Dear SMASHing Families,
Our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade tour guides have explained that they find special about SMASH to almost 250 visiting families so far this year. We have 3 more school tours left. In addition to beloved school traditions (such as Jog-a-thon, SuperSMASH, Beach Day, Art Sharings…), I have overheard our student tour guides speak about the following thing they love about their school that boost my spirit because they so clearly match the staff values, a great indicator that we
are to some degree “walking our talk.”
Great relationships with all kinds of adults
Cross Core interactions
Freedom with responsibility
Thinking about interesting things in interesting ways
Showing their thinking in different ways
Seeing all of our 4th, 5th, and 6th graders take turns as tour guides is a little glimpse of the great reflectiveness, confidence, leadership, and pride in their school our kids embody, and it is a treat for me to be a part of it. I am writing this before the Jog-a-thon, yet I can safely predict that the same qualities I see at our school tours will appear once again at Jog-a-thon: school spirit, positivity, multiage interactions, and wonderful community (adult and student) participation!
Thanks to all of your multiple levels of support and involvement.
Jessica
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SMASH Site Council Agenda
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
5:00 PM Core 2
Adopt Agenda
Approve minutes of last meeting
Community participation
Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)
Principal’s Report:
Student Reports
Community Organization Reports (to include but not limited to the following):
PTSA
Student Council
Other
Old Business
New Business: Discuss technology plan for 2011-12
Community participation (is applicable)
Adjourn
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WEDNESDAY BAKE SALE DATES
CORE 1: Mar 16, May 4
CORE 2: March 30, May 11
CORE 3: Apr 6, May 18
CORE 4: Mar 9, Apr 27, May 25
TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCH (Set up at 1:30pm) CORE 2: Mar 18; CORE 3: Apr 1; CORE 4: May 13
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DATES TO REMEMBER
Mon, Mar 7 - 9:00-10:15am - SMASH Tour
Mon, Mar 7 - 5pm - Site Council Mtg
Fri, Mar 11 - Cores 3 & 4 Dance
Sun, Mar 13 - Daylight Savings - One hour ahead
Mon, Mar 14 - District Furlough Day - SCHOOL CLOSED
Fri, Mar 18 - 10:30-11:30am - String Quartet for 4th, 5th, 6th
Fri, Mar 18 - SMASH Movie Night
Wed, Mar 23 - Conferences - Minimum Day 1:30 Dismissal
Thurs, Mar 24 - Conferences - Minimum Day 1:30 Dismissal
Fri, Mar 25 - Conferences
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
Fri, Apr 8 - All School Beach Day
April 11 - 24 - SPRING BREAK - SCHOOL CLOSED
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Sign up with Dian Andrews 310-392-0600 for the
SMASH TALENT SHOW
On March 30, 6:00 to 7:30pm
All students welcome - no auditions - 3 minute time limit.
Arrive early if using backing tracks
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BUYING LOCAL MADE EASY
The Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation has teamed up with the Buy Local Santa Monica campaign to launch a website that makes it easier for people to support public schools while at the same time saving money and helping local businesses thrive. BuyLocalMarket.com is an online shopping platform like Groupon.com that features local businesses who donate a portion of their proceeds to the ed foundation, a nonprofit that funds art programs, athletics and academics.
Seventy five businesses are featured on the site, each offering various discounts. For example, Rosti Tuscan Kitchen is offering their pizza at a 14 percent discount and will be donating an additional $2 to the Santa Monica Ed Foundation for every order they receive. Agabhumi on Main Street is offering $50 worth of merchandise for $30. La- Foto Studio is offering $575 Beauty Photo Session for $125.
BUY LOCAL EXPO, SATURDAY, MARCH 19 - FREE
Three blocks of the Third Street Promenade will begin at 3:00pm and will feature booths from local businesses, with Raffle Prize Drawings of $1,000 shopping sprees. Show your Santa Monica receipts from the day at either the Expo info booth or the Buy Local table at the ArtWalk and receive raffle tickets. Other events of the day include Santa Monica Airport Artwalk; Main Street Sidewalk Sale, All Day; Montana Ave BINGO 9am-6pm.
