Friday Letter 5-30-08

THE SMASHING FRIDAY LETTER
May 30, 2008

SuperSMASH ‘08

FEATURING

11:30 to 1:00 & 4:30 to 5:00
DJ Core 2 Mom Holly Adams

1:00 to 1:15
SMASH Middle School String Orchestra

1:30 to 3:15
The Brig Band "Jazz Hip Hop Funk Rock - All Improv All the Time"
featuring Core 1 Dad Kenny Burgomaster

3:30 to 4:00
ONE
featuring Core 4’s Olivia Mugalian, alumni Nicole Andrews and Evan

4:15
Nico – Accoustic Guitar

12:45, 1:15, 2:15, 3:15, 4:00
Cakewalk

5:00
SuperSMASH Raffle Drawings

ALSO FEATURING

Silent Auction
Auction opens at 11:30, and closes in sections at 4:00, 4:15 and 4:30
Great Food
SMASHing chili (vegetarian and not) … SMASHing Dave’s Famous Ribs
Wildflour Pizza … Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Iced Coffee Drinks
Great Fun
water balloon slingshot, giant water slide, goldfish toss, roulette wheel,
bean bag toss, soccer kick, football toss, tie-dye adventure

New Attractions!
Remote Control Monster Trucks!
Check it out!
SuperSMASH…tomorrow…11:30 to 5:30…be there!


DATES TO REMEMBER
Sat, May 31 - SuperSMASH Carnival and Silent Auction
Fri, June 6-Sun, June 8—Camping trip at Decker Canyon (Details in this letter)
Fri, June 6 - Last day for 3rd grade district music
Wed, June 11—Core 3 and 4 Instrumental and Choral Music Informance 6pm
Thurs, June 12—Open House 6:30pm
Thurs, June 12 - Last day for Cores 3 & 4 district music
Tues, June 17 through Friday, June 20 - 1:30 dismissal
Thurs, June 19 - 8th Grade Graduation 10:00am - Lists of what to bring in next Friday Letter
Fri, June 20—All school beach day (last day of school) ! Adults - Come & play with your kids at the beach!!

WANTED!
Lunch duty volunteers.
Any day you can, between 11:45 am and 1:00 pm to help supervise the kids playing in the yard.

CREST Enrichment make-up classes
Monday class to be made up on Monday, June 2, 2008
Play the Fairway with TGA! 1-5 (4505.120) @ 3:05-4:05 PM in the Cafeteria (missed 5.26.08)

Friday class to be made up on Friday, June 6, 2008
Quickstart Tennis 1-5 (4505.118) @ 3:05-4:05 PM on Playground (missed 5.23.08)

Monday class to be made up on Monday, June 9, 2008
Play the Fairway 1-5 (4505.120) @ 3:05:4:05 PM on Playground (missed 4.28.08)

YEARBOOKS $12
DON’T MISS OUT! ORDER YOURS NOW!
Place your order now with Janice or Wende in the main office.
Yearbooks are distributed during the last week of school.

Super SMASH Silent Auction Catalog
The catalog has been updated and is available online at our website (smash.smmusd.org)

DECKER CANYON CAMP OUT
JUNE 6 & 7
DETAILS!

SIGN UP IN THE MAIN OFFICE

Attention SMASH Campers!!…
And those who like to hang out with campers.
It’s time again to go have fun in the great out doors, so we’re headed back to Decker Canyon!
It is located about 2 miles off PCH on Decker Canyon Road (about 23 miles North of Santa Monica.)

THE PRICE:
Decker Canyon Campground has a different pricing policy than National and State parks,
including a fee for day users. Prices are the same as last year:
OVERNIGHT CAMPERS: $10 PER PERSON, PER NIGHT
DAYTIME CAMPERS: $8 PER PERSON, PER DAY
CHECKS PAYABLE TO SMASH PTSA - PAYMENT DUE NOW!
Please sign-up and pay in the office by Thursday, June 5th

CHECK-IN TIME -- 11:00 am -- Friday, June 6
CHECK-OUT TIME -- 2:00 pm -- Sunday, June 8

FOR INSURANCE REASONS -- NO DROP-OFFS ALLOWED
All children must be accompanied by their parent or guardian.
No one is to be responsible for anyone else's child.

GOOD NEWS ABOUT PARKING
There is plenty of parking on the site and no extra parking fees!
That said, it's still a good idea to carpool if possible so we don't feel like we're camping in a parking lot.
Please try for one car per family (or less.)

