Dear MBUSD Parents and Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well! In today’s issue, we’re highlighting Manhattan Beach Middle School, celebrating our MBUSD Deputy Superintendent’s recognition as LACOE’s Cabinet Member of the Year, and congratulating three MBUSD choir students selected for a national choir!

Spotlight on MBMS (Special Thanks to the 6th Grade Humanities Team and Principal Luke Olesiuk)

October was a “spooky” sort of month for sixth graders. In order to teach about the tone and mood of a story, students read an independent mystery or horror book at home. While in class, teachers used a short story thriller series titled “The Run” as a mentor text. Students were given several “spooky” photographs to create a snapshot of their chosen scene with vivid descriptions to practice writing with tone in mind. By focusing on precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language, the sixth graders were ready to turn their snapshot into a narrative.

Students added a protagonist and antagonist, a conflict, some rising actions, the climax, and a satisfying ending. Partner and small group sharing allowed students to revise their writing through the feedback they received. Halloween was the perfect time for several classes to share their stories, while others will have their stories hung up for peers to read.  

Staff Spotlight: Kate Heredia | MCHS Arts Teacher

This week, we are excited to feature Kate Heredia, who has taught art at Mira Costa for the past fourteen years! She teaches Art 1, 2, 3, AP Studio Art, and Printmaking. She is also the club advisor for the Art Club and has previously served as the department chair. 

Kate earned her BA in Studio Art and Media Studies from Scripps College and a teaching credential/M.A. in Education at Pepperdine University. She began her career at MCHS, where she learned from two outstanding art teachers, Jon Reichardt, and Allen Hillger, during her time as a student teacher. 

Kate’s passion for teaching was sparked by her high school ceramics teacher, Jan Wilgers, who encouraged her to continue studying art in college. She was also inspired by her mother, who was a Kindergarten teacher.

“My favorite part of the job is working with students of all ability levels. I love working with advanced students interested in pursuing a career in the arts and helping them pursue their passion and prepare their portfolios for college. I also love working with beginning students who have spent years thinking they ‘can't draw’ and helping them expand their creativity, which will serve them well in any career they pursue,” Kate Heredia shared.

As the school year progresses, Kate looks forward to the culminating annual art show in May, where students from all visual arts classes come together to showcase their work at the Resin Gallery in Hermosa Beach. This community event highlights the incredible pieces students have created throughout the year. 

In her free time, Kate enjoys spending time with her husband and their daughter, Maxine!

Honoring our Veterans

In observance of Veterans Day, all schools and District offices will be closed Monday, November 11. This day serves as a time to reflect on and express our deep gratitude to those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. On Veterans Day, we honor and thank all veterans for their selfless dedication and service to our country.

The City of Manhattan Beach invites the community to its 27th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony, marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War (November 1955 – April 1975) and paying tribute to the brave men and women who have served our nation.

Event Details:

Date: November 11, 2024

Time: 11 a.m. – noon

Location: Veterans Parkway, Valley Drive & Ardmore, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Dawnalyn-Murakawa Leopard Named Cabinet Member of the Year!

We are proud to share that our Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Dawnalyn Murakawa-Leopard, has been recognized as the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s (LACOE) Cabinet Member of the Year in the Business/Finance category. This well-deserved honor was revealed with a surprise announcement during a recent Cabinet meeting by LACOE’s Chief Financial Officer, Karen Kimmel, and El Segundo USD Chief Business Official and former MBMS Principal, Kim Linz.

The award highlights outstanding Cabinet Members across the 80 K-12 public school districts in Los Angeles County who have served in their current positions for at least three years and demonstrate exceptional leadership, creativity, commitment to equity, and professionalism.

Dr. Murakawa-Leopard’s decade-long dedication to advancing educational and operational excellence has been a cornerstone of MBUSD’s success. Her innovative approach, unwavering professionalism, and passion for fostering an equitable environment have consistently impacted our District.

Dr. Murakawa-Leopard earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from UCLA and her Master’s in Education and B.A. in American Studies from Stanford University. Her educational career spans more than three decades as an outstanding teacher, assistant principal, principal, director, and chief administrative officer. In MBUSD, she leads our District budget and facilities, oversees Food and Nutrition Services and Information Technology, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to Social and Emotional Learning and diversity efforts, enriching MBUSD’s dedication to fostering a climate of care on all campuses.

