Whale Tales

Dear Webster Community,

First and foremost, I hope all of our Webster families are safe. We certainly missed seeing our Whales at school today, but your safety and well-being will always be our highest priority. This week was another reminder of something our Malibu community knows all too well—circumstances can change in an instant. Little did we know just how timely our participation in this week's Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill would feel.

🚨 Practicing Today, Preparing for Tomorrow

Our students demonstrated impressive focus and responsibility during the Great ShakeOut. They practiced Drop, Cover, and Hold On, evacuated calmly, and worked with their teachers to ensure everyone was safely accounted for. We also took our emergency preparedness a step further by simulating Search and Rescue operations. A huge thank-you to our student volunteers—Grady, Sutton, Fredi, Lloyd, Pearl, and Brooks—who enthusiastically played the roles of injured students to help make our practice more realistic. I definitely see some future actors in this group!

One important lesson we reinforced with all students was that in a real emergency, if they need help, they should make noise, call out, or use a nearby object to help rescuers locate them. Knowing how to make themselves heard and found can make an important difference.

We also practiced our Request and Reunification procedures, an essential part of safely reconnecting students with their families following an emergency. A special thank-you to Jamie Rose Winder, Todd Diener, and Lewis Talbot for volunteering to help us practice and refine this process. While we hope never to need these procedures in a real emergency, every practice helps us strengthen our readiness and our ability to care for our students when it matters most.

📸 Important Reminder: Picture Day

Looking ahead, Monday, October 19th is our scheduled Picture Day, and we want every Whale to be part of their class photo! Please keep in mind that there will be NO makeup opportunity for class group photos. Our fifth graders will also take their traditional promotion photo at Poets Park, making attendance especially important. A future Makeup Picture Day will be available for individual portraits only. Please help us ensure every student is included by prioritizing attendance on Monday.

🚧 CONSTRUCTION CORNER

There’s a lot happening around Webster! Here’s the latest on two campus improvement projects:

🛝 Playground Project

Our new playground has officially arrived at Webster! 🛝 Installation is now underway, with crews preparing the footings and assembling equipment through next week. Rubber safety surfacing begins the week of October 26, and we're on track to open our brand-new playground on Monday, November 2 🎉

As a reminder, the construction zone remains off-limits. BGCM programming continues in Rooms 1 and 2 and designated areas of the upper field, with pick-up outside near the cafetorium until construction is complete.

⚡ Backup Power & Microgrid Project
A second project begins next week as SMMUSD works to strengthen emergency backup power at Webster.

• Phase 1 | October 12–November 23 (estimated): Microgrid controls will connect our electrical system to the existing backup generator. Families may notice trenching and construction activity in portions of the upper parking lot.
• Phase 2 | Late March 2027 (estimated): A solar battery storage system will be installed to store solar energy and provide primary backup power, with the generator serving as a secondary source.

🔔 IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• School Site Council (SSC): We still have two community representative openings. Details are below and keep an eye on your inbox in the coming weeks for electronic voting information to confirm our SSC members.

• SMMUSD Home Technology & Internet Access Survey: Families are asked to complete a brief survey HERE to help the District plan for continued learning during unexpected school closures. Please submit one survey per student.

• Halloween Carnival Costume Guidelines: As we prepare for our Halloween festivities, please ensure costumes are school-appropriate. See the section below for our full costume guidelines and additional details. As a reminder, all adults participating in the Halloween Carnival must be volunteer trained. Families who are not volunteer trained are still welcome to attend the Parade and Dance Party on the lawn! 👻

• AERIES Data Confirmation: All families are required to complete AERIES Data Confirmation to ensure we have accurate and up-to-date information for your child. Please log in to the AERIES Parent Portal to complete the process.

• Visitor Management: Our visitor management platform, Verkada, requires you to bring your ID each time you check in. The system will scan your ID and issue a visitor pass that must be worn while on campus.

• Student Safety: Please ensure your child wears closed-toe shoes to school each day. With so much running, climbing, and active play, proper footwear helps keep our Whales safe and ready for fun!

📅 SAVE THE DATES

📌 October 30: Trunk-or-Treat
📌 November 3: NO SCHOOL – Pupil Free Day
📌 November 3–6: Parent Conferences

📌 November 7: MEF GALA (Rescheduled)
📌 November 11: NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day
📌 November 13: Picture Day (Make-Up)
📌 November 19–20: Talent Show Auditions
📌 November 25–27: Thanksgiving Break

📌 December 1: Talent Show Rehearsal

📌 December 3: Talent Show Rehearsal

📌 December 8: 4th Grade Informance

📌 December 9: Talent Show FINAL Dress Rehearsal

📌 December 10: 5th Grade Informance

📌 December 11: Talent Show

📌 December 16: Holiday Concert

I hope you all have a calm and restful weekend, and most importantly, that everyone stays safe.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support in any way.