WHAT TO BRING
Everyone is responsible for bringing their own food, tent, bedding, supplies, etc.
Bring charcoal and/or camping stoves if you plan on cooking.
Food should be stored in a plastic bins to keep it safe from critters.

BRING FIRE WOOD TO SHARE!
Bring marshmallows and fixin's for s'mores, instruments, games,
sports gear, hiking gear, sunscreen, insect repellent, first-aid kits, flashlights, etc.
Bring beach gear of you want to drive down to the beach.

BE PREPARED FOR FUN, FUN, FUN !!!

Contact Janice Merrihew (Jake's mom) with questions at:
(310) 392-4239 or email: jmerrihew@gmail.com

This is a PTSA sponsored event

Got 2 Bucks?
Here’s your chance to win a fantastic
Veloworx BIKE

Buy one (or two or three…) raffle ticket(s) for only $2/each and perhaps you’ll win a
Phat Cycles SeaBreeze Cruiser
(valued at $200; exchangeable for store credit only)

Purchase your tickets at SuperSMASH.

Raffle closes at SuperSMASH, Saturday, May 31, 2008
Winner will be announced around 5PM on the field. Winner need NOT be present.

&-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please fill out the form below and hand it in with your $2 for one (1) raffle ticket towards a chance to win the Veloworx Phat Cycles SeaBreeze Cruiser. The purchase of multiple tickets is gently encouraged.

Name: _______________________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________

Telephone: ____________________________________________________________________________

E-mail: _______________________________________________________________________________






ptsa news

president’s note
Dear SMASHing Parents,

David and I are excited and honored to serve as PTSA Co-Presidents next year. Ofer is a tough act to follow, but we will do our very best. Our most important mission will be to help make the transition from Principal Carrie to Principal Jessica as smooth as possible for everyone involved. Change is an opportunity for growth, while continuity provides a sense of stability and security. Both have a vital place in a learning community as dynamic, demanding and diverse as SMASH. David and I have been at SMASH and active in PTSA for a few years. We feel well equipped to provide a sense of continuity. Many of next year’s board members are ‘new’ SMASH parents with a fresh approach to things. This seems like a winning combination to take on next year’s challenges.

This year is still in full swing and exciting things lie immediately ahead: SuperSMASH! It’s quite nice to start one’s term as Co-President with an invitation to a fabulous party: Come to SuperSMASH. It’s tomorrow, and you don’t want to miss it.

Best,
Helga Schier and David Saltzman

SMASHing meetings
Our next PTSA meeting is on Thursday, June 5, at 6:00PM. Come meet the new board! Come meet the new principal! Jessica Rishe will stop by towards the end. She will meet and greet, and then lead a caravan to the School Board Meeting, where the Small School Task Force is scheduled to report. Third time’s the charm, they say… This time it’s bound to happen! So please come to the School Board Meeting next Thursday to show your support for a small alternative high school in the SMMUSD. Adults AND kids are encouraged to attend. We will inform you through the e-mail tree just as soon as we know more specifics.

SMASHing fundraisers
SuperSMASH… tomorrow…11:30 to 5:30…be there!

Got T-shirts?
Bring your t-shirts, dresses, sheets to SuperSMASH to tie-dye.
Got no t-shirts? Don’t despair… we’ll sell some at SuperSMASH.
Got cakes?
The cakewalk needs your cakes!
Please bring a cake to SuperSMASH by 11AM.

Got Friends?
Friends don’t let friends miss SuperSMASH!
SuperSMASH…tomorrow…11:30-5:30…be there!

Instrumental Music/Chorus Spring Concerts

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The end of the year is approaching fast! It is time to celebrate the hard work our John Muir and SMASH students have done in music class with a concert! The Spring Concert will take place on June 11. All performances are on the John Muir and SMASH campus in the following locations at the following times:

Beginning Music Classes (4th Grade)
6:30
Beginning Violin, Viola, and Cello Class—Auditorium
Beginning Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, and Clarinet—Media Center
Beginning Flute—Room 415


Advanced Music Classes (5th Grade) and SMASH Middle School Classes
7:30
Choir, Advanced Strings, and SMASH Middle School Strings—Auditorium
Advanced Winds and SMASH Middle School Winds—Media Center

Performing is an important part of the music curriculum. Attendance to this event is mandatory, and is part of each student’s grade in music class. Students are asked to wear nice school clothes to the performance. Nice clothing will reflect the pride that they take in their hard work in music class!

