Friday Letter 10-03-08

SMASHING FRIDAY LETTER
October 3, 2008

Thursday, October 9 - School Holiday - Admissions Day Observed
Saturday, October 11 - Rummage Sale and Car Wash 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Friday, October 17 -Pumpkin and Bake Sale - 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, October 15 and Thursday, October 16 - 1:30 Dismissal

Dear SMASHing Families,

Thank you for committing to helping us get “greener” by family viewing the Friday Letter on-line! For those trying to access the SMASH web site via Internet Explorer, we are aware that you are having difficulties and are working to find the programming solution to allow you to access the web page via the Internet Explorer web browser. In the meantime, Safari and Firefox allow you to view the Friday Letter on the SMASH web page, and Firefox is a free down load. We have a graphically beautiful web page thanks to Birte’s dedication and talents (We receive many compliments about the visual display of information about the school.) and hope to have the technical glitches resolved soon with the help of District Office personnel.

Some of you may have met or seen Kristin and Amanda, our two fabulous counselors from Family Services. In order to learn about the SMASH culture and build connections to staff, families, and students, they have been morning car valets, classroom assistants, and yard supervisors this week. Kristin and Amanda are working with the staff to organize small groups designed to explore conflict resolution, social skills, or life changes. Please welcome them to our community and introduce yourselves as you see them around campus. We will also keep you informed as Reflective Parenting groups become available with them later in the year.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Truly Yours,
Jessica

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


DATES TO REMEMBER

EVENT DATE DETAIL
Rummage Sale & Car Wash Sat. Oct 11 8:00am-4:00pm

Greenraising Wrapping Paper Sale Oct 8 - 27 Details in Friday Letter

Pumpkin Sale & Bake Sale
Fri. Oct. 17 Noon - 5:00 pm
Volunteers please contact:
Lori at gettalife@earthlink.net for pumpkin sales
Lizzy at lizzylola@gmail.com for bake contest & sale

SMASH/Muir Halloween Carnival Wed. Oct 29 3:00-5:00 pm Free Fun for Families!




BAKE SALE - WEDNESDAYS - HEALTHY TREATS AND FUN ITEMS

OCTOBER Core 1 - Oct. 8 Core 4 - Oct 22
NOVEMBER Core 3 - Nov. 5 Core 2 - Nov. 12


Special thanks to Santa Monica Daily Press Publisher Ross Furukawa, also known in Core 1 as Maya’s Ross, for blending his worlds to provide the SMASH October 11 Rummage Sale and the SMASH October 17 Pumpkin Sale with two weeks of free coverage in the newspaper. Thank you for this valuable ad space that enables SMASH to invite and attract many citywide community members, people who are happy to buy pumpkins and rummage with us!

SMASHing HOLIDAY SINGERS Wednesdays, 3:00-3:30 in Core 1
Show scheduled at Main Street Farmer's Market,Sunday, December 7. Come join the fun!

GRAND OPENING The Pico Youth and Family Center
Saturday, October 4 3:00-6:00 pm 735 Pico Blvd (1/2 block west of Lincoln Blvd.)
The grand opening will feature a silent art auction, live graffiti mural art, youth performers and inspiring speeches from participants and City leaders. The ribbon cutting ceremony will commence at 4 pm sharp



Social Deficits: Helping your Child Learn to “Relate”

Children with social cognitive deficits have difficulty considering and responding to the perspectives of those around them. This workshop will explore how vital the skill of “Perspective Taking” (also referred to as “Theory of Mind”) is to all social contact and interpretation.
Join Kelly Priest, M.S.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 7:00-9:00 PM
Franklin Elementary School Library; 2400 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica

Kelly Priest, M.Psych, is currently the director of social skills groups at Leaps ‘n Bounds and the facilitator of Westside Parents of Children with ASDs (Autism Spectrum Disorders) group.

Childcare will be provided. Please RSVP to Sheila Spencer (310) 863-8377 or spenceryocum@earthlink.net by 10/7 to let them know how many children will be attending.


4th Annual Latino New Works Festival
“Tierra De Mi Gente” “Land Of My People” New works by Daniel Alonzo
Opening Saturday, October 11 through November 30
310-453-1755 www.highwaysperformance.org
Highways Performance Space & Gallery—1651 18th Street (1/2 block N. of Olympic)


SMMUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES FORUM
League of Women Voters of Santa Monica Education Fund and Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs
Present
THE CANDIDATES FORUM
Monday, October 6 - 11:00 am
Malibu City Hall Council Chambers, 238 Stuart Ranch Road

Hear their view on education - their vision for our schools -
ask questions about issues that concern you!

