Dear SMASHing Families,
You’re invited to celebrate prize winners Simeon Downing, Caroline Friedman, Claire Goldberg, Gabe Schmittdiel, Jules Stahler, and Joy Watanabe!
“Over 300 K-12 aged students submitted artwork for the Sustainable Santa Monica Earthday Poster contest, sharing their vision for a clean, green and healthy community.” There were 14 total prizes awarded. Congratulations to our six SMASH students for having their sustainable practice ideas and artwork honored.
Come express our support for sustainability efforts, honor our students,
and enjoy FREE family fun
Wednesday, May 13 4:00-5:30pm
(Awards & Recognition Ceremony at 5:00pm)
at the Historic Santa Monica Pier Carousel Building.
There will be food, gifts, raffle prizes, awards, and carousel rides.
For more information please contact Traci Reitz.
RSVP appreciated: reitz_traci@smc.edu
www.sustainableworks.org; 310-458-8716
Stay tuned for more sustainability news. I am serving on the Superintendent’s Budget Committee, and this is one of the potential cost-savings areas to be discussed. We meet again after the May 19th election, and I will keep you informed after that meeting about the latest budget status.
Truly Yours,
Jessica
DEADLINE FOR LUNCH TICKETS
Wednesday, May 20 will be the last day we can accept prepayments for the “Meal Deal” (the discount lunch ticket). As of Monday, May 4, there are 32 lunch days remaining in the school year (not counting any all-day field trips, or class parties at lunchtime). A “Meal Deal” is for 20 lunches. There are no refunds given on lunches purchased. Meal credits and cash balances can only be transferred between siblings. Please check with Connie in the cafeteria at 310-396-2640x211 for a current balance. If you have a balance due, please be kind and pay as soon as possible.
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.
Last Tour Before 1st-8th Grade Lottery
(1st-8th application deadline 05-31-09)
IS YOUR CHILD RETURNING TO SMASH NEXT YEAR?
We are in the process of making plans for next year’s enrollment and it is important for us to know if you are planning on returning to SMASH. Please fill in the form in this week’s Friday Letter and return to the main office no later than May 18.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Fri, May 15 - Movie Fun Night
Mon, May 25 - Memorial Day - School Closed
Sat, May 30 - SUPERSMASH!
Wed, June 3 - 8:45am Arts Sharing
Fri & Sat, June 5 & 6 - SMASH Camping Trip
WEDNESDAY BAKE SALE!
Core 1 May 27
Core 2 May 20
Core 3May 13
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make our bake sales so successful! You Rock!
ARE YOU READY TO JAM!!!?
Calling all SMASHing Middle School Musicians!!
(You don’t have to be in the district music program)
Bring your musical instruments:
(Your district instruments or your own keyboard, drum set/drums,
bass, guitar, amps, etc.) and ideas!
We will have guest professional musicians! Our goal will be to learn from each other, work on songs together and maybe perform for friends and family!
Contact Tamara at mugalian@smmusd.org if you’re interested—RSVP please!!!
Meet in Tamara’s Classroom Fridays 1:30 - 3:00
Cores 2, 3 & 4
Due to the death of her mother, our warm and wonderful Maestra Diana has suddenly returned to Colombia and will be unable to finish out the last 6 weeks of the school year teaching Spanish to Cores 2,3,and 4. The staff will be sending her cards and contributions to support her during this difficult time. If any family also wants to send their wishes, please give them to Janice or Wende. The staff and PTSA Board will be discussing the Spanish Foreign Language program for 09-10 as updated state and District budget information comes out after the May 19th election. I will remain in contact with Diana. Thanks go out to Diana for her dedication and enthusiasm about building our students' language abilities. - Jessica
SITE COUNCIL CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
Liz Grossman-
I am on Site Council and am interested in serving another term. Next year, I will have children in three different Cores, which I think gives me a comprehensive perspective and puts me in a unique position to represent a variety of interests within the SMASH community.
Michael Tenzer -
I would like to serve on the Board of Advisors. I am committed to the success of SMASH and feel I can help the Board deal with the various challenges it will face in the coming year. Two of my 3 kids think I will do a great job; the third is holding out for a raise in his allowance.
Nina Furukawa -
My daughter Maya is in her second year at SMASH and I have another daughter scheduled to start in Fall, 2011. I am looking for an opportunity to become more involved with the school and to learn more about how funding and operations work. I believe being a member of Site Council would offer me those things and allow me to be of service to the SMASH Community. Thank you for your vote.
SuperSMASH ‘09
Saturday, May 30, 11:30AM to 5:30PM
Signed up yet?
Silent Auction
Ofer Grossman 310-392-5729 omglaw@gmail.com
Help set up and walk the Silent Auction Floor
Art Booths
Helga Schier 310-828-8421 helgaschier@verizon.net
Help coordinate and/or run an Art Booth
Games and Rides
Helga Schier 310-828-8421 helgaschier@verizon.net
Help coordinate and/or run a Game or Ride
Music
David Chertock 310-528-2209 davidchertock@gmail.com
Cakewalk
You’re invited to celebrate prize winners Simeon Downing, Caroline Friedman, Claire Goldberg, Gabe Schmittdiel, Jules Stahler, and Joy Watanabe!
“Over 300 K-12 aged students submitted artwork for the Sustainable Santa Monica Earthday Poster contest, sharing their vision for a clean, green and healthy community.” There were 14 total prizes awarded. Congratulations to our six SMASH students for having their sustainable practice ideas and artwork honored.
Come express our support for sustainability efforts, honor our students,
and enjoy FREE family fun
Wednesday, May 13 4:00-5:30pm
(Awards & Recognition Ceremony at 5:00pm)
at the Historic Santa Monica Pier Carousel Building.
There will be food, gifts, raffle prizes, awards, and carousel rides.
For more information please contact Traci Reitz.
RSVP appreciated: reitz_traci@smc.edu
www.sustainableworks.org; 310-458-8716
Stay tuned for more sustainability news. I am serving on the Superintendent’s Budget Committee, and this is one of the potential cost-savings areas to be discussed. We meet again after the May 19th election, and I will keep you informed after that meeting about the latest budget status.
Truly Yours,
Jessica
DEADLINE FOR LUNCH TICKETS
Wednesday, May 20 will be the last day we can accept prepayments for the “Meal Deal” (the discount lunch ticket). As of Monday, May 4, there are 32 lunch days remaining in the school year (not counting any all-day field trips, or class parties at lunchtime). A “Meal Deal” is for 20 lunches. There are no refunds given on lunches purchased. Meal credits and cash balances can only be transferred between siblings. Please check with Connie in the cafeteria at 310-396-2640x211 for a current balance. If you have a balance due, please be kind and pay as soon as possible.
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.
Last Tour Before 1st-8th Grade Lottery
(1st-8th application deadline 05-31-09)
IS YOUR CHILD RETURNING TO SMASH NEXT YEAR?
We are in the process of making plans for next year’s enrollment and it is important for us to know if you are planning on returning to SMASH. Please fill in the form in this week’s Friday Letter and return to the main office no later than May 18.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Fri, May 15 - Movie Fun Night
Mon, May 25 - Memorial Day - School Closed
Sat, May 30 - SUPERSMASH!
Wed, June 3 - 8:45am Arts Sharing
Fri & Sat, June 5 & 6 - SMASH Camping Trip
WEDNESDAY BAKE SALE!
Core 1 May 27
Core 2 May 20
Core 3May 13
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make our bake sales so successful! You Rock!
ARE YOU READY TO JAM!!!?
Calling all SMASHing Middle School Musicians!!
(You don’t have to be in the district music program)
Bring your musical instruments:
(Your district instruments or your own keyboard, drum set/drums,
bass, guitar, amps, etc.) and ideas!
We will have guest professional musicians! Our goal will be to learn from each other, work on songs together and maybe perform for friends and family!
