Sea Lion Spotlight

Hello MES Sea Lion Families,

Thank you for all your support as our year is now fully moving and grooving! We appreciated all the support through your attendance at Back to School Nights this year! If you weren't able to attend, please make sure to reach out to your child's teacher to get the information you need to make the year a successful one for your child.

We have brought in an amazing sub in our office, Beth Papp, who will be working on attendance and enrollment. That being said, please continue to do the following when reporting absences as this will be our procedure from now on!

Email us at mesattendance@smmusd.org
Make sure to let us know the reason for your child's absence when you communicate!
Let the teacher know as well.

Would you like to volunteer in your child's classroom? If so, please make sure that you are on our volunteer list! If you are new, or it's been over 4 years, you need to attend a 10-15 minute Zoom training and fill out the volunteer paperwork, which you can get from Diane in the office. Our trainings are typically on the 3rd Friday of the month, and the dates (with the zoom link) are always going to be in the calendar part of the Spotlight below! The first one is this month!

TOYS on campus - We need your help and support with your child leaving all toys at home please. This includes stuffies, Pokemon cards, finger boards, and all of the squishy toys (Needoh and other types). This is also the case with recess equipment as we have what students need in order to play during those times. Thank you in advance!!!

Data Confirmation details are below and we NEED to get this done for each and every child - even if you JUST registered! If you are experiencing difficulty, please reach out to Diane in the office - they may be able to help and assist you so that we can get this done! WE CURRENTLY HAVE 99 STUDENTS WHO NEED TO HAVE THIS DONE! (Many are partially done, but we need them completed)

Finally, I've also had a lot of requests for our school lunch menu ~ the menus can always be found on our district website HERE. Just bookmark it, or print out the month for at home reference! (Note, there are times where changes happen, but they're pretty consistent!)

Ms. Sally Wennes

Principal

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

SEPTEMBER

9/7 - No School (Labor Day)
9/8 - Back to School Night at 5pm (Thompson's 1st grade)
9/14-18 - Book Fair Week!
9/15 - Picture Day! SMILE!
9/15 - 3rd/4th/5th Music Back to School Night via Zoom @ 6pm - flyer with QR Code below! (For returning 5th grade parents, this is optional as it includes similar information from last year. Encouraged if your child has shifted music classes!)
9/18 - Volunteer Training at 10:30 - LINK HERE!
9/21 - No School (Yom Kippur)
9/25 - Peace Day Photo & Performance
9/30 - School Site Council Mtg via Zoom @ 3:30

OCTOBER

10/14-10/16 - 5th Graders to Pali Camp
10/30 - Halloween Parade at 8:15am

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 the complete data confirmation for each student - even if you JUST finished registration!

Log in to your Aeries Parent Portal: https://santamonicamalibu.aeries.net/
Be sure to read, review, and discuss all the materials with your student.
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.
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

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.

Please spread the word to any other MES families so that we can get this done as soon as possible! You'll see reminders to everyone in the Monday Spotlights for a few weeks until we have our students' records.

Registration is still open for Sea Lion Academy and spots are filling! The digital flyer is listed in the bottom section of the Spotlight for your reference, and your child should have brought a flyer home for you! You can use the QR code on the flyer or head HERE for registration! Classes start the week of September 14th!

Sea Lion Academy is Malibu Elementary’s on-campus after-school program, offering educational opportunities that may not be covered during the school day, along with enrichment classes designed to help your child reach their highest potential.

The fall session will feature classes including Intro to Guitar, Maker’s Space with Sycamore Studio, Math, Science, Reading, and Spanish, along with exciting new offerings such as Sewing, Magic, and Cooking!

We’re excited to offer another fun and enriching session of Sea Lion Academy!

Make sure to check this space for all the important things that go on for your child! You'll also find out about things going on in our community!

MES PTA:

🌊 MES GIVING WAVE KICKS OFF MONDAY, SEPT 21 🌊

Our school would not be what it is without our family contributions. THANK YOU!!! In the coming weeks, we'll share fun ideas with students to spark imagination about why we raise funds. Every gift—big, small, energy, time—creates a ripple. Let's make a big wave! 💙

Have you joined our PTA yet or renewed your membership? Please see the flyer at the bottom of this week's Spotlight and do so today! Our PTA helps support classrooms and students like no other and we are incredibly grateful for your support!