All of the music teachers at John Muir and SMASH look forward to seeing you at our final performance!

Sincerely,
Katie Cavallaro (kathryn.cavallaro@smmusd.org)

A BIG HUGE THANK YOU!

To every single one of you who helped get us ready for SuperSMASH.

Thank you for …

getting donations,
writing the Silent Auction catalogue,
labeling items, creating decorations, getting refreshments,
making signs, posting them, soliciting food vendors,
creating our postcards and distributing them, placing advertisements, bringing in canopies, baking cakes, buying prizes,
creating Core Art Projects, making casseroles, printing buttons,
creating a menu, organizing games, buying food,
this, that and the other …
the list is endless.

And then there are those who have volunteered
to set up or run a booth or be cashier or help clean up tomorrow.
Thanks just for promising to be there!

Come to the Volunteer Sign-Up Station near the Main Office
at least five minutes before you are scheduled to work,
so we can direct you.

And then …

HAVE FUN OUT THERE!

SuperSMASH…tomorrow…11:30 to 5:30…be there!

CASSEROLE CORNER
COME ONE COME ALL TO THE NOW SMASH FAMOUS CASSEROLE CORNER!!!!!!
MAY 31st IS NOT FAR AWAY AND WE NEED YOU, YES YOU… AND YOUR CULINARY SKILLS. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS MAKE UP A FAMILY SIZE ENTRÉE OR CASSEROLE IN A DISPOSABLE PAN THAT CAN BE FROZEN AND REHEATED AND BRING IT ON DOWN TO SMASH BEFORE 11:00 A.M. ON MAY 31st.
WE ARE SELLING THESE THE DAY OF OUR EVENT.
DON’T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE?
Lasagna (veggie or beef), tamale pie, pasta, chili, enchiladas, mac ‘n’ cheese, turkey tetrazzini, goulash, eggplant parmesan, meatloaf and mashed potatoes layered or Shepard’s pie. The ideas are endless!!!!
So get the form filled out and get going girls and guys.
Call Carol Koncan @ 310-895-6615 or e-mail me at sonagenics@gmail.com
DON’T DELAY…GET COOKIN’ TODAY!

_________________________________________ _____________
NAME OF DISH TIN #
MADE BY:_______________________________________________

INGREDIENTS
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREPARATION
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RE-HEATING INSTRUCTIONS
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CORE 1 NEWS

Santa Monica Main Library Trip
Core 1 will be visiting the Santa Monica Main Library on June 6. We will be leaving by Big Blue Bus around 9am and returning in time for lunch. All students will need to bring their snack. We will be listening to stories and learning about the Summer Reading Program. We also need chaperones for this event. Please sign-up in the Peaceful Room.

SMASH Library Books Due June 4
If you have any SMASH library books, please return them ASAP. If you have lost a book, you may replace it or donate money (so the library can replace it). Please talk to our librarian, Claire, if you have any questions. She will be busy doing inventory for our library during the month of June.
July-August Birthday Bash
It’s our final bash of the year!! We will be celebrating our summertime birthdays (July and August birthdays) on Friday, June 13. The Bash will be from 12:00-1:00 (this hour includes the birthday circle, eating, and playing on the Small Yard). The students will also be able to eat their lunches at this time. Students can still bring their lunch from home or buy hot lunch. (It's a good idea to send some lunch from home just in case…) The food/drink sign up for July/August families is in the Peaceful Room. Please bring enough of whatever you bring for 40 children. As always, family and friends are welcome!

Open House
We hope you can attend the SMASH Open House on June 12. The Core 1 students will be sharing their portfolios and other accomplishments they are proud of this year. This is also a great time to see all of the amazing things the other cores have been doing, too.

Thank You’s
Congratulations to the Core 1 actors who performed FABULOUS versions of Charlie the Caterpillar. You were creative! You were brave! And you worked as a team!! Thank you to Kristy, our drama teacher, who worked so hard to make it happen. You helped us transform into fun characters, and you transformed our classroom into a theater. Wow!

Thank you so much to all of the parents who helped make our Penpal Day a success!
It was such a beautiful day!! It’s fun to know our community reaches beyond Santa Monica.

