Once again there is an enormous list of thank yous to express to all of the parents and students who made this week’s Halloween Carnival a successful joint-school community event. It was a nice opportunity to step away from fundraising for a moment and have a fun community celebration. Sincere thanks to those who:
built and ran the Haunted House, an intense project that brought enjoyment to many “easy” “medium” and “super hard” viewers.
baked yummy treats
organized ALL of the lunch foods
set up and ran the game/activity centers
maintained a clean campus including recycled/composted waste throughout the festivities
attended with enthusiasm
Happy Halloween to everyone! May you have tasty and safe fun this weekend. I will be on the 8th grade trip Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and look forward to returning with anecdotes of personal and group leadership milestones.
Yours truly,
Jessica
PLAYGROUND ACCESS RULES
All students must be signed in no later than 3:10 pm Monday through Thursday, and 1:50 pm on Friday. CREST will not accept late sign-ins.
Once a student has left Playground Access area, they may not return.
Students not following rules of the CREST supervisors will be asked to leave.
1st and 2nd grade students may attend Playground Access for 1/2 hour after school dismissal (3:20 Monday through Thursday and 2:00 pm on Friday).
3rd through 8th grade students may attend for 2 hours and 10 minutes after school dismissal (5:00 pm Monday through Friday unless John Muir students have minimum day on a Friday, then Playground Access will close at 3:45 pm) 1st and 2nd grade students may stay with their older siblings until these later times.
CREST may close Playground Access anytime they deem necessary. It is always closed on rainy days.
Dear SMASHing families,
For our 8th grade project we will be transporting school supplies to underprivileged kids in Mexico. These kids are just like us, except they need school supplies. This can create great opportunities for them. We need your help to get these supplies. Please bring in used/new school supplies to the office where there is a blue bucket labeled school supplies waiting for you.
We know we can count on you! Thanks, Siena Landay and Poppy Denyer
SMASHING ARTS Program Needs Your Help!
Visual Arts needs clean white t-shirts, new or used,
sizes small, medium or large for our upcoming project.
Drama class needs colored lightweight fabrics &
small hand held instruments for our Playback Class.
Donation box is in the office. Thank You!
SMASH School Tours for 2009-2010 School Year
January 14, from 9-10 am
February 4 & 18, 9-10 am
March 25, 9-10 am Last Tour Before Kindergarten Lottery
(K application deadline 03-31-09)
May 13, 9-10 am
May 13, 7:00 pm for middle school students.
Students entering 6th, 7th & 8th grade may attend with parent.
May 27, 9-10 am - Last Tour Before 1st-8th Grade Lottery
(1st-8th application deadline 05-31-09)
Applications will be available in January online, at tours and in the main office.
PTSA news
President’s Note
Dear SMASHing parents!
What a fantastic Halloween Carnival! The campus looked so festive, the Haunted House was incredibly scary, the food was delicious, and the games were a great deal of fun. It seemed like all our little and not so little witches and goblins truly enjoyed themselves. Can’t ask for more! Thanks so much to each and every one of you who helped make this crazy day so successful.
Happy Halloween! David Saltzman and Helga Schier
SMASHing Fundraisers
· Remember biggest fundraiser of the entire year: Family Donations? It is now possible to contribute to SMASH online. E-mails with a link to our paypal account are on their way to you. Pease give what you can! If you’d like to establish a payment plan, payment forms are attached to the e-mails and this week’s Friday letter. SMASH depends on you! Thanks!
· Save the date: SMASHing Holiday Fair, Friday December 5, 2008.
· Save the date: Scholastic Book Fair, Monday, December 8 through Friday, December 12.
· The Greenraising drive is over! Thanks to all who participated! We’ll let you know how we did just as soon as we know. Did you know that you can keep ordering environmentally friendly goods from www.greenraising.com throughout the year, and make money for SMASH? SMASH will get 25% of all proceeds if you keep choosing ‘Santa Monica Alternative Schoolhouse’ as the affiliate for your order.
