Dear SMASHing Families,
With every update I discover, I have been email blasting the parents of 40 SMASH students affected by The Los Angeles Unified School District newly announced plan to change their permit policy. Many non-permit families have started asking me questions as well so let me give a quick overview in this Friday Letter to all SMASH families of what is happening. I respect your inquiries and agree that we are one SMASHing community and we advocate for, assist, and support each other as well as the students at all of the SMMUSD campuses.
According to the proposed plan, LAUSD will only allow 2010-2011 Interdistrict Permits to be issued for the following categories:
• students whose parents or guardians are employed within the boundaries of Santa Monica or Malibu (According to Ed Code 48204 Section B, part time employment is acceptable and should override any LAUS requirement of full-time employment; however, the definition of what qualifies minimally as part-time employment is not yet clear.)
• students entering grades 5, 8 or 12 in Fall 2010.
At the Wednesday, March 17th meeting of concerned parents and District leaders, families were encouraged to watch for LAUSD to post the on-line application May 1st, to carefully follow all posted timelines, and prepare to follow the LAUSD and then LACOE appeals process IF the LAUSD permit is denied. Families will either need to show their LAUSD granted release or need to initiate any necessary appeal to LAUSD prior to the SMMUSD June 30th deadline for permit requests. (It is fine if the appeal is still in process after June 30th, but it needs to start before then.)
While we wait for the detailed LAUSD instructions to be posted May 1st and while lawyers decide whether or not to file an injunction halting this permit policy, many thanks to those who have offered to help with the legal process and give appeal writing assistance if needed. Once we know more, we can plan a May time to do this together.
Please note: SMMUSD Director of Pupil Services (and Permits) Marolyn Freedman will continue to post all current information about the permit process at www.smmusd.org under “Permit Appeals” at the top of the page. I will continue to email blast updates to the families going through this process and will be sure to inform the whole community if there are advocacy and/or assistance opportunities. Again, we are one SMASHing community and I am in awe of the way we advocate for, assist, and support each other as well as the students at all of the SMMUSD campuses.
Jessica
MINIMUM DAYS—WED & THURS, MAR 24 & 25
PLEASE READ BEACH RULES IN THIS FRIDAY LETTER
This is still a school day - if your child will not be going to the beach, please let their Advisor know so that an alternate activity can be planned at school
NO FRIDAY LETTER NEXT WEEK
SPRING BREAK - MARCH 29—APRIL 9
SMASH Beach Day Guidelines
Students MAY NOT stay at the beach after school
with anyone other than a parent without a written note!
This will be strictly enforced!
All other students must walk back to school with their class
·COME PREPARED - Each student needs to come to school with a backpack filled with some food, a drink, a towel, sunscreen and a sweatshirt and/or a change of clothes. Please make sure your child's backpack is labeled with their name! We would like your child to put on sunscreen at home and to wear their bathing suit under their clothes and change after our day at the beach. We encourage sand toys and other beach items that will help your child have lots of fun.
· Core 3 and Core 4 may bring Boogie Boards—NO SURFBOARDS.
· Core 4 students MAY go get food at Perrys - they need to go in pairs or groups and
eat there - they may not bring the food back to the beach!
· We will be leaving SMASH for Life Guard Station #26 (at the end of Ocean Park
Blvd.) beginning at 8:45 a.m. Stay together on the walk down to the beach.
· Cores will “camp” on the sand—sit together, please, and take care of your stuff!
· No going in the water until the lifeguard tells us about water conditions and the
boundaries.
· In the water, stay between the cones and only go in as far as the lifeguard allows
(knees, waist, and chest). Swim with friends!
· Go to the bathroom in pairs or groups and tell an adult before you go. Tell that same
adult when you return.
· Play safely and respectfully respond to all/any adults.
· We will leave the beach between 12:30 and 1:00 to return to school by 1:30.
· Follow these guidelines or get escorted back to school.
· This is still a school day - if your child will not be going to the beach, please let their
Advisor know no later than Wednesday so that an alternate activity can be planned at
school
WEDNESDAY BAKE SALES - Healthy Treats & Fun Items Sales start at 2:30 pm (Muir dismissal)
CORE 4: May 5
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DATES TO REMEMBER
Fri, Mar 19 - TURN IN YOUR JOG-A-THON PLEDGES!
