Excellent Schools Through Local Control               

A Time of Reflection...

“There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
-Nelson Mandela


"There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.


Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela are shining examples of forbearance, dedication, integrity and humility. Their words and their deeds reflect their understanding of the importance of leadership and character as the foundations of democratic society. Nothing can be more important in this regard than to remember that we are role models for our children. We must be the people we hope them to become. For better or worse, our children learn more from what we actually do than from how we tell them them they should behave.

The ongoing environmental situation at Malibu High School and at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School is an opportunity to teach our children by our actions. It is an opportunity to show them how the missteps of our generation can and should be addressed by theirs. 

Nothing could be clearer than the three steps that our community and our school district can and should be taking. First, there needs to be thorough testing of the environment at both schools. Second, the parents, teachers, staff, classified employees, experts, school district leadership, and students all need to discuss, explore, and understand the results of that thorough testing together. Finally, based on that understanding, those same people, our school community, must agree upon and see to completion appropriate remediation - however large or small.

We can all agree that first and foremost comes the safety of the children and adults who frequent school premises. Let us all act in a manner such that this situation becomes an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and responsible stewardship to our children and to the larger community.

We are heartened by the hiring of the environmental engineering firm, Environ, and the selection committee’s enthusiasm for Environ’s competence, experience, professionalism, and integrity. We support and encourage all involved to foster an attitude of stewardship, cooperation and responsibility - to teach our children and all those watching by their example.

Sincerely,

Craig Foster
AMPS President


Music is Universal! 


Landfill Harmonic

The world sends us garbage... We send back music.


Cateura, Paraguay is a town essentially built on top of a landfill. Garbage collectors browse the trash for sellable goods, and children are often at risk of getting involved with drugs and gangs. When music teacher Fabio set up a music program for the kids of Cateura, they soon have more students than they have instruments. 

That changed when Szaran and Fabio were brought something they had never seen before: a violin made out of garbage. Today, there’s an entire orchestra of assembled instruments, now called The Recycled Orchestra.

The film shows how trash and recycled materials can be transformed into beautiful sounding musical instruments, but more importantly, it brings witness to the transformation of precious human beings.


To watch the video click: here


 Featured Video 

What Adults Can Learn From Kids...
April 2010, by Adora Svitak, Ted Talks

Child prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.

A prolific short story writer and blogger since age seven, Adora Svitak (now 12) speaks around the United States to adults and children as an advocate for literacy.

Watch video: here

 Local Education News 

School Board Selects New Firm to Handle Malibu PCB Removal
January 17, 2014, By David Mark Simpson, Santa Monica Daily Press

Read more: here

Webster Students Receive Awards
January 17, 2014 By Staff Report, Malibu Times

Read more: here

15 School District Employees Average $139K A Year
January 8, 2014, by David Mark Simpson, Santa Monica Daily Press

Read more: here

 School for Thought 

Education Laws Overdue for Renewal Languish in Congress
January 15, 2014, by Alyson Klein, Ed Week 

Read more: here

Local Districts on Receiving End of Federal Support, Headaches
January 9, 2014, by Michele McNeil, Ed Week


Read more: here

Brown's 2014-15 Budget Increases School Funding for Neediest Students

January 9, 2014, by Penny Arevalo, Malibu Patch

Read more: here

The Common Core will cost millions and lower test scores--and the US should implement it anyway
January 9, 2014, by Sidharth Kakkar, Quartz

Read more: here

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AMPS Malibu
Calendar:

No School:

President's Day
Monday, February 17th



MHS Middle School Talent Show

Friday, Jan. 24, 6pm
@ MHS Auditorium



Juan Cabrillo Western Bingo Night
Friday, Jan. 31, 6-8 pm
@ Juan Cabrillo Elementary


Webster Talent Show

Friday, Jan. 31st, 7pm
Webster Elementary

Stairway to the Stars
Choir: Feb. 7th, 7pm
Band: Feb. 11th, 7pm
Orchestra: Feb. 13th, 7pm
@ Barnum Hall SMHS



MHS Middle School Musical
Feb. 20-22nd, 7pm
Feb. 23rd, 2pm
@MHS Auditorium


AMPS Coffee & Information Sessions
 

If you would like to attend or volunteer to host one, please call Alexia at (310) 734-2021 or visit our website at www.ampsmalibu.org.

Contact Us:

Website
www.ampsmalibu.org

Address:
Advocates for Malibu Public Schools (AMPS)
23805 Stuart Ranch Rd. Suite #105
Malibu, CA 90265

Phone:
(310) 734-2021

Email:
[email protected]