Dear MBUSD Parents and Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well! Today’s issue highlights the fall graduation in the MCHS CHOICE program, the reorganization of the MBUSD Board of Trustees, and the unveiling of new lifetime donors for MBEF's Seeds of Knowledge art installation.

In this season of gratitude and celebration, I thank you. I am grateful for our dedicated educators, staff, community partners, volunteers, and families who work tirelessly to create a positive learning environment for our students. Our teachers and staff spark our students’ curiosity, equip them with lifelong skills, and guide them in connecting with others and discovering their passions. I also want to thank our families for their continued support and partnership. Your involvement is invaluable. 

We hope you have a wonderful winter break and quality time with your loved ones. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a bright, prosperous New Year!

Spotlight on Robinson (Special Thanks to First-Grade Teachers Amy Jensen, Jacki Masciel, and Erica Yerke, and Principal Katie Cavallaro)

Robinson's 1st-grade students shined in their annual Winter in Manhattan performance—a beloved tradition that has delighted audiences since 1996! The event featured engaging songs and short, heartfelt student speeches.

The songs were set to festive tunes, but the lyrics were cleverly modified to give them a Robinson Riptide twist. Sandy the Sandman showcased well-known locations around Manhattan Beach, fostering community pride and celebrating the unique joy of winters at the beach. The Twelve Days of School allowed students to reflect on the lessons and routines established at the start of the school year and reinforced positive behavior traits from Robinson’s PBIS program. Finally, All I Really Need emphasized gratitude, highlighting the importance of family, love, and life’s essentials. This final song promoted social-emotional learning by supporting students with building perspective.

To prepare their speeches, students reflected on three prompts tied to the songs' themes: What does winter in Manhattan Beach look like? What do you remember from the first day of school? And what makes you happy? The process involved brainstorming to identify their best ideas, practicing basic grammar skills like punctuation and capitalization, and honing their presentation abilities, including eye contact, projection, and confidence. 

Thanks to the dedication and expert guidance of teachers Mrs. Jensen, Mrs. Masciel, and Mrs. Yerke, the students had a successful show! The performance was a joyful celebration of community, learning, and gratitude, leaving everyone inspired and ready for the holiday season.

Staff Spotlight: Kate Juge | Executive Assistant, Educational Services

This week’s spotlight features Kate Juge, who has worked for MBUSD for nearly six years. Currently serving as the Executive Assistant of Educational Services, Kate has held several roles within the District, including office manager at Pennekamp Elementary and benefits technician in the District Office Business Services Department.

Kate shared, “I've been lucky to have had the opportunity to work in different roles throughout the District, which has granted me a wealth of knowledge and the opportunity to work with everyone from students and parents to teachers, administrators, and Board members!”

Before transitioning to education, Kate worked in the medical field at the USC Spine Center, where she assisted an orthopedic spine surgeon and managed his clinic. She discovered MBUSD through her sister, Alison, a former MBUSD teacher. Education runs in Kate’s family - she has three siblings in the field and her husband, Kenny was a teacher for six years. 

There are many reasons she loves her role in the District Office. She says it’s an honor to work alongside Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Irene Gonzalez-Castillo and be part of everything the department does. “In Ed Services, you get so much perspective on how much work goes on behind the scenes to see an idea become a reality. From curriculum and new courses to professional development and parent/staff committees, it's truly fascinating to see how many of our staff have a hand in making things possible for our teachers and students!”

Kate says she takes pride in her work and is very proud to be part of the Educational Services team. She is also a parent in the District with two daughters attending our schools. Raised in the South Bay, she cherishes the opportunity to contribute to her community through her work!

Re-Elected and New Trustees Take Oath of Office

This week, we held our annual Board of Trustees organizational meeting on Wednesday, December 18. Congratulations to Jen Dohner, who was sworn in as a new MBUSD Trustee and elected Board Clerk. We also want to congratulate former Board President Cathey Graves, who was sworn in for another term as Trustee. 

Cathey Graves has been a Trustee on the Board since November 2020, serving in various roles, including her most recent role as Board President from 2022-24. Reflecting on her tenure, Cathey said, “The last four years have presented significant challenges as the Board and MBUSD have worked hard to provide unparalleled academics and a safe and caring environment for our students in the face of limited resources. I am proud to have helped move that work forward in some small way and am honored and excited to continue this important work for another four years.”

Newly sworn-in Trustee Jen Dohner is married and has two children who attend Mira Costa. Jen has held numerous roles within the District, City, and community, including serving as a City of Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commissioner, participating on the committee to renew Measure MB, and serving on the District’s Visual and Performing Arts Committee to help allocate Proposition 28 funds for arts education programs.

