California Standards Tests (CST) begin for Cores 2, 3, and 4 this Tuesday, April 28 and end Friday, May 8. Make-up testing will occur May 11-May 15.
Be sure to get to school on time each morning, well rested, full of a healthy breakfast.
It has been great this week for me to hear about Spring Break creative experiences that included: inventing games, making art, exploring new neighborhoods, or transforming themselves in drama. As a part of the SMASH/Muir K-3 staff Reggio Book Club, we are reading The Hundred Languages of Children. Several quotes about creativity reinforce our SMASH vision. Here is one from page 70: “As we have chosen to work with children we can say that they are the best evaluators and the most sensitive judges of the values and usefulness of creativity. This comes about because they have the privilege of not being excessively attached to their own ideas, which they construct and reinvent continuously. They are apt to explore, make discoveries, change their points of view, and fall in love with forms and meanings that transform themselves.”
During Core 3 independent science/social studies investigation time, two students were reading and discussing texts about elements. “I think an atom in a metal is the same size as a cell in your skin.” “If protons, neutrons, electrons are parts of atoms, then what are the parts of skin cells?” I attribute their nimble thinking to the daily experiences they have at school and at home where they have a sense of freedom to venture beyond the known and are simultaneously well-supported in accessing previously documented knowledge.
What SMASH classroom examples of this discovery, view point changing, exploration can your family discuss from this week?
Truly Yours,
Jessica
HELP!!
YEARBOOK PHOTOS NEEDED!!
Beach Day! Pajama Day! Halloween!! Jog-a-thon!
And any other great SMASH photos!
If you do, please put them on a cd and bring them to school by May 5
Thanks! Carrie
SMASH FAMILY DANCE y FIESTA!
Friday, May 8 - 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Live music by Estaban y los Padres
$10 per family suggested donation
SMASH School Tours for 2009-2010 School Year
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
May 27, 9-10 am - Last Tour Before 1st-8th Grade Lottery
(1st-8th application deadline 05-31-09)
DATES TO REMEMBER
Fri, Apr. 24 & May 15 - SMASH movie nights
Sat, Apr. 25 - 8:30am - SAMOHI Freshmen Orientation
Wed, Apr. 29 - 6:00pm - Site Council Mtg
Tue, May 5 - 8:15am - PTSA Meeting
Fri, May 8 - 6:00-8:00 SMASH Family Dance
SAVE THE DATE
Sat, May 30 - SUPERSMASH!
Fri & Sat, June 5 & 6 - SMASH Camping Trip
BAKE SALE - WEDNESDAYS HEALTHY TREATS AND FUN ITEMS
APRIL
CORE 1
Apr 29
MAY
CORE 1
May 27
CORE 2
May 20
CORE 3
May 13
CORE 4
May 6
May 6
Fun Things to Do!
Saturday, April 25 - 11:00-4:00 DINO FAIR 401 Ashland (Ashland & 4th Street) FREE - best for ages 3-7
Moon Bounce, Petting Zoo food and games. Proceeds go to The Growing Place
Saturday, Apr. 25 –10:00-4:00 - Opening of the Annenberg Community Beach House - FREE. 415 PCH Hwy. Free activities all day, including volleyball & beach tennis, Kite flying and making, sand sculpture, ballroom dance competition, Lahula Polynesian dancing and much more. Get there by foot by one of the many footbridges from Palisades Park; Bike to the Beach House and have free bike valet service or Shuttle from the Civic Center Parking Structure (4th & Olympic). http://beachhouse.smgov.net
Saturday, Apr. 25 (10-6) & Sunday, Apr. 26 (10-5) FESTIVAL OF BOOKS at UCLA. FREE! Tickets are needed for indoor panels and speaker sessions and are available through ticketmaster.com at a 75 cent per ticket charge.. Parking on the UCLA campus is $9. Free shuttle bus services will connect the outlying UCLA parking lots with the main festival entrances. UCLA is at 405 Hilgard Avenue Call 310-825-4321 for recorded directions.
Sunday, April 26 - 11:00am. Puccini Opera Tales - The Broad Stage (1310 11th St. at Santa Monica Blvd) FREE Family Event. Performers will be available after the show to autograph and interact with the audience. Celebrate Puccini’s 150th birthday at The Broad Stage with party hats, necklaces, sweets, and more! Contact Information Send an email to box office mgr, Susanna Erdos, at Erdos_Susanna@smc.edu, with request, including name, address, phone #, email address and the # of tickets requested. Or call the box office at 310-434-3200.
Saturday, May 2 - 10:00-3:00 - Santa Monica CARES Health Festival - 3rd Street Promenade FREE Includes screening for asthma, blood pressure, pediatrics, veins. Ask a doctor about diabetes, geriatrics, weight loss. Traditional and alternative medical care options. Meet with local non-profits & learn ways to help your family. Live entertainment and stage demonstrations.
When.
10 am - 4 pm.
First Splash performance by "O™” from Cirque du Soleil at 11.
