Dear HBCSD Families,

We are proud to present HBCSD’s first State of Our Schools Annual Report for 2024-2025, now available on our District website. This report highlights our key initiatives, signature programs, district-wide data, and valued partnerships that shaped our work throughout the 2024-2025 school year.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated teachers, staff, administrators, partners, and community members whose hard work ensures that every HBCSD student thrives. Looking ahead, our goal is to produce this report annually by July 1, providing HBCSD families and the greater Hermosa Beach community with a clear picture of our shared accomplishments. 

We encourage you to visit our website to read the full report and celebrate the collective achievements of our District.

With appreciation,

Dr. Susan Wildes

Superintendent of Schools, Hermosa Beach City School District

Hermosa View School Principal News

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a great View Back-to-School Night! We appreciate your partnership as we support our youngest learners, who are already off to a wonderful start. Students have been eager to follow our S.U.R.F. (Safe, Up for a Challenge, Responsible, and Friendly) expectations and earn S.U.R.F. slips. Valerie the Dolphin even joined us at our first assembly last week to help review behavior expectations, and our View students had such a fun time with her! Congratulations to the first winners of our Friday S.U.R.F. slip drawing. Students are excited for the next one!

Beginning this week, our 1st grade students will take their i-Ready Assessment between September 8-30. Please encourage your child to try their best and take their time so we can gather accurate results to guide instruction. 

Alongside core academics, our students enjoyed a full week of Specials, which are enrichment classes that provide students with opportunities to learn beyond their regular classroom. Every grade visited the View Library with Ms. West and made music with Mr. R. Additionally, Kindergarten and 1st grade students participated in counseling sessions with Ms. Okuda and explored hands-on learning in science with Ms. Kerster. Our 1st graders are also doing an excellent job with their Beach Cities Morning Exercises and love their P.E. time with Ms. Hart.

Don’t forget that both the Hermosa Beach Preschool at View Picture Day and Hermosa View Picture Day are on Tuesday, September 9. Please plan to come to school on time with your smiles ready! 

As part of our school safety and preparedness efforts, we will hold our first safety drill on Thursday, September 10. This fire drill will provide staff and students with the opportunity to practice evacuating to their designated spots on the blacktop and waiting for a safe dismissal.

We're excited to welcome family volunteers to support Morning Valet, Afternoon Valet, and Lunch Recess this year. To get started, please sign up for a shift through this SignUpGenius link. It’s important to note that all volunteers must complete our Volunteer & Confidentiality Agreement 2025-2026 before joining us on campus.

We are looking forward to another great week at View!

Warmly,

Dr. Jessica Ghobrial, Hermosa View Principal / HB Preschool Director

Hermosa Vista School Principal News

We are now in the full swing of school, and our brains are growing with all the new learning taking place. Classroom expectations are established, and students are practicing how to grow both academically and personally each day. Thank you for your partnership in reinforcing the importance of attending school regularly and arriving on time. 

From September 8-30, Vista students will complete their i-Ready Assessments in class using their Chromebooks. These assessments help us better understand each student’s strengths and areas for growth. We encourage students to take their time and give their best effort so the results reflect their true abilities.

Specials (enrichment classes) have started at Vista, and students are enjoying their time in library, music, Spanish, SPARKS Lab, and P.E. Each of these classes brings unique opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and hands-on exploration. It has been a joy to watch students be so engaged with these experiences.

Vista thrives thanks to the support of our families, and we welcome your involvement. If you are interested in volunteering for recess support for 2nd, 3rd, and/or 4th grade on Tuesdays and Thursdays, please use this SignUpGenius link to sign up for a shift. Before your first shift, you must complete our Volunteer & Confidentiality Agreement 2025-2026. As a recess volunteer, you will help students follow the rules of playground games and support them in building positive connections with one another. I also encourage you to check out these other Volunteer Opportunities.

Finally, a reminder that Hermosa Vista Picture Day is coming up on Tuesday, September 9. I look forward to seeing our Vista Dolphins looking great for the school picture!

Warmly,

Grace Yang, Hermosa Vista Principal

Hermosa Valley School Principal News

Thank you to all the families who joined us for Valley Back-to-School Night! The evening was filled with positive energy, great conversations, and a strong sense of partnership as we began the school year together. We appreciate your commitment to supporting our students and our school community. If you like, you can review my Back-to-School Night presentation.

5th Grade Highlights

Our 5th graders are already diving into rich and engaging learning:

• Math: Exploring place value to build a strong foundation for problem-solving.
• Science: Studying earth and sky, sparking curiosity about the natural world.
• Social Studies: Traveling back in time to the 13 colonies.
• ELA: Centered around the essential question: “How do cultural beliefs and values guide people?” Students are examining how cultures and conflict shape history and perspectives.

Middle School Highlights (6th-8th Grade)

Our middle school teachers have hit the ground running, implementing rigorous curriculum across all subjects while thoughtfully providing the supports students need to succeed. Their dedication ensures that every student is both challenged and encouraged as they grow in their learning. This is truly an impressive bunch of students! The Wit & Wisdom Focus Wall pictured is from Ms. Rangel's 8th Grade ELA Classroom.

Counseling Support with Ms. Ryley

Our School Counselor, Ms. Ryley, has been busy connecting with students. To date, she has visited every 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classroom and has also checked in individually with students. We are fortunate to have such a caring and dedicated resource who genuinely wants to build connections, provide support, and enhance students’ experiences at Hermosa Valley and beyond.

Students may find Ms. Ryley in the Valley Wellness Center, and anyone may connect with her via email at cryley@hbcsd.org.

Important Dates & Reminders

• Add/Drop Deadline: For example, if a student is currently enrolled in Advanced Math and would like to move to Grade-Level Math, all requests must be submitted by Friday, September 12.
• PowerSchool Parent Portal: Parents can track everything from assignment grades to attendance. Please remember to check the portal regularly and have conversations with your child about what they are learning and accomplishing in their classes.

We are truly building a strong and successful year for all our students.

Warmly,

Jessica Bledsoe, Hermosa Valley School Principal

8/25-9/21: HBEF: Back-to-School Annual Giving Campaign at HBEF.ORG

9/8 (3-4 PM): Valley: HVS Athletics Fall Sports - Boys & Girls Cross Country (Grades 6-8) Student Informational Meeting in Mr. Hazard's Room 27 (3-3:15 PM) followed by 1st Practice (3:15-4 PM)

9/9: HB Preschool, View, & Vista: Picture Day

9/10 (8:50-10 AM): HVPTO: TK-5th Grade Room Parent Meeting in the View MPR

9/10 (5-8 PM): HBCSD: Regular School Board Meeting

9/11 (7:30-8:30 AM): City of HB: 9/11 Remembrance Wreath Laying Ceremony

9/11 (3-4 PM): Valley: HVS Athletics Fall Sports - HVS Cheer Team (Grade 6-8) Practice Begins

9/12: Valley: 6th-8th Grade Add/Drop Deadline