SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

PRESS RELEASE

 

CONTACT:  Sarah Wahrenbrock                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

310.450.8338, ext. 229                                      27 JAN 2009

 

 

SMMUSD Launches public schools week

Community Invited to Learn about SMMUSD’s Excellent Public Schools and See them in Action

Starting February 2

 

Starting February 2, SMMUSD is launching its second Public Schools Week by opening doors to schools throughout Santa Monica and Malibu and actively inviting the community to come inside for a closer look at educational programs and progress.  Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has joined forces with the district’s Teachers Association and PTA Council to present Public Schools Week. 

 

“We hope that community residents from throughout Santa Monica and Malibu will take advantage of this opportunity to hear from our principals, teachers, PTA leaders, and students about the extraordinary educational opportunities that take place every day in our schools,” says SMMUSD Superintendent Tim Cuneo.

 

“The sign of a great society and great communities is reflected in the state of their public schools,” contends Harry Keiley, President of the Santa Monica Malibu Classroom Teachers Association.  “We are privileged to live in cities like Santa Monica and Malibu, which support our schools so well. The quality of our schools directly impacts the quality of our cities.  Teachers are proud of the work we do; we are eager to share that with our communities.”

 

Public Schools Week kicks off with the third “State of Our Schools: How Are We Doing?”, a public forum set for Monday, February 2 from 6:30-9:00p.m. at the Santa Monica Public Library, Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium: 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. This education forum is free and open to all members of the public. Refreshments will be served in the library courtyard following the program.  The program will be presented again on Tuesday February 3 from 6.30-9.00p.m. at the Webster Elementary School Auditorium in Malibu.  The State of Our Schools events are co-sponsored by CEPS (Community for Excellent Public Schools) and The Santa Monica Malibu Council of PTAs.

 

This public forum regarding our public schools will discuss:

  • the difference public schools make in a community
  • how Santa Monica-Malibu schools rate
  • an analysis of student achievement
  • the financial issues facing SMMUSD this year

           

Dr. Stephen Carroll, Senior Economist with the RAND Corporation, will discuss the Impact of Educational Quality on the Community.  He will be joined by SMMUSD Superintendent Tim Cuneo, SMMUSD Board of Education President Ralph Mechur, and SMMUSD Board of Education Vice President Barry Snell. Students and teachers will present their perspectives and experiences.

 

In addition to the State of Our Schools events, schools throughout Santa Monica and Malibu will be open for public visits from Monday February 2.   A full list of schools and times is attached.  Open schoolhouse events will include a coffee with the Principal with a short presentation about their school and a word from the PTA president at each school site.

 

“What better way to convey the quality of our public schools than to lead a detailed discussion for all to hear and then open our schoolhouses for all to see,” says CEPS Chair Shari Davis.   “Public Schools Week is proof-positive that our community’s priorities are right on target, and we are grateful for the ongoing support from our citizens.”

 

“Come see why we believe our public schools are so good,” says PTA Council President Rebecca Kennerly.  “Public Schools Week is a chance to learn about the great things that happen inside our schools as well as why local funding for our schools – 17% of SMMUSD District’s revenue – provides the critical difference between typical public education and our world-class public schools.”

 

A few achievements that will be shared during Public Schools Week:

  • In an era of staggering drop-out rates, Santa Monica and Malibu High Schools have a graduation rate of 97.8.
  • Santa Monica and Malibu High School graduates have been accepted into more than 200 four-year colleges nationwide, including all of the most prestigious Ivy League and UC campuses.
  • Students at all Santa Monica and Malibu campuses have seen remarkable increases in their California Standardized Achievement Test scores – across the board, in all demographics.
  • SMMUSD’s fine arts / music program is one of the best in the state, and the Santa Monica High School Symphony Orchestra is considered one of the finest youth orchestras in the nation.