Or stop by on April 24 from 10 am - 4 pm for a sneak preview docent tour. No reservations or rsvps required. Ride your bike and use our free bike valet service.
What.
A day of free family-friendly beach fun, including:
Power volleyball exhibition match, followed by volleyball and beach tennis clinics. / Kite flying, including an opportunity to make your own. / Majestic sand sculpture and demonstration. / Ballroom dance competition. / Special beachy session of Downbeat 720, followed by Lahula Polynesian dancing. / Synchronized siwmming. / Storytelling. / Santa Monica Conservancy docents. / Unveling of the 36 x 27 Stories of Santa Monica Beach photo exhibit.
Make a great day better - pre-order a picnic from Fred Deni's Back on Broadway cafe. Menu
Where.
415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, California. Map
How.
Walk along the bike path or take one of many footbridges from Palisades Park.
Bike to the Beach House and enjoy free bike valet service on site. (Don't have a bike? Rent one from Perry's.)
Shuttle from the Civic Center Parking Structure (4th & Olympic, just off the 10 Freeway), running throughout the day from 10 am - 4:30 pm. It's free and easy!
Note: There will be no public parking on site on April 25.
Starting April 26, the Beach House will be open to the public - no membership
Dear SMASH Community, Got extra duffle bags, backpacks or tote bags you don’t need? This year one of the many projects that Big Sunday is sponsoring, is the 1st Big Sunday Luggage Collection project, which benefits children in foster care. Many of these children attend their court dates and move from home to home, with all their worldly possessions in a garbage bag. By donating new and gently used luggage that we don’t need, we can make a difference. If you have something tucked away in your closet that is getting much use, we are taking donations until next Friday, May 1 in the SMASH School Office. Thank you for your support!
ARTS FOR ALL PARENT SURVEY
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is conducting a parent survey about our visual and performing arts programs and would like your input. Please take a few moments to complete the online survey. You can find it at the district website: www.smmusd.org. Paper copies of the survey are also in the SMASH office.
We are encouraging all of our SMASH parents to complete this survey!
SMMUSD & PTA Council Special Education Committee
SPECIAL EDUCATION SPRING FORUM REGISTRATION
Saturday, May 2, 2009
John Adams Middle School
8:30 a.m. to 12:00 pm
2425 – 16th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405
8 am – 9 8:30 am – 9 am Registration
General Session KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Brad Silverman & Petite Konstantin
9 am – 10 am L.A. GOAL
“I Can Do It, So Can You”
Breakout Sessions TRANSITIONING: What to Expect at Each Level
10:15 – 11:30 am
Please Select School Transition PRESCHOOL to ELEM.______ ELEMENTARY to MIDDLE_______
Level MIDDLE SCHOOL to HS_____ HIGH SCHOOL to POST SEC. ______
WRAP– 11:30 – noon WRAP-UP
Registration Deadline: April 27, 2009
Mail Form to: SMMPTA Council Special Education Committee; 1651 16th St; Santa Monica, CA 90404
Fax to 310 452-2843 email: specialedcollab@gmail.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________
YOUR NAME _____________________________________________
EMAIL __________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________ City ______________________________ Zip __________
Home phone _____________________________Child’s school ____________________________
Child’s Grade ____________
Will you need Childcare? Yes Name(s) & Age(s) _________________________________________
Childcare will be provided free of charge. Childcare may not be available if registration is received after April 27, 2009
Do you need translation at the FALL FORUM? No Yes Spanish American Sign Language
Please email to above address or include any particular transition issue you would like addressed.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
OFFICE USE ONLY
Registered in childcare ______________________________Breakout Session ___________________________
Confirmation sent _____________________ Date ___________________
Remember how bad it felt not to be picked for a friend’s sports team or when you felt sad because your friends left you out of a secret conversation, or when you broke up? Well there is Science to back up your real feelings!
Why Rejection Hurts: Exploring How the Brain Responds to Physical and Social Pain
Lincoln Science Club Guest Speaker Dr. Naomi Eisenberger, UCLA Professor
Thursday, April 30 Lincoln Middle School Auditorium @ 7:00 pm
Dr. Eisenberger is a Professor in the Social Psychology Program at UCLA. She is Director of the Social and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory as well as Co Director of the Social Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory.
The neural bases of social rejection – When people feel rejected or left out, they often describe their feelings with physical pain words like “hurt feelings” or “broken heart”. Dr. Eisenberger’s research has shown that feeling socially excluded activates some of the same neural regions that are activated in response to physical pain.
This will be a fascinating evening into how “hurt feelings” or a “broken heart” can be observed in brain scans. And hey, who just doesn’t love a good brain scan?
All Samohi, JAMS, and Lincoln Students & Parents are invited to attend.
This is a great presentation for those students interested in the Field of Psychology
GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK . . .
IN HONOR OF EARTH DAY/WEEK…we should all revisit how much we’re doing to help the planet, and vow to step-it-up a notch (or two). Some simple but powerful steps:
1) Don’t run the water while washing your hands. Wet hands, turn off water, add soap, count to 20 while scrubbing, then rinse (a great tip to teach kids!)
