FEATURING
DJ SMASH parent, Holly Adams
Core 3’s Tobey Thorsen Romero, Liam Hayden, and Ari Bone
L.I.L.A.
Featuring Core 3’s Lydia Night
SMASH alumni Olivia and Emory Mugalian
The SMASHers
Featuring SMASH parents John Lusitana, William Brady, Marsha Lovett,Kenny Burgomaster, David Chertock and their special guest Tony Cucchiari
ALSO FEATURING
Cakewalk
At regular intervals in between Live Musical Entertainment
4:30SuperSMASH Staff Raffle
Drawings5:00SuperSMASH LIVE AUCTIONSilent Auction
Come and bid on lots likeJUSTIN BIEBER guitar,
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS guitar,
Fixie Bikes
Auction opens at 11:30, and closes in sections at
3:30, 4:00 and 4:30Live Auction begins at 5:00pm
Great Food
SMASHing chili (vegetarian and not)...SMASHing Dave’s Famous RibsWildflour Pizzxa...Shave Ice...Coffee and Pastries
Great Fun
Water Slide, Goldfish Toss, Wheel of Fortune, Plinko, Obstacle Course, CaterpillarCrawl, Spin Art, Soccer Kick/Football Toss, Puttling Green, Bean Bag Toss, Do-It-Yourself Tie-Dye, Candy Necklases, Hair Art, Decoupage, Make Your Own ButtonsNew AttractionsHomemade Lemonade, Airbrush and Glitter Tattoos, Make your own Candles
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SuperSMASH...tomorrow...11:30 to 5:30… bid… bid...bid!
Heard about the amazing Core Art Projects?
This year’s SuperSMASH offers pre-bidding from 11:30 to 4:00 at the Silent Auction.
Final bids during the Live Auction at 5pm.
Core 1 Splitter Splatter Art
Core 2 Rock Art
Core 3 Cyanotype Textile Art
Core 4 Outdoor Sculpture
Ready for a vacation
This year’s Silent Auction has all you need!
Domestic roundtrip flight on JetBlue
Overnight Stay at the Inn at Essex, Vermont
3 days and 2 nights at the luxurious Puakea Ranch Retreat, Hawaii
For all the other amazing auction items,
Including the ever popular UGLYDOLLS
Check out that Catalogue!http://www.ptsasmash.blogspot.com/
Silent Auction opens at 11:30 and closes in sections at 3:30, 4:00 and 4:30
Raffle Drawings at 4:30pm
Live Auction at 5:00pm
SuperSMASH...tomorrow...11:30 to 5:30… bid… bid...bid!
SuperSMASH ‘10TOMORROW … 11:30 TO 5:30 … Be there!
Got cakes or cookies?
The cakewalk and the pastry booth need your donations.Bring them to the kitchen on Saturday morning.Yvonne at 310-503-5663 or paradisekid@verizon.net
Got old hats?
Bring old bags/purses/belts & magazines/newspapersFor the Decoupage Booth…
Hillary at 310-291-1455 or hdrollins@verizon.net
Got a crock pot?
Our CANDLE BOOTH needs a few crock pots to handle the was.And we could use empty coffee cans, too Lori at 310-452-5700 or gettalife1@mac.com
Got T-shirts?Bring your t-shirts, dresses, sheets to SuperSMASH to tie-dye.
Got bathing suits?Bring them to SuperSMASH so you can enjoy the water slide!
Got Internet Access?
Check out that Catalogue! http://www.ptsasmash.blogspot.com/
Dear SMASHing Families,
After you both volunteer at and have family fun at SuperSMASH this Saturday, get ready for more school community fun next week.
Have you heard the great buzz about “Domingo y Siete” and “The Spellbook in the Forbidden
Room?” What about “How to do Research” or “How to Fracture a Fairytale?” Come see the world premier of these Core 3 plays, Core 2 educational videos, and Cores 1 and 4 artwork at Our Open House Arts Sharing next Wednesday, June 9th 6:00-8:00pm in the Cafetorium. In the Responsive Classroom tradition of valuing and honoring every student’s contribution to the sharing, all students need to be with their parents inside the Cafetorium creating a focused, supportive audience. There is no running around campus.
Come prepared to pay your $198 Measure A substitute at the Open House Arts Sharing. Your check or credit card payment makes a difference. We can help offset increased class sizes and work towards contracting back with laid off teachers.
Thank you for your energetic and financial contributions that let us continue to provide a high quality education for all of our students.
