
The SMMUSD Wave- March 2023

A Message from the Interim Superintendent
Spring Programs and Student Success
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and Community Members,
This is a great time of year in SMMUSD! Students are focused and building confidence as they master subject matter and dive deeper into learning strategies, projects and building friendships. Teachers are providing differentiated instruction based on the needs of students and guiding them to academic and social emotional success. Classified staff have built rapport with students and families and continue to provide support for everything from instructional support, food services, transportation, special education, custodial, office support, and other non-teacher assignments.
We acknowledge that our schools have faced challenges during rainy months. The amount of rain we have experienced in these past months is unlike any we have experienced in recent years. Our maintenance & operations staff continue to respond to the issues as they arise. More importantly, we are assessing our facility needs, committing resources and devising short- and long-term plans for improvements including, but not limited to, roof repairs and replacement. We thank you for your patience and understanding.
It is hard to believe that three years ago on March 13, 2020, we shut down our schools for what was initially thought to be a few weeks. A few weeks turned into a few months and continued into the start of the following school year. None of us could have imagined what we would experience during this time. We understand that many of our students and families are struggling in the aftermath, and we have seen a rise in student mental health concerns. We are working hard to provide services directly and with partners and continue to expand our offerings. Our mental health and community resources webpage includes great resources and supports.
While we still have some pandemic-related protocols in place, we are aware of the recent guidance update provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which does make some changes to health guidelines for Covid-19 isolation cases and close contacts, including updated masking recommendations. We are reviewing these new guidelines, along with our current staff vaccination policy and will be providing a letter to all educational partners soon with our updated plans.
Our 72nd Stairway of the Stars concert is Saturday, March 18, 2023, featuring nearly 900 exceptionally talented SMMUSD musicians from all of our schools in Malibu and Santa Monica. Our hard-working music teachers have quite the show in store featuring band, orchestra and choir students in fifth through 12th grade. Read the story below for ticket information.
Our school sites are in the midst of spring concerts, plays and other programs. Visit your school’s website or follow newsletters from your school to make plans to celebrate these important milestones of our school year. Our students are thrilled to be showcasing their work and talents with you!
Our Facility Improvement Project department continues to schedule community meetings for upcoming modernization projects throughout the District. If you are not a parent or staff member, but live by a school, you can sign up for alerts of meetings of this nature to provide input: bit.ly/SMMUSD-NeighborhoodNews. Numerous projects are in various stages of planning right now. It is very exciting to watch our schools transform into 21st-century learning communities that will serve our students for decades to come.
We remind you that if your student will be taking state or site assessments in the coming weeks to ensure they are well rested, eat a healthy breakfast and come to school on time. We appreciate the value our parents place on these tests that provide a window into your child’s growth and achievement. Assessment results also provide an important view for all of our educators and Board of Education to understand gaps, implement interventions, and develop strategies, in order to meet all students, including high achieving students, where they are, while providing access and opportunity to all.
Our last day of instruction before spring break is March 31, 2023. I wish our students, families and staff an enjoyable break.
Sincerely,
Mark O. Kelly, Ed.D., Interim Superintendent
You can read prior Superintendent Messages here.
72nd Annual Stairway of the Stars Concert Shines a Brilliant Light on the SMMUSD Music Program
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) will present the 72nd annual Stairway of the Stars outdoor concert on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 4 p.m. in the Santa Monica High School Greek Theatre. Nearly 900 elementary, middle, and high school students will “star” in the Stairway of the Stars, a musical extravaganza highlighting the outstanding SMMUSD music education programs, and showcasing the talents of students from every school in the District. The 2023 Stairway Honor Award will be presented to Linda Greenberg this year.
Read more about the upcoming Stairway concert: https://bit.ly/Stairway2023
SMMUSD Continues Implementation of Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) recognizes the importance of addressing bullying in school. Since 2015 SMMUSD has been working with world-renowned Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (Olweus) to create a school climate where students feel safe, secure, and ready to learn. Bullying prevention education continues to be a priority from SMMUSD.
Read more about Olweus and SMMUSD here: https://bit.ly/OlweusPR.
SMMUSD Launches New Athletic Program for Santa Monica Middle School Students
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District announced a new afterschool interscholastic competitive sports program for Santa Monica middle school students attending John Adams Middle School, Lincoln Middle School and SMASH. The program will be free to all student-athletes.
Read more about the new athletic program here.
SMMUSD Students and Music Teacher Perform at the Hollywood Bowl
SMMUSD applauds the more than 20 students who were featured in Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl, an all-new Disney Original Special. Led by SMMUSD music teacher Jessi Spike Gravelle, students from Edison Language Academy, Franklin Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, John Adams Middle School and Lincoln Middle School performed live for 18,000 people in January.