2) Shop at Farmer’s Markets for pesticide-free veggies, fruit, and dairy. The less distance your food needs to travel, the less fuel and resources you utilize.
3) Switch to all-natural household cleaners – or better yet, make your own in refillable bottles. Distilled vinegar kills germs as affectively as bleach – without the harsh chemicals that hurt our lungs and kill our oceans.
4) Stop using zip lock bags and stop buying plastic containers for food storage. Plastic is a petrol product that never leaves the planet. Replace plastic storage containers with glass or ceramics at home (available at Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond), and lightweight stainless steel snack and meal/sandwich containers for lunchboxes. Check out the stainless lunch containers available in the new GreenRaising catalogue or the fun containers at www.lunchbots.com.
Got a Green Tip or Question? Send it to Marni Brady: Marni99@yahoo.com
GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK . . .
IN HONOR OF EARTH DAY/WEEK…we should all revisit how much we’re doing to help the planet, and vow to step-it-up a notch (or two). Some simple but powerful steps:
1) Don’t run the water while washing your hands. Wet hands, turn off water, add soap, count to 20 while scrubbing, then rinse (a great tip to teach kids!)
2) Shop at Farmer’s Markets for pesticide-free veggies, fruit, and dairy. The less distance your food needs to travel, the less fuel and resources you utilize.
3) Switch to all-natural household cleaners – or better yet, make your own in refillable bottles. Distilled vinegar kills germs as affectively as bleach – without the harsh chemicals that hurt our lungs and kill our oceans.
4) Stop using zip lock bags and stop buying plastic containers for food storage. Plastic is a petrol product that never leaves the planet. Replace plastic storage containers with glass or ceramics at home (available at Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond), and lightweight stainless steel snack and meal/sandwich containers for lunchboxes. Check out the stainless lunch containers available in the new GreenRaising catalogue or the fun containers at www.lunchbots.com.
Got a Green Tip or Question? Send it to Marni Brady: Marni99@yahoo.com
GO LADY DOLPHINS!
Congratulations to our fearless rugby players, Rene Ross, Sarah Harnage & Kate Story whose Santa Monica Rugby Club U14 girls' team will compete for the league championship this Saturday at 10:30 at California State University, Fullerton. Come out and cheer them on!
Titan Sports Complex 800 N. State College Blvd, Fullerton
10 East to 60 East toward 5 South (Santa Ana). 5 south to 91 east (toward Riverside).
Exit at State College, turning left onto State College Blvd.
Park in lot A or G (off of Yorba Linda)
California State PTA positions on May 19 statewide ballot measures
Based on the authority contained in statewide resolutions and position statements, the California State PTA, representing nearly 1 million volunteer members, has taken positions on five of the six measures that will appear on the May 19 statewide ballot.
PROPOSITION 1A - SUPPORT
Restores education funding, temporarily increases state revenues, and establishes a "rainy day" stabilization fund
PROPOSITION 1B - SUPPORT
Education funding repayment plan
PROPOSITION 1C - SUPPORT
Modernization of the Lottery
PROPOSITION 1D - OPPOSE
First 5/Children's services funding
PROPOSITION 1E - SUPPORT
Mental health services funding
PROPOSITION 1F - NO POSITION
Legislative pay increases
Each of these measures is intended to implement components of the state budget agreement adopted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in late February.
While we do not feel these measures adequately address the need for long-term budget reform in California, we recognize that most of the measures represent important and necessary steps to prevent deeper cuts to education and children's programs during the state's current economic crisis.
USEFUL LINKS
For a fuller discussion of PTA's positions, please visit www.smmpta.org.
California Secretary of State Official Voter Guide Information http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/
Legislative Analyst's Office analyses of ballot propositions http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_sourcePropositions.aspx
League of Women Voters: Easy Voter Guide (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese) www.easyvoter.org
Those who are not currently registered to vote must postmark an application by Monday, May 4, 2009, in order to do so in this election. Info at www.lavote.net.
One More Request from your Jog-a-thon Team ‘09!
ALL pledges
are due!
We are about $1700 short of the amount pledged. If you haven’t already done so, please drop off your check or cash in the office.
Thanks!
SMASH Site Council Minutes Wednesday, March 18, 2009
In Attendance: Tracy Saltzman, Laura Sherman, Jessica Rishe, Kelly Kulsrud, Naomi Miller-Altuner, Emma Green, , Kezia Miller, Liz Grossman, Candis Berens, Jackie Boyd
Absent: Malaika Boyer, Cesia Morataya, , Tamara Mugalian, Jayme Wold, , Dan McGee, Sadie Saltzman, Gigi Lewis, Greta Schmittdiel, Bennett Zemke, Gabe Schmittdiel, Eli Simmonds
Agenda Adopted: Moved by Dan McGee, Seconded by Tracy Saltzman Approved
Approve Minutes of last meeting (1/14/09): Moved by Tracy Saltzman Seconded by Dan McGee, Approved
Community Participation: None
Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)
Principal’s Report
Parent Ed Math Morning—27% of SMASH families attended. Recap will be published in Friday Letter and sent to School Board members
Jessica reviewed talking points when contacting Key Decision Makers during the current budget crisis:
Things students have worked on establishing that connect to city and District priorities such as composting, recycling, organic gardening.
