The theme of “Working Together, Achieving Excellence” highlighted the partnership with parents at Our Lady of Malibu School’s recent Back to School Night for parents of students in junior high school. Principal Suzanne Ricci introduced two new faculty members and announced new programs, including French and advanced technology programs. Incorporating technology into all areas of the curriculum with the state of the art Technology Lab (replaced after the 2007 fire and dedicated last fall), OLM is providing all students with instruction in 21st-century skills.
New instructors include sixth-grade homeroom teacher Annamaria Burruel and French teacher Ivana Lyon. Burruel grew up in the San Fernando Valley and attended Mount St. Mary’s College. She spent the past eight years teaching in Los Angeles at Divine Savior and Holy Trinity Preparatory Junior High School. Lyon has developed an innovative and interactive schoolwide language program that includes an introduction to French culture and history. Prior to developing language skills for younger students, Lyon instructed college students at UCLA in summer sessions conducted in Paris, France. OLM is also offering an after-school program for families who would like to enrich their Spanish Language skills acquired in previous years.