The SMMUSD Wave- Jan. 2024
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and Community Members,
I am happy to share that January is recognized by the California School Boards Association (CSBA) as School Board Recognition Month. Our district is proud to be joining more than 1,000 educational agencies across the state in acknowledging and expressing gratitude for the invaluable contributions of dedicated board members. Our Board of Education is dedicated to establishing welcoming and inclusive school environments, ensuring students are safe, healthy and have the necessary tools for success. I am honored to be working with such a talented group of people who are relentlessly working to create and establish policies with students' success and wellbeing at the forefront.
Shifting our focus to the well-being of our students, I am delighted to announce that SMMUSD has partnered with Hazel Health to provide quality healthcare services for all students, at no cost to families. A school site health representative can initiate a video visit with a licensed therapist from Hazel Health while your child is at school. These therapy sessions are confidential, providing a safe and private space for students to address their mental health needs. More information about this initiative can be found at https://my.hazel.co/smmusd/info.
In late January we start our registration season for the 2024-25 school year, with the kickoff of our annual Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Roundup events. You will find more information and a flyer with links to each school site describing their enrollment process in this newsletter.
January is off to a strong start and I extend my deepest gratitude to each one of you for your tireless efforts in ensuring the success of our students. Let us continue to work together, making the rest of the school year as great as possible. Your dedication and support are pivotal in shaping the future of our students.
Wishing you all a fantastic second half of the school year!
Sincerely,
Dr. Antonio Shelton
Superintendent
You can read prior Superintendent Messages here.
SMMUSD Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Roundup Planned for Jan. 25, 2024!
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten Roundup, as the yearly event is called, is an opportunity for Santa Monica and Malibu parents of children entering TK or kindergarten for the upcoming year to meet the principal and teachers of their neighborhood school, learn about before and after school care, and begin the registration process for the school year.
Round up time on Jan. 25 varies by school and is listed on this flyer. (Note that schools of choice Edison and SMASH have varying scheduled. Contact each school directly.)
Read more about Roundup here: https://bit.ly/Roundup2024PR.
SMMUSD Celebrates School Board Recognition Month
January is a time to acknowledge the Board of Education and its role in supporting student achievement. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is proud to join more than 1,000 educational agencies in the state in recognizing the contributions of board members during School Board Recognition Month. As schools work to accelerate learning and support student wellness, board members play a key role in setting the foundation, policies and priorities to support optimal student outcomes.
Read more about SMMUSD’s School Board here: https://bit.ly/BOERecognition2024.
Daniela Wiener Named New Principal of McKinley Elementary
The Santa Monica-Malibu School District Board of Education approved the appointment of Daniela Wiener as the new principal of McKinley Elementary School at its December 14, 2023, regular board meeting.
Wiener has been the assistant principal 50% at McKinley Elementary and 50% at Grant Elementary in SMMUSD since 2021. Prior to that she was an instructional coach for seven years at McKinley Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, and Edison Language Academy.
Read more about Wiener here: https://bit.ly/McKinelyWienerPR.
Buzzworthy Learning at Franklin Elementary School's Collaborative Transitional Kindergarten Class
Franklin Elementary School’s collaborative transitional kindergarten (TK) class is creating quite a buzz with their recent project-based learning (PBL) unit titled “What’s the Buzz About Bees?” Led by TK teacher Danielle Eden and early childhood special education teacher Nell Canon, this science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics- (STEAM) enhanced initiative has taken a creative approach to early childhood education.
Read more here: https://bit.ly/BeeSanct-FES2023.
SMMUSD Celebrates the Samohi Marching Band's Remarkable Success in 2023 Competition Season
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) proudly congratulates the Santa Monica High School (Samohi) Viking Marching Band for an exceptional performance during the 2023 competition season. Under the leadership of band director, Kevin McKeown, the Viking Marching Band participated in five qualifying competitions, between Oct. 21 and Nov. 18, 2023, achieving outstanding results in each event.
Read more about the Viking Marching Band’s incredible season here: https://bit.ly/SamohiBandCompet2023.
SMMUSD Students Bring Art to Life in the Annual National PTA Reflections Program
Bringing art to life! Congratulations to all the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) students who participated in the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) “Reflections” Program, and best wishes to those students whose artwork was recognized for excellence and has advanced to the 33rd District level of competition.
Read more here.
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 here.
Fifth grader from Malibu Elementary School Walks Rose parade as Kindness Ambassador
Eloise Kibler, an extraordinary fifth grader from Malibu Elementary School, was selected by the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu to be the school's and SMMUSD’s representative in the Rose Bowl parade, as an official Kindness Ambassador. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity allowed Eloise to walk the five-mile parade route, share her inspiring story in a heartwarming interview with KTLA, and meet the parade's president and grand marshal Audra McDonald. Kibler's compassion, empathy, and kindness made her the perfect choice
Future Vikings Clinics: Cheer & Pom
Attention all Future Vikings with a passion for cheer and pom! The Samohi Pep Squad is holding its Future Vikings Clinic, followed by a spectacular half-time performance at the Samohi basketball game on Jan. 23, 2024, at 5 p.m.
