Smash Friday Letter

Dear SMASHing Families,
We are all saddened by the unfortunate events in Japan and our hearts and contributions go out to those affected. Please see the announcements created by Core 3 about how SMASH students and families may contribute to Japanese families in need during this extraordinary time.

Hopefully you all received Superintendent Tim Cuneo’s email message that based on the situation to date, there is no increased risk of harmful levels of radiation exposure in the United States. The District is monitoring the air quality due to radiation escaping from power plants in Japan. You can get a daily update regarding levels of radiation in Southern California at South Coast Air Quality Management District’s website at www.aqmd.gov.

While we are being reassured that there are no concerns about countering effects of radiation, please keep in mind that eating green foods is always good for us. In fact, there are lots of food and nutrition suggestions that are helpful to follow whether or not you are worried about radiation.

Per herbal medicine expert and noted author Brigitte Mars, people can protect themselves from radiation through food and nutrition. Excerpts from her recommended list, posted on her Facebook page and on her website, is as follows:
Buckwheat and brown rice
Seaweeds rich in iodine and micro-minerals, such as Hiziki, found in macrobiotic or Asian food sections
Wheatgrass and barley grass
Sulfur rich vegetables including broccoli, cabbage and mustard greens
High-pectin foods including carrots, sunflower seeds and apples
Liver-cleansing foods such as artichokes, beets and radishes
Fermented foods such as miso and unpasteurized sauerkraut

Since last Friday, many of you contacted me wanting to get involved with a SMASH Safety Committee. The Safety Committee reviews our school plans for various emergencies (Earthquake, Fire, Lock Down, Tsunami…), maintains our food/water/medical supplies, ensures many adults on campus are First Aid/CPR trained, seeks latest information about countering bullying, and considers any safety concerns/preparations.

If the Safety Committee interests you, please plan to attend Site Council where this will be on the agenda Wednesday, April 27 at 5:00 pm in Core 2.

Jessica
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PARKING REMINDERS
1. Please DO NOT park in the staff parking lot (5th Street) between 7:45am and 6:00pm. PLEASE do not park the in the lot for a before school meeting or to walk your child into class (a staff member will probably double park behind you and be disrupted when they have to move their car) and please do not park during the school day (If there is a space - it will be used by a returning staff member). If you double park - we may have to disrupt both schools with
a loud speaker announcement to ask you to move (all SMASH and John Muir staff members have numbered parking permits so that we know who to contact). The visitor’s parking lot is at the 6th Street entrance.

