A joyful celebration of learning through play
By Barbara Burke · Fri Jun 12 2026
Our Lady of Malibu Preschool's youngest learners delighted families with songs, artwork, and the skills they gained throughout the school year
As summer is almost upon Malibu and elementary, middle, and high schools are celebrating promotions and graduations, the wee wanes attending Our Lady of Malibu Preschool were ahead of the game! They celebrated their end-of-year art and music show on June 4, delighting their parents and teachers as they performed 16 songs about all the things they learned this past year — songs about the planet, the ocean, the seasons, our environment, the alphabet, and many other fun things. They also proudly shared their fun art, works that evinced each child’s unique perspective on the world.
'Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood'
“Step into my daughter’s preschool class and you’re instantly wrapped in a joyful symphony of tambourine shakes, circle-time songs, and pure toddler glee,” said Amie Gaines Sturdivant. “The walls are a colorful gallery of finger-paint masterpieces and glittery crafts, all brought to life by her incredible teacher, Miss Shari Latta, who is a true superhero who turns every day into a magical adventure with her endless patience and warmth. Between the upbeat music sessions and messy art projects, she creates such a loving space for children!”
The children's school year has been full of learning through play, thereby learning social skills and emotional intelligence that the littlest among us will carry through their entire lives. “Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul,” Friedrich Fröbel, educator and founder of the kindergarten concept, stated.
By that measure, this year has been a huge success for all the students in Latta’s class. “The children are all so happy to learn about all the topics!” she shared. “They learn through songs and they are able to recall facts about all our subjects.” Latta noted that the little pupils “are proud of their daily art projects and they also love academic times!” She also recounted how the children “can recognize the letters and seem to understand phonics!”
Latta noted that the 4-year-olds are writing their names, and even the two-year-olds can sing the spelling of their names.“It’s so much fun to play with them everyday!” she declared.
Parents are so impressed by how much the children have learned, how happy they are to learn and, of course, by their songs and art.
“It was so special to see the culmination of the year through the art, the performance, and the pride the children took in it all,” Nikki Walker shared. “Shari pours her heart into the classroom and the children — when someone cares that much, wonderful things happen! Greg and I are so grateful our son is on the receiving end of it.”
The 4-year olds will move to a transitional kindergarten class and the young 2- and 3-year-olds will stay with the preschool, Latta explained. With smiling faces, joyous hearts, pride in their art and music, and an optimism derived from their new-found confidence, the littles will thoroughly enjoy the summer with their families.