Apr 15 & Apr 28 - 4:30pm—8:30pm, SMASH Phone Bank Volunteers Needed
Sun, March 21 - 9:30am - LA Marathon finish line at Santa Monica Pier - details in Friday Letter
Mon, Mar 22 - 9:00-10:00am - SMASH school tour—last tour before 3-31 Kindergarten deadline
Wed, Mar 24 - Last day to turn in Golden Raffle Tickets
Mon-Fri, Mar 22– 26. Family Conferences. Sign ups in the office.
Fri, Mar 26 - SMASH All School BEACH DAY! Rules in next week’s Friday Letter
Mon, Mar 29 - Fri, Apr 9 - SPRING BREAK—SCHOOL CLOSED
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SMASH SCHOOL TOUR Monday, March 22, 9:00-10:00 am
Deadline for K applications is March 31. Deadline for grades 1-8 is May 31.
TIME FOR SCHOOL CONFERENCES!
March 22-26. Sign ups in the main office, or call Janice or Wende at 310-396-2640
NOTE from NURSE SANDY
NEEDED: Sandwich or snack size zip-top plastic bags
Your children use lots of ice for bumps, bruises and general ailments! Thanks!
PHOTOS NEEDED FOR YEARBOOK!
Do you have any great photos for the yearbook? We are starting the layout of the yearbook,
if you could forward all photos taken to-date to: Barbara (Core 3 Liam's mom) or Kjersti (Core 3 Toby's mom). Digital is preferred...any other format we welcome too. Thank you!
Barbar@earthlink.net and Kjersti@rtd-la.com
Please use the 5th Street near gate area for drop-off and pick-up ONLY—not to park and look for your child. Please ask your child to wait for you in that area—NOT THE PARKING LOT.
It is not a safe situation to have the children
Special Kudos to Sophia Greco, Mica Nafshun-Bone, Ari Bone, and Emily Lewis for showing their community activism, commitment to SMASH, and entrepreneurial spirit by hosting a weekend lemonade and goodies stand in their neighborhood that raised $83.75 to donate to SMASH.
SANTA MONICA AIRPORT ART WALK
SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1-5PM
One of L.A. County’s oldest operating airfields, Santa Monica Airport has a ricbackground as the former home of the Douglas Aircraft Company and the birthplace of the DC-3. In addition, the airport has developed over time into an arts incubator, and is home to a number of creative venues. The City of Santa Monica Airport Division and Cultural Affairs Division, and participating tenants, invite you to discover this hidden cultural resource with its unique,
creative atmosphere. Many residentartists sell work from their studios, so feel free to inquire about making a purchase.
The Ed Foundation's Raffle has begun!
PRIZES:
1st Prize: Getaway!
2nd Prize: laptop!
3rd Prize: Touch & $100 iTunes gift card!
The annual SMMEF Raffle fundraiser supports the Ed Foundation's Academic Enrichment
Grant (AEG) program. year teachers are eligible to apply for an AEG up to $1000 to support
innovation in the classroom.
Also, the Ed Foundation is again offering a $5000 Super Grant. This grant will support
collaboration and will only be awarded to one school, one grade level, ONE CORE, one
department or one house in the District!
Please buy Raffle tickets to support this amazing program. They are $4 each ticket or $20 for a
booklet of 6 tickets.
This is a fun & affordable way to make learning fun for the children at SMASH and districtwide.
Last year Genie in Core 3 was awarded a grant for Technology Tools Build a Common
Classroom Language.
I will begin collecting raffle tickets and money Thursday March 4th. have your child turn in
the booklets and money to their teacher. will collect tickets and money weekly up until
Thursday March 25th.
We will hold a drawing at SMASH at the end of March for the iPod Nano and the Grand Prize
raffle drawing will be during the Stairway concert on Friday March 26th. do not need to be
present.
If you have any questions please contact Debbie Dempsey
at 310 351-6395 or debbie@dempseyproductions.com
ALL TICKETS MUST BE TURNED INTO THE SMASH OFFICE
NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24
ALL-MAIL BALLOT ELECTION
IN MAY TO SUPPORT
SANTA MONICA-MALIBU SCHOOLS*
Santa Monica and Malibu students receive an exceptional education that prepares them for the 21st Century and provides the skills needed for college and today’s careers.