2. Please DO NOT park in the drop off zone after school. Children are waiting in the small yard and sidewalk for their parent to drive up. When you park in that area it makes it both inconvenient and dangerous for others.
THANKS!
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REMINDER - Wed & Thurs, Mar 23 & 24 - Minimum Days - 1:30pm Dismissal -
Spring Conferences
Sign-up in SMASH office or call 310-396-2640
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WEDNESDAY BAKE SALE DATES
CORE 1: May 4
CORE 2: March 30, May 11
CORE 3: Apr 6, May 18
CORE 4: Apr 27, May 25
TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCH
CORE 2: Mar 18; CORE 3: Apr 1; CORE 4: May 13
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DATES TO REMEMBER
Mon, Mar 28 - 9-10:30am - SMASH Tour
Wed, Mar 30 - 6-7:30pm - SMASH Talent Show
Fri, Apr 1 - 6-7:30pm - SMASH Family Dance
Wed, Apr 6 - 6:00pm - PTSA Mtg
Fri, Apr 8 - All School Beach Day
April 11 - 24 - SPRING BREAK - SCHOOL CLOSED
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SMASH TALENT SHOW
Sign up with Dian Andrews at 310-392-0600
March 30, 6:00 to 7:30pm
All students welcome - no auditions
3 minute time limit.
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SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL CONCERT: MASTERWORKS
Tuesday, March 29 at 7:00pm
At Barnum Hall (Santa Monica High campus)
Tickets sold at the door - $5 Students, $10 Adults
Masterworks Chorus team with students from orchestra and band plus professional soloists on the Barnum Hall stage to present Handel’s Chandro Anthem “Let God Arise and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass at the annual Masterworks concert. Guess soloist: Harriet Fraser, LA Master Chorale, plus more to be announced. Conductor: Jeffe Huls, SAMOHI.
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SAVE THE DATE!
SMASH FAMILY DANCE NIGHT
FRIDAY, APRIL 1!
What theme will this dance be??
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SMASH Camping/Cabin Trip
Friday, May 6 at 2:00pm to Sunday, May 8 at 5:00pm.
It’s not too late to SIGN-UP to join usat Camp Josepho.
Stay Friday and/OR Saturday night in CABINS or tents.
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The Los Angeles Marathon is coming to Santa Monica
Street closures & special event parking in effect on March 20. Walk, bicycle or take public transit to see the Marathon. Free bike valets from 7am-5pm at Ocean & Broadway and at City Hall.
Arrive early - Be safe - Enjoy the race! Visit: www.smgov.net/lamarathon for information or to sign up for updates. Watch CITYTV 16 or listen to KRSM 1680AM for live updates on traffic conditions. Live broadcast of the race is on KTLA beginning at 7am.
The route makes its way from Dodger Stadium to the Finish Line Party at Ocean And California Avenues. Thousands are expected to line San Vicente Blvd and Ocean Ave to cheer on participants. Visit lamarathon.com
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FAMILY FESTIVAL - FREE
Saturday March 19 - 10 am - 6 pm
Museum Courtyard, Getty Center
Discover the richness and beauty of the ancient empires of India, Japan, and China as well as recent explosions in artistic creativity. Experience traditional Chinese Opera, listen to Chinese folktales told by a master storyteller, and be dazzled by the amazing music and dance of these vibrant cultures at this hands-on family festival. http://www.getty.edu/education/kids_families/programs/center_family_festival.html
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GIVE YOUR OPINION ON EDUCATON TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Melody Barnes, advisor to President Obama, is soliciting information from parents, students, and teachers regarding education decisions being made in the White House.
Let’s have SMASH parents and students write in to let her know "what's working" in education.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/advise
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FLIERS AVAILABLE IN SMASH OFFICE

