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| | Superintendent's Weekly Message | | |
Dear HBCSD Families,
As many of you begin planning for summer and holiday travel, I want to share an update regarding our 2026-2027 school year calendar.
Hermosa Beach City School District works to align our school calendar as closely as possible with the Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD). Because our calendar is developed as a function of HBCSD’s collective bargaining agreement, we wait to receive MBUSD’s final, agreed-upon calendar so we can align accordingly and then bring HBCSD’s calendar to our Board of Education for approval. Thanks to our close partnership, we work with our bargaining units to do this as quickly and efficiently as possible once we get the word from MBUSD.
While we have not received anything from MBUSD as of yet, we wanted to share a few tentative dates that we believe are likely to be reflected in the 2026-2027 calendar:
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August 19, 2026 - First Day of School (Tentative)
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November 23-27, 2026 - Thanksgiving Break (Tentative)
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December 21, 2026-January 1, 2027 - Winter Break with students returning on January 4, 2027 (Tentative)
Please note these dates are tentative and will be confirmed once MBUSD’s calendar is finalized and HBCSD’s aligned calendar is presented to the Board for approval. We will communicate promptly as soon as the calendar is official.
Thank you for your patience and partnership.
Best,
Dr. Susan Wildes
Superintendent of Schools, Hermosa Beach City School District
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Student Intent to Return for 2026-2027 School Year Form Due January 30th!
As we prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, we kindly request that each family complete the Intent to Return Form in their PowerSchool Parent Portal beginning Sunday, January 4, 2026. A separate form must be completed for each child who is currently enrolled in the District. Parents/guardians will need to complete this form by this Friday, January 30, 2026. If needed, you can review the PowerSchool Parent Portal Directions to create or reset your password. We appreciate our HVS families completing this form.
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HBCSD Multicultural Week & Multicultural Night is Next Week!
We are excited to celebrate our first districtwide Multicultural Week, organized by the HBCSD S.E.E.D. Committee. For the past two years, Hermosa View and Hermosa Vista held Cultural Days, and this year we are expanding the celebration across all three schools. Each day will highlight global traditions, languages, stories, music, movement, and games that help students see the beauty of cultures from around the world.
Throughout the week, students will explore multicultural books in the library, learn greetings from different languages during morning announcements, and take part in activities that build connection and belonging. View the Multicultural Week at HVS flyer for the daily events and activities scheduled for the week of February 2nd. Students, families, and staff are also invited to close out the week together at Multicultural Night on Thursday, February 5, from 6:00-8:00 PM in the Hermosa Valley MPR. It’s a special week dedicated to celebrating the cultures, stories, and traditions that make our Hermosa Schools community so special.
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Celebrate Excellence: CAC Award Night Nominations Now Open
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC), in partnership with Southwest SELPA, is excited to announce the 13th Annual Staff and Community Partners Awards Night on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the West High School Performing Arts Center. This year's theme is “Honoring the 50th Anniversary of IDEA," and it will be an inspiring evening honoring the outstanding educators and community partners who make a lasting difference in the lives of students and families across our region. The nomination form is now open and will close on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Nominate someone today!
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Parenting in a Digital World Tip #14: Screen Time Considerations
A new report released this week by the American Academy of Pediatrics shares the findings of a study that looked at nearly 300,000 children around the world. The study revealed a two-way link between the amount of screen time to their emotional and social well-being, including aggression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Please check out the resources provided by the Cyber Safety Cop for ways to support limiting and monitoring screen time for your child.
As a reminder, HBCSD families are also invited to watch the Cyber Safety Cop's Parenting in the Digital World on-demand video presentation. This video is similar to the presentation shared at our January 8 Parent Talk at Hermosa Valley, and it is available free to the HBCSD community as part of our partnership. Parent handouts are also available to download on the video’s webpage.
To view the video, complete the registration page and enter the coupon code 2T1Rjl when prompted. This video will only be available until February 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM, so we highly recommend families take time in the coming days to access this resource.
Missed a tip? Check out our HBCSD Parenting in a Digital World Tips Page.
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SB 114 Family Informational Meeting Recap
Thank you to the TK-2 families who joined us for our SB 114: Risk of Reading Difficulties Screener Family Informational Meeting last Friday, January 23. We appreciate your time, thoughtful questions, and continued partnership as we strengthen early literacy supports for our TK-2 students.
For families who were unable to attend, you can view the presentation presented by HBCSD Superintendent Dr. Wildes.
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Hermosa View School Principal News | |
It’s been another awesome week being a Hermosa View Dolphin! This week, we had a nice recap of our behavior expectations at an assembly with Valerie the Dolphin. She was a little naughty at first because she didn’t know our SURF expectations, but you would be proud to know that our very own students helped her learn them! They explained what it means to be Safe, Up for a Challenge, Respectful, and Friendly all around campus!
Next week, we will be recognizing students who have been “Safe” at our View Flag Ceremony on Friday, January 30, at 9:00 AM, on the blacktop. Parents/Guardians, please remember to enter through the North Gate and exit the same way at the end of the ceremony. You are also welcome to sign in at the front office if you will be staying to volunteer.
Be sure to check out The Great Kindness Challenge Week activities schedule below, and encourage your child to participate and be kind. Kindness truly matters every day!
Warmly,
Dr. Jessica Ghobrial, Hermosa View Principal / HB Preschool Director
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The Great Kindness Challenge - January 26-30, 2026
Our district is proud to participate in The Great Kindness Challenge, a week-long initiative that encourages students to spread kindness and compassion. To celebrate, we will participate in a fun Spirit Week with themed dress-up days! Students will also be encouraged to complete acts of kindness at school, with the hope that they continue these positive actions at home and in the community.