If you wish to submit questions in advance, e-mail inatsugub@aol.com
The forum will be replayed on Malibu City TV, Ch.3
on Oct 11 at 8am & 8pm, then Mon-Fri at 5pm



reDiscover Musical Theatre with Pocket Full of Tales Theatre Company

Scripted original musicals with "green" messages are the leaping off point for our Musical Theatre Workshops. Your child will experience adventures in acting, dancing, "green" set design and teamwork! Students work together to create final performances for family, friends and the community. An exciting and fun introduction to the world of musical theater and a chance to work on a great show.
With over 14 years of experience in professional children's theatre, Pocket Full of Tales Theatre Company instructors provide your child with the best of the best in process based theatre training. Children are inspired to create musical theatre performances in a supportive, nurturing and positive classroom environment, where every child is set-up to succeed. While being challenged individually to improve their self-esteem, confidence and performance skills, your child will grow with us and have tons of fun!


Session 1: Mondays 3:45-5:45pm Ages 6-12 $165
Oct 20 Oct 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Show on Nov. 17 (with possible additional show on Nov. 22)

"We Speak for the Trees" Our musical will be inspired by the story of the Lorax.

Session 2: Mondays 3:45-5:45pm Ages 6-12 $135
Dec. 1 Dec. 8 Dec. 15 Show on Dec. 22
"Captain Scrap" Captain Scrap is something of a hermit. One day, the curious children who live down the road find him ill, so they generously gather blankets and a pot of stew for him. When they return, they see that his house is full of wonderful creations, which he has created from found "junk." The children and the captain become friends and he creates a wonderful neighborhood playground for them with his recycled junk.


PTSA news
President’s Note
Dear SMASHing parents!
October at SMASH means Rummage Sale and Car Wash on the 11th. So clean out your closets and garages and donate your stuff to the Rummage Sale… October at SMASH means Pumpkin Sale on the 17th. So don’t buy your pumpkins anywhere but here… October at SMASH means Greenraising from the 8th through the 27th. So tell your family and friends to shop environmentally friendly wrapping paper… October at SMASH means Halloween Carnival on the 29th. Come celebrate the spooky season at SMASH by helping us throw a free carnival for all SMASH and John Muir students and their families. Show your support for SMASH and have fun at the same time!

October at SMASH also means yes, you guessed it… Family Donations! Without your family’s donation we cannot sustain the Arts Program, we cannot grow the Spanish Program, and we cannot update our Technology Program. 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. All you need to do is stop by the office and drop off your check, or run your credit card. Your children’s education will benefit greatly. And don’t forget, your contribution is tax deductible!
On behalf of all our children at SMASH… Thank you!
Best,
David Saltzman and Helga Schier

SMASHing Fundraisers
·The Rummage Sale/Car Wash is on Saturday, October 11, 2008. Clean out your closets, attics,and garages and bring your stuff to SMASH. Contact Tracy Story at 310-453-4396 or e-mail at tracymstory@hotmail.com

·And then the spooky season starts, but hold off on buying those pumpkins until our 4th annual Pumpkin (and Bake) Sale on Friday, October 17, 2008. Contact Lori Nafshun at 310-452-5700 or e-mail at gettalife@earthlink.net

·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!

·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!

SMASHing Meetings
·Our next PTSA meeting is on Tuesday, November 4 at 8:15AM. Let us know if you have issues, questions, concerns, ideas... we’ll put them on the agenda. Come check it out!



It’s here!
It’s happening!
Let’s do it!
Greenraising

Choose from a catalogue of environmentally friendly goodswrapping paper, lunch boxes, water bottles…
Order online during our drive from October 8 to October 27, 2008
Go to www.greenraising.com and choose ‘Santa Monica Alternative Schoolhouse’
as your affiliate for your order. We’ll receive 40% of the proceeds.
Encourage family and friends to do the same!




Got Pumpkins?

SMASH’s 4th Annual Pumpkin and Bake Sale

Friday, October 17, 2008

Immediately After Dismissal

Got Volunteer Time?

Contact:
Lori Nafshun (Pumpkin Sale) gettalife@earthlink.net

Lizzy Joseph (Bake Contest & Sale) lizzylola@gmail.com





Shalom from Core 1!
We have begun out visits to our school library! Students will check out books on their library day and will bring them home for the week. They are books of their choice, so they could be ADVENTURE BOOKS (books they will enjoy looking at and reading the pictures, reading with you, and with your help), JUST RIGHT BOOKS (books that are a good reading “fit” for them) or VACATION BOOKS (books that are an easy ready, but enjoyable all the same). Whatever kind of book it is, your child picked it out his/herself, so it is very special to them.