City of Santa Monica SCHOOL SPORTS - SPRING SEASON
MIDDLE SCHOOL (Grades 6-8) March 22 - June 11
ELEMENTARY (Grades K-5) March 29– June 11.
Register at CREST Sports; 1133 7th Street, SM
(Mon-Fri 9am-6pm) or crest.smgov.net, fax 310-451-3569
For more information call 310-458-8540
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CHAMPION YOUTH OUTREACH
CHEERLEADING at Will Rogers Elementary, Tuesdays
March 29-June 21 (ages 5-8 & 9+)
HIP-HOP DANCE at McKinley Elementary, Mondays
March 28-June 20 (ages 6-7, 8-0 & 10+)
SELF-DEFENSE & SAFETY AWARENESS at
SMASH/Muir, Thursdays, March 28-June 16
(ages 5-6, 7-8, 9+, and yellow belts & above)
800-956-6956 or www.championyouth.org
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FULCRUM’S URBAN ADVENTURE SPRING CAMP Do. Risk. Grow.
April 11 through April 22
Camp will develop your child’s leadership and teambuilding skills - all in a fun and safe environment. Fulcrum has been providing transformational learning experiences for youth for over 20 years. Spring Camp provides kids the opportunity to take a closer look at their everyday environment through experiential educative activities. Leadership & Teambuilding: the program is specifically designed to prong participants step by step a through problem solving and conflict resolution model that will provide opportunities for practical use.
Nature: Day trips in an urban wilderness setting which allows participants to push their boundaries in an emotionally and physically save environment.
Technology/Art: Art exists all around us. Participate in a public art scavenger hunt to find different examples. Learn about photography and the basics of a good picture.
For more information please contact Fulcrum at 310-452-7992 or visit www.fulcrumadventures.com
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BUY LOCAL EXPO DAY 11am - 4pm
SATURDAY, MARCH 19 - ALL EVENTS FREE
Airport Artwalk - 12-5pm - Free Classes, Demos & Sales
Buy Local Expo - 11am-4pm - Kids Area, Sidewalk Sales, Free Classes
Main Street Sidewalk Sale - 10am-7PM - Live Music
Montana Avenue “Spring Fling” -10am-6pm - Music, Raffle & Trunk Show
Pico Sidewalk Sale - 10am - 6pm
Official Buy Local Day Declaration & Concert at 3pm
On the Expo Main Stage (Wilshire & 3rd) with the mayor and city manager
Musical Performance by Ashleigh Haney
Visit www.buylocalmarket.com to purchase Buy Local Day discounts &
download the Buy Local app to purchase from your favorite local business anywhere, anytime, right from your phone. 4% of all discounts sold go to SM-Malibu Education Foundation
“Get Caught with Your Receipt Showing” & Win a $1,000 Santa Monica shopping spree!
Make any purchase in Santa Monica on March 19 & bring your receipt to the
Buy Local Expo raffle table (3rd & SM Blvd) -one ticket per receipt
Visit: www.smchamber.com/buylocalexpo for up-todate Buy Local Day info
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MISS NELSON IS BACK
Saturdays & Sundays at 11:00am, March 26 - April 10
Adults $8 - Children 12 & under $6 Reservations: 310-828-7519
Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica www.morgan-wixon.org
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JAPANESE RELIEF FUND
Dear SMASH Community,
The Core 3 students were very affected by last week’s tragedy in Japan. Some of our students have family and friends living in Japan and others have spent time there. All of our students have empathy for those in need.
On Thursday, Kanoa's father, Dean, came to talk to the class about their family's personal connections to Japan and their relatives' experiences and reports about the current conditions there. In addition, our Core 3 students have been studying "The Power of Nature" in science. Our students’ cross-curricular understanding of this event, mixed with their deep care of humanity, has made them want to act. Core 3 will be writing letters and cards to send to children in Japan who have been affected by this tragedy. In addition, we are starting a collection in the SMASH office to raise money to send to an organization that is supporting relief efforts (likely the Red Cross). If your children would like to make cards, bring in money for our collection, or be involved in another way, we would appreciate the participation of the entire SMASH community. We will use our Core 3 project sharing on April 5 as our date to send the letters and money to
support our global friends in Japan.
Thank you in advance for any contributions you can make. We are so fortunate to be part of such a giving and caring environment.
Carrie, Erin and Genie (Core 3)
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Talking to Children about the Disaster in Japan

The earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan has evoked many emotions including sadness, grief and helplessness in many around the world.

As children may be struggling with their thoughts and feelings about the stories and images, they may turn to trusted adults for help and guidance.

Start the conversation. Talk about the event with your child. Not talking about it makes the event even more threatening in your child’s mind. Silence suggests that what has occurred is too horrible to even speak of or that you may not know about what has happened. Chances are your child has already heard about it.

What does your child already know? Start by asking what your child has already heard about the events from the media as well as from friends. Listen for what understanding he has reached. As your child explains, listen for misinformation, misconceptions and underlying fears or concerns.

Gently correct inaccurate information. If you hear inaccurate information or misunderstandings, provide the correct information at a level that your child can understand.

Encourage your child to ask questions, and answer those questions directly. Your child may have some difficult questions about the events in Japan. For example, she may ask if it is possible that an earthquake could occur that would impact the family; she is probably really asking whether it is “likely” – when appropriate, reassure her the risk of an earthquake in your community is quite low. She is also asking if she is safe. This may be a time to review plans your family
has of assuring safety in the event of any crisis situation. Whatever questions your child may have, answer. This lets her know that you are open to talking about anything and can be trusted to answer. Include in your answers any information you may have on efforts being made in Japan to help the people there. Like adults, children are better able to cope with
a crisis if they feel they understand it. Question-and-answer exchanges help ensure ongoing support as your child begins to understand the crisis and the response to it.

Limit media exposure. Limit your child’s media exposure to images and sounds related to the disaster. Remember children often overhear or see what you are watching on TV or listening to on the radio. For the very young, exposure should be rare. Remember to limit your own exposure. Adults may become more distressed with nonstop exposure to the event.