🌲 An Incredible 5th Grade Adventure Awaits!

We are thrilled to share that our 5th graders are scheduled to experience an unforgettable fall outdoor education science adventure at Pali Camp in Running Springs, California from October 14th - October 16th!

Pali Camp offers an exciting, hands-on experience where students will build independence, strengthen friendships, challenge themselves, and create memories that will last a lifetime—all while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

Families are invited to attend an information meeting on Monday, August 24th at 12:45 p.m. in the library to learn more about the trip, what students can expect, and how to prepare. You can also explore all that Pali Camp has to offer on their website: Pali Institute / Pali Camp

💚 Please Help Make This Experience Happen! We strongly encourage families to make their donation through the school website as soon as possible. Your timely support is essential to helping us ensure that this incredible experience can happen for our 5th graders. Here is the donation link: https://www.mes.org/product-page/5th-grade-field-trip-to-pali-camp

We can't wait to see our students learn, laugh, explore, and grow together on this very special adventure!

LCAP Representatives Needed!

MES is seeking 2 volunteers to serve on the SMMUSD Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Parent Advisory Committee. It's important that we have representatives! Please read below.

The passage of the legislation implementing the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) establishes a role for parent advisory committees in the development of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). Education code 52063 requires that districts establish two distinct parent advisory committees to review and comment on the LCAP prior to submission to the local board: the Parent Advisory Committee and the English Learner Parent Advisory Committee.

The Parent Advisory Committee must be composed of a majority of parents or guardians of pupils and include parents of pupils to whom the definitions of education code 42238.01 apply. These include parents or guardians of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, English learners, and foster youth. Sites can also include other subgroups, such as Latinx, Black/African-American, Students with Disabilities.

Meetings are from 4:00 – 6:00 PM (Virtual Meetings)

2026 - 2027 Meeting Dates: TBD

Please contact Ms. Wennes at swennes@smmusd.org if you are interested or have further questions!

Free- and Reduced-Price Meal Form:

While all students will receive snacks and a lunch at no cost, filling out this form helps our district and students with funding based on responses to Free- and Reduced-price Meal forms. The Food Services webpage has a link to apply as well as instructions in English and Spanish.

Malibu Ed Foundation

Happy New School Year!

$1.5 million. That's what MEF has invested in our four schools since our January 2024 launch, thanks to support from Malibu City, SMMUSD, and our community.

As we head into Year 3, we'll need your help keeping our Annual Fund and fall events top of mind with parents. We're working with the PTAs and Shark Fund on a joint-ask flyer for registration packets. A few dates to help us spread the word on:

Annual Fund launches Friday — malibueducationfoundation.org/donate
MEF Gala — Saturday, October 17, - Tickets are now on sale for the Second Annual MEF Gala, Saturday, October 17th at Malibu High School. This is Malibu's flagship night in support of all four Malibu public schools: Malibu Elementary, Webster Elementary, Malibu Middle School, and Malibu High School. Every dollar raised stays in Malibu and enables us to build a brighter future for every Malibu student by funding staff and programs across all four campuses.
Get your tickets today at: https://onecau.se/mefgala
Malibu Moves — Oct 24–25, Zuma Beach, code MEF26 (open to all SMMUSD schools — a great way to get your students, staff, or families out for a run, walk, or cheer). Join Team MEF for swag, or create your own “school team.” malibumoves.com
MEF Tree Lot - Nov. 27-Dec. 13

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF MALIBU

At the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, our mission is to significantly enhance the lives of all youth to fulfill their potential as caring, productive, and contributing citizens. Through 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!

Academic Year Enrollment

Click here and see the attached flyer to learn more and enroll in our upcoming Academic Year program at the Malibu Elementary Clubhouse/Webster Elementary Clubhouse!

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

Complimentary Entries Available for Zuma Beach Triathlon for Kids (presented by the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu) on Saturday, September 19! A limited number of complimentary entries are available for current Club members, ages 9-14 only. Email tylerhawkins@bgcmalibu.org to receive your code to redeem your free registration. Separate race distances are offered for ages 9–11 and 12–14. Learn more at zumabeachtriathlon.org and see the attached flyer!

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 A Disaster Recovery Coalition established by the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu 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: Working to identify your most pressing current and ongoing needs and creating a recovery plan tailored to your individual situation.
Resource connection: Helping 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.

Student Birthday Celebrations

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.