My first year as a principal in Malibu has been filled with small and large joys. From the time Henry shared his favorite book with his first grade buddies, to the time Davis checked out her first book from the library and hugged it close to her heart, to the time Linda and her class sang for 300 of their peers, to the time Nick ran his first mile, to the time Julia brought her friend to the nurse to get her temperature taken, to the time Erica presented her Patrick Henry speech, and so many other moments like these are what I have the great fortune of witnessing every day.
Measure S is not about sending money to Sacramento or buying textbooks or adding to the State Department of Education. Quite simply, it is about allowing our children, in this community, to continue to grow and learn under the guidance of caring and supportive teachers and staff. It is about enabling our children to develop into well-rounded citizens so that they, too, can give back and help our society reach its true potential. It is about looking every child in the eyes and telling them truthfully that the adults in our community care and value their intellectual, social and emotional growth. Measure S is about maintaining a local level of funding that has been severely cut by the State of California.
A truth about life is that difficult and challenging times help us to see the best in others and in ourselves. This truth is being tested as individuals and citizens debate about the importance of maintaining quality schools in Malibu. Our job, indeed our duty, is to remain focused on our children. It is time to act as a caring citizenry to ensure that our children do not become the victims of a situation that we have the power to change. I was drawn to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District because of the quality and commitment I saw in this community. For just under 62 cents a day, you can help every child in our school district. Measure S will enable our children in Malibu to see the best in you.
Chi Kim, principal
Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School