Dear SMASHing Families,
For me, abundance is good health, caring relationships, nourishing food, a comfortable home, generosity toward others, and intellectual pursuits (Ideas from Dr. Christian Northrup’s on-line holiday wellness letter). As we close the holiday season, the staff and I want to express our sincere THANKS for the warm, lovely, funny cards, the delicious, family-specialty treats, the incredible handmade crafts, the personally selected, thoughtful items, and the very generous, beautifully presented envelopes of cash. Thank you for gifting us with your appreciation and the envelopes that allow us to fulfill our own definitions of abundance. We are lucky to be part of such a giving, collaborative, dynamic community.
As we begin 2009, we have the opportunity to share the gifts of cleaning and cooking with each other as we come together Thursday, January 15 for SMASH Diversity Night, and then again on Saturday, January 24 for SMASH/Muir Spirit Day to clean up our joint use spaces .
Please be sure to introduce yourselves and welcome Bailey Field as the Humanities teacher to the Core 4 team. She comes to us with years of California based middle and high school social studies and alternative school setting experiences. Her college and graduate level work focused on ethnic studies and education. Bailey is a mom of twin 7 year old girls and a 5 year old girl all who all attend SMMUSD schools. To make a personal connection, ask her about her recent month long family trip to Costa Rica, about her yoga teaching, or about the local surfing conditions!
Happy New Year to all! Jessica
PTSA news
SMASHing Festivities
· Join us for good food and great friends at our annual Diversity Night and Potluck on Thursday, January 15, 2009, 6pm to 8pm. Come mix and mingle over our multi-cultural potluck, and browse the fabulous diversity projects made by our SMASHing students. Bring a dish that represents your ancestry, and bring the recipe, too, so we can update our cookbook. Please come and lend a hand setting up the event. Contact Elaina Archer at ebarcher@hotmail.com
SMASHing Activities
· SMASH/Muir Spirit Day, Saturday, January 24, 2009, 9am to 2pm. Volunteers and donations needed to clean up the shared spaces on campus. For more information, see the flyer in this week’s Friday Letter or contact SMASH parent Helga Schier at helgaschier@verizon.net or John Muir parent Helene Seisay at heleneseisay@yahoo.com.
SMASHing Fundraisers
· Make your Family Donation online. Go to http://ptsasmash.blogspot.com/ and give what you can! To pay by credit card, check or cash, or to establish a payment plan, see Janice in the office. SMASH depends on you! Thanks!
· Save the Date: Jogathon, Friday, February 27, 2009.
SMASHing Committees
· Save the Date: The Parent Ed Committee will host a joint SMASH/Muir Event on innovative, non-fearful Safety Training with Safely Ever After (www.safelyeverafter.com) on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 6:30PM. Food and Childcare will be provided.
· The Health Committee has formed a loose network of parents from SMASH and John Muir interested in working on improving the cafeteria lunches. If you wish to join that group, contact SMASH parent Conor Libby (Lola Libby-Bleser’s dad).
· The Gardening Committee will bring learning about growing food to our campus. They are working with SMASH/John Muir parents and teachers, and soon with CREST, too. For more information, contact SMASH parents Holly Wright (Rhu and Joe Steedman’s Mom) or Jeff Knight (Rose Colter-Knight’s dad).
SMASHing Meetings
· Our next PTSA meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 5 at 6:30pm.
Annual
Multi-Cultural and Diversity Night
POTLUCK
Multi-Cultural and Diversity Night
POTLUCK
Thursday, January 15, 2009
6:00PM to 8:00PM
6:00PM to 8:00PM
Come check out the Students’ Diversity Art Projects from around the globe!
Bring a home-cooked meal that represents your family
so that we may all share in the flavors of the world.
Send your menu item and recipe to Elaina Archer at ebarcher@hotmail.com
Also write to Elaina if you can help set up the event.
Run for your lives! The SMASHing Jog-a-thon 2009 is coming.
Stretch those muscles, pump that heart and open your wallets, because…
The Jog-a-thon 2009 is February 27
Here is what you can do:
Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM Dinner
7:00 p.m. Presentation
Location: SMASH/Muir Cafetorium
Certified Child Safety Educator, Pattie Fitzgerald, will be presenting a 90 minute, informative workshop for parents and caregivers interested in learning how to effectively talk to their children about personal safety in an easy, non-fearful manner. Ms. Fitzgerald’s programs have been presented at several SMMUSD schools including: Grant, Roosevelt, Franklin, Webster, Pt. Dume, JAMS, and Lincoln Middle School.