State budget cuts impact the quality of our local schools. The State has cut an average of $10 million each year over the last two years from funds owed to Santa Monica and Malibu schools, resulting in extensive cuts to teachers, staff and programs. More State budget cuts are on the way. Additional local funding can prevent a serious decline in the quality of our local schools.
A local funding measure has been placed before voters to provide local funding that the State cannot take away.
This measure will provide funding to:
· Protect instruction in reading, writing, math and science
· Minimize teacher layoffs
· Keep class sizes as small as possible
· Help protect music and arts programs
· Keep school libraries open
· Minimize cuts to counselors, who help students stay on track and prepare for college and careers
All funds will remain in our local schools and cannot be taken away by the State.
None of the funds can be spent on administrator salaries. An independent citizens’ oversight committee will ensure the funds are spent as promised. Seniors age 65 or over can apply for an exemption.
* There will be no polling places open on Election Day. Your ballot will come in the mail, even if you do not normally vote by absentee ballot.
All-Mail Ballot Election in May to Support Santa Monica-Malibu Schools*
Jog-a-thon ‘10
ALL pledges
are due
now!
Please drop off your pledge envelope with check or cash in the office. You and/or family/friends/neighbors can also pay online by using the link below:
http://ptsasmash.blogspot.com/
When reviewing your payment there will be a hyperlink that says “add special instructions to seller” and you can type in the child's name.
Thanks!
JOG-A-THON T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE $7 for Adult, $6 for Kid Sizes
Adult XL – (5 available)
Youth M – (4 available)
Youth L – (6 available)
Dear SMASH community,
The budget crisis has hit home, and it has hit hard. Three of our fantastic teachers may fall victim to the budget cuts.
This is devastating news.
And this is only the sharpest tip of the iceberg. There will be furlough days for sure and class sizes will increase, the question is only by how much. Our elementary music program is at risk and our librarians and nurse may loose their jobs. And there’s more: LAUSD plans not to release students to neighboring districts any more, which directly affects many students at SMASH. All this will have a profound impact on the SMASH community as a whole.
Devastating news, indeed.
But the SMASH community has always come together in times of crisis. I have no doubt that our
community will rise to the occasion and mobilize to find ways to support Santa Monica schools in
general and SMASH in particular. Whether you can help with an upcoming fundraiser, current phone banking nights in support of Measure A, or volunteer for a board position – your support is dearly needed and greatly appreciated.
If there ever was a time to be active it is now! It is time to help protect our schools! Thank you!
Helga Schier and David Saltzman
Co-Presidents, SMASH PTSA
*****
WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!
Join a SMASH Phone Banking Night in support of the Local School Funding Measure A
SMASH Phone Bank Dates
4/15, 4/28
4:30PM to 6:30PM and/or 6:30PM to 8:30PM
SMMCTA Headquarters (Teachers' Association)at 1508 18th Street, Santa Monica.
Sign up at: http://smashschool.wufoo.com/forms/smash-parcel-tax-campaign/
For further volunteer opportunities, go to: http://savesantamonicamalibuschools.org
Devin Osiri, Campaign Coordinator
310-654-4933 (office)
osiridevin@gmail.com
*****
Next PTSA MEETING
Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 6:30PM
*****
Contribute to our FAMILY DONATION DRIVE: ptsasmash.blogspot.com
SuperSMASH ‘10
WHEN?
Saturday, June 5, 2010
11:30AM TO 5:00PM
WHERE?
SMASH Campus
WHAT?
Silent Auction, Art Projects, Games, Rides, Live Music, Food and Drink.
WHY?
It’s our # 1 FUN(D)RAISER
WHO?
Everyone… You, your friends, your family, your neighbors!
HOW U CAN HELP
We need volunteers anywhere and anytime!
Get donations for the Silent Auction!
Help prepare the Silent Auction!
Help plan the Carnival!
Design an Activity Booth for the Food Court!
Contact Helga Schier at 310-828-8421 or helgaschier@verizon.net
Tell Us What YOU Think!
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
is updating their Strategic Plan, and would like to know what matters to you!