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LOS ANGELES MARATHON
Sunday, March 20 - Start Time 7:25am
Begins at Dodger Stadium and ends at The Santa Monica Pier
Come and cheer and enjoy the Finish Line Festival in Santa Monica.
For info go to: santamonica.com
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SAVE THE DATE!
SMASH FAMILY DANCE NIGHT - FRIDAY, APRIL 1!
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SMASH CALENDAR
MARCH - APRIL 2011
Monday Mar 7
9-10:15am - SMASH School Tour
Tuesday, Mar 8
Core 4 (1/2) SM Aquarium field trip
Wednesday, Mar 9
11:30am - Planned Parenthood, 6th grade
5:00pm - Site Council Mtg
6:00pm - Cores 1 & 2 Wall Works
Friday, Mar 11
8:45-9:15am - AstroCamp Assembly
6-8pm - Core 3 & 4 Upper-School Dance
Sunday, Mar 13
Set your clocks ahead 1 hour - Daylight Savings Time begins
Monday, Mar 14 - District Furlough Day - SCHOOL CLOSED
Tuesday, Mar 15 - Core1 (1/2) to Aquarium field trip
Wednesday, Mar 16
Core 4 to Aquarium field trip
Thursday, Mar 17 - St. Patrick’s Day
Core 2 potato parade
Friday, Mar 18 8:30-9:30am - Planned Parenthood, 6th grade
10:30-11:30am - String Quartet for 4th, 5th, 6th
6:30-9pm - Movie Fun Night
Wednesday, Mar 23
Conferences - Min Day 1:30pm Dismissal
8:45-9:15am - Core 3 Assembly Arts Share
9:15-10:15 - Core 2 Visual Art Share
Thursday, Mar 24
Conferences - Min Day 1:30 Dismissal
Friday, Mar 25 Conferences - 1:30pm dismissal
8:30-9:30am - Planned Parenthood, 6th grade
Monday, Mar 28
9-10:30am - SMASH School Tour
Tuesday, Mar 29
All Day Musician’s Disney Trip
Wednesday, Mar 30
8:45-9:15am - Core 1 Drama Share
Wednesday, Mar 30
6-7:30pm - SMASH Talent Show
Thursday, Mar 31
4pm - Deadline for K applications
Friday, Apr 1
8:30-9:30am - Planned Parenthood, 6th grade
6:00 – 7:30pm - SMASH Family Dance
Monday, Apr 4
Morning - Jules Stein eye check, 1st grade
Wednesday, Apr 6
1:00 - Core 4 Drama Share
6pm - PTSA Meeting Thursday, Apr 7
8:30-9:30am - Planned Parenthood, 6th grade
Thurs & Fri Apr 7 & 8 - Stairway to the Stars
Friday- Apr 8
All Day - All School Beach Day
Monday -Friday, Apr 11 - Apr 22 SPRING BREAK - SCHOOL CLOSED
Wednesday, Apr 27
5-6pm - Site Council Mtg
6-7pm - SAMOHI Counselor talks to SMASH parents
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FLIERS AVAILABLE IN SMASH OFFICE
5th Annual Unity Resource Festival - FREE Admission & Parking
Sunday, March 6 - 1:00-5:30pm
Virginia Park at 2200 Virginia Ave
Live Music, Dance, Community Resources, Food, Crafts & Games
For information: 310-458-8688 or www.vaparksmgov.net
Big Blue Bus lines 7 & 11. Shuttle will be available from Santa Monica College
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City of Santa Monica Community Aquatics
Lifeguard (ages 15 & over)
Fee: $100 Course length: approximately 40 hours
Contact #310-458-8700
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CREST ENRICHMENT CLASSES
New Classes begin April 4
Class schedule will be on crest.smgov.net next week.
New schedule to go with next week’s Friday Letter.