· The ineffective reality about “stranger-danger”
· Protecting kids from people they: “know, don’t know, or know just a little bit”
· Establishing and modeling appropriate physical and personal boundaries
· Information on Megan’s Law in California
· The Super-Ten “Safe-Smarts” Rules for Kids and Grownups
· 10 Prevention Tips for every parent
· 10 Most Common Lures and Tricks
· 11 Red Flags and Warning Signs
· How to spot a “Tricky Person!”
· Recognizing “thumbs up & thumbs down” situations
Bring a home-cooked meal that represents your family
so that we may all share in the flavors of the world.
Send your menu item and recipe to Elaina Archer at ebarcher@hotmail.com
Also write to Elaina if you can help set up the event.
Run for your lives! The SMASHing Jog-a-thon 2009 is coming.
Stretch those muscles, pump that heart and open your wallets, because…
The Jog-a-thon 2009 is February 27
Here is what you can do:
· Save the date. Jog-a-thon ‘09 happens Friday, February 27. Come run with your child and/or cheer on the rest of the runners.
· Become a Corporate or SMASHing T-shirt Sponsor. T-shirt sponsors pay for the cost of the t-shirts so that all students get a free Jog-a-thon 2009 shirt. Corporate sponsors donate $150, $200 or $250 and SMASHing sponsors donate $25, $50 or $100. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. As a token of appreciation for your generous support, your name will adorn the back of the shirt.*
· Volunteer. We will need lots of volunteers to help with refreshments, donations, accounting, etc. both before and the day of the event.
· Submit a t-shirt design. This year, for the first time, we will be accepting designs from all Cores. Simply draw your design (black/white or color) on an 8 ½ by 11 piece of white paper. Include your name and turn it into the office by January 26.
*Please use the form below for making t-shirt donations and return to the office with your cash or check made payable to SMASH PTSA by no later than February 2:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsorship: Corporate ___$250 ___$200 ___$150
SMASHing ___$100 ___$50 ___$25
Name (as you would like it to appear on the t-shirt):________________________
Child’s name (so we know who you are!):________________________________
Size preference for complimentary t-shirt: ___XXL ___XL ___L ___M ___S (All sizes are adult sizes since all students will already receive a complimentary t-shirt. If you specifically want your complimentary t-shirt to be a child’s size, please note this.)
· Become a Corporate or SMASHing T-shirt Sponsor. T-shirt sponsors pay for the cost of the t-shirts so that all students get a free Jog-a-thon 2009 shirt. Corporate sponsors donate $150, $200 or $250 and SMASHing sponsors donate $25, $50 or $100. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. As a token of appreciation for your generous support, your name will adorn the back of the shirt.*
· Volunteer. We will need lots of volunteers to help with refreshments, donations, accounting, etc. both before and the day of the event.
· Submit a t-shirt design. This year, for the first time, we will be accepting designs from all Cores. Simply draw your design (black/white or color) on an 8 ½ by 11 piece of white paper. Include your name and turn it into the office by January 26.
Questions?
Contact Lillie Schlessinger – lillie.schlessinger@transamerica.com
Or
Darlene Flanders – DFlanders@quixo.com
Contact Lillie Schlessinger – lillie.schlessinger@transamerica.com
Or
Darlene Flanders – DFlanders@quixo.com
*Please use the form below for making t-shirt donations and return to the office with your cash or check made payable to SMASH PTSA by no later than February 2:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsorship: Corporate ___$250 ___$200 ___$150
SMASHing ___$100 ___$50 ___$25
Name (as you would like it to appear on the t-shirt):________________________
Child’s name (so we know who you are!):________________________________
Size preference for complimentary t-shirt: ___XXL ___XL ___L ___M ___S (All sizes are adult sizes since all students will already receive a complimentary t-shirt. If you specifically want your complimentary t-shirt to be a child’s size, please note this.)
The SMASH PTSA & JOHN MUIR PTA INVITE ALL PARENTS TO ATTEND THIS SPECIAL PARENT ED NIGHT
“AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION” Keeping Our Children Safe
presented by Pattie Fitzgerald, founder, Safety Ever After, Inc.
presented by Pattie Fitzgerald, founder, Safety Ever After, Inc.
Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM Dinner
7:00 p.m. Presentation
Location: SMASH/Muir Cafetorium
Certified Child Safety Educator, Pattie Fitzgerald, will be presenting a 90 minute, informative workshop for parents and caregivers interested in learning how to effectively talk to their children about personal safety in an easy, non-fearful manner. Ms. Fitzgerald’s programs have been presented at several SMMUSD schools including: Grant, Roosevelt, Franklin, Webster, Pt. Dume, JAMS, and Lincoln Middle School.
· The ineffective reality about “stranger-danger”
· Protecting kids from people they: “know, don’t know, or know just a little bit”
· Establishing and modeling appropriate physical and personal boundaries
· Information on Megan’s Law in California
· The Super-Ten “Safe-Smarts” Rules for Kids and Grownups
· 10 Prevention Tips for every parent
· 10 Most Common Lures and Tricks
· 11 Red Flags and Warning Signs
· How to spot a “Tricky Person!”
· Recognizing “thumbs up & thumbs down” situations
This event is free to the Muir/SMASH Community.
The SMASH 8th Grade will be providing childcare for a nominal fee for school aged kids.
Please make your childcare reservation in the office.
The SMASH 8th Grade will be providing childcare for a nominal fee for school aged kids.
Please make your childcare reservation in the office.
Reflective Parenting Workshops -
Available to all SMASH & John Muir parents Offered by Family Service of Santa Monica
Available to all SMASH & John Muir parents Offered by Family Service of Santa Monica
This innovative 10-week workshop series provides parents with a reflective parenting model, which views all children’s behavior as meaningful communication that can be understood. This reflective capacity lies at the heart of sensitive, effective parenting, which research has demonstrated is an effective way to help parents strengthen relationships with their children. Workshop to begin in February (dates to be determined).
Goals of the Workshop: Increase confidence in parenting New ways to think about children’s behavior More manageable and effective interventions for difficult behavior
To register contact Kristen Lemon, LMSW, CLAD at Family Services of Santa Monica 310-451-9747x2204
Dates to Remember
Wed. Jan 14 - Site Council Meeting - 6:00pm, Core 2. Agenda posted in office. No new business
Thurs, Jan 15 - Diversity Night Potluck Dinner, 6-8pm
Sat, Jan 24 - SMASH/John Muir Spirit Day, 9am-2pm
CORE 1 NEWS Welcome Back to Core 1!
We are so thrilled to be back with our Core 1 family this week! It has also been an exciting time, switching circle group leaders. Students have stayed with the same circle group, but have switched teachers. The Diving Shark Stars now start the day in the Magic Garden with Candis, and the Flittering Butterflies now start the day in the Sparkling Sea with Chrysta! The children still spend graded time with the same teachers (Candis with the Partners and Chrysta with the Bigs), and can choose which room they go to for projects. The children are with their circle group leaders for Morning Meeting, Library, Drama, Spanish, Rest & Relax, Magic Circle and Closing. Jackie continues to teach in both rooms throughout the day, caring for our children and supporting their learning.
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you all for the very generous gifts the three of us received before winter break, including the wonderful group gift. We feel very touched and appreciated.
Reminders & Announcements:
Because we changed circle groups, The Flittering Butterflies now go to the library on Tuesdays and The Diving Shark Stars now go to the library on Wednesdays.
On January 8, Candis, Chrysta, Jackie and Jessica were off campus observing at Evergreen Community School. Evergreen shares our constructivist theories, including: Knowledge is built by the learner internally rather than being imported from an external source; The experiential world is complex and intricate, thus learning involves the consideration of multiple truths, representations and perspectives; Constructivist learning environments emphasize authentic tasks in a meaningful context rather than abstract instruction out of context; Social discourse and negotiation help students clarify and modify their ideas, thus enabling the student to build a personal knowledge base. We will bring back what we've learned to enhance our teaching practice, and enrich student learning, particularly during our "Projects" time.
Yoga will continue as an option for the children during Monday P.E., thanks to the generosity of our amazing yoga instructor, C.J.! We are so grateful for her and what she gives to our students.
On Monday, January 12, Chrysta will be off campus leading a workshop in Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) in math to mentor teachers from across Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Zelina will return as our substitute teacher.