Contact Tamara at mugalian@smmusd.org if you’re interested—RSVP please!!!
Meet in Tamara’s Classroom Fridays 1:30 - 3:00
Cores 2, 3 & 4
Due to the death of her mother, our warm and wonderful Maestra Diana has suddenly returned to Colombia and will be unable to finish out the last 6 weeks of the school year teaching Spanish to Cores 2,3,and 4. The staff will be sending her cards and contributions to support her during this difficult time. If any family also wants to send their wishes, please give them to Janice or Wende. The staff and PTSA Board will be discussing the Spanish Foreign Language program for 09-10 as updated state and District budget information comes out after the May 19th election. I will remain in contact with Diana. Thanks go out to Diana for her dedication and enthusiasm about building our students' language abilities. - Jessica
SITE COUNCIL CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
Liz Grossman-
I am on Site Council and am interested in serving another term. Next year, I will have children in three different Cores, which I think gives me a comprehensive perspective and puts me in a unique position to represent a variety of interests within the SMASH community.
Michael Tenzer -
I would like to serve on the Board of Advisors. I am committed to the success of SMASH and feel I can help the Board deal with the various challenges it will face in the coming year. Two of my 3 kids think I will do a great job; the third is holding out for a raise in his allowance.
Nina Furukawa -
My daughter Maya is in her second year at SMASH and I have another daughter scheduled to start in Fall, 2011. I am looking for an opportunity to become more involved with the school and to learn more about how funding and operations work. I believe being a member of Site Council would offer me those things and allow me to be of service to the SMASH Community. Thank you for your vote.
SuperSMASH ‘09
Saturday, May 30, 11:30AM to 5:30PM
Signed up yet?
Silent Auction
Ofer Grossman 310-392-5729 omglaw@gmail.com
Help set up and walk the Silent Auction Floor
Art Booths
Helga Schier 310-828-8421 helgaschier@verizon.net
Help coordinate and/or run an Art Booth
Games and Rides
Helga Schier 310-828-8421 helgaschier@verizon.net
Help coordinate and/or run a Game or Ride
Music
David Chertock 310-528-2209 davidchertock@gmail.com
Cakewalk
Yvonne Lockheart Delaney 310-450-5663 paradisekid@verizon.net
Help coordinate the cakewalk and bring in a cake to give away
Food
Tracy Saltzman 310-397-0013 rhubarb@earthlink.net
David Story 310-453-4396 storytym@gmail.com
Help run a Food Booth
Refreshments
Helga Schier 310-828-8421 helgaschier@verizon.net
Help solicit drink donations and/or run the drink booth
Raffles
Helga Schier 310-828-8421 helgaschier@verizon.net
Help create the raffle containers
Decorations
Help coordinate decorations and/or decorate the campus
Set-up and Clean-up Coordination
David Saltzman 310-397-0013 saltzmans@earthlink.net
Help set up and clean up on the day of the event
AND
Don’t forget to get donations!
It’s high time to gear up!
SuperSMASH
Saturday May 30, 2009
11:30AM to 5:30PM
SuperSMASH means
Carnival Rides • Games • Live Music • Delicious Food
and an
Amazing Silent Auction
All the proceeds from the auction will go directly to SMASH. And that means:
We need your help to make it a success!
Go to your favorite
stores • restaurants • salons • businesses
and ask for a donation to our Silent Auction.
Be a donor yourself and offer your
services • talents • goods • ideas
All donations are tax-deductible.
Go out and get as many donations as you can.
Check the back of this flyer for ideas. Donor Form and Request Letter enclosed.
Thanks!
Ofer Grossman at (310) 367-7504 or omglaw@gmail.com
Helga Schier at 310-828-8421 or helgaschier@verizon.net
PTSA news brief
SMASHing Fundraisers
Save the Date: SMASH movie night 5/15. Drop off your kids at SMASH for a movie and take a night off from parenting. Core 4 students will watch your kids. More info to come.
Only 22 more days ‘til SuperSMASH, Saturday, May 30, 2009! Time to get ready! Please see the materials in this week’s Friday Letter.
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
For more information on our upcoming alumni network, please contact Terry Michaels at
filmstudent9404@yahoo.com.
SMASHing Meetings
Our next PTSA meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6 at 6:30PM.
SMASH MOVIE NIGHT
Come as a Family or Sign Up for Childcare
Friday, May 15, 2009
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Free Movie For All
For Parents who would like a night out, Core 4 will provide
childcare to school age kids for $10/child or $20/family.
Sign up in the SMASH office (310) 396 2640
Snacks will be available to purchase or bring your own food.
FREE THINGS TO DO!
Saturday, May 9 - 11am-6pm - Clover Park (2600 Ocean Park Blvd). Santa Monica Festival. FREE! REVEL WITH A CAUSE - Music, Dance, Food, Shopping & MORE. Big Blue Bus #8. www.arts.santa-monica.org
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
Every day families all around the world are dying of hunger. Help us (Riain Prendergast and Jack Gray) raise our goal of $500 to help a village by providing them with a heifer (cow). A cow will help because it can provide dairy products for years.
We have set up jars for change around campus and in the SMASH office. Please help us by donating any spare change.
For information on Heifer International:
1. http://www.heifer.org
2. 1-800-422-0474
3. Talk to Riain Prendergast (Kelly’s class) or Jack Gray (Kurt’s class), we’re both in Core 4
Thank you,
Jack Gray & Riain Prendergast
For The Arts Benefit Concert - BILLY IDOL, VENICE and Very Special Guest DAVE MASON
join student musicians on stage for an unforgettable evening of music under the stars!
100% of concert proceeds fund and sustain arts education in the Santa Monica-Malibu public schools
Saturday, May 30, 2009 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm (doors open 5 pm)
Samohi Greek Amphitheater, Santa Monica High School 601 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Bid on exciting LIVE AUCTION Tickets Information www.smmef.org
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!
NEEDED: New & Gently Used Duffel Bags, Backpacks & Totes
Big Sunday organization is sponsoring the 1st Big Sunday Luggage Collection Project, which benefits children in foster care. Many foster children attend their court dates and move from home to home with all their worldly possessions in a garbage bag. You can make a difference. There will be a collection in the SMASH office. Thank you to Jamee Tenzer for organizing SMASH’s participation in this donation drive..
John Muir’s Annual Book Fair is coming May 14-22
A portion of the proceeds go to our shared library
Open daily 7:30-9 & 1:30-3:30. Also open late Wednesday 5-20, 6-8pm.
IS YOUR CHILD RETURNING TO SMASH NEXT YEAR?
We are in the process of making plans for next year’s enrollment. It is important for us to know if you are planning on returning to SMASH so that we can provide other children the opportunity to enroll.
If you are planning to attend another school in the district, you must complete and submit an Intradistrict Open Enrollment Application to the district’s Student Permit Office before May 31. Applications are available in the SMASH main office.
Please fill in this form and return to the main office by May 18.
_____ YES, we will be returning
_____ NO, we will not be returning
If no, please let us know the reason and where your child will be attending so that we can transfer school records. Thanks.
__________________________
Child’s Name
__________
Current Grade
__________________________________
Parent or Guardian Signature
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
1651 16th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 310.450.8338
Dear Parents,
We know that uncertainty about the Swine Flu (H1N1) has made many people anxious. To date, there have been only a few confirmed cases of H1N1 in Los Angeles County, with symptoms reported as mild, similar to the seasonal flu. However, we feel it is important to take precautions to protect our students and staff. As part of our proactive effort, the district will continue to:
¨ Maintain close communication with the both city and county Public Health Department officials and will comply with recommendations of those agencies and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
¨ Revise our response plan as information is updated
¨ Communicate any updates to parents and the SMMUSD community
¨ Require that sick students remain at home until they are symptom free
¨ Encourage parents to report suspected cases of the flu to a school official
¨ Monitor attendance and keep track of the number of students or staff suspected of being ill with the flu
¨ Remind students and staff to follow best hygienic practices (e.g., covering their mouth or nose when they sneeze or cough, washing hands often, avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth) to prevent the spread of germs and viruses.