The Cabinet Member of the Year awards selection process includes a panel that reviews written nominations and chooses one winner per category. The panel is made up of the previous Superintendent of the Year recipient, a representative from the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association, and members of the Superintendent's Advisory Council. 

Congratulations, Dr. Murakawa-Leopard, on this distinguished recognition, and thank you for your invaluable contributions to our schools and community! She was honored yesterday evening at the Awards Ceremony of the 2024 State of Education/ Superintendents’ Collaborative Conference.

Strong Support for Measure RLS

We are delighted to share that our community has shown strong initial support for MBUSD’s local facilities bond, Measure RLS. As of this afternoon, Measure RLS has secured an impressive 65.41% approval from voters as of Friday afternoon.

This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of the Measure RLS campaign committee and its volunteers. Special thanks go to Campaign Chair Larry Zimbalist, Michael Unton, and Nathalie Rosen for their significant contributions and tireless commitment to this important effort. The school improvement bond once officially passed, will generate approximately $200 million to make necessary repairs and improvements to aging classrooms and labs to support high-quality education, and replace aging site utilities and infrastructure. At this week's Board Meeting, Charles Heath, a consultant from TeamCivX, provided an update on the preliminary election results. He reported that Measure RLS has already surpassed the 55% voter approval threshold required for it to pass.

Additionally, we would like to extend congratulations to our neighboring districts, Hermosa Beach City School District and Redondo Beach Unified School District, on the successful passage of their own facilities bond measures. With many students from Hermosa and Redondo attending our schools, the collective success of these bonds is a positive step forward for advancing 21st-century education across the South Bay.

Thank you to everyone who supported Measure RLS and those who continue to champion educational excellence in our community.

Stadium Way Project at MCHS

We are excited to announce that the MBUSD Board of Trustees approved the Notice of Completion for the Stadium Way project at its Wednesday meeting. This project marks a significant upgrade to the main entry to Waller Stadium and the Athletic Complex off Peck Avenue, transforming it into a modern, functional, and welcoming space for our students, staff, and visitors.

The updated Stadium Way boasts new features designed to improve accessibility and aesthetics. These include clear signage and improved wayfinding to help visitors easily locate the Stadium and Athletic Complex, new lighting, and a large plaza area to the south of the stadium stands. The renovated pathway has been restructured to be more accessible, with accommodations for wheelchair users and dedicated seating areas.

Additional enhancements include new benches for comfort, permeable pavers that facilitate rainwater capture and better drainage into the stormwater system, and a redesigned trash area to promote effective waste sorting and management. Stadium Way is also adorned with a new merchandise stand, a new ticket booth, and new paint and branding, including the iconic Mira Costa logo etched into the concrete in front of the press box.

With these improvements, newcomers and event attendees will enjoy a more hospitable and organized entry experience. 

MBUSD Choir Students Selected for the ACDA National Honor Choir

Three talented MBUSD choir students have been selected to perform in the prestigious American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Honor Choir. Rose R. and Delilah W., both from MBMS, and Jaxon S. from Mira Costa have earned this distinction!

The selection process was highly competitive, with over 5,000 students auditioning from across the country. For the SATB choir Jaxon was selected for, there were 2,206 auditions, and only 317 students were chosen. Rose and Delilah will perform in the Treble choir. These outstanding students will have the unique opportunity to perform in Dallas, Texas, this spring, representing not only their schools but also our community, state, and region.

Their achievement is a testament to their hard work and dedication to their craft, and they will join other top choral students from across the nation for this prestigious event. Congratulations to Rose, Delilah, and Jaxon on this remarkable accomplishment!

Student Spotlight: Ezra Cornelison's Journey on the MCHS Football Team

This August, Ezra Cornelison’s dream of joining the Mira Costa High School community became a reality as he started his high school journey as a freshman. Known for being warmly embraced by his peers, Ezra eagerly awaited the day he would walk the halls of Mira Costa, ready to pursue his academic and extracurricular goals. But there was one dream he had yet to reach—playing high school sports.

As a lifelong sports enthusiast, Ezra, who has Down syndrome, had always dreamed of joining the Mira Costa Football team, and that dream was fulfilled during the 2024-25 Costa football season. His mother, Jessica Cornelison, shared that Ezra made his goal known to everyone — sleeping with his football all summer and even bringing it with him to the school orientation. Soon, Ezra was issued football gear and beamed with pride. 

