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Sea Lion Spotlight

Malibu Elementary Parent Newsletter #1 - August 11, 2025

Sea Lion SpotlightMalibu Elementary Parent Newsletter #1 - August 11, 2025

Table of Contents

  1. Principal's Wave
  2. Important Dates
  3. Looking Farther Forward - Events to Anticipate farther out in time
  4. Articles - Timely information for parents
  5. Useful Resources and Links

Principal's Wave Principal's Wave

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Hello New & Returning MES Sea Lion Families,


Summer break is wrapping up soon and it's time to start getting excited about the new school year. Below are articles, dates, and links that should help parents gear up and help their child get ready too. Discussing dates, schedules, and expectations, and reestablishing good routines will help your child to feel and be ready for the excitement and demands of school. Thank you in advance for your partnership.


MES strives to be a school where all students, staff, and parents feel a collective connection to one another. We have planned many community and spirit-building events, and employ learning activities in and outside of the classroom that emphasize team-work and shared goals. I encourage parents to attend every special event and to prioritize excellent student attendance.


I look forward to meeting all of our students and families as we kick off the 25-26 school year!


Ms. Sally Wennes

Principal

Important Dates Important Dates

25-26 Academic Calendar

24-25 PTA Calendar


NOW: Annual Parent Data Confirmation Open in Aeries (Parents affirm their data). See below for more detailed directions.

Looking farther forward... Looking farther forward...

AUGUST

  • Mon 8/11 - Office Opens for the 2025-2026 School Year / 8-3
  • Thurs 8/14 - Registrar Kim Returns to Work (Registration Process Reopens)

  • Tues 8/19 - Special Education Ice Cream Social / 1-2 @ Library Courtyard

  • Wed 08/20 -

    • MES PTA "New Families Playdate" / 2-3 @ TK/Kinder Playground
    • Parents see who their child's teacher is in Aeries / 3:30
    • Parents Notified via email of Class Placement / 4ish
  • Thurs 8/21 - School Resumes / First Day of School / 8:15

    • PTA Parent Meet Up / 8:30 @ Cafe de la Plage
    • Minimum Day (12:45 dismissal)
  • Fri 8/22 - Minimum Day (12:45 dismissal)
  • Tues 8/26 - Minimum Day (12:45 dismissal)
    • Back to School Night for TK-2nd / 5:00-6:00 pm
  • Fri 8/29 - Annual Family Picnic on the field (during your student’s lunch) (details)


SEPTEMBER

  • Tues 9/2 - Minimum Day (12:45 dismissal)

    • Back to School Night for 3rd - 5th / 5:00-6:00 pm
  • Thurs 9/04 - SSC / 3:30 - 5 @ Zoom
  • Tues 9/16 - PTA Association Meeting / 8:30 - 9:30


OCTOBER

  • 10/15/25-10/17/25 - 5th Grade Outdoor School (Pali Camp!)


NOVEMBER


Tues 11/4 - Fri 11/7 - Parent/Teacher Conference Week

Articles for Parents Articles for Parents

School Hours

School opens everyday at 8am. Teaching and learning begin at 8:15. Dismissal times vary by grade level and day of the week. Take a look at our Bell Schedule so you can remind your child when snack time and lunchtime are. There a few special "minimum days" too for events such as back-to-School Night and conference week.


Malibu Elementary Safe Student Drop Off and Pick Up Plan

Link


Volunteering at MES

Link


Annual Parent Data Confirmation or Revision - Aeries Parent Portal

ACTION NEEDED: Malibu Elementary’s annual registration process is completed in the Aeries Parent Portal. You must complete data confirmation for each student.

  1. Log in to your Aeries Parent Portal: https://santamonicamalibu.aeries.net/
  2. Be sure to read, review, and discuss all the materials with your student.
  3. Very Important: We need to gather information from you for emergency contacts. Please add at least two non-parents. While there are many boxes to fill, at minimum include name, relationship, and phone number.
  4. We also need to gather information from you for health documents.


Note: You may decide to print some of the documents for future reference. For a tutorial on how to complete this process, please click here English


We have worked to digitize the compliance and document portions of the “First Day Packet.” The Data Confirmation process is easy. This includes items like Emergency Cards, Parent Handbooks and Policies and Authorizations. We have many important documents and plenty of information for your family within the online registration site, accessed via your Aeries Parent Portal. Note: You must complete data confirmation for each student. Please be sure to read, review, and discuss all the materials with your student. We also need to gather information from you for emergency contacts and health documents. You may decide to print some of the documents for future reference.

