Sea Lion Spotlight

Hello MES Families,

THANK YOU to our wonderful PTA and parent community for such a wonderful celebration of our staff last week. Our staff works so hard with everything they do to support our students, and your appreciation for that was truly spectacular.

As we celebrated Mother’s Day this weekend, we would like to recognize and honor all of the incredible mother figures in our school community — moms, grandmothers, stepmoms, guardians, caregivers, and all those who support and nurture children with love and care. Thank you for the countless ways you help our students grow, learn, and thrive each day. We are hoping you had a joyful and special Mother’s Day!

We are looking forward to our upcoming PTA Sponsored Field Day on Friday, May 15th! Please see information below for more details about this event.

3rd-5th Grade Parents - This week, we will be testing on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday with Math! Thank you for all your support in ensuring students are ready to go with a healthy breakfast, snacks, and a positive message to do their best! It will be the final week of testing for our 3rd and 4th graders (unless they have make ups to complete)! Let's finish strong for them!

Consistent attendance is one of the most important factors in a child’s success at school. When students are present each day, they build strong routines, stay connected with their classmates, and fully engage in learning. Even a few missed days can lead to gaps in understanding and make it harder for children to feel confident in class. Thank you also for helping your child arrive at school on time and ready to learn. Your partnership makes such a meaningful difference in their growth and success!

Ms. Sally Wennes

Principal

Flyers for events are always posted below! Don't forget to check out the details!

MAY

5/13 - Yearbook Orders DUE!!! (See below for links and information)
5/14 - School Site Council @ 3:30pm - AGENDA HERE
5/15 - PTA Sponsored Field Day
5/15 - "Total Reset" Sound Bath Family Event @ 1pm
5/18 - School Tour @ 1pm
5/19 - PTA Member Association Meeting @ 8:30
5/21 - Annual Art Show @ 5pm (flyer below)
5/25 - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
5/29 - Talent Show @ 8:50
5/29 - "Healing & Connection for the Inner Child" Family Event @ 1pm
5/29 - Grilled Cheesy Sandwiches! (PTA event)

STATE TESTING DATES (Grades 3-5) - 10:00-11:45am

MATH - May 11, May 12, May 14
SCIENCE (Grade 5 only) - May 18-20
Make Up testing will happen on alternate days and times as needed through May.

25-26 Academic Calendar

25-26 PTA Calendar

Dear Malibu Elementary Families,
Yearbooks are available for purchase! Families can order their yearbook easily through the TreeRing app or by visiting the TreeRing website (treering.com). Please also see the flyer below for additional details and step-by-step instructions.

If you have photos from any school events that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the yearbook, you can upload them directly to the website or if you are having trouble you can email them to Tiffany Owhadi at owhadifamily@gmail.com. We would love your help in capturing all the special moments from this year!

To Upload Photos directly into TreeRing (General Yearbook Photos & Personal Custom Photos):

Log in or make an account on Treering.com
Upload photos: To do this Start at home page, Select MY PHOTOS at top of page, and ADD PHOTOS to upload personal photos.
Share Photos to Yearbook Committee: Start at My Photos, Choose SELECT on the upper right side, select individual photos, then select SHARE WITH SCHOOL on upper right, select Malibu Elementary on the pull down menu, then select the appropriate folder, and SHARE HERE. You can repeat this step until all photos are uploaded to the correct folder.

**Pro Tip: Easiest way to upload photos is via the TreeRing App on your phone.

If you have any questions regarding yearbook purchases or photo uploads, feel free to contact Tiffany Owhadi, owhadifamily@gmail.com.

If you're interested in being a part of the yearbook editing team, we'd love to have you! Please reach out to Tiffany Owhadi to get involved. We’re excited to put together a book full of wonderful memories for our students!

Warmly,
Malibu Elementary Yearbook Team

We are looking forward to our upcoming Field Day on Friday, May 15th! Thank you to all of our volunteers who are helping make this a fun and memorable event for our students. T-Shirts for the event will be handed out on May 13th or 14th this week.

If you are still wanting to volunteer, please do so HERE.

Volunteer INFO - The event will run from 9:20-11:20, and please make sure you arrive in time to get checked into the office and are ready to go! As a reminder, only district-cleared volunteers may attend Field Day activities. In order to keep all students safe and ensure games run smoothly, volunteers may not bring younger children with them and are asked to remain at their assigned game station throughout the event.

We appreciate your support, flexibility, and partnership in helping us create a positive experience for all students!

Our school community has a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful difference through the Waves 4 Water Read-a-Thon fundraiser. Participation is completely optional, but it’s a fun and meaningful way to encourage a love of reading while supporting a great cause. Families can “sponsor” their child by pledging a donation based on the number of pages, minutes, and/or books they read throughout the month-long event.

Every page turned helps bring clean water to communities in need around the world. Just $50 can provide a water filter for a family, giving them access to clean, safe water for up to 10 years. It’s a powerful reminder that when each of us does one small thing, together we can create a truly lasting impact. By participating, we also continue to teach our students the importance of empathy—helping them understand how their actions, big or small, can positively affect the lives of others.

