Malibu Elementary School Picks New Mascot, Unveils New Song

MALIBU, CA — Malibu Elementary School selected a seal lion as the school's new mascot, the district announced Thursday.

The elected school site council worked with students, staff and parents to choose the new mascot, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District said. Along with the new mascot, the school released a school song composed by Craig Stuart Garfinkle, a former Malibu resident who currently lives in Ireland. Listen to the song here.

Garfinkle wrote the lyrics that represent the school and community well, the press release said. Some of the lyrics include, "Here at Malibu Elementary, where our childhood dreams come true,” and “With surf, sand and sun, shining every day [...]."

The school is also in the process of designing a logo incorporating the sea lion, name of the school and school colors: blue and green.

Malibu Elementary School opened in August on the site of the former Point Dume Marine Science School, after Point Dume merged with Juan Cabrillo Elementary School. The newly-combined school has 285 students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade and is under the direction of Principal Mr. Chris Hertz, the press release said.

"I am very pleased that the elected school site council, composed equally of parents and staff,
selected the sea lion," Hertz said. "Sea lions are frequently heard and spotted off the cliffs below the school. The council wanted a local animal that had not been the previous mascot of our two founding schools and they wanted input from students, staff and parents. The sea lion emerged on top. The students love making the sea lion bark at our rallies."