Reflecting on this new chapter, Trustee Jen Dohner shared her gratitude and enthusiasm: "Every step of the way, I have been so supported by the community, my friends and family, and those I'll be joining in this work. I'm honored and excited to have the opportunity to make a difference for our MBUSD students."

Vice President Wysh Weinstein was elected the new Board President at the meeting, while Trustee Tina Shivpuri was named Vice President. Trustee Shivpuri will also represent the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association (LACSTA). Board Clerk Jen Dohner will represent MBUSD on the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization. Additionally, I was reappointed as the Board's Secretary. 

We also recognized outgoing Trustee Bruce Greenberg, who concluded his two-year term at the meeting. We are grateful for his service and dedication to MBUSD. In his farewell remarks, he appreciated District teachers, PTAs, MBEF, Trustees, and District leadership for their invaluable contribution to our schools. 

You can learn more about our Trustees here. 

MBEF Unveils New Lifetime Donors

I was honored to join MBEF’s celebration Monday afternoon, which recognized the newest lifetime donors added to its Seeds of Knowledge Community Recognition installation in downtown Manhattan Beach in the Metlox near the Shade Hotel. Thirteen new donors now have their names engraved on the installation for their generosity of contributing $100,000 or more in cumulative giving to MBEF or the MBEF Endowment. 

Community support through donations to MBEF is vital in funding enrichment programs and ensuring smaller class sizes for our students. Thank you to the following new lifetime donors for their incredible contributions, which directly impact our students' education and experiences:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Ashley McCarthy and Bret Barker

Lorin and Doug Dust

Lorena and Andrew Ellis

Jennifer and Chris Fenton

The Hott Family

Wanda and Chuck Kaminski

Lily Chang and Jeff Konsmo

Susan and Todd Purdy

Suzy and Mike Sadilek

Sherine and Sasha Siddhartha

Mariel and Remco Waller

Wysh and Dan Weinstein

At the event, MCHS senior Hudson Sagadehvan shared how MBEF and donor support have positively shaped his student experience. The Seeds of Knowledge installation honors the collective efforts of educators, parents, students, volunteers, and donors dedicated to supporting education. It serves as a tribute to the importance of our public schools and celebrates the community that supports them—yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The installation was first unveiled in May 2023. 

CHOICE Program Winter Graduation

Today, Mira Costa’s CHOICE Program celebrated its 2024 winter graduation. Congratulations to Jordan Woods and Colette Duval Sablock, who will continue their journeys with personalized programming within the Manhattan Beach community.

Lareina Rodriguez, CHOICE Transition Education Specialist, honored each graduate with heartfelt remarks. She shared that Colette, also known as Coco, has been an MBUSD student since preschool. Her self-advocacy and achievements have made the CHOICE staff incredibly proud. This spring, Coco will embark on her employment journey. 

Lareina also shared Jordan’s contributions during his time in the program. He participated in several internships, including one at Lazy Acres, a local grocery store. Jordan’s dependability and exemplary character embodies what it means to be a model citizen.

CHOICE is the MBUSD Special Education Transition program for individuals ages 18-22 at Mira Costa. It is a collaborative community of neurodiverse young adults and staff dedicated to supporting education, employment, and interdependent life skills. Program staff strive to offer guidance while empowering students to take the lead in shaping their future. 

With a team of teachers, job mentors, and support services, CHOICE equips young adults with the skills necessary for future success. Through the program, students are offered a wide range of opportunities, from vocational training to having the chance to participate in its workability program that prepares students for employment placement and supports them through career exploration. 

CHOICE Pop-Up Shop

Students from Mira Costa’s CHOICE program hosted their annual CHOICE Pop-Up this week, selling various items, including hand-painted canvas tote bags, tie-dye socks and scrunchies, festive candles, ornaments, and more! Many of the items were created by the students. 

The Pop-Up participation provides work experience for the students while promoting inclusion in the community and workplace.

Swastika Incident at MCHS

The Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD) and Mira Costa administration continue to investigate a graffiti incident that took place in the middle of November at Mira Costa. MCHS students discovered two Nazi swastikas drawn on the steps in the Mustang Mall and reported the incident.  



School staff documented and then cleaned up the graffiti to maintain a safe and respectful environment. During their investigation, the MCHS administration partnered with MBPD to try to identify anyone who may have taken part in these hateful actions. While on-campus cameras captured the perpetrators, school staff and MBPD have not been able to identify them. 



Neither antisemitic graffiti nor hate acts of any kind have any place in our community or near or on our campuses, and we will continue to take steps to combat it. These are messages of hate and are unacceptable and not tolerated in our community. Consequences for such actions include school discipline, up to and including suspension and/or expulsion, referral to MBPD, and juvenile diversion interventions. 