Wish List: Thank you for your donations!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!
SEE YOU AT SupeSMASH!!
Mana, Candis, and Jackie


Candis: candis.berens@smmusd.org Mana: mhale@smmusd.org

Core 2 News

Dear Core 2 Community, May 30, 2008
The Core 1/Core 2 BBQ was a SMASHing hit…despite the rain! Thank you to all of you that helped out and attended. You really make the event special! We had an great time eating, visiting, and Tinikling.

In Social Studies and Science, the students continued to work on their Invention #3 creations. They are looking quite amazing! The students have been putting a lot of work into these activities and we look forward to sharing at the Invention Convention on June 12!

During the Core 2 Computer Lab time, the students read articles about what jobs the Presidential candidates had before they decided to become politicians. Ask your student about these articles, you might be interested in what they have found out!

In Literacy, the students are publishing and finishing up their Story Starter writing. Next week, they will begin a partner writing assignment. The Black Dragons finished their read aloud book, “The Tale of Despereaux.” The Bouncing Bongos are reading, “Flush.”

In Math, the 2nd graders worked on reviewing totals and change and also began exploring coupons. Please have your 2nd Grader bring in at least one coupon to share by June 6. Thanks! A way to include your student in money learning is to allow them to help figure out totals and look for coupons at the supermarket. The 3rd graders continued their exploration of fractions and fair shares.

In art with Christine Marie, the children finished their comics. We enjoyed our time with her and will be having our arts sharing on Wednesday, June 4 at 10:40 am and 11:20 am. There are two different sharings. We hope to see you there!

SuperSMASH is here! Hope to see you all there. It’s going to be loads of fun!

PHEW!! The year is coming to a close, yet there’s still a lot to do…

Dates to remember:
Saturday, May 31 -- SuperSMASH 11:30-5:30
Wednesday, June 4 – Art Sharing with Christine Marie
Thursday, June 12—Invention Convention in Core 2 & SMASH Open House
Friday, June 13—Birthday Bash

SEE YOU TOMORROW AT SuperSMASH!
Jayme, Laura, and Nadja
Jayme: jayme.wold@smmusd.org Laura: sherman@smmusd.org

CORE 3 NEWS

Scholastic Book Orders are due Tuesday, June 3! Please look through the order forms with your child and ask them what books they would like on their nightstands and in their beach bags for the summer!

In Reading Workshop, both groups looked through a variety of historical fiction and non-fiction books related to our theme “Why People Move.” They grouped books according to different themes/big ideas (people fleeing persecution, people looking for adventure, people being forced to move…) and according to specific topic (Native Americans, Wagon Trains, Pioneer Life, Slavery, Immigration to the U.S…). The students each chose a book to read over the next two weeks—they will read these books in class and at home. Ask your child what book they are reading and how it relates to our unit.

In Writing Workshop we started to draft our feature articles! Our Core 3 writers are learning how to use their outline formatted-research and put it into sections for their feature articles. They have also started to revise their pieces using transition words and sentences--learning that revising is basically rereading your work many, many times to make sure it makes the most sense. We’ve also learned that revising with your audience in mind can help you make your writing more clear. Ask your child if he/she has started drafting and revising! If the answer is “no” then you have some homework to do this weekend!

Fourth grade mathematicians started looking at the x-axis and y-axis, coordinates, and the differences between the quadrants. Ask them how Grid City and 4-Quadrant City helps them learn about this kind of math. Fifth grade mathematicians started a unit on measurement. They started with what they already know (natch!) to measure the room and to estimate items that are 1 millimeter, 1 centimeter, 1 meter, and 1 kilometer. Ask them about the guidelines to measure accurately. Homework! Fridays! Do it! Thanks!

In Social Studies/Science we learned about the affects of exploration, westward expansion, treaties, and industrialization on Native Americans. The students began to ask the question, “Why are we learning this?” We looked at the quote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" ~ George Santayana, for the answer to that question. Ask your child what that quote means to them.

Thanks to all the parents who came to the Middle School Music Talk! Hopefully our students’ hopes and dreams, along with parent and teacher feedback will help us build a strong, successful middle-school music program for the kids at SMASH.

Recently, we’ve noticed that students have been surfing the internet and creating email accounts on the various free email services available on the internet—then exchanging/writing down that info for each other. As our kids get older and become part of a fast-growing technology age--experts recommend communication with your child on being internet-safe. Attached is a list of tips to go over with your child so they can be on the internet, “chat” with friends, and be safe.


