Friday, February 27!
Pledge packets are due Thursday, February 26.
Only one more week to get pledges! You can now pay for your pledge online by going to the SMASH PTSA blogspot at http://ptsasmash.blogspot.com and following the instructions.
The Jog-a-thon schedule is as follows:
9:00 – 9:35 Core 1 (Candis) and Core 3 (Tamara) Warm up & Run
9:35 - 10:10 Core 1 (Chrysta) and Core 3 (Genie) Warm up and Run
10:10 – 10:45 Core 2 (Laura) and Core 4 (Kurt) Warm up and Run
10:45 to 11:20 Core 2 (Jayme) and Core 4 (Kelly) Warm up and Run
Come and cheer for our amazing athletes!
Don’t miss out on this action-packed, fun-filled day at SMASH. We still need volunteers to count laps and hand out water. To volunteer, contact Lillie Schlessinger at 310-392-9446 or lillie.schlessinger@transamerica.com.
Runners, please remember to
apply sunscreen (cross your fingers)
and wear athletic shoes!
Dear SMASHing Families,
In February’s on-line “Network News,” Elliot Washor, Co-Director of Big Picture Learning got me thinking about what we choose to say when we describe people whose ideas and actions we respect. For example, he described President Lincoln in the following way:
Lincoln's formal education consisted of about 18 months of schooling, but he was largely self-educated and an avid reader. He was also a talented local wrestler and skilled with an axe. Lincoln avoided hunting and fishing because he did not like killing animals, even for food. At 6 foot 4 inches (1.93 m), he was unusually tall, as well as strong.
As I sit in on conference planning and some actual conferences this week, I notice the ways family members, teachers, and students themselves discuss
· their reader and writerly ways
· their habits of inquiry/investigation/research
· the curricular connections between at-home talents and classroom experiences
· the convictions and personal habits that influence school interest and performance
Some families have emailed or shared face to face about how helpful conferences are, that it was a very purposeful interaction. It makes me wonder about the long-lasting influence of what we choose to say about the students, the people whose ideas and actions we respect. Take a moment to reflect upon your conference. If you had to sum up the conversation in 3-4 sentences, what was said and how well does it describe your child?
Truly Yours,
Jessica
WELCOME TWO NEW SMASHing BABIES!
Reggie St.Claire’s Son
Boston Reginald St. Claire
born Friday, February 13
Erin Haendel’s Daughter
Ramona Josephine Haendel
born Saturday, February 14
Congratulations and Best Wishes from all of us!
Does your SMASH student have a
SIBLING READY TO START KINDERGARTEN IN SEPTEMBER?
Please come into the office and fill out an application as soon as possible!
DEADLINE for Kindergarten applications is MARCH 31.
Applications after that time will no longer be guaranteed a place in class.
PTSA news
SMASHing Committees
· February is Foreign Language month. This is a great opportunity to check in with your children and see what they are up to in their Spanish lessons. Check the February Friday Letters for the Spanish newsletter, ideas for Spanish language activities you could do at home and more.
SMASHing Fundraisers
· Get ready to run. Only one more weeks to the Jogathon on Friday, February 27, 2009. Go get those pledges!
· 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!
SMASHing Alumni
· Terry Michaels, a SMASH graduate from 1977, has graciously offered to handle our alumni relations. Welcome aboard, Terry! Among other things Terry will host a Facebook network as a meeting place for past and present SMASHing students and parents. Until the network is up, please contact Terry at filmstudent9404@yahoo.com for more information.
SMASHing Meetings
Our next PTSA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30 pm.
SPANISH
Here are some bonus activities to bring Spanish into the home more during Foreign Language month…
Vocabulario para praticar en la casa:
City/La ciudad: school/la escuela, church/la iglesia, beach/la playa, library/la biblioeca, shop/la tienda, park/el parque, airport/el aeropuerto, movies/el cine, restaurant/el restaurante, supermarket/el supermercado
Animals/Los animales: turtle/la tortuga, butterfly/la mariposa, dog/el perro, cat/el gato, lion/el león, fish/el pez, horse/el caballo, monkey/el mono, snake/la serpiente, elephant/el elefante
Family/La familia: mother/la madre, father/el padre, sister/la hermana, brother/el hermano, grandmother/la abuela, grandfather/el abuelo, aunt/la tía, uncle/el tío, cousin(m.)/el primo, cousin(f.)/la prima, son/el hijo, daughter/la hija.
