September 19, 2025

Dear MBUSD Parents and Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. Today’s issue highlights Grand View, our Board's Resolution supporting United Against Hate Week, and the acceptance of an additional grant from Manhattan Beach Education Foundation.

Fifth-grade students at Grand View have been diving into the foundations of strong reading and writing habits. Students are not only reading books but also learning to write thoughtfully about what they read. Writing about reading helps students deepen their understanding by organizing their ideas, explaining their thoughts, and using examples from the text. This process strengthens both their reading comprehension and writing skills, helping them become confident, thoughtful readers and writers.

In the reading workshop, they have been working on building stamina, choosing “just right” books, and using strategies to understand character development, theme, and key details. During the writing workshop, students are learning to generate ideas, plan their writing, and develop their first personal narratives of the year. Students focus on strengthening their writing voice and organizing their thoughts during the writing process. 

Teachers are using engaging mentor texts that demonstrate a strong, clear voice and asking students to listen for tone, word choice, and sentence rhythm. These texts help students identify how real authors structure their writing: beginnings that hook, middle sections that build, and endings that satisfy.

Our fifth-grade team meets regularly through our Professional Learning Community (PLC) to analyze student work and tailor instruction to meet the needs of all learners. These collaborative efforts ensure that each student receives the support and challenge they need to grow as confident, capable readers and writers.

Gelane Skinner has been a Panther nearly her entire life. She once walked the halls of Pacific Elementary as a student, and today, she teaches first grade in those very same halls. This year marks her 27th year with MBUSD and her 31st year teaching first graders!

Throughout her career, Gelane has worn many hats: Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) mentor teacher, member of several district committees (math adoption, report card, assessment, and early literacy), grade-level lead at Pacific, and now in her second year as the district grade-level lead. Most recently, she has been enhancing Panther spirit by leading Pacific’s student cheer squad, the Pantherettes.

“When I was a kid, I played school with my sisters every day—and I was always the teacher! I was also inspired by two amazing educators in our district, Ms. Christy Robinson, my 4th-grade teacher, and Mrs. Doris Giambra, my Spanish teacher, for all three years in middle school. I loved how they showed their own personality, sang songs, and had so much active participation! After a few detours in college, I realized that I really loved a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Being an elementary teacher seemed like a perfect fit for me.”

Gelane attended UC Davis and Loyola Marymount University. Before joining MBUSD, Gelane taught first grade at a private school and first/second grade in the Hawthorne School District. 

Gelane describes first grade as “the most magical year” and says she has fallen head over heels for this age group and the curriculum.

“I get to watch six- and seven-year-olds find themselves. They become independent readers and writers. They learn how to manage their emotions and how to be a good friend to others. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and their curiosity is endless! It is so inspiring!”

“Another aspect of my job that I love is singing and dancing each morning to start the day with a smile. But the very BEST part is creating a classroom family and forming new relationships. I love that my students and I can share our lives with each other—the celebrations, the mistakes, the adventures, and the dailiness.”

Reflecting on her journey, Gelane also shares her pride in the District’s growth:

“I am so proud of the work teachers have done in the area of social/emotional learning over the last decade. I LOVE that we are supporting our students academically and emotionally. I also love that we are providing weekly time for collaboration—I love working as a grade level team, and it helps us to be innovative, aligned, and divide and conquer the workload.”

Outside the classroom, Gelane is a proud mom of three children who also attended Pacific. She enjoys traveling with her husband, Aaron, listening to live music, doing Pilates, and much more.

Fun fact: she was once a Mira Costa cheerleader and also a dancer in the Disneyland parade!

“I feel so lucky to have met so many incredible tiny humans, and it reminds me how important our job is as educators. We can and do make a difference!”

At its meeting this week, the MBUSD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution recognizing United Against Hate Week, which will take place October 19-25, 2025. The resolution reaffirms MBUSD’s commitment to rejecting hate, racism, prejudice, violence, and bullying in all forms. It emphasizes that schools must remain safe and welcoming spaces for every learner, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, or background. 

As part of this national effort, MBUSD will join communities across the country in promoting unity, inclusion, and civic action. Locally, the District is working with the South Bay Community Coalition Against Hate and Stand 4 Peace to support events and initiatives designed to educate, raise awareness, and foster belonging. This includes utilizing Peace Poles across all eight campuses and the District office, an internationally recognized symbol of hope and peace.

The Board’s resolution encourages the entire community to participate in United Against Hate Week events and to stand together in declaring that hate has no place here.

Next week, our campuses will be acknowledging International Day of Peace and Peace Week and displaying their Peace Poles. 

In MBUSD, we are proud to have Climate of Care as one of our focuses in MBUSD Board Goal #2, creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all students and staff. 

At the Board meeting this week, Student Services Director Dr. Kerry Riccio Aguero shared a comprehensive update on progress toward Board Goal 2. Highlights included updated student handbooks, assemblies, and parent partnerships to reinforce behavior expectations, along with safety measures such as Run, Hide, Fight training for staff, and e-bike safety education.

Technology continues to play a key role in protecting students, with monitoring tools like BARK and GoGuardian, which monitor for issues such as bullying, self-harm, and violence. This year, we updated the Technology Acceptable Use Agreement, and we plan to expand digital citizenship education for students and families.

Mental health and social-emotional learning supports remain a priority, with counseling services through community partners, the addition of a new part-time elementary counselor, and parent education nights planned on timely topics. Schools are also strengthening PBIS/MTSS frameworks, piloting the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program at MBMS, and implementing new safety protocols such as the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) and the Columbia Lighthouse Screener.

New programs like Know Go for first graders will further build early awareness of personal safety. To ensure student voice remains central, the District will continue administering key surveys, including the Tri-District Survey, California Healthy Kids Survey, and Olweus Survey.

