September 26, 2008
Please note: The SMASHing Friday Letter is now posted on our
website at: www.smash.smmusd.org
We will no longer be sending home a hard copy of our letter unless requested
Dear SMASHing Families,
You have WOWED us with your outstanding participation at all of the Core Forums! Since I believe I am the only one who attended all 4 of them (although Tamara was at 3 of them and some of you are certainly committed to SMASH in multiple cores), I thought I’d share my collection of family member reflections because they tell a unified story of strong programs that you respect. Using your ideas and my restating of them, here are some of the things you appreciated about the Forums:
- Searching the physical classroom for evidence that supports key teaching values such as: Learning through story and art or Making real world applications.
- Hearing about the healthy adventuresome foods children are eating at community snacks, or birthday bashes.
- Looking at the various strategies used to solve math word problems based on classroom happenings. Eagerness to support at home this kind of mathematical thinking that goes deeper than memorizing algorithms.
- Getting clear directions about which homework books are “Just Right” for the children to read aloud to family members and which bookmarks will signal a need for the families to read the book to the child, taking the stress off of decoding words and onto richer comprehension of more complex ideas.
- Witnessing the power of technology as learning tools with SmartBoard slide shows and video clips of student testimonials related to Writing Workshop processes.
- Seeing the extraordinary combined knowledge and camaraderie of teaching teams.
- Learning about ways to help within the classroom, around campus, and more.
- Realizing multiple means of differentiation across curricular areas.
Next opportunities to learn more about classroom goals include October 15th-17th Family Conferences, November 18th Parent Education morning, and SMASH Advisory Council October 1st 6:30pm in the Computer Lab.
Truly Yours,
Jessica
DATES TO REMEMBER
EVENT DATE DETAILS
Local Holiday Tues, Sept. 30 NO SCHOOL
SMASH Picture Day Wed., Oct 1 8:30 am Flyers sent home today. Students must prepay for photos. All students will
receive a free student ID
Site Council Meeting Wed. Oct 1 6:30 pm Meet in Computer Lab, Upstairs rm 290
PTSA Thur. Oct 2 6:30 pm
Rummage Sale & Car Wash Sat. Oct 11 8:00am-4:00pm Volunteers & shoppers needed! See
details in today's Friday Letter
BAKE SALE - WEDNESDAYS - HEALTHY TREATS AND FUN ITEMS
OCTOBER NOVEMBER
Core 2 - Oct. 1 Core 3 - Nov. 5
Core 1 - Oct. 8 Core 2 - Nov. 12
Core 4 - Oct. 22
SMASH Picture Day! Wednesday, October 1
Students must pay for photos in advance. Order form was sent home on Friday, Sept 19. Additional order forms are available in main office. All students will receive a free photo student ID card. Class photo only is item F for $11.00. Check made payable to Lifetouch or cash (exact amount, no change available). If you choose to pay by credit card, you must go to payments.lifetouch.com, follow the online instructions and write your payment code on the order form.
The SMASH Advisory Council is composed of parents, teachers, classified staff, and administration. It is a shared decision-making body created to implement site plan goals that promote the vision of the school community and reflect the District's goals.
OCTOBER 1, 2008 SMASH Advisory Council AGENDA:
6:30pm in the SMASH Computer Lab
Introduction of 08-09 SMASH Advisory Council Members and Roles
Initial review of progress towards 07-08 School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) site plan goals.
Confirmation of future meeting dates.
SMASHing HOLIDAY SINGERS
All Students are Welcome!
Rehearsals begin Wednesday, October 1, 3:00 - 3:30 in Core 1
Show scheduled at Main Street Farmer's Market, Sunday, December 7
ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE and CAR WASH!!
Don't throw out that stuff ... save it for the October 11th Rummage Sale.
You can bring your donations to the cafetorium on Friday, Oct. 10, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
We are looking for your quality cast-offs:
clothing, books, toys, dvds, furniture, electronics, home goods, jewelry, etc.