· Ever go shopping? Of course you do. Please check out escrip and the many community partners programs from Target, Ralphs, Albertsons and other stores. Don’t miss these easy opportunities to support SMASH while you shop what you’d shop anyway! Just check out the SMASH website at www.smash.smmusd.org and click on “Support SMASH” for more information.
SMASHing Festivities
· Save the date for our second annual Bowling Night on … well, we have to change the date due to scheduling conflicts. It’ll be in November. We’ll let you know ASAP. Watch for flyers.
SMASHing Committees
· Save the date for our second Parent Ed Morning on Tuesday, November 18, 8:15AM to 9:15AM.
SMASHing Meetings
· Our next PTSA meeting is on Friday, November 7 at 8:15AM. Let us know if you have issues, questions, concerns, ideas... we’ll put them on the agenda. Come check it out!
SMASH Site Council Agenda
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 6:30 pm Core 3
Adopt Agenda
Approve minutes of last meeting
Community Participation
Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)
Principal’s Repor
Students Reports
Community Organization Reports (to include but not limited
to the following):
PTSA
Student Council
Other
Old Business
New Business
Site Improvement Plan
Change Meeting from 12-10 to 12-17
Community Participation (if applicable)
Adjourn
¡ Español Hoy !
Hola familias.
News from the Spanish program…
Core 1 is enthusiastically absorbing Spanish each week with songs, games, props, literature and mini art projects. They eagerly yell out animal names, fruits, days, and numbers. Beginning phrases allow students to interact using puppets they have made in short conversations. We have begun comparing Halloween and Day of the Dead, exploring the similarities and differences between these holidays and the way they are celebrated.
Core 2 and 3 have been busy learning vocabulary associated with body parts and clothing. Students are demonstrating the capacity to describe themselves and others based on features and dress, using complete sentences. The next couple of weeks will be dedicated to a first trimester project consisting of Day of the Dead skeletons they will create together in pairs and describe orally in front of the class.
Core 4 has been working with adjectives, describing themselves, those around them, and famous people from magazine cut-outs. Through conversational examples and language games students have been working on producing sentences that include personal pronouns, verb conjugation, and adjective agreement. Core 4 enjoyed a video of Celia Cruz, famous salsa dancer. In the upcoming weeks students will work on a group project, creating a collage of famous people, describing them, and presenting their work orally.
All classes will be celebrating Day of the Dead, in some form, recognizing that this is an important cultural holiday. Here is some information for you to share in the home together:
Dia de los Muertos: Oct 31 to Nov. 2
A tradition celebrating and honoring the lives of the deceased, and celebrating the continuation of life; the belief is not that death is the end, but rather the beginning of a new stage in life. Families visit grave sites and decorate them elaborately with flowers, candles and gifts. Altars are also built in homes, schools and public settings, using flowers, candles, fruits, pictures and personal offerings to celebrate the miracle of life, death and the magical afterlife. Families get together to tell stories and share memories of those that have passed. Special sweet breads and candied skulls are made once a year for this holiday.
Paz,
Nina and Diana
Happy Halloween from Core 1
It has been SPOOKtacular week full of learning in Core 1! Just some of our activities include:
*Engaging in science inquiry around our study group topics *Deepening our literacy skills through poetry *Practicing leadership skills while visitors led our classroom activities *Applying what we learned at reDiscover during our projects work *Collecting and recording data, investigating live caterpillars, pumpkins & spiders *Participating in integrated art activities during our Harvest Festival on Friday *Nurturing & strengthening our bodies during yoga, a choice during P.E. *Understanding the culture and traditions of Mexico during Spanish class.
Reminders & Announcements:
-November 3 – 5: Candis will be in Malibu with the 8th graders, chaperoning their 8th grade trip. Leah will return to teach in the Magic Garden.
-CONGRATULATIONS to Candis and her World Series Champion Phillies!!!
-BIGS JR Reading Books Homework will now go home on Mondays (still due back Friday, if possible, but you can keep the books over the weekend if you like). Other BIGS homework will go home in the Friday Folder, as usual.