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MOVIES ON THE DECK - FREE
Every Wednesday at 7pm on the
Dining Deck at Santa Monica Place
Classic Favorites Under the Stars.
Movies are shown in their original unedited format. Go to: santamonicaplace.com
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Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County - Spring Season
Clover Park, Mondays & Wednesdays 4:00-5:15pm
Season February 23-May 18
Program fee: $160 Program includes: lessons by certified coaches; GOTR water bottle & t-shirt; registration for 5k event on May 15 Girls on the Run is an after school fitness & empowerment program for girls in the 3rd-8th grades. The session combines training for a 5k run/walk. The program is for every girl, regardless of fitness level, size or shape.
For information go to http://www.gotrlosangles.org/
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PURIM CARNIVAL & STREET FAIR - FREE Admission
Sunday, March 13, 11:00am - 3:00pm
Purim costume contest & parade
The Santa Monica Synagogue; 1448 18th St
310-453-4276; http://www.thesms.org/
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Westside Regional Summer Opportunities Fair
Saturday, March 12, 10am-3pm (Front lawn of Beverly Hills High School -241 Moreno Dr, BH)
Camps include: USC Summer programs, New York Film & Acting Camp, Travel for Teens, Marlborough Summer School, Tumbleweed Day Camp and many more. Free parking. At the intersection of Moreno & Durant, follow signs to enter school behind the science & Tech bldg, proceed along the signs to the parking structure.
For information: Contact Dupe Aleru or Peter Kazajiian at 310-278-1322 x 106 or summerfair@bhcourier.com
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Learn to Surf LA
Private Lessons & Surf Camp for Teens (13-17) and Kids (7-12)
www.LearnToSurfLA.com or 310-663-2479
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Youth National Volleyball Association (YNVA) Presents:
2011 Spring VolleyGirlz/SpikeGuys Outdoor Volleyball Program
A Six-Week Professionally-Coached Program
Register now for a free skills training clinic on March 20, 1-3pm
Dates: Sundays, 1-3pm, March 20-May 1 - at Franklin Elementary School (2400 Montana Ave)
For registration and information go to http://www.theynva.org/
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SuperSMASH Auction Item
Erin's (Core 3 teacher) sister and her family run an amazing sleep-away camp for children in Northern California and have generously offered to donate a 2 week camp session to the auction. This is a wonderful opportunity to send your child to a fantastic camp, while at the same time raising money for the SMASH PTSA.
We know sending your child away to camp is a big decision - and one that would be hard to make on the spur of the moment and at such a late date at the auction. That is why we wanted to give you the heads up now. If you would consider bidding on a 2 week camp session for your child (or it can used as two, 1-week sessions for 2 children), Erin is hosting the LA area, Bar 717 Ranch Open House at her home in Mar Vista on the afternoon of Sunday, March 20. This would be a great chance to learn more about the camp and meet with the camp director while enjoying pizza and treats.
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ptsa news
president’s message
Dear SMASHing Parents,
Congratulations for an outstanding SMASH Jog-a-thon. The T-shirts were great. Thank you Darlene & Lillie for your hard work in putting on this outstanding event. Also, thank you to all who pitched-in to help make this event a success.
Next, get ready for SuperSMASH (scheduled for Saturday, June 11, 2011), which is our summer festival and a great celebration of our community and our biggest fundraiser of the school year. There will be food, activities, rides and games, and of course, our ever popular Silent and Live Auctions. SMASH depends on SuperSMASH proceeds to help us meet a major portion of our annual budget. And it needs the entire SMASH community to participate.
We need people to help prepare the event, create and coordinate booths, run them, advertise and market the event ... and we also need someone to co-chair the event and eventually take over when our current chair, Helga, moves on to high school. For SuperSMASH questions, contact Helga at 310-828-8421 or helgaschier@verizon.net
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 a science magazine in one of our cores. $500 pays for Arts Program supplies, $5000 pays for expenses connected to the 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, don’t miss out. Please join us for a wine tasting SMASH BASH coming up on Sunday, March 6th from 3pm to 5pm at Jamee and Michael Tenzer's home. We still have some spots left!