WISH LIST
Paper towels, drinking water (in large containers, please, not small bottles)
Happy New Year!!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: candis.berens@smmusd.org
Chrysta: wyse@smmusd.org
CORE 2 NEWS
CORE 3 NEWS Happy New Year, Core 3 Families!
Core 4 welcomes a Morning Meeting partnership with Santa Monica Police Department's Officer Stockwell! From now until Spring Break, each Core 4 advisory will have SMPD school liaison Officer Stockwell visit Morning Meeting once a week to implement the SMPD's violence prevention "G.R.E.A.T." curriculum. Students will be discussing and learning skills related to rallying around a common cause in a positive way as opposed to ganging up on somebody or assertively saying no to someone in a physically and emotionally safe manner. Each student received a G.R.E.A.T. handbook kept in the classroom, and you are invited in to take a look at some of the lessons. We are lucky to have such a positive relationship with our local law enforcement.
Dear Core 2 Community,
Happy New Year! We welcome the Pancakes, Laura’s new advisory group, and the Oompa Loompas, Jayme’s advisory, to Core 2.
In Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop: The children worked on finishing the stories they began before Winter Break. We are delighted to report that the majority of the children have made noticeable advances in their reading fluency and comprehension from our first DRA assessment. We are so proud of all of them!
In Social Studies this week: In Government, we began planning the presentations (in Core 2) and researched more information on each small group’s area of study. In Family Studies, each child did research on the origin of their family’s last names. The children located continents and countries on a variety of maps. Ask your student to name the 7 continents. They learned about cardinal directions and the compass rose. We need current maps of the world and each continent to use as resources.
In Math, the 2nd graders are working on comparing and contrasting items using a Venn diagram. We will be starting a new unit next week. See the attached letter. The 3rd graders begin a unit called Flips, Turns and Area we learned about tetrominoes and 2D geometry. Ask your child how tetrominoes relate to the game Tetris. On Thursday we will be “playing” Tetris during our math time. I have two hand held Tetris games, but we need more for this day to be successful. Any handheld one you could loan us would be SMASHing. You could “play” this game (free) on your home computer, but the District has blocked those sites for our computers.
In Arts, the children began an Arts rotation with Dian for music. Dian would like to have music from the countries that your family’s origins. It can be on a separate CD or on the original CD.
On Tuesday, we are taking our first field trip! Thank you to those that planned this event. We will be taking the Big Blue Bus to UCLA to see the LA Opera. Laura and Jayme will provide the bus tokens for students. Please pack a snack and a sack lunch for your child. They will be responsible for carrying their food during this trip, so putting it in a re-useable bag or backpack is suggested. Please sign and return the attached permission slip on Monday. If you signed up to be a parent volunteer, please see Laura for your instructions and permission slip. Volunteers need to provide their own bus money. NOTE – we are leaving SMASH right after school begins, so do not be late.
Upcoming dates and events:
Tuesday, January 13 – first field trip: UCLA, LA Opera 8:30 – 2:00
Thursday, January 15 – Diversity Night 6 – 8 pm
Monday, January 19 – School Holiday, no school
Have a glorious weekend!
Laura’s e-mail: sherman@smmusd.org
Jayme’s e-mail: jayme.wold@smmusd.org
Happy New Year! We welcome the Pancakes, Laura’s new advisory group, and the Oompa Loompas, Jayme’s advisory, to Core 2.
In Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop: The children worked on finishing the stories they began before Winter Break. We are delighted to report that the majority of the children have made noticeable advances in their reading fluency and comprehension from our first DRA assessment. We are so proud of all of them!
In Social Studies this week: In Government, we began planning the presentations (in Core 2) and researched more information on each small group’s area of study. In Family Studies, each child did research on the origin of their family’s last names. The children located continents and countries on a variety of maps. Ask your student to name the 7 continents. They learned about cardinal directions and the compass rose. We need current maps of the world and each continent to use as resources.
In Math, the 2nd graders are working on comparing and contrasting items using a Venn diagram. We will be starting a new unit next week. See the attached letter. The 3rd graders begin a unit called Flips, Turns and Area we learned about tetrominoes and 2D geometry. Ask your child how tetrominoes relate to the game Tetris. On Thursday we will be “playing” Tetris during our math time. I have two hand held Tetris games, but we need more for this day to be successful. Any handheld one you could loan us would be SMASHing. You could “play” this game (free) on your home computer, but the District has blocked those sites for our computers.
