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Superintendent's Newsletter
February 21, 2025
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Dear MBUSD Parents and Community,
I hope this newsletter finds you well. In today’s issue, we highlight Pacific Elementary, the MBUSD Invention Convention, and the All District Band Festival.
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Spotlight on Pacific Elementary (Special Thanks to the Pacific PTA and Principal Amanda Vavao) | |
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The Pacific community celebrated Lunar New Year this week! First graders loved learning about the symbolism behind various foods believed to bring luck and fortune, learning the legends behind the holiday's traditions, creating a snake for the Year of the Snake, and taking home a red envelope with chocolate coins for luck!
A special thank you to Ms. Murphy for leading this lesson for our Panthers! Students also experienced an amazing Lion Dance assembly from the Wanderbeasts, where they learned that Lunar New Year is celebrated to honor ancestors, celebrate traditions, welcome good fortune and prosperity, and to ward off bad luck. So, to all who celebrate, Gung Hei Fat Choy!
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Staff Spotlight: Peter Mora | Purchasing Agent | |
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Peter Mora joined MBUSD in 2021 as an accounting technician and, in 2023, transitioned into his current role as a purchasing agent. In this position, he oversees and streamlines the daily operations of purchasing and procurement. Reflecting on his time at MBUSD, Peter shares, “Everyone has been welcoming and incredibly helpful, especially as I stepped into this new position. Their support has been instrumental in shaping the role.”
Born and raised in Redwood City, Peter began his career in education at the Redwood City School District as a substitute instructional aide while earning his degree in Business Management from San Francisco State University. After graduation, he worked in the Business Department handling accounts payable before eventually making the move to Los Angeles.
When asked about his favorite part of the job, Peter highlights the dedication of his colleagues. “Everyone here is passionate and knowledgeable about their work. Even though we don’t work directly with students at the District Office, I know every person here is going above and beyond to provide the best resources and learning environment for our schools.”
Outside of work, Peter enjoys traveling, exploring LA, and cheering on the San Francisco Giants and Las Vegas Raiders. He also stays active by going to the gym and playing softball on weeknights. At home, he and his longtime girlfriend are busy with their energetic 8-month-old puppy, Benito. This summer marks an exciting new chapter for Peter as he prepares to tie the knot!
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7 More Days Left to Take the LCAP Survey! | |
We invite all parents/guardians and staff to participate in our annual confidential Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Survey. Your feedback is vital in helping us better understand the needs, concerns, and priorities within our District. This survey directly influences the shaping of our District's goals and guides how we allocate resources to better serve our students, families, and community.
The LCAP outlines MBUSD's goals for student achievement, as well as the strategies and actions in place to reach those objectives. The survey will ask for your input on a variety of important topics, including:
- Safety and behavior
- Student support
- Academic preparation
- Family involvement
- School leadership
The survey will be open until February 28, 2025, and we encourage you to take just a few minutes to share your thoughts and help us continue our work toward MBUSD’s vision for student success.
All responses are confidential, and the survey is administered by our independent research partner, K12 Insight, who will compile the results.
Thank you in advance for your participation! Your input is invaluable, and we appreciate the time you take to complete the survey.
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Mira Costa Senior Sophie Guitron in the News | |
“Mira Costa High School flag football star Sophie Guitron was announced as the winner of the 2024 NFL Latino Youth Honors program at Thursday night’s NFL Honors ceremony in New Orleans. The national award adds to Guitron’s trophy shelf, which already features a gold medal from her time spent with USA Football’s 17U U.S. Girls’ Flag National Team.” | |
Skill and Will: Why is Showing up and Giving the Best Effort the Most Important Thing for Students to do?
Continuing our series about the CA Assessment of Performance and Progress (CAASPP), we now turn to a discussion of “skill and will.” This phrase is used in education to describe two very different contributors to student performance, especially on tests. “Skill” refers to what students have learned and practiced in their classes, and in MBUSD we have many indicators that point to our students having very well-developed skills, usually at or above what is expected for their grade level.
“Will,” on the other hand, describes student effort and motivation. If students try their best on the test, we get a more accurate score representing their skills. Of course, the opposite is also true, and when a student does not take the test seriously, we get inaccurate data that underrate what the student has actually learned.