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
Recycling Plastics Bags In SM Blue Bins: According to the City of SM, you can put all clean "film plastics" into the blue bin. This includes: newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags, bread bags, produce bags, tp/napkin/paper towel wraps, furniture wrap, electronic wrap, and grocery bags. Recycle away!
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SMASH Site Council Agenda
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 5:30 PM Core 2
7-9pm Race to Nowhere screening in the Cafeteria
In attendance: Michael Tenzer, Elizabeth Kramer, Candis Berens, Jackie Boyd, and Jessica Rishe, and Nina Furukawa, Julian Sears, Rider Germann, Linus Reimer . Absent: Laura Sherman, Chrysta Wyse, Malaika Boyer
Michael moved. Jackie seconded. Agenda adopted.
Elizabeth moved. Jackie seconded. Minutes approved of last meeting.
Community participation: None
Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)
Principal’s Report: SMMUSD Strategic Plan Draft Review. Graduate Outcomes: relate well to SMASH mission statement. Core Goal Promoting Excellence in Students: District agreement about needed, maintained technology is woven into everything. Kirk suggested moving to “no paper.” There seems to be a need for typing skills earlier in life. Candis suggested that we take at look at the evolution of our school concerning the use of computers. Jessica thinks we need a class set in Cores 3 & 4. Core 4 students believe that “whole child” emphasis is just as important if not more so than computers. All in agreement that we should use our physical resources to raise funds….renting spaces, etc… Talk of developing partnerships with corporations and even other schools to use technological equipment. Developing neighborhood partnerships encourages good community relationships. The main difference from the old strategic plan is that it seems to take an approach more the whole child and actually includes preparation for “career and life” and not just college. Jackie thinks that students who are preparing for non-college careers need to be honored as well as college prep.
Student Reports: Core 1 Greek Mythology original skit, 4th grade leadership launched Terracycling contest
Community Organization Reports (to include but not limited to the following):
PTSA: Considering schoolwide green ideas, alumni college scholarship
Student Council: Original Spirit Day was “Past Day” and it was well supported across the Cores, 3/2 will be Dr. Seuss PJ day and Rotary Readers will be here to donate new books to the library
Old Business: None
New Business: None
Community participation: None
Adjourn: Jackie motioned to adjourn, Michael T. seconded.
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SMASH Arts Coordinator Marni Gittelman will be leading one of the many activities: Zodiac Art
A signature event for CAM and now a beloved community tradition, CAM’s annual Lantern Festival celebration offers Chinese New Year fanfare with free entertainment and interactive cultural activities. Each year, Lantern Festival spotlights a Chinese American re-creation of a traditional village street fair featuring brilliant lantern displays, exciting musical, acrobatic an lion dance performances, enriching arts and crafts booths, and to cap off the evening, a spirited lantern parade where children and their families are welcome to march with dancers and musicians in a route encircling the entire park. Event-goers can try their hand at lantern-making,
Chinese-opera style face painting, kite-building, Chinese paper-cutting, Origami, Chinese calligraphy, string-knotting, and much more! New program features are added to the event each year to keep the festival fresh and exciting for new and returning visitors. CAM’s 10th Annual Lantern Festival celebration will take place on Saturday, March 5, 2011, 12-7 PM. Free admission!
FOOD TRUCKS
Crepe 'n Around
Komodo
The Munchie Machine
LOCATION The Chinese American Museum is located in the red-bricked historic Garnier Building, located at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument across from downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station. Just follow the hanging lanterns, south of Olvera Street, to find the museum site.
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CORE 1 NEWS
Core 1 Beach Days and Field Trips On March 8 and 15, all Core 1 students will be heading to the beach. Half of the Core will visit the Aquarium while the other half build and study water on the sand. All children should come prepared to walk to the beach and play in the sand. Be sure to apply sunscreen and dress warmly. Make sure your child has extra clothes and shoes in case they get wet. We invite you to look around your house for beach toys and digging tools to
bring. We will need many volunteers --some to go to the aquarium and others to help on the sand. Please sign up in the Magic Garden if you are able to accompany us on those days.