Helping those in need. Work with your child to figure out a way that she can help the people who were affected by the disaster, such as making a card that can be sent (often agencies such as churches or Red Cross will accept such cards). If they work, this may include making a small donation from their earnings or allowance. Children may also find benefit in helping others in need in their own community. When children help others, they increase their resilience (their ability to bounce back from stressful events).

Be a positive role model. Consider sharing your feelings about the events in Japan with your child. This is an opportunity for you to role model how to cope and how to plan for the future. Before you reach out, however, be sure you are able to express a positive or hopeful plan. Included in being a good role model is showing good self-care by getting enough rest, eating well, and exercising. Be patient. In times of stress, children may have more trouble with their behavior, concentration, and attention. They will need a little extra patience, care, and love.
If you have concerns about your child’s behavior, contact your family’s pediatrician, other primary care provider, or a qualified mental health care specialist
For more information on how to help your children cope with disasters, visit the following websites:
· National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at www.cincinnatichildrens.org/school-crisis (includes a helpful booklet on how to talk with children who are grieving)
· American Academy of Pediatrics website at www.aap.org/disasters/adjustment.cfm.
· American Psychological Association at www.apahelpcenter.org
FEMA at www.ready.gov
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Silent Auction Featured Item
Summer Sleep Away Camp at BAR 717 RANCH
Dear Smashing Families,
I want to tell you about the opportunity to send your child to an amazing camp this summer. Camp Trinity, on the Bar 717 Ranch, for children ages 8 -16, is one of the oldest ACA accredited co-ed summer camps in California; it is also run by the sister of our own Core 3 teacher, Erin Haendel.
Bar 717 Ranch is owned and operated by Erin’s sister, Gretchen and her husband Kent. Gretchen is a native of Santa Monica with a MA in Social Work from UCLA. When she is not working for camp in the summer, she works as a school social worker for Trinity County. She happened to marry into this family and, thus, is fortunate to now be a part of this amazing camp!

In an effort to support SMASH and its students, Bar 717 Ranch will be donating a two-week camp session to the SuperSMASH auction. This is a great opportunity to earn a good amount of money for our school and for a child to get awonderful camp experience. Because we realize that it might be difficult for a child (and family) to go that far alone, Camp Trinity has agreed to give four 20% discounts to SMASH families in advance of the auction. Further "camperships" are available on a financial-need basis.

The Camp is located in the mountains of beautiful Trinity County (hence the name) in Northern California. It is very SMASH-like in its' philosophy of non-competitive group experiences and learning by doing. Campers are not directed to activities by age group, but rather choose where and how they spend their time each day. Your child will have the opportunity to engage in horseback riding, arts and crafts, ropes-course, swimming, hiking, wood-shop, silk-screening,
camping, backpacking, archery, ceramics, gardening, music, and real old fashioned ranch activities such as blacksmithing,butter-making, taffy pulling, square-dancing and animal (cow, goat, chickens, rabbits) care.

In addition to the regular camp sessions, Bar 717 Ranch offers a one week family camp at the end of each summer (this year Aug 14th - 21st). This is a fun filled week for the whole family and is great for people with young children or camp-age children who want to try out the camp experience with their family first.
Additional information can be found on the camp website at: www.bar717.com. Erin also has many personal photos at camp that she has taken over the years that can be accessed here:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?
albumId=862319838506&ownerId=26382859406

The camp director (Erin’s brother-in-law) will be coming to Los Angeles on March 20 at 4:30 p.m. to do the camp’s annual Southern California Open House. The Open House will be at Erin’s House in Mar Vista. Please email Erin for directions if you are interested in attending: ehaendel@smmusd.org, or feel free to come visit Erin in her Core 3 classroom upstairs with any additional questions. She is there Wednesday-Friday.
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Jog-a-thon ‘11

ALL pledges

are due

now!

Please drop off your pledge envelope with check or cash in the
office.

