MBUSD Superintendent's Newsletter

Superintendent's Newsletter

September 6, 2024

Dear MBUSD Parents and Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well! Today’s issue features the Superintendent’s Educational Technology Advisory Committee, celebrating Mira Costa students for their academic achievements, and showcasing how our elementary students are strengthening their reading and comprehension skills.

Spotlight on Mira Costa (Special Thanks to Social Studies Teacher, Andy Caine, and Principal Dr. Jennifer Huynh)

This year, Mira Costa is offering Diversity and Cultural Studies as an elective for students. Starting from the 2029-30 school year, students must complete at least a semester course in Ethnic Studies to fulfill high school graduation requirements to meet the state of California mandate.

Mira Costa is getting a head start on this course and we have many students taking it this year either as a one-semester or year-long stand-alone elective option. In the class, students have been discussing their interpretations after listening to the Podcast titled, "The Hidden Brain."

Students talked about how they perceived the scenarios and concepts discussed in the podcast segment. They connected those concepts to everyday life, talking about how they encounter different types of people who practice humility. Activities like these are meant to help students dig deep and practice empathy and compassion. Then, students had a one-on-one dialogue with a partner to discuss their values, reinforcing the importance of individuality and identity in each person.

Staff Spotlight: Daniel Levin | Special Day Class (SDC) Teacher

Daniel Levin serves as Pacific Elementary School’s Special Day Class teacher and is in his first year at MBUSD. He brings a diverse background in Special Education, having previously taught at Vista School, where he worked with middle school through adult transition students in a community-based instruction Special Day Class (SDC). This experience, coupled with roles at WISH Charter School’s full-inclusion elementary and middle schools, and at an LAUSD High School SDC. Daniel is also an MBUSD parent and joined the District after taking time off to be a full-time parent, he returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher at Pacific Elementary. That experience, he says, inspired him to pursue his current role.

“Immediately I felt the positive and inclusive culture consistently from administrators, teachers, staff, and students alike. Inspiring school leadership, dynamic Special Ed supports, and actively involved families made taking this important role an easy but not light decision.”

Daniel’s favorite part about his job is the opportunity to collaborate with a team of devoted, caring professionals and parents “who have our students’ best interests at heart.” He believes that together, they empower students to experience "aha" moments, transforming what is possible for a thriving and sustainable Special Ed program. The shared goal is not only to support students inside the classroom but also to expand their potential in the broader community.

For the upcoming school year, we asked Daniel about his goals. “The SDC at Pacific Elementary holds an uncommon potential to uplift the entire community by balancing a core functional life skills curriculum with meaningful inclusion and belonging,” he shares. Daniel further says he will continue to work closely with teachers, specialists, community organizations like Friendship Club and Indivisible Arts, and dedicated parents to inspire and help students grow and become integral parts of their school and community.

Daniel’s path to education began in holistic health fifteen years ago, when he worked with a client who had Cerebral Palsy. Helping him, Daniel recalls, was a deeply rewarding experience that ultimately led him to pursue a career in Special Education.

Outside of school, you might find Daniel playing or coaching basketball, or perhaps humming a catchy tune. And here’s a fun fact: between 1999 and 2002, Daniel rode a BMW Enduro motorcycle halfway around the world. Today, he’s grateful for his family and the daily gift of life.

Superintendent’s Educational Technology Advisory Committee

A Superintendent’s Educational Technology Advisory Committee for MBUSD is being formed and will meet throughout the 2024-2025 school year. The committee will provide recommendations to the Superintendent on the appropriate use of technology by reviewing research and discussing the best practices for our students. The goal is to find a “healthy” balance between embracing technology to enhance learning and minimizing its potential as a distraction or negative influence on students’ social-emotional development.

The committee will be a combination of parents, certificated staff, classified staff, and administrators. Students will be invited for specific panel discussions as well. MBUSD certificated staff and classified staff are encouraged to apply to this committee. MBUSD parents/guardians (who currently have a student in the District) can also apply.

The application must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 20.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Jonathan Erickson, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, at JErickson@mbusd.org.

Mira Costa Students Earn AP Scholar Capstone Recognition

Twenty-four Mira Costa students have earned the AP Capstone Diploma™ based on their scores on the 2024 AP Exams. To achieve this distinction, students earned scores of three or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and four additional AP exams of their choice. There was also one student who received the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™, which is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research.

Other AP recognitions our students received included:

AP Scholar - 231 students

Awarded to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.

AP Scholar with Honor - 109 students

Awarded to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

AP Scholar with Distinction - 281 students

Awarded to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are essential to academic success.