Wall Works The Santa Monica Museum of Art offers the opportunity for area classrooms to participate in the making of a large-scale public artwork designed by a renowned artist. In a fantastic partnership, teachers, and students are invited to collaborate with the museum and the artist to make a singular project to be on view at the museum’s Wall Works Gallery at Bergamot Station from March 9 to May 29. Join us for the public opening reception and unveiling of the final project that will take place on Wednesday, March 9 at 6pm at the Santa Monica Museum of Art.
Spring Conferences Conferences are around the corner beginning on the week of March 21. Sign-ups will be available next week in the office. We are hoping to secure childcare so that we can have parent-teacher conferences and only invite children to participate if needed. Next week we will send home a conference planning sheet for parents to complete and return before the conference.
Writing in Core 1 We would like to extend our appreciation to the families who participated in our Parent Talk on fostering a writerly life. It was an evening of looking at writing development in the Core 1 years, sharing experiences, and exchanging thoughts. Here are some highlights from our conversations:
Children write:
about what they already know, notes when they need to stay quiet, about their feelings, lists of tasks that need to be accomplished, to figure their roles in life, as part of their play (movie tickets, taking orders at dinner), using their toys as characters
Children use a variety of writing tools including:
a blank sketchbook (free of lines), a binder with primary paper (with space for words and drawings), a clipboard, a designated area in the home, envelopes, diaries, postcards, different types of papers to offer different sensations, a staple-less stapler, folding/origami paper
Pictures play several roles in writing including: to tell a story, to show action, to provide a safe place for communicating an idea, to interact with the writing
Spelling is one dimension of writing:
that develops over time, of which independence is most important, is given instructional time outside of Writer’s Workshop, depends on visual memory, that can be supported through phonemic games like segmenting a word’s sounds or blending sounds to Writing develops over time. Celebrate the steps and milestones in your young writer’s development. We hope to see you at the next Parent Talk.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Candis, Chrysta, Graciela, Jackie, Karin
Candis: cberens@smmusd.org
Chrysta: cwyse@smmusd.org
Graciela:gbarba-castro@smmusd.org
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CORE 2 NEWS
Advisory News: Never a dull moment in Core 2! This week we celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday with our cross-core Community Groups on Pajama Day, the Rotary Readers came and shared books with us, We created our Wall Works project to be included in an installation of student artworks from across the district (including our Core 1 friends), and we wrapped it all up with the Jog-a-thon! ***Family HW: For our Wall works project, we read The Ox-cart Man
and discussed our needs vs. our wants vs. things that bring us joy vs. things that seem excessive. Have a discussion about the things in your life that you need to survive and the things that you want (sometimes these things feel like needs). What brings you joy? And what things has your family decided are excessive—things you can live without.
Theme: Laura Science: this week we finished researching Minerals and Rocks. Next, will begin researching Waves, Wind, Water, and Ice. Ask you child about the most interesting thing they learned in this unit.
Tamara Social Studies: the students continued using resources (textbooks, non-fiction informational books, historical fiction stories) to research who, where, when, how, and why different groups of Americans moved within the United States. They learned how to gather information about one topic from different types of resources. Next
week they will choose a way to show the rest of the group what they learned.
Literacy: RW: The students listened to Dr. Seuss stories with their Community Group leaders, biographical fiction stories with the Rotary Readers, Ox-cart Man with Tamara and Laura, and each other during DEAR. They have also been looking at tons of wonderful picture books—studying the illustrations—in preparation for a very special project.
Our next genre study will be Historical Fiction. ***RW HW: Core 2 students—read 30 – 45 minutes each night. Bring in your favorite picture books with awesome illustrations asap.
WW: The fourth graders took the state writing test on Tuesday. Many of the students are enjoying working on their creative stories from last week’s WW HW and have asked for additional time. Encourage your child to participate in this homework; emphasize that they
get to write whatever they want—a comic, a novel, an essay, a diary, a letter, a short story... Next up, letter writing and personal essays.
