Whale Tales

Dear Webster Community,

It was a great week on campus as students fully settled back into their normal rhythms and routines. The buzz around Tech for Tomorrow is palpable — students are so excited about the STEAM projects they’re creating with Mr. Beatty, from building towers to designing robot cars and competing against other groups. We love seeing our Whales thinking, creating, and problem-solving in such joyful ways!

A highlight of my week was seeing the culmination of Lemonade Wars with our 3rd grade students. This Project-Based Learning experience included reading The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies, designing and executing a marketing campaign, bringing their lemonade recipes to life, and competing against other stands for the top honor. Students brought unique flavors and creative ingredients — mint, guava juice, sparkling water, strawberry, candy, and even edible garnishes and sugar rims! Their passion, presentation, and teamwork were truly impressive, and it was so fun to see even our upper grade students swing by for a taste test. It was very hard to choose just one winner! A huge thank you to the families who came to support our students as they proudly showcased their learning.

A quick reminder that there will be no school on Monday, January 19th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

WEBSTER WEAR 🐳
There was a FOUR-way tie this week… WOW! Congratulations to Ms. Stark, Ms. Harris, Ms. Berman, and Ms. Morris’ classes! I think this might be a first time ever!

🔔 Important Reminders

• New Whale Families (2026–27): Please help us spread the word about Webster! If you know a family interested in joining our community, encourage them to sign up for a tour on our website or click HERE.
• Malibu Middle School Transition: 5th grade families are encouraged to attend upcoming MMS transition events. See below for details.
• Pod Power Problems: This week’s family math challenge is live — have fun solving together!
• Visitor Management: Please bring your ID to check in and remember to sign out when you leave campus.

📅 Save the Dates

📌 February 5 - 6: Talent Show Auditions

📌 February 6: Winter Report Cards

📌 February 9 & 19: Talent Show Rehearsals

📌 February 11: MMS Parent Event & School Tour (9:30 AM)

📌 February 11 - 13: Sustainable Book Fair

📌 February 16: No School (President's Day Observance)

📌 February 24: Talent Show FINAL Dress Rehearsal

📌 February 27: Talent Show

📌 March 4: MMS Student Presentation & School Tour

📌 March 13: Math Field Day

📌 March 17: Pepperdine Science Night

📌 March 20: Jog-a-Thon

📌 March 26: Open House

Wishing you all a restful three day weekend.

GO WHALES!!

Warmly,
Carina Diana

Check out these wonderful moments featuring our incredible students, staff, and parents! If you have a photo that you’d like to share, please send it to Principal Diana—we’d love to include it on our social media or upcoming newsletters.

Thank you for helping us celebrate our school community!

Do you have a little one entering Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten for the 2026–27 school year? Or know a family who does? Please help us spread the word — we would love to welcome our newest Whales to Webster! 🐳

📅 TK/K Roundup
Join us for our Annual TK/K Roundup on Thursday, January 22 from 9:00–10:30 AM. This special morning includes a tour hosted by the principal, classroom visits, and a chance to learn what makes Webster such a joyful, thriving school community.

👀 Can’t make Roundup?
No worries — families can also sign up for an upcoming school tour during the 2025–26 school year.

✅ Sign up here: Discover Webster: School Tour

Join SMMUSD for the Malibu Pathway Community Showcase on Saturday, January 24 from 9:00–11:00 AM at Malibu High School!

This special event will highlight programs and opportunities across Malibu’s public schools — including Webster Elementary, Malibu Elementary, Malibu Middle School, and Malibu High School — giving families a chance to explore academics, arts, athletics, and signature programs throughout the Malibu Pathway.

Malibu’s public schools offer strong academics and enriching opportunities in an intentionally personal learning environment where students are truly known, supported, and celebrated. We hope to see you there! 🐳

Calling all Webster Whales — it’s time to shine! ⭐ Our 2026 Talent Show is coming up, and we would love for students in TK–5th grade to share their talents with our community.

Auditions will be held in the cafeteria:

• Thursday, Feb. 5 @ 2:50 PM

• Friday, Feb. 6 @ 1:15 PM

Students only need to attend ONE audition day. Please come with your act prepared and bring any music you will be using.
⏱ Time limits: Solo acts — 2 minutes | Group acts — 2.5 minutes

More information (including how to apply) will be sent out next week — keep an eye on your inbox! We can’t wait to see our Webster stars light up the stage ✨🐳

Webster’s annual Sustainable Book Fair is coming February 11–13, and we need your help! Beginning Tuesday, January 20, we will be collecting:

• Gently used children’s books

• Games & puzzles (must be in great condition and include all pieces)

• NEW this year: Outgrown Webster Wear

📍 Drop-Off Details
Donations can be dropped off during AM drop-off or in the front office over the next three weeks. We’ll share more details about the fair as we get closer!

