PrincipalÕs Message
October 20, 2004
Dear Parents,
The first grading period has ended and you should have received a progress report indicating how your student is doing in his or her classes. Hopefully, you are talking with your student about what is going well, areas in which they need extra help, or steps the student can take to improve performance. If your student is struggling in a class, talk with your studentÕs teacher to understand what the issues are, then work with your student to make the necessary adjustments. If you need help, contact your studentÕs counselor. DonÕt forget to praise students for good work or when they have improved.
One of the challenges that our young people face is negotiating pressure from peers and society to use drugs and alcohol. High school students throughout the country, including Malibu High students, are faced with challenges related to drugs and alcohol, that, when acted upon, have implications for their success at school. As a school community it is important that we send a unified message to our young people that we do not condone the use of drugs, alcohol or intoxicants of any kind by students Š inside of school or outside in our communities. We understand that students who use drugs and alcohol are engaging in personally destructive behavior that may yield negative consequences for themselves or their peers. Some students see their use as recreational. Yet, for others, their use represents self-medicating behavior that masks a fragile emotional state that needs support. Others are navigating adolescence and thereby experimenting by choice or after being pressured by peers. The problem is serious and it is important that we let our students know that if they need help, we will help them, if they need the parameters set, we have set them, and, if they need consequences, we will issue them. We do these things because we care and share a genuine concern for our students.
There are many committed teachers, counselors, staff members, nurse, librarian, psychologist, social worker, administrators, instructional assistants, coaches, and other members of the community who demonstrate their commitment to young people each and every day. My hope is that every student at Malibu High School knows at least one adult well Š so much so that he or she would confide in and enlist that person to help him or her deal with the pressures of substance use. We have support systems in place to help students in need. Our own counselors are highly skilled and knowledgeable and, if they cannot provide direct assistance, they can make appropriate referrals. We can refer students to meet with (on campus) counseling interns who come from Jewish Family Services. Every Monday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Malibu High School hosts Visions Adolescent Treatment CenterÕs Parent & Teen Support Group for students and parents. You can contact Susie Spain at 310-262-9191 or just show up. We also have a group for middle school parents called Parent 2 Parent hosted by Roy Ettenger. This forum gives parents the opportunity to discuss strategies for raising your adolescent student. The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 21st from 5 Š 7 p.m. Additionally, our administrative staff and other faculty/staff can meet with parents and students to problem solve and identify pathways to healthier behaviors.
I donÕt want to send the message that I condone drug and alcohol use in any setting, but I want to emphasize (and ask that parents remind their student) that unlawfully possessing, using, selling, being under the influence, or otherwise furnishing drugs or alcohol is unacceptable at school or any school activity. This certainly extends to any activity in which students are representing Malibu High School. We provided every student a copy of the DistrictÕs Controlled Substance Policy at our grade level meetings held during the second week of school. If you did not see it ask your student or call the school and we will send you a copy. It details the discipline and counseling procedures for students who violate the policy. This is a revised policy that removed involuntary transfer as a required consequence; it does include suspension, community service, counseling, and loss of privileges as consequences. For students making poor choices the consequences are severe and require a significant change in behavior. The better choice is for students to avoid contact or association with drugs and alcohol in relationship to any activity associated with Malibu High School.
We have a Drug and Alcohol Committee that is thinking about the issues that our students face and what we as a school can do to support students, how we affirm appropriate and positive behaviors, and how to get the message out that using drugs and alcohol is not acceptable. You can contact Matt Horvath at ext. 274 for more information. The well-being of our students is what is important. Educating students, providing them the tools to negotiate their social environment, and offering support when necessary are critical components to ensuring that students participate in a safe and secure school community. Throughout the year I will continue to write on this topic. Thank you for your support and commitment to our students.
The Bookshark Program is underway and I hope that every parent is making sure that his or her student is reading. Students are encouraged to read at least 25 books per year. Reading is fundamental to success in school. Reading ability including comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary improve when students read on a regular basis. You can coach your student by helping them access reading selections, modeling by doing your own reading, by conversing with your student about what he or she is reading. As a parent, these are some of the most important steps you can take to help your student improve in school. You can visit the Malibu High School website to download a Bookshark form. Throughout the school year, we will recognize students who hit specific reading targets. The first Bookshark Turn-in Day is December 1st.
There are many events coming up in November. It is likely that many of our athletic teams will be competing in CIF playoffs. There are several field trips planned. Our annual Community Service Fair is scheduled for November 12th. There is a String Orchestra concert on Wednesday, November 3rd, Film Club presentation on November 5th, and the Choir will host its Cabaret event on November 10th. Each events starts at 7:00 p.m. The high school play ŅLend me a TenorÓ starts on December 2nd and there are several music concerts throughout the month of December. We invite you to attend any of these events, take time to volunteer on campus or to attend a parent meeting. When you come to campus you will see how hard we are working to provide your students with amazing opportunities and experiences. You can always visit our website for updates on events.
Malibu High School is seeking people who are interested in working in special education classrooms as instructional aides. You can contact the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District or visit the DistrictÕs website at www.smmusd.org to find out about employment opportunities. Working as an instructional assistant offers a unique opportunity to have a direct impact on students with special needs.
Volunteers are continuing to work hard on behalf of The Shark Fund. Their time and efforts is enabling Malibu High School to provide better educational experiences to our students, but they need your support. We are far from our goal of having 100% of the families contribute to the Fund. There is still plenty of time, and more importantly, plenty of needs. The Shark Fund has been an essential partner in supporting academics, athletics, the arts, and PTSA at Malibu High School. I encourage you to visit The Shark FundÕs website, which details how contributions have been spent. Supporting the magazine drive, contributing to the Boys and Girls Club, or donating to The Shark Fund are all ways in which parents and our community support the young people in Malibu. We appreciate your generosity and thank you for demonstrating how precious our young people are to all of our lives.