***WW HW: Core 2 students—Interview a family member about the who, where, when, how, and why associated with a big move in their lives. We’ll use this information as part of our Theme unit.
Math: Laura’s 3rd graders worked on finishing the section about perimeter and are will begin the next section -- understanding and finding area. This week we reviewed how to “unpack” a problem. What do we know? What are we trying to find out? What operation are we going to use to solve the problem? Does our answer make sense? Is there more than one way to answer the question? In the homework, the 3 G have page 31 and 47 where they need to carefully “unpack” the problems. ***3G HW due F 3/11.
Tamara’s 4th graders made up division situations (story problems) for this week’s MATH HW. ***4G HW due F 3/11.
Arts with Julianna : We studied the features of landscape paintings (foreground, middle ground, background, perspective) and created beautiful watercolor paintings using gouache and special paper.
Wall Works: We are pleased to be part of the SMMoA Wall Works Project, as the competition in our district for these projects is quite high. Look for your hand-crafted invitation with this week’s letter and ask your child about the artist-collaborator and the project.
Dates to Remember:
Mon 3/7 – Field Trip Walk to Barnum Hall at Samohi for a 10:00 concert. We will return for lunch.
Wed 3/9 – Wall Works exhibit at Bergamot Station, see attached invitation for more info
Mon 3/14 – Furlough Day - NO school
Wedn 3/23 – Core 2 Arts Sharing, 9:15 -10:15 am (come early to check out the work C3 did with Julianna)
Wed 2/23, Thursday 3/24, and Friday 3/25 – 1:30 dismissal for Spring Family Conferences
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
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CORE 3 NEWS
5th Grade Math w/ Genie: Wow, fractions and percents are an abstract concept to grasp! Try to find the fractions and percents in your child's life so they can get more experience with them. They are playing games and working on problems as well as learning to memorize their fraction and percent equivalents. Quiz them in the car! ½=50%, ¼=25%, 1/3=33%, 2/3=66%, ¾=75%, 1=100%, 1/10=10%, 1/5=20%, 3/10=30%, 2/5=40%, 3/5=60%. 7/10=70%, 4/5=80%, 9/10=90%
6th Grade Math w/ Carrie: We finished our "Bits and Pieces I" unit this week with an End of Unit Assessment and self-reflections. All students have a packet of work, their tests, and a form that needs to be signed by a parent and returned on Monday. They have the option to complete test corrections to potentially earn half credit back for any problems they missed on the assessment (this is also due on Mon.). Corrections need to be done on a piece of lined paper, they must show all of their work (even if they use a calculator to help them they need to write what they asked the calculator to do), and write a brief explanation of how they now understand how to do the problem. They may work with their peers, their parents, or other resources on the corrections. The goal is for them to gain a better understanding of the material so they can use that knowledge as we move to our next unit, "Bits and Pieces II"! In other words, we are continuing our work with fractions so, the more they know and learn now, the more they will grasp in the new unit.
6th Grade Math w/ Erin: On Wed. we used our math period to complete the AMAZING United States maps that the 6th graders worked on last week while the 5th graders were at AstroCamp. These maps are truly impressive and we hope that you are able to stop by and see them sometime. On Thurs. we continued with our geometry unit, thinking more about symmetry and how we can group different shapes.
Science: Our "Power of Nature" projects are coming along but time is quickly slipping away. The students continue to research the different topics and are now busy coming up with ways to show what they have learned. Our science classes are active times with students singing, creating interpretive dances, making crossword puzzles, designing experiments, and drawing maps to teach others about their natural disaster. Many students have grand ideas about different displays. Please encourage their creativity but don't let them convince you to spend a lot of money on an extravagant display. The displays do not need to be elaborate but they should reflect deep thinking about how to teach their audience at the sharing about some of the important aspects of their topic. Also, many students are working on designing experiments. They are required to complete a Lab Write Up and have an adult approve it (the adult can be a parent) prior to doing any experiment. They need to think about their testable question and their hypothesis BEFORE they start to experiment. We talked a lot about SAFETY in class this week and I reminded them that, if they do any experiments at home, they need to get their parent's approval first. I emphasized this because we have some groups with great questions they want to investigate about fire but none of us wants to have to call the fire department if something goes awry. Students may do their experiments during science class or at lunch on Mon or Tues with Carrie. Next week we will be moving full speed ahead with the research report writing.