See you at SuperSMASH!!!
Tamara, Genie, Malaika, and Ingrid

Mugalian@smmusd.org Genie.Hwang@smmusd.org

Kids' Rules for Online Safety
From safekids.com

1. I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.

2. I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.

3. I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.

4. I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.

5. I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the service provider.

6. I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.

7. I will not give out my Internet password to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents.

8. I will check with my parents before downloading or installing software or doing anything that could possibly hurt our computer or jeopardize my family’s privacy

9. I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other people or is against the law.

10. I will help my parents understand how to have fun and learn things online and teach them things about the Internet, computers and other technology.













Rules 1 - 6 are adapted from the brochure Child Safety on the Information Highway by SafeKids.Com founder Larry Magid. (© 2004 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children). Rules 7 - 10 are copyrighted by Larry Magid (© 2005)

CORE 4 NEWS

6/7 Math: Rate it!: Over this past week, we began studying a different type of formula: rate. We reviewed the concept of rate and discussed the places and times in our everyday lives where rate has been mentioned or used. Not only did they make connections to science with the formula of rate equals distance over time, but they also named real-life situations such as the rate of gas prices and the rate of hotel room prices! Another important part of this conversation involved noting the difference between rates and fractions. Because rates are shown in a similar manner as fractions, we ensured the mathematicians to understand that rates involve the comparison of two quantities rather than naming parts of wholes (like fractions do). After our discussion, the students worked in partnerships to deepen their understanding of this concept.

Toward the latter part of this week, we began looking at strategies for solving rate problems. Completing rate tables and finding unit rates will be two of those methods. We will continue this discussion next week.

Flying Hippos on Broadway! As you know throughout this last trimester, the Flying Hippos (Kelly’s advisory) have taken on various songs from Broadway musicals to perform as their Drama part of the Arts curriculum. The performers chose songs from Peter Pan, Hair, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Give My Regards to Broadway to perform. Over these past few weeks, they have been working hard to pin down the words and choreographed dance moves for each of these chosen songs. All of their hard work will be shown off to our entire school and hopefully you in this upcoming week. They will perform next Wednesday, June 4! We hope to see you there as we all “Give Our Regards to Broadway”.

El Charrrombly Advisory: Please join us for our advisory arts sharing on June 6. We shall be displaying our musical genre posters before and after the arts assembly and they are fun! Relive the sixties, disco, or whatever floated your boat. Please ask the following questions to help our learners celebrate their arts achievement.
® What are your favorite creative parts of this piece?
® What is a musical genre? How does your piece capture your chosen genre?
® Disco balls are icons of the disco musical genre, what icons on your poster represent your chosen genre?
Don’t miss this chance to support our students.

Ciencia: we are in the middle of the very definition of “serious fun.” Our able student scientists are writing an analysis during class time and at home reviewing the beach monitoring project. Our purpose with this project is to expose students to longer-term projects that are genuine in the sense of the procedure, usefulness, and opportunity to integrate concepts. Our final work will be second-generation rockets. Materials and the analysis are due on the 2nd of June. Only learners who are caught-up will be involved in the final rocket launching. Please, review with your child the many ways in which they may get help on these projects. We remain a high demand/high support environment during our remaining school days.

Algebra: Chapter 11 test was today. Chapter 12 test will be in 2 weeks.

8th Grade Presentation Schedule:
June 2 8:30-9:30: (Kelly’s room) Tanner/Taishi, (Kelly’s room) Patrick/Elliott, (Erin’s room) Alyssa/Kate/Cassidy, (Erin’s room) Marcus/Danny, (Kurt’s room) Simone/Gina, Lucy
June 3 8:30-9:30: (Kelly) Milo then Anna/Mayra, (Erin) Alex then Anthony, (Kurt) Josh then Ben
June 3 2:00: (Kelly) Olivia, (Erin) Gio
June 5: (Kelly) Lucca/Ellen

Children surf the internet and create email accounts on the various free email services available on the internet—then exchanging/writing down that info for each other. As our kids get older and become part of a fast-growing technology age--experts recommend communication with your child on being internet-safe. Attached is a list of tips to go over with your child so they can be on the internet, “chat” with friends, and be safe.

SEE YOU TOMORROW AT SuperSMASH!
Kurt, Kelly, Erin, Carrie, Ingrid & Karin
Kelly: kkulsrud@aol.com Kurt: holland@ Erin:erin.haendel@ Carrie:cferguson@ smmusd.org