Thanks to Genie, I am reading a book called “Comprehension and Collaboration: Inquiry Circles in Action” by Stephanie Harvey and Harvey Daniels. There are many enlightening sections for teachers but one that feels immediately useful to share with parents is the one about Evaluating Information (p. 102).
Finding information is not meaningful if students cannot evaluate the usefulness of the information. They need to determine how appropriate a web site is to their study and “how divergent information among sites can be reconciled.” Here are three questions to consider:
1) Is the source accurate and authoritative? Do you recognize the source? Do sites you know and trust refer to this site?
2) Is it up to date? Is the site dated, if so is it current?
3) Can I identify bias in this source? Is the subject controversial? Is the site’s purpose informational, editorial, satirical? Does the site’s purpose match your purpose? If there are different sides of the topic,does the author cover them all?
You can always Google “fake web sites” and practice evaluating internet resources together using these obvious examples of inaccuracies and bias. Whether students are working on a research project or simply trying to make sense of a mixture of rumors and truth in their social context, we want kids who are able to determine what is accurate, fair, and reliable.
This is the last Friday Letter so wishing you a wonderful Spring Break and I look forward to hearing about your two weeks of family time when we return Monday, April 25.
The week after we return we will have STATE TESTING for 2nd-8th graders May 2nd-11. Any parent who does not want their child to take these tests needs to notify us in writing BEFORE TESTING BEGINS ON MAY 2. Opt out letters must include your child’s name, grade and birth date, and specify that you do not want your child to participate in the May 2011 California Star testing.
Jessica
A FANTASTIC TALENT SHOW! Special Thanks to our Master of Ceremonies, Dian Andrews and our SMASH parents, Lori Nafshun for manning and David Chertock for setting up and maintaining the sound system. BRAVO to our talented students!
SMASH FAMILY DANCE—TONIGHT $5 Entrance, extra money for raffle tickets and vintage photos! 1920s and 1930s theme!
DON’T FORGET!! SMASH ALL SCHOOL BEACH DAY - FRI, APRIL 8 - Beach Guidelines in this week’s Friday Letter
MON, APRIL 11 - FRI, APRIL 22 - SPRING BREAK - SCHOOL CLOSED! ***************
SMASH Beach Day Guidelines for Friday, April 8
Students may not stay at the beach with anyone other than a parent/guardian without a written note! We will not take a phone call on the beach as permission. This will be strictly enforced! Each student needs to come to school wearing sunscreen and a swimsuit under their clothing, with a backpack filled with food, water, a towel, sunscreen and a sweatshirt and/or a change of clothes. Please make sure your child's backpack and towel is labeled with their name! Wear good shoes for walking! You may bring sand toys.
• Core 3 and Core 4 may bring Boogie Boards—NO SURFBOARDS. • Core 4 students MAY go get food at Perrys - go in pairs or groups and eat there - they may not bring the food back to the beach!
• We will be leaving SMASH for Life Guard Station #26 (at the end of Ocean Park Blvd.) beginning at 8:45 a.m. Stay together on the walk down to the beach.Cores will “camp” on the sand—sit together, please, and take care of your stuff!
• No going in the water until the lifeguard tells us about water conditions and the boundaries. In the water, stay between the cones and only go in as far as the lifeguard allows (knees, waist, and chest). Stay with friends!
• Go to the bathroom in pairs or groups tell an adult before you go and tell that same adult when you return.
• Play safely and respectfully respond to all/any adults.
• We will leave the beach at 1:00 to return to school by 1:30.
• Follow these guidelines or get escorted back to school.
PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN IN THE FUN!
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April 1, 2011
Dear SMASH Family,
Only one more week until spring break – the perfect time to start thinking about SuperSMASH 2011! This year’s event will be on June 11, only ten more weeks away! If you’ve been at SuperSMASH before, you know it’s the place to play, eat and bid. And if you haven’t, get ready for a fun-filled day with carnival rides, entertainment, delicious food and an amazing silent auction.
The success of SuperSMASH in general and the Silent Auction in particular is as important as ever as we are still struggling with the effects of the budget crisis. This means we really need your help to make SuperSMASH and the Silent Auction the success we need!
Check the other side of this letter for some ideas to help you find donations for our silent auction. We are looking for donations from you, the talented SMASH community, as well as from local merchants to bring in as many donations as possible. We’ve included three Auction Donor Forms (with a letter to potential donors on the reverse). Take these forms to your favorite stores, restaurants, salons, or any business and ask for an item, gift certificate or service that can be auctioned off to benefit our school.
All donations are tax-deductible. Our tax ID is 95-4439445. The donor needs to fill out the form, and return it along with the donated item or certificate to Janice in the office. If you run out of forms, as we hope you will, see Janice for more copies.