In Arts, the children began an Arts rotation with Dian for music. Dian would like to have music from the countries that your family’s origins. It can be on a separate CD or on the original CD.
On Tuesday, we are taking our first field trip! Thank you to those that planned this event. We will be taking the Big Blue Bus to UCLA to see the LA Opera. Laura and Jayme will provide the bus tokens for students. Please pack a snack and a sack lunch for your child. They will be responsible for carrying their food during this trip, so putting it in a re-useable bag or backpack is suggested. Please sign and return the attached permission slip on Monday. If you signed up to be a parent volunteer, please see Laura for your instructions and permission slip. Volunteers need to provide their own bus money. NOTE – we are leaving SMASH right after school begins, so do not be late.
Upcoming dates and events:
Tuesday, January 13 – first field trip: UCLA, LA Opera 8:30 – 2:00
Thursday, January 15 – Diversity Night 6 – 8 pm
Monday, January 19 – School Holiday, no school
Have a glorious weekend!
Laura’s e-mail: sherman@smmusd.org
Jayme’s e-mail: jayme.wold@smmusd.org
CORE 3 NEWS Happy New Year, Core 3 Families!
We mixed our Advisories to give more opportunities for different Core 3-ers to make new connections with new friends and/or reconnect with old friends. Tamara and Genie will continue to work with the original Advisory groups for reading, writing, and math and swap advisories for Art, Spanish, and Friday Morning Meetings, so students have chances to learn and grow socially and academically with both of us during their time in Core 3. Your February conference will be with the same Advisor that you met with for the Fall Family Conferences.
We’re continuing our study on water. A guest speaker, Valerie from the Ballona Wetlands, gave us a sneak peak of what we will experience when we visit the wetlands on Monday. Thanks for turning in the permissions slips for the fieldtrip—and the $ donations $, which help to cover bus and entrance costs. Don’t forget to come on time—ready to leave at 8:40 am—with a snack, water, a sack lunch, and properly attired and sunscreened for our day at the Ballona Wetlands on Monday. We’ve learned so much about the water cycle, watersheds, urban run-off, and water usage/conservation: we’ve read related chapters in the textbook; we did experiments--evaporating salt water and filtering water with different materials; we watched a documentary on water system infrastructures for getting (and disposing of!) water in metropolitan areas; and we went on several fieldtrips to Heal the Bay, the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF). We are ending our water unit with an Academic Choice project. Academic choice is a quick project that allows students to have some choice in how to show and share what they have learned.
Save the Dates:
· Diversity Night is Thursday, January 15 from 6-8. Core 3 students will display their family tree diversity projects (and, of course, there will be lots of Yummy food!).
· The students will share their Academic Choice water unit projects on Friday, January 23—look for more information closer to the date.
Tamara will be in Yosemite with Core 4 next week—Josh will be our very capable (and fun!) sub!
Tamara, Genie, and Malaika
mugalian@smmusd.org genie.hwang@smmusd.org
We’re continuing our study on water. A guest speaker, Valerie from the Ballona Wetlands, gave us a sneak peak of what we will experience when we visit the wetlands on Monday. Thanks for turning in the permissions slips for the fieldtrip—and the $ donations $, which help to cover bus and entrance costs. Don’t forget to come on time—ready to leave at 8:40 am—with a snack, water, a sack lunch, and properly attired and sunscreened for our day at the Ballona Wetlands on Monday. We’ve learned so much about the water cycle, watersheds, urban run-off, and water usage/conservation: we’ve read related chapters in the textbook; we did experiments--evaporating salt water and filtering water with different materials; we watched a documentary on water system infrastructures for getting (and disposing of!) water in metropolitan areas; and we went on several fieldtrips to Heal the Bay, the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF). We are ending our water unit with an Academic Choice project. Academic choice is a quick project that allows students to have some choice in how to show and share what they have learned.
Save the Dates:
· Diversity Night is Thursday, January 15 from 6-8. Core 3 students will display their family tree diversity projects (and, of course, there will be lots of Yummy food!).
· The students will share their Academic Choice water unit projects on Friday, January 23—look for more information closer to the date.
Tamara will be in Yosemite with Core 4 next week—Josh will be our very capable (and fun!) sub!