Thanks!
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ptsa news
president’s message
Dear SMASHing Parents,
On Saturday, March 19th, the day before the L.A. Marathon’s big finish in Santa Monica, the Buy Local Expo will be held on the 3rd Street Promenade. The Santa Monica Malibu Council of PTA’s has asked all schools to activate our incredible network of human power and take the opportunity to do one of the things that we do best and volunteer to help with the Buy Local Expo this Saturday. We will be helping the business community while helping our schools
and it’s a way for us to say thank you as Measures Y and Y are about to go into effect. Let’s have a great showing of education community volunteers to help out. It’s also fun, easy and a great way to be out and about as the influx of LA Marathon runners and their family and friends are here in our community. To volunteer sign up at : http://www2.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=buylocalsantamonica Dan McGee

ptsa annual family investment drive
· Public school is free – a great education is not. The SMASH Annual Family Investment Drive is the single mostimportant fundraiser of the year. We are aiming for 100% participation. Give what you can and give as soon as possible.$5 pays for a student’s bus ticket to a museum during a field trip. $50 pays for a two year subscription to ascience magazine in one of our cores. $500 pays for Arts Program supplies, $5000 pays for expenses connected tothe copier. Every donation counts. Really. Questions? Contact Marni Ayers Brady (marniayers@gmail.com) or Helga Schier (helgaschier@verizon.net)
SMASH bash
If you haven’t participated in a SMASHbash this school year, there are still events that you can attend. REMEMBER: 100% of all SMASH BASH funds collected goes directly to SMASH. Please contact Marni Ayers Brady (marniayers@gmail.com) at your earliest convenience and find out what remaining events are still available.
SMASH ptsa nominating committee
We need someone to handle PTSA Membership for the 2011-2012 school year. The V.P. of Membership is responsible for maintaining the PTSA membership list. The bulk of the position’s job duties are front-loaded at the beginning of the school year, and duties are minimal after November. Anyone interested in the position should contact our outgoing V.P. of Membership, Catherine Lerer (clerer@mcgeelerer.com), and she can give you more info.
· In addition, next year we are planning to create a new position on the SMASH PTSA Board to handle money for the Core 3 & 4 trips. The PTSA is planning to have a separate account for money collected from the 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th grade parents to pay for their kids’ learning adventures including Astro Camp, Catalina Island and Yosemite National Park. If you are interested, please Dan McGee (dmcgee@mcgeelerer.com).
SMASHing meetings
· Our next PTSA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. Please try to attend this meeting. Because it is towards the end of the year, when many final decisions need to be made, it is one of our most important meetings of the school year.
GREEN Tip For The Week
SM Blue Bin Update: Ziploc bags, frozen food bags, and tortilla bags are accepted in the SM blue bins

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A Focus on Education… for Educators
and Members of the Community
“A Race to Nowhere”
The Dark Side of America’s Achievement Culture
Thursday March 24th at 6:30 p.m., HSS 165
“Featuring the heartbreaking stories of young people across the country who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried that students aren’t developing the skills they need, and parents who are trying to do what’s best for their kids, Race to Nowhere points to the silent epidemic in our schools: the problem of cheating has become commonplace, students have become disengaged, stress-related illness, depression and burnout are rampant, and young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.”www.racetonowhere.com
Screening of the documentary film followed by a panel discussion

“The Commercialization of Children”
How your child may be learning to be a lifelong consumer
Thursday March 31st at 7:00 p.m., HSS 165
A dialogue sponsored by A Collaboration of Community Early Childhood Educators and SMC’s
Early Childhood Education department, facilitated by Pauline McPeake of The Growing Place.

“Making Education Relevant”
Connecting what we teach to what students care about
Thursday April 7th at 6:30 p.m., HSS 165
What does learning about Plato have to do with the environment? How can I have an impact on others in my sociology class? Will I ever need to use all of this chemistry?!
Join us to discuss the ways in which faculty in the Santa Monica education community infuse
their classes, regardless of discipline, with ideas and activities that contextualize learning including the environment, service learning, global citizenship, and other topics in order to make
learning relevant and motivating for our students. Featuring Muriel Walker-Waugh, Dan Cano, Amber Katherine and others.
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SMASHing Student Council Presents…
The 6th annual
Family Dance
“Speakeasy”
(secret password coming soon…shh…)
A 1920’s and 1930’s Dance
Friday, April 1 6:00 – 8:00 pm


LIVE MUSIC FEATURING:
Doozy
(Check them out on Youtube!)