In the event of a confirmed case of H1N1 flu in our schools or the Santa Monica and Malibu area, the District has implemented the following procedures to insure quick public communication and response:
¨ Protocol for assessing students and staff suspected of having H1N1 flu symptoms
¨ Procedures for dismissal of students and temporary closing of school with a confirmed case of H1N1 flu virus as recommended by the California Department of Public Health
¨ Posting weekly updates on status of the H1Ni virus on our district website at www.smmusd.org.
You can help the prevention effort by informing your child’s school if your child has respiratory flu symptoms. Likewise, families of children who are absent may receive a call from their school to help determine if the illness meets the criteria of an influenza-like illness.
We can help children cope with anxiety regarding the flu by providing prevention information without causing alarm. The National Association of School Psychologists suggests emphasizing the following points when talking to children about this virus:
¨ At the present time very, very few people are sick with the flu virus in this country. School and health officials are being especially careful to make sure as few people as possible get sick.
¨ There are things we can do to stay healthy and avoid spreading disease, such as washing our hands, covering our mouths with a tissue when we sneeze or cough, and staying home when we don’t feel well.
¨ Adults at home and school are taking care of your health and safety. If you have concerns, please talk to an adult you trust.
¨ It is important that all students treat each other with respect and not jump to conclusions about who may or may not have the flu.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping all our children, staff and community in good health.
Sincerely,
Tim Cuneo
Superintendent of Schools
County of Los Angeles
PUBLIC HEALTH
LACDPH School Closure Policy Summary
for New Flu A H1N1 (previously called Swine flu)
The following is LACDPH’s policy regarding K-12 schools and the new flu A H1N1
(previously called swine flu).
LACDPH is not recommending closure of schools as a primary response to the new flu H1N1. This policy
is based on the local assessment of the extent and severity of illness, and Federal and State guidance.
To date, the local, state and national pattern of the new H1N1 virus has shown a similar severity to
seasonal influenza, and nearly all of the cases have gotten better without complications or the need to get
special medical treatment.
LACDPH recommendations regarding school closure or cancellation of classes are made on a case by
case basis with analysis of the following factors:
• severity of illness
• onset of illness at the school
• level of illness (number of students out sick)
• unique issues specific to each school.
Based on the analysis of the extent and severity of illness, LACDPH recommends a range of responses
including: education, cancellation of specific classrooms, grades or entire schools. The existence of a
single student or staff diagnosed with the new A H1N1 virus is not enough reason to close a school.
LACDPH urges everyone to practice health habits always!
• wash your hands often
• avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• cover your coughs and sneezes
• stay home if you are sick
Certain people should take extra precaution against colds and flu, this includes: pregnant women, infants,
the elderly, people with HIV or cancer who may have weakened immune systems, and those with heart or
lung disease. It is very important that these people take extra care to avoid close contact with other
people who are sick, and contact their healthcare provider immediately if the do become sick.
In addition, people who have just returned from Mexico should not be kept out of school. LACDPH does
not recommend restricting people from any public events or interaction simply due to recent travel to
affected areas, even Mexico.
For more information about this illness call: California Department of Public Health hotline: 888-865-0564
Or visit these websites:
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: publichealth.lacounty.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov
If you need help finding medical care, please call the Los Angeles County Infoline: 2-1-1.
CORE 1
ART: This week we continued to study symmetry and balance with Julianna, our art teacher. Both circle groups joined together to learn about DiVinci’s Tree Theory, which states that the cross-sectional area of a major limb is approximately equal to the cross-sectional areas of its two offshoot limbs. Comparing trees to humans (we both have limbs, trunks, and elbows after all) we tested out this theory on Nathan. We traced Nathan’s body and then created our own “Manchurian Man”. We then added branches and roots, to compare ourselves to our likeness to trees. We will continue to look closer at trees, and their balance in nature during the upcoming weeks. The flower collages we created last week were inspired by artist, Portia Munson. We will be making these into greeting cards and they will be sold at Super SMASH this year! Students used flowers, leaves and branches to create collages, applying their knowledge of radial and mirror symmetry. We then photographed their work. We are also looking into selling prints of these amazing pieces. Thank you to all of you involved in our recent fundraising efforts! REMINDERS /ANNOUNCEMENTS
*FIELD TRIP – We will be visiting the Mason-Wixson Theater on Friday, May 15 to see a performance of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. We will be leaving around 10:15 to take the Big Blue Bus. We will be walking to Pico, so please provide your child with comfortable shoes that day. ALL OF THE STUDENTS NEED TO BRING A LUNCH, which we will eat after the show. We will return to school around 1:15. Come enjoy one of our last field trips this year! Please sign-up to chaperone by the Home/School table.
*CORES 1 & 2 BARBEQUE – This annual event (one of our favorites!) is almost here. Save the date! We will be having our (almost) end of the year barbeque on Friday, May 22nd at 11:00 (we're firing up the grills at 10:30) in the Small Yard. Cores 1 and 2 are joining together for this festive culminating celebration. This is a special time for Cores 1 & 2, and so older siblings are unfortunately not invited. Food/drink/supply requests have been attached to the front of this week’s Friday Letter. Please let us know ASAP if there is a problem with what we’ve asked you to bring. We hope you can join us for this fun event! (WE NEED GRILLS! We have very few volunteers for grills, so PLEASE LET US KNOW if you have one we can borrow. Thanks!)
*On Monday, the BIGS will have Morning Meeting in Core 2. This is the start of our "Moving Up Day" experiences where we provide opportunities for the BIGS to get to know their Core 2 teachers. (The rest of the day will be back in Core 1.) Please meet in Core 1 as usual, and we will walk the the children over to Core 2.
*WISH LIST: Ziploc Bags (gallon and quart sizes), a heavy duty pencil sharpener (or two)Hope you have balance in your life this weekend!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: https://email.smmusd.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=35b78a8f7afe4f24aaabc3cb88763330&URL=mailto%3acandis.berens%40smmusd.org
Chrysta: www.wyse@smmusd.org
Dear Core 2 Community,
On Thursday, we went to Watts Towers. Ask your child about the rubbings of the soles of their shoes we did in class. Also, ask them how Simon Rodia used shells, bottle, and tiles. Thank you to all the parents that went with us.
Writers Workshop – We are continuing to work on our Realistic Fiction story. Students worked on correctly writing dialogue in their stories. Remembering where the quotation marks and commas go is pretty tricky! Our publishing date is Friday, May 15. We plan to share our writing with Core 3.
Arts with Kristy: This week, the children continued to share original plays with shadow puppets. Students were asked to critique each other’s work and add positive suggestions about what they could do better for the larger performance. Also, students were able to add foley sounds to liven up their plays. Ask your child what sound they are responsible for.
In Science, we began our investigation into the circulatory system and the respiratory system. For the respiratory system, we figured our that limited air supply (breathing through a straw) makes it much more challenging to inhale enough air. If you have any age-appropriate resources, please send them in. Thank you to Aurora for bringing in a fantastic human body book! This mini unit will lead into our nutrition and health unit.
Core 2’s Adventure with Kurt is Tuesday, May 12. We will be walking to Palisades Park and the Pier…so bring your walking shoes and a snack. We would love 5 parent volunteers to come along. Please sign up outside Core 2 or let us know. There is no need for a permission slip as this is a walking field trip.
Our Core 1/ Core 2 BBQ is on Friday, May 22. Last week, we attached a pink 1/2 sheet that gives information and what supplies (food, cups, grills, etc.) your family will supply. Please let Laura or Jayme know if you can bring a grill. So far, we have only one grill! In order for Core 1 and Core 2 to strengthen their community, Core 3 or Core 4 siblings are not invited.