Come to Any of the 3 Community Open Houses and Get Involved
Monday, April 12, 6-9pm: SMASH/John Muir Auditorium
Tuesday, April 13, 6-9pm: Lincoln Middle School Auditorium; 1501 California Ave
Thurs, April 15, 6-9pm; Malibu High Old Gym; 30215 Morning View Drive
As part of the SMMUSD Strategic Plan Update, please join us in reviewing informational exhibits about the Strategic Plan process to let us know what you think are the most important issues to address, which District assets and strengths should be preserved, and what opportunities should be pursued to improve our District and our schools. Refreshments and snacks will be served. Childcare will be available (please call 310.450.8338 ext. 229 to
confirm a spot). All information will be presented in both English and Spanish. Stay connected!
Please visit SMMUSD.org and click on Strategic Plan 2010 to learn more about the strategic planning process and follow us at SMMUSD on Twitter. Questions? Please call - 310.450.8338 ext. 229
The race is on!
The LA Marathon “Stadium to the Sea” course finishes in Santa Monica,
THIS SUNDAY on March 21
at our very own Santa Monica Pier
We are expecting the runners to cross the finish line at approximately 9:30 a.m.
See below for street closures, spectator and Finish Line Beach Party info
For Marathon Route Info: http://www.lamarathon.com/
For local information as well as restaurant and shops who are offering marathon day discounts:
http://www.smgov.net/marathon.aspx
Finish Line Beach Party:
The Finish Line Beach Party is open to the general public and is the perfect location to enjoy the entire 2010 LA Marathon and post-race celebrations. Located just north of the Santa Monica Pier (in the 1550 Pacific Coast Highway parking lot below the actual marathon finish line), the Finish Line Beach Party will feature a large screen broadcasting the live Marathon telecast, numerous sponsor exhibits and displays, the official Michelob ULTRA Beer Garden, food and beverage sales, live music and much more. As access to the actual finish line is restricted to runners and race officials only, families and friends are directed to meet up with the
runners at the Don Francisco Family Reunion Area located inside of the Finish Line Beach Party footprint.
Traffic and street closure info:
Please be aware that no traffic will be allowed to enter or cross the race course from 6 a.m. until police and public safety officials reopen the streets.In Santa Monica, this means traffic will not be able to enter or cross at any point along San Vicente Blvd. and Ocean Ave. between San Vicente Blvd. and Colorado Ave. until street reopening begins at approximately 3 p.m. at the east end of Santa Monica.
The westbound lanes of San Vicente Blvd. will be OPEN. The eastbound lanes of San Vicente Blvd. will be CLOSED.
Ocean Avenue will be CLOSED to all vehicle travel between San Vicente Blvd. and Colorado
Ave.Northbound traffic will be allowed on Ocean Ave. from Pico Blvd. to Colorado Ave.; advanced signage will be installed to notify motorists of the roadway closure at Colorado Ave.
Main Street will be closed between Pico and Colorado Avenue during the morning pre-event loading period and until Santa Monica Police authorize a re-opening. After that, the west side of Main Street between City Hall and the RAND building is a designated runner pick-up area - no parking or standing at any time will be allowed.
The California Incline will be CLOSED.
Imagine how wonderful it's going to be for these runners to finish at our wonderful, beautiful beach.We hope to see our Ocean Park Neighbors there to celebrate this wonderful landmark event.
SMASH Site Council Minutes
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
5:00 PM Core 2
In attendance: Candis Berens, Jackie Boyd, Jessica Rishe, Kelly Kulsrud, Laura Sherman, Michael Tenzer, Elizabeth Kramer, Nina Furakawa.
Absent: Chrysta Wyse,
Adopt Agenda Jessica moved. Michael seconded. Approved.
Approve minutes of last meeting Jackie moved. Michael seconded. Approved.
Community participation: Question about when new bike racks will arrive. On order now.
Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)
Principal’s Report (done under Budget update)
Student Reports: none
Community Organization Reports (to include but not limited to the following):
PTSA: focused on solidifying new Board
Student Council: none
Other : Student Collaboration in the Classroom presentation by Candis
Old Business
New Business
Budget update 2010 – 2011: recent school board meeting layoffs of teachers and nurses, new LAUSD permit policy details to be discussed at JAMS tonight at 6pm
Community participation (if applicable)
Adjourn
Describing Students’ Work:
http://www.nsrfharmony.org/ (This protocol has been modified for the sake of time and purpose…)
Focus Question: How has this collaborative dialogue enhanced the children’s learning?
