Week at a Glance
01/23, 01/25, 01/27 Run Club 7:45-8:05am
01/25 Parent Strategies Training Series 7-8:30pm - MBMS
01/27 Spirit Day - Wear Green or Gator Gear
01/27 Ice Cream Window Open 2:15-3pm
01/27 Unclaimed Lost & Found Donated After School
A Message from the Principal
"Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?" Henry David Thoreau
KINDNESS MATTERS Kindness and empathy start with human connection. Michele Borba's book "UnSelfie" explores why empathetic kids succeed in our all-about-me world. Over the next few weeks, I encourage parents to take a look at the
nine essential habits that provide children with the "empathy advantage" which Borba describes in her book. Additionally, Common Sense Media offers a list of
books that teach empathy and a list of
movies that inspire empathy. By helping children develop crucial fundamental skills of empathy such as emotional literacy, moral identity, perspective taking, self regulation, and, most importantly, practicing kindness, we give children the moral courage and the leadership to change the world for the better. Stay tuned for details about a GV parent book club coming in February to discuss "UnSelfie," and ways to nurture the best capabilities in our precious children. Gratefully, Mrs. Doyle.
Annual Appeal
READING FUNDAMENTALS From Kindergarten through third grade children learn to read, and then they read to learn. MBEF funds five credentialed reading specialists, including our own amazing Ms. Batavick, to ensure our elementary students have the reading competency and comprehension skills needed to increase reading proficiency at all reading levels. The fundamental skill of reading is a fundamental priority for MBEF.
mbef.org/givetoday. Annual Appeal ends 2/10.
HELP YOUR CLASSROOM TEACHER Thank you to the 81% of our GV families that have donated to our annual MBEF drive. Teachers earn a bonus to spend in the classroom this year if their classroom reaches 75-94% participation ($200) or 95%+ participation ($250). We would love for ALL of our wonderful teachers to receive the bonus this year. Please consider donating if you have not already done so.
Check out your classroom's current stats here.
Safety Meeting Recap
FROM PTA PRESIDENT HEATHER DE ROOS I want to thank everyone who attended Wednesday's meeting on a chilly, rainy night. I feel very lucky to have so many individuals committed to making our community safe.
Read on for a brief recap of the information that was shared, and next steps going forward. Many thanks to Debbie Goldberg at Fresh Brothers for providing a tasty meal and a raffle prize!
Volunteer Open House 2/1
A FE
STIVE EVENING TO FIND OUT ABOUT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEXT YEAR Join us at Amanda Zaumeyer's home on 2/1 from 6:30-8:30pm to find out more about Young At Art, Yearbook, GrowingGreat, Grades of Green, Student Store, Parent Party, PTA board postions, Gator Run, Run Club, Room Parent Coordinator, School Garden/Garden Club, Spring Fair, Book Fair, and Family Fun Movie Night. Please
RSVP attendance by 1/29. Can't attend, but want to get involved? Email
Jen Cram, VP of Volunteers.
Book Drive
CHILDREN'S BOOKS Girl Scout Troop 15395 is collecting gently used children's books now until March 17 to benefit a school in need via
Access Books. Drop off donations in the bin by the library. Questions? Contact
Karen Arensdorf or
Jessica Butler. Thank you for your kindness!
GAP Classes Begin 1/30
REGISTER TODAY! MB/X after school enrichment classes (GAP) start the week of 1/30. Click
here for the schedule. Click
here for deadline information. Click
here to create an account. Questions? Email
Gina Marcarelli or call 310-415-6883 for site related questions or email
Nancy Rosenburg for overall program information. Email
Jennifer Williams for technical issues.
MB Hometown Fair Board Openings
MB RESIDENTS The Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair Board, a 20-member all volunteer board, is looking for new members. If you are a resident of Manhattan Beach interested in helping to plan and participate in the South Bay's favorite fair, held annually in early October, please email Sandra Seville-Jones at
vicepresident@mbfair.org.