A good way to look at these tests is an opportunity for students to show off all that they have learned. They do not need to stay up late studying the night before–we discourage that. Instead, the ingredients for success are a good night’s sleep, a complete breakfast, and a positive attitude. If all students try their best on these tests, MBUSD schools will rise up even higher in local and national rankings. Also, we get detailed score reports after the test, so we can see which areas students may have had more challenges in and use that data to drive professional development for our staff. It is a win for everyone when students give their full effort.
In our next article, we will look at specific test-taking strategies that students and families should know. Especially with “computer adaptive” tests like these, there are very specific techniques that can boost everyone’s performance.
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MBUSD Invention Convention Coming February 27! | |
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MBUSD student inventors will showcase their prototypes at the upcoming District Invention Convention, open to the community on Thursday, February 27 from 5:30 -6:30 p.m. This exciting event features innovative projects from 4th and 5th graders, as well as MBMS students, who have been challenged to develop inventions that solve real-world problems.
The competition offers a hands-on experience that fosters problem identification, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and creativity. To participate, students must submit a prototype and a video presentation for judges to review. During the convention, attendees can explore the inventions firsthand as students share their ideas, with some offering live demonstrations and visuals.
Winning projects from the night will advance to the Southern Region Invention Convention. A big thank-you to Science Specialists Christina Ibrahim and Connie Liu, along with MBMS Science Teacher Tanya Sanchez, for guiding and supporting our young innovators!
To learn more, please visit here.
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Black History Month Celebrations Across District | |
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The Pennekamp community came together to celebrate Black History Month with a special assembly. The main field was adorned with yard signs honoring African Americans who have made significant historical contributions, from inventor Garrett Morgan to former President Barack Obama. Students also engaged with interactive displays, learned about Martin Luther King Jr. and his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
A standout moment of the assembly was the performance by the Artope Funky 2nd Line Brass Band, led by professional musician Will Artope (trumpet), whose son, Nicholas, is a third grader at Pennekamp. The band’s vibrant 2nd line music, deeply rooted in Black history, embodies joyful, soulful melodies and call-and-response elements that have been passed down for generations. Through their performance, the band honored these traditions and shared a meaningful piece of Black cultural heritage.
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MCHS kicked off its Black History Month celebrations this week with an assembly in the Mustang Mall. Students took part in a campus-wide scavenger hunt, searching for influential figures in American history alongside staff and peers.
The celebrations continue with Mira Costa’s Black Scholars Union hosting a “Sounds of Hope” Gospel Concert tonight from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Next week, Grand View Elementary will hold its annual Black History Month Celebration on February 26 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
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MBMS No Place for Hate® Committee Prepares for SEL Week | |
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This week, during the MBMS No Place for Hate® Committee meeting, students participated in a Compliment Circle as they prepare to lead the activity during Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Week on March 4.
The Compliment Circle fosters a positive environment by encouraging students to share what they appreciate about one another. This activity supports two key SEL goals: demonstrating empathy and building positive relationships.
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All-District Band Festival Concert | |
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Congratulations to all of our students who performed at the annual All District Band Festival Concert! It brought together musicians from all levels, from our youngest students to those in the Mira Costa Grammy® award-winning music program. The concert featured the following groups:
Elementary Schools
Fifth Grade Combined Band
Honor Band
MBMS
Cadet Band
Concert Band
Symphonic Band
MCHS
Marching Band
Symphonic Band
Wind Ensemble
Wind Symphony
Jazz Band 1
A special thank you to band directors Tim Nail, Denise Haslop, d’Lainey Forrester, and Joel Carlson for guiding our students!
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National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day | |
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At Manhattan Beach Unified, we are fortunate to have two exceptional School Resource Officers, Officer Donovan Torres and Officer Michael Hamilton, who go above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community.
We are grateful for our partnership with the City of Manhattan Beach that makes this possible! In honor of the recent National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day, we want to recognize Officers Torres and Hamilton for their commitment to our schools.
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The next Superintendent’s Newsletter will be published on February 28. Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
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Dr. John Bowes
MBUSD Superintendent
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Manhattan Beach Unified School District
325 S. Peck Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310.318.7345
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