Ways to share the language at home:
*while driving name a city place in Spanish and see who can be the first to spot it
*say a family members name and have children tell you if that person is an abuela or tía or hermano…
*play hangman: using any of these new vocabulary words
Word Scramble: Together try to unscramble these animal words
1. enirsepet
2. rpsamaio
3. ragutut
4. aallboc
5. taelefne
Read together:
Hola. Me llamo Pablo. Mi mamá se llama Paloma. Mi papá se llama Paco. Me gusta el color azul. No me gusta el color rojo. Me gusta la pera. No me gusta la piña. Adios.
Book Drive - March 9-19
My name is Marlowe Leal. I am having a book drive For my 8th grade project. The books that SMASH collects will be donated to a school that does not have enough reading material. I would like to try to make a difference and help kids get more access to books. Please bring your new or used books to the SMASH office from March 9-19. I will collect the books and deliver them with an organization called Access Books to montara avenue elementary school on Saturday March 21st. If you would like to come help or have any questions please email me at mylittletermite@aol.com. Donated books should be for elementary school aged students.GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK
DID YOU KNOW…most to-go coffee cups (even paper ones) use plastic lids that leach toxins and are not easily recyclable? Coffee cup lids consist of polystyrene, a # 6 plastic that is simply a dense form of Styrofoam. Polystyrene is known to leach hormone-mimicking chemicals into food and beverages and has been tied to cancer in many studies. If you don't want those chemicals pressed to your lips, buy a reusable stainless steel mug with a # 5 highly-recyclable, low-leaching plastic top (Sold at Target, Starbucks, etc.). To prevent all leaching, however, you'll have to sip your coffee without a lid.Got a green tip or question? e-mail Marni Brady at marni99@yahoo.com
‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food’ -- HippocratesCORE 1 NEWS
“Community snack ROCKED, today!”No, not a quote from a Core 1 student…but from one of the many parents who have been moved by just how special this new “Project” is. Check out Core 1 News at www.smash.smmusd.org this weekend for photos and more information about community snack in Core 1 these last few weeks.
Upcoming Field Trips
The Los Angeles Zoo Trip is on Tuesday, February 24.
The Noah’s Ark Exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center, March 3 (Look for the permission slip in this week’s Friday Folder, please and return ASAP. The parent sign-up sheet is in the Magic Garden, by the Parent Table.) Inspired by the ancient flood story, which has parallels in diverse cultures around the world, this one-of-a-kind new destination invites visitors of all generations to have fun—and to connect with one another, learn the value of community, and help build a better world. Inside a floor-to-ceiling wooden ark, filled to the rafters with whimsical animals, the children will build, climb, explore, collaborate, and more. Conduct a storm, help construct the ark, and bask in the glow of a beautiful rainbow. Mingle with hundreds of fanciful animals—from cuddly companions to life–sized puppets—all crafted from recycled materials and everyday objects, including bottle caps, bicycle parts, baseball mitts, croquet balls, mop heads, and rear-view mirrors. Unique to the Noah's Ark experience are impromptu "happenings," surprise interactions, and drop-in activities.
Thank you so much for attending, and participating in, Family Conferences this week. They have been a true celebration of what our students have accomplished so far this year!
Chrysta will be out of the classroom on February 27 & 28. Her husband, Mark Wyse, has one of his photographs up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and they are flying out to see it! Zelina will be in the Sparkling Sea on both days.
Wish List
Paper or compostable plates and small bowls; “Green” spray cleaning products
Have a wonderful weekend!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: candis.berens@smmusd.org
Chrysta: wyse@smmusd.org
Guten Morgen Core 2 Community
Student-led conferences are opportunities to showcase all the progress that we have made throughout this year. Each student was able to present their work and discuss their strengths and challenges/goals. We enjoyed reconnecting with families to discuss all of the hard work being done in Core 2. These are the last conferences of the year, yet there is still a lot of work to be done!
We are going to the Weather Station at UCLA on Tuesday, February 24 on the Big Blue Bus. Each child needs to bring a snack and lunch in a bag or backpack. We will be leaving early 8:35 and returning around 2:00. We need parent volunteers to sign up, and returned permission slips ASAP. Each student has a permission slip in this week’s Friday Papers.