On Friday, May 15, we will celebrate April, May, June, July, and August Birthday Bash at 11:30 am. If your child has a birthday in any of these months, the purple 1/2 sheet with information was sent home last week.
Congratulations to Simeon for creating a winning Earth Day Poster! We can’t wait to hear all about the celebration!
Upcoming dates and events:
Tuesday, May 12 – Adventure with Kurt
Friday, May 15 – April, May, June, July, and August Birthday Bash – 11:30 am
Friday, May 22 – Annual Core 1/Core2 BBQ.
Wednesday, June 3 – Core 2 Arts Sharing with Kristy
Have a fabulous weekend,
Laura, Jayme, and Nadja
Laura’s e-mail: sherman@smmusd.org
Jayme’s e-mail: jayme.wold@smmusd.org
Please read and sign the attached field trip permission slip and return it to school by Tues, May 12.
We are traveling by charter bus, leaving SMASH at 8:45am and arriving at the San Juan Capistrano Mission by 11:00 to meet our tour guide. We’ll tour the Mission from 11-12:30 and eat our lunches on the Mission grounds. We will return to school by the end of the school day at 2:50. We are asking for a $10.00 donation per student. Please consider donating any extra $ you can give to the trip scholarship fund to ensure that we cover the charter bus fee, Mission entrance and tour guide fees for all students.
Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for outdoor walking—wearing sunscreen and a hat, has a sack snack, water, and lunch (school sack lunches are available for students in the lunch program—see us if you’d like to reserve one).
***The Sustainable Santa Monica Earth Day Poster Contest Celebration is also on Wednesday, May 13th 4:00 – 5:30 at the Historic Santa Monica Pier Carousel Building. Your child’s Earth Day Poster will be displayed along with all 300 entries. There will be food, fun, and carousel rides! Awards will be presented to the grand prize winners and runners up at 5:00. Congratulations to our own Gabe Schmittdiel, Caroline Friedman and Joy Watanabe—their posters won special recognition!***
***Attention 5th grade families: Kurt and the Core 4 team are working hard to ensure that new generations of Core 4 students have the opportunity to do the amazing outdoor learning trips that have become a SMASH Core 4 tradition. PLEASE return your letter of intent and $100 dollar deposit for the sixth grade trip so that we can pay the deposits and secure our spot for next year! See Kurt if you have any questions or concerns.***
REMINDER
On May 14 the 5th graders will be studying growth and development with Nurse Sandy Cano. If you do not want your child to participate, please notify their teacher, in writing, before May 12. Thanks.
The important info just keeps coming—it must be the end of the year!
Rest up!
Tamera, Genie, Malaika
mugalian@smmusd.org
genie.hwang@smmusd.org
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
5th Grade: Wed, May 13 - 6:30-7:30, Student & parent information meeting regarding Core 4
CORE 4
FROM KURT:
Super Secret Lined Paper People: Our lovelies are doing well as we surge towards the end of our time together as an advisory. The “8th graders to be” are trying on increased leadership roles and feeling the weight of increased responsibility all while seeking a seriously fun balancing point between work and play. It is already apparent that we are looking at a lively and rewarding year for our beloved soon to be 8th graders. Be sure to join us at our meeting next week for incoming 8th graders and their parents. We start constructing a fine meshed web of support that will see them through the challenges, demands, and projects of their SMASHing senior year. The meeting is at 17:30 on May the 13th and I’ll get you out in an hour or so.
Outdoor Environmental Education Trips: Deposits are due next week on the 13th. If you have misplaced the form please ask your child for another or email me immediately. We will use the turn in rates to evaluate the financial viability of each trip given the new economic realities. I will announce cancellations or confirmation of each trip next week. Lets rally and try to save these valuable programs for our learners.
Ciencia: Our young scientists are laboring to develop an understanding of what’s inside their head. We are looking at the anatomy of the brain, what is known about brain functioning and examining various schools of philosophical thought. Please, ask to see their daily pages at least twice a week. This will keep you up to date on what is/is not happening in your learner’s homework life. Our culminating event for this min-unit will be a vivid and exciting brain dissection or an alternative virtual dissection by computer if the real brain is too gross. Be sure to join us on June third as we celebrate the year of learning that will be concluding. The amazing collection of Independent Investigation boards will shared alongside their more prosaic working portfolios, and the visually arresting timelines that will result from our last min-unit. If that time does not work for you please drop around after school or before and I’ll take you through your child’s achievements. Let me know when you are arriving so I may have their work ready for viewing.
8th Grade Seminar and Service Learning Presentations: Our hard working SMASHing seniors will be presenting their learning to the public during a verbal defense and celebration sometime between May 28th and the third of June. This is the first group in SMASH history to accomplish a 98% completion rate on their service learning project so be sure to join us to celebrate their achievements and hard work.
In order to finish strong current 8th graders should be working on presentation outlines, scheduling exact times with families to join us, resolving technical issues, and developing a learning activity. If you are not seeing/hearing evidence of this activity please give them a poke in the ribs. Insure that your young adult actually practices in front of peers at least three times before going public with the presentation. They have preferential access to teacher help every morning and afternoon with me through May15th after which my energy will turn towards getting our incoming 8th graders ready to do well next year.
FROM KELLY:
Math
6/7: There is a Positive and Negative in Everything
Over this past week, we closed our geometry unit. The students finished their quadrilateral presentations with much success! This activity proved to be powerful and acted as a starter to our reflective and celebratory process. Not only did many mathematicians exhibit their solid grasp of geometric properties when presenting their shape, but they also showed this understanding as they counter argued and asked clarifying questions to the presenters. They engaged in this process to ensure that the presenting group was giving them accurate information. It was a truly celebratory moment! Each mathematician was assessed on his/her work as a presenter as well as an audience member. The rubric of this assessment is attached to their Weekly Progress Report. Please encourage your child to talk to you about this activity and their evaluation. As another close to our unit, we took time to individually reflect on the taught and discovered skills from the unit. Cheers to all mathematicians!
As we put a close to one successful unit, we quickly delved and launched a new unit: Extending the Number System. It coincides with our Core 4 unit of “How can I be My Best Self?”. One way to reflect on oneself involves looking at one’s past, present, and future life. In a similar way, numbers can be thought of on this same type of timeline: as the past (negative), the present (zero), and the future (x—the unknown). We will look at extending the students number system by working with all rational numbers including negative numbers and delving into some algebraic concepts involving variables. A timeline/number line will serve as a primary tool in this exploration. Also our mathematic study fits within our Core 4 theme in the way that we have many parts of our self that make up our whole self, and there are many parts of numbers that make up whole numbers.
Throughout this new unit, the students will work with various types of rational numbers: negative numbers, fractions, and terminating decimals. Students will develop a meaning for these rational numbers, compare and order these numbers efficiently and find approximations on a timeline, and develop strategies to compute the various operations with all rational numbers. By exploring these concepts, students will deepen their number sense and abilities to work with all types of numbers. It will be a truly positive way to end the year!
Algebra:
Our focus for these two weeks involves Chapter 5: Linear Equations. Skills such as x and y-intercepts and slope are being covered. We are finishing up Chapter 5 next week. Please ask your child about their assignments and check their log to ensure they are holding themselves accountable to their responsibilities.
Incoming 6th and 8th Grade Student Transition Talks
Incoming 6th grade and 8th grade parents and students are invited to join me May 13th for a transition overview, service project information, and some important information on helping your child navigate the exciting world of core four and our demanding senior year. If your child is entering 8th grade please join me at 17:30 for information on the service project, preparing for high school, and how to support our lovelies as they stand at the top of the hill and gaze at the mountain of high school. Incoming 6th grade parents join me at 18:30 and we can plan for a stress free, rewarding move into the world of core four. We should be done by 19:30 or so…
Please email or drop around my room If you need information before these meetings or have a specific agenda item you wish me to discuss with everyone.
