are IN, keep an eye on important audition and rehearsal schedules:
1/26 Talent Show Auditions #1 (1:30p)
1/30 Talent Show Auditions #2 (3:00p)
2/9 Talent Show Rehearsal (1:30p)
2/13 Talent Show Rehearsal (3:00p)
2/20 Talent Show Dress Rehearsal (3:00p) This is a date change!
A huge thank you to Kasey Earnest, Nikki and Ethan White, and Lauren and Phil Buckman for taking the lead. We appreciate you!!
IT'S TIME TO GET OFF CAMPUS
One of the unforgettable privileges of becoming a 4th or 5th grader here at Webster is the opportunity to join your classmates on our Outdoor Education adventures. A school tradition, our 4th graders attend a 3-day/2-night excursion to Astropcamp in Idyllwild, CA, while our 5th graders enjoy a 4-night/5-day adventure to the beautiful Yosemite Valley. Both trips see our students involved in physical activities, team-building exercises, academic opportunities, and the exhilaration of being away from home (possibly for the first time) and at one with the natural world. It's an incredible time of self-discovery and growth for our kids.
- May 15-17 ASTROCAMP (4th grade)
- May 13-17 YOSEMITE (5th grade)
We have planned a kick-off event for the morning of Wednesday, February 7, at 8:30am here in the WEbster cafetorium. This event is meant to provide tons of information, build excitement, layout our fundraising approach, recruit chaperones, and answer any/all questions or concerns that parents may have about these trips. If you are a 4th or 5th grade parent, PLEASE mark your calendars and join us next month.
THE PARTY CONTINUES INTO 2024
Don't miss these super fun events from Lauren and the folks at the Webster Party Book!!
Scroll through and grab your tickets to some super fun activities for you and the family. This is a great way to meet new families, build community, and try something new.
PARTY BOOK REVIEWS
"Hunter had a blast with his friends at Zuma Beach playing in the surf, body boarding, and even learning to stand up and catch waves! What a great experience!" - Richard VanOrnum
"We had such a great time at the Slice Slice Baby Party. It was such a great way to connect with other parents and give back to the school at the same time." - Samantha Carpenter
"When I signed up for Trampoline with Tedd, I didn't realize I was the Tedd. Regardless, I had a blast jumping, jousting, dodging, and playing with a bunch of our Whales. These Party Book events are truly amazing." - Principal Tedd
"These Party Book events are the most amazing thing I've ever been a part of...and I've been a part of some pretty amazing things. Get your tickets immediately!" - Phil Buckman
JOIN US TOMORROW!!
The Ultimate Nerf Battle - (Saturday, 1/27 from 11a-1p) An epic Nerf war followed by a BBQ feast. Hosted by the Fernald Family (Grade 2), this event promises an unforgettable experience for you and your child and will take place at a private residence. Only 15 tickets are available, so act fast to secure your spot in this fantastic adventure!
THE 2ND ANNUAL WEBSTER BOWL
2nd Annual Webster Bowl - (Grades 3-5 ONLY Saturday, 2/10 from 11a-2p) - Get hyped! Principal Tedd and Whale dad, Gabe Sokoloff, will be leading their teams in the 2nd annual Webster Bowl. This co-ed, flag football showdown starts at 11a on the Webster field and is open to all students in grades 3-5. Get your tickets to take the field and have some Saturday football fun. After the student game, there will be a second game for all ADULTS and ALUMNI starting around 12:30p. Bring the lawn chairs, some blankets, snacks, and your inner high school athlete!
A FAMILY DANCE PARTY
Webster Prom - Party Book - (Friday, 5/3 from time TBD) Coming in May is the much anticipated WEBSTER PROM!! Think of this as a family dance party and not so much as the ending to Pretty in Pink. This evening is meant to be just a great time with the whole family. More details on the way, but in the meantime, scoop up your tickets at the link above!!
GOOD TIMES AT THE WALLACE HOUSE
We came, we sipped, we swapped and we left with designer jeans and clothes new with tags. Thank you to the Wallace family for hosting the Sip & Swap.
MALIBU PACIFIC CHURCH
Get ready for a "Magical Night Together" at Malibu Pacific Church! We're thrilled to announce our upcoming Mother Son Dance & Father Daughter Dances! It promises to be an evening filled with wonder; featuring mesmerizing magical performances, dancing, delicious dinner & dessert, an arcade, crafts, and much much more!
Join us for a night where magic is not just in the air but in every moment as you create memorable moments together. Let the magic begin! Invite a friend! We can't wait to share this enchanted evening with you.