What are the challenges that emerge?
Review Process (2 min)
This process is grounded in description, not judgment or evaluation.
The major assumption is that all work bears the imprint and signature of the author and offers important access to the maker’s interests, ways of creating order, and point of view. The purpose is to understand this student’s way of knowing.
The process is formal. The group speaks in go-arounds. You are free to pass. Everyone listens carefully. There is no cross dialogue. Comments are kept short.
Use action words, descriptive words, and phrases.
Intro to the Work (3 mins)
Presenting the Work (10 mins)
Pay attention to what the children are doing and saying.
Feel free to take notes about what you see/hear.
Descriptive Round (5 mins)
General impressions
Physical description – what did you see?
What do they know? (5 min)
What do they know how to do?
What are they trying to accomplish?
What don’t they yet know? (5 mins)
What does the student seem on the verge of understanding?
What do they want to know? - Implications for Teaching (5 min)
CAREFUL – evaluation is hard to avoid!
Revisit the focus questions
What does the student appear to value?
“I wonder”
Changes that might be made in the classroom, etc.
Debrief / Feedback on the Process (5 min)
How did this work, or not
What did you learn
Suggestions for facilitation
Time for presenter to say what was learned
Presented by Candis Berens 3/17/10
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Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School Visual & Performing Arts Dept
61st Annual Stairway of the Stars
On Thursday, March 25and Friday, March 26, at 7 pm,
the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will present the
61st Annual Stairway of the Stars concert
at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
This event remains one of the most popular annual events in both the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu, as it spotlights the talents of the district's music students, teachers and music curriculum.
This year, 26 bands, orchestras and choirs will dazzle the audience at the Stairway of the Stars concert. The guest conductor for the 2010 Stairway will be Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe.
This year the ensembles that will perform at Stairway of the Stars are the All-District elementary honor string orchestra, choir and band; high school jazz ensemble; as well as the middle and high school orchestras, choirs and bands. Some of the musical selections will include: choral - “Domine, Ad Adjuvandum Me Festina” band- “La Mezquita de Cordoba”, orchestra - “Danzon No. 2” and jazz band- “Latin Dance”.
Tickets sales to the general public can be purchased the night of each performance at the ticket window on a first come first basis starting at 5:30pm. The concert will begin at 7pm and the doors will open at 6pm. Tickets are $14.00 each. For any other questions, email Tom Whaley, the district’s Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator at twhaley@smmusd.org or Chandra Narain at cnarain@smmusd.org or call 310-450-8338 ext. 287 or ext 338.
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CORE 1 NEWS
Next Week:
Family Conferences – Thank you to all of the families who have signed up for a conference and have returned our questionnaire. Arriving 10 minutes before your conference will help us have some private time to speak with parents. If you have yet to sign-up for an appointment, please email us ASAP or call Janice in the front office.
1:30 Dismissal will be on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week.
SMASH All-School Beach Day will be Friday, March 26. We will be meeting at school and walking to the beach around 9:00. We love it when parents join us, so please let us know if you can come. We will be leaving the beach around 12:30. If you would like your child to stay at the beach with another family or other special arrangements, we must have a note with your intention in writing beforehand. You may decide to keep your own child at the beach at anytime if you are with us. Safety and supervision are our greatest priorities on Beach Day. Please review our enclosed guidelines carefully.
Upcoming Changes:
After next week, we bid farewell to Jessica and family (Joe, Isabelle, and baby Emily), who have recently purchased a new home in Westlake and will be moving there very soon. Jessica will begin at a new school in April. Congratulations and best wishes to your family!!
After Spring Break, the children will briefly return to their current circle groups. Shortly after, we will mixup the children and create new circle groups. These are the circle groups we will keep until the end of the school year.
Starting Wednesday, April 14th, we will begin our visual arts study with Julianna, our visual artist-inresidence. Our art study will take place on Wednesdays before and after snack/recess, when we usually have Projects. Look forward to our updates in April!
Thank you to all of the parents who helped chaperone our picnic and hike at Will Rogers State Park. The fun and fresh air were inspiring. There is much to be enjoyed and learned from Mother Earth!!