Jessica
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DATES TO REMEMBER
Tues, Jun 8 - 7:00pm - Orchestra Spring Concert - John Adams Auditorium
Wed, Jun 9 - 6:00pm - SMASH Open House and Arts Sharing in auditorium
Wed, Jun 9 - 7:00pm - Band Spring Concert - John Adams Auditorium
Fri, Jun 11 - Last day for Salad Bar. Last day to accept checks for lunch.
Balance needs to be cleared by this date.
Fri-Sat, Jun 11 &12 - SMASH Annual Camping Trip
Thurs, Jun 17, 8th grade Graduation and luncheon
Fri, Jun 18 - All School Beach Day—Rules in next week’s Friday Letter
REMINDERS
The last week of school - Mon, June 14 - Fri, June 18 —1:30 dismissal
Playground Access will be closing at 3:45 Tuesday through Friday.
Please make plans to pick up your child on time.
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SMMUSD FOOD SERVICES
Friday, June 11 is the last day Food Services will be accepting checks for meals. All negative balances must also be paid by that date. To get your child’s balance, you can call Connie at SMASH 310-396-2640 ext 64211
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FOR THE ARTS BENEFIT CONCERT
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 8:00-10:30PM
Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School, 601 Pico Blvd
VENICE & Guests Colin Hay of Men at Work, Curt Smith of Tears for Fears & Fee Waybill of The Tubes. Venice and students will perform songs of Led Zepplin, Queen, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye and more.100% of proceeds fund and sustain arts education in the Santa Monica-Malibu public schools. Bid on exciting LIVE AUCTION items featuring autographed guitars and other great items To purchase tickets go to: www.smmef.org
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NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM AT SMASH
If you have called lately, you will have noticed our new district installed telephone system.
It is confusing and inaccurate - not all of our staff begins with 77 plus their extension
If you have problems - just dial 0 and you will be directed to the main office.
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Santa Monica High School's Spring Choral Concert: "Love Songs on the Coast"
Barnam Hall, Friday, June 11 7:00pm
The Santa Monica High School Choral Department would like to invite our Middle School Students and their Families to the Spring Choral Concert. Middle School Students will receive two complimentary tickets to the concert. Come and hear the beautiful music performed by the Samohi Choral Students and experience this outstanding Music Program first hand. Please pick up your tickets from your choral teacher OR come to the welcome table in front of Barnum Hall to receive your tickets before the concert. Tickets for General Public $5 Students, $10 Adults
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Internet & Cyberbullying Safety Workshop for Parents and Caregivers
presented by Pattie Fitzgerald, Founder, Safely Ever After, Inc.
Tuesday, June 8 7pm - 8:30pm - Frankin Elementary Library
With the world literally a “click” away, parents and kids need to be aware of some important “Do’s and Don’ts” to help them navigate through cyberspace in the best way possible. The Internet can be a great resource for children when used appropriately. Today, more and more kids are using the Internet as a source for homework help, entertainment and even socializing.
Pattie Fitzgerald is certified by the National Security Alliance/Kid-Safe Network as a Child Safety Educator and Level One Agent. Her programs have been successfully presented at public and private elementary and pre-schools throughout LAUSD and the SMMUSD.
Childcare is available if you rsvp to
Sheila Spencer, 310-863-8377, shespen523@gmail.com
Lisa Simmons, 310-576-0018
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Thank you to Liam Hayden, Timmy Eagle-Serrano and Solal Marvel,
who put on an impromptu instrumental performance on Tuesday night and raised $12.50 in donations for SMASH
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SMC Wind Ensemble Concert
this Sunday June 6, 4:00-5:00 PM
The Broad Stage, SMC Performing Arts Center,
Santa Monica Boulevard at 11th Street.
The traditional and always entertaining "Pops" concert showcases music from film, TV, and Broadway. The conductor (and SMASH music teacher) is Kevin McKeown. 8th grader Rene Ross is one of the bassoonists. SMASH students and parents can come for free if they RSVP to Kevin at mckeownk@uci.edu.
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ptsa news
Dear SMASHing Community,
Measure A did not pass. This is somber news. Devastating news. It is also a wake-up call.
Because Measure A or not, we want, no, we NEED the best education possible for our children. We have no choice, our children are our future.
This means a ‘no’ on Measure A can’t stop us. It has to fuel us.
It is clear what you can, no, MUST do to fuel SMASH: stay informed and get involved. We need you, each and every one of you to do what it takes to help SMASH strive. We need you RIGHT NOW as much as we’ll need you in the weeks, months and years ahead.
This is not a time to shrug your shoulders and think that you can’t make a difference. You can, no, you MUST. Come to Open House on Wednesday, June 9. And come prepared to pay your $198 Measure A substitute.Your check book and credit card can make a difference. We can help offset increased class sizes and work toward contracting back laid-off teachers.