In Math, the 2nd graders enjoyed math choice time with various building materials. Each student also had the chance to reflect on this unit’s work and see how much we have learned so far. The 3rd graders began From Paces to Feet by playing “Mother May I?” using baby or giant steps, duck walking, bunny hopping, and heel-to-toe steps. How many bunny hops do you need to do to get from the lunch benches to the door of the Grassy Woods? It took 668 baby steps, 76 giant steps, 300 heel-to-toe steps, and 200 duck walk steps. The children estimated distances in the classroom and have attached homework to reinforce this process at home.
To continue with the pursuit of health, Nurse Sandy discussed sugar and fat content of foods the children eat and gave them some options for healthier choices. We couldn’t believe how much sugar was in the various juices and chocolate milk we enjoy! We can calculate the sugar content in teaspoons by remembering this: 4 teaspoons of sugar = 1 gram of sugar (on the “Nutritional Facts”). Remember to check the labels for sugar and fat! Nurse Sandy also talked about the various health concerns with eating too much sugar and fat. She told us that these foods are “sometimes” foods and should be enjoyed in small amounts. Exercising should also be a regular part of our daily routines…well, what do you know?! Speaking of exercise…Jog-a-thon is coming! Both Core 2 teachers have pledged $0.02 per lap for each Core 2 student. Are you getting your pledges? ONE WEEK TO GO! Have you stretched? Are you practicing?
Upcoming dates and events:
Tuesday, February 24 – field trip to Weather Station at UCLA
Friday, February 27 – Jog-a-thon, get your pledges now. Start building your endurance!
Have a SMASHing weekend!
Laura’s e-mail: sherman@smmusd.org
Jayme’s e-mail: jayme.wold@smmusd.org
CORE 3 NEWS
Math is the one subject the students have every day of the week. We have a very full and diverse schedule: Reading and Writing Workshops 4 days a week, P.E. 3 times per week, Science/Social Studies opposite District Music, plus Spanish twice a week, Art once a week, Cross-Core learning with Core 4 and Reading Buddies with Core 1 once a week, and Responsive Classroom social curriculum and Read Aloud in Advisory several times a week. We also try to work in technology, field trips, and fun things like cooking, teambuilding, and arts and crafts projects. (I’m sure we’re forgetting something!)
We know that Math is important to our lives--not only for our thinking about numbers, but all mathematical concepts. In addition (get it?!), math encourages organized, logical thinking, which helps us grow as learners in all areas. As math teachers, we are constantly assessing individual students along with the math group as a whole. We are aware of the different levels of understanding--who can push themselves to the next level independently, who needs a little guidance, and who needs constant, consistent support. Along with introducing new math ideas, we allow students to take time to reflect on their own understanding every day through activities, games, practice problems, sharing discussions, and assessments in class. As the teachers, Tamara, Genie, and Malaika coach students through their thinking to help them be more aware of what they are learning so they can transfer their knowledge and not keep their understanding confined to that day’s work. Being able to transfer ideas/apply strategies to multiple situations is the ultimate goal. For homework--which is generally review of work we’ve done in class, but may occasionally include a preview of upcoming concepts--our mantra is start with what you know, do what you can, and bring it in and ask questions about the rest. Being confused and asking questions shows great learning and “aha” moments are very powerful.
The TERC math curriculum has been researched and designed by experts who understand the developmental levels children typically go through. A strand like fractions is not introduced until 3rd grade, further investigated in 4th, and then related to percents and decimals in 5th grade, because understanding a part of a whole is an abstract concept. But even in 5th grade, some students have a difficult time mastering fractions, decimal points, and percents. Similarly, standard algorithms that involve “borrowing” or “carrying” or “tricks” like long division are not used in this curriculum because studies have shown that most students are not able to really understand what the numbers are doing until they are older. The curriculum loops through concepts more than once each year--it’s introduced, taught and explored, and then it’s taught and explored further in subsequent units, allowing students to use their familiarity as a jumping off point for new learning. These breaks are important to the learning process.
This doesn’t mean we don’t expect students to master/memorize certain math concepts. A recent New Yorker cartoon had two mathematicians working with an elaborate machine to conclude, “Okay, there are 12 inches in a foot.” The 5th graders know they need to memorize 1/3 is 33%, and 1/4 is 25% and half of 1/2, and the 4th graders know they need to memorize their combinations of 10 and 100 and be able to relate the factors of 100 and 1000. And everyone in Core 3 should work towards mastering the multiplication facts. Repetition, steadfast practice, and making mistakes and adding to your thinking over time are the keys to learning, growing, and mastering mathematical concepts.