Thank you…
* to all parents to who attended our costume parade down Main Street. Your extra eyes and extra hands to hold created the feeling of a peaceful stroll. The children enjoyed sharing their costumes and smiles with the community.
* to the families participating in the children’s weekly homework.
* to Lola’s mom, Lizzy, for donating (and lugging) several 2.5 gallon containers of water to Core 1
* to the Core 4 students (you know who you are) for all the extra help this week!
* to ALL families for all you do for Core 1. All children benefit from you love.
HAVE A WONDERFUL HALLOWEEN NIGHT & A RESTFUL WEEKEND!!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: candisberens@smmusd.org
Chrysta: wyse@smmusd.org
HOWLING CORE 2 NEWSIn Government, we learned about the 3 branches of our government and how a bill becomes a law. Each child created their own bill.
In Arts with Ingrid, we worked with our “body in action” and made a wire/foil/plaster cloth sculpture based on our drawings.
In Spanish with Diana, the children have been working on Calaveras for dia de los muertos. Ask your child about the legend that Diana told the kids.
In Math, the 2nd graders collected data in How Many Pockets and represented it in expanded number strings. The 3rd graders learned how to play Cover 50. The directions and all the necessary materials are attached. Please take the time this weekend to play this activity at least once with your 3rd grader. They began using arrays to show their multiplication thinking. Thank you to Sophie’s David and Melissa for cutting them all out. That’s 20 x 51 arrays. Laura attended a follow-up Cognitively Guided Instruction workshop this week. Please read the attached article on the value of CGI. 2nd grade math homework: Bring in coupons clipped from a newspaper or magazine. Due Monday, Nov. 3.
Every Friday, the 3rd graders, have District music where they are learning about pitch by singing a variety of different songs from their textbook.
The Core 2 Library is essential to the success of our Reader’s Workshop. It is maintained by Core 2 Teachers and Students. We ask that visiting families that read our books treat them with care and return them to the correct bin. Thank you!
Thanks to all the people who made our Halloween Carnival and Haunted House a SMASHing success!
Wish List– someone to take home our tie dying to rinse and wash with vinegar!
scratch paper - we write and draw all of the time!
Upcoming dates and events:
Sunday, November 2 - Daylight savings time ends - set clocks back
Tuesday, November 11 – School Holiday
Wednesday, November 19 – Pupil Free Day
Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 – Thanksgiving
Have a Boo-tiful weekend!
Laura: sherman@smmusd.org
Jayme: jayme.wold@smmusd.org
NEWS FROM CORE 3
As part of our Social Studies theme this year: Human Needs/Human Rights, the students learned about the American presidential election process. We will continue to study different types of governments around the world, and the how’s and why’s behind them, as we explore how governments and human needs/rights are connected. In this short study, students had Academic Choice around what they learned about the election process and how to share what they learned with others. Academic Choice is generally designed for students to choose a quick way (poem, rap, speech, letter, poster, skit, tableau, etc.) to show something they’ve learned. The work is done in class over just a few days. The process of planning and creating the piece deepens the understanding for the students and the final product may or may not serve as an assessment of the learning. By placing the emphasis on the process over “the project” the learning shifts from the skills of making a poster or diorama or props to the more important skills of explaining, collaborating, and understanding. Check out our posters around campus and our ‘commercials’ (skits/speeches/raps) and photos of the posters on our webpage.
Along with studying the national election process, Core 3 is holding their Student Council representative elections. Each candidate had to make a statement on why they should be a Core 3 Student Council rep (their platform). Leadership is an integral part of our community’s culture, so there are many opportunities for SMASH students to practice their leadership skills. In addition to Student Council which focuses on school spirit and school issues, there’s Site Council--a group of staff, parents, and students to help ensure that the school is run effectively by setting and meeting goals in a few specific areas, like professional development for teachers, technology, or getting healthier food for a la carte. Another opportunity for our students to be leaders comes in November when reps from Student Council, Site Council, and The Wave (coming soon!) join other Core 3 leaders at a district-wide Student Leadership conference. Each advisory also has Advisory Leader as a job that gives all students the opportunity to lead their advisories in jobs, Morning Meeting, and Magic Circle discussions.