Kurt Holland
Environmental Education Trip Payment Plan
After conversations with many of our families and a highly successful fundraising night the critical path forward to trip nirvana has become clear. Our environmental trip suppliers are working with us and our kids are motivated.
Now, it’s time to pay the deposits. In order to simplify matters I am asking for a universal deposit of $100 from each participating family to cover the bills that are now due. Please make these checks out to SMASH PTSA and print your child’s name and expected trip across the top of the check. Drop around or email me if you need any information about these valuable outdoor education programs.
- Kurt
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Please Return by 5/13
Our child,_________________________, will / will not be joining core four on next year’s environmental education trip for their grade level (Please circle travel and payment status).
¨ Included is a check to cover the universal deposit of $100. We will pay the rest next fall in September or October.
¨ Included is a check for $100. We wish to apply for a partial scholarship.
We will help provide funding for the trip scholarship fund in the cash amount of_____________________. Thanks for even thinking about it!
I,_______________________________, can help
by________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name and contact info:______________________________
______________________________
HEALTH AWARENESS
AND FREEDOM PROJECT
8 May 2009
Dear Core 4 parents,
I’m Jo-e Sutton, a certified holistic health counselor and a mother of one of our core 4 students, (Cole Kastner.) I have the privilege of teaming with Kurt once a week to teach a class on health and wellness from the perspective of eating whole and natural foods.
Your children will be coming home with some new information that may drastically change the way they perceive the food that is advertised in the media, sold to them at restaurants, and what they are eating now.
I wanted to inform you so that you can support them in making healthier food choices. They may be attempting to teach you a thing or two, after these classes as well.
I am sending home a list of INGREDIENTS TO WATCH OUT FOR! This is the main list that identifies many harmful ingredients that would be best to avoid and also some other foods to minimize due to high levels of processing that diminish nutritional value.
I intend to provide awareness so that our students will have the ability to…
Decipher the advertisement of a food product from its actual ingredients.
Identify dangerous food additives such as partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, sweeteners and chemicals.
Recognize the importance of fiber in grain products, especially the ones claiming to be “fiber friendly,” “high fiber” and “whole grain.” Also, to be able to identify high fiber imposters.
Understand sugar and its classification as an addictive substance and to learn how to satisfy a sweet tooth more naturally.
Discern the body’s cravings.
Practice mindful eating techniques for health, satisfaction, and fulfillment.
Appreciate real whole grains, green leafy vegetables, sweet (root) vegetables and natural low glycemic sweeteners.
Thank you so much;
Please e-mail or call me if you have any questions or need support or clarification.
Jo.sutton@mac.com www.Jo-esutton.com (310) 488-4881
HEALTH AWARENESS
AND FREEDOM
INGREDIENTS
TO WATCH OUT FOR!
PROJECT
1. BE AWARE OF FALSE ADVERTISING. Food labels and packaging are often ads designed to sell you a product. It is not always the whole truth. Read the ingredient list for the whole story!
2. AVOID TRANS FATS in the form of HYDROGENTATED and PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED oils, Interestified oils, most margarines and shortening.
3. THE FIRST INGREDIENT is always the biggest. Each ingredient is listed in order of quantity. Try to eat fewer foods that have “avoid” ingredients in them especially in the first five on the list.
4. AVOID ARTIFICIAL COLORS (ex. red dye #4, yellow dye #20) AVOID ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS such as Saccharin (Sweet’ N low), Aspartame, phenylalanine or Neotame (Nutra-Sweet and Equal), Acesulfame-K or Acesulfame potassium (Sunette), Sucralose (Splenda), etc. AVOID PRESERVATIVES such as sulfates, sulfites, nitrates and nitrates, MSG, (Monosodium Glutamate) & aluminum. If you can’t pronounce it, it’s probably not a food.
5. AVOID HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP and MINIMIZE YOUR INTAKE OF ADDED SUGARS like white sugar, cane juice, cane sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, confectioners sugar, dextrose, maltose, maltodextrose, sucrose, etc. (ingredients that end in “ose” are sugars) etc. Use natural, lower glycemic sugars, (sugars that assimilate into the blood stream more slowly), such as Agave Nectar, Brown Rice Syrup, Stevia, Raw Honey, Date Sugar, Black Strap Molasses, Barley Malt, Birch Sugar (xylitol), etc.
6. MINIMIZE REFINED GRAIN PRODUCTS like white flour, enriched flour, bleached flour, white rice flour, white pasta etc.
7. ENJOY WHOLE GRAIN PRODUCTS that have at least 2 grams of fiber per each 100 calorie serving. Try brown rice, quinoa, oats, barley, whole wheat flour, stone ground grains, buckwheat, rye, pumpernickel and sprouted grains breads.
8. WATCH OUT FOR LONG INGREDIENT LISTS. They usually hide artificial colors, sweeteners, chemicals and preservatives. Jo Sutton 2009
Help coordinate the cakewalk and bring in a cake to give away
Food
Tracy Saltzman 310-397-0013 rhubarb@earthlink.net
David Story 310-453-4396 storytym@gmail.com
Help run a Food Booth
Refreshments
Helga Schier 310-828-8421 helgaschier@verizon.net
Help solicit drink donations and/or run the drink booth
Raffles
Helga Schier 310-828-8421 helgaschier@verizon.net
Help create the raffle containers
Decorations
Help coordinate decorations and/or decorate the campus
Set-up and Clean-up Coordination
David Saltzman 310-397-0013 saltzmans@earthlink.net
Help set up and clean up on the day of the event
AND
Don’t forget to get donations!
It’s high time to gear up!
SuperSMASH
Saturday May 30, 2009
11:30AM to 5:30PM
SuperSMASH means
Carnival Rides • Games • Live Music • Delicious Food
and an
Amazing Silent Auction
All the proceeds from the auction will go directly to SMASH. And that means:
We need your help to make it a success!
Go to your favorite
stores • restaurants • salons • businesses
and ask for a donation to our Silent Auction.
Be a donor yourself and offer your
services • talents • goods • ideas
All donations are tax-deductible.
Go out and get as many donations as you can.
Check the back of this flyer for ideas. Donor Form and Request Letter enclosed.
Thanks!
Ofer Grossman at (310) 367-7504 or omglaw@gmail.com
Helga Schier at 310-828-8421 or helgaschier@verizon.net
PTSA news brief
SMASHing Fundraisers
Save the Date: SMASH movie night 5/15. Drop off your kids at SMASH for a movie and take a night off from parenting. Core 4 students will watch your kids. More info to come.
Only 22 more days ‘til SuperSMASH, Saturday, May 30, 2009! Time to get ready! Please see the materials in this week’s Friday Letter.
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
For more information on our upcoming alumni network, please contact Terry Michaels at
filmstudent9404@yahoo.com.
SMASHing Meetings
Our next PTSA meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6 at 6:30PM.
SMASH MOVIE NIGHT
Come as a Family or Sign Up for Childcare
Friday, May 15, 2009
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Free Movie For All
For Parents who would like a night out, Core 4 will provide
childcare to school age kids for $10/child or $20/family.
Sign up in the SMASH office (310) 396 2640
Snacks will be available to purchase or bring your own food.
FREE THINGS TO DO!
Saturday, May 9 - 11am-6pm - Clover Park (2600 Ocean Park Blvd). Santa Monica Festival. FREE! REVEL WITH A CAUSE - Music, Dance, Food, Shopping & MORE. Big Blue Bus #8. www.arts.santa-monica.org
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
Every day families all around the world are dying of hunger. Help us (Riain Prendergast and Jack Gray) raise our goal of $500 to help a village by providing them with a heifer (cow). A cow will help because it can provide dairy products for years.
We have set up jars for change around campus and in the SMASH office. Please help us by donating any spare change.
