October 10, 2025

Dear MBUSD Parents and Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. Today’s issue highlights Pennekamp Elementary, celebrating our continued improvement in student test scores, and recognizing Digital Citizenship Week across the District.

Transitional Kindergarten students are building early literacy skills through their weekly “Letter of the Week” activity at Pennekamp Elementary. The class focuses on one letter at a time, practicing letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and early spelling. Together, students brainstorm a list of words that begin with the featured letter, sounding them out as the teacher records them on chart paper.

After the group activity, students open their “Letter of the Week” notebooks to copy the words of their choice. This hands-on practice helps reinforce sound, letter connections, vocabulary development, and writing skills, all while keeping learning interactive and fun.

This year, MBUSD proudly welcomes Matthew Chavez to the MBMS and Mira Costa outstanding music departments! In his first year at MBUSD, Matthew serves as a Secondary Music Teacher and is the Director of Bands at MBMS, the Associate Director of the Mira Costa Marching Band, and also teaches Music Theory at Mira Costa.

A first-year teacher and proud UCLA Bruin, Matthew recently earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. A native of Downey, California, he shares that his experience at MBUSD so far has been “nothing short of special.”

“The students are a joy to work with, the parental support is incredible, and my coworkers in the music department are amazing educators and mentors,” he says.

“As a musician, I was able to connect with and work together with people I never would have met otherwise. Through the act of creating music, I was able to devote myself to something greater than myself. Music gave me an outlet to express myself in an entirely new way. As a senior in high school, I knew that I wanted to share these experiences with future generations of students.” 

When he’s not teaching or directing, Matthew enjoys composing music; his pieces have been performed by the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) Wind Ensemble and the UCLA Symphonic Band, and playing chess in his free time.

His favorite part of the job? “Hearing a wonderful musical performance come together at the end of a long rehearsal. Knowing that all the hard work paid off in a way that brings smiles to others' faces is an incredible feeling.”

At the October 8 MBUSD Board of Trustees meeting this week, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Dr. Irene Gonzalez-Castillo, and Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Dr. Jonathan Erickson, presented the 2024-2025 state testing results. The data, from the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), showed that Districtwide, the number of students meeting or exceeding standards increased by 2.09% in English and 0.60% in Math from the prior year, which solidified two consecutive years of growth in both subjects. When compared to all K-12 districts in California, MBUSD is 5th in English and 6th in Math performance. In science, our scores for the CA Science Test (CAST) also improved, with a substantial growth in the number of students meeting or exceeding standards by 7.39%. Overall, when we look at the results, we have seen solid growth over the past two years in English Language Arts and Math, and substantial gains or notable progress in Science as well. 

In describing next steps to continue this growth and address areas of focus, Dr. Gonzalez-Castillo spoke about ongoing efforts in year two of a three-year focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Professional Learning Communities (PLC) work with teachers, selection of research-supported instructional materials, use of interim assessments, and strategies for effective administration of and communication to families about the importance of these state-wide assessments. 

In addition, we have seen an increase in students participating in Advanced Placement (AP) tests, along with improved performance. Specifically, over the course of the last 5 years at Mira Costa, we have seen the following growth: Total AP students by 250, number of exams by 856, scores of 3 or higher by 362, and the percent of students taking the test with scores of 3 or higher by 12.35%.

District and site teams regularly use data from CAASPP, AP, and other sources to review and refine our practices, ensuring we provide the best possible education for our students. Congratulations to our principals, teachers, and support staff for their role in our students’ academic success!

Click here for the Board presentation.

As part of our ongoing safety work, we continue to test our protocols through various drills, including next week’s Great ShakeOut. In addition, we will be engaging in a series of unannounced safety procedure exercises at all sites over the coming weeks and months. These exercises will be coordinated with one of our safety consultants, Chameleon. They will assist us in verifying that we are consistently following our assertive hospitality measures, procedures for visitors to campus, and other elements of the plans we have in place to keep our campuses safe. 