It’s time to visit our SMASHing Core 1 Blog. New photos featuring our field trip and St. Patrick’s Day festivities will be uploaded shortly.
No Friday Letter Next Week!!
Have a Fun and Restful Spring Break!!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: cberens@smmusd.org ; Chrysta: cwyse@smmusd.org
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Dear Fabulous Core 2 Families and Friends,
Thank you to the families who have signed up for conferences. Next week is the only week we have scheduled for conferences. If you haven’t signed up, please do so in the office, or call the school to schedule an appointment. Please think about the following questions and be prepared to discuss them in our conference:
What growth have I observed in my child this year?
What social or academic goals is my child ready to take on now?
In what ways would I like to see my child grow socially and academically?
What role can the adults (parents and teachers) play in supporting my child’s goal?
We are looking forward to meeting with you and your child.
Last week in Reading Workshop, readers practiced paying attention to headings. They noticed that some nonfiction books have headings while others don’t. Headings tell readers what a section is about, but readers need to create headings in their minds for sections that don’t have headings. In Writing Workshop students learned how important it is to write an introduction that addresses the reader and gives sends the important message (angle) of their book, Introductions help readers know what they will learn and if the book is right for them.
In Math this week, 3rd graders practiced subtracting large, 3-digit numbers. Second graders launched a study of time measurement. They are learning important ideas about the analog clock, and minute to hour equivalents.
We have committed time to jump roping in the months of March and April. This will help students develop gross motor skills while enjoying some of our favorite rhymes.
We thank you for your generosity in supplying our core with needed items this year. We still
need:
Paper towels
Tissue
Hand sanitizer
Hypoallergenic hand soap
Small plates
Please think of us next time you go to the supermarket.
Friday, March 26 is an all school SMASH Beach Day!
Core 2 will be leaving school for Life Guard station #26 (at the end of Ocean Park Blvd.) around 9:00. We will leave the beach at 12:30 and return to school by 1:30. SMASH Beach guidelines are in this Friday Letter.
Please read the following information very carefully:
WE NEED HELP - We will need all the help we can get, so if you can come and spend some time with us during this wonderful learning experience please let Graciela or Laura know. COME PREPARED - Each child needs to come to school with a backpack filled with some food, a drink, a towel, sunscreen and a sweatshirt and/or a change of clothes. Please make sure your child's backpack is labeled with their name! We would like your child to put on sunscreen at home and to wear their bathing suit under their clothes and change after our day at the beach. We encourage sand toys and other beach items that will help your child have lots of fun, but please NO boogie boards. If your child cannot go to the beach, please let us know so that we can arrange for an alternative activity on campus.
Next week’s Stars of the Week are Rise and Carissa.
Dates to remember:
Monday, March 22 – Friday, March 26 – Spring Family Conferences – sign in the office
Friday, March 26th –Beach Day, NO FRIDAY LETTER
Monday, March 29th – Spring Break Begins until April 9th
Laura (lsherman@smmusd.org); Graciela (gbarba-castro@smmusd.org)
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CORE 3 NEWS
Spring has Sprung!!! We are working on staying calm, energized, and focused. After conferences and Spring Break, we’ll be ready to kick into high gear for the last 10 weeks of school. Parents always ask how they can help their child do well in school and be prepared for next year. One way is easier than you think, and it’s almost completely within your control! If we consider the whole child with our curriculum, then we need to think about their physical needs, too. Sleep is important to a child's development. Children between the ages of 9-12 still need 9-12 hours of sleep per night. Children also need to eat A LOT each day, so please make sure they bring plenty of healthy food and lots of water to drink.
Breakfast: A well-balanced breakfast is the first step toward school success. If it is hard to do at home, breakfast is available in the cafeteria right before school for $1.25. This food needs to sustain students all morning during some of our most taxing learning time.
Snack: Whether a child brings lunch from home or eats hot lunch, everybody needs a healthy snack every day. Break is from 10:15 – 10:30. Most students try to eat a little and play a little, so their snack should be quick and easy. They need to eat during this time because our lunch is on the later side. Did you know the “A La Carte” snack bar is open to Core 3 students and we only have one because we have a middle school on campus? The snack bar, provided by SMMUSD Food Services, sells chocolate chip cookies for 50 cents at 10:15 a.m. and many Core 3 students buy them (or someone buys them for them). Do you know if your child starts with a sugary snack in the morning each day? If you prefer for your child to buy their snacks, please speak to them about the healthier options. We do a lot of work between break and lunch!