For information on Heifer International:
1. http://www.heifer.org
2. 1-800-422-0474
3. Talk to Riain Prendergast (Kelly’s class) or Jack Gray (Kurt’s class), we’re both in Core 4
Thank you,
Jack Gray & Riain Prendergast
For The Arts Benefit Concert - BILLY IDOL, VENICE and Very Special Guest DAVE MASON
join student musicians on stage for an unforgettable evening of music under the stars!
100% of concert proceeds fund and sustain arts education in the Santa Monica-Malibu public schools
Saturday, May 30, 2009 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm (doors open 5 pm)
Samohi Greek Amphitheater, Santa Monica High School 601 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Bid on exciting LIVE AUCTION Tickets Information www.smmef.org
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!
NEEDED: New & Gently Used Duffel Bags, Backpacks & Totes
Big Sunday organization is sponsoring the 1st Big Sunday Luggage Collection Project, which benefits children in foster care. Many foster children attend their court dates and move from home to home with all their worldly possessions in a garbage bag. You can make a difference. There will be a collection in the SMASH office. Thank you to Jamee Tenzer for organizing SMASH’s participation in this donation drive..
John Muir’s Annual Book Fair is coming May 14-22
A portion of the proceeds go to our shared library
Open daily 7:30-9 & 1:30-3:30. Also open late Wednesday 5-20, 6-8pm.
IS YOUR CHILD RETURNING TO SMASH NEXT YEAR?
We are in the process of making plans for next year’s enrollment. It is important for us to know if you are planning on returning to SMASH so that we can provide other children the opportunity to enroll.
If you are planning to attend another school in the district, you must complete and submit an Intradistrict Open Enrollment Application to the district’s Student Permit Office before May 31. Applications are available in the SMASH main office.
Please fill in this form and return to the main office by May 18.
_____ YES, we will be returning
_____ NO, we will not be returning
If no, please let us know the reason and where your child will be attending so that we can transfer school records. Thanks.
__________________________
Child’s Name
__________
Current Grade
__________________________________
Parent or Guardian Signature
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
1651 16th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 310.450.8338
Dear Parents,
We know that uncertainty about the Swine Flu (H1N1) has made many people anxious. To date, there have been only a few confirmed cases of H1N1 in Los Angeles County, with symptoms reported as mild, similar to the seasonal flu. However, we feel it is important to take precautions to protect our students and staff. As part of our proactive effort, the district will continue to:
¨ Maintain close communication with the both city and county Public Health Department officials and will comply with recommendations of those agencies and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
¨ Revise our response plan as information is updated
¨ Communicate any updates to parents and the SMMUSD community
¨ Require that sick students remain at home until they are symptom free
¨ Encourage parents to report suspected cases of the flu to a school official
¨ Monitor attendance and keep track of the number of students or staff suspected of being ill with the flu
¨ Remind students and staff to follow best hygienic practices (e.g., covering their mouth or nose when they sneeze or cough, washing hands often, avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth) to prevent the spread of germs and viruses.
In the event of a confirmed case of H1N1 flu in our schools or the Santa Monica and Malibu area, the District has implemented the following procedures to insure quick public communication and response:
¨ Protocol for assessing students and staff suspected of having H1N1 flu symptoms
¨ Procedures for dismissal of students and temporary closing of school with a confirmed case of H1N1 flu virus as recommended by the California Department of Public Health
¨ Posting weekly updates on status of the H1Ni virus on our district website at www.smmusd.org.
You can help the prevention effort by informing your child’s school if your child has respiratory flu symptoms. Likewise, families of children who are absent may receive a call from their school to help determine if the illness meets the criteria of an influenza-like illness.
We can help children cope with anxiety regarding the flu by providing prevention information without causing alarm. The National Association of School Psychologists suggests emphasizing the following points when talking to children about this virus:
¨ At the present time very, very few people are sick with the flu virus in this country. School and health officials are being especially careful to make sure as few people as possible get sick.
¨ There are things we can do to stay healthy and avoid spreading disease, such as washing our hands, covering our mouths with a tissue when we sneeze or cough, and staying home when we don’t feel well.
¨ Adults at home and school are taking care of your health and safety. If you have concerns, please talk to an adult you trust.
¨ It is important that all students treat each other with respect and not jump to conclusions about who may or may not have the flu.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping all our children, staff and community in good health.
Sincerely,
Tim Cuneo
Superintendent of Schools
County of Los Angeles
PUBLIC HEALTH
LACDPH School Closure Policy Summary
for New Flu A H1N1 (previously called Swine flu)
The following is LACDPH’s policy regarding K-12 schools and the new flu A H1N1
(previously called swine flu).
LACDPH is not recommending closure of schools as a primary response to the new flu H1N1. This policy
is based on the local assessment of the extent and severity of illness, and Federal and State guidance.
To date, the local, state and national pattern of the new H1N1 virus has shown a similar severity to
seasonal influenza, and nearly all of the cases have gotten better without complications or the need to get
special medical treatment.
LACDPH recommendations regarding school closure or cancellation of classes are made on a case by
case basis with analysis of the following factors:
• severity of illness
• onset of illness at the school
• level of illness (number of students out sick)
• unique issues specific to each school.
Based on the analysis of the extent and severity of illness, LACDPH recommends a range of responses
including: education, cancellation of specific classrooms, grades or entire schools. The existence of a
single student or staff diagnosed with the new A H1N1 virus is not enough reason to close a school.
LACDPH urges everyone to practice health habits always!
• wash your hands often
• avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• cover your coughs and sneezes
• stay home if you are sick
Certain people should take extra precaution against colds and flu, this includes: pregnant women, infants,
the elderly, people with HIV or cancer who may have weakened immune systems, and those with heart or
lung disease. It is very important that these people take extra care to avoid close contact with other
people who are sick, and contact their healthcare provider immediately if the do become sick.
In addition, people who have just returned from Mexico should not be kept out of school. LACDPH does
not recommend restricting people from any public events or interaction simply due to recent travel to
affected areas, even Mexico.
For more information about this illness call: California Department of Public Health hotline: 888-865-0564
Or visit these websites:
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: publichealth.lacounty.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov
If you need help finding medical care, please call the Los Angeles County Infoline: 2-1-1.
CORE 1
ART: This week we continued to study symmetry and balance with Julianna, our art teacher. Both circle groups joined together to learn about DiVinci’s Tree Theory, which states that the cross-sectional area of a major limb is approximately equal to the cross-sectional areas of its two offshoot limbs. Comparing trees to humans (we both have limbs, trunks, and elbows after all) we tested out this theory on Nathan. We traced Nathan’s body and then created our own “Manchurian Man”. We then added branches and roots, to compare ourselves to our likeness to trees. We will continue to look closer at trees, and their balance in nature during the upcoming weeks. The flower collages we created last week were inspired by artist, Portia Munson. We will be making these into greeting cards and they will be sold at Super SMASH this year! Students used flowers, leaves and branches to create collages, applying their knowledge of radial and mirror symmetry. We then photographed their work. We are also looking into selling prints of these amazing pieces. Thank you to all of you involved in our recent fundraising efforts! REMINDERS /ANNOUNCEMENTS
*FIELD TRIP – We will be visiting the Mason-Wixson Theater on Friday, May 15 to see a performance of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. We will be leaving around 10:15 to take the Big Blue Bus. We will be walking to Pico, so please provide your child with comfortable shoes that day. ALL OF THE STUDENTS NEED TO BRING A LUNCH, which we will eat after the show. We will return to school around 1:15. Come enjoy one of our last field trips this year! Please sign-up to chaperone by the Home/School table.
