January 16, 2026

Dear MBUSD Parents and Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. In today’s issue, we will highlight:

This week Ms. Ford’s Astrophysics students created scaled models of the sun and planets. They began by scaling the distances from the sun, which then informed how they scaled the planets for size. Students used a scale factor equation to guide their work, starting by selecting a round object to represent the sun. Examples like Costco-sized pies and poker tables highlighted the creative and UDL centered nature of the lesson. As students progressed, they discovered the importance of choosing objects that could realistically fit on their posters and gained a clearer perspective on just how large or small the sun and planets are when represented to scale. 

Thank you to our staff for facilitating hands-on activities that support both conceptual understanding and meaningful engagement, while supporting rigor standards of the course, and a special thank you to Dr. Jennifer Huynh, Mira Costa High School Principal, for contributing this story.

This week, we’re proud to highlight Lara Sims, our Inclusion Specialist and Special Education Teacher at Manhattan Beach Preschool, who is now in her third year serving students and families in MBUSD.

In her role, Lara supports student inclusion within general education preschool classrooms, working closely with teachers, instructional aides, and families to ensure every child feels supported and successful. She also serves on the assessment team for initial IEPs, helping guide thoughtful, student-centered planning from the very beginning. Beyond her daily work with students, Lara collaborates with preschool teachers on classroom setup and effective classroom management strategies and enjoys contributing as a member of the site leadership team.

Lara brings a remarkable depth of experience to MBUSD. Prior to joining the District, she spent 20 years at a non-public school, serving in roles that included teacher, administrator, and curriculum developer. For a decade, her work took her across the globe, traveling regularly between the United States and Singapore to support schools implementing specialized curriculum. During that time, she helped train educators and worked with a team that supported more than 900 families abroad whose children had special needs.

Her path into education began in an unexpected way. Originally studying photography in New York City with a minor in art education, Lara discovered her passion for working with students with special needs while teaching art. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2001, she transitioned into in-home support services for children with special needs, a shift that helped shape the career she continues today.

What Lara loves most about her work is getting to know each child as an individual, recognizing their unique strengths, nurturing their gifts, and supporting them through challenges. She especially values partnering with parents and collaborating with educators to help students thrive. As she shared, Manhattan Beach is a dedicated and supportive community that truly wants the best for its children, and she feels grateful to be part of it.

Outside of work, Lara loves to travel and has spent time working with orphanages in other countries. She looks forward to continuing her travels and learning from communities around the world.

We are grateful for the expertise, compassion, and global perspective Lara brings to Manhattan Beach Preschool each day. Thank you, Lara, for the meaningful impact you make on our students, families, and school community.

This Budget Corner entry provides an overview of how California’s State budget timeline impacts MBUSD’s local budgeting and staffing decisions. As a public school district, MBUSD is required to follow state-mandated deadlines, which often means planning and making preliminary decisions before the State budget is fully finalized. The timeline below is intended to help our community better understand how and when these decisions occur.

Timeline Overview:

Why Staffing Decisions Happen Early

California law requires public school districts to follow specific notice deadlines related to staffing, regardless of when the State budget is finalized. While this process can feel early, these timelines are designed to ensure transparency, protect employee rights, and allow districts time to adjust plans once final funding levels are known.

While MBUSD has done extensive, thoughtful work to arrive at the current budget projections, these figures are always subject to change as new information becomes available at the State level and as we work to reduce spending both in the current and future years. The District continues to closely monitor budget updates and will adjust as needed to reflect the most accurate funding picture possible. However, because RIF staffing release notices can be rescinded but not increased after the March 15 statutory deadline, the District must be conservative in making its decisions until the final State budget is enacted and some budget certainty is provided.

In times like these, we encourage our community and families to stay involved and support our schools where they can. Community partnerships play a vital role in sustaining the exceptional experiences, access, and opportunities that make MBUSD such a special place for students to learn and grow.

The Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a three-year roadmap that outlines our District’s goals, actions, services, and expenditures to support positive student outcomes and address both state and local priorities. More than a compliance document, the LCAP is an opportunity for local educational agencies to tell the story of how, why, and where resources are invested to meet the needs of our students and school community.