Please contact Tracy Story tracymstory@hotmail.com 310/453-4396 to help:
put up signs: Thursday, Oct. 9
sort: Friday Oct. 10 - 8:00-4:00
sell: Sat., Oct. 11 7:00 am - 1:00 pm
clean up: Saturday, Oct. 11, 1:00 - 3:00
We are in special need of trucks and vans to brings the unsold goods to charity.
We also need clothing racks and hangars to use for the day.
Contact John Zemke to help with the Car Wash. 310-315-1114
SMASH/Muir Campus/Neighborhood Cleanup a Huge Success!
Many, many thanks to the 70+ volunteers who gave generously of their time on Saturday to participate in the combined SMASH/John Muir contribution to Heal the Bay's Coastal Cleanup Day!
The event was a major success, as teams of volunteers fanned out across the campus, Los Amigos field, and the surrounding neighborhoods and returned with 36.5 lbs of trash and 35 lbs of recycling.
County wide, some 12,262 community members scoured beaches, parks, alleys, creeks, highways and storm drains from 9 am to noon at 71 sites throughout the county. City crews, families, local businesses, faith-based organizations, schools and youth sports teams removed 181,000 pounds of debris and recyclables from L.A. County watersheds. Winners of our volunteer raffle:
* Ralph's $25 gift card: Kathy Goodson * BYOB bag: Jeremy Ondarts * 2 lbs of pistachios: Rufus Bordal
* Heal the Bay canvas bag: Charlotte Ondarts * 3-pack of Neutrogena Sunblock spray: Lucca Necci
Keep your eye on the Friday Letter for more notices from the Green Committee and more joint
SMASH/John Muir events throughout the year! Thanks, Dave
FLU SEASON IS COMING!
Common influenza causes fever, sore throat, cough, chills, headache, and muscle aches. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications each year, including 20,000 children. The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year.
The best time to get your flu shot is in October or November, before the height of the annual flu season; however, even as late as January, vaccination can help protect against the flu.
Flu vaccination is especially important for adults age 50 or more, and adults with health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, and other chronic illnesses. However, regardless of age, a yearly flu shot is recommended for almost everyone.
Flu vaccinations are now available at
Von's. Adults only.
710 Broadway; 310-260-0263. 1311 Wilshire, 310--394-1414
Flu Shot Clinic: Oct. 8, 10am - 4pm Flu Shot Clinic: Nov 1, 10am-2pm
Costco Age 9 and up 13463 Washington Blvd 310-754-2002
Clinics: Oct. 7; 3-7pm Oct. 13; 10-2pm Oct. 17; 10-2pm Oct. 22; 3-7pm
YOU'RE INVITED
reDiscover Open House
Sunday, September 28 - 1-4 pm 12958 W Washington Blvd (aprox. 3 miles east of Lincoln Blvd)Please join us this Sunday at the reDiscover Center. We will host a free OPEN HOUSE for the community. We will feature hands-on arts making projects with textile artist Constance Bracewell. Our warehouse will be open for low cost recycled materials. Also, refreshments, door prizes, and information about our programs.
www.reDiscoverCenter.org http://www.rediscovercenter.org - Hope to see you there! Marni & Kristy
Wake Up with the Waves! It's Free!At the Santa Monica Pier Children's ConcertSaturday, Sept. 27 9am to 11am - Pier Parking Deck.
The Hollow Trees/Jamie Shaheen "Welcome to Nelsonville" (Folk /Country Swing)Concerts are held every Saturday through October 25. For details, visit www.santamonicapier.org JOIN THE SMASH PTSA
Parent Teacher Student Association
Thanks to all of you who’ve already signed up. It’s encouraging to see so many people who care about our children’s school. Thank you.
If you haven’t signed up it’s not too late (procrastinators rejoice!). Show your support by joining your PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) today. Why? It’s an auspicious time because September and October are “PTA Membership Months”. So joining PTSA now would be like celebrating Father’s Day on Father’s Day. And Mother’s Day, well, you get it. Waiting for November would just be so wrong.
By joining SMASH PTSA, you give strength to the largest nonprofit advocacy group in the nation that’s dedicated to the education and welfare of our children. The strength of the PTSA is in numbers. When you join, you make a difference.