Tamara, Genie, and Malaika
mugalian@smmusd.org genie.hwang@smmusd.org
CORE 4 NEWS
Super Secret Lined Paper People Advisory: We had an exciting first week back as we prepare for Yosemite, review routines, and started a new program with instructors from the Santa Monica Police Department. This program complements our existing CARES social curriculum with the attention getting perspective of uniformed police officers. Officer Sean Stockwell, our instructor, has chosen this collateral duty in addition to his normal duties and it is clear that the students are interested in his life. We will be working together over the course of two months, so please let me know how it sounds from your end. Love these kids! Come on by during advisory time.
Ciencia: Well we are off to Yosemite. Please look for our online updates from the trip. Also I am trying to arrange a fun educational activity for the children who are not going to Yosemite for Friday morning (1/16/09). Please email me if you could join us on an urban hike starting at 08:30 and finishing around noon.
Hello Core 4 families, I am excited to be apart of the SMASH community and working with such interesting colleagues and students. I have had a wonderful first week getting to know everyone. We spent the week exploring issues of identity and membership in society. We will continue to ask question relating to these issues and one's "universe of obligation" throughout the year.
Kelly, Kurt and I have begun planning a collaborative unit focusing on Ancient Greece and Rome with a hopeful trip to the Getty Villa and to culminate in a "Ancient Greek Panathenae". In humanities we will read mythology, look at the rise of democracy and the contributions of these ancient civilizations to our society today. In math Kelly will explore the contributions of the ancient Greeks in her geometry unit. Kurt will examine the geography and ecology of the Mediterranean. I will also look at the rise and fall of the Roman Empires comparing and contrasting it to today. Time permitting I also hope to look at the origins of some of the major religions in the world. I will stay in tough about what texts you may need.
During the 8th grade reading time I want to begin a comparative religions unit with reading Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. We will look at the origins of many world religions. Please buy this book for your 8th grader by January 20. Later in the winter I hope to read Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare with them.
Finally next week while many Core 4 students are in Yosemite, Kelly and I have planned a mini poetry unit and I will take a walking trip with students to the California Heritage Museum on Wednesday from 10:15-12:15 but need adult assistance. If you can join us please email me at Baileyfield@mac.com I look forward to a full and rewarding winter.
Math 6/7:What Does This All Mean?
No, we are not trying to figure out the answers to our life’s complexities (!), but rather as mathematicians we are making conclusions and creating reflections for the final part of our Data and Statistics unit. In our Personal Inquiry Project, the mathematicians thoughtfully chose what type of graph to use that would support their audience in accurately understanding the data, a challenging skill. They also started to determine conclusions about their data by using their statistical tools (mean, median, mode, and range), and carry out their designed plan of action. These final pieces will be due when everyone comes back together as a Core on Tuesday, January 20. Through this independently driven project, the students have been a part of a meaningful experience where they were able to transfer all the taught concepts to a topic they were interested in. Please ask them about their choices that they have made throughout this project and see how they are taking their project into their outside community! On January 20, we will share these projects as well as have a celebration to reflect and to show our excitement about all that we have accomplished!
Algebra:
We started Chapter 3 this week. Throughout this chapter, we will explore inequalities. Looking at various solving methods and the presence of inequalities in real world situations will be covered. Now that the students have assumed the routines and expectations of the class, we will begin moving at a faster pace. Please encourage the students to complete their homework on time, and act responsibly by accessing their resources to clarify questions. Otherwise, they will quickly fall behind and start to lose their math confidence. Thanks for your support.
Kurt: holland@smmusd.org
Kelly: k.kulsrud@smmusd.org
Bailey: baileyfield@mac.com
SMASH Site Council Minutes Wednesday, December 10, 2008
In attendance: Laura Sherman, Daniel McGee, Candis Berens, Jessica Rishe, Holly Wright, Tamara Mugalian, Jayme Wold, Kezia Miller, Malaika Boyer, Gigi Lewis, Naomi Miller-Altuner, Gabriel Schmittdiel, Emma Green, Henry Schlessinger
Absent: Jackie Boyd, Jila F, Jeff Knight, Kelly Kulsrud
Agenda Adopted: Moved by Laura Sherman, Seconded by Jessica Rishe, Approved by all, Motion passed.
Welcome to all, especially student representatives by Laura Sherman
Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)
Principal's Report
-Narratives edited, done and being sent out soon.