Mutual benefits of Family Services Reflective Parenting groups with SMASH and Muir
SMASH is Responsive Classroom west coast training site for 150 teachers
Service learning via 8th grade projects, arts…
Jessica gave recap of latest District Budget status: No reduction in Nurses and Music Teachers for next year.
Student Reports
Sustainable Works assembly 3/18/09, Earth Day poster contest, ways people and planet work together, Recycling uses energy so focus on reduce and reusing most (Responsibility, Respect, React are added)
Core 4 trip to Getty Villa brought out deep thinking and enthusiastic reactions showing off student knowledge of content
Community Organization Reports
PTSA-“Yes we can” fundraising focus to make up for $25K deficit and reaching out to key decision makers campaign
Student Council-- Student Council will look at each core taking the lead on one earth friendly responsibility.
New Business:
By-laws
In order to be in compliant with Ed Code 52012, SMASH site council shall have 12 voting members. Group A-one principal, four teachers,,1 classified staff members, 3 parents, 3 students
Dan McGee moved to change the membership requirements to the SMASH Site Council. Seconded by Tracy Saltzman. Passed unanimously.
Site Council Election Timeline: Tracy Saltzman volunteered to make the ballots, Liz Grossman will make sure candidate blurbs are ready for the Friday Letter. Each family gets one vote per child. Kezia , Naomi, and Emma, Dan and Kelly volunteered to count ballots.
Budget Status: District considering class size increases if state allows to 23:1
Community Participation:
Next meeting: April 29, 6:00pm Assistant Superintendent Mike Matthews will present about potential budget impacts at SMASH. NOTE: Dr. Matthews presented the budget on April 1 instead and will not be attending April 29 meeting.
Adjourn: Kezia Miller motioned and Kelly Kulsrud seconded.
SMASH Site Council Minutes Wednesday, March 18, 2009
In Attendance: Tracy Saltzman, Laura Sherman, Jessica Rishe, Kelly Kulsrud, Naomi Miller-Altuner, Emma Green, , Kezia Miller, Liz Grossman, Candis Berens, Jackie Boyd
Absent: Malaika Boyer, Cesia Morataya, , Tamara Mugalian, Jayme Wold, , Dan McGee, Sadie Saltzman, Gigi Lewis, Greta Schmittdiel, Bennett Zemke, Gabe Schmittdiel, Eli Simmonds
Agenda Adopted: Moved by Dan McGee, Seconded by Tracy Saltzman Approved
Approve Minutes of last meeting (1/14/09): Moved by Tracy Saltzman Seconded by Dan McGee, Approved
Community Participation: None
Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)
Principal’s Report
Parent Ed Math Morning—27% of SMASH families attended. Recap will be published in Friday Letter and sent to School Board members
Jessica reviewed talking points when contacting Key Decision Makers during the current budget crisis:
Things students have worked on establishing that connect to city and District priorities such as composting, recycling, organic gardening.
Mutual benefits of Family Services Reflective Parenting groups with SMASH and Muir
SMASH is Responsive Classroom west coast training site for 150 teachers
Service learning via 8th grade projects, arts…
Jessica gave recap of latest District Budget status: No reduction in Nurses and Music Teachers for next year.
Student Reports
Sustainable Works assembly 3/18/09, Earth Day poster contest, ways people and planet work together, Recycling uses energy so focus on reduce and reusing most (Responsibility, Respect, React are added)
Core 4 trip to Getty Villa brought out deep thinking and enthusiastic reactions showing off student knowledge of content
Community Organization Reports
PTSA-“Yes we can” fundraising focus to make up for $25K deficit and reaching out to key decision makers campaign
Student Council-- Student Council will look at each core taking the lead on one earth friendly responsibility.
New Business:
By-laws
In order to be in compliant with Ed Code 52012, SMASH site council shall have 12 voting members. Group A-one principal, four teachers,,1 classified staff members, 3 parents, 3 students
Dan McGee moved to change the membership requirements to the SMASH Site Council. Seconded by Tracy Saltzman. Passed unanimously.
Site Council Election Timeline: Tracy Saltzman volunteered to make the ballots, Liz Grossman will make sure candidate blurbs are ready for the Friday Letter. Each family gets one vote per child. Kezia , Naomi, and Emma, Dan and Kelly volunteered to count ballots.
Budget Status: District considering class size increases if state allows to 23:1
Community Participation:
Next meeting: April 29, 6:00pm Assistant Superintendent Mike Matthews will present about potential budget impacts at SMASH. NOTE: Dr. Matthews presented the budget on April 1 instead and will not be attending April 29 meeting.