Tamara, Genie, and Malaika
mugalian@smmusd.org genie.hwang@smmusd.org
NEWS FROM CORE 4
PARENTS/GUARDIANS - ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE SENT HOME WEEKLY PROGRESS REPORTS FOR EACH STUDENT. PLEASE REVIEW IT WITH YOUR CHILD, SIGN, AND RETURN BY MONDAY. (8th graders can return it next Thursday).
Humanities: This week in Humanities we talked more about the election: the candidates, voting, and some of the various propositions. We also had a great visit from Planned Parenthood on Tuesday. Students brainstormed about the positives of being female or male, and the negative aspects of being each gender as well. The facilitator then had students discuss which of these ideas are stereotypes or based on societal "rules" - such as that boys can't wear dresses/skirts, and which are based on physical attributes - such as that women can get pregnant and "have" to give birth. We can't wait for more election activities in the coming days. Next week should be very exciting!!
Continuing to Collect: Math: 6/7: Through various discussions and group work, students continued to determine the purpose of each analysis tool (mean, median, mode, and range). Many mathematicians participated and asked clarifying questions that truly advanced the discussion and the class’ understanding of this skill. Taking responsibility in being an active participant holds as a key part to our class. Although this skill continues to be a work in progress, the students are starting to accept and excel with this expectation. We will continue to encourage them to take on this role. Next week we will look at ways mathematicians act as planners. They will begin to develop surveys and grasp how to target different samples of population for their survey.
Algebra: Although the eighth graders spent a good amount of time leading and creating the SMASH Haunted House (which was a thrilling success!), they had a chance to complete their first test in Algebra. Toward the latter part of the week, they were able to review their test, reflect on their successes and mistakes on the test, and complete test corrections. Please ask them to reflect with you as well on how they can use this first accomplishment as a stepping stone for the rest of the year. We will jump into Chapter two next week.
Kurt: holland@smmusd.org
Kelly: kelly.kulsrud@smmusd.org
erin: erin.haendel@smmusd.org
October 23, 2008
A Letter from SMMUSD Superintendent Tim Cuneo
Greetings to Santa Monica-Malibu Parents, Students, Staff, and Community Members:
I am writing today to announce the launch of some major Special Education initiatives in our District under the umbrella of the “SMMUSD Special Education Collaborative – Working Collaboratively for 21st Century Special Education Students.” These efforts have been developed in partnership with the District’s Special Education District Advisory Committee and the Santa Monica-Malibu PTA Council Special Education Committee.
The initiatives are in response to parent and community concerns as well as recommendations contained in the March 2008 Independent Evaluation of the SMMUSD Special Education Program by Lou Barber & Associates.
I believe that SMMUSD has such potential to provide superb Special Education services in a truly collaborative fashion. It is my mission, along with the firm commitment by the SMMUSD Board of Education, to do just that. The steps that we’ll take in the next few weeks will continue much of the good work that has already been done by the District Special Education staff, the Special Education District Advisory Committee, and the PTA. Working together as parents and educators, we will be able to improve district services and programs for all students in the Special Education program.
The Collaborative Initiatives include:
Parent Handbook
A new Parent Handbook for families of SMMUSD students receiving Special Education services has been created by a volunteer committee of the Special Education District Advisory Committee. This handbook will be revised annually. It will be distributed to Special Education families in early November. Additionally, contents of the handbook will be featured in English and Spanish at the November 15th Fall Forum (see below). The Parent Handbook was edited in collaboration with parents, SMMUSD staff, attorneys, and administration.
The Parent Handbook is designed to help parents and/or guardians of children with a disability work effectively and collaboratively with the District and their school, and to help them support their child's effort to complete his or her school program in order to be prepared for adult life. It is also provides information about families’ rights and responsibilities to better prepare all participants to work together effectively to assist students.