Here for you, always 💫

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!

The School Site Council (SSC) plays an essential role in guiding Webster’s priorities. From reviewing the safety plan to analyzing budgets and academic needs, this council ensures that our community’s voice is part of the decision-making process. Webster’s SSC is seeking two community representatives for the 2026–27 school year.

The SSC is made up of parents, teachers, staff, and administrators who work together to:

• Develop and revise the school’s bylaws

• Analyze and evaluate student academic achievement

• Review recommendations from school advisories and committees

• Approve expenditures in line with state and federal regulations

• Participate in local, state, and federal program reviews

• Attend meetings (where a quorum is required for voting decisions)

📅 Meeting Schedule
The SSC meets at least five times annually, in person, after school, for about 90 minutes. Meeting dates for 2026–27 will be shared soon.

✉️ How to Apply
If you’re interested, please email Principal Carina Diana (cdiana@smmusd.org) with a brief statement of interest by Friday, October 23rd. Please include:

• Your name, phone number, and email

• A short candidate statement (3 sentences) explaining why you’d like to serve

🗳 Election Process
Please note that an election is required to confirm community representatives for the SSC. Candidate names and statements will be shared with families and electronic voting will take place the week of October 26th.

An effective school thrives on collaboration between parents, students, teachers, administrators, and staff. We invite you to become an integral part of this process by serving on our SSC!

SMMUSD is working to ensure all students have the resources they need to stay connected and continue learning in the event of school closures due to natural disasters or other emergencies.

To help the District plan for both digital and non-digital learning options, we ask all Webster families to complete a brief survey about their access to home computing devices and the internet.

📝 Complete the SMMUSD Technology & Internet Access Survey HERE

Please submit one survey per student. Your responses will help SMMUSD better understand family needs and prepare to support all learners during unexpected school closures.

This year, we’re expanding our beloved Trunk or Treat tradition into a Halloween Carnival, filled with creativity, festive fun, and plenty of Halloween spirit! Students will rotate through 8 fun-filled stations, including 6 amazing craft activities sponsored by our Webster PTA! From pumpkin painting and candy apple decorating to creating their very own trick-or-treat bags, our Whales are in for a treat! Of course, our Trunk or Treat tradition will be part of the festivities, too!

To ensure everyone enjoys a safe and welcoming celebration, please review our Halloween costume guidelines before the event.

👉 Important Reminder: All adults participating on campus during the Halloween Carnival must be volunteer trained. Not trained yet? No worries—you’re still welcome to join us for the Parade and Dance Party on the lawn.

Stay tuned—the full Halloween Carnival schedule and additional details are coming soon! 👻

Our new playground has officially arrived at Webster! 🛝 The excitement continues as installation is officially underway! Western State Builders has begun drilling holes for the equipment's support posts, with installation continuing through next week.

Next up, the new rubber safety surfacing is scheduled to begin the week of October 26, followed by a final walkthrough. Best of all, we remain on track to have our completed playground ready for students on Monday, November 2! 🎉

Thanks to the incredible support of SMMUSD and the dedication of our Webster PTA, led by Lauren Franks Ifft, we are thrilled to see this long-awaited project come to life. Our new playground will replace our aging 20-year-old equipment with a modern play space designed to prioritize safety, accessibility, and active play—giving our students a space that fosters physical development, creativity, and social connection.

🚧 Construction & Campus Safety

• Restricted Access: The construction zone will be strictly off-limits to students, staff, and BGCM members.

• Emergency Access: The fire road will remain accessible at all times.

• Construction Deliveries: Material deliveries and demolition debris removal are being coordinated outside student drop-off and pick-up times to minimize disruptions.

During construction, BGCM programming has temporary relocated to Rooms 1 and 2 and designated areas of the upper field, as appropriate. BGCM has worked to create fun, welcoming, and fully equipped spaces so students can continue enjoying their after-school experience throughout construction.

New BGCM Pick-Up Location

All BGCM pick-ups will take place outside near the cafetorium area until construction is complete. Families can expect clear directional signage, a designated BGCM staff station, a doorbell system similar to the current clubhouse setup, and staff available to assist. For pick-up assistance, please call BGCM at 310-774-1969.