MBUSD, in partnership with the Manhattan Beach Fire Department (MBFD), is offering CPR refresher sessions for staff. These interactive, hands-on classes provide an opportunity for participants to refresh their life-saving skills, rebuild confidence, and strengthen their ability to respond effectively in an emergency.

Six sessions will be held across October, November, and December at Mira Costa, MBMS, and Grand View Elementary. The classes are voluntary and designed as refresher sessions only; they do not provide CPR certification.

We would like to provide an update regarding the evacuation that occurred during Mira Costa’s Friday night football game at Waller Stadium last week. Out of an abundance of caution, an evacuation was initiated after a bullet was discovered in a PE locker room on campus. We responded to the incident by suspending the game and the volleyball tournament that was taking place that evening. 

All attendees safely exited the campus, and the administration team, security, and custodial staff remained on site to assist the Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD) as they conducted their work. Throughout the evening, three communications were shared from the Public Information Office through text and email with all our families and staff.

Following the evacuation, the MBPD conducted a thorough K9 search and issued an all clear. Normal weekend activities proceeded as scheduled. We are aware that various stories have circulated in the community about the incident. We can confirm that no firearm was involved, and no parent made reports regarding the bullet, gun, or related threat. Currently, MCHS administration, in partnership with MBPD, is investigating the incident. 

Our team has also conducted an internal debriefing and is identifying ways to improve our safety procedures, strengthen our emergency response, and ensure effective communication procedures. As a reminder, students and families can report any safety concerns confidentially through Sprigeo, MBUSD’s anonymous reporting system, which is available on every school’s website.

We remain committed to sharing verified information as it becomes available and continuing to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community.

MBUSD is excited to invite families, staff, students, and community members to attend upcoming engagement sessions designed to gather input on Measure RLS modernization projects at Mira Costa High School and Pacific Elementary School. These projects will be part of the $200 million bond measure approved by voters on November 5, 2024. Measure RLS will fund critical upgrades across MBUSD schools, including repairing and modernizing aging classrooms and labs; fixing leaky roofs and outdated electrical and plumbing systems; improving fire and earthquake safety; removing asbestos and lead; and ensuring safe, clean drinking water. The improvements being planned are guided by the District’s updated 2024 Facilities Master Plan (FMP).

Our community engagement meetings are an essential opportunity for our community to share feedback and help guide the design of new and improved learning spaces.

Mira Costa High School: Dream. Share. Build.

Parents, students, teachers, and neighbors are invited to learn about plans for modernizing the English building, cafeteria and kitchen, pool, and library. The sessions will include an overview of the projects and small group discussions to gather input.

First Look and Feedback: Tuesday, October 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Project Update and Feedback: Wednesday, October 29 at 5:30 p.m.

Location: Mira Costa High School Cafeteria, 1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach

Pacific Elementary School: Building Together

Parents, students, teachers, and neighbors are encouraged to share feedback on modernization plans for the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Extended Day Program (EDP). Sessions will include updates on Measure RLS projects and breakout discussions to collect input from participants.

First Look and Feedback: Thursday, October 16 at 4:30 p.m.

Project Update and Feedback: Wednesday, November 12 at 4:30 p.m.

Location: Pacific Elementary Cafeteria, 1200 Pacific Ave., Manhattan Beach

On Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 10:16 a.m., MBUSD students and staff will join millions of Californians in the Great California ShakeOut, the state’s annual earthquake preparedness drill. 

During the ShakeOut, all schools and facilities across the District will participate in a “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” exercise, practicing how to protect themselves during an earthquake. Following this, schools will evacuate to a designated location, as outlined in their school safety plans and outdoor seating maps. Also, during the drill, all sites will practice communication and reporting protocols to ensure that the District Office can gather information and employ strategies to provide resources and support to all schools as needed. 

To prepare for the Great ShakeOut, the school administration and staff have reviewed the drill's expectations, guidance, evacuation routes, and procedures in detail. 