-Fundraiser events: Boutique Dec 15 brought in $200.00, Car Wash brought in $500.00, Bake Sale and Rummage Sale $3000.00
Student Reports
-Core 3 sent student representatives to update Site Council on Core 3 math, reading, writing, science and art progress
-Naomi-Math: Core 3 has finished multiplication / division 3D shapes and playing with fractions. Henry-Math: Core 3 presented to school board, fractions, decimals, games and strategies. Emma-Reading: Class finished an adventure book named Hatchet for a read aloud, now reading a what if book from the same author. Focusing on Just Right books. Naomi-Writing: Core 3 started personal narratives. Science: Studying water and writing essays on water. Gabe S-Arts: Storybook design/ tableaus to solve everyday problems and a fundraising project focusing on animal support.
PTSA Report
-Presentation from an organization that works with zero trash information, included; community snacks and snack bar.
-How can we combine our garden / health and fitness and take steps towards good health?
-State Budget: Reducing class size, possibly amending nursing office/staff.
NO ACTION BEING TAKE AS OF YET
-21 million in reserve, but PTSA wants to maintain this amount and make smart adjustments to the budget.
-Question presented for upcoming PTSA and Site Council members: How can they help with more community service projects, lost and found, better care of bathrooms. Question answered by Tamara, "Leaders are presenting to other councils to address these issues." Next PTSA meeting, January 24th?
Student Council
-Jayme: First all spirit day on Friday, students and teachers to wear SMASH gear. Tracy Saltzman to send out an email blast reminder.
Old Business
-Superintendent pleased SMASH had only five goals with categorical funding attached to them, ie, Math goal, Literacy and school climate goal.
New Business
-Approval of School Site Plan and Single Plan for Student Achievement
-pg 6:Goal:Community Service Project, no editing needed
-pg 7:Goal: Inquiry based Math Behaviors, questions: What is a barrier to
student achievement? Are these standards applicable to SMASH? What are SMASH's challenges? Do we need to insert different wording for this goal concerning expectations? How do we equally impact all Cores? Can we override the language of page 4? Answer: math expectations are built into Core 4, which; will allow other leaders to impart expectations during cross core learning.
-pg 9: Reading, Language and Literacy intervention should be a priority for all students. Jessica to rewrite to include teacher's deepening their skills. Do teachers need to be retrained? Are any interventions available during school…outside reading coaches, teachers switching cores to work with a few students. Jessica to approve possible during the day interventions. Gabe S, would like to see students raise their levels of literacy by reading harder books and student read alouds (such as literacy night).
-pg 10: Reflective parenting is a great idea, classes to begin soon.
-pg 11: Officer Navarro Stockwell, Police Liason: 13 week assertiveness in saying no, avoiding negative group structure.
-pg 13: School Climate: Literacy Connection: literacy needs to be supported.
Adjourned: Moved by Laura Sherman, Seconded by Malaika Boyer, Approved by all, Motion passed.
SMASH School Tours for 2009-2010 School Year
January 14, 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)
BAKE SALE - WEDNESDAYS HEALTHY TREATS AND FUN ITEMS
JANUARY Core 2 - Jan 14 Core 1 - Jan 21 Core 4 - Jan 28
Dates to Remember
Wed. Jan 14 - Site Council Meeting - 6:00pm, Core 2. Agenda posted in office. No new business
Thurs, Jan 15 - Diversity Night Potluck Dinner, 6-8pm
Sat, Jan 24 - SMASH/John Muir Spirit Day, 9am-2pm
GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK - 10 Ways to Promote Sustainability at Home
In honor of its 10th Anniversary, Sustainable Works of Santa Monica is recommending everyone take on these 10 easy steps:
1. Save energy by insulating, weatherizing and using compact fluorescent light
2. If you need a new car, choose a clean fuel vehicle or hybrid.
3. Conserve water by planting native California plants in your garden.
4. Clean and maintain your home with non-toxic products
5. Control pests the natural way and use less pesticides
6. Recycle, compost and keep Household Hazardous Waste out of the trash
7. Buy energy and water efficient appliances
8. Eat more organic produce and shop at the Farmers Market
9. Walk, bike or use public transit around town
10. Use rechargeable batteries.
Got a GREEN tip or question? Email marni99@yahoo.com