At MBUSD, we are deeply committed to engaging our educational partners, including families, students, staff, and community members in the development and ongoing evaluation of this plan. Through continuous collaboration, we monitor progress toward our goals to maximize student achievement and success, enhance the educational experience, and foster a climate of care across all campuses.

Our Board of Trustees and District leadership remain steadfast in ensuring that District resources are used thoughtfully and equitably to serve all students. The LCAP reflects our shared vision for student learning, outlines clear actions and annual goals, and demonstrates how our budget supports those priorities.

As a valued District partner, we invite you to share your input and suggestions to help inform the annual update to our 2024–2027 LCAP. Your feedback plays an important role in evaluating our current offerings and shaping future decision-making.

The LCAP survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential. The survey is open through February 6, 2026. Please check your inbox for your personalized survey link, as links are unique and cannot be shared. If you are having difficulty finding the survey in your inbox, please reach out to Kate Juge directly for assistance at kjuge@mbusd.org.

Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support of MBUSD.

Earlier this week, Pacific Elementary School welcomed the New Year with a joyful, schoolwide activity inspired by The Gift of Words by author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds. As students returned from Winter Break, each grade level participated in decorating a “Gift of Words” tree along the pathway to the Library, creating a shared display centered on kindness, hope, and connection.

Students added tags featuring positive and meaningful words such as joy, community, peace, and belonging. Together, these words now brighten the campus and serve as a daily reminder of the power of language to inspire, uplift, and bring people together.

First grade students helped lead the activity by providing the tags and welcoming participation from the entire school community. Families were also invited to join in, making the experience a true celebration of shared values and collective creativity.

The activity was inspired by The Gift of Words, a book that highlights how thoughtful language can shape our relationships and communities. Families can hear directly from author Peter H. Reynolds to learn more about the message behind the story.

We are proud of the Pacific Elementary community for starting the year with a meaningful reminder that words matter and that together, they can help build a culture of kindness and belonging.

I’m proud to share that Mira Costa High School has been named to the AP School Honor Roll for the 2024–25 school year, a national recognition that honors schools expanding access to Advanced Placement coursework while supporting students on their path to college success.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that are committed to opening doors for more students and creating the conditions for them to thrive in rigorous, college-level learning. Research consistently shows that students who participate in AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time. Those who earn AP credit often accelerate their path to graduation and gain confidence in college-level work, while all students benefit from early exposure to academic rigor and a strong college-going culture.

This recognition reflects a true schoolwide effort. I want to thank the dedicated teachers, counselors, administrators, and staff at Mira Costa High School, whose commitment to high expectations and student support makes opportunities like this possible. I’m also grateful to our students and families for embracing challenge, growth, and lifelong learning.

Mira Costa’s inclusion on the AP School Honor Roll highlights our District’s continued focus on equity, access, and academic excellence, and it underscores what can be accomplished when a community works together in support of students.

Congratulations to the entire Mira Costa High School community on this well-earned recognition. I am incredibly proud of the work happening on campus each day and look forward to seeing our students continue to thrive.

We are now 83% of the way toward MBEF's $5.2M goal. As we plan for next year, parent participation is essential. Every contribution, at any amount, helps ensure we can continue offering smaller class sizes, dedicated counselors, and robust enrichment across all schools.

Families can give through stock transfers, take advantage of company matching, or make a pledge now so MBEF can count on the support, and fulfill it by June 30. Parent participation allows us to plan confidently for the 2026-27 school year.

Thank you for your consideration in supporting this ongoing, important effort!

This week at Manhattan Beach Middle School (MBMS), students participated in a WAVEPrep refresher during AIRE Time, providing an opportunity to revisit shared expectations for behavior, safety, and positive decision-making.

WAVEPrep is MBMS’s proactive framework for helping students understand what it means to be respectful, responsible, and safe members of the school community. Using AIRE Time for this refresher allowed staff and students to engage in meaningful conversations, reflect on expectations, ask questions, and reset together in a supportive setting.

AIRE stands for Advisory, Intervention, Review, and Enrichment. During AIRE Time, students meet with teachers at least once per week and may also participate in sessions curated by teachers and staff across campus. These sessions are intentionally designed to support students’ individual academic needs, interests, and goals, making AIRE an ideal space for both targeted support and community-building conversations like WAVEPrep.