Social Studies and Geography: This week we spent more time on our study of Native Americans while thinking about history and how it is all who is doing the telling. Together we reviewed the myth of the first Thanksgiving and talked about how this story is most often told from the European point of view. Students then viewed a section of the PBS documentary, "We're Still Here," which details the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag peoples – attempting to do so more from the indigenous point of view. On Thurs students were asked to look at and respond to the following statement from Kwame Kkrumah in their journals, "The history of a nation is, unfortunately, too easily written as the history of its dominant class." After viewing the rest of the documentary, students thought about reasons why Native American history has been told the way it has. Students completed a brief writing exercise thinking about the different tellings of the Thanksgiving story. Next week we will continue to think about history and point of view, using the students own school experiences and thinking about how different students can experience the same school andteachers in different ways. In Geography, many students have heard back from the tourist bureaus of the states they wrote letters to. Students have received pamphlets, maps, magazines, and postcards, unfortunately, no moose or airplane tickets. This week students continued working on their blow-up grid state maps. They are coming along quite well. Many students have moved on to the painting process while others continue to re-draw their borders square by square.
Reading & Writing Workshop w/ Genie: We discussed our nonfiction Article "War". Your child should be used to the routine of reading a nonfiction article a week and marking it up with a pencil or highlighter ready to ask questions and share thoughts. Our Museum Brochures and Personal Narratives are due Mon 3/7 and our publishing party will be Wed 3/9, Orange 1:10-2:00 and Blue 2:00-2:50. Please join us as we celebrate our hard work writing narrative and nonnarrative writing!
UPPER-SCHOOL DANCE MARCH 11, 6-8PM
Look for the Guidelines Letter going home with each Core 3 and Core 4 student today. This letter spells out rules for the dance. This letter must be returned to school with signed by both the student and parent/guardian.
Homework:
6g Math - Due 3/7/11 1. Bits and Pieces Packet needs to be signed by a parent. 2. (Optional) Assessment corrections
(on lined paper, showing all work, and explaining how they now know how to solve the problem).
5g Math - Packet #20 is DUE FRI 3/11
Science - Due 3/7 - Students must decide which of the "Choice" projects they are going to do for the sharing on 4/5.
Reading – Nonfiction Article "The Cinderella Stories"—read and marked up by Thurs 3/10
Writing –work on Museum Brochure (follow rubric) and Personal Narrative DUE MON 3/7
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM NURSE SANDY
ATTENTION PARENTS & GUARDIANS OF ALL 6TH, 7TH & 8TH GRADE STUDENTS Beginning September 2011, all 7th through 12 grade students will be required to provide documentation that they have been given a whooping cough booster shot “T-Dap.” Whooping cough, also known as pertussis has become widespread in California. Please check the district website at smmusd.org for more about this vaccination. You will receive further information directly from our district before the end of this school year.
Genie: ghwang@smmusd.org
Carrie: cferguson@smmusd.org
Erin: ehaendel@smmusd.org
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CORE 4 NEWS
Dear Parent Partners,
Conferences are coming soon and Darwin and I are looking forward to these student led events. You may recall that our last conference was guided by asking the question: “what’s most important now?” By contrast, this round will be a shared examination of a single pragmatic question: “what is the most important next step from the standpoint of academic learning and enjoyment? For example: one student may need extensive work with reading while another
finds such tasks easy. It could easily be the case that we simply need to find more interesting reading assignments. Please think carefully about your goals for your child and the demand you wish to place upon their young shoulders. Dates and details follow.