*CORES 1 & 2 BARBEQUE – This annual event (one of our favorites!) is almost here. Save the date! We will be having our (almost) end of the year barbeque on Friday, May 22nd at 11:00 (we're firing up the grills at 10:30) in the Small Yard. Cores 1 and 2 are joining together for this festive culminating celebration. This is a special time for Cores 1 & 2, and so older siblings are unfortunately not invited. Food/drink/supply requests have been attached to the front of this week’s Friday Letter. Please let us know ASAP if there is a problem with what we’ve asked you to bring. We hope you can join us for this fun event! (WE NEED GRILLS! We have very few volunteers for grills, so PLEASE LET US KNOW if you have one we can borrow. Thanks!)
*On Monday, the BIGS will have Morning Meeting in Core 2. This is the start of our "Moving Up Day" experiences where we provide opportunities for the BIGS to get to know their Core 2 teachers. (The rest of the day will be back in Core 1.) Please meet in Core 1 as usual, and we will walk the the children over to Core 2.
*WISH LIST: Ziploc Bags (gallon and quart sizes), a heavy duty pencil sharpener (or two)Hope you have balance in your life this weekend!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: https://email.smmusd.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=35b78a8f7afe4f24aaabc3cb88763330&URL=mailto%3acandis.berens%40smmusd.org
Chrysta: www.wyse@smmusd.org
Dear Core 2 Community,
On Thursday, we went to Watts Towers. Ask your child about the rubbings of the soles of their shoes we did in class. Also, ask them how Simon Rodia used shells, bottle, and tiles. Thank you to all the parents that went with us.
Writers Workshop – We are continuing to work on our Realistic Fiction story. Students worked on correctly writing dialogue in their stories. Remembering where the quotation marks and commas go is pretty tricky! Our publishing date is Friday, May 15. We plan to share our writing with Core 3.
Arts with Kristy: This week, the children continued to share original plays with shadow puppets. Students were asked to critique each other’s work and add positive suggestions about what they could do better for the larger performance. Also, students were able to add foley sounds to liven up their plays. Ask your child what sound they are responsible for.
In Science, we began our investigation into the circulatory system and the respiratory system. For the respiratory system, we figured our that limited air supply (breathing through a straw) makes it much more challenging to inhale enough air. If you have any age-appropriate resources, please send them in. Thank you to Aurora for bringing in a fantastic human body book! This mini unit will lead into our nutrition and health unit.
Core 2’s Adventure with Kurt is Tuesday, May 12. We will be walking to Palisades Park and the Pier…so bring your walking shoes and a snack. We would love 5 parent volunteers to come along. Please sign up outside Core 2 or let us know. There is no need for a permission slip as this is a walking field trip.
Our Core 1/ Core 2 BBQ is on Friday, May 22. Last week, we attached a pink 1/2 sheet that gives information and what supplies (food, cups, grills, etc.) your family will supply. Please let Laura or Jayme know if you can bring a grill. So far, we have only one grill! In order for Core 1 and Core 2 to strengthen their community, Core 3 or Core 4 siblings are not invited.
On Friday, May 15, we will celebrate April, May, June, July, and August Birthday Bash at 11:30 am. If your child has a birthday in any of these months, the purple 1/2 sheet with information was sent home last week.
Congratulations to Simeon for creating a winning Earth Day Poster! We can’t wait to hear all about the celebration!
Upcoming dates and events:
Tuesday, May 12 – Adventure with Kurt
Friday, May 15 – April, May, June, July, and August Birthday Bash – 11:30 am
Friday, May 22 – Annual Core 1/Core2 BBQ.
Wednesday, June 3 – Core 2 Arts Sharing with Kristy
Have a fabulous weekend,
Laura, Jayme, and Nadja
Laura’s e-mail: sherman@smmusd.org
Jayme’s e-mail: jayme.wold@smmusd.org
***Core 3’s big field trip to the Mission at San Juan Capistrano
Wednesday, May 13. Bus is leaving at 8:45am!***
Wednesday, May 13. Bus is leaving at 8:45am!***
Please read and sign the attached field trip permission slip and return it to school by Tues, May 12.
We are traveling by charter bus, leaving SMASH at 8:45am and arriving at the San Juan Capistrano Mission by 11:00 to meet our tour guide. We’ll tour the Mission from 11-12:30 and eat our lunches on the Mission grounds. We will return to school by the end of the school day at 2:50. We are asking for a $10.00 donation per student. Please consider donating any extra $ you can give to the trip scholarship fund to ensure that we cover the charter bus fee, Mission entrance and tour guide fees for all students.
Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for outdoor walking—wearing sunscreen and a hat, has a sack snack, water, and lunch (school sack lunches are available for students in the lunch program—see us if you’d like to reserve one).
***The Sustainable Santa Monica Earth Day Poster Contest Celebration is also on Wednesday, May 13th 4:00 – 5:30 at the Historic Santa Monica Pier Carousel Building. Your child’s Earth Day Poster will be displayed along with all 300 entries. There will be food, fun, and carousel rides! Awards will be presented to the grand prize winners and runners up at 5:00. Congratulations to our own Gabe Schmittdiel, Caroline Friedman and Joy Watanabe—their posters won special recognition!***
***Attention 5th grade families: Kurt and the Core 4 team are working hard to ensure that new generations of Core 4 students have the opportunity to do the amazing outdoor learning trips that have become a SMASH Core 4 tradition. PLEASE return your letter of intent and $100 dollar deposit for the sixth grade trip so that we can pay the deposits and secure our spot for next year! See Kurt if you have any questions or concerns.***
REMINDER
On May 14 the 5th graders will be studying growth and development with Nurse Sandy Cano. If you do not want your child to participate, please notify their teacher, in writing, before May 12. Thanks.
The important info just keeps coming—it must be the end of the year!
Rest up!
Tamera, Genie, Malaika
mugalian@smmusd.org
genie.hwang@smmusd.org
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
5th Grade: Wed, May 13 - 6:30-7:30, Student & parent information meeting regarding Core 4
CORE 4
FROM KURT:
Super Secret Lined Paper People: Our lovelies are doing well as we surge towards the end of our time together as an advisory. The “8th graders to be” are trying on increased leadership roles and feeling the weight of increased responsibility all while seeking a seriously fun balancing point between work and play. It is already apparent that we are looking at a lively and rewarding year for our beloved soon to be 8th graders. Be sure to join us at our meeting next week for incoming 8th graders and their parents. We start constructing a fine meshed web of support that will see them through the challenges, demands, and projects of their SMASHing senior year. The meeting is at 17:30 on May the 13th and I’ll get you out in an hour or so.
Outdoor Environmental Education Trips: Deposits are due next week on the 13th. If you have misplaced the form please ask your child for another or email me immediately. We will use the turn in rates to evaluate the financial viability of each trip given the new economic realities. I will announce cancellations or confirmation of each trip next week. Lets rally and try to save these valuable programs for our learners.
Ciencia: Our young scientists are laboring to develop an understanding of what’s inside their head. We are looking at the anatomy of the brain, what is known about brain functioning and examining various schools of philosophical thought. Please, ask to see their daily pages at least twice a week. This will keep you up to date on what is/is not happening in your learner’s homework life. Our culminating event for this min-unit will be a vivid and exciting brain dissection or an alternative virtual dissection by computer if the real brain is too gross. Be sure to join us on June third as we celebrate the year of learning that will be concluding. The amazing collection of Independent Investigation boards will shared alongside their more prosaic working portfolios, and the visually arresting timelines that will result from our last min-unit. If that time does not work for you please drop around after school or before and I’ll take you through your child’s achievements. Let me know when you are arriving so I may have their work ready for viewing.
8th Grade Seminar and Service Learning Presentations: Our hard working SMASHing seniors will be presenting their learning to the public during a verbal defense and celebration sometime between May 28th and the third of June. This is the first group in SMASH history to accomplish a 98% completion rate on their service learning project so be sure to join us to celebrate their achievements and hard work.