Together we can navigate this crisis. As a community we can stay strong and move forward. Every little bit of help is needed. Every little bit of help makes a difference.
Thank you.
Dan McGee (dmcgee@mcgeelerer.com)
Andrea Kahn (trevellin@adelphia.net)
David Saltzman (saltzmans@earthlink.net)
Helga Schier (helgaschier@verizon.net)
SMASHing Meetings
Open House and Arts Sharing
Wednesday, June 9 6:00pm
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A BIG HUGE THANK YOU!
To every single one of you who helped get us ready for
SuperSMASH.
Thank you for …
getting donations,
logging and labeling them,
writing the Silent Auction catalogue, organizing a live auction,
designing postcards and posters and lawn signs and distributing them,
squeezing lemons, organizing games, creating Core Art Projects,
baking cakes and cookies, buying prizes, getting refreshments,
placing ads, creating a menu, buying food, promising to cook,
designing decorations, bringing in canopies,
this, that and the other …
the list is endless.
And then there are those who have volunteered
to set up or run a booth or be cashier or help clean up tomorrow.
Thanks just for promising to be there!
Come to school at lease 5 minutes before you are scheduled to work.
Can’t remember where you are supposed to work?
Come check the Volunteer at the Main Entrance Ticket Station,
and we’ll direct you.
And then …
HAVE FUN OUT THERE!
SuperSMASH...tomorrow...11:30 to 5:30...be there!
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Core 1 SMASHing News
The Parent Appreciation Tea will be Friday, June 11 at 12:30 (right before pick-up). The children will be sharing some treats, appreciations, and poems prepared for you. We will also distribute the Pirates and Fairies DVDs and Books that day!
Our regular MONDAY library times are cancelled for the rest of the school year due to holidays and district meetings. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL LIBRARY BOOKS ARE RETURNED OR REPLACED BEFORE THE LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL. Please bring them in on MONDAY Thanks for your help!
We are looking forward to seeing you at our Open House/Children’s ART Show at 6:00-8:00pm! We will be showcasing our artwork and processes over the past weeks together. “We wonder if the structures we created will inspire other to build their own ‘ideal palaces’ as well,” expressed Julianna our artist in residence.
SAVE THE DATE!!
June 9th – Open House / Children’s ART Show
June 11th – Parent Appreciation Tea at 12:30
June 15th – July and August Birthday Bash
June 17th – Graduation Day / Luncheon
June 18th – All-School Beach Day / Last Day of School
Have a wonderful weekend! Two more weeks left of the 2009-2010 school year!
Candis, Chrysta and Jackie
Candis: cberens@smmusd.org Chrysta: cwyse@smmusd.org
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CORE 2 NEWS
Aloha Amazing Core 2 Families and Friends,
Words are insufficient to express our gratitude to Andrea Kahn, Giulia’s mom, for all the energy she has given Core 2 this year. Thomas Edison once said, “Great ideas originate in the muscles” and Andrea has been pumping iron all year long! We think back to all of our projects this year, we notice that she participated in all of them in one way or another--by sending e-mail reminders, coordinating volunteers, teaching the children, purchasing supplies for projects, hauling the heavy patio bench… the list is infinite! She has accepted a new charge on the PTSA board as Vice President, and we know that our whole school will benefit from her ideas and her work.
Here are this week’s highlights: Students continue to read their favorite chapter book series with the characters we love. Children have practiced different ways “hold on to meaning like your life depends on it.”
In writing, students have revisited some of this year’s favorite memories. In Math, the 2nd graders have discovered different ways to divide geometric shapes into smaller shapes, while the 3rd graders launched their unit on standard measurement also known as Balobby Land.
We will no longer assign homework other than READ, READ, READ! Please use your homework
time to converse about reading, to share the day’s events, or to practice needed skills (i.e. writing your name/ address/phone number, recalling number facts, setting the table, jumping rope, etc.).
Our last Birthday Bash of the year will be on Friday June 11th from 11:50 to 12:30. We will celebrate birthdays for those born in July and August.
On June 9th at 6pm Core 2 will share their educational videos created in Drama this session. Ala
"Schoolhouse Rock" we have worked with Kristy to create two videos that will teach kids How to do research and How to fracture a fairytale. We hope you will join us for the world premiere screening of our videos at ARTS NIGHT. Also playing that night Core 3 student directed and produced plays as well as visual arts sharing by Cores 1&4.