 

For more PTA information, contact Rebecca Kennerly, 310.453.6305 or access www.smmpta.org

 

For more CEPS information, call Shari Davis 310.395.4483 or access www.excellentpublicschools.org

 

 

School Site

Date & Time of Open House Event

CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES & WASHINGTON WEST SCHOOL

(310) 399-5865

2802 Fourth Street, Santa Monica 90405

Director: Ms. Judy Abdo

Thursday, February 5 at 10:00am

EDISON LANGUAGE ACADEMY (K-5)

(310) 828-0335

2425, Kansas Ave., Santa Monica 90404

Principal: Ms. Lori Orum

Friday, February 6 at 10:00am

FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY (K-5)

(310) 828-2814

2400, Montana Ave., Santa Monica 90403 Principal: Ms. Tara Brown

Thursday, February 19 at 9:00am

GRANT ELEMENTARY (K-5)

(310) 450-7651

2368 Pearl Street, Santa Monica 90405

Principal: Mr. Alan Friedenberg

Tuesday, February 3 at 9:00am

JOHN ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL (6-8)

(310) 452-2326

2425 Sixteenth St., Santa Monica 90405

Principal: Ms. Martha Shaw

Thursday, February 5 at 9:00am

JOHN MUIR ELEMENTARY (K-5)

(310) 399-7721

2526 Sixth St., Santa Monica 90405

Principal: Ms. Tristan Komlos

Wednesday, February 4 at 10:00am

JUAN CABRILLO ELEMENTARY (K-5)

(310) 457-0360

30237 Morning View Dr., Malibu 90265

Principal: Mr. Barry Yates

Wednesday, February 4 at 9:00am

LINCOLN MIDDLE SCHOOL (6-8)

(310) 393-9227

1501 California Ave., Santa Monica 90403 Principal: Ms. Suzanne Webb

Thursday, February 5 at 8:30am

MALIBU HIGH SCHOOL (9-12)

(310) 457-6801

30215 Morning View Dr., Malibu 90265

Principal: Dr. Mark Kelly

Friday, February 6 at 10:00am

MALIBU MIDDLE SCHOOL (6-8)

(310) 457-6801

30215 Morning View Dr., Malibu 90265

Principal: Dr. Mark Kelly

Friday, February 6 at 10:00am

McKINLEY ELEMENTARY (K-5)

(310) 828-5011

2401 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90404 Principal Ms. Irene Gonzalez

Wednesday, February 4 at 9:00am

OLYMPIC HIGH SCHOOL (9-12)

(310) 392-2494

721 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica 90405 Principal: Ms. Janie Yuguchi Gates

Friday, February 6 at 10:00am

PT. DUME MARINE SCIENCE SCHOOL (K-5)

(310) 457-9370

6955 Fernhill Drive, Malibu 90265

Principal: Ms. Chi Kim

Friday, February 6 at 8:30am

ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY (K-5)

(310) 395-0941

801 Montana Ave., Santa Monica 90403

Principal: Ms. Natalie Burton

Thursday, February 5 at 10:00am

SANTA MONICA ALTERNATIVE (SMASH) (K-8)

(310) 396-2640

2525 Fifth Street, Santa Monica 90405

Principal: Ms. Jessica Rishe

Wednesday, February 4 at 9:00am

SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL (9-12)

(310) 395-3204

601 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica 90405

Principal: Dr. Hugo Pedroza

Tuesday, February 17 at 10:00am

WEBSTER ELEMENTARY (K-5)

(310) 456-6494

3602 Winter Canyon, Malibu 90265

Principal: Mr. Phil Cott

Tuesday, February 3 at 9:00am

WILL ROGERS LEARNING COMMUNITY (K-5)

(310) 452-2364 2401

14th Street, Santa Monica 90405

Principal: Ms. Irma Lyons

Wednesday, February 4 at 9:00am

 

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SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

1651 16TH Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404

ph: 310.450.8338; fax: 310.581.1138

www.smmusd.org