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Hermosa Vista School Principal News | |
This week, Hermosa Vista had our first Run, Hide, Distract drill. Teachers engaged in thoughtful, age-appropriate discussions to help students understand the purpose of the drill. Our goal is to ensure our school community is safe, healthy, and prepared in the event of an emergency.
Next week, we are excited to kick off The Great Kindness Challenge Week! We will begin on Monday by dressing like a rockstar. Please take time to talk with your child about the importance of being kind to themselves and what kindness toward others looks like as we move through the week. Even small acts of kindness can make a big difference!
Warmly,
Grace Yang, Hermosa Vista Principal
| | Hermosa Valley School Principal News | | |
Thank you so much to those of you with incoming 5th grade students (next year) who attended Hermosa Valley Preview Day this past Saturday. It was wonderful to meet so many students and families, show them around the Valley campus, and highlight the great programs we have to offer. If you weren’t able to attend, please check out this presentation to get a glimpse into the Hermosa Valley experience.
Now that we are in 2026, the time will truly fly. 8th grade students and families should keep an eye out for the high school preference form, which will be coming out next week. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to visit both Redondo Union High School and Mira Costa High School campuses. In Hermosa, we are incredibly fortunate to choose between two outstanding educational institutions. My hope is that you take the time to research and make the choice that is right for you. Some good resources include the MCHS School Profile 2025-2026 and the RUHS Quick Facts 2025.
We learned a great deal about both MCHS & RUHS during the Valley 8th Grade Roadshow on November 19, and we were lucky to host a Q&A with both principals that same evening. If you missed the live session, you can view the recorded version. Additionally, we encourage you to check out our 8th Grade Website, which includes information about both high schools. More 8th grade updates will be shared in the coming weeks.
For our students who will be remaining at Valley, we will be sending out the course catalog soon to help you start thinking about middle school electives for the 2026-2027 school year.
We still have lots of important work to do this year, but let’s not forget to plan for what’s coming sooner than we think!
Warmly,
Jessica Bledsoe, Hermosa Valley Principal
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RUHS: RU Ready Night - Welcome Class of 2030
Attention Incoming 9th Graders! Redondo Union invites you to RU Ready Night - Class of 2030 on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 5-8 PM. The evening is scheduled as follows:
5:00-6:00 PM - Campus Tours & Club Fair (Starts at Quad & Auditorium Lawn)
6:00-7:00 PM - RUHS Presentation in the Auditorium
7:00-8:00 PM - Breakout Sessions
See the flyer to learn more. Additional resources - Campus Tour Starting Location and Campus Map.
RU has something for EVERYONE!
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MCHS: THIS IS COSTA Night (8th Grade Family Night)
Calling all incoming 9th graders and their families! Your invited to THIS IS COSTA Night on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 6:00-7:30 PM, at Waller Stadium Kick off your Costa journey and check out what Costa has to offer with MBX Summer School, sports teams, music and arts programs, and more! In breakout sessions, hear directly from current students, the MCHS Principal, and the MBX Summer School administration as they share what to expect and how to get involved.
Mira Costa looks forward to welcoming the Class of 2030!
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1/4-30: HBCSD: Student Intent to Return for 2026-2027 School Year Form
1/5-3/13: Valley Yearbook: 8th Grade Dedication Pages & Baby Pictures
1/26-2/6: Valley: Physical Fitness Testing - 7th Grade
1/26-30: HVS: The Great Kindness Challenge Week
1/26-30: HVPTO: Scholastic Book Fair at Valley
1/26-30: Valley: Vision & Hearing Screeings (5th & 8th Grades)
1/27 (10:00 AM - View & 11:00 AM - Vista): STAR Education: Hermosa STAR Galaxy Program (TK-6th Grade) Registration Portal Opens for the 2026-2027 School Year at STARINC.ORG
1/27 (During Lunch): Valley: Beach Kids Yoga Session 2 - Day 3
1/27 (3:15-5:15 PM): Valley Winter Sports: HVS Boys & Girls Basketball & Soccer vs. RIS (Home Game)
1/29 (3:30-5:30 PM): Valley Winter Sports: HVS Boys & Girls Basketball & Soccer vs. PVIS (Away Game)
1/30 (9-9:30 AM): View: Flag Ceremony
1/31: HVPTO: HVS Yearbooks - Last Day of Early Pricing
| | MOST IMAGES BELOW ARE CLICKABLE WITH MORE DETAILS | |
STAR Education Program (TK-5) | | |
HERMOSA VIEW
STAR NOVA - Session 3
February 2-April 3, 2026
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HERMOSA VISTA
STAR NOVA - Session 3
February 2-April 3, 2026
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Hermosa STAR Galaxy for the 2026-2027 School Year
Registration Times
Hermosa View (TK-1st Grade) at 10:00 AM
Hermosa Vista (2nd-6th Grade) at 11:00 AM
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HERMOSA VIEW
PRESIDENTS' WEEK CAMP
February 9-13, 2026
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HERMOSA VIEW
SPRING CAMP
April 6-10, 2026
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Stay Connected with Community Flyers!
Visit our Community Flyers webpage to explore more opportunities and events from our community and education partners, including the City of Hermosa Beach, Mira Costa High School, and Redondo Union High School. To submit a flyer for consideration, please complete this form.
| | | Hermosa Schools Office Staff | | | | |