Lunch: If your child brings a lunch, please have them participate in the preparation/choosing of the food, so it will get eaten! Your child may also purchase a hot meal or salad bar from the cafeteria for $3.00. You may buy a lunch ticket from the office or send money with your child on a daily basis (encourage them to keep all money in an envelope labeled with their name for safe keeping). Lunch is short, from 12:30 – 1:05. It is important that your child takes time to eat a healthy, nutritious lunch so they can be alert for the afternoon learning block. Talk to them about how they spend their lunch period.
We have also been talking in Core 3 about sharing snacks and lunches. Sharing is a part of SMASH culture. However, something you may not be aware of is that some students chronically ask others for some of their lunch. Ask your child if they share their lunch most days or ask others for some of theirs. It may change how much you pack or help your child understand it's okay to say, "No. This is the lunch my parents packed me and I am going to eat it." It might also give you some ideas for what to pack in the future!
We really want to continue Healthy Community Snack on Mondays in Core 3. We have had great success in the past, as it allows the sharing of food while encouraging students to try foods (at least with a 'no-thank-you-helping') that they may have not tried or didn't like a few years ago. Studies show that taste buds change every few years and peers do influence children to be adventurous foodies. We emphasize a balance of protein, whole grains, and fruits or vegetables. Some hits in the past have been hummus with pita chips and carrot sticks, rice rolled in nori with veggies, crackers with cottage cheese and cucumber rounds, and green apples with cheese and balsamic syrup—sounds fancy, but simple and different. If a few families get together, it defrays cost, prep, and stress. We’d like to get our
Community Snack back on track! Please let Tamara or Genie know if you’d like to contribute a food or come make a healthy snack with the kids or help us find local market donations or organize parent sign-ups to help us maintain our Community Snack.
Spring Break is a good time to observe your child eating habits, preferences, and patterns—what sustains them, what makes them crash, what do they like, what do they hate? If they never eat it at home, maybe they don’t want to eat it for snack or lunch—or maybe the opposite is true and they love having foods that are just for snack and lunch. Come up with a plan for buying, preparing, and packing foods together.
We are what we eat!
Tamara, Genie, and Malaika
tmugalian@smmusd.org; ghwang@smmusd.org
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CORE 4 NEWS
Dear Parent Partners,
Our official conference days are fast approaching. We would like to provide some information that will help everyone gain value from this important communication opportunity. Our young friends have been working hard throughout the year to create goals, evolve them into declarations of intent, and complete them with specific action plans. Over these past few weeks, Core 4 has prepared for our conferences. They will be equipped and ready to engage in conversations at the conference! To make this a truly optimal time, we are also asking that you do some work too. And you thought your homework days over…ah the joys!
In one million words or less please tell us about “what matters most” to you for your child’s academic achievement now. In the fall, a similar question was posed with the focus involving more about your whole child and their life inside and outside of school. Now the focus is academic achievement and how to prepare for the ever-increasing demands of our challenging program, upcoming schools (high school and college), and our complex society. Please respond to this question of “what matters most” as they continue to take on the academic rigor involved in middle school. Our goal is to keep everyone thinking about the need to work hard, focus on clearly stated goals, and to take persistent action in support of continuous improvement.
Please review their school work weekly and ask deep questions about what is transpiring in class as a review opportunity for our learners
Our conferences this spring are fifteen minutes with five-minute transitions between family groups. Please be sure to bring your child to the conference as they will lead the conference, hold a need to have their voice respected, and are the ones who need to take action. If you feel the need for an adult’s only conversation please let us know and we will make arrangements to have tea or otherwise check in. We will be scheduling in order of a “most need” basis. This entails that we shall generally be seeing 6th grade parents first and 7th grade parents next. We are asking our most experienced parent partners to join us as a group at an upcoming meeting in conjunction with SAMOHI counselors. This meeting reflects our joint decision last year to work as an adult team to weave a fine meshed safety net under out SMASHing seniors.
Naturally we are always available individually should you feel a pressing need.