We recognize that construction will bring temporary changes to our daily routines, and we sincerely appreciate your patience, flexibility, and cooperation as we work together to improve our campus.

For construction or campus operations questions, contact Principal Diana at cdiana@smmusd.org. For BGCM programming or pick-up questions, contact Tyler Hawkins, Director of Operations, at tylerhawkins@bgcmalibu.org.

Exciting things are ahead for our Whales! Check out the renderings of our new playground below!

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 Stephanie Martinez (s.martinez@smmusd.org) so she can guide you through the next steps. Thank you for your prompt attention to these important steps. We can’t wait to kick off another amazing year together!

Parents and guardians can access their child’s CAASPP, ELPAC, and Star score reports directly through the Aeries Parent Portal. Please note that hard copy score reports are not mailed home. The resources below will walk you through how to locate and view your child’s score reports in Aeries.

✅ How to Access Your Student’s Scores

• Aeries Parent Portal
• Parent Guide: Locating Test Scores & State Test Score Reports
• 🎥 Video: How to Access the Aeries Portal & Score Reports

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 Stephanie Martinez at 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.

Community support helps make so many of the opportunities our students experience possible. This year, I encourage Webster families to support both the Malibu Education Foundation (MEF) and Webster PTA. Both matter, and neither replaces the other.

MEF funds instructional aides, tutors, coaches, academic recovery and acceleration, and support staff across all four Malibu schools—with 100% staying in Malibu. At Webster, MEF funds four instructional aides and contributes to visual arts, while also investing in the programs and support our students will benefit from as they move on to MMS and MHS. Every gift makes a difference. Start with $25—that funds a student for a week!

Upcoming MEF Events

✨ November 7 | MEF Gala — RESCHEDULED

Due to the Bryson Fire, the MEF Gala, Illuminate. Elevate. Educate., originally scheduled for October 17, has been rescheduled to Saturday, November 7.

Stay tuned for additional details about this special evening supporting all four Malibu public schools!

🏃 October 24–25 | Malibu Moves

Get moving for a great cause! MEF is a proud charity partner of Malibu Moves, and we'd love to see our Webster families join the fun! Walk, run, or volunteer—there's something for everyone!

• 🎃 Kids Day | Saturday, October 24: Bring the whole family for kid-friendly races, bounce castles, art activities, and costume fun!

• Start a Webster team: Bring families and staff together for a fun day at Zuma.
• Join Team MEF: Sign up HERE and receive free MEF race swag!
• Volunteer: Help make the event a success without racing. Sign up HERE.

👉 Register for Malibu Moves using code MEF26 for 10% off! Plus, 10% of your entry supports MEF, helping fund programs across all four Malibu schools.

The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu (BGCM) is an important partner in supporting our Webster students and families. Through after-school programming and community services, BGCM focuses on academic success, character development, health and wellness, while creating a safe and supportive environment for Malibu youth.

🚧 Playground Construction Update

Construction on our new playground is officially underway! During construction, BGCM has temporarily relocated programming to Rooms 1 and 2 and designated areas of the upper field. All BGCM pick-ups will take place outside near the cafetorium area until construction is complete. BGCM staff will be available to help families navigate the temporary pick-up location. For assistance, please call 310-774-1969.

📚 Academic Year Enrollment is LIVE!

• Grades: TK–5th

• Programs include: Kindness Is Free, Manners Matter, social-emotional wellness, STEM projects, arts & crafts, cooking/gardening, and more!
  👉 Enroll today at bgcmalibu.org.

💙 Wellness Center

The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Wellness Center provides no-cost mental health counseling and social support services to our school community. Click here to learn more and email wellnessinfo@bgcmalibu.org or call 310-457-0360 ext 60146 to request services for you/your child.

🏠 Long-Term Disaster Recovery Services
The Care Coordination Team, a Disaster Recovery Coalition established by BGCM, continues to support qualifying Franklin and Palisades Fire survivors with long-term recovery services, including:

• Personalized Recovery Planning: Identifying current and ongoing needs and developing an individualized recovery plan
• Resource Connections: Connecting families with available resources and support based on qualifying criteria
• Advocacy: Helping identify community needs and advocate for additional resources

To connect with a Care Coordinator, email drc@bgcmalibu.org.

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.

• Keep Pre-K/TK green curb drop-offs quick to ensure smooth turnover — this area is reserved for families using the Pre-K/TK gate. If your student enters through the main gate (K–5), please use the lower lot or main valet line.

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