This annual event is a key part of MBUSD’s commitment to safety and preparedness. Regular practice helps our students and staff respond quickly and confidently in the event of an emergency. We are grateful for the support of our partners with ICS4Schools, who have helped us to revisit, refine, and update our procedures and to ensure that all staff have current training in responding to large-scale emergencies. 

All family members are encouraged to participate in the ShakeOut wherever they are at 10:16 a.m. on October 16, 2025. We also ask all families to review their own personal emergency plans and to practice earthquake safety responses (including home evacuation plans) together. For more information, visit www.ShakeOut.org.

The MCHS annual Voices of Unity Assembly remains a powerful celebration of empathy, courage, and connection. Coordinated by staff and students as part of the school’s ongoing inclusion work with equity, diversity, social justice, and inclusion, this event provides an opportunity for students to share their deeply personal stories and be empowered to share their experiences. 

Principal Dr. Jennifer Huynh shared that the administration is grateful to the No Place for Hate^® Student Committee for their thoughtful coordination and participation in the assembly, as well as for creating materials that foster ongoing schoolwide engagement. We want to thank the students who took the initiative to share their stories with the Mustang community.

We’re just nine days away from the annual Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk on Sunday, October 19! This fun community tradition supports both the Friendship Foundation, benefiting children with special needs, and MBEF, which directly supports our students. 

For every registration, please indicate MBEF as the beneficiary during registration to ensure that your full contribution directly benefits MBEF and your school PTA! The walk supports both children with special needs through the Friendship Foundation and our students through MBEF. 

Please click here for registration process steps and FAQs.

Click on your school’s official team page below to register:

Grand View Elementary

Meadows Elementary

Pacific Elementary

Pennekamp Elementary

Robinson Elementary

Manhattan Beach Middle School

Manhattan Beach Preschool

Mira Costa High School

MBEF Team

If you haven’t had a chance to donate yet, I hope you will consider supporting MBEF as they work toward their $5.2 million goal for the 2025/26 Annual Appeal. These funds directly support programs for the next school year.

In partnership with MBUSD, MBEF is dedicated to enriching our students’ education and providing essential resources that go beyond what public funding covers. Without contributions from families, many valuable programs, staff positions, and initiatives would not be possible.

Every MBUSD family benefits from MBEF’s support in our schools. To those who have already donated, thank you for your generosity. If you haven’t yet, please consider giving the full ASK of $2,500 per student or a level within your means.

Your contribution helps ensure that our students continue to receive an exceptional education that prepares them for success beyond the classroom.

I also invite you to take a moment to watch the short video below, it’s a wonderful reminder of the impact your support has across all our schools.

MBMS student Blake is pictured with Nomad Eatery Director Elysia Lamberis, MBMS Science Teacher, Mr. Leonard, Collette S., Ali H., and Matt M.

Congratulations to the MBMS Surfrider Club! Under the leadership of science teacher Niel Leonard, students recently encouraged local restaurant Nomad Eatery to join the Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Restaurant Program (OFRP), becoming the first certified restaurant in El Segundo.

The Ocean Friendly Restaurant Program recognizes restaurants that adopt sustainable practices such as eliminating plastic use, reducing waste, and conserving water and energy. During the 2024–2025 school year, MBMS Surfrider Club President Blake Stephenson and the club team presented to Nomad Eatery Director Elysia Lamberis and Owner Scott Cooper, sharing the benefits of joining the OFRP.

Nomad Eatery had already implemented many of the program’s criteria, including using reusable plates, silverware, and glassware, along with brown paper bags for takeout. However, one final step remained, replacing plastic straws with a biodegradable alternative. Thanks to the students’ compelling advocacy, the restaurant made the switch to agave straws and officially earned its Ocean Friendly certification.

Mr. Leonard shared that the club’s long-term goal is to certify at least ten restaurants in the South Bay. The Surfrider Club is now actively recruiting new members and planning additional outreach efforts to partner with more local restaurants.

The first club meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 15, at lunchtime in Mr. Leonard’s classroom. Students interested in making a positive environmental impact are encouraged to attend!