Mother Son Dance
Friday, February 9th @ 5pm - 8pm
Father Daughter Dance
Saturday, February 10th @ 5pm-8pm
Tickets are $65 per person
MOVING TO WEDNESDAYS in 2024
Happy New Year!
A quick update: Webster Run Groms will now be meeting Wednesday mornings, NOT Fridays. We will continue to meet at the same time - before school from 7:45am to 8:15am. We are excited to continue with Run Groms for the duration of the school year and hope your awesome kids continue to join us! We had a ton of fun getting the program off the ground in the fall and look forward to further development in the new year.
Thanks to Boys & Girls Club of Malibu and our friends at Irv's Burgers and Prince Street Pizza, we will be handing out coupons for goodies each week.
Email maliburungroms@gmail.com to learn more. See you there! 🏃♀️
- Cassidy Benadum
THE DISCONNECT
How can we do a better job of giving K-5 students a foundation in the kind of thinking that leads to a broader future in STEM jobs?
Become A Room Sponsor!
Webster PTA is looking for room sponsors for our classrooms! You can become a room sponsor for a donation of $400. Your donation supports our classrooms in many ways, including by allowing teachers to purchase supplies for our students above and beyond what the district provides, and funding all classroom field trip expenses. Room sponsors will be recognized with a sign outside the classroom and a shout in Tedd's newsletter. Please note that more than one family may sponsor a room.
To purchase CLICK HERE!
OR save us the transaction fee by dropping off a check in the front office, or paying via Zelle to websterptamalibu@gmail.com
Please indicate which classroom you wish to sponsor in your purchase!
Room 1: Music
Room 2: Lockwood
Room 3: Claudio SAI
Room 4: STEAM Lab
Room 5/6: Library - Ms. Monte
Room 7: Harris
Room 8: Stark
Room 9/10: Murdock/Berman
Room 11: Crane/Norodom Pre-K
Room 12: Papale
Room 13: Coding Lab
Room 14: Art Studio
Room 15: Morris
Room 16: Cooper
Room 17: Kisskalt
Room 19: London
Room 20: Johnson
Garden
Kitchen: Ms. Neci
Teacher & Staff Lounge
Speech Room: Jllison
OT Room: Krenik
Lunch Patio
Teacher Workroom
Nurses Office: Hernandez/Gordon
Let’s get ALL these places sponsored! Thank you for helping us create magical spaces for our students!
Donate to our sustainable book fair!
Clean out your bookshelves and donate to Webster's upcoming Sustainable Book Fair! We'll be collecting gently used books, puzzles, board games, and Webster wear (Just Spirit Wear, not Jog-a-thon or Math Field Day shirts, please.) We will be collecting items during morning drop off or you can leave in the designated box in the front office between Jan. 22 - Feb. 2nd You will be able to shop the book fair Feb. 5-9. This has become a favorite Webster event. A great way to recycle our gently used books and get new ones! All non-clothing donations must be in like-new condition. Puzzles must contain all pieces. Board games must contain all pieces and instructions. Items may be dropped off in the office before or after school.
Webster needs YOU! Join the PTA team!
The WEbster PTA team is getting organized and we'd love for you to join the team!
We are thankful to the team of parents that currently volunteer their time on the PTA executive team:
Sion Roy, President
Elena Eggers, Treasurer
Rachael Sokoloff, Secretary
Cara Wiechnik, Executive VP
Shannon Dunn, Communications VP
Kate Pritchett-Skene, Parliamentarian
Sarah Ryan, Financial Secretary
Lauren Ifft, Party Book Chair
Saona Jackson, Historian and Room Rep Chair
In addition to our executive officer roles, we are grateful for all the event chairs, event volunteers, valet volunteers, room parents, and classroom volunteers!
We consider it a huge success that our executive team will be returning next year, but our roles are shifting because terms are ending.
For the 2024-2025 school year, we are looking to fill these officer roles on the executive team:
Secretary (Required Officer) - takes minutes & administrative tasks
Room Representative Chair - liaison between room parents and PTA
Student Involvement Chair - encourages and involves student leadership in PTA programs & events
Membership Chair - attract and maintain Webster PTA members
Fundraising Chair - plans and organizes fundraising activities
Historian - collects volunteer hours, Honorary Service Awards
JOIN THE PTA TEAM:
If one of the PTA officer roles caught your attention or if you have interest or questions in becoming more involved on the PTA executive committee:
EMAIL US BEFORE FEB 1st - SaonaJackson@gmail.com
Subscribe to our new calendar
Don’t miss out on future events and PTA meetings. This calendar will keep you informed! Hello Webster! We have heard your cry for a better Calendar system! We are now using Arrange to share the Webster school schedule with parents. Arrange makes it easy to add the Webster school schedule to your calendar (Google Calendar, Outlook, iCal, etc). Please visit this page to add it to your calendar:
Once you create a free Arrange account, you'll be able to add the schedule to all of your devices. After you add it, any changes or new information will automatically reflected on your calendar. We will even add links and other important information to the calendar in the notes. Let us know if you have any questions!
