The SMMUSD Wave- Oct.2024
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students, and Community Members,
With the school year well underway, I am happy to see our schools filled with the energy and enthusiasm of students and staff alike. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District remains dedicated to our mission of fostering extraordinary achievement for all students while simultaneously closing the achievement gap. This commitment drives us to continually create an environment where each student is supported in reaching their full potential.
Our schools are alive with programs and events, from academic enrichment opportunities to initiatives focused on social-emotional wellness, as well as athletics, concerts and plays. To stay connected and engaged, I encourage you to visit your school’s website regularly for information about upcoming events, activities, and resources available to students and families.
I’m excited to share an update on the work our district is doing to create meaningful and lasting support for our students, teachers, and staff. This school year marks the start of a three-year journey to expand our approach to learning and school climate by focusing on Project-Based Learning (PBL), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and Restorative Justice practices. Our professional development for these areas has been designed specifically to meet the unique needs of each school, ensuring that training directly aligns with the day-to-day experiences and goals of each campus.
Alongside this, we are working closely with school site leadership teams to conduct what we call "academic cycles of learning." This process involves our staff collaborating to identify indicators of student success, collecting data, participating in learning rounds, and using the insights gained to refine our instructional approach. Together, these cycles allow us to better support each student by responding to the evolving needs within the school community. Every step of this process is layered with data analysis and thoughtful planning, ensuring that decisions are informed and impactful.
Remember that Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. Exercising our right to vote is one of the most powerful ways to support our communities and shape the future, especially for our students who will inherit the results of these decisions.
Lastly, a quick reminder to set your clocks back one hour on Sunday, November 3, as Daylight Saving Time ends.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and for partnering with us to build an inclusive, high-achieving environment across SMMUSD. Together, we’re empowering every student to thrive.
Sincerely,
Dr. Antonio Shelton
Superintendent
You can read prior Superintendent Messages here.
SMMUSD Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Across Schools
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, schools across SMMUSD hosted a variety of engaging, educational and cultural events between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15, 2024. These activities highlighted the contributions and rich cultural heritage of Hispanic and Latinx communities, fostering a sense of inclusion, belonging and pride among students and staff.
Read more here: https://bit.ly/HispanicHeritageMonth24.
Santa Monica High School and Malibu High School Awarded Prestigious AP School Honor Roll GOLD Status
Congratulations to Santa Monica High School (Samohi) and Malibu High School (MHS) for achieving Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll Gold Status! Both schools demonstrated exceptional dedication to academic excellence and college readiness, earning this prestigious recognition for the 2023-24 school year.
Learn more here: https://bit.ly/APSamohiMHSHonorRoll2024.
Samohi Students Explore Dentistry at UCLA's Diversify Dentistry Youth Summit
Twenty students from Santa Monica High School (Samohi) had the unique opportunity to dive into the world of dentistry during the Diversify Dentistry Youth Summit at UCLA’s School of Dentistry on Oct. 11, 2024. Promoted by Samohi’s Career Technical Education (CTE) program and the Health and Wellness Academy, the event was organized by Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to supporting historically underrepresented students in their pursuit of dental careers.
Read more here: https://bit.ly/DiversityInDentistrySamohi24.
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 officially launched the nation’s largest college savings program in 2022. 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.
Emmanuel “Manny” Lopez, Samohi ‘26
Meet Emmanuel “Manny” Lopez, a junior at Santa Monica High School. An athlete turned photographer, Lopez’s journey into visual arts began unexpectedly yet has quickly evolved into a skillset that he uses to celebrate and uplift his school and community.
Read more about Lopez here: https://bit.ly/MannyLopez-Spotlight.
SMMUSD Participates in California Shake Out Drill
SMMUSD successfully participated in the annual CA Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill, on 10/17/24 at 10:17 a.m. across all our schools and the District Office. This important drill helped staff and students feel better prepared in the event of an emergency, reinforcing our commitment to safety and readiness. The drill provides the opportunity to test our emergency systems, connect with school sites, local agencies, initiate our Emergency Operation Center (EOC), check our emergency bins, and also note areas for improvement. Thank you to our management team, staff and students for your participation and teamwork and taking the drill seriously. Photos are of our District staff evacuated to the Samohi field, then convening our EOC in the District boardroom. In a real earthquake, the EOC may be conducted outdoors.
Chloe Kim Highlights the Importance of Mental Health in Visit with Grant Elementary 5th Graders
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Snowboarder Chloe Kim, in partnership with the Kids Mental Health Foundation, visited Grant Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 15., to engage with fifth-grade students about the importance of mental health and kindness. The students enthusiastically shared their self-care practices and reflected on the significance of mental well-being. The visit created a safe, supportive environment for open dialogue, fostering connection as they discussed their experiences with mental health.
Learn more about SMMUSD health and wellness resources and the Kids Mental Health Foundation.
Senator Ben Allen Visit John Adams Middle School
Senator Ben Allen recently visited John Adams Middle School eighth graders, engaging them in an insightful discussion about the voting process. His visit was a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about the importance of civic participation and how their voices can make a difference. We appreciate his efforts to inspire the next generation of voters!
Roosevelt Cognitively Guided Instruction Training
Roosevelt Elementary School teachers recently participated in training on Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI), a research-based framework developed with more than 30 years of research. This approach helps teachers understand how students' mathematical thinking evolves, allowing them to build on each child's unique ideas and understanding. It's a key step in enhancing math instruction by directly connecting with students' thought processes.
Samohi Girls Flag Football Champs!
Congratulations to the Samohi Girls Flag Football team for securing the Ocean League Championship for the second year in a row! The Lady Vikings dominated their first CIF playoff game with a 26-6 victory over Long Beach Cabrillo. Way to go, Vikings! Keep up the amazing work and continue making us proud. As of this publication on 10/30, the team is headed for the CIF championship game!
Grant Elementary Hosts World Cultures Festival
Grant Elementary School’'s World Culture Festival brought the community together in a vibrant celebration of traditions, flavors and talents from around the globe. With performances and delicious food, it was a chance to connect, learn, and appreciate the vibrant cultures that make up the SMMUSD community.
Watch the recap video here.
SMMUSD Announces Grant Elementary as Golden Sneaker Award Winner
Congrats Grant! SMMUSD is honored to announce Grant Elementary School as this fall’s winner of the Golden Sneaker award. Grant had the highest level of participation, at 93%, in the District during the Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! (BIWIBI) campaign, held Oct. 7-11, in partnership with the City of Santa Monica.
Read more here: https://bit.ly/BIWIBIGrantWinnerFall2024.
Old-Growth Trees Transformed into Custom Benches and Picnic Table at Santa Monica High School
During the demolition phase of the new Exploration and Gold Gymnasium buildings at Santa Monica High School (Samohi) it was discovered that seven old-growth trees on the south side of campus, where the iconic "Senior Bench" was once located, needed to be removed to make space for the new buildings. Instead of letting these valuable trees go to waste, a unique idea was sparked to repurpose them into benches and a custom picnic table for students to enjoy for years to come.
Read more here: https://bit.ly/SamohiTreeBenches2024.
SMMUSD Hosted a Campus Environmental Impact Community Meeting at Roosevelt Elementary
SMMUSD invited parents, staff, students, and community members to participate in the planning of campus facilities. The District planned educational improvements at Roosevelt Elementary and had prepared the school’s campus plan. The District held an in-person meeting on Sept. 25, 2024, to gather comments from the community.
Learn more here.
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