Special thanks to Mr. Leonard for guiding our students and to Blake Stephenson and the Surfrider Club for their leadership in protecting our oceans.

This year, we continued our tradition of participating in the National Walk and Roll to School Day in partnership with Beach Cities Health District (BCHD). Robinson Elementary served as the featured school, where District leaders, City of Manhattan Beach Mayor David Lesser, school resource officers, MBPD team members, and a sea of the Riptide community came together to celebrate. The morning kicked off at 6th Place and N. Ingleside Dr., as we all walked, biked, and rolled our way to the school campus. Across our District, schools hosted their own routes with MBUSD Trustees and other District leaders joining in the fun!

The day reinforced our commitment to being a Green District. MBUSD schools across the District participated in the event. Thank you to all who participated and helped make this day a success across our schools! For more pictures, visit our Instagram account.

MBUSD is celebrating Digital Citizenship Week Districtwide! As part of this initiative, we’re excited to introduce the first edition of the Healthy Tech Corner, a new feature in our newsletter created especially for parents, families, and staff. Each edition will share practical ways to help children use technology safely, wisely, and creatively, both at school and at home.

Our articles will rotate between two important topics:

These two areas often go hand in hand. For instance, when children evaluate online sources, they practice both literacy and citizenship skills.

To kick off this series, we’d like to highlight Digital Citizenship Week, taking place from October 13-24, 2025. Please visit this webpage to find resources on relevant topics throughout and beyond this important week!

Additionally, please complete this MBUSD Parent Survey: Personal and Educational Technology for Students, which should take less than 5 minutes. It will help prioritize content as we move forward in this work.

We are excited to share more resources in future Tech Corner articles, from managing tech balance at home to helping kids use AI and social media responsibly. Together, we can empower our children to be thoughtful, capable, and kind digital citizens.

This week, all MBUSD elementary schools hosted CyberCop assemblies for 5th graders, focusing on online safety and digital citizenship. These age-appropriate presentations taught students how to make smart, responsible choices while navigating the digital world.

CyberCop instructors, experienced law enforcement professionals, counselors, and educators bring real-life stories that make the lessons both impactful and relatable. The presentation addressed common online safety issues and provided students with practical tips for staying secure on social media and other digital platforms. 

Students also learned about the importance of maintaining a positive digital reputation and the long-term effects that cyberbullying can have on others. Additional topics included keeping strangers out of online networks, the consequences of posting or sending hurtful messages, the proper use of artificial intelligence, and how to establish a safe and respectful online presence.

Bringing cyber safety assemblies to students is an essential step for schools in fostering a safe and responsible digital environment. These assemblies were funded by PTAs/PTSAs.

MBMS and Mira Costa hosted their annual Club Rush events this week, providing students with the opportunity to explore the various clubs available on campus and encouraging new members to join. The events featured vibrant displays and enthusiastic club members eager to share information about their organizations.

At MBMS, students had the opportunity to learn about 14 of the 16 clubs on campus, including the Origami Club, Book Club, and Culture Share Club.

Mira Costa’s event also showcased a wide range of student-led groups that reflect the school’s creativity and community spirit, including the Boys and Girls Club, Investment Club, Outdoors Club, and the Upcycling Club, to name a few. Mira Costa has nearly 200 clubs!

Club Rush offers students an engaging way to connect with peers who share their interests, ask questions, and get involved in campus life. 

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the MBUSD booth at the Hometown Fair! We loved connecting with current and future families, as well as community members. It was wonderful to share information about our schools, programs, and upcoming initiatives. District and school leaders were on hand throughout the weekend to answer questions, share resources, and meet new families.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped make the weekend a success and to our community for their continued support of MBUSD. Thank you to the Hometown Fair for welcoming us for another year. 

Take a look at some of the highlights below and here!

Follow our accounts for the latest MBUSD information, updates, news, and events.

The next Superintendent’s Newsletter will be published on October 17. Have a wonderful weekend!

Dr. John Bowes, Superintendent

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