In order to finish strong current 8th graders should be working on presentation outlines, scheduling exact times with families to join us, resolving technical issues, and developing a learning activity. If you are not seeing/hearing evidence of this activity please give them a poke in the ribs. Insure that your young adult actually practices in front of peers at least three times before going public with the presentation. They have preferential access to teacher help every morning and afternoon with me through May15th after which my energy will turn towards getting our incoming 8th graders ready to do well next year.
FROM KELLY:
Math
6/7: There is a Positive and Negative in Everything
Over this past week, we closed our geometry unit. The students finished their quadrilateral presentations with much success! This activity proved to be powerful and acted as a starter to our reflective and celebratory process. Not only did many mathematicians exhibit their solid grasp of geometric properties when presenting their shape, but they also showed this understanding as they counter argued and asked clarifying questions to the presenters. They engaged in this process to ensure that the presenting group was giving them accurate information. It was a truly celebratory moment! Each mathematician was assessed on his/her work as a presenter as well as an audience member. The rubric of this assessment is attached to their Weekly Progress Report. Please encourage your child to talk to you about this activity and their evaluation. As another close to our unit, we took time to individually reflect on the taught and discovered skills from the unit. Cheers to all mathematicians!
As we put a close to one successful unit, we quickly delved and launched a new unit: Extending the Number System. It coincides with our Core 4 unit of “How can I be My Best Self?”. One way to reflect on oneself involves looking at one’s past, present, and future life. In a similar way, numbers can be thought of on this same type of timeline: as the past (negative), the present (zero), and the future (x—the unknown). We will look at extending the students number system by working with all rational numbers including negative numbers and delving into some algebraic concepts involving variables. A timeline/number line will serve as a primary tool in this exploration. Also our mathematic study fits within our Core 4 theme in the way that we have many parts of our self that make up our whole self, and there are many parts of numbers that make up whole numbers.
Throughout this new unit, the students will work with various types of rational numbers: negative numbers, fractions, and terminating decimals. Students will develop a meaning for these rational numbers, compare and order these numbers efficiently and find approximations on a timeline, and develop strategies to compute the various operations with all rational numbers. By exploring these concepts, students will deepen their number sense and abilities to work with all types of numbers. It will be a truly positive way to end the year!
Algebra:
Our focus for these two weeks involves Chapter 5: Linear Equations. Skills such as x and y-intercepts and slope are being covered. We are finishing up Chapter 5 next week. Please ask your child about their assignments and check their log to ensure they are holding themselves accountable to their responsibilities.
Incoming 6th and 8th Grade Student Transition Talks
Incoming 6th grade and 8th grade parents and students are invited to join me May 13th for a transition overview, service project information, and some important information on helping your child navigate the exciting world of core four and our demanding senior year. If your child is entering 8th grade please join me at 17:30 for information on the service project, preparing for high school, and how to support our lovelies as they stand at the top of the hill and gaze at the mountain of high school. Incoming 6th grade parents join me at 18:30 and we can plan for a stress free, rewarding move into the world of core four. We should be done by 19:30 or so…
Please email or drop around my room If you need information before these meetings or have a specific agenda item you wish me to discuss with everyone.
Kurt Holland
Environmental Education Trip Payment Plan
After conversations with many of our families and a highly successful fundraising night the critical path forward to trip nirvana has become clear. Our environmental trip suppliers are working with us and our kids are motivated.
Now, it’s time to pay the deposits. In order to simplify matters I am asking for a universal deposit of $100 from each participating family to cover the bills that are now due. Please make these checks out to SMASH PTSA and print your child’s name and expected trip across the top of the check. Drop around or email me if you need any information about these valuable outdoor education programs.
- Kurt
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Please Return by 5/13
Our child,_________________________, will / will not be joining core four on next year’s environmental education trip for their grade level (Please circle travel and payment status).
¨ Included is a check to cover the universal deposit of $100. We will pay the rest next fall in September or October.
¨ Included is a check for $100. We wish to apply for a partial scholarship.
We will help provide funding for the trip scholarship fund in the cash amount of_____________________. Thanks for even thinking about it!
I,_______________________________, can help
by________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name and contact info:______________________________
______________________________
HEALTH AWARENESS
AND FREEDOM PROJECT
8 May 2009
Dear Core 4 parents,
I’m Jo-e Sutton, a certified holistic health counselor and a mother of one of our core 4 students, (Cole Kastner.) I have the privilege of teaming with Kurt once a week to teach a class on health and wellness from the perspective of eating whole and natural foods.
Your children will be coming home with some new information that may drastically change the way they perceive the food that is advertised in the media, sold to them at restaurants, and what they are eating now.
I wanted to inform you so that you can support them in making healthier food choices. They may be attempting to teach you a thing or two, after these classes as well.
I am sending home a list of INGREDIENTS TO WATCH OUT FOR! This is the main list that identifies many harmful ingredients that would be best to avoid and also some other foods to minimize due to high levels of processing that diminish nutritional value.
I intend to provide awareness so that our students will have the ability to…
Decipher the advertisement of a food product from its actual ingredients.
Identify dangerous food additives such as partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, sweeteners and chemicals.
Recognize the importance of fiber in grain products, especially the ones claiming to be “fiber friendly,” “high fiber” and “whole grain.” Also, to be able to identify high fiber imposters.
Understand sugar and its classification as an addictive substance and to learn how to satisfy a sweet tooth more naturally.
Discern the body’s cravings.
Practice mindful eating techniques for health, satisfaction, and fulfillment.
Appreciate real whole grains, green leafy vegetables, sweet (root) vegetables and natural low glycemic sweeteners.
Thank you so much;
Please e-mail or call me if you have any questions or need support or clarification.
Jo.sutton@mac.com www.Jo-esutton.com (310) 488-4881
HEALTH AWARENESS
AND FREEDOM
INGREDIENTS
TO WATCH OUT FOR!
PROJECT
1. BE AWARE OF FALSE ADVERTISING. Food labels and packaging are often ads designed to sell you a product. It is not always the whole truth. Read the ingredient list for the whole story!
2. AVOID TRANS FATS in the form of HYDROGENTATED and PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED oils, Interestified oils, most margarines and shortening.
3. THE FIRST INGREDIENT is always the biggest. Each ingredient is listed in order of quantity. Try to eat fewer foods that have “avoid” ingredients in them especially in the first five on the list.
4. AVOID ARTIFICIAL COLORS (ex. red dye #4, yellow dye #20) AVOID ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS such as Saccharin (Sweet’ N low), Aspartame, phenylalanine or Neotame (Nutra-Sweet and Equal), Acesulfame-K or Acesulfame potassium (Sunette), Sucralose (Splenda), etc. AVOID PRESERVATIVES such as sulfates, sulfites, nitrates and nitrates, MSG, (Monosodium Glutamate) & aluminum. If you can’t pronounce it, it’s probably not a food.
5. AVOID HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP and MINIMIZE YOUR INTAKE OF ADDED SUGARS like white sugar, cane juice, cane sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, confectioners sugar, dextrose, maltose, maltodextrose, sucrose, etc. (ingredients that end in “ose” are sugars) etc. Use natural, lower glycemic sugars, (sugars that assimilate into the blood stream more slowly), such as Agave Nectar, Brown Rice Syrup, Stevia, Raw Honey, Date Sugar, Black Strap Molasses, Barley Malt, Birch Sugar (xylitol), etc.
6. MINIMIZE REFINED GRAIN PRODUCTS like white flour, enriched flour, bleached flour, white rice flour, white pasta etc.
7. ENJOY WHOLE GRAIN PRODUCTS that have at least 2 grams of fiber per each 100 calorie serving. Try brown rice, quinoa, oats, barley, whole wheat flour, stone ground grains, buckwheat, rye, pumpernickel and sprouted grains breads.
8. WATCH OUT FOR LONG INGREDIENT LISTS. They usually hide artificial colors, sweeteners, chemicals and preservatives. Jo Sutton 2009