Adjourn: Kezia Miller motioned and Kelly Kulsrud seconded.
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE SMASH ADVISORY COUNCIL
It’s time again to think ahead and select the parents to represent you at the SMASH Council for next year. This group of parent, staff and students meet once a month to:
A. To establish and oversee the use of the School Improvement (SI) funds as provided in Section 52012 of the California Education Code.
B. To oversee and assist in the development of the annual School Improvement Plan (SIP). The SC shall identify areas of need and goals for improvement as mandated by California Ed Code 52014: “Each plan shall be based on an assessment of school capability to meet the educational needs of each pupil, specify improvement objectives, and indicate steps necessary to achieve those objectives including intended outcomes.”
C. To maintain periodic analysis of implementation and effectiveness of the SIP. The SC shall analyze and draft an SIP ANALYSIS based on the actual outcomes of the improvement plan and on reports from the SMASH community. The SIP ANALYSIS shall be utilized in development of subsequent School Improvement Plans. California Ed Code 52021 states that SC, “…shall have ongoing responsibility to review with the principal, teachers, other school personnel and pupils the implementation of the school improvement program and to assess periodically the effectiveness of such program.”
D. To provide a forum for all SMASH constituents to communicate their concerns related to the development of the annual School Improvement Plan including areas of need, goals for improvement, outcomes and effectiveness of School improvement plans.
E. To communicate the actions and goals of the SC to the entire SMASH community.
F. To ensure that the annual School Improvement Plan supports the goals, philosophy and vision of SMASH as established in the school handbook.
We will be electing four (3) parents to serve a one-year term. To be elected, please bring in statement, no longer than 50-words, of your interest and qualifications to Janice in the SMASH office no later than 3:00 on Thursday, May 7. Late submissions will not be accepted.
The candidate statements will be published in the May 8 Friday Letter. Ballots will be sent home with the May 15 Friday Letter and are due by 4pm on Wednesday, May 20. No late ballots will be accepted. Representatives will be announced in the May 22 Friday Letter.
We also need one parent to serve on the SMASH Council Election Committee. This must be a person who is not currently on the Council and does not plan to run. Their role will be to make sure the election process is followed. Please let Laura, Jessica or Janice know if you are interested in serving on the election committee by Friday, May 8.
SMASH Site Council Agenda
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 6:00 pm Core 2
Adopt Agenda
Approve minutes of last meeting
Community Participation
Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)
Principal’s Report
Students Reports
Community Organization Reports (to include but not limited to the following):
PTSA
Student Council
Other
Old Business
Site Council Elections
New Business
Community Participation (if applicable)
Adjourn
WELCOME BACK - CORE 1
CIRCLE GROUPS: Spring and change are in the air in Core 1! You could feel the excitement on Monday as we reconnected with our friends. We came back to our new and final circle groups. First on the agenda, was to give ourselves new names. Candis is leading “The Crazy Crickets” and Chrysta is leading “The Flaming Eels”. Candis will still be meeting with the Partners for literacy and math, and Chrysta will still be meeting with the Bigs. Another change this spring is that the Partners have the opportunity and option to stay until 2:50pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thursday afternoons we have PE together, so please remember to bring comfortable shoes. All Core 1 students still visit the library on Tuesdays, to accommodate our new art program.
ART: Julianna, our artist-in-residence, led us in our study of symmetry this week. The students chose to explore this concept through drawing, painting or collage. We looked at symmetry our bodies, linking this idea to balance. We found that if you hold a string from your naval to your toes you could draw a perfect circle into which our body fits, a "Vitruvian Man" By Leonardo DiVinci. We also looked at the work of Karl Blossfeldt and Portia Mudson. Next week, we will go deeper with the same concept. Julianna will lead one of the groups to create a non symmetrical portrait using cubist style that generally combines at least two different views of the face in the same image. The most obvious is Picasso, but other cubist used same principal.
PROJECTS: The Beautiful Classroom Project Group needs your help with the Peaceful Room! They want to make it more beautiful. If you would like to help with this endeavor, we meet on Monday Mornings at 9am with Chrysta in the Sparkling Sea. We especially need someone who know how to sew (we have a machine), someone who is handy with a drill, and anyone who enjoys making spaces more beautiful. Thanks!
WRITING WORKSHOP: The Bigs are working towards publishing their All About Books, and may need some help at home. They have notices that one of the features of published All About books is that they contain photographs for their illustrations. If you child has not spoken with you about it already, we will let you know within the next couple of weeks if we need some photographs from home. Thank you for your assistance.
REMINDERS /ANNOUNCEMENTS
•1st graders will get their eyes tested on Monday morning, April 27 by the people from Jules Stein, UCLA.
•Please check out our blog this weekend for more of what’s going on in Core 1!