Use this year’s spring break to go out and get as many donations as you can. Aim for at least three donations per family. Drop them off in the office right after spring break, by April 25, 2011. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ofer Grossman at 310-367-7504 or omglaw@live.com or Helga Schier at 310-828-8421 or helgaschier@verizon.net with any comments or questions. Thanks for participating in this fantastic community event!
Sincerely,
Ofer Grossman, SuperSMASH Silent Auction Chair
Helga Schier, SuperSMASH chair
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SuperSMASH 2011 Silent Auction Donation Ideas
Where do you go? STORES • BOOKS • CLOTHING • TOYS • SHOES • HOUSEWARES • LIQUOR • WINES • MUSIC VIDEO • ART SUPPLIES • ELECTRONICS • STATIONERY • KIDS CLASSES • CAMPS • BIRTHDAY PARTY • HOTELS • RESTAURANTS • BEAUTY • REPAIR SHOP • SALONS • GYMS • SPAS • COUNTRY CLUBS • SUPERMARKETS • DRY CLEANER
Who do you know? CHEFS • CATERERS • PARTY ENTERTAINERS • PHOTOGRAPHERS • ARTISTS •BOAT/ PLANE OWNERS • VACATION HOME/ TIMESHARE OWNERS •CASTING AGENTS • WALK ONS/CAMEOS • STUDIO TOURS •SPORTS/ TV/ MOVIE MEMORABILIA • BUILDERS • LANDSCAPERS • GARDENERS •MASSAGE THERAPISTS • DERMATOLOGISTS • BEAUTICIANS •NUTRITIONISTS • HEALERS • ACUPUNCTURISTS • YOGA TEACHERS •CLEANING SERVICES • WINDOW WASHERS • DOG WALKERS •COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS •PERSONAL ORGANIZERS •SWIM/TENNIS/GOLF PRO'S • PERSONAL TRAINERS • TICKETS TO: MUSEUMS/THEME PARKS/ CONCERTS/ MOVIES/ THEATERS •TICKETS TO: SPORTS/MOVIE PREMIERES/AWARD SHOWS
What do you do? COMPUTER LESSONS • VIDEOS/ DVDS/ CDS/ SOFTWARE •PHOTOGRAPHY • VIDEOGRAPHY • COMPUTER GRAPHICS • WEB DESIGN •HOLIDAY CARDs • STATIONERY • HOLIDAY DECORATING BABYSITTING • COOKING • BAKING • DOG WALKING • MEDICINE • HOMEOPATHY • NUTRITION •LEGAL SERVICES • ACCOUNTING • ESTATE PLANNING •ORGANIZATION • FILING • EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS •JEWELER • FLORAL DESIGN • INTERIOR DESIGN • ARCHITECTURE •GENERAL CONTRACTING • HANDYPERSON • PAINTING •PARTY PLANNER • ENTERTAINMENT (musician, puppet shows, magic) •SPORTS • COACHING • SAILING • GOLF • TENNIS • DANCING • AEROBICS
Please drop off your donations at the SMASH office right after spring break,
by Monday, April 25, 2011
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SuperSMASH
6/11/11 The time and place to EAT,
PLAY and BID. Help make it work:
VOLUNTEER!
What can I do?
Get donations for the silent auction. (See materials in this week’s Friday Letter) Help prepare the catalogue and bid-sheets.
Help coordinate and run the many games, activities and booths.
Help with Core Art Projects.
Help publicize the event.
Any help is appreciated!
We need you. Really.
Contact Helga at 310-828-8421 or helgaschier@verizon.net
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A Message from Superintendent Tim Cuneo
No Health Threat in LA County: Addressing Families’ Concerns about Radiation from Japan
1. What is radiation and how do you get exposed to it?
Radiation is a form of energy that’s around us at all times. We’re exposed to small amounts of radiation every day, from naturally occurring sources (like elements in soil) and man‐made sources (like medical x‐rays). Radiation can also come from radiological accidents, like the one happening in Japan.
2. Will radiation from Japan affect L.A. County?
The radiation from Japan poses no health threat to children in LA County. Radiation from Japan is weakened because of the thousands of miles between Japan and California. There is no indication that radiation will reach harmful levels in LA County’s air, food, or water. The Department of Public Health, together with other local, state and federal agencies, will continue to monitor and analyze levels of radiation in Los Angeles County.
3. Should people take Potassium Iodide (KI)?
No. There are no signs that radioactive material, including radioactive iodine, will reach harmful levels in LA or neighboring counties. There is no need for or benefit to taking KI. Taking KI unnecessarily can cause harmful side effects or allergic reactions. Only public health officials and your doctor an safely determine whether you should take KI.
4. What can schools do right now?
Recommendations for staff:
• Maintain children’s usual routines for eating, sleeping and exercising.
• Give children space and opportunity to express their feelings
• Be familiar with the organization’s disaster and communication plans.
• Build or refresh emergency kits for their home, work, and car. Recommendations for parents: • Provide current emergency contact information.
