Whale Tales

Dear Webster Community,

What a jam-packed four days it’s been! From classroom learning to special events, like a MMS Counselor Visit, our students have been fully engaged. The highlight of my week was seeing our 5th grade tour ambassadors shine during the TK/K Round Up! They participated in a student panel and confidently led prospective families on tours of our campus. We couldn’t be prouder of how they represented Webster! A huge THANK YOU to our parent volunteers, teachers, and staff for making this event such a success. Webster is truly a special place!

🏆 Webster Wear Winners!

We had a tie this week, with both Ms. London’s and Ms. Johnson’s classrooms reaching 100% participation! Way to go!

🔔 Important Reminders!

✅ Talent Show Applications Due – Friday, February 28
All students interested in participating in the Talent Show must submit their applications by Friday, February 28th.

✅ Report Cards Sent Home – Friday, February 28
Report cards will be sent home with students on Friday, February 28th. Please take a moment to review them with your student, sign the envelope, and return it to your child’s teacher.

📅 Save the Date!

📌 March 7 – 🏔️ Yosemite Info Session (8:45 AM)
📌 March 14 – Math Field Day (Math Club Members Only, 9 AM - 12 PM)
📌 March 21 – 🏃‍♂️ Jog-a-Thon (Time TBD)
📌 March 28 – 🎭 Talent Show (6 PM - 8 PM)
📌 April 1 – 🔬 Pepperdine Science Night (6 PM - 7:30 PM)
📌 April 3 – 🏫 Open House (6 PM - 7 PM)

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support in any way.

Together, we will get through this 🫶🏼

GO WHALES!

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 in upcoming newsletters.

Thank you for helping us celebrate our school community!

SMMUSD is dedicated to creating a positive and supportive school environment for all students, staff, and families. To gain deeper insight into our schools' needs and experiences, we have partnered with Hanover Research to conduct a Culture & Climate Survey.

This brief survey provides an opportunity for 4th-grade students, parents, guardians, and staff to share their perspectives on school culture, climate, and areas for growth. Your feedback will play a key role in shaping decisions at both the school and district levels.

Hanover Research is an independent research firm, ensuring that all responses remain completely confidential. Data will only be reported in grouped or de-identified form, so we encourage you to be open and candid in your responses.

📅 Survey Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2025
📌 Take the survey here: Survey Link

The Webster Community Library is shaping up to be an amazing event, and we can’t wait to share it with our students, families, and the larger Malibu community! With a fantastic collection of books—including board books, early readers, favorite series, chapter books, graphic novels, games, and even books for adults—there’s something for everyone!

📅 Key Dates & Events

📚 Early Access Day: Monday, February 24 (1:30 PM – 3:30 PM)
Families impacted by the Franklin or Palisades fires are invited to select books in the cafeteria. This includes any Webster family currently without access to their home libraries. Parents, students, and siblings are all welcome! If you can’t attend but would like a bundle of books set aside, email Principal Diana at cdiana@smmusd.org or the Webster PTA at websterptamalibu@gmail.com.

📚 Student Library Days: Wednesday, February 26 – Friday, February 28 (11:30 AM – 1:00 PM)
All Webster students will have the opportunity to select free books during lunch and visit our bookmark decorating station.

📚 Community Day: Friday, February 28 (1:30 PM – 4:00 PM)
After school, the Webster Community Library will be open to the public, welcoming all members of the Malibu community impacted by the Franklin or Palisades fires. Families and individuals can select free books to rebuild their home libraries.

📢 Volunteers Needed!

We are still looking for a few more volunteers, especially for Community Day on Friday afternoon. This is a great opportunity to help out after school—bring your kids and join the fun! You can sign up under the Community Library tab.

Our 5th graders are gearing up for an exciting milestone as they prepare for middle school! On Wednesday, March 5th, students will visit Malibu Middle School for a special field trip designed to introduce them to their future campus.

• Departure: 9:30 AM (buses will transport students from Webster to MMS)
• Activities: School tour, fun engagement opportunities, and lunch
• Return: 12:15 PM (students will return to Webster by bus)

This visit will give our 5th graders a firsthand look at MMS, helping them feel more comfortable and excited about this next step. We can’t wait for them to experience a preview of middle school life!

Our beloved Talent Show is returning on Friday, March 28 with two exciting performances:

🌟 Morning Show: 8:45 AM (for students)
🌟 Evening Show: 6:00 PM (for families & community)

This special event is all about celebrating courage, creativity, and community—not competition. Whether it’s singing, dancing, acting, comedy, or even behind-the-scenes stage crew, we encourage all students to participate in a way that makes them shine!