Be ready to learn the Charleston and have fun…
it’ll be the bee’s knees !

Community snack foods and drinks served

Admission $5/per person

Bring extra money for raffle prizes and “vintage” photos!

Proceeds benefit Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief *
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CORE 1 NEWS

HAVE YOU TURNED IN YOUR SPRING CONFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE?
Spring Conferences are NEXT WEEK.
This is an invaluable time for teachers and parents to sit down and talk. Please make sure you have signed up with your child’s WORKSHOP teacher for a 20 minute time-slot. Sign-ups are available in the Main Office. You are welcome to call Janice if you are unable to stop by to sign up.

Jackie will be on the yard until 3:00pm to watch children. Malaika will be on the yard beginning at 3:00pm.

Please turn in your SPRING CONFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE asap so that the teachers can prepare and make the best of our time together.

In addition to conferences, it is important to attend other sharing events, when your child can talk about his/ her learning. There will be a number of opportunities coming soon, including Writing Celebrations, Art Shares, Open House, etc. when your child will be sharing his/her work and you will have opportunities to celebrate and ask questions about it.

Core 1 DRAMA
The children have been busy planning and practicing their plays with Kristy every Wednesday in their Workshop Groups. Next Wednesday each group will be performing their play for the final time and it will be video taped by parent volunteers.
On Wednesday, March 23, your child should come to school ready to perform. Enclosed in the Friday letter is a list of Characters that your child may choose from. Please help your child commit to a character, then find some clothes and/or create some simple costume pieces (like a tail for a dog) to wear on Wednesday. In the meantime, we will be painting sets and preparing our props at school for the big day.

ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30 AT 8:45am, CORE 1 WILL TRANSFORM INTO A MOVIE THEATER, SHOWING THE MOVIES FROM ALL 3 WORKSHOP GROUPS. FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE WELCOME!!

Information to purchase these movies on DVD will be available soon.

March Birthday Bash
Friday, March 25. If your child was born in March, please sign up in the Magic Garden (Candis’ room) to bring a healthy snack to share on that day. Our Birthday Bash ceremony will begin at 11:45am.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Candis, Chrysta, Graciela, Jackie, Karin
cberens@smmusd.org
cwyse@smmusd.org
gbarba-castro@smmusd.org

REMINDER - Wed & Thurs, Mar 23 & 24 - Minimum Days - 1:30pm Dismissal - Spring Conferences
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CORE 2 NEWS

Advisory News: This week flew by - four jam-packed days of movie watching, potato parading, poster making, historical fiction reading, and fun art projecting! ***Family HW: Compare and contrast a book and a movie that you have read/seen together.

Theme: Laura and Tamara Social Studies and Science: All the students reflected on the Rocks and Mineral unit. Next week we will begin exploring Waves, Wind, Water and Ice. This week we discussed the earthquake and tsunami in Japan with Erin, our Core 3 humanities teacher. The students will be adding immigrants to their groups of people who moved. We will be using the stories they wrote about family members and the stories they’ve read in Theme and RW to write our own historical fiction short stories

Literacy: RW: By now, everyone should have chosen and should be reading a historical Just Right picture or chapter book. Next week we will be getting into book clubs to read about the same events/eras. ***RW HW: Core 2 students—read 30 – 45 minutes each night.
WW: Our focus was on reading and art this week. ***WW HW: Core 2 Students—if you haven’t written a story about a family member who made a big move, you need to do that homework because it is overdue and we will be using it next week. Don’t forget to answer Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? If you already did this homework, you may do free writing!

Math: Laura’s 3rd graders used square and triangle cutouts to make different shapes that have an area of 4 square units. At the Spring Family Conferences your child will share the work in this unit and Laura’s assessment. ***3G HW due F 3/25.
Tamara’s 4th graders worked on algebra, factors, and multiple towers. Ask them the difference between a factor and a multiple. ***4G HW due F 3/25.

