Dear MBUSD Parents and Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. Today’s issue highlights Manhattan Beach Preschool, MCHS Track & Field athletes breaking school records, and recognizing Staff Appreciation Week.

Spotlight on MB Preschool (Special Thanks to Director of Early Learning Jacqueline O’Sullivan)

Spring has sprung at the Preschool! May themes include flowers, insects, and animal families. Through stories, art projects, and outdoor exploration, children will learn about different animals, their habitats, and how they care for their young. We will introduce concepts such as life cycles, family structures in the animal kingdom, and the importance of insects in our ecosystem.



At the heart of all these activities is purposeful play. Through imaginative play, children will have the opportunity to express themselves, practice social skills, and reinforce their learning. Whether they are pretending to be scientists studying insects or animal caregivers, their playtime will be an important part of their development.

Staff Spotlight: Sue Steinmetz | MBMS P.E. Teacher

We’re continuing our celebration of MBUSD’s outstanding 2025 Teachers of the Year by spotlighting Manhattan Beach Middle School’s Physical Education teacher, Sue Steinmetz.

Sue teaches 6th-grade P.E. and 8th-grade Surf P.E. at MBMS, and she proudly calls it “the best job at the school!” For the past 27 years, she has brought her energy and passion to the MBMS P.E. program, and for 16 of those years, she has led students in Surf P.E. “I have always felt fortunate and proud to work at Manhattan Beach Middle School,” says Sue. “We have phenomenal facilities, great equipment, and PTA support. Not many middle schools have a pool. We are able to offer aquatics, which is part of the middle school curriculum, that not many schools can offer. Not to mention pickleball courts, a gym, two fields, and locker rooms. We can also use Polliwog Park for our running program.” 

Beyond her teaching duties, Sue has served as Department Chair, coached girls’ soccer, and mentored Cal State Dominguez Hills student teachers. Before joining MBUSD, she taught P.E. in LAUSD for four years. During her time in college, she also had diverse experiences, from working at a racquet club, being a lifeguard, and being an exercise physiologist. 

Her journey has been shaped by adventure—Sue even lived in South Africa for a year before beginning her teaching career, during which she surfed approximately 250 different surf spots. Her love of the ocean deeply influences her work. “The ocean connects people in a powerful way,” she shares. “It immerses me in the community. I consider my surf students like family.” She also coaches the MBMS surf team, which competes at state and national levels through the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA). Many of her former students continue surfing in high school and college. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see how far surfing takes them and the joy it brings.”

Being named MBMS Teacher of the Year is an honor Sue treasures, especially for the opportunity to highlight the importance of physical education.

Outside of school, she enjoys reading, traveling, surfing, playing pickleball, and going on adventures. She’s also a proud mom, calling motherhood “the most rewarding and fulfilling role in my life.” Her son is currently attending UCLA and captains the surf team, and in a full-circle moment, is roommates with one of her former students. 

Thank you, MBUSD Staff!

Our staff and teachers were celebrated all week long in recognition of Staff Appreciation Week! Thank you to every MBUSD educator and staff member who makes a lasting impact on our students and school community. Your dedication does not go unnoticed. Across our campuses this week, PTAs and PTSAs thanked staff in many ways, including treating them to delicious meals, thank you notes, and massages. Students also participated by bringing flowers to their classrooms and wearing their teacher’s favorite color!

MCHS Drama/Tech Department Nominated for JRAY 2025 Awards

The MCHS Drama/Tech Department continues to shine bright! Their recent production of BRIGHT STAR earned an impressive seventeen JRAY Award nominations across both performance and technical categories. These awards are often referred to as the Tony Awards of high school musical theatre. From September through April, judges from the JRAY travel across Los Angeles, Orange Counties, and the Inland Empire to evaluate local high school musical productions.

Congratulations to all students and staff for the following nominations: 

Hair & Makeup: Diana Cruz & Allison Delaney

Costume Design: Alison Gerber

Stage Crew/Technical Execution: MCHS Cast & Stage Crew

Student Stage Manager of the Year: Jia Hauck

Outstanding Female Dancer: Dagny Shaw - Ensemble

Outstanding Female Vocalist: Jackie Beaupre - Mama Murphy 

Featured Actor in a Female Role: Jackie Beaupre - Mama Murphy 

Featured Actor in a Male Role: Colin Boisvert - Mayor Josiah Dobbs 

Supporting Actor in a Female Role: Zoë Meyer - Margo Crawford 

Lead Actor in a Male Dramatic Role: Jonah Mirkovich - Jimmy Ray Dobbs 

Lead Actor in a Female Dramatic Role: Samantha Probst - Alice Murphy

Ensemble of the Year

Musical Director of the Year: Megan Cornelius

Student Orchestra of the Year: Mark McCormick

Choreographer of the Year: Christopher Albrecht

Director of the Year: Jonathan Westerberg

Musical Drama of the Year

BAA Scholarship Nominees Zoë Meyer & Jonah Mirkovich

At the end of May, they will take the stage at the JRAY Awards, joining 26 other high schools across Southern California for this exciting showcase.