Have a WONDERFUL weekend!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: candis.berens@smmusd.org Chrysta: wyse@smmusd.org
Notice from the Nurse for Core 1 First graders
In the Friday packet you will see a permission slip for the Jules Stein Eye Clinic. This is for a free eye exam given to first graders by the UCLA Jules Stein Mobile Eye Clinic. We are one of a select group of schools that are lucky enough to receive this service. Please send the permission slip back with your child on Monday if you want to have your child’s eyes examined. The eye exam is scheduled for this Monday, April 27 so the form must be with them on Monday morning.
Thanks, Nurse Sandy
CORE 2
REMINDER: California Standards Tests (CST) begin for Cores 2, 3, and 4 this Tuesday, April 28 and end Friday, May 8. Make-up testing will occur May 11-May 15. All students are required to be tested unless they have a specific written request to opt out of testing from their parent/guardian.
CIRCLE GROUPS: Spring and change are in the air in Core 1! You could feel the excitement on Monday as we reconnected with our friends. We came back to our new and final circle groups. First on the agenda, was to give ourselves new names. Candis is leading “The Crazy Crickets” and Chrysta is leading “The Flaming Eels”. Candis will still be meeting with the Partners for literacy and math, and Chrysta will still be meeting with the Bigs. Another change this spring is that the Partners have the opportunity and option to stay until 2:50pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thursday afternoons we have PE together, so please remember to bring comfortable shoes. All Core 1 students still visit the library on Tuesdays, to accommodate our new art program.
ART: Julianna, our artist-in-residence, led us in our study of symmetry this week. The students chose to explore this concept through drawing, painting or collage. We looked at symmetry our bodies, linking this idea to balance. We found that if you hold a string from your naval to your toes you could draw a perfect circle into which our body fits, a "Vitruvian Man" By Leonardo DiVinci. We also looked at the work of Karl Blossfeldt and Portia Mudson. Next week, we will go deeper with the same concept. Julianna will lead one of the groups to create a non symmetrical portrait using cubist style that generally combines at least two different views of the face in the same image. The most obvious is Picasso, but other cubist used same principal.
PROJECTS: The Beautiful Classroom Project Group needs your help with the Peaceful Room! They want to make it more beautiful. If you would like to help with this endeavor, we meet on Monday Mornings at 9am with Chrysta in the Sparkling Sea. We especially need someone who know how to sew (we have a machine), someone who is handy with a drill, and anyone who enjoys making spaces more beautiful. Thanks!
WRITING WORKSHOP: The Bigs are working towards publishing their All About Books, and may need some help at home. They have notices that one of the features of published All About books is that they contain photographs for their illustrations. If you child has not spoken with you about it already, we will let you know within the next couple of weeks if we need some photographs from home. Thank you for your assistance.
REMINDERS /ANNOUNCEMENTS
•1st graders will get their eyes tested on Monday morning, April 27 by the people from Jules Stein, UCLA.
•Please check out our blog this weekend for more of what’s going on in Core 1!
Have a WONDERFUL weekend!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: candis.berens@smmusd.org Chrysta: wyse@smmusd.org
Notice from the Nurse for Core 1 First graders
In the Friday packet you will see a permission slip for the Jules Stein Eye Clinic. This is for a free eye exam given to first graders by the UCLA Jules Stein Mobile Eye Clinic. We are one of a select group of schools that are lucky enough to receive this service. Please send the permission slip back with your child on Monday if you want to have your child’s eyes examined. The eye exam is scheduled for this Monday, April 27 so the form must be with them on Monday morning.
Thanks, Nurse Sandy
CORE 2
REMINDER: California Standards Tests (CST) begin for Cores 2, 3, and 4 this Tuesday, April 28 and end Friday, May 8. Make-up testing will occur May 11-May 15. All students are required to be tested unless they have a specific written request to opt out of testing from their parent/guardian.
Core 2 went to the Santa Monica Aquarium at the Pier with Jayme, Nadja, and Kurt. We learned about habitats and the adaptations that animals make to survive. Ask your child what animal they created for the different ocean habitats: sandy bottom, kelp forest, open ocean, and the rocky shore. Students also had the opportunity to touch various sea creatures (including a shark…yikes!), see a fish that is both male AND female, and meet the infamous octopus that escaped its tank and flooded part of the aquarium! We raced to the shoreline (literally) and looked for clams, mussels, kelp, and sand crabs. The Chocolate Chipmunks found a pregnant sand crab and checked out her bright orange eggs. After all of our exploration and adventures, we emptied our shoes of all the sand and headed back to SMASH. A special thanks to Kurt for arranging and accompanying Core 2 on this trip! We look forward to our next trip together to Temescal Canyon.
Writers Workshop – We began a new writing project…Realistic Fiction! We discussed how fiction intersects with reality in this piece. To further our discussion, please look for books to represent this genre at home and think about the elements that make the story realistic fiction. In our own stories, the students started brainstorming characters, setting, and plot ideas. The idea of a story climax was introduced as well.