You can read more about this amazing performance here: https://bit.ly/SMMUSDatHollywoodBowl.
Malibu High School Student Receives Prestigious Award for Writing and Digital Art
Congratulations to Malibu High School (MHS) junior, Thomas Drummond, on receiving five 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards including two Gold Key awards, two Silver Key awards and an honorable mention. More than 260,000 works were submitted and only 2,000 earned awards.
Drummond has also received an honorable mention in the 2022 Congressional Art Competition for his digital art piece and a 2022 PTA Reflection Award within MHS.
The pieces Drummond submitted were all work he did in his photography and digital design class with teacher Carla Bowman-Smith.
Kudos to them both!
CalKIDs Gives Jump Start on Student Savings Accounts for low-income families and newborns
It’s never too early to begin saving for your child's future! To help give parents/caregivers a kickstart to saving, the state of California has officially launched the nation’s largest college savings program. The California Kids Investment and Development Savings (CalKIDs) program will help eligible low-income families with students enrolled in public school’s access college savings created in their children’s names, with seed investments between $500 and $1,500. Children of low-income families currently in grades 1-12, and newborns born in California on or after July 1, 2022, qualify.
Learn more about CalKIDS here.
Santa Monica High School Prom Boutique Accepting Formalwear Donations and Volunteer Requests
Take a look in your closet! Do you have a formal dress, suit or tuxedo you no longer wear that you'd like to donate to a good cause? Help make the Santa Monica High School (Samohi) prom a special memory by donating formalwear, accessories, gift certificates or cash! The Samohi Prom Boutique is now accepting donations through March 30.
The Samohi Prom Boutique is collecting newly or gently used formal dresses, shoes, suits, tuxedos, purses, jewelry and unopened cosmetics. The boutique is also accepting gift certificates for beauty services, florists, car services and limos. Volunteers are also needed to assist students with their selections. It’s a great way to give back to the community and help students who may not have the means to purchase formal wear to prom.
These items can be dropped off during school hours at the Samohi 7th and Michigan gate, until March 30. Do not miss out on this opportunity to help create an unforgettable prom night for Samohi students. Prom will be held on Saturday, April 22, at Sofi Stadium.
For more information or to volunteer please contact Johanna De La Rosa at jdelalosa@smmusd.org.
Samohi Photography 2 Student Exhibit
The students of Santa Monica High School's (Samohi) Photography 2 class will be showcasing their work for the public at the student-installed photo exhibition, called “An Open Book" at Samohi. The students will present their current works, which have also been published into books and exhibited on the gallery walls.
The exhibit will run March 21-31, 2023 from 4:30 - 6 p.m. at the new Roberts Art Gallery, located just past Barnum Hall, adjacent to the Administration building. Refreshments will be served on opening day.
LCAP Community Meeting
The 2023-24 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) meeting will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2023 via Zoom from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Use https://bit.ly/LCAPMeeting2023 or scan QR code in flyer below to attend.
Photos Around Campuses
Edison Language Academy
Grant Elementary School
Webster Elementary School
The SMMUSD Spotlight
Tanner Porter, MHS '12
Meet Tanner Porter, a composer, performer, songwriter and SMMUSD graduate! She recently fulfilled a childhood dream and had her musical work premiere at the San Francisco Ballet. Porter credits much of her success to her parents and her SMMUSD teachers who gave her the confidence that her voice had merit.
Read more about Porter here: https://bit.ly/TannerPorter-Spotlight.
Photography by Titilayo Ayangade
SMMUSD to Host Campus Facility Community Meeting at Lincoln Middle School
Join Us! The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) invites parents, staff, students and community members to participate in the planning of campus facilities. An in-person community meeting will take place at Lincoln Middle School on March 28, 2023 The meeting will include: discussion of educational needs, historical resources, campus plans and the next proposed projects. Your input is needed as we improve the schools to support the learning of our current and future students.
Register here: https://bit.ly/FIPCmtyMtngs2023.
For more information on Lincoln’s community meeting visit: https://bit.ly/LincolnCmtypr2023.
Events & Important Dates
- March 18, 2023 - Stairway of the Stars
- March 27, 2023 - Cesar Chavez Day (schools and offices closed)
- March 28, 2023 - Lincoln Middle School campus facility planning community meeting
- April 3-14, 2023 - Spring Break (classes not in session)
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The SMMUSD Wave is published monthly by the SMMUSD communications team: Gail Pinsker, Community & Public Relations Officer; Diana Bouchaaya and Esmi Careaga, Communication Specialists. Do you have news or interest stories about our students, programs or staff? Please share through Let's Talk.
The SMMUSD Wave:
2023 Winner of the Award of Excellence by the California School Public Relations Association