Kelly and Kurt
Kurt: kholand@smmusd.org; Kelly: kkulsrud@smmusd.org; Bailey: baileyfield@mac.com
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Wed, Thurs, Mar 24 & 25 - Minimum Days—1:30 Dismissal
Fri, Mar 26 - All School Beach Day - Rules in Friday Letter. This is a school day - if your child will not be
attending the beach, please let Advisor know so alternate arrangements at school can be made.
Mon, Mar 29—Fri, Apr 9 - SPRING BREAK - SCHOOL CLOSED
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
We have set up times for Planned Parenthood come to speak with our 8th grade students during their science class. These visits will be on March 23 and 25. We will be scheduling Planned Parenthood information meetings for 6th and 7th grade students at a later date.
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APRIL MENU
M O N D A Y, 12 - BAKED CHICKEN NUGGETS w/BAKED POTATO, ROUNDABOUTS, FRUIT
T U E S D A Y 13 - SALAD BAR w/+++CORN DOG, SUN CHIPS
WE D N E S D A Y 14—BAKED CHICKEN w/OVEN ROASTED POTATO WEDGES, WHOLE GRAIN ROLL, FRUIT
T H U R S D A Y 15 - SALAD BAR w/+++TACO BAR, CINNAMON CHURRO
F R I D A Y 16—SLICE OF CHEESE PIZZA OR ###PEPPERONI', CELERY STICKS W/RANCH
DRESSING, 100% FRUIT ICEE
MONDAY 19 - ***GRILLED CHEESEBURGER ON WHOLE GRAIN BUN w/CROSS TRAX FRIES, FRESH SEASONAL FRUIT
TUESDAY 20 - SALAD BAR w/+++SPAGHETTI, BREAD STICKS
WEDNESDAY 21 - +++HOT DOG ON WHOLE WHEAT BUN w/BAKED CRINKLE CUT FRIES, VEGGIE BEANS, FRUIT
THURSDAY 22 - SALAD BAR w/NEW ITEM! BAKED POPCORN CHICKEN; STAR COOKIE
FRIDAY 23 - CLASSIC WEDGE CHEESE OR ###PEPPERONI PIZZA w/MIXED GREEN SALAD, FRUIT
MONDAY 26 - ORANGE CHICKEN w/CHOW MEIN, MIXED VEGETABLES, FORTUNE COOKIE, 100% FRUIT STRIP
TUESDAY 27 - SALAD BAR w/GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH, ABC CHEEZITS
WEDNESDAY 28 - BRUNCH FOR LUNCH FRENCH TOAST STICKS +++SAUSAGE LINKS,
HASHBROWNS 100% FRUIT JUICE
THURSDAY 29 - SALAD BAR w/CHICKEN GIGGLES, WHOLE WHEAT ROLL, VANILLA FROZEN YOGURT CUP
FRIDAY 30 - THIN CRUST CHEESE OR ###PEPPERONI PIZZA, w/BABY CARROTS, 100% FRUIT STRIP
Second Choice Vegetarian Menu:
4/12-4/16 - Yogurt, Pretzel & String Cheese
4/19-4/23 - Cheese sticks with Marinara Sauce
4/26-4/30 - Toasted Cheese Sandwich
BREAKFAST:
MONDAYS: Waffle Sticks w/Sausage Patty, Applesauce
TUESDAYS: Breakfast Burrito
WEDENSDAYS: Cheese Pizza Bagel, Juice
THURSDAYS: Biscuit w/Sausage Patty, Fruit
FRIDAYS: Breakfast Rolls, Fruit
Students may choose the featured hot lunch, or salad bar, or the Vegetarian option.
Meal Prices are as follows: Elementary Breakfast-$1.25, Lunch $3.00 Prepay and save: -20 lunches-$50.00 ($10.00 savings)
Negative balances must be paid before a student can receive a Meal Deal (20 lunches).
Parents can check their child’s balance by calling the Central Office or by visiting the cafeteria.
***Contains Beef +++Contains Turkey ###Contains Pork 100% Mozzarella Menu is subject to change
A variety of milk is offered daily.
Enjoy the freshly prepared Farmers’ Market Salad Bar daily which includes farm fresh lettuces, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, strawberries, tangerines, grapes and many more seasonal fruits and vegetables!
Meal applications for Free and Reduced price meals can be submitted at any time throughout the school year.