Math: The 3rd graders began their investigation into Balobbyland. They each created a Balobby person and worked in pairs to design school and home spaces for the Balobbies, a group of mythical and very tiny people who live in the centimeter oriented Balobbyland. The mathematical emphasis for this project is measuring with centimeters, using measurement to construct areas of different sizes, and finding the area and perimeter of shapes.
The 2nd graders began a new unit, “Putting Together and Taking Apart.” We will be focusing on addition and subtraction. Please see the attached sheet for more information about this unit.
Arts with Kristy: None this week. Next week, they will see examples of, explore and play with Foley and shadow puppets. The students will began to write (story boards) for their modern tale.
Spanish with Diana starts back up again next Monday. Hasta luego!
Standardized testing – testing begins on Tuesday!
Upcoming dates and events:
Tuesday, April 28 – Standardized testing begins in core 2 – see Jessica’s letter
Wednesday, May 6 – Standardized testing ends in core 2
Thursday, May 7 – Field trip to Watts Tower, permission slip and info next week.
Tuesday, May 12 – Hike in Temescal Canyon, more info to follow
Friday, May 15 – April, May, June, July, and August Birthday Bash – 11:30 am
Friday, May 22 – Annual Core 1/Core2 BBQ. More info next week!
Have a super weekend,
Laura, Jayme, and Nadja
Laura’s e-mail: sherman@smmusd.org Jayme’s e-mail: jayme.wold@smmusd.org
CORE 3
REMINDER: California Standards Tests (CST) begin for Cores 2, 3, and 4 this Tuesday, April 28 and end Friday, May 8. Make-up testing will occur May 11-May 15. All students are required to be tested unless they have a specific written request to opt out of testing from their parent/guardian.
We hope you enjoyed having extra family time over Spring Break—we sure did! Welcome back!!!
Core 3 is already right back in the swing of things--studying nonfiction in reading, writing, social studies, and science. Many educators express concern that most of what we read in our lives is nonfiction (books, magazines, newspapers, etc.), yet most classrooms focus heavily on fiction reading and writing. When classroom teachers do teach nonfiction writing, they typically have kids read about a topic and then regurgitate the info by simply rearranging words/sentences/ideas from what they have read.
Narrative reading and writing is important because it helps us grow ideas and better understand the world through stories. Nonfiction reading and writing is important because we learn information and someone else’s ideas and then share our learning with others. It is important to “get the facts” from the content of what we read, but the emphasis should be on developing and expressing our own ideas about the information we read. Some important nonfiction reading strategies we will be teaching to help students do that are:
Activating background knowledge: We all use what we know--making connections with prior learning through texts, media, experiences, and conversations--to help us process what we are reading.
Questioning: If confusion disrupts understanding, we need to stop and think of what/why we don’t understand. Asking questions leads us to further inquiry and understanding.
Determining important ideas: Identifying essential information is important because often when we read nonfiction, we get other information that may not be important to the main idea or to the purpose of why/what we are reading.
Monitoring and repairing comprehension: Nonfiction text is often packed with unfamiliar ideas and vocabulary. Cracking these words and concepts is crucial to understanding, and knowing how to adjust our thinking when understanding breaks down is critical.
Drawing inferences: Writers leak rather than spill information onto the page. Reading between the lines requires inferential thinking—especially in non-textbook, kid-friendly contemporary “non-fiction” books like Diary of a Fly.
Synthesizing information: Reviewing, sorting, and using information can lead to new insights that change the way we think. Understanding where it fits into what we already know and how we might apply it in our lives is key.
Visualizing: Sensory imaging makes reading pleasurable. When we make a picture in our mind of what we are reading, we are more likely to understand a difficult text.
(information adapted from Nonfiction Matters by Stephanie Harvey, 1998)
As readers, you often use all of these reading strategies at once without really thinking about it. Think about which ones you find you use most often and have a discussion about non-fiction reading with your child at home.
Tamara, Genie & Malaika
mugalian@smmusd.org genie.hwang@smmusd.org
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR 5TH GRADERS- PLEASE READ!
5th Grade: Wed, May 13 - 6:30-7:30, Student & parent information meeting regarding Core 4
PLEASE READ IMPORTANT STUDENT TRIP INFORMATION IN THIS FRIDAY LETTER!
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ALL INCOMING 6th, 7th & 8th GRADE STUDENTS
Environmental Education Trip Planning
Core four’s outdoor environmental education trips (Catalina, Yosemite, Camp Hess Kramer and Berkeley) are facing cash flow, scholarship funding, and logistical challenges for next year as a result of the deep economic problems confronting our broader community. Happily, this circumstance also offers an opportunity to refine and deepen our program if these challenges are managed well; given the quality and drive of this community I feel confident we will engineer a positive outcome for our children. In order to grasp the opportunities for our children while navigating the financial realities we need to make some changes and discuss priorities.