Conference dates include March 21, through Friday the 25th. In keeping with our “integrated approach” to advising, schedule the conference with whomever you did not talk to last conference. In other words, if your last conference was with Kurt schedule a conference with Darwin and vice a versa. Our intention here is to provide both perspectives to each family while remaining wedded to the SMASHing ideal of relationship based teaching. In addition, this will be
Darwin’s only chance to have a conference with many of you and he wishes to know the parents of the marvelous people he works with every day. Please check with Janice in the office for specific scheduling of times. We shall make a variety of times available to suit your needs including mornings, lunches and at least one late evening. As always, email if you need something we have not provided for. Thanks again for this fine group of young people.
8th Grade Notes: It is the busiest time of year for our young adults and they need you now! Stay close, despite their pushback. Monitor all real-time or digital social developments, and provide continuous support for effective academic routines. The habits they are now forming will most often define their high school experience, so it matters very much what is happening right now. Your young adult may resist constantly, but nothing means more to them then you, your thoughtful words, and your sense of healthy boundaries. Young adolescents remind me of a dear friend’s boy, who was running about on a playground as his mother and I watched; he would charge out to the boundary she set, pause with one toe clearly over the line, and look back over his shoulder to be sure mom was watching. Assured that she was, he would drop back to a safe place and enjoy his time without further drama. In a time of truly tumultuous change for young adolescents, parents represent what sailors call an anchor to windward; your frequent attention, probing questions, and consistent boundary setting are the safety net they need as they venture forward to explore the world’s many joys.
UPPER-SCHOOL DANCE MARCH 11, 6-8PM
Look for the Guidelines Letter going home with each Core 3 and Core 4 student today. This letter spells out rules for the dance. This letter must be returned to school with signed by both the student and parent/guardian.
8th Graders will begin working on 8th grade yearbook pages and need a thumb drive with photos at school.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM NURSE SANDY
Beginning September 2011, all 7th through 12 grade students will be required to provide documentation that they have been given a whooping cough booster shot “T-Dap.” Whooping cough, also known as pertussis has become widespread in California. Please check the district website at smmusd.org for more about this vaccination. You will receive further information directly from our district before the end of this school year.
Kurt: kholland@smmusd.org
Darwin: dmendinueto@smmusd.org
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SMASH March 11, 2011 Upper Core Dance Guidelines
I will promote a fun, safe dance event based on “CARES” (Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Control). I have read the following guidelines designed to promote a joyful, healthy event for all participants and with signatures, have indicated my complete acceptance and that of my parent/guardian.
· I understand that all Core 3 and Core 4 SMASH students as well as SMASH alumni are invited to the dance. In addition, I know Core 4 students may invite one other guest approved by my parent/guardian.
· I will inform my guest of the guidelines listed below.
· I will attend and participate by dancing, socializing, and eating in the Cafetorium. I understand the lunch bench restrooms will be available as well as the lunch bench tables if I want outdoor air, but I will not be anywhere else on campus.
· I will not engage in inappropriate behaviors.
· I will remain at the Cafetorium until an adult picks me up. I will not go home in the dark without an adult.
I have discussed the importance of following the Guidelines with my child and his/her guest.
Student Name: Student Signature:
Guest Name (if bringing one):
Parent/Guardian Name: Parent/Guardian Signature:
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*Hey, Core 3 & 4 ~ It’s Party Time!*
The 8th grade class of 2011 is hosting an Upper-School Dance
Friday, March 11, 6 – 8 pm
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*Food !* *Drinks !* *Friends!*
*Music !* *Photo Booth !*
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$5 with this flyer! ($7 at the door) photo booth pictures $3 each or 2 pics for $5
Former SMASH students are welcome - invite old friends!!!
8th graders may each bring 1 special pre-approved guest
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***Raffle 8GB iPod Touch (3G)***
Raffle Tickets for Core 3 and Core 4 only!
Tickets $3 each or 2 tix for $5--must be present to win!
***All Proceeds support scholarships for the 8th Grade Graduation