Tamara, Genie, and Malaika
mugalian@smmusd.org
genie.hwang@smmusd.org
CORE 4 NEWS
BAILEY:
Hello Core 4:
You all had a very successful week with rollicking debates on the virtues of life in Athens vs. Sparta. I will be sending each student home with a "home-made" text on Ancient Greece. (Thank you Wende for assembling them). We will start with individuals Greek Intellectual oral reports and forming groups honoring various Greek Deities. We are working towards a Greek pageant and Olympics at the end of March. I hope to secure dates to visit the Getty Villa in mid March- so be tuned for dates where we will need parents to accompany us.
6/7th grade: We will start reading the beginning of the Odyssey as retold by Mary Pope Osborne: Please try to obtain one or more copies of her 7 series books called Tales of the Odyssey book 2-7. Also you can purchase or check out from a library any other kid friendly text of the Illiad or Odyssey or tales of Odysseus.
8th grade: please finish Siddhartha by Monday. We will be taking a trip to a Buddhist center in the beginning of March.
Advisory: Thanks for your participation in the conferences. Please bring your letter on "what matters most to you" for your child to the meeting. I am enjoying our conversations.
Namaste: Bailey
KELLY: Will return on Monday to set up conference appointments.
Kurt: holland@smmusd.org
Kelly: kelly.kulsrud@smmusd.org
Bailey: baileyfield@mac.com
DATES TO REMEMBER
Fri, Feb 27 - Jogathon!Fri, Feb 27 - 7:00 pm, SAMOHI Masterworks Choral Concert, Barnum Hall
Wed, Mar 11 - 6:30 pm - PTSA meeting
SAVE THE DATE - MAY 8 FAMILY DANCE
SMASH Camping Trip - First weekend in June - Save the Date!
THINGS TO DO
International Children’s Film Festival -Sat & Sun Feb 21-Mar 8.
Roy & Edna Disney/CalArts Theate
Tickets $5 Call 213-237-2800 or www.redcat.org
International Mother Language Day -
Sat Feb 21, 11:00am - 10:00pm.
Shatto Recreation Ctr,
3191 W.4th St, LA “United Communities through Language”
562-716-3208 Art, poetry, music, drama, dances.
Got a keyboard you don’t want?
Consider donating it to Dian for music class.
Contact Dian at (310)392-0600.
SAMOHI MASTERWORKS CHORAL CONCERT 2009
Friday, February 27 - Barnum Hall-7:00 PM
Jeffe Huls, Conductor
Featuring "The Little Organ Mass" of Joseph Haydn and Requiem by Gabriel Urbain Faure. Santa Monica High School Choirs will combine forces with the orchestras and bands to perform two great works of western musical heritage.
Our Madrigals Ensemble and Chamber Singers are excited to be traveling to Europe this spring and will tour and perform in Hungary, Austria and Germany.
We invite you to join us for what will be a great evening of music. We would especially love to have parents of middle school music students attend this concert.
Tickets-$10 Adults, $5 Students
For ticket reservation and information -
310 395-3204 x403. Or purchase at the door.
BAKE SALE - WEDNESDAYS HEALTHY TREATS AND FUN ITEMS
CORE 1
March 18
Apr 12
CORE 2
Mar 11
Apr 22
CORE 3
Mar 4
Apr 1
CORE 4
Mar 25
SMASH School Tours for 2009-2010 School Year
February 25, 9-10 am
March 11, 9-10 am (new date)
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)
SUMMER ADVENTURE
Four affordable weeks of non-stop fun,exploring and creating!
Write a Screenplay Shoot Hoops like Kobe
Create Edible Science Speak Mandarin
Golf like Tiger Film your own Movie
Discover ‘60’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Survive & Thrive in Middle School
June 29 – July 24, 2009 (except July 3)
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM daily
John Adams Middle School
2425 16th Street, Santa Monica 90405
Just $395 for full morning program
Scholarships available for qualifying students enrolled in SMMUSD for September 2009
Brochures and registration forms available March 30, 2009 at local middle schools
or online at www.smmpta.org or www.smmef.org
Luis Ramirez, Summer Adventure Principal, lramirez@smmusd.org
Lynn Leavitt, Office Assistant – summeradventure.lynn@gmail.com
310-452-2326 x213 Se habla español.
Sponsored by the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs and
Santa Monica – Malibu Education Foundation