SMASH PTSA also gives financial support for things like teachers’ aides, classroom supplies, field trips, music and art (basically we make things nicer, easier, better and other adjectives that end in -er). By increasing membership, we can continue and maybe even expand the activities and programs that the PTSA funds.
$8 per member is all we ask. Again, anyone can join – parents, kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors. (Please make checks payable to SMASH PTSA.) For $8 a person, membership also entitles you to receive a copy of the all-important all-school SMASH Directory. And here’s the beauty of multiple members per family: You get one Directory for each member. That means one copy at home, one for the office, one in the car and one that always seems to be lost.
Please join by filling out the envelope that was in the Friday Letter a couple weeks back, then return it to the office today (well, Monday). Can’t find it? Envelopes will also be in the office if you need them. Any questions, email Susan Alinsangan (Core 2, Owen Doyle’s Mom) at hellosusan@mac.com.
Sincerely,
Susan Alinsangan Helga Schier & David Saltzman Jessica Rishe
PTSA Membership PTSA Co-Presidents Principal
PTSA news
President’s Note
Dear SMASHing parents!
Our Arts and Spanish programs were off to a roaring start this week. Thanks to all of the individuals who work hard to bring these programs to life… those who help raise funds, those who help design the programs and those who donate money… and of course, thanks to our terrific Artists-in-Residence and our fabulous Spanish teachers. We’re glad to have you back on campus. And we’re glad to have the funds to keep you there. It’s never fun to ask for money, and so we’ll keep it short… we really, truly and honestly need your family donation to make these (and other) programs happen. Please give your donation by December 31, 2008 and give as much as you can (suggested donation $557.89). We are aiming for 100% participation. Your children’s education will benefit greatly. And your contribution is tax deductible!
See you Thursday, 10/2, 6:30PM at the PTSA meeting!
Best,
David Saltzman and Helga Schier
SMASHing Fundraisers
Greenraising is recycled wrapping paper, and so much more… choose from a catalogue full of environmentally friendly goods such as bottles or lunch boxes. You can order online any time and SMASH will receive 25% of the proceeds. If you order during our drive from October 8 through October 27, 2008 we’ll even receive 40%. Go to www.greenraising.com and choose ‘Santa Monica Alternative Schoolhouse’ as your affiliate for your order. Encourage family and friends to do the same!
The Rummage Sale/Car Wash is on Saturday, October 11, 2008. Clean out your closets, attics, garages and bring your stuff to SMASH. Contact Tracy Story at 310-453-4396 or tracymstory@hotmail.com
And then the spooky season starts, but hold off on buying those pumpkins until our 3rd annual Pumpkin (and Bake) Sale on Friday, October 17, 2008. Contact Lori Nafshun at 310-452-5700 or gettalife@earthlink.net
Ever had cereal for breakfast? Of course you have... Which means you most likely have a few BOX TOPS at home. Bring them in by October 27, 2008! SMASH gets $0.10 for every box top we collect! Collection cans are in the office. Thanks!
The Wednesday Fundraisers (formerly known as bake sales) are off to an amazing start! Core 3 and Core 4 each made around $300 on their first sale! That is truly SMASHing! Thanks to everyone involved. Don’t forget we can sell Spin Art, pencils and SMASHing fashion, too!
SMASHing Committees
We’d like to establish a Spanish classroom library in all Cores. If you have Spanish books at home (picture books for Core 1 and 2, easy readers for Core 3 and 4) please bring them in. If you’d like to donate funds specifically to buy Spanish books, please contact Helga at helgaschier@verizon.net, or drop off your donation with Janice in the office. And think of the Spanish program when ordering classroom books during the Scholastic Book Order time! Thanks so much!
SMASHing Meetings
Our next PTSA meeting is on Thursday, October 2 at 6:30PM. Let us know if you have issues, questions, concerns, ideas... we’ll put them on the agenda. Come check it out!
¡ Español Hoy !
September 2008
Hola familias.