While this refresher took place specifically at MBMS, the approach reflects a broader District priority: consistent, clear messaging across schools to support student success. When expectations are regularly reinforced and aligned across classrooms and campuses, students benefit from predictable environments that promote learning, well-being, and positive relationships.

We appreciate our families’ continued partnership in reinforcing these shared expectations. When schools and families work together to provide consistency and support, students are best positioned to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

We are excited to invite incoming families to enroll in Manhattan Beach Unified School District for the 2026–27 school year. Open enrollment began on Monday, January 12, at 6:00am, via our Aeries Parent Portal.

While MBUSD guarantees placement for all students who live in Manhattan Beach, enrollment timing matters when securing a spot at your designated home school, as space may be limited at certain sites. For this reason, I encourage families to complete the enrollment process as early as possible.

How to Enroll:

To avoid delays at the start of the school year, I also encourage families to ensure that immunizations are fully up to date prior to the end of summer.

Enrollment Eligibility for 2026–27:

Attendance Permit Information:

Families who do not reside in Manhattan Beach but wish to attend MBUSD may apply for an attendance permit beginning February 2. A new release from the student’s District of Residence is required with each permit application. Please note that attendance permits must be fully approved before completing online enrollment. Permits are reviewed annually to ensure students meet eligibility standards related to academic performance, behavior, and attendance. Once approved, students remain MBUSD students through graduation, provided eligibility requirements continue to be met. Supporting documentation is required depending on the permit category: Grandparent permits require proof of the grandparent’s residency and City of Manhattan Beach employee permits require verification of employment, such as a letter or pay stub.

To be eligible for an Interdistrict permit, students must generally demonstrate: a minimum 3.0 GPA, positive behavior, and positive attendance over a three-year review period. Students enrolling in Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten who have not previously attended school are not required to submit prior grades.

We look forward to welcoming new students and families into our MBUSD community. Thank you for partnering with us as we continue our shared commitment to providing high-quality, supportive, and engaging learning experiences for all students.

For more information, visit our Enrollment & Registration page. Any additional questions may be directed to kaguero@mbusd.org.

Today, students at Manhattan Beach Preschool enjoyed a special Snow Day, bringing winter fun to campus in a way that was just right for our youngest learners. Preschool students had the opportunity to play in the snow, sled, and explore this unique sensory experience alongside their teachers and staff.

We are grateful to the parent and family volunteers who helped make the day safe and successful by assisting with tasks such as shoveling snow, moving sleds, and supporting students during activities. Your help made a meaningful difference and allowed our students to fully enjoy the experience.

Thank you to our preschool community for supporting these joyful, hands-on moments that create lasting memories and enrich our students’ school experience.

Manhattan Beach Unified School District is proud to celebrate Mira Costa High School students Lila Mokhtari (senior) and Hugh Saetia (junior), who were recently selected as Emerging Leader Award finalists by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council (LAWAC). Both students attended the inaugural LAWAC World Prize Gala, where their achievements and leadership were formally recognized.

The Emerging Leader Award honors outstanding young individuals or youth-led organizations that have made a meaningful impact in their communities, advanced social good, or positively improved the lives of others. This recognition is highly competitive, drawing nominees from across Los Angeles County. This year’s honor is particularly noteworthy for Mira Costa High School: only three finalists were selected from all students across Los Angeles, and two of those finalists were Mira Costa students.

Lila and Hugh’s selection reflects their commitment to leadership, service, and civic engagement, as well as the strong culture of student leadership fostered at Mira Costa. During the event, they had the opportunity to connect with distinguished leaders, including Dr. Richard Downie, President and CEO of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, and State Senator Ben Allen, alongside fellow finalist Allison Zhang of Polytechnic School.

We are incredibly proud of Lila and Hugh for this outstanding achievement and for representing Mira Costa High School and MBUSD with distinction. Their recognition serves as an inspiring example of the impact our students can have beyond the classroom.

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

The next Superintendent’s Newsletter will be published on January 23. Have a wonderful weekend!

Dr. John Bowes, Superintendent

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