Arts with Julianna : We used clay—and the kids loved it. We hope you will join us for the Core 2 Arts Sharing on Wednesday, March 23 from 9:15 – 10:15 to see all the different tools and techniques we learned to use during this arts session with Julianna.

***Beyond the Photo with Alie’s Kelly: • Please have your child bring in a 4x6 color photo of themselves (preferably outdoors) with an exciting background. It is ok to have people and/or animals in the photo with the student. This photo will become PART of a finished art project. (examples of good photos at the beach, outside with the family pet, in Grandma's garden, a favorite picture with flowers in the background, family picture in front of a building or family home, hiking trip in the mountains, snow trip, at the pumpkin patch, visiting the zoo) {Please bring photos in as soon as possible to assure 100% participation.} A special Thank you to Allie’s grandmother for donating all the wonderful supplies for this project.

Dates to Remember: PLEASE sign up in the front office for a Spring Family Conference with your child’s advisor!!!
Wednesday 3/23 – Core 2 Arts Sharing, 9:15 -10:15 am (come early to check out the work C3 did with Julianna)
W 2/23, Th 3/24, and F 3/25 – 1:30 dismissal for Spring Family Conferences, please sign up in the Main Office.
Friday, April 8 - All School Beach Day
Monday, April 11 – Friday, April 22 – Spring Break
Wish List – bean bags, pillows, stuff for reading nooks in Partyland, and someone who could make new pillow covers for our outside furniture.

You got the pledges, you ran the laps, now go collect the money you made for SMASH!

Laura: lsherman@smmusd.org
Tamara: tmugalian@smmusd.org
Jayme: j.wold@smmusd.org

REMINDER - Wed & Thurs, Mar 23 & 24 - Minimum Days - 1:30pm Dismissal - Spring Conferences
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CORE 3 NEWS

Please look in your child's backpack for the Core 3 Spring Family Conference Survey! It's a good place to start thinking about what you would like to focus on during the conferences. You can fill out the sheet and bring it to the conference or use the questions as things to mull over before the conference. Your child and teacher will have lots to talk about so we want to make sure your thoughts and concerns are heard.

Sign up for spring family conferences in the office! You may sign up with one teacher who will talk about your child in all their subjects and social development. If there isn't a good time for your family, please email Carrie, Erin and Genie so we can find a time that works for you.

And in case you missed this letter to the whole SMASH community from Core 3…

Dear SMASH Community,
The Core 3 students were very affected by last week’s tragedy in Japan. Some of our students have family and friends living in Japan and others have spent time there. All of our students have empathy for those in need. On Thursday, Kanoa's father, Dean, came to talk to the class about their family's personal connections to Japan and their relatives' experiences
and reports about the current conditions there. In addition, our Core 3 students have been studying "The Power of Nature" in science. Our students’ cross-curricular understanding of this event, mixed with their deep care of humanity, has made them want to act. Core 3 will be writing letters and cards to send to children in Japan who have been affected by this
tragedy. In addition, we are starting a collection in the SMASH office to raise money to send to an organization that is supporting relief efforts (likely the Red Cross). If your children would like to make cards, bring in money for our collection, or be involved in another way, we would appreciate the participation of the entire SMASH community. We will use our Core 3
project sharing on April 5 as our date to send the letters and money to support our global friends in Japan.
Thank you in advance for any contributions you can make. We are so fortunate to be part of such a giving and caringenvironment. - Carrie, Erin and Genie (Core 3)

5th Grade Math w/ Genie: Who knew the clock could be such a useful tool to add fractions with? With the friendly number of 12, students use quarters (3 numbers on the clock), thirds (4 numbers), as well as sixths and twelfths to help them visualize adding fractions. Ask your child how they can use the clock to help them solve the following equation: ¾ + 5/12 =. They are finding the common denominator, 12, knowing they are taking 9/12 on the clock and adding 5/12.

6th Grade Math w/ Carrie: Our fractions work continued with adding fractions this week. We have been using visuals to help see how fractions play an important role in real life (for example, dividing up land). We want students to be able to visualize how fractions compare to each other so they can see the relationships between them. This is not always an easy task but they are really grasping it. I have been quite impressed with their ability to see fractions and move between fractions, decimals, and percents.