The Spanish Language Program at SMASH began this week. Allow us to introduce ourselves, Nina Baumgartner, former Core 4 Spanish teacher now teaching Core 1. And, Diana Albarracin, the new Core 2, 3, and 4 teacher. We are both so excited to be on campus, working with this amazing community of students, teachers and parents. We have been getting together for the last month, planning, creating and collaborating to lay a strong foundation for this year’s Spanish program to grow from. Thank you to PTSA language representatives, Helga Schier and Andrea Kahn for all the support and guidance.
Parents should know that all Spanish classes are taught in complete immersion, exposing children to language learning and cultural exploration through interactive activities, games, music, story, drama, literature, art, and play.
This week students dove right into Spanish classes reviewing some basic greetings and phrases, and revisiting simple vocabulary, such as, numbers, colors, animals and clothing. We played games, sang songs, and had tons of fun.
In the upcoming weeks we will continue to explore initial greetings and expressions used when talking about ourselves and begin to incorporate vocabulary that is relevant to our students interests. September 15th to Oct 15th is Hispanic Heritage month, and we will be using this time to expose students to some of the cultural holidays, literature, and handicrafts. Towards the end of October we will begin studying the Day of the Dead, a popular tradition celebrating and honoring the lives of the deceased.
These monthly updates will allow families to stay informed on how the program is progressing, what we’ve done and what’s to come.
Thank you all for your support, generosity, and patience getting this program integrated into SMASH.
Paz,
Nina and Diana
Buenos Días from Core 1!
We began our week by meeting our new Spanish Teacher, Nina, who brought fun games in Español for us to sing and play. Then we met two other new teachers: Dian (our Music teacher) and Claire (our Librarian). These teachers will continue to bring the gift of story and song to our learning.
The children have created and signed our Freedom with Responsibility contract, which sets the guidelines for how we will take care of our community during the course of the year. Look to see how it reflects our SMASHing Citizenship goals – CARES (Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Control). We will continue to explore those concepts throughout the day, especially at our Magic Circles.
Reminders & Dates to Remember:
*No School, Tuesday, September 30
*Smile! Picture Day is this Wednesday, October 1. If you would like to purchase pictures, make sure you turn in your money ahead of time.
*Appropriate shoe wear is a must for PE on Mondays (everyone) and Thursdays (Bigs only).
*Next Birthday Bash is October 10th for October birthdays. Healthy Snack sign-up is near the Home/School table.
Thank you to all of the families who attended our Core Forum last Tuesday and for your continued donations and support. We hope you found it very informative. Classroom volunteers – please start ASAP.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: candisberens@smmusd.org Chrysta: wyse@smmusd.org
CORE 2 NEWS
Dear Core 2 community, September 26, 2008
In Reader’s Workshop, our reading at home program officially begins today. Look for the activity sheet to be completed and returned next Friday, October 3. In Writer’s Workshop, the students are doing three illustrations. One picture for the beginning of their story, one for the middle and a third one for the end. They brain stormed adjectives in order to complete a chart on the back of each illustration.
Cross Core Learning began Thursday with Core 4 student partnered up with a Core 2 “reading buddy”.
In Math the 2nd graders have been doing number strands and doubling. They have homework that is attached to these papers. It is due on Wednesday, October 1. The 3rd graders used their homework as a resource to create riddles. No 3rd grade math homework this week.
We began a visual arts rotation with Ingrid. The children had the opportunity to learn about proportion in human figures by tracing shapes that represent joints and limbs. Other vocabulary words they learned are: oval, cylinder, and horizon. You are an amazing community! Thanks for all your voluntary donations (Laura has been fully reimbursed).
Every other Wednesday when Core 2 is not in the Computer Lab, they will have Body Movement with Nadja. Today the children moved to different rhythms and levels. Ask your child to show you a giraffe in movement.
This week’s focus in our social curriculum was on how would C.A.R.E.S. (cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control) look and sound in Core 2.
Diana began Spanish with Core 2 this week. Ask your child how to say: good morning/afternoon, my name Is ____ , how are you feeling? I am feeling fine, so-so, or sad. (If your child comes up to their advisor on Monday and asks us how we are feeling and what is our name in Spanish they will receive a wonderful surprise.)
