Dear Parents,

Welcome to my first Principal’s Message. Throughout the year I will write to you to share information, reflect on the work of the school, provoke your thinking, and ask for your support and involvement as we collectively support the educational success of all of our students. I encourage you to read my Principal’s Message, and all of the other information included in any of our mailings. Doing so will help you be informed of what is happening at Malibu High School and enable you to help your student navigate the school year.

We start the school year celebrating. Malibu High School achieved a rating of 817 on the State’s Academic Performance Index (API), which is one measure of how we are performing academically. This rating is significant for several reasons. First, our rating of 817 represents a growth of 22 points, which far exceeded our growth target. It also represents four consecutive years of growth that few high schools have achieved. Lastly, the State has set an API rating of 800 as the primary target for all schools. Improving by 22 points pushed us past that 800 target threshold. In addition to our improved API rating, we achieved Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) required by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. To do so we had to ensure maximum participation (95% or above) and achievement by all students, and for students identified within each subgroup: English language learners (ELL), special education, economically disadvantaged, and by ethnicity. We achieved AYP because last spring our students took the California High School Exit Exam and State Standards Tests seriously and improved their performance on these tests. Ultimately, it was their efforts that produced these results.

Reaching a rating of 817 and meeting AYP was accomplished by our students who benefited from the hard work of teachers and the school community. In particular, teachers continue to be committed to aligning their courses to State standards. This includes adjusting curriculum and embedding assessments that help teachers understand how well students are performing relative to State standards. We also continue to emphasize reading across the curriculum, knowing that students who are successful readers are far more likely to be successful in their courses. This work will continue this year as we work to further embed State standards into the teaching and learning that engages our students.

As we celebrate our success it is important that we not rest, as there is still work to do. Not all of our students are reaching proficiency in reading and mathematics. Too many students are still scoring at the Basic and Below Basic levels on the California Standards Tests in several content areas. There are still unacceptable discrepancies between groups including our students of color, students who are economically challenged, and special education students. Our efforts to “close the gaps” must continue and we must be mindful of the needs of all of our students in our conscious effort to direct support and service to students. Being one of the “best high schools in the country” requires that we commit to success for all of our students. Continued implementation of AVID and AVID strategies, an expanded advanced placement (AP) program, biology as our primary 9^th grade science class, and our efforts to have all students successful in algebra are all steps in the right direction. I welcome the opportunity to facilitate the conversation about what it means to be one of the best high schools and to develop a common understanding of what it will take to get there. Our story is one of continuing success with on-going needs. I am confident that if we unify our purpose we will achieve our goals.

Malibu High administrators had an opportunity to meet groups of students during our annual Rules Assembly. We welcomed back the students and set expectations for the school year including highlighting school rules, policies and practices that are written for students in their assignment books. We also presented the District’s newly adopted Controlled Substance Policy. Families were mailed a Parent and Student Handbook and a copy of the publication Kids and the Law. I ask that you take time to discuss and review these materials with your student. It is an opportunity for you to help your student make good choices for themselves, including knowing that there are consequences for inappropriate behaviors. One of the best ways to frame this conversation is to remind your student they are in school for a purpose and that being successful can easily be achieved by adhering to the following principles:

· attend school each and every day;

· be on-time and ready to learn, each and every day, each and every period;

· do all that is asked of you in class.

· do all that is asked of you outside of class;

· get help – if you need assistance, find one adult on campus who can help you negotiate your challenges.

I have had a chance to observe the traffic flow at the start and end of the school day. For parents who are dropping off or picking students up, make safety a priority, and be sure to be a good neighbor. When approaching or leaving the campus be mindful of all the places where students may emerge. When moving after dropping off or picking up a student look around to see if there are students, and know that you may not be able to see many of them, so drive slowly. Rushing to and from the school is problematic so make sure you move with caution. I’ve received complaints from our neighbors that people are disposing of their trash on people’s property and are parking in driveways blocking access to homes. I ask that you are aware of where you are stopping your vehicle and only discard your trash into trashcans.

I want to remind parents and families of our procedures regarding emergency situations that potentially impact whether school is open or closed.

· In most cases, if an emergency begins when school is in session, school will go on until the end of the day. If we were to dismiss school early, there are some parents who would not receive this information and it would likely be very confusing to families. Therefore, whenever reasonable to do so, we will remain open through the close of the day.

· If you feel the need to pick up your child, feel free to come school and pick your student up. We ask that you check your student out from the office so that we can track where all our students are.

· We can release your student to another adult provided that person is listed on your student’s emergency card. We will make every attempt to contact you to let you know that we have released your student to that person.

· I will update the voice mail and website regularly to let you know what is going on.

· I ask that you discuss with your student how important it is for your student to communicate with you where he or she is going. After the 3:00 p.m. dismissal, remind your student that if they do not go home with their regular ride, they should call you and let you know where they are.

· Remind your student that MHS is an incredibly safe place to be in a disaster. With all the mowed open space around us, a fire would have a difficult time finding its way to our buildings. In the worst case, officials would direct us to evacuate and walk down to the beach.

· We stay here until the last child gets home. Our Boys and Girls Club is a great partner for us, as they know many of the students and their families and provide a safe place for students. In the rare situation where a student cannot get home we enlist parents and community volunteers who offer places for students to stay.

· If you are wondering whether or not school is cancelled, you can call the school phone where I will leave a message, you can check our website, or you can listen to local TV or KNX 1070 radio. Our PTSA parents also use a phone tree to inform parents.

· Your student’s safety and well-being is our primary concern. We will do everything we can to maintain the lines of communication and keep your student safe.

I invite families to attend any our upcoming events. Our student leaders in ASB are busy planning an exciting week of homecoming events that will start the week of October 4^th. The homecoming football game will take place under the lights on Friday, October 8^th at 7:00 p.m. This is a great event that is for the whole community. Come share in the excitement. The middle school play, “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” will begin on Thursday, October 28^th and continue through Sunday, October 31^st. Come support the arts and share in the talents of our students. It is a great community event.

I want to thank all of the parents, students, teachers and community members who have welcomed me and wished me well. I am in awe at the amount of time parents have given to ensure a smooth transition and opening of the school year. I am so appreciative of the reception I have received from our students and I know that this will be an amazing school year. I look forward to thinking about our promise as a school community and thank you for this opportunity to collaborate with you on behalf of our students.

Sincerely,

Mark O. Kelly

Principal