📌 Important Dates & Information:
✅ Entry Forms Due: Friday, February 28 (extra forms available in the office)
✅ Auditions (attend one):

• Tuesday, March 4 @ 3:00 PM
• Friday, March 7 @ 1:30 PM

✅ Mandatory Rehearsals:

• Friday, March 14 @ 1:30 PM
• Friday, March 21 @ 1:30 PM
• Wednesday, March 26 @ 3:00 PM (Dress Rehearsal)

🎨 Calling All Artists! Show off your creativity by designing the Talent Show Program Cover! Submit your drawing to Principal Diana by Wednesday, March 12 for a chance to have your artwork featured.

We can’t wait to see our Webster stars take the stage and spread joy throughout our community 🌟

Get ready for an exciting evening of hands-on science exploration! On April 1 from 6:00-7:30 PM, Assistant Professor of Biology Krista Lucas and 40 of her Pepperdine students will once again bring the wonder of science to Webster!

These future scientists have developed engaging, grade-appropriate lab experiences for our families, covering topics like Natural Selection, The Immune System, Reptile & Amphibian Adaptations, Food Chains, and even SLIME! They’ve put their creativity to the test to create interactive, fun-filled learning experiences for students of all ages.

Families will rotate between classrooms to explore different experiments, and all friends and family are welcome to join in on the fun!

We’re excited to announce that the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is transitioning its communication system to Parent Square, powered by Aeries, starting January 1, 2025. This new platform will replace the current Finalsite (formerly Blackboard) Connect system.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• No Action Required: Parents, guardians, and staff do not need to take any steps to accept this change.
• Features: Parent Square provides emails, voice messages, text messages, teacher emails, and even social media posting options.
• Data Privacy: Parent Square is an Aeries partner, ensuring a smooth transition and secure handling of student information.
• Opting Out: We recommend not opting out of emails, as doing so will unsubscribe you from all communication, including vital updates from both the school and the District.

TIPS FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION:

• Download the Mobile App: Download the Parent Square app from your app store to stay connected and fully engage with the platform. The app allows you to customize preferences and manage notifications easily.
• Check Your Spam/Junk Folder: If you’re not receiving emails after January 1, 2025, check your spam or junk folder. If you still don’t see them, contact your school office to verify your contact information.
• Set Preferences: Through the Parent Square app, you can adjust how and when you receive messages to suit your needs.

If you have questions or comments about Parent Square, please submit them through Let’s Talk under "General Comments."

In the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, the BGCM is providing critical disaster relief services to support families, students, and community members. BGCM aims to be a lifeline to the Malibu community. These free resources are available to anyone impacted—please don’t hesitate to reach out, visit, and share with those in need!

🌟 BGCM Disaster Relief Center

📍 23357 Pacific Coast Hwy
🕙 Wed-Fri: 10 AM – 5 PM | Sat: 11 AM – 4 PM

At the BGCM Disaster Relief Center, those affected by the Palisades Fire can access emergency grants support, essential supplies, mental health services, and resource connections.

💰 BGCM Emergency Relief Fund is made possible by generous donations. This fund provides direct support to families and individuals in greatest need. BGCM is prioritizing those most affected by the fire—please reach out if you or someone you know needs assistance.

🧘‍♀️ Mental Health & Wellness Support

The BGCM Wellness Center continues to offer free mental health and social support services for families, students, seniors, and the local workforce.

📞 Contact for mental health support: 310-457-6801 ext. 74141
📧 Email: wellnessinfo@bgcmalibu.org

🧘‍♂️ Mindfulness Workshops – Every Thursday starting 2/6
📍 BGCM Disaster Relief Center | 12:30 – 1:30 PM
(For adults 18+, no RSVP needed)

A free, drop-in workshop to help navigate stress, anxiety, and uncertainty.

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 Vitty McClung at vmcclung@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.

Each new academic school year, all families are required to verify and update their student’s information, including emergency contact details, which are critical for effective communication during urgent situations. We recommend completing this process on a desktop or laptop computer for the best experience.

Please log in to your Aeries Parent Portal, or click the following direct link:

https://santamonicamalibu.aeries.net/

If you did not use the direct link above, please log in to your Aeries Parent Portal and select Student Info, then click on Data Confirmation to access the correct form.

If you have forgotten your Aeries Parent Portal credentials, please use the Forgot Password? link located at the bottom of the website.

Our Student Office Specialist, Vitty McClung, will be reaching out to families who have not yet completed this process to offer any needed assistance.

To enhance student safety, the bottom gate near the Boys & Girls Club will remain closed as we no longer have adult supervision available for that area. Moving forward, there will be one main point of entrance and exit to the campus for grades K-5, which will be the gate by the main office. This change will help us ensure 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. Additionally, please refrain from using the Our Lady of Malibu (OLM) parking lots and only park in the Webster lot.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we prioritize the safety of our school community!

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