Background Information and Procedural Changes
Core four parents have always directly paid the cost of these valuable trips with no outside subsidy and a small number of parents have worked to develop scholarship funds alongside me as a team. The PTSA’s role has been to provide the cash reserves/liquidity to allow us to make timely deposits, negotiate checks from parents, and fund various special treats for the kids. For five years this system has enabled every single child who wished to experience these marvelous learning environments to do so regardless of their family’s personal financial circumstances. Research on the benefits of environmental education points to fundamental associations with high achievement and lasting improvements in life skills all deriving from good healthy fun outside.
A - In order to retain this universal access for all interested students, we need families to provide funding for your own child and to be as generous as possible in developing a larger than historical scholarship fund. The trend that was established during the height of the economic meltdown last fall suggests that we need to develop funding to cover at least 40% of our community. In addition, we need to shift our collection of funds towards a much earlier schedule to cover the vendor deposits that the PTSA formerly fronted.
B - Trips will be organized by grade level and academic rotation. Our former approach of allowing everybody to go as often as they wanted created needless financial demands on parents and was going to be changed even without a financial crisis. This means that only 6th graders will be invited on Catalina trips as they share an academic rotation. Yosemite will be focused on the 7th graders. The two 8th grade trips (Fall and Spring) will continue as planned. To summarize this means that the maximum number of trip related expenditures that a 6th grade family should plan for is one, with a cost that will be approximately four hundred dollars. Families with 7th grade students would also go on one trip a year requiring a budget of about six hundred dollars. 8Th graders will have the opportunity to take two trips if they achieve adequate funding. However, a family could guarantee a deeply significant experience every year for their child by budgeting about six hundred/year.
C - We are all going to have to work harder and earlier if we wish to secure these fine adventures. Students have already started organizing and hosting fundraisers and will have to increase their contribution significantly contrasted to past years. Parents can help by providing grant-writing expertise, logistical support, and by leading particular fundraising activities. It would be especially valuable if we could develop a parent leader for each trip to work alongside of me as we navigate the increased workload.
So, in short, help! Please email me or drop around to brainstorm ideas, but I need immediate feedback regarding our community’s ability to pay approximately $5,500 in deposits for the Catalina trip and Yosemite by May 18th.
Kurt Holland
CORE 4 NEWS
REMINDER: California Standards Tests (CST) begin for Cores 2, 3, and 4 this Tuesday, April 28 and end Friday, May 8. Make-up testing will occur May 11-May 15. All students are required to be tested unless they have a specific written request to opt out of testing from their parent/guardian.
FROM BAILEY-
We have started Spring Quarter with great energy. We have learned about China's land and will start looking into the culture and history next week this the memoir of a girl in the Cultural Revolution, some use of a text book about dynasties and Chinese ancient history and also reading myth and folktales from China.
Enrichment opportunities: It would be wonderful to take your child to Chinatown for exploration. Also you may wish to rent "The Last Emperor" and have a family movie night.
I am sorry that purchasing the books have been a challenge. Please have Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang as soon as possible. The best luck has been through Amazon. budget.com also has the book used for $4.50 with 9% shipping and handling. Myth and Legends by Horowitz is not as essential. Have your student also begin to pick out a memoir, autobiography or biography at the just right reading level. The subject of the book should be something or someone the student is interested in.
FROM KELLY-
Math 6/7
As we put a wrap to the our Geometry unit, we are delving into the properties and theorems that accompany triangles and quadrilaterals. Students will use their understanding of various angle types to explore the reasons why a triangle’s angles must equal 180 degrees. They are taking on the role of Euclid as they engage in this exploration, as this was one of his discoveries. Next week we will reflect, review, and celebrate all we have accomplished in this unit.
Algebra
The mathematicians delved into Chapter five this week. The focus of this chapter involves linear functions and relationships. Our pace is fast, and it is vital that in this last stretch of the year the students stay on top of their assignments and responsibilities.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION DATES!! PLEASE READ
8th Grade: Mon, April 27, 6:00pm. Santa Monica High Counselors meet with families in Kurt’s room.
7th Grade: Wed, May 13, 5:30-6:30. Meet to find out about next year’s plans
PLEASE READ IMPORTANT STUDENT TRIP INFORMATION IN THIS FRIDAY LETTER!
SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL INCOMING FRESHMEN ORIENTATION
REMINDER!
When: This Saturday, April 25
Time: 8:30 - 11:30 am
Location: SANTA MONICA HIGH - Sign-in at the Main Quad and proceed to the Greek Theatre
***SAVE THE DATE***
The Fourth Annual
SMASHing All-School
Family Dance y Fiesta
When: Friday, May 8 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Who: the SMASH community (friends, family, and SMASH staff)
What: a fabulous, fun-filled fiesta for the whole family
Why: to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Jayme’s wedding, and do the Mexican Hat Dance
Where: the SMASH Cafetorium
How: $5 individual ticket / $10 “family” ticket (dinner included)
What to Bring: Extra money for raffle tickets, the photo booth, crafts, and nacho bar!
Photo Booth $5 Food Raffle Prizes
Nacho Bar $1
Games Crafts
Live music provided by
Esteban y Los Padres