* A big thanks to Webster parent and the founder of Arrange, Bridgette Farrer Muir for helping us get this launched!
BGCM Update
Webster Information - Week of Jan 29, 2024
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:
BGCM Membership Enrollment is LIVE Available for incoming grades TK-5th. Enroll at BGCMALIBU.ORG Programs include: STEM based projects, arts & crafts, cooking/gardening, social emotional wellness, and more! (Enrollment must be completed and verified via our online electronic system before your child attends BGCM Clubhouses, please allow at least 2 business days for this process). Enroll Here | Inscribirse
Third Space is OPEN at Malibu Village! Third Space is a storefront, gallery and an innovation space for youth to be mentored and inspired. A project of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, made possible by many generous community contributors. A percentage of all store purchases benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu:
Safe spaces after-school
Mental health services for youth, families and aging population
Drug and alcohol prevention programming
Innovative and inspiring opportunities for youth
Regenerative systems and educational initiatives
Here, in our vibrant community, we value care, connection, and creativity. We offer youth, families, and visitors of all ages the chance to explore products from local, sustainable and social entrepreneurs. To learn more, visit thirdspacemalibu.org Follow us on IG/FB: @thirdspacemalibu
Wellness Center & Social Support Offerings The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Wellness Center operates remotely and also in-person to provide no-cost social support & mental health counseling to all in the community. Visit https://bgcmalibu.org/wellness-center/ to learn more or to request services for you/your child! There is currently NO WAITLIST for services. PSA: Parents! If you've missed any parent workshops, they are available on our website at https://bgcmalibu.org/wellness-center-resources/
*To contact the Club please call 310-457-1400 (Admin) or 310-241-3675 (Programs) Email info@bgcmalibu.org For updates on Club news & events, subscribe to BGCM E-Newsletter Here
Third Space is OPEN at Malibu Village! Third Space is a storefront, gallery and an innovation space for youth to be mentored and inspired. A project of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, made possible by many generous community contributors. A percentage of all store purchases benefit BGCM:
- Safe spaces after-school
- Mental health services for youth, families and aging population
- Drug and alcohol prevention programming
- Innovative and inspiring opportunities for youth
- Regenerative systems and educational initiatives
"We are so thrilled to welcome the community to Third Space. We love being able to highlight products and art created by local, young entrepreneurs including Malibu High and BGCM alumni! This is a very special space made possible by amazing community contributors and we just can't wait for everyone to experience Third Space and all that it has to offer". Kasey Earnest, Boys & Girls Club of Malibu CEO
Third Space is made possible by the following contributors: Blue Star Painting • Bold LA • Devon Meyers Photography • JL Designs • 129 Builders Inc. • Jones Builders Group • Koum Family Foundation • The Little Market • The Dorn Family • Peak Power Electric • Quality Indoor Air - Heating and Air Conditioning • Venue Creation Resources
Join us for a Valentine's Day Sip & Shop Tuesday, Feb 13 4-6p at Third Space (23357 Pacific Coast Hwy, next to Malibu Village books) Come and enjoy complimentary champagne, sweet treats, fresh flower arrangements, and more while finding the perfect gift for your valentine and giving back to community!
Malibu Middle School Theatre's 2024 Presents
Come enjoy a story of true love where two sisters experience mysteries of magic, tragedy, and a long journey to find their confidence and inner powers. The sisters, Anna and Elsa, deal with matters of friendship, family, and love with some irresistible characters along the way, including Olaf the snowman, Sven the reindeer, Oaken, Pabbie and Bulda and the Hidden Folk. It is truly a magical frozen tale!
LOCATION:
Malibu Middle & High School Theater
30215 Morning View Drive
PERFORMANCES:
THURSDAY, February 8 - 7:00 p.m.
FRIDAY, February 9 - 7:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, February 10 - 7:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, February 11, 1:00 p.m.
Developing strong character and valuable mindsets is essential. This remains a major focus at Webster. As we build community here on campus, at home, and across Malibu, we will continue to model the kind of behavior that promotes unity, kindness, and thoughtful problem solving. In addition, we will value these traits in others and recognize outstanding efforts.
Every Friday we sport our Webster Wear to show school spirit and celebrate the coming weekend. Classes with the highest percentage of Webster Wear win the whale for the week. Be sure to show your spirit and pick up some Webster Wear in the main office when you stop in to say hello.