What happened next was a testament to the power of inclusion and community. During the gear issue, Ezra’s teammates greeted him with fist bumps and enthusiasm. Many of the boys already knew him by name and were excited to have him on the team. Mrs. Cornelison says the outpouring of kindness from Ezra’s teammates, coaches, and the community has been nothing short of inspiring.

“I knew this was something special. My heart was so full I couldn’t hold back the tears. Every moment since has only deepened my gratitude. The compassion shown by every teammate, opponent, and coach is truly magical. They’ve shared their strengths with Ezra, offering him their friendship, encouragement, and acceptance. In return, Ezra has shared his positivity, courage, and joy.”

Ezra has been welcomed with open arms as part of the football family, and his teammates, as well as opponents, continue to show him incredible sportsmanship. Ezra’s story is a powerful reminder of the kindness that exists in competitive sports.

“Through the efforts of Coach Currier to coordinate with everyone involved, teammates and even opponents welcome Ezra onto the field each game, helping him reach the end zone in a display of sportsmanship and compassion. It’s truly something special to see football—a sport known for its toughness—become a platform for kindness as players from both teams rally around Ezra, cheering him on to the end zone,” Jessica Cornelison said.

She also added, “We knew we needed to help Ezra pursue his dreams, but we weren’t sure how things would work out. After meeting with Coach Morrow and Coach Currier, their enthusiasm for including Ezra was evident.”

Ezra not only finished the football season strong, but with the support of amazing staff and friends, he is succeeding in general education classes with his peers. This week, at the end-of-season football banquet, he was honored as a scholar athlete and with the “Most Loved Teammate” award. 

Ezra’s journey to the football field at Mira Costa High School is a heartwarming reminder of the profound impact inclusion, kindness, and support can have on a student’s life. It’s a story that inspires all of us to embrace the power of community and to lift one another up. Photos taken by Shelley Johnson, Anne Marie Crotty, and Kirk Tittle.

You can watch Ezra scoring a touchdown here! 

Manhattan Beach City Council Meeting Recognizes Students

A few weeks ago, we shared the exciting news that five MBUSD second-graders were winners of the 2024 Manhattan Beach Fire Department’s Annual “Home Escape Plan” contest. At this week's City of Manhattan Beach City Council meeting, the students were recognized for their thoughtful plans and commitment to safety.

Congratulations once again to:

Penelope D. from Pennekamp

Elle G.L. from Grand View

Ayla M. from Meadows

Myla R. from Pacific

Greta W. from Robinson

As part of their prize, these students had the unique opportunity to spend a morning with the Manhattan Beach Fire Department and ride to school in a fire engine! Each year, the Fire Department visits second-grade classrooms throughout the city to deliver a fire safety presentation. During these visits, students are encouraged to design two home escape routes for the contest, helping their families be better prepared in case of an emergency.

Pacific’s New Playground

Students at Pacific Elementary are enjoying a brand-new play structure on the lower playground, an upgrade that replaced a nearly 20-year-old structure.

The exciting addition is made possible by the generous donation of the Pacific PTA, who not only funded the new structure but also covered the costs for demolition, inspection services, and other essential parts of the project. 

The new space has a rope climbing wall area and two slides as well. This donation is one of many ways PTAs across the District continue to support our schools, helping to enhance the learning and play experiences for all students! 

Congratulations to our Mira Costa Girls’ Flag Football Team!

At this week’s Board meeting, we celebrated our Girls’ Flag Football team’s players and coaches for an exceptional season! We are incredibly proud of their remarkable achievements, which include an undefeated season, earning the Bay League championship title, and securing a historic victory in California's first-ever CIF flag football playoff game.

Daily Breeze Story: "Mira Costa Teen has a Talent for Wrestling — Whether she’s on the Mat with Girls or Boys"

"Get to know her a little and you’ll realize that “I wrestle” is an understatement. Dominguez has been the number one player on Mira Costa’s girls wrestling team since she joined as a ninth-grader. She’s been team captain for all three years she’s been there. Last year, she was the only individual Mira Costa athlete to make it to a state championship when she qualified for the California State Wrestling Championships."

The next Superintendent’s Newsletter will be published on November 15. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely, 

Manhattan Beach Unified School District

325 S. Peck Avenue

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

310.318.7345