WEbster Nation,

First full week in the books and we're all getting our school legs underneath us again. It's a beautiful thing to see students adjusting to new teachers, making new friends, and exploring in their classrooms and beyond. We are truly excited for the year to come. We enjoyed having our TK-2nd grade parents on campus for BTSN #1 and can't wait for next Tuesday's 3rd-5th grade event. (info below).

Enjoy the famous Chili Cook Off tonight. I'll be interested to hear reviews of your favorites and would love a great photo from all of you who attend for next week's newsletter. Kudos to Whale mom, Kasey Earnest, for pulling off such an unforgettable event year after year. You rock!

Enjoy the long weekend and we'll see you next week.

"That was an awesome worksheet." - No Student Ever

With gratitude,

- Tedd

twakeman@smmusd.org
(310) 456-6494

TK sure is busy! We are diving right into self and family portraits and exploring identity through project based learning! We are working through two beautiful inquiry-based projects: Love and Learning in TK through Shapes in Nature, and Self Expression through simple but Contemplative Nature-Based Line Drawings. These projects help build vocabulary, number sense, and confidence through participation in group discussions! Our central questions are "What do you notice? What do you wonder?" We are having so much fun!! Lots of love, from TK.

Wow! Bu Crew survived a week full of firsts!

First full day!

First Tedd Talk!

First Library Day!

First PE Day!

and the First Full Week of School!

We can't wait to celebrate many more to come!

Tedd joined our class on Wednesday to read "What Do You Do With an Idea?" by Kobi Yamada. The students had a great discussion on good and bad ideas. They also talked about what you should do if someone doesn't like your idea. Later that afternoon, we went to the STEAM lab to learn more about what an engineer does. The students worked as engineers in four groups. They had to share their ideas, collaborate, plan, build, and discuss how they could improve what they had built. It was an exciting day of ideas!

Room 7 started math checklists this week. Kids worked on a combination of independent and partner activities. They did a math game, a pattern block activity, Kapla block design work, wrote on the graffiti wall, completed a math page, and more.

For the first five weeks of school, Room 2 will be focusing on one mindset each week to really dig into what each means and looks like in our community. This week we dug into Collaborate and had the best time working together and working out ideas!

Room 8 worked on some YouCubed partner challenges this week. This one was the most perplexing and taught us how mathematicians persevere and sometimes don't reach an answer. Here was our challenge...When pennies are put in groups of 2, there is one penny left over. When they are put in groups of 3, 5, and 6 there is also one penny left over. But when they are put in groups of 7 there are no pennies left over. Room 8 showed their Growth Mindsets throughout this activity. Way to go!

Our first trip to the STEAM Lab allowed us to design, build, and test simple machines.

It’s all about building our teamwork skills and having fun getting to know each other 🍎 We did the “Saving Sam Challenge”—Get Sam, the Gummy Worm, back in his boat with his life preserver on…but you can’t use your hands…only one paper clip per person on the team. Then, the "Index Card Challenge"—find out what you have in common with your team and then use the cards to engineer the highest tower you can. The more you find what you have in common, the better chance you have of building a high tower. This week we also engineered straw rockets!

This week in Room 20, we spent time working on building our class community, embracing our inner identities, and collaborating together to tackle challenges. We did some exploring with our core values and even celebrated our 1st class birthday of the school year! We have been having such a great time getting to know each other, and we look forward to all the amazing things to come!

Student quote of the week: “ Some cool stuff I learned this week during hot seat, was that Tedd is 52 years old. We also played a game, where as a class we had to count to 10 without saying it at the same time or repeating numbers”. - Lachlan Vandevoort-Mcwhinnie

Our class had some amazing conversations this week as we further explored the concepts of identity and community! What do we each have to offer, and how can we best come together to support one another this year? Students thought critically about what they valued most in the world, in others, in themselves, and ultimately each chose four Core Values they connect with for their puzzle pieces. Then, the challenge was to work collaboratively to find classmates’ pieces that fit together with theirs. Once they did, the students shared in their groups about what they valued and why, how they demonstrated that particular value, and explored what our world might be like without it. I loved having a glimpse into their minds and hearts and learning more about what matters most to each and every one of them. And look at how beautiful it is when we come together to recognize and appreciate what we all value most!

So I walked out to the lunch area this morning to say hello to the kids during recess and WHAMO!! Just like that, "break-dancing" is back. Apparently, Marley learned how to do the helicopter. It was a big hit, and she's got a whole troupe of kids learning from her now. I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty awesome. Let the lunchtime dance battles begin!!!

Fredi and her Grandpa Bernie wrapped up their summer by diving in head first to the PTA's Brainfreeze-->Super Bloom program! Together, Fredi and Bernie charted, researched, wondered, observed, taxonimized, analyzed, contacted, and documented their way to the finish line. Fredi has a glorious binder of her insights, loads of fun memories, and a very cool new Brainfreeze-->Super Bloom patch + prize to show for it!

If you made headway on the Brainfreeze-->Super Bloom program--even if you didn't complete the full challenge--return it to the box in the office or email it to websterptamalibu@gmail.com next week for a prize from the PTA. We'd love to see what you did!