We appreciate the students who promptly reported this incident and helped us to ensure that it was addressed and investigated appropriately. We ask all of our community members to be upstanders, not bystanders, when we see acts of hate and intolerance. Please remind your student(s) to say something if they see or hear something. If you have information on this incident, please call MBPD’s anonymous tip line at (310) 802-5171.

Attendance Awareness 

As we close out the 2024 year, we would like to thank our families for working together with us to improve our District attendance. In December 2023, our Chronic Absenteeism rate was 7.9% at this point in the school year (this is the number of students on track to miss 10% of school days or more); our December 2024 rate is 6.3%. This is tremendous progress, but we still have work to do. We know that the holidays are a time of travel and large gatherings for many people. We hope that while you celebrate with your loved ones, you also do what you can to minimize the spread of respiratory illness and protect yourself, your students, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals. Please stay vigilant and safe during holiday visits and travels this month and into January. 

As you prepare to return to school in January, please remember these ways to prevent the spread of illness and take care of your family.

• Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever without using fever-reducing medication, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
• Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food, or unwashed utensils and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. When tissue is unavailable, instruct your children to cover up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm, or sleeve instead of the hand.



We encourage you to continue to support your student's learning environment and plan. Remember to contact your site administrator if your child has a planned absence and you would like to request a Short-Term Independent Study agreement based on work completion to minimize the absence.

While we understand that sometimes absences are unavoidable, we appreciate families considering donating to help the District recover funds lost due to non-attendance. Please click here to make an absence donation through our Square payment portal.

MBUSD TK/Kindergarten Information Day

Our largest enrollment event is on Saturday, January 11, 2025. If you have a future Transitional Kindergartener, Kindergartener, and/or are interested in MBUSD, we welcome you to attend!

At the event, you will discover what makes Manhattan Beach Unified School District exceptional and prepare for an exciting educational journey! We invite you to learn about our outstanding TK and Kindergarten programs, designed to ensure a smooth and successful transition into elementary school for every child. 

Event details:

Date: Saturday, January 11, 2025

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Location: Grand View Elementary School

Performing Arts Center | 2617 Bell Avenue, Manhattan Beach

There will be a Q&A session with District leaders, elementary principals, and teachers. Current MBUSD students will share their MBUSD experiences, and attendees will have the opportunity to connect with the community!

Thanks to the generous support of our community partner, Beach Cities Health District (BCHD), we are pleased to offer free childcare (ages 4-12) during the event. Spots are limited, and registration is required, so sign up early! Click here for registration.

Have questions? Feel free to reach out to us at mbkinderevent@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing all the wonderful things that make MBUSD an excellent place for learning!

MBUSD Trustees and Staff Spread Holiday Cheer!

This week, the Manhattan Beach Santa Sleigh had one of its routes accompanied by some of our MBUSD Board members along with Meadows Principal Michelle Krzmarzick and Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Heather Hoffman. 

The annual tradition hosted by the Manhattan Beach Kiwanis Club visits Manhattan Beach neighborhoods on a sleigh float. It’s always extra special when MBUSD families visit Santa on our route!

Today is Santa’s last night on the route. You can find more information here. 

MBUSD Director of Fiscal Services Opportunity 

Manhattan Beach Unified is looking for a Director of Fiscal Services. Under the direction of the Deputy Superintendent, Business Services, this position is responsible for:

• Preparing and revising budget estimates for all District programs and projects.
• Overseeing all District accounting functions.
• Coordinating the flow of financial information to District administrators to support informed decision-making.
• Assisting with analysis and administration of key business functions, such as bids and purchasing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, accounting, and payroll.
• Ensuring timely and accurate preparation of all required financial reports.
• Supervising and evaluating the performance of assigned personnel.
• Performing additional duties as assigned to support the District's financial health and operational efficiency.



This key leadership role offers the chance to collaborate with a dynamic team and be part of a top-ranked school district in the state. If you have a passion for serving children and families, supporting the work of school sites, working with budgets and timelines, and assisting in leading district-level initiatives, we want to hear from you! To learn more, please visit here. 

The L.A. Kings have announced they will provide two free tickets (an estimated processing fee of $7.50 will apply per ticket) to each student and each staff member for upcoming games at the Crypto.com Arena!

You can find the complete list of games and instructions on redeeming your tickets here. 

On November 14, all staff and families received an email with details on how tickets can be redeemed. Every student and staff member received a unique code that can only be used once. (Student codes were sent to the first parent listed in Aeries—if you did not receive your student(s)’ unique codes, please check with your spouse.) We hope you take advantage of this wonderful offer! Go, Kings, Go!

The next Superintendent’s Newsletter will be published on January 10. Have a wonderful weekend and winter break!

Sincerely, 

Manhattan Beach Unified School District

325 S. Peck Avenue

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

310.318.7345