End-of-year reminders
Return all Media Center Books and Core 2 Books as soon as possible. The end-of-year narrative will be held in the office until all books have been returned or debts have been paid
Core 2 Lost and Found items need to be picked up from the Muir-SMASH Lost and Found behind Core 2. We suggest that sweaters be kept inside backpacks to prevent the spread of lice and to prevent them from getting left behind. Please make a habit of reminding children to take their sweaters and lunchboxes home at the end of each day. We need your help with this.
There are only 9 days left of school. Yikes!
Dates to remember:
Saturday, June 5- Super SMASH
Wednesday, June 9- Open House from 8:30-9:30AM in Core 2 only
Wednesday, June 9-Art Sharing from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Auditorium, Classrooms will be closed
Friday, June 11 – July/August Birthday Bash
Thursday, June 17 – 8th Grade Graduation and Lunch
Friday, June 18 – Beach Day, last day of school year
Have a Super, SMASHing Weekend!
Laura (lsherman@smmusd.org)
Graciela (gbarba-castro@smmusd.org)
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CORE 3 NEWS
Projects! It took a whole year, but we think we finally got it down (and we’re seeing the fruits)…
Projects, a favorite time in Core 3, was a way for us to include student choices, a variety of topics and interests, and parents’ talents in our curriculum. If children have an innate curiosity and a deep desire to learn about their personal interests, and if they really thrive when given control over what they learn and how they learn, then we wanted to explore what was possible through Projects. “Freedom with Responsibility” was tested and the students’ sense of ownership was valued in Core 3 during this time. Students researched topics of high interest, signed up for groups that piqued their curiosity lead by adults, and explored teacher directed units from the earth's biomes to ancient civilizations. We had teacher and parent-experts in the classroom throughout the year--leading explorations on architecture, design, money, Japanese language and cooking, electricity, newspaper publishing, percussion, immigration and family history, body functions, gardening, and more! Whether the Project was a one-time session or an ongoing unit over a few sessions, depended on student interest and 'expert' availability.
With our entire staff exploring Projects as a way for students to explore various subjects, while developing specific learning skills and strategies, we have also learned from each other’s ideas and made changes along the way. But the one area we never changed was focusing on how students learn—the process. We all learn by having a question, idea, or theory about something, then experimenting, reading for information, researching that topic, and finally synthesizing and/or applying the information to change or grow our question, idea, or theory (We went through the exact same process of learning while we were teaching Projects!). And learning is not linear: there are many different entry points, paths, and cycles within this process.
We experienced 8 field trips this year. It was a year of experiencing the world of music, theater, art, and culture. Some of those trips inspired classroom learning, such as Santa Monica History, puppetry, and mythology. We know that experiences outside of the classroom are often the most memorable for students and sometimes expose children to places and activities they would otherwise never see. We couldn’t get out and about without the full support of our families.
We'd like to thank all the parents who chaperoned on trips, donated toward our classroom, and took on a Project Group for making real world, interest-driven, hands-on, memorable experiential learning happen in Core 3 this year!
Dates to Remember:
SuperSMASH—Tomorrow! 11:30 – 5:30. Bring your friends and family to come out and support
SMASH (and have a SMASHing time!!!)
Open House Arts Sharing--Core 3 drama plays on Wednesday, June 9—6:00 pm
*** “The Spellbook in the Forbidden Room” ***
produced, directed, and performed by the Fluffy Flying Elephants
*** “Domingo y Siete” ***
produced, directed, and performed by the Jackson 29
Field Trip to the Getty Villa on Thursday, June 10—contact Genie or Tamara to chaperone
See you at SuperSMASH!!!
Tamara, Genie, and Malaika
tmugalian@smmusd.org
ghwang@smmusd.org
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CORE 4 NEWS
Celebrate! Celebrate!
As we approach the end of this momentous year, many celebrations and year-end activities lie on the agenda! In alignment with our social curriculum, our goal at a school year’s end is to develop a student’s feeling of accomplishment and pride for all that has been accomplished both academically and socially. Each activity planned will encourage the following objectives:
An affirmation of strong community involvement and bonding—a sense of belonging to a group
An affirmation of the student’s significance within their group
An opportunity to reflect upon and affirm their own learning process—"knowing" themselves as learner
A satisfaction and an appreciation for the experience of working hard at learning something
An overall sense of pride in oneself, one's class and one's school
A recognition of the fun and excitement in learning
An opportunity to feel ownership of their individual and group learning—fostering a sense of empowerment
An opportunity to use this year's reflection as a guide to thinking about next year's work
As we participate in events that support these hopes, we would love for you to join us.
Please see the final dates at thebottom of this letter.