Register now at https://bit.ly/FutureVikingsBball2024.
Congrats to SCSBOA Elementary Band
SMMUSD would like to congratulate our four elementary school students who were selected to the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA)! These students are Josie Lipman, fifth grade Grant Elementary School, Penelope Axe, Tomonori Kugawa, and Alexis Medkiff, all fifth graders from Franklin Elementary School! Amazing job!
JAMS Students Beat the Odds!
Seventh-grade mentors from John Adams Middle School and fifth-grade students at Will Rogers Learning Community came together for an inspiring drum circle. As part of the Arts & Healing Initiative’s "Beat the Odds" program, they used Djembe-style drums to boost mental health, fostering teamwork, communication, leadership, and self-expression.
Watch the video here.
Reading with the Los Angeles Rams at Will Rogers Learning Community
Exciting times at Will Rogers Learning Community as the Los Angeles Rams organization hosted a special Rams Readers reading session for the second-grade and third-grade students. The Rams cheerleaders and famous mascot Rampage brought the pages of the team's children's book, "Ride with Rampage" to life, which takes readers on a journey throughout Los Angeles before reaching Sofi Stadium for Ram's game day. Thank you LA Rams for stopping by!
Mariachi and Folklorico Students Perform with Pride
SMMUSD students, in partnership with Santa Monica Youth Orchestra and Teocalli Cultural Academy, presented their winter recital in memory of Dr. Jacqueline Mora, SMMUSD Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, who passed away in the fall of 2023. Dr. Mora was instrumental, along with Board Member Maria Leon-Vazquez, in expanding these cultural arts to SMMUSD students. The programs continue to grow with students from many schools now participating. Dr. Mora's family members attended the special show.
Roosevelt BMX Show to Build Community
Roosevelt Elementary students and staff are Revved Up and ready to create a positive, bully-free school environment! Students and staff enjoyed a BMX Freestylers show, including a high-energy jump over Principal Dr. Onyendu, and did other tricks to the delight of all who attended. The event served as a reminder for students to be upstanders who support each other. Great community-building event!
Samohi Jazz Bands Winter Concert Provided Top Notch Entertainment
Talented Samohi musicians performed their Jazz Winter Concert with special guest, four-time Grammy award winner, Stanley Clarke. Clarke is an artist in residence at BroadStage and has been working with Samohi students to improve and finesse their craft. Students enjoyed the special opportunity to perform with a jazz great and rose to the occasion showing their talents well beyond their high school years.
Rosalynn “Rose” Moe, Lincoln Middle School Math Teacher
Meet Rosalynn “Rose” Moe, a dedicated Lincoln Middle School (LMS) math teacher who goes above and beyond to enrich the lives of her students. Moe was selected as a participant in the prestigious Master Teacher of Invention and Intellectual Property (MTIP) program, supported by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and STEMisED.
Read more about Moe and her amazing teaching journey here: https://bit.ly/RoseMoe-Spotlight.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Celebrates First Phase of New Malibu High School
After years of hard work, patience, dedication and persistence, the new Malibu High School (MHS) classroom, administration, library, and cafeteria building is finally becoming a reality. To celebrate the major milestone, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. The Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District’s (SMMUSD) Board of Education, superintendent, MHS principal, SMMUSD staff, local elected officials, community members, students, parents and building partners attended the celebration.
Watch the groundbreaking video here.
Read more about the new MHS here.
Photo courtesy Malibu Times
Will Rogers Learning Community Groundbreaking Ceremony Celebrates First Phase of Construction
To celebrate the start of construction on the new early education building, playfield and outdoor learning areas, Will Rogers Learning Community hosted its groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s (SMMUSD) Board of Education, superintendent, WRLC principal, SMMUSD staff, local elected officials, community members, students and building partners attended the celebration.
Read more about Phase 1 of the Rogers Campus Plan here.
Construction of the new early education building, and new track and field is underway at WRLC. Read more here.
SMMUSD Continues to Make Progress with Sustainability Commitment
Continuing the promise! The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) has maintained its commitment to educating, implementing and promoting sustainability with initiatives such as Metro GoPass Program, water and energy conservation, Will Rogers Learning Community’s Regenerative Farm and Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Campaign. For fiscal year 2022-23, SMMUSD is thrilled to report substantial progress and accomplishments with its ongoing commitment to sustainability.
The district-wide plan for sustainability was adopted on March 21, 2019. The plan defines what sustainability means to SMMUSD and provides a thorough pathway on how to get there. The plan is organized into categories: climate, solid waste, water, transportation, food, nutrition, wellness, energy, renewables, education and engagement.
These initiatives are demonstrated in one way or another throughout SMMUSD campuses daily. SMMUSD’s sustainability initiatives, rooted in the district-wide plan for sustainability, have flourished into something truly remarkable. Together, students, staff and members of the community are playing a vital role in shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for Santa Monica-Malibu.
To learn/explore more about SMMUSD’s sustainability initiatives and its progress visit SMMUSD Fiscal Year 2022-23 Sustainability Progress Report here.
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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