February 1, 2026

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Superintendent's Weekly Message

Dear Hermosa Families & Community,

Hermosa Beach City School District is proud to present this year’s first-ever Multicultural Week, from February 2-6, 2026, organized by the S.E.E.D. Committee. For the past two years, our schools have held Cultural Days at Hermosa View and Hermosa Vista, and this year we are expanding it into a full-week celebration across the entire district. Each day offers engaging activities that invite students, staff, and families to discover, celebrate, and connect through languages, traditions, games, and stories.

Throughout Multicultural Week at HVS, our school libraries will showcase multicultural books and folktales from around the world. Plus, there will be daily morning announcements featuring “Languages Around the World,” with simple greetings in different languages for everyone to learn and try.

Below are the daily events and activities scheduled for the week of February 2nd. See the Multicultural Week at HVS flyer for an abbreviated schedule.

Monday, February 2, 2026

We All Belong: World Map Post-It Note Activity

Kick off the week by “placing yourself on the map.” Students will add a post-it note to a large world map at each school, showing where families come from or a place that matters to them. It’s a vibrant visual display of our shared global community.

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

International Flags or Country Door Decorating

Classrooms are invited to decorate their doors with flags, colors, imagery, and symbols representing a country or cultural tradition. Students will have fun walking around campus to see how many places around the planet we can represent together.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Celebrating Traditions Assembly and Music and Movement from Around the World

All grades will come together for an assembly at their school site featuring dynamic performances by Japanese drummers and salsa dancers that highlight the movement, music, and power of tradition. In PE and music classes, students will try hula, salsa, K-pop, and other dance styles from around the world. Teachers will also host “Read Around the World” story sessions featuring folktales from many countries.

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Your Heritage Day and Bingo Cultural Bingo Card, and Multicultural Night

Students and staff are invited to dress in something that reflects their personal heritage (colors, patterns, and accessories) or a culture they admire. Throughout the day, students will use a Cultural Bingo Card filled with prompts like “say hello in a new language” or “find a classmate who celebrates a different holiday” to spark conversations, curiosity, and connection.

Plus, all HVS students, families, and staff are invited to join us for a special evening of cultural celebration at Multicultural Night from 6:00-8:00 PM in the Valley MPR. Come see student displays, share traditions, sample global games, and enjoy music and activities that bring our entire community together.

Friday, February 6, 2026

Global Playground

Students will rotate through game stations set up around each school site that will represent a continent or region. Games might include mancala, Chinese checkers, lotería, double dutch, and more. It’s a play, learning, and friendship combined.

It’s a special week dedicated to celebrating the cultures, stories, and traditions that make our Hermosa Schools community so special.

Warm regards,

Dr. Susan Wildes

Superintendent of Schools, Hermosa Beach City School District

The next Wave Watch rolls in on February 15th!

Stay Connected Through the PowerSchool Parent Portal

HBCSD uses the PowerSchool Parent Portal to share important student information with families throughout the year, including attendance notifications, grades, and report cards. We encourage all parents and guardians to log in regularly to stay informed.

The Parent Portal is also where families can complete required student forms and access archived report cards at any time. Report cards are shared in two ways: as email attachments and as archived documents in the PowerSchool Parent Portal under Student Reports. If you did not receive the email version, we recommend checking the Parent Portal, as emails can sometimes be filtered into spam depending on the email provider.

For reference, please see this image on where archived report cards can be found in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Logging in periodically helps ensure you do not miss important updates about your student.

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!

Parenting in a Digital World Tip #15: Social Media Guide for Parents and Carers

This tip comes from Internet Matters.

Social media is a key part of how teens connect, learn, and express themselves, but it comes with risks like cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and mental health challenges. Learn more about how to parent social media usage by reviewing the Social Media Guide for Parents and Carers.

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.

Hermosa View School Principal News

We had tons of fun dressing up for our spirit days to celebrate The Great Kindness Challenge Week! Thank you all our HVS School Counselors for planning such an fantastic week. Our amazing students truly exemplified acts of kindness, as shown in the photo to the right reminding us all to "Be Kind!"

The week ended with our View Flag Assembly to honor our students being “Safe” at View. Valerie the Dolphin was up to no good again, but thank goodness for our incredible students who reminded her what it looks like to be SAFE at View.

Next week brings even more excitement as we celebrate our 100th and 101st days of school! We have lots of fun planned for the students, including a special annual kindergarten visit from Zero the Hero! As Dr. Wildes mentioned in her message, we are celebrating Multicultural Week, so make sure your student partakes in all the fun learning, and plan to stop by the Multicultural Night on Thursday, February 5, from 5-8 PM, at Hermosa Valley. All families are encouraged to attend. We look forward to celebrating the diverse cultures and traditions that make our Hermosa Schools so special.

Warmly,

Dr. Jessica Ghobrial, Hermosa View Principal / HB Preschool Director

Hermosa Vista School Principal News

Hermosa Vista had an amazing week participating in The Great Kindness Challenge! Students were busy at recess with their clipboards, checking off acts of kindness as they spread positivity around campus. It was wonderful to see everyone’s daily spirit wear, and Wacky Hair Day was definitely a standout and one to remember. See photos below.