Please enjoy this book with your child at home, and help them to return it the next week so that they can check out another. The Flittering Butterflies started this new routine this week. Their library day is Wednesday, so books will go home on Wednesdays and need to be returned by the following Wednesday. The Diving Shark Stars go to the library on Tuesdays, they will start this routine next week with books going home on Tuesdays and returning to school on Tuesdays.

Reminders & Dates to Remember:
*Thursday, October 9 - NO School - Admissions Day observed
*October Birthday Bash-October 10 at 11:30a.m.: If your child was born in October, please sign up at the Home/School table to bring a healthy snack that day to share. We’d love families of October babies to join us in the fun!
*Wednesday & Thursday, October 15 & 16 - Minimum Days - 1:30 dismissal
*Family Conferences: Sign up with your circle group teacher in the main office starting Monday. Parents and students attend this conference.

Thank you Core 1 families for hosting “teacher appreciation” at last Friday’s inquiry. Everything was beautiful and delicious. We felt VERY VERY appreciated and pampered.

Wish List: We are in need of band aids and 2.5 gallon containers of drinking water.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: candisberens@smmusd.org Chrysta: wyse@smmusd.org


CORE 2 NEWS

In Reader’s Workshop, keep up with your reading homework. The children are doing a fabulous job knowing if a book is a yellow, green, or red bookmark. We are using D.R.A. (Developmental Reading Assessment) to help your child know what books are Just Right. In Writer’s Workshop, the students are learning that “writers use complete sentences”. They can answer the Who and the What in each sentence.

In Arts with Ingrid, we continue learning skills about figure drawing and perspective. Ingrid’s program involves a lot of details so we could us volunteers 10:30 – 11:30 and 11:30 – 12:20. Please see Laura to sign up for this wonderful opportunity to work in Core 2.

In Math the 2nd graders are exploring calculators and figuring out whether they can “beat” the calculator in number strands. The 3rd graders are beginning to look at pattern in skip counting. NO math homework this week.

Wish List: aluminum foil

Upcoming dates and events:
If on Monday morning you (children not parents) tell your advisor what your favorite book is and why, you will get a second chance to receive a SMASHing surprise!
October Family Conferences – please sign up in the office or call Janice or Wende.
Thursday, October 9 – school holiday
Wednesday & Thursday, October 15 & 16 - Minimum Days - 1:30 dismissal
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

Writing Workshop has been underway for a few weeks. Your child carefully decorated his/her Writers Notebook to make it their own (so the ideas inside can be their own, too). They have been learning what kinds of ideas (memories, stories, observations, thinking on paper, recording dreams, etc.) can go into a notebook and what form (lists, sketch with words or labels, a few sentences, paragraphs, poems, etc.) those ideas may take. Their daily writing homework is to write in their Writers Notebooks every day--whether that is a little or a lot--and to make sure to get down ideas before they forget them. They can write about anything they want (or use the list inside the cover--if thinking of what to write about is a challenge).
We’ve started our first writing genre unit, SMALL MOMENTS, by collecting possible ideas in our Writers Notebooks. This unit puts a magnifying glass to personal narratives (the beginning of memoir writing). They practice using rich story language by slowing down action, dialogue, and internal thinking. Kids read/hear rich writing every day in their Just Right books/read alouds, but when asked to write, they often write a list of sentences simply telling their readers: I went to the bike store. My parents bought me a bike. I liked it. I rode it all day. This is a beginning of a story--having the character, setting, plot, and movement through time. It is a good idea and has potential. In this unit, we teach them to pick out one moment from an event--like choosing the bike--not to simply tell all the events of the whole day. As well as teaching them to slow down the action, we emphasize showing, not telling the reader: Sitting in the car, buckled in the backseat, we pulled into the parking lot. Why does it always seem my mom drives so slowly when I’m in a rush to get somewhere? Finally stepping foot into the store and seeing all the shiny wheels, streamers and bells, I was ready to pick a bike.
As we guide the students through each step of the writing process (brainstorming/collecting ideas, choosing/nurturing one idea, drafting, revision, editing, and publishing), we will teach them writing strategies, confer with students individually to offer specific feedback and set goals, and give them lots of class time to practice each step. To get better at reading, we need to spend an hour a day reading. The same is true of writing. We’ll try to publish 1 – 3 pieces of writing within each genre unit—with an emphasis on the process over the final product. We’ll evaluate how they utilize different strategies, whether or not they can transfer those strategies to other forms of writing, and how they engage in each step of the process. That information will be shared in a variety of ways—in conferences, peer-evaluations, at publishing parties, in the narratives, and during conversations.
Share some small moments from your own life with your child, using rich language and internal thinking.