We encourage families to consider joining this effort—supporting their child’s reading goals while also showing the value of compassion, community, and giving back. Donations can be made easily through the link available on our school website. Thank you for your consideration, generosity, and continued support of our school community. For any questions, please contact Ms. Kooy (5th grade teacher) at tkooy@smmusd.org.

When everyone gives just a little, we can make a BIG difference! We passed our initial goal of $1500, but let's see if we can double it and support double the outreach! The more we give, the more families we impact!

DONATE HERE!

With the school year coming to an end, the library is requesting all books be returned by the week of May 18th. If your student has an outstanding checkout (including overdue, lost, and damaged books), please resolve them before May 22nd.

Parents/guardians of students with outstanding checkouts will be contacted via e-mail with instructions regarding how to resolve them. If you have any questions, please email the librarian at glabrador@smmusd.org for more information.

Please note: copy replacement is preferred over payment, but either will do! 🙂

Thank you,

Ms. Labrador

Get ready for our exciting upcoming annual Talent Show filled with creativity, and fun! It will be held on May 29th at 8:50am in the MES Theater!

The Talent Show is open to all students who want to share their unique skills on stage—no experience necessary. Whether it’s comedy sketches, improv, singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or something totally original, everyone is encouraged to participate and have fun! Please click HERE for more information regarding auditions and details!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at MES we’re reminding students and families that mental health is an important part of overall health 😌.

In the elementary years, children are learning to recognize feelings, ask for help, solve problems, and connect with others in healthy ways. When students feel safe, seen, and supported, we help build a foundation for lifelong well-being.

Our Mental Health & Wellness events in May support that growth by helping students and families build skills and connection.

Our next event is Friday, May 15, from 1–2pm:

An interactive workshop for families ~ this week's focus is on a Total Reset and includes sound bath therapy!

Please RSVP at bit.ly/MESwellness. These after-school events are free, open to the whole family, and not drop-off events.

Hope to see you there!

MES PTA Wellness Committee

Rebecca Nelson, M.Ed., M.S., LEP, MES School Psychologist

Sea Lion Academy - Final Session for 25-26 - Register NOW!!!

Sea Lion Academy has launched our SPRING session and all classes are now happening! Our MES teachers are offering core remediation classes that are sure to sharpen key skills before state testing and end-of-the-year projects! We’re also pumped to bring you exciting enrichment courses taught by local professionals like, Let’s Speak Spanish, Digital Animation, Film Production, Guitar and more! Classes run from April 17-May 29th. Contact Program Coordinator Robyn Estela at restela@smmusd.org with specific questions about our program.

Wednesdays are for Wellness! Every Wednesday, students are invited to visit our STEAM Cart at recess time for hands-on activities that support creativity, problem-solving, and emotional wellness. Each activity aligns directly with the Character Counts pillar of the month — Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship — helping students practice positive character traits through fun, engaging activities. These activities take place either outside at the STEAM Cart or if you don't see us outside - inside the Wellness Center!

Boys & Girls Club

Boys & Girls Club of Malibu (BGCM) 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, we focus on academic success, character development, and health and wellness, catering to the unique needs of Malibu's youth. By addressing the needs of families, we foster a sense of safety, support, and community engagement, promoting a brighter future for all!

BGCM Elementary Camp Bu Summer Camp Enrollment

Click here and see the attached flyer to learn more and enroll in our upcoming BGCM Elementary Summer Program – Camp Bu! (Flyer also shown below for your reference)

Available to incoming TK–5th grade. Enrollment is required to participate.
Where: Webster Elementary (3602 Winter Canyon Rd)
When:

June 22nd through August 7th (Monday - Friday) - Closed July 3rd for holiday

Incoming K-5th: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Incoming TK (Half-Day Program): 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Weekly calendars highlighting our themes and featured activities will be shared in advance.

BGCM Academic Year Enrollment

Click here to learn more and enroll! BGCM is committed to providing a curriculum that will include a variety of activities geared towards fun, educational, and social experiences.

Available to grades TK–5th.
Programs include: Kindness Is Free, Manners Matter, social emotional wellness, STEM based projects, arts & crafts, cooking/gardening, and more!

Programs:

Homework Help

Looking for extra academic support for your child? BGCM provides homework help for all subjects and grade levels on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00–5:00 PM, helping students stay on track and feel confident with their schoolwork.

Wellness

BGCM 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.

BGCM Long Term Disaster Recovery Services The BGCM Disaster Recovery Center in partnership with The Malibu Community Long Term Recovery Group (MCLTRG) is here to support Franklin and Palisades Fire survivors with long-term recovery services. Our dedicated Care Coordination Team is ready to assist those who qualify with:

Personalized recovery planning: We will collaborate to identify your most pressing current and ongoing needs, creating a recovery plan tailored to your individual situation.
Resource connection: We will help you access the latest available support and resources by assessing your individual needs and connecting you to available resources based on qualifying criteria.
Advocacy: You won't navigate this alone. By understanding community needs, we can advocate for increased financial resources for the community.

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

MES Minimum Days Schedule / 12:45 Dismissal

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.