The prestigious award is acknowledged on any AP score report that is sent to colleges after the award has been conferred. AP Capstone is a College Board diploma program that provides student-centered learning while incorporating performance-based assessments.

A special thank you goes out to our dedicated teachers and staff, whose support made these achievements possible.

Unlike traditional AP subject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project-based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. These interdisciplinary courses allow students to explore topics of personal interest, honing vital skills like critical thinking, research, and time management.

Mira Costa currently offers students 25 different Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Congratulations to all our AP Scholars on their college-level achievements!

Inside the Classroom: 6th Grade Science with Mr. Lim

In Brandon Lim’s 6th-grade science class this week, students dove into their first mini-lab, gaining hands-on experience as marine biologists. Using footage from Lim’s diving adventures, they explored the steps of the scientific method - making observations, asking questions, conducting research, and forming hypotheses. Next, they will design their experiment.

Lim shared that incorporating his GoPro videos allows him to bring his love for exploring nature into the classroom, inspiring students to connect with science dynamically.

Contrasts and Contradictions with Ms. Legaspi

5th-graders in Michelle Legaspi’s class sharpened their critical thinking skills this week by focusing on “Contrasts and Contradictions” through the “Notice and Note” reading comprehension strategy. This approach helps students engage more deeply with their reading by identifying key moments of character development, internal conflict, and plot shifts by asking the question “Why?” Legaspi shared with students that their answer to the “why” then can help them make a prediction or make an inference about the plot and conflict. She utilized videos illustrating contrast and contradiction to enhance the lesson, guiding students to recognize similar moments in their reading.

Students then can start identifying places in texts where they can find contrasts and contradictions. Other important parts of “Notice and Note” learning are "aha" moments, tough questions, words of the wiser, again and again, and memory moments.

The skill of comparing and contrasting aligns with the California Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

Upcoming Concert Benefiting MBMS’ Music Program

Join us for an entertaining afternoon of music and conversation with Christopher O’Riley (concert pianist and the creator and original host of NPR’s From the Top) on Saturday, September 14 at MBMS. Each of this year’s Southwestern Youth Musical Festival will be performing their festival-winning piece and discussing their musical experiences with Mr. O’Riley.

All proceeds from this concert will benefit the Manhattan Beach Middle School’s music program! It will help raise funds to purchase instruments for MBMS' new Intro to Band and Intro to Orchestra classes.

Here are the event details:

Saturday, September 14 | 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Manhattan Beach Middle School (MBMS) | Multipurpose Room

$10 per student/adult

Complete this form to purchase tickets in advance (for MBMS families only) and to reserve tickets (non-MBMS families).

Share Stories with Us!

There are great stories to be told across the District, from stories of accomplishment, perseverance, and noteworthy events to academic excellence unfolding in our classrooms. Please share a story with us so we can highlight it with our community!

Stories submitted are often shared in our publications, on social media, and with our local media partners.

Click here for the story form!

MBEF Annual Appeal

The robust opportunities in our Manhattan Beach schools are a direct result of the investment of MBUSD families in the MBEF Annual Appeal each year. The 2024-25 Annual Appeal is now underway with a $5 million fundraising goal to sustain educator positions and programs in our schools next school year.

Please click the links below to learn more about the impact of Annual Appeal donations through directed grants at every level.

Elementary Schools

MBMS

Mira Costa

Every donation is tax-deductible and 100% is directed towards the MBEF Grants in Schools for the coming year. There are several ways to support excellence in our schools. Click here to donate.

Elementary Back to School Night Highlights!

MCHS CCC Hosts the First College Visits of the Year

College representative visits kicked off this week in the Mira Costa College and Career Center (CCC). Students had the opportunity to learn about seven colleges and meet admission counselors. The visits included the University of Wisconsin, the University of Iowa, Seattle University, Marist College, High Point University, the University of La Verne, and the University of California, Irvine.

The CCC has 105 college visits scheduled so far, with plans to add more!

Click here for CCC weekly updates.

Los Angeles County Common Illness Information

Now that school is underway for the 2024-25 school year, it is important to remember to follow the Los Angeles County guidelines and send your student to school if they are:

Generally well and healthy.
Participating in usual day-to-day activities.
Children can go to school as long as they:
Have not vomited for the past 24 hours
Have not tested positive for COVID-19
Have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications (other symptoms resolving)

It can sometimes be difficult to know when to send your student(s) to school and when to keep them home. For assistance, please utilize the county health Guidelines to help you make an informed decision.

We know unforeseen circumstances may occur, so if your student has to be out, consider making it only a partial day. While scheduling appointments outside school hours can be challenging, consider the impact of the daily social interactions and learning loss on your student when missing class. For more information, visit mbusd.org/Attendance.