Excellent Schools Through Local Control              


Addition to the AMPS Team!

Advocates for Malibu Public Schools (AMPS) announces the appointment of its first Development Director, Karen Dunphy.  Dunphy comes to AMPS with eight years of senior development experience in the Los Angeles area as well as many years providing leadership for volunteer support groups in the region. 

Her role will be to help AMPS build a robust corporate, foundation and individual fundraising effort that can not only support AMPS' vision, but also support the local schools. "We are thrilled to have Karen join our team, as we begin the all important next phase of our efforts to create a new school district and improve the education of all students in SMMUSD" stated Craig Foster, President of AMPS.  "Karen will not only be engaged in fundraising for AMPS, but her mission is to also work with the local Malibu schools and community to build sustainable funding efforts that ensure all our PTA's and all school booster organizations have the funding necessary to sustain critical programs."

With its mission to enhance the lives of Malibu children by focusing on local control and improving and strengthening the local education system, AMPS recruited Karen so she can share her expertise in building and growing development and marketing efforts, as well as work with volunteer development and community outreach.  One of her first tasks will be to reach out to AMPS' supporters and build on the high level of interest in the community around educational excellence and creating a Malibu Unified School District.


MHS PTSA Endorsement 

Last Thursday, February 27th the Malibu High School PTSA unanimously approved the endorsement of AMPS and the separation effort. 

We appreciate and thank everyone who came to support AMPS, or who were with us in spirit.  This is another step closer in the formation of an independent Malibu Unified School District! 


 Event Alerts

Malibu Little League Opening Ceremonies
Saturday, March 8th from 10:30 - 11:30 am
Malibu Bluffs Park

Come on down to Malibu Bluffs Park this Saturday for the opening ceremony of Malibu Little League.  Don't forget to stop on by and say "Hi" to everyone at the the AMPS table. Hope to see you there!

"Malibu Artists Unite"
Saturday, March 15th from 7:30 - 10:30 pm
ART SPACE Malibu
3728 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, CA 90265

Featuring the Artwork of:

Elizabeth Anthony
Coco Costigan-Daniels
Michelle Geft
Kandy Lozano
Daniela Schweitzer

We would like to thank Michelle Geft, who has been so generous and gracious to host the "Malibu Artist Unite" event.  In addition, some of the proceeds from all sales will be given to AMPS. So please come and support this event and thank you again Michelle!!!  

For more information click: here.


Malibu City Council Candidates Forums

MARCH 20, 6-8 pm, Thursday - HRL Laboratories
3011 Malibu Canyon Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
(sponsored by the Malibu Chamber of Commerce/Malibu Board of Realtors

MARCH 26, 7:00 pm, Wednesday - Pt. Dume Marine Science School 
(sponsored by the Pt. Dume Homeowners' Association)



 Boys & Girls Club of Malibu:
2014 Youth of the Year



AMPS is very proud of Jacob Park, 2014 Youth of the Year at the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu Teen Center. 

Jacob Park was selected as one of the finalists to advance to the next round of competition, which will determine who will be the co-LA County Youths of the Year and advance to the state of California competition.  As Jacob states, “Not everyone finds change in their lives. But then again, not everyone seeks it”.  Jacob is an advocate for positive change, and we at AMPS can certainly get on board with that! 

Congratulations Jacob!  We are rooting for you! 

 Featured Video 

2014 Malibu Speaker Series

Rafe Esquith, famed educator, will be speaking at the 2014 Malibu Speaker Series on Wednesday, May 21st, 2014, 3 pm.  

A once-in-a-lifetime educator, Rafe Esquith may be the most inspiring school teacher in America. He's been called "a modern day Thoreau" by Newsday, "a genius and a saint" by The New York Times, and "the most interesting and influential classroom teacher in the country" by The Washington Post. For the past two decades, Esquith has taught fifth graders at a public school in a Los Angeles neighborhood plagued by guns, gangs, and violence. His exceptional classroom at Hobart Elementary-known simply as Room 56-is unlike any other in the country.

Esquith's students are mostly immigrants or children of immigrants, living in poverty and learning English as a second language. Yet under his tutelage, they voluntarily come to class at 6:30 in the morning and often stay until five in the afternoon. They learn math, reading, and science. But they also play Vivaldi, perform Shakespeare, often score in the top one percent on standardized tests, and go on to attend the best universities. For his near-heroic work, Esquith is the only teacher to be awarded the President's National Medal of the Arts. He has received the National Teacher of the Year Award and won accolades from Oprah, the Queen, and the Dalai Lama. He's also written four books, with his most recent being the critically acclaimed Real Talk for Real Teachers, published in 2013. His other books include Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire, There Are No Shortcuts, and Lighting Their Fires. Esquith has also been featured, along with his students, in the PBS documentary The Hobart Shakespeareans.

An upbeat, revitalizing speaker, Rafe Esquith inspires audiences with his personal journey and plea to make students our priority.

To reserve your seat or for more information about this free event, call (310) 456-6438.

This free event will be held at:
Malibu Civic Theater
23825 Stuart Ranch Rd, Malibu 90265

For more information on the event click: here.

Kohlberg's Levels of Moral Development
January 2014, by Rafe Esquith

Watch video: here.

 Local Education News 

Communication a Focus in Next SM-Malibu Ed Foundation Fundraiser
February 24, 2014, by David Mark Simpson, Malibu Times

Read more: here

Juan Cabrillo focuses on website design with new GATE program
March 3, 2014 By Ashleigh Fryer, Malibu Surfside News

Read more: here

School Suspensions Down Across the Board

February 20, 2014, By David Mark Simpson, Malibu Times

Read more: here

 School for Thought 

'He's Not Motivated': How Can We Strengthen a Child's Effort and Motivation to Learn?
February 27, 2014, By Kenneth Barish, The Huffington Post Education

Read more: here

The Bell Curve is a Myth
February 19, 2014, By Josh Bersin, Quartz

Read more: here

6 Secrets Every Parent (and School) Should Know About Academic Success

February 27, 2014, by Dayle Hayes, The Huffington Post Education

Read more: here

Goal: 2000 Endorsements: 

Please help AMPS reach our new goal of 2000 endorsements. 

Click here to become an AMPS advocate today.


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Membership

Please join AMPS in the goal of forming a locally controlled Malibu Unified School District.

To become a member click here.

AMPS Malibu
Calendar:


Malibu MS Dance

March 14, 5:30-7:30 pm, Old Gym



Juan Cabrillo Jog-A-Thon

March 21, 8:30-12 pm



Malibu HS/MS Open House
March 18, 6:00 pm



Webster Hawaiian Luau Fundraiser & Golden Ticket
March 28, 6:30 pm, Geoffrey's
Click to purchase tickets: here



Juan Cabrillo Instrumental & Choir Concert

April 3, 6:30 pm, MP Room



Pt. Dume Spring Concert Grades 3-5

April 4, 8:30 am Cafetorium


Spring Break:

April 7-18


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]