🙌 Volunteers Needed!
We’re also looking for volunteers to help sort and sell items:

• Sorting times are very flexible

• Selling will take place during specific hours Feb. 11–13 (Plus, volunteers get to help kids pick out books — always a favorite! 😊)

Interested? Please email kate.tatem@gmail.com for more information.

Parents of incoming 6th graders are invited to a special “5th to 6th” Parent Event hosted by Malibu Middle School. This informative morning is designed to help families better understand the transition to middle school and what life looks like as an MMS student.

📅 Wednesday, February 11
📍 Malibu Middle School — Parent Conference Room

What to Expect:

• 9:30 AM Presentation with Principal Schellenberg, Counselor Whitehouse, and additional MMS staff, sharing insights on academics, student support, and the middle school experience

• 10:30 AM School Tour led by MMS ASB students, offering a student perspective on campus life

This is a great opportunity to ask questions, hear directly from school leadership, and help your child feel confident and excited about the transition ahead. We hope to see our 5th grade families there as you prepare for this exciting next chapter!

As we prepare for an exciting new school year, all families are required to verify and update their student’s information through the AERIES Data Confirmation process. This ensures we have the most accurate and up-to-date records for your child.

We recommend completing this process on a desktop or laptop computer for the best experience.

How to Complete Data Confirmation

1. Log in to your Aeries Parent Portal using the link below:
   🔗 AERIES Parent Portal

2. If you do not use the direct link above, log in to your Aeries Parent Portal, select Student Info, and click Data Confirmation to access the form.

3. If you have forgotten your login credentials, click “Forgot Password?” at the bottom of the login screen.

For Prospective or New Families

If you are new to Webster or have not yet enrolled your child, please complete AERIES Online Enrollment as soon as possible to ensure a smooth start to the school year.

🔗SMMUSD Online Enrollment

You will be asked to upload:

• Immunization records

• Parent/guardian photo ID

• Proof of residency

• Birth certificate

Once complete, please email April Montes (amontes@smmusd.org) and Stephanie Martinez (s.martinez@smmusd.org) so we can guide you through the next steps.

Consistent attendance is crucial for your student's academic success. It ensures that every student stays on track with learning, builds positive relationships, and contributes to a robust school community. Strong attendance goes beyond just being present; it involves being actively engaged and involved in the educational process.

Encouraging Regular Attendance:

• Make Attendance a Priority: Ensure your student doesn't miss out on crucial learning opportunities.
• Set a Positive Example: Motivate consistent attendance with your involvement.
• Establish a Routine: Help your student set daily routines for a smooth transition to school.
• Open Communication: Reach out to us if there are challenges affecting your student’s attendance.
• Celebrate Success: Acknowledge and celebrate your student's attendance milestones.

Absence Reporting Procedures:

If your student is absent, please report the absence by emailing April Montes at amontes@smmusd.org and Stephanie Martinez (s.martinez@smmusd.org) with your student's name, grade, date, and reason for the absence. Absences must be cleared within 5 days. For more detailed information, please review the SMMUSD attendance policies by clicking HERE.

Parents and guardians can now access their child’s CAASPP, ELPAC, and Star Renaissance score reports directly through the Aeries Parent Portal. Please note that hard copy reports are not mailed home.

✅ How to Access

• Parent Portal Login

• Step-by-Step Guide: Locating Test Scores in Aeries

🎥 Helpful Videos:

• How Parents Access the Portal

These resources walk you through exactly how to view your child’s score reports, so you’ll always have the latest information on their progress.

Every dollar given funds the people and programs that make Malibu public schools thrive — from classroom aides and arts programs to athletics and academic support. Our community ask is $750 per student, but every contribution, at any level, makes a meaningful difference.

Your generosity helps fund essential programs across all four Malibu schools and complements the important work of each school’s PTA.

The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu is committed to youth and community resilience by providing a supportive and inclusive environment where children can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Through exceptional customer service and impactful after-school programs, BGCM focuses on academic success, character development, and health and wellness—catering to the unique needs of Malibu’s youth and strengthening our school community.

📚 Academic Year Enrollment

BGCM Academic Year Enrollment is live and open to grades TK–5th! BGCM is committed to providing a curriculum full of fun, educational, and social experiences.