For a tutorial on how to complete this process, please click here English


Interdistrict Permit Applications Information from the Permits Department

Interdistrict Permit Applications Information will be available on smmusd.org beginning June 24, 2024. Interdistrict and Intradistrict permit outcomes will be sent via email from Informed K12 two weeks before the first day of school. Outgoing permits are processed within 5 business days. VOE's will be processed within 6 weeks of submission. All communication regarding permits will be sent via email from Informed K12.


Student Snacks and Lunch - Message from the Cafeteria

This year meals will be free to all of our students again. We are still encouraging parents to fill out the meal application. Families deemed eligible for free or reduced priced meals can also benefit by receiving discounts for some of the district and some outside agency programs.


Meal application packets will be mailed out to all families via the U.S Mail by the end of next week. In addition, we have the 2025-26SY meal applications available online, they can be printed and submitted or parents can complete the application online. Lastly, meal packets will be sent to school site offices and cafeterias at the beginning of the school year in case they’re requested.


Application link: https://www.smmusd.org/domain/112


Should anyone have any questions or concerns. I am more than happy to assist.


Thank you kindly,


Estella Mata

Administrative Assistant

SMMUSD – Food & Nutrition Services

310.450.8338 x70-228


MES Minimum Days Schedule / 12:45 Dismissal


  • Aug 21
  • Aug 22
  • Aug 26
  • Sept. 2
  • Nov 5
  • Nov 6
  • Nov 7
  • Mar 26
  • June 10
  • June 11


Student Birthday Parties (from the Parent Handbook)

Such observances must be coordinated with the classroom teacher and should occur after lunch or at the end of the day. Food may be distributed at school. Healthier options should be encouraged. Cakes or very sweet treats (Sugar-based foods) are NOT allowed. All-natural popsicles are the ONLY choice for birthday celebrations. Our SMMUSD Food and Nutrition Services Wellness Policy calls for staff to limit student consumption of sugar at school. No nuts, if there is a peanut allergy in the classroom. Party favors are ok to distribute. Birthday invitations for parties away from school may not be distributed unless every student in the class is invited.


Candy/sheet cakes/cupcakes/cookies at school: Staff, students, and parents may not distribute these at school.


MBGC Information - August

The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu aims to provide a fun, safe, and creative environment for all Malibu youth to thrive, find support through positive mentorship, develop important life skills, and receive social and emotional support. We are currently offering: Link


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5th Grade Pali Camp Overnight Field Trip - Donations Needed

We are excited for our 2025-2026 5th grade class to again have the opportunity to attend outdoor school in October 2025. Outdoor school is perhaps the greatest highlight of elementary school for many students and is a sort of rite-of-passage. We are asking 5th grade parents to donate now so that we may make our next installment payment.


More information will be given to 5th grade parents in an upcoming meeting - stay tuned for details about the date!


All or None

If we don’t raise enough funds for ALL students to participate, we will ask the PTA to fund the difference. If there is not enough available funds or support from PTA, then the trip will be canceled; we will refund all donations but lose our original PTA deposit. Also, to help prevent canceling the trip, any families who won’t be able to voluntarily contribute the full $520 will be asked what if anything they can donate. Perhaps $300, $200 or $50? Anything helps. Finally if there are families who would like to cover another student, we will accept donations above and beyond $520.


Trip Date

  • Trip date: 10/15/25-10/17/25


Two Ways for Parents to Donation

  • Please visit the PTA store. Select Pali Donation: https://www.malibuelementary.org/shop PLEASE make your Voluntary Donation now.

  • 4th grade parents also have an option to pay via zelle to malibuestreasurer@gmail.com or using the Zelle QR Code link. PLEASE make your Voluntary Donation now.


Informational Websites

  • Click here to view the Pali brochure

  • Video Overview

  • Health and Safety Information + Cabin Tour

  • Packing List and Paperwork Information

Useful Resources and Links Useful Resources and Links

Past Newsletters

MES Parent Handbook

PTA Website and Store

PTA Spirit Wear "Akaway Collection"

PTA Membership

PTA Calendar

AERIES Parent Portal Tutorial

Student Services Registration Documents

Bell Schedule

Volunteering at MES: Information and Signup form

Medications at School Form Send to School Nurse Marion Mayer: mmayer@smmusd.org

Connect with Sally Wennes Connect with Sally Wennes

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Principal at Malibu Elementary

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District


Email: swennes@smmusd.org

Website: malibues.smmusd.org

Location: 6955 Fernhill Drive, Malibu, CA, USA
Phone: 310-457-9370
Sally Wennes
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