We also had a very special “Principal for the Day,” Ms. Makenzie! Students were excited to ask her how she earned the special role and were eager to see if she might introduce a few new rules at Vista. Visiting classrooms and giving students the chance to ask the principal questions made the day especially memorable and a lot of fun.

Have a great week, Vista!

Warmly,

Grace Yang, Hermosa Vista Principal

Hermosa Valley School Principal News

Thank you all so much for contributing to the Valley Scholastic Book Fair! A huge thank you to our HVPTO for helping us gain access to these wonderful titles and for exposing our students to opportunities to practice their literacy through relevant and engaging reading.

We also had a fantastic time with The Great Kindness Challenge this week. Please continue to reinforce these strategies of kindness at home, during sports, in theater, at dance—really, in all aspects of life. Some key themes of kindness to encourage include: Empathy, Respect, Inclusivity, Generosity, and Gratitude.

Planning Ahead - Our Valley Course Catalog

As we prepare for the upcoming course request process, we encourage families to take a look at the Valley Course Catalog. This is a great opportunity to begin exploring electives and making preliminary decisions about which courses might be the best fit for your student next year.

Swing Into Spring with the World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra

Join us for an unforgettable evening of swing, jazz, and timeless classics as the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra brings the sounds of the Swing Era to life. All families, especially band families, are encouraged to attend and support this incredible opportunity. We are counting on our community to make this a truly special evening by filling the Hermosa Beach Community Center seats!

Concert proceeds will benefit the Hermosa Valley School Band, under the direction of Dr. Buddy Clements.

Student Opportunities

Students may earn service points for volunteering.
Four (4) PBIS reward points will go to students who attend the concert. (Be sure to sign in with your ticket!)

Purchase tickets here.

Let’s enjoy this last week of school before Presidents’ Week Break!

Warmly,

Jessica Bledsoe, Hermosa Valley Principal

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! Let's go Future Sea Hawks!

RUHS Counselors: Incoming 9th Grade Parent Information Event

UHS Counseling presents an Incoming 9th Grade Parent Information Event covering graduation requirements, A-G requirements, and 9th Grade scheduling. Families may attend in person or virtually on Wednesday, February 18, 2026:

9-10 AM: In-Person in the RUHS Library

2-3 PM: Online via Microsoft Teams (meeting link)

The virtual session will be recorded and posted on the RUHS website.

Parents and guardians, please RSVP in advance and submit any questions using this linked form. The link will close on February 11, at 3 PM.

The Weeks Ahead

1/5-3/13: Valley Yearbook: 8th Grade Dedication Pages & Baby Pictures

1/26-2/6: Valley: Physical Fitness Testing - 7th Grade

2/2-6: HVS: Multicultural Week

2/2-6: HVS: National School Counseling Week

2/2-6: Valley: 8th Grade High School Decision Google Form

2/2: HBEF: Moms' Night Out: Ocean Air & Epic Beats at the California Surf Club in RB - Tickets on Sale

2/2 (3:30-5:30PM): Valley Winter Sports: HVS Boys & Girls Basketball & Soccer vs. ADAMS (Away Game)

2/3 (During Lunch): Valley: Beach Kids Yoga Session 2 - Day 4

2/3 (3:30-5:30 PM): Valley Winter Sports: HVS Boys & Girls Basketball & Soccer vs. MIS (Away Game)

2/3 (5-8 PM): RUHS: RU Ready Night - Welcome Class of 2030

2/4: HBCSD: 100th Day of School - TK, K & 5th Grade Celebrates; Zero the Hero Visits Kindergarten

2/4 (5-8 PM): HBCSD: Regular School Board Meeting

2/5: View: 101st Day of School - 1st Grade Celebrates

2/5 (3:30-5:30 PM): Valley Winter Sports: HVS Boys & Girls Basketball & Soccer vs. PARRAS (Home Game)

2/5 (6-8 PM): HVS: Multicultural Night at Valley

2/6 (After 4 PM): HBCSD: HVS Lost & Found - All unclaimed items at Hermosa View, Vista, & Valley will be donated to charity

2/9-16: HBCSD: Presidents' Week Break - No School

View the Full HBCSD Upcoming Events Calendar

MOST IMAGES BELOW ARE CLICKABLE WITH MORE DETAILS

STAR Education Program (TK-5)

HERMOSA VIEW

STAR NOVA - Session 3

February 2-April 3, 2026

HERMOSA VISTA

STAR NOVA - Session 3

February 2-April 3, 2026

STAR NOVA Registration NOW OPEN at STARINC.ORG!

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

STAR GALAXY Registration NOW OPEN at STARINC.ORG!

HERMOSA VIEW

PRESIDENTS' WEEK CAMP

February 9-13, 2026

HERMOSA VIEW

SPRING CAMP

April 6-10, 2026

STAR Camp Registration NOW OPEN at STARINC.ORG!

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.