• Programs include: Kindness Is Free, Manners Matter, social-emotional wellness, STEM-based projects, arts & crafts, cooking/gardening, and more!
• 👉 Click here to learn more and enroll at bgcmalibu.org

💛 Wellness Center & Social Support

BGCM’s Wellness Center provides no-cost mental health counseling and social support services to our school community.

• 👉 Learn more: BGCM Wellness Center
• 📧 Request services: wellnessinfo@bgcmalibu.org
• 📞 Call: 310-457-0360 ext. 60146

Upcoming Wellness Center Events
🌿 A Year After the Wildfires: Coping with Grief and Loss

Dr. David J. Schonfeld, M.D. will explore how trauma, grief, and loss can continue to affect children and adults in the year following the wildfires. The one-year mark can unexpectedly bring up emotions, stress, or exhaustion—even for those who feel they have already moved forward. Families will learn practical strategies to support children through ongoing stress, while also creating space for questions and conversation focused on healing and resilience.

There are two options to attend:

• Virtual (Zoom Webinar): Tuesday, January 20 | 6:00–7:00 PM
  👉 Click here to register

• In-Person (BGCM Disaster Recovery Center): Tuesday, January 27 | 10:00–11:00 AM
  👉 Click here to RSVP

🌟 Disaster Recovery Services

The BGCM Disaster Recovery Center, in partnership with the Malibu Community Long Term Recovery Group (MCLTRG), continues to support Franklin and Palisades Fire survivors with long-term recovery services. Families who qualify can receive support including:

• Personalized recovery planning to identify urgent and long-term needs

• Resource connection to access available support based on qualifying criteria

• Advocacy to strengthen community-wide recovery efforts and increase financial resources

👉 To be connected with a Care Coordinator, please email drc@bgcmalibu.org

The City of Malibu is offering a variety of fun, hands-on winter afterschool enrichment programs for students in grades TK–5 and we’re excited to share these opportunities with our Webster families! Students can stay active, curious, and creative with engaging programs that blend learning, movement, and exploration, including:

• Ultimate Sports ⚽ – build teamwork, skills, and confidence through active play

• Save Our Oceans 🌊 – explore ocean conservation and environmental stewardship

• Wildlife Biology 🦋 – discover animals, habitats, and the natural world

Programs run January–March, meet after school (3:00–4:00 PM), and are designed to support enrichment in a fun, supportive environment.

🎨 Special Event: Pokémon Art Academy Workshop
Students won’t want to miss this creative workshop where they’ll learn to draw favorite Pokémon characters like Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, while creating Poké Balls, trading cards, Shrinky Dinks, and more using watercolor, clay, and pastels.

• 📍 Webster Elementary

• 🗓 Wednesday, March 25

• 🕒 3:00–4:30 PM

• 💲 $25 per workshop (FREE for BGCM members)

📌 Registration & Info
All programs are run by the City of Malibu and require advance registration.
👉 Register at MalibuCity.org/Register
📞 Questions? Call 310-317-1364

Registration is now open for Malibu Little League Spring 2026 Baseball! This is a wonderful opportunity for students to build skills, teamwork, and confidence in a fun, structured environment. The season runs from late February through early June, with games primarily at Bluffs Park and practices beginning in mid-February.

👉 Register here: https://www.malibulittleleague.org/Default.aspx?tabid=2769357

To help spread the word, students will be going home with flyers when we return to school in January. Spots are limited, so be sure to check out the details and register early if your child is interested!

To enhance student safety, all K–5 students will enter and exit through one main gate — located by the main office. This will help us maintain a secure and supervised environment for all students.

As part of our commitment to safety and being good neighbors, we kindly ask that you:

• Use the designated pick-up and drop-off lane each day.

• Avoid using the Our Lady of Malibu (OLM) parking lots.

• Park only in the Webster lot.

Thank you for helping us ensure smooth arrivals and dismissals each day. Creating a safe and positive learning environment is our top priority — and it starts with all of us working together. We truly appreciate your support!

We’re excited to announce our new Instagram account! Follow us @websterwhales for all the latest school news, events, and fun happenings around campus. Stay in the know and connect with our vibrant school community, one post at a time!.

Carina Diana, Principal

Webster Elementary School

3602 Winter Canyon Rd

Malibu, CA 90265

Email: cdiana@smmusd.org
Website: www.smmusd.org/webster
Phone: (310) 456-6494
Instagram: www.instagram.com/websterwhales
Twitter: @webstermalibu