Special Board Meeting - Safety

The MBUSD Board of Trustees held a Special Board Meeting to provide the community with an update on the District’s safety program. The presentation highlighted the current effective safety measures, the initiatives underway, and the expert support being brought in to help identify areas for improvement and enhance safety practices, planning, and training throughout the year.



Key updates include the reconvening of school site safety teams before the end of the school year and the return of K9 campus visits at our secondary schools. The presentation also included a timeline and outlined the next steps for security enhancements and school site response training.

There will be multiple opportunities for staff and families to get involved. If you are interested in participating, please complete this form. 

You can view the presentation here. 

Gun Violence Awareness: A Community Conversation

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is on June 6, 2025. In advance of the day, we are partnering with Beach Cities Health District to host an important event on Monday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. Please see the details below.

TikTok Trend Awareness

We would like to make you aware of a concerning trend circulating on TikTok and other social media platforms that poses a serious risk to student safety and school property.

It has come to our attention that there is a TikTok Challenge spreading in local communities, and some students have attempted to insert small metal objects — such as paper clips, mechanical pencil tips, or push pins — into the charging ports or internal components of plugged-in Chromebooks to create an electrical short circuit. This behavior can lead to sparks, electrical fires, and battery punctures, all of which present significant safety hazards and the potential for serious injury and damage.

We ask that you speak with your students about the dangers associated with this activity. Please emphasize that participating in such actions not only endangers their well-being but also the well-being of their fellow students and school staff. It can also carry financial consequences for any resulting damage to school-issued devices and will lead to disciplinary measures.

Also, a reminder that each year, all MBUSD parents/guardians and students (grades 9-12) are required to sign the District’s Technology Acceptable Use Agreement. You can find more information about it in our Parent/Guardian Annual Notification of Rights and Responsibilities here (pages 42-43).

If you or your students become aware of any students engaging in or planning this behavior, we urge you to report it immediately to school staff or the principal. The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our highest priorities, and we sincerely appreciate your continued support in addressing this matter.

School News MBUSD Edition

Chevron’s Robot Dog Visits Pennekamp Students

This week brought an exciting surprise to Pennekamp Elementary, a visit from a very special guest named Dodger. But Dodger isn’t your typical visitor, it's a high-tech robotic dog from Chevron’s refinery!

Dodger made the journey from the refinery to the school to meet the youngest Pennekamp Dragons. All Kindergarten and 1st grade students had the chance to interact with it and learn about its unique job. Designed to support workers at Chevron facilities, Dodger is equipped with advanced sensors that allow it to collect and analyze data. It helps people make quicker and smarter decisions.

Beyond its impressive skills, Dodger’s visit sparked curiosity and excitement around STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) learning. Students looked at how science and engineering are used in the real world.

A big thank-you goes out to the Pennekamp family, who won this experience through the MBEF Wine Auction for the school. 

Congratulations, MCHS Track Teams!

Mira Costa Track & Field delivered an outstanding performance at the recent Bay League Finals, breaking multiple school records and qualifying several teams for the CIF competition, which takes place this weekend.



Coach Moe shared, “This has been one of the most exciting and best seasons yet in my 29-year coaching career. Our Track & Field athletes embody Mira Costa's spirit—hardworking, focused, and determined to be the best.”

Congratulations to all the athletes and coaches on an incredible season! Frosh/Soph Girls and Boys and Varsity Girls received the Bay League Champions title. Varsity Boys were the runner-up for the Bay League.



Here are the latest records that surpassed previous ones:

Renovated Polliwog Park Dog Run Opens

The City of Manhattan Beach recently welcomed the community and their four-legged friends to a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the grand reopening of the newly renovated dog run at Polliwog Park. Mayor Amy Howorth and City officials shared their enthusiasm for the upgraded space, expressing that they hope it will enhance the quality of life and bring the community together. 

A joint effort by the City’s Public Works and Parks and Recreation Departments, the project expanded the previous dog park by 1,350 square feet. Improvements include the addition of five new Tipu Trees for natural shade, playsafe wood chips, upgraded fencing, a new irrigation system, and LED lighting. The park also features a new water fountain for pet owners and furry companions. To improve accessibility, the City also refreshed striping in the adjacent parking lot to accommodate ADA parking spaces better.

MBUSD owns Polliwog Park, and we are grateful to the City of Manhattan Beach for making this project possible, an example of our strong partnership between our organizations. You can read more about the upgrades here.

Ribbit!

MBMS Drama’s production of Ribbit! The Untold Story of the Frog Prince opens tonight!

Tickets are still one sale! Click here to purchase tickets.

MCHS Chamber Strings Concert

MBUSD Enrollment

Enrollment is open at MBUSD, with Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten being offered at all of our elementary schools. For the 2025-26 school year, students who turn four on or before September 1, 2025 will be eligible to enroll in our TK program. Students who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2025 are eligible to enroll in Kindergarten. 

We are also accepting inter-district permits for the next school year. Please visit www.mbusd.org/Enroll for more information.

The next Superintendent’s Newsletter will be published on May 16. Have a wonderful weekend!



Sincerely, 

Manhattan Beach Unified School District

325 S. Peck Avenue

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

310.318.7345