Wish List: aluminum foil and newspaper for Ingrid’s art
Upcoming dates and events:
Tuesday, September 30 – school holiday
Wednesday, October 1 - Picture Day. Make sure you have your order in before photos are taken!
Thursday, October 9 – school holiday
Friday, October 24 – October Birthday Bash, more info in future letters
Have a wonderful weekend!
Laura’s e-mail: sherman@smmusd.org Jayme’s e-mail: jayme.wold@smmusd.org
CORE 3 NEWS
Hola Core 3 Families! September 26, 2008
Thank you to all the families who made it to the Core 3 Forum (It was paperless this year, so if you are looking for the information we discussed—just keep reading the Friday Letters!) and a great big thanks to all who support and take care of our core and our school. We are lucky to have such a committed community!
Reading Workshop, Reading Homework, and Read Aloud have been a big part of launching our new school year. As you have probably seen, your child is reading 20-40 minutes every day for homework and logging in their pages/reading time on a reading log sheet attached to their planners. Reading a Just Right book every day is the most important practice needed to grow as a reader. Why a log? The logs provide a way to reflect on one’s reading, look for patterns, and be responsible for and hold oneself accountable to the reading work. SMASH is about developing children’s ability to find intrinsic value in their work--so, in reading, the goal is to grow up to be lifelong readers who love to read and are cognitive about their readerly lives. As teachers, we guide them and show them ways to be reflective, active readers who enjoy books. Having a teacher or parent sign the log does not necessarily support their independence and accountability. In school, your child also reads every day in their Just Right book, allowing us to work in small groups and one-on-one conferences to give individualized teaching (instead of a one lesson-fits-all model). The students will use the logs during our weekly conferences. We will also be starting a reading notebook, which will be a place for teachers and students to keep track of their dialogue and record evidence of your child’s independent reading goals and progress. In addition, the reading notebook gives students a chance to reflect on the books we read aloud.
We have started our first chapter book read aloud, Edward’s Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan. It’s a well-written book, rich with ideas and questions to discuss. Along with modeling good reading/thinking strategies, read aloud is an important part of our day so students can enjoy books and all they offer to our society and our understanding human relations.
Check out this month’s Book Order (attached), a great way to support your child’s reading at home, and the SMASH website--Core 3, Genie--to see upcoming local reading/author events! We’re so lucky we live in a metropolis that brings famous authors right to us!
Have a great weekend!
mugalian@smmusd.org Tamara, Genie, and Malaika genie.hwang@smmusd.org
CORE 4 NEWS
Paving Our Own Paths : Math 6/7: Students continued to explore how mathematicians act as collectors this week. We discussed how collection processes are a part of everyday lives as well as a significant portion of many professions. Also, we launched our first personal inquiry project to complement our initial unit, Collecting, Displaying, and Interpreting Data. The mathematicians were asked to think about types of information they would want to collect by surveying others. We will encourage them to not only think about surveying their peer group, but also looking at questions that involve asking the community about current issues and events. No specific due dates at this time. However, daily homework is given through the form of worksheets, as mentioned in the Core 4 Forum.
Algebra: As mathematicians, we are continuing to build the conceptual understanding and rationale behind Integer operations. These include addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication of negative and positive numbers. Because grasping the ideas behind the processes is a difficult one, I encourage asking your child how they determined the answers in their homework. As a reminder, they have daily homework coming from their book or from a handout. No specific dates for their first test have been set.
Give me an S! Give me a P! Give me an A! We are all cheering here in Core 4 because our Spanish classes started this week! Our new and very talented leader, Dian, will lead the students through this Spanish learning venture on Thursdays and Fridays. Stay tuned for more information on the various skills they are learning throughout each week. There will be a blurb about it in each Friday letter.
Reminders:
Tuesday, Sept. 30 - school holiday - No SCHOOL
Wednesday, Oct. 1 - Picture Day. Make sure you have your order in boefore photos are taken!
Kurt: holland@smmusd.org Kelly: kelly.kulsrud@smmusd.org Erin: erin.haendel@smmusd.org