One area of celebration involves our Water Wars Convention on Thursday, June 10. The students’ engagement and insights throughout this unit have been powerful. They have worked to expand their knowledge about not only their home, California, but also the current situation developing around water. As they prepare for next Thursday’s event, please ask them the following questions to secure their understanding of their bioregion.
Describe the primary watershed in your bioregion.
How do the laws of ecology apply to water in California and specifically to your bioregion?
What are the keystone species in your bioregion?
What are the consequences of using your water for human development?
What might the consequences be for leaving the water where it is in your region?
Who are the first people of your region? How did their views differ from our current cultural view of land ownership?
Describe the primary land use in your bioregion.
Working on these projects in school is dwindling (science is finished) please check in with your child regarding their preparation for this Water Wars Convention, specifically
Final dates to wrap up our amazing 2009-2010 school year:
Intentions for Core 4 trips is overdue. Kurt needs communication from you NOW or slots will be dropped.
June 10: Water Wars Convention beginning at 10:30-2:30
June 14: Core 4 Picnic
June 15: 8th Grade Sleepover and Graduation practice
June 16: 8th Grade Knott’s Berry Farm trip
June 17: Graduation!
June 18: Beach Day and Last day of school
Kurt: kholland@smmusd.org
Kelly: kkulsrud@smmusd.org
Bailey:baileyfield@mac.com
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SMASH CAMPING TRIP
AT DECKER CANYON CAMPGROUND IN MALIBU
JUNE 11 & 12
LET’S GET TOGETHER IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS!
WHERE: Decker Canyon Campground is located about 25 miles up the
coast from Santa Monica, on Decker Canyon Road off of PCH.
IT’S A BIG BEAUTIFUL SITE, AND WE’LL BE THE ONLY GROUP THERE!
WHAT TO BRING: *Tent, Bedding, Food, Supplies, etc. *Food should be stored in
plasticbins to keep safe from critters. *Bring charcoal if you plan to use the on-site grills,
or campingstoves if not. *Bring marshmallows & fixins for s’mores. *Instruments,
games, sports gear, hiking gear. *Sunscreen, bug repellent, first aid kit, flashlights, etc.
*Bring beach gear if youwant hit the gorgeous nearby beach.
>> YES--THERE ARE REAL TOILETS AND FREE HOT-WATER SHOWERS <<
PRICE
Overnight Campers: $10 per person, per night
Daytime Campers: $8 per person, per day
Checks payable to SMASH PTSA, due by Thursday, June 10
Sign-up sheet in SMASH office
TIME
Check-in: anytime after 11:00am, Friday June 11
Check-out: by 2:00 pm, Sunday, June 13
FOR INSURANCE REASONS - NO DROP-OFFS ALLOWED
ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR PARENT OR GUARDIAN
BE PREPARED FOR FUN, FUN, FUN !!!
Contact Dave Sparling (Olivia’s dad) with questions at
(310) 562-1501 or davesparling@gmail.com
This is a PTSA-sponsored event
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GEAR UP FOR THE SMASH CAMPING TRIP!!
Wild camping: backpack-in expeditions favored by the seriously outdoorsy.
Mild camping: the cabin-style experience where you enjoy the outdoors without leaving behind many of the creature comforts of home.
So where in this range is the SMASH Camping Trip at Decker Canyon? Much closer to the mild side, for sure. An easy drive up PCH, the facility offers full Women’s and Men’s bathrooms with free hot-water showers, built-in hibachis for grilling with charcoal, and is minutes away from conveniences like the Trancas Canyon Market and cafes (yes, including Starbucks).
Tents get pitched adjacent to the parkingarea so there’s no long-distance lugging of gear from car to campsite.
What about activities? Hiking trails begin right at the campsite, and there are several secluded
beaches just a few minutes away by car.
Campers generally bring games like horseshoes, badminton, Frisbees, hacky sacks, etc.
Never set up a tent before? No problem. Many seasoned “camping families” are perennial attendees, so there’ll be plenty of help available.
So come on out and enjoy a night or two “under the stars!” Still unsure? Then roll out with the family for a daytrip to the campsite on Saturday the 12th—plenty to do!
The 2010 SMASH Camping Trip: one night, two nights, or daytrip—make some memories outside!
June 11 and 12 at Decker Canyon Campground in Malibu.
See detailed flyer elsewhere in this week’s Friday Letter for the full scoop. Or for more information contact Dave Spar ling (Olivia’s dad) davesparling@gmail.com / 310-562-1501
“I’ve gone on the SMASH Camping Trip for the last four years—major thumbs up! Check
it out!” --Olivia Sparling, Core 3