Have a great weekend! Clean out those closets!
mugalian@smmusd.org Tamara, Genie, and Malaika genie.hwang@smmusd.org


CORE 4 NEWS

Paving Our Own Paths: Math 6/7: Mathematicians moved from acting as collectors of data to working as organizers and analyzers of information. Students discovered initial ways to look at data and determine ideas from it. Throughout this unit, we will build on various ways and tools to collect, organize, display, and interpret data. The mathematicians also received the second part to their Personal Inquiry Project for this unit. As stated previously, this project will coincide with their work in class.

Algebra: As mathematicians, we delved deeper into conceptually understanding Integer operations, a very challenging task! We will continue to revisit these ideas as students engage in computations. Focusing on exponents is our next step to explore in this unit. 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.

“This is My Story. This is Who I am.”: Writing Workshop (Kelly’s group) Over the past few weeks, the writers have spent time building the writing community within our classroom. Through discussions and group sharing, the writers discovered the power of each other’s words, and the ways to support that in the classroom. Various strategies have been taught to develop their writing stamina, independence, skill, and resourcefulness. Within our community, we want them to feel empowered as writers by giving them writing strategies, resources, and independence to set them on a successful path. Each day they draft in their Writing Notebooks, and they will begin to take those to and from school starting next week. It has been exciting to see the unique and talented voices emerge in just this short time!

Kurt: holland@smmusd.org Kelly: kelly.kulsrud@smmusd.org Erin: erin.haendel@smmusd.org



SMASH Site Council Minutes
Wednesday, October 1, 2008

In Attendance: Jayme Wold, Tamara Mugalian, Laura Sherman, Malaika Boyer, Jessica Rishe, Jackie Boyd, Kezia Miller, Daniel McGee, Elizabeth Grossman.

Absent: Tracy Saltzman, Kelly Kulsrud, Candis Berens

Agenda Adopted: Moved by Dan McGee, Seconded by Jackie Boyd, Approved

Approve minutes of last meeting: (5-27-08) Moved by Kezia Miller, Seconded by
Malaika Boyer, Approved as filed.

Community Participation: None

Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)
Principal's Report
Supt Tim Cuneo Site Day PD participation, site visits, supportive of program
Williams compliance for textbooks. Facility still to be visited.
Music, visual arts, drama, Spanish, Family Services all began last week and this.

Student reports - None

Community Organization Reports (to include but not limited to the following):
-PTSA Oct 11 - Rummage Sale/Car Wash
Oct 8-27 - Greenraising wrapping paper sales
Oct 17 - Pumpkin and Bake Sale

-Student Council - None yet.

Old Business: Healthy cafeteria choices, community snacks, healthy birthday bashes

New Business
Review of by-laws
Oversee use of categorical funds
Develop and analyze implementation and effectiveness of SPSA in support of school vision
Communicate Site Council goals and actions to whole community
16 members: 1 principal, 4 students, 5 certificated, 2 classified, 4 parents
Selection of Chair: Laura Sherman
Secretary: Malaika Boyer
PTSA Liaison: Tamara Mugalian
Moved by Kezia Miller, Seconded by Malaika Boyer, Approved

Roberts Rules of Order
Consensus when possible in a timely manner, otherwise vote, and quorum is 6
Site Improvement Plan: Review progress towards goals

1. Goal: Begin foreign language
Provide foreign language for all students two times per week as an integrated part of the curriculum for all students grades K-8.
Show schedule and point out Mon lunches for teacher peer reflections/pd
Show curriculum overview and point out Andrea Kohn/SMC ESL professor and Helga Schier/professional editor and former German teacher support

TO DO: local intake and progress monitoring assessments, find long-term funding, continue to flesh out scope and sequence/lesson plans/resources including, develop curriculum to address the needs of multiple levels of language learners.
No funding attached, paid via PTSA. Previously Discretionary Block Grant, only $11 left of this one time money.

2. Alumni Communication
Yahoo and Facebook pages. Alumni scholarships. Carrie Ferguson and Theo Black

3. Professional Learning Community
Reading Workshop, Writing Workshop, Responsive Classroom, Critical Friends Groups

4. Technology Learning Goals
Key location/typing researching skills, looking for a number of sources information and checking the reliability of the information.

5. Library Expansion.
New bookcase of young adult literature.

Confirm meeting dates for the 2008-2009 year: Wednesdays at 6:30 pm on
Nov. 5, Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Feb.11, Mar. 18, Apr. 29, May 20, June 3
Moved by Jackie Boyd, Seconded by Malaika Boyer, Approved

Community Participation (if applicable): Admissions Policy. What are federal, state, school board parameters. Who makes decisions regarding new policies?

Adjourned: Moved by Dan McGee, Seconded by Kezia Miller, Approved

Friday Letter 10-03-08

We are having trouble posting this week's Friday Letter and hope to have it up shortly.