• Involve children in putting together emergency kits and developing a family communication plan. For information , visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eprp/media/index.htm
• Teach children how to use the family communication plan and the items included in the emergency kits.
• Talk things out with family and friends for comfort and reassurance.
• Offer support to reputable charities that are assisting Japan.
• Identify and build relationships with neighbors, community organizations (like churches, synagogues, and temples) in their area.
Important Facts
1. There are no harmful radiation levels in LA County
2. LA County’s food, water, and air are safe.
3. You should NOT buy or take potassium iodide (KI) or other products to reduce risk from radiation exposure. It is not necessary and may be harmful.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: CA Dept.of Public Health: (916) 341-3947; Available 8am-5pm in Spanish & English Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: (800) 232-4636, available 24/7 Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov Los Angeles County Department of Public Health www.publichealth.lacounty.gov
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Remember the SMASH Jog-a-thon?
Please also remember to turn in your pledges
Drop off your pledge envelope with check or cash in the office.
You and/or family/friends/neighbors can also pay online at http://ptsasmash.blogspot.com/
When reviewing your payment there will be a hyperlink that says “add special instructions to seller” and you can type in the child's name and the word “Jogathon.”
Thanks!
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WEDNESDAY BAKE SALE DATES
CORE 1: May 4
CORE 2: May 11
CORE 3: Apr 6, May 18
CORE 4: Apr 27, May 25
TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCH
CORE 4: May 13
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DATES TO REMEMBER
Fri, Apr 1 - 6-7:30pm - SMASH Family Dance
Wed, Apr 6 - 6:00pm - PTSA Mtg
Fri, Apr 8 - All School Beach Day - Please read Beach Guidelines
April 11 - 24 - SPRING BREAK - SCHOOL CLOSED
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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 us at Camp Josepho Stay Friday and/OR Saturday night in CABINS or tents
Sign up in the SMASH office. Cabins are limited. ***************
MISS NELSON IS BACK
Saturdays & Sundays at 11:00am, April 2 - April 10
Adults $8 - Children 12 & under $6
Reservations: 310-828-7519
Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd, SM
www.morgan-wixon.org
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CREST Spring Enrichment Classes Starting Soon!
Spring has arrived and with it new spring Enrichment class offerings at your child’s school. Don’t miss out, sign-up this week before classes start! Spring classes begin the week of April 4, 2011. CREST Enrichment offers high quality classes at affordable prices right at your child’s school! Professional companies and instructors are selected to provide your child with access to a wide range of interesting and fun classes not offered during the school day including drumming, art, theatre, foreign languages, martial arts, cooking, photography, dance and more! GENEROUS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE for all CREST programs is available on a sliding scale to qualifying low- to moderate-income families.
For more information please visit www.CREST.smgov.net CREST ENRICHMENT CLASSES PAMPHLETS WENT HOME WITH LAST WEEK’S FRIDAY LETTER. ***************
FAIR HOUSING POSTER EVENT - 2011 THEME “FAIR HOUSING HELPS FAMILIES” SMASH’s 3rd and 4th grade students, along with over 385 students throughout the district, participated in this City of Santa Monica poster event. Our SMASH students, Isabel Flanders and Nick Martin-Bourne are 2 of 9 finalists in this competition. The general public is welcome to view the posters at the Santa Monica Library’s Martin Luther King Auditorium on April 7 from 9-10am and cast their votes for a People’s Choice Award for one of these posters. At 10am there will be a showing of a PBS file about the grim nature of housing discrimination and segregation. This film is not appropriate for children – but children are welcome before 10am. ***************
Fliers available in SMASH Office
• Splash Week at YMCA: FREE ten-day Spring Program that teaches children basic swimming and water safety skills. April 11-22. Student’s class times/levels for Splash Week will be recommended during the April 11 swim evaluation.
• ART for Kids - drawing, painting, sculpture FUN for ages 5-13. Mondays 3:30-5:30 $200 for 6 weeks: May 9-June 13 Ceramic Sculpture & Functional Art: ages 6 & up. $300 for 8 Saturdays 1-3pm Spring Art Camp: Apr 11-22, Mon-Fri 9am-3pm. Spring Special $375/wk or $700/2-wks Summer Art Camp: June 27-Aug 19,Mon-Fri 9am-3pm; $400/wk or $1,500/4-wks FUN for kids, ages 5-15 with 3 art classes daily. www.sculpturestudio.org/laaaprograms.html; email: laarts@gmail.com or call 310-829ARTS
• YMCA Youth Basketball League: Spring Session 2011, March 29-June 7 K-1st grade, 2-4th grade, 5th-6th grade. All teams are co-end and by grade level. Santa Monica Family YMCA; 1332 6th St, SM 310-393-2721 x 137 or www.ymcasm.org
• smARTspace Educational Arts Camp for ages 5-10. Camp hours 9am-2pm Spring Arts Camp in Culver City. Registration info: 310-253-6650. April 4-8 