The Handbook is the result of many months of hard work on the part of members of the Special Education District Advisory Committee (SEDAC). SEDAC urges parents to know their support, attendance at school meetings, and encouragement from home contributes enormously to the quality of their child's education.
The Parent Handbook covers subjects such as deciphering acronyms, criteria for eligibility, types of disabilities and services, assessments, what to do if the process doesn’t work, and finally, frequently asked questions.
Fall Forum
On Saturday, November 15th, the first ever Fall Forum will take place at the John Adams Middle School campus (2425 16th Street, Santa Monica) between 8 am and noon.
A collaboration between the PTA Council Special Education Committee, District staff and leadership, the Fall Forum will provide information and support to parents and staff in an informal, social setting. It is intended to be “a time for sharing information and resources for families with children who receive special education services.”
Todd Gary, the Special Needs Liaison at the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, and Wendy Parise, Professor at Santa Monica College Early Childhood Education Department, will speak. After the Keynote address regarding “Creating a Special Education Culture of Collaboration” by Mr. Gary, the group will divide into five break-out sessions led by parent-staff teams to discuss details contained in the Special Education Parent Handbook.
Break-out sessions will be divided into Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, High School, & Spanish Language. Detailed in the discussion as well as the Handbook are: the Referral and IEP process, Special Education laws, SMMUSD Special Education services, Dispute Resolution, & Terminology/Glossary.
The Forum is open, at no cost, to all community residents and SMMUSD families, with an emphasis on families receiving Special Education services in the district. Childcare, snacks, and translation will also be provided.
For more information, please log on to www.smmusd.org and www.smmpta.org, or contact fallforumse@yahoo.com with questions.
The Special Education Collaborative
The Special Education Collaborative will strengthen the quality and climate of Special Education in the District. A self-contained committee known as the “Working Group” will be charged with “reviewing, integrating, and prioritizing Special Education goals, strategies, and deliverables”.
The Working Group will be supported and facilitated by Laura Peck of the Claros Groups and her associates along with Martha Duran-Contreras, the Project Lead from SMMUSD, and will work from November 2008 through, at least, February 2009.
Members of the Working Group will be selected through an open application process. For member criteria and to fill out an application, please visit www.smmusd.org or email Martha Duran-Contreras at duran-contreras@smmusd.org. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION is November 5, 2008.
Parent Resource Network
The Parent Resource Network will launch in early December (after November 14th & December 3rd trainings) to provide resources and support to Special Education families at individual school sites. It has been developed in partnership with the SMMUSD PTA Council Special Education Committee.
The district-wide Parent Resource Network will identify a parent at individual school sites to provide information and support to parents and families within our Special Education community. In addition, the network will provide resources to families by connecting parents with other parents with similar experiences, community groups, and helping families access resources within our own school community.
The program will be piloted at SAMOHI, John Adams Middle School, Lincoln Middle School, Grant Elementary School, and Cabrillo Elementary School, starting in early December 2008, then introduced at additional sites in the district over the course of the next year.
Resource parent volunteers, principals, and staff will take part in a twelve-hour training to learn communication, collaboration, and mediation skills. Additionally, this training will provide specific resources to help volunteers best support parents, teachers, families, and students. Trainings will be provided on November 14th & December 3rd by a team of staff & parents from San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
The Parent Resource Network is a sub-committee of the Santa Monica Malibu PTA Council Special Education Committee.
For more information, or to join one of the groups, please contact:
· Special Education Collaborative Lead, Martha Duran-Contreras at duran-contreras@smmusd.org
· SMMUSD Special Education District Advisory Committee Chair, Kenneth Haker at ken.haker@verizon.net
· Santa Monica Malibu PTA Council Special Education Committee Chair Judith Meister at MeisterJR@aol.com
· or call Sarah Wahrenbrock at the SMMUSD District Office for additional information or referrals: 310.450.8338, ext.229.