Together, these initiatives reflect MBUSD’s deep commitment to fostering safety, wellness, belonging, and student success across all schools.

We are grateful to MBEF for providing an additional $125,000 grant to MBUSD, on top of the $7,001,074 in MBEF grants accepted by the Trustees on June 18, 2025. The Board of Trustees accepted the new funding that will support a Student Services Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA), who will lead efforts to build and implement systems that foster a positive school culture, promote student safety, and enhance student well-being.

MBEF Executive Director, Hilary Mahan, presented the grant and shared, “Our Board of Directors is pleased to be able to grow the grant from MBEF for this current year. Support of MBEF impacts so much of student learning in our District - from class size to STEAM and VAPA programs to counseling and student support. We also know that high-quality learning requires a safe and welcoming environment. This additional grant allows us to address this head-on with a new role in Student Services - we anticipate that it will be instrumental in building positive school cultures on all campuses."

The Student Services TOSA will support the District’s use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP), and Comprehensive Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG). Together, these tools will help avert threats of violence and allow District schools to leverage opportunities to address behavioral concerns at the school, classroom, and individual levels. 

Learn more here.

At MBUSD, student and staff safety is always our top priority. In emergencies, schools may use different safety protocols depending on the situation. Two commonly used protocols are lockdowns and shelter-in-place. While these two procedures are often confused, they are actually quite different, and it is important to understand the distinctions between the two. 

A lockdown is used when there is an immediate and urgent threat to the safety of the students, staff, or guests on campus. A lockdown may also be implemented if there is police activity or violence occurring near campus, which may pose an immediate threat to the safety of students, staff, or guests. During a lockdown, everyone on campus is directed to secure locations inside buildings, and all classroom and outdoor activities are immediately suspended - students and staff will initiate protective activities, stay out of sight, and stay calm and quiet.

A shelter-in-place is used when there is not urgent concern for harm, but when a nearby hazard or potential threat may exist. In most cases, during a shelter-in-place, regular classroom instruction will continue, and students will simply stay in their classrooms or other indoor spaces. 

In order to be prepared for any situation, we practice these procedures with our students and staff, and it is important for everyone to understand how and when they might be used as well as the differences between them. 

If you have a child, you have experienced PTA! The Parent Teacher Association is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America. Here in Manhattan Beach, the amazing, ongoing partnership of the PTAs and MBUSD continues. The seven PTAs’ collective contribution of over $2.2 million ensures our schools and programs are stellar. Our PTAs provide school supplies and technology; capital improvements; academic, social-emotional, and VAPA programming; field trips; staff appreciation and teacher professional development opportunities; community support; and cultural and school-wide celebrations.

Various PTA parent functions provide a forum for parents to voice their opinions, engage in discussions, and learn about what is happening at our schools. PTA is a constant voice for our children and strives to make our schools a better place to learn and grow! Thank you to everyone who has already joined the PTA; without you, our programs and projects would not be possible. Each school’s PTA strives for 100% participation. If you haven't joined yet, it’s just a click away! 

Grand View PTA

Meadows PTA

Pacific PTA

Pennekamp PTA

Robinson PTSA

MBMS PTA

Mira Costa PTSA

This week, the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF) hosted its annual New Family Welcome Receptions at Tin Roof Bistro, extending a warm greeting to families new to the District. The gatherings provided a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with school leaders, PTA representatives, and fellow parents as they begin their journey in MBUSD.

Monday evening’s reception celebrated new elementary families, with our principals joining to welcome them to their school communities. On Tuesday evening, the focus shifted to Manhattan Beach Middle School families. The next one will take place on October 6 for Mira Costa families from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Thank you to MBEF for continuing this tradition!

This past Wednesday, Mira Costa students and families attended College Knowledge Night, an event designed to equip our community with tools, resources, and insights to help chart the path beyond high school.  

The evening featured sessions on financial aid, admissions testing, dual enrollment, transfer pathways, and insights from Costa alumni. Keynote speaker Camille Crites of Syracuse University shared the benefits of attending college out of state, followed by college representative presentations and a mini college fair featuring 26 participating colleges. One of the most popular sessions, “5 Things I Wish I Knew: Reflections on the Application Process - College and Career Center,” featured a panel of former students, Jacob Tran (Stanford), Catherine Jester (Stanford), and Madison Grumley (USC). It was standing room only!

Thank you to the Mira Costa College and Career Center Counselors for making this impactful event possible.

For CCC information, weekly updates click here.

The Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) is currently seeking applicants to serve on the Measure MB Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC). While current members remain active, the District anticipates an upcoming vacancy and invites community members to apply. The COC plays an important role in reviewing and reporting on the proper expenditure of Measure MB funds.

In June 2018, Manhattan Beach voters approved Measure MB, authorizing a special parcel tax of $225 annually for six years to support high-quality education in MBUSD schools. On March 5, 2024, voters renewed this measure, extending funding through June 2030.

To ensure transparency and accountability, the District established the Citizens’ Oversight Committee in 2018 through Resolution No. 2018-27, with updated bylaws guiding the committee’s work. Earlier this year, Resolution 2024-18 re-established the COC to continue oversight for the renewed measure.

Serving on the committee is a meaningful way to make a difference in your community, ensuring local tax dollars directly support Manhattan Beach students and schools. Before applying, prospective members are encouraged to review the full Resolution No. 2018-27, linked in the application materials. Please note: District employees, officials, vendors, contractors, and consultants are not eligible to serve on the committee.

Click the button below to learn more and apply.

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The next Superintendent’s Newsletter will be published on September 26. Have a wonderful weekend!

Dr. John Bowes, Superintendent

325 S. Peck Ave.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 318-7345