WEbster Nation,

I looked up this week to realize there are a TON of events on the horizon for you and your students here at Webster. Please take a look at the calendar, the Party Book section, and the rest of the articles and make a note of all that's on the way. WE are super excited for good stuff as we get 2024 underway.

As you will see, next Thursday, Jan.25, at 1:45p is our big Enrollment Extravaganza. The amazing Rachael Sokoloff came up with a BRILLIANT idea: Wednesday afternoon, for the last 20 minutes of the school day, what if we had “the big community clean?” We could invite parents and students to experience the idea that many hands make light work. See trash? Pick it up. See weeds? Pull them. See a mess? Tidy it. We all collectively put our school’s best foot forward. I have to say, I couldn't agree more. So consider this an official invite to this event. Let's get our campus looking radiant for ourselves and our prospective Webster families.

Wednesday, Jan 24, at 2:30p

Have a beautiful weekend, friends!

With gratitude,

- Tedd

twakeman@smmusd.org
(310) 456-6494

1/20 Sip and Swap - Clothing Swap - PARTY BOOK

1/24 Due Date for all Talent Show Applications

1/24 The Big Community Clean (2:30p)

1/25 Webster’s Enrollment Extravaganza (1:45p)

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)

2/21 Talent Show Dress Rehearsal (3:00p)

What a treat we had this morning in the STEAM Lab with Ms. Lockwood's 2nd graders!! Matilda's mom, Anita Lam, came in for a morning of meditation, peace, and the cleansing vibration of sound. We learned about different tones and how the vibration caused by sound can have a healing effect on our mostly liquid bodies. There were rain sticks and drums that sounded like thunder. It was awesome! Our kiddos did an amazing job as well. I have to say, it was a beautiful opportunity for a little peace and relaxation at the end of a tough week. A huge thank you to Anita Lam for taking the time to expose our kids to something new and super special.

We need your help in spreading the word. Do you know families looking for a great school? Maybe they're new to the area? Maybe they've grown disenchanted with their current educational situation? Bring them to our Enrollment Extravaganza next Thursday, January 25, at 1:45pm. We are rolling out the red carpet for new Webster families as we look to grow our community in the 24/25 school year. Help us spread the word!!!

A beautiful collaboration between our TK class and Mrs. Stark's 3rd graders, these beautifully painted rocks are starting to appear around campus. With little messages of hope, love, and kindness, the rocks are a great reminder of the intersection between art and inspiration. We are excited to see what branches from this little activity. What's keeping any of us from painting and placing a little kindness rock of our own? Perhaps our campus beautification starts here? Good stuff!

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. Please check your emails for super important information regarding the requirements for being a participant and responsibilities of the adult support teams. All entry forms must be turned into my office no later than Wednesday, January 24. I will have extra forms available for students as well.

A huge thank you to Kasey Earnest, Nikki White, and Ethan White for taking the lead. We appreciate you!!

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.

A huge thank you to Ms. Kathy, Ms. Neci, Ms. Monte, Ms. Yoliee, and Ms. Kesha for bringing the fiesta this week with a beautiful Nacho Bar for the whole staff. It really is a lovely time for us all to gather, take a break, and catch up with our friends in this lovely staff community. The food was delicious and so obviously prepared with love. We are truly lucky to have such an amazing group and I am so grateful for all you do to keep this place running on joy!

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

Sip & Swap - (Grades 4 & 5 ONLY, Saturday, 1/20 from 2-4p) This is Webster's version of the Home Edit. Bring your gently used clothing, sports equipment, and toys and trade them for new-to-you treasures while sipping on cocktails. Hosted by the Wallace family .

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!

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!!

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

How can we set our kids on a path to a wider range of jobs in the world of STEAM?

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.

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:

SIGN UP HERE

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!

The AERIES Parent Portal

Tedd's Welcome Letter 2023

Tedd's Welcome Back Video 2023

AERIES Parent Portal Tutorial

Student Services Registration Documents 23/24

Family Engagement & School Parent Compact

Webster Bell Schedule

PTA Membership

PTA Volunteer Opportunities

Class Change Request Form

Hour of Code

Webster Information - Week of Jan 22, 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

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.