Dear RBUSD Community,

As we begin 2025, we are reaching out with heartfelt hope for your family's safety and wellbeing. During these challenging times, as our region faces wildfires, we have been deeply moved by how our Redondo Beach community has come together to support those affected, both within and beyond our district boundaries. Your generosity and care for one another exemplify what makes our community special. In times like these, I revisit the Japanese concept of Ikigai - our reason for being. At RBUSD, we find purpose not only in nurturing our students' growth but also in supporting each other through challenges and celebrations alike.

Times of challenge remind us how crucial it is to tend to our wellbeing. This month, in alignment with goal #2 of our Strategic Plan, we are excited to share how RBUSD supports our students' social, emotional, and physical wellness across all grade levels. From morning yoga to art therapy to counseling services, our comprehensive approach to wellness helps students develop the resilience and self-awareness they need to thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Our elementary schools continue to prioritize social-emotional wellbeing through our district-wide Second Step program. Like many of our elementary schools, at Washington, each morning starts with invigorating exercises and calming breathing techniques, ensuring students feel centered and ready to learn. These practices create a foundation of mindfulness and wellness that supports both academic and personal growth.

Morning exercises at Washington Elementary

Second Step lesson at Washington Elementary

Lincoln Zen Den

Like many schools, Jefferson's fourth-grade classrooms now feature flexible seating options like wobble boards and cushioned chairs, helping students manage energy and maintain focus throughout the day.

Many of our elementary schools have running clubs. At Madison, students energize their mornings with the Morning Milers running club five days a week, complemented by twice-weekly yoga sessions that blend physical activity with mindfulness.

Ms. Leiana Orozco, Beryl counselor, is playing games with students during Lunch Bunch, shown above at Beryl Elementary, a program offered at many of our schools where students connect with peers and counselors over board games and casual conversation, building social skills in a relaxed setting.

At Tulita Elementary, our comprehensive wellness program combines the Second Step curriculum with daily mindfulness practices. School counselor, Ms. Chelsea Ruffolo (above), leads activities promoting emotional resilience and stress management, while structured body breaks and Mindful Minutes help students stay centered and focused throughout their day.

Both Adams and Parras extend wellness support through Second Step lessons and counselor-led classroom sessions on topics like healthy relationships. The Wellness Centers at both Adams and Parras offer counseling services, Art Therapy, and calming spaces for students. These efforts are enhanced through partnerships with South Bay Children's Health, Beach Cities Health District, South Bay Families Connected, and allcove, providing comprehensive support for students and families.

Adams Wellness Center Inspirations

Adams Wellness Center

Parras Wellness Center

Parras Art Therapy

In partnership with the LA County Office of Education, our middle schools deliver the Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Program, now expanded to both seventh and eighth grades as part of our Strategic Plan Goal #2. Pictured here, seventh graders participate in the pig lung lab, where they observe the stark differences between healthy and diseased lungs. Through this and other hands-on experiences, along with activities like door decorating contests and anti-tobacco songwriting workshops, students develop refusal strategies and healthy coping skills while understanding marketing tactics that target youth.

RBPD School Resource Officers, Officer Wolfinger and Officer Yap, at TUPE Program Celebration

As our high school students prepare for finals week (January 20th), the RUHS Wellness Center stands ready to support them. This welcoming space offers:

• Individual and group counseling
• Peer support programs
• Workshops on stress management and mental well-being
• Weekly wellness videos
• Guided meditation sessions

We're grateful for our partnerships with South Bay Children's Health Center, Clear Behavioral Health, allcove, NAMI South Bay, Vanguard University, Loyola Marymount University, University of Southern California, CSULB, and CSUN, who help provide comprehensive wellness services to our students.

RUHS Guided Meditation

allcove Beach Cities

Starting at age 12, the Beach Cities allcove program supports Redondo students' mental health through counseling, peer groups, and tools for challenges like grief, body image, and substance use. It also offers guidance for academic and vocational success, making it a vital resource for student wellness. This program supports Redondo students' mental health through counseling, peer groups, and tools for challenges like grief, body image, and substance use. It also offers guidance for academic and vocational success, making it a vital resource for student well-being and growth.

At Patricia Dreizler High School, we celebrate student growth beyond just academics. Congratulations to Lincoln and Sage, our most recent Students of the Month, whose achievements reflect both their academic progress and personal development on their path to graduation.

Finding a healthy balance between school and personal life is essential for student wellness. We recently asked students across multiple grade levels how they balance academics with extracurriculars, family time, and social life. Below are some insights they shared.

How do you currently manage your time between school, homework, extracurricular activities, and your personal life?

• I manage my time by doing my homework right when I get home. When I have soccer practice I do my homework right after practice. - Maddie, 5th grade
• I use a planner or sometimes I'll give my self a certain amount of time for homework and other activities and even if not done I have to pause and take a break or a reset for a little while. - Quinlan, 9th grade
• After I wake up, I try to make up a schedule for myself and set up what time to do what and I am always looking at the clock. - Giselle, 10th grade

What is the biggest challenge you face when trying to balance school and other parts of your life?

• I get so caught up in my books that I don't have time for my homework and have to do it after practice. - Tess, 5th grade 
• It's hard for me to find a middle point where my time is split evenly through needs and wants. - William, 8th grade
• The biggest challenge I face when trying to balance school and other parts of my life is making sure that school does not take up my entire life. To maintain the grades that I want, my schoolwork could easily take up every second of my day. - Anonymous, 12th grade

What support or resources would help you better balance school and life?

• Maybe less homework. - India, 5th grade
• Counselors coming to classrooms and working out ways with us to balance school and life. - Olivia, 10th grade
• I think if there was more time given to do homework during the school day it would help a lot! SSH at the high school is valuable time to do work but it goes by very quick and there is often lessons or videos shown to us that take away that time to do our work. - Chloe, 12th grade

As we continue into 2025, please take a moment to think about what brings meaning to your life - your own personal Ikigai. Whether you're a student discovering new passions, a teacher inspiring others, or a parent supporting our school community, you're an essential part of making RBUSD special. Here's to growing and thriving together in the new year!

Your Superintendent, 

Dr. Nikki Wesley, Ed.D.

Join the Journey!