We had a beautiful evening together this past Tuesday with our TK-2nd grade families and look forward to welcoming our 3rd-5th grade parents back to campus next week. You will get a chance to hear from your child's teacher about expectations and plans for the year.

Tue, Sep. 5 (3rd - 5th Grade)

You will also get to hear from Webster's PTA president, Shy Roy. There will be booths set up from our PTA, the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu, and the City of Malibu with information on programs and offerings. I will give a brief introduction to the evening in the cafetorium and you'll be off to classrooms to spend some time with our educators.

6:00pm - 6:45pm: Introduction in the cafetorium

6:45pm - 7:30pm: Meet with the teachers in their classrooms

We really hope to see you there!

* ADULTS ONLY PLEASE

Please join!!!! Click the link for membership information:

https://jointotem.com/ca/malibu/webster/join/register

Great question! We would LOVE to have you join us as a valet volunteer. If you are interested, please sign up at the link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4AAFAC2DAAFC1-valet

1. Drop-off etiquette: Mainly for the new families but a reminder for everyone else as well

- Be ready/prepare ahead of time/have bags and lunches ready to go

- Parents do not get out of the cars in drop-off lane

- If more time is needed with your child, consider parking in the lower lot and walking up.

- Do not hold up the line and please do not drive up past the school or park in the fire lane.

- All kids must exit from the right side of the car.

2. Kinder students: After the first few days of school, if your child is still struggling to separate, please park in the lower lot and walk them up to the gate. If they are pumped and ready for school, you are welcome to have them ready for a quick drop-off at the valet line.

3. At the bottom parking lot

- Do not drive through the bus lane.

- Entrance to lower parking lot only from Vista Pacifica.

- If we get enough volunteers, we'd love to post some folks down below to assist.

An interesting little article on American confidence in higher education. I can only wonder how major shifts in K-12, especially at the high school level, could impact the pathway for students. If we focused more on truly teasing out student interest, passion, and aptitude, might there be a more discerning eye lent toward deciding if college is the right path? If it is, then which one to choose, how to best craft your application, and when to apply? New perspective around the choice to go to college is needed for students leaving K-12. It is no longer enough to simply insist that they go and insist that they go straight from high school.

9/4 Labor Day Holiday (no school)

9/5 Back to School Night (3-5) - 6:00-7:30pm (minimum day)

* ADULTS ONLY PLEASE

9/6 Volunteer Training – 9:00a

9/8 Kindness Campaign Backpack Party - 11:45a

9/11 Picture Day (Individual shots - schedule coming soon)

9/12 Picture Day (Class photos - schedule coming soon)

9/14 School Site Council Meeting – 3:00-4:00p

9/25 Yom Kippur Holiday (no school)

9/29 Rhythm Child Drumming Assembly

• TK-2 8:40-9:10am

• 3-5 9:40-10:15am

OCTOBER 2023

10/18 Volunteer Training – 9:00a

10/19 Great Shake Out – 10:19a

10/19 School Site Council Meeting – 3:00p

10/31 Trunk or Treat (schedule and information to come)

The AERIES Parent Portal

Tedd's Welcome Letter 2023

Tedd's Welcome Back Video 2023

AERIES Parent Portal Tutorial

Student Services Registration Documents 23/24

Family Engagement & School Parent Compact

Webster Bell Schedule

PTA Membership

Class Change Request Form

Webster Information - Week of Sep 4, 2023

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:

• BGCM Membership Enrollment is LIVE Available for incoming grades TK-5th. Enroll at BGCMALIBU.ORG Programs include: STEM based projects, arts & crafts, cooking/gardening, social emotional wellness, and more! (Enrollment must be completed and verified via our online electronic system before your child attends BGCM Clubhouses, please allow at least 2 business days for this process). Enroll Here | Inscribirse Aquí
  
  

• Malibu Chili Cook Off Sept 1-4. Buy tickets NOW! Visit malibuchilicookoff.org to purchase tickets for this year's event. Looking to volunteer? Email mcco.volunteer@gmail.com
  
  

• Wellness Center & Social Support Offerings The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Wellness Center operates remotely and also in-person to provide no-cost social support & mental health counseling to all in the community. Visit https://bgcmalibu.org/wellness-center/ to learn more or to request services for you/your child! PSA: Parents! If you've missed any parent workshops, they are available on our website at https://bgcmalibu.org/wellness-center-resources/
  
  

• *To contact the Club please call 310-457-1400 (Admin) or 310-241-3675 (Programs) Email info@bgcmalibu.org For updates on Club news & events, subscribe to BGCM E-Newsletter Here

Developing strong character and valuable mindsets is essential. This remains a major focus at Webster. As we build community here on campus, at home, and across Malibu, we will continue to model the kind of behavior that promotes unity, kindness, and thoughtful problem solving. In addition, we will value these traits in others and recognize outstanding efforts.

Every Friday we sport our Webster Wear to show school spirit and celebrate the coming weekend. Classes with the highest percentage of Webster Wear win the whale for the week. Be sure to show your spirit and pick up some Webster Wear in the main office when you stop in to say hello.