Reading & Writing Workshop w/ Genie: We finished our whole class novel, Seedfolks. We discussed the themes and author's purpose of the book. We will be writing a literary essay quick write in class next week on Seedfolks. We continue to have our weekly nonfiction article discussion. Something we noticed is it takes a lot to process all the pieces of information in
nonfiction. Please take time to read a variety of nonfiction (brochures, charts/graphs, labels, etc) with your child and guide them through understanding the information. Science and Writing Workshop are combining forces this unit! Our writers are responsible for an idea based literary essay and science report using the same outline and formal language. They should use all they learned from our brochure unit for their essay and report.
Art: Working quickly in our last art session, your child cut paper in symmetrical layers to make Mola art designs based on the ideas of the Kuna people of Panama. Some finished and some just experienced the process which dealt with positive and negative space and folding and cutting paper. We are excited to share all of our visual art with the SMASH community.

Please join us for our art share on Wednesday, March 23 Assembly style at 8:45-9:20. Please join us!
Homework:
6g Math - Assignment 5 is due 3/21 (odds are required, evens are extra credit).
5g Math - Packet #22 is DUE FRI 3/25
Science - Several things are due next week: Mon. - "Top Ten List" & a 1-paragraph description of an example of your topic in history as well as locating it on the world map. Tues. - rough draft of research essay is due. They should use their outline (boxes and bullets) to help write the essay.
Reading - Nonfiction Article "A Deadly Force" - read and marked up by Thurs 3/24
Writing - work on their literary essay drafts & science report drafts using their outline (boxes & bullets) which have been written in complete sentences & with sentence revision on their outlines to help their first drafts be solid.

Genie: ghwang@smmusd.org
Carrie: cferguson@smmusd.org
Erin: ehaendel@smmusd.org

REMINDER - Wed & Thurs, Mar 23 & 24 - Minimum Days - 1:30pm Dismissal - Spring Conferences
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For Current 4th , 5th, 6th, & 7th Grade Students

Planning for SMASH’s Upper School Learning Adventures
Trip Costs, Due Dates, Preliminary Information
2011-2012
The good news is that we continue to offer these amazing learning adventures and have extended the program through 5th grade with a just completed trip to AstroCamp led by Darwin and Jayme. The more surprising news is that we must pay our vendor fees and make travel arrangements for these trips almost a year ahead of time. To help you plan carefully and to insure access for every student, we are asking parents to join us in honoring due dates. Historically, we have taken every student who wished to join us despite challenging financial times or individual family finances. Help us maintain this enviable record by communicating your plans, meeting deadlines, and joining us for the mandatory pre-trip planning meetings.

Adventures on Offer and Cost
5th Grade AstoCamp Trip cost is $320. Typically offered in February for 3 days, so we may play in the snow.

6th Grade scientists will be snorkeling through Catalina kelp forests for $320. Currently scheduled for early October for 3 days to take advantage of the warm water temperatures.

7th grade adventures will head to Yosemite Institute at a cost of $600. Our longest expedition is scheduled for just after next year’s winter break for one week.

8th grade seniors leap from poles at Hess Kramer for $350. This is not the graduation trip that has been discussed. This November 3-day event is designed to help our Senior class cohere as a team.

Payment Options
We know that these valuable trips may impact family finances despite being terrific values, so we offer three simple pathways to meeting expenses. Due to long lead times for numbers, staffing commitments, and deposit requirements, refunds are not available. Please be sure of your commitment to the learning adventure. They are worth every dime!

Option #1: Full payment on April 1, 2011. This is easily the best approach as it allows us to secure discounts, aids in grant applications, and to offer partial scholarships for students.

Option #2: Pay 50% of the cost on April 1 and create a detailed payment plan specifying when and how SMASH will be reimbursed for the money we spend on your behalf.

Option #3: e-mail Jessica or Kurt as soon as possible to discuss any special circumstances.

Checks should be made out to SMASH PTSA, reference the grade and trip in the memo line, and include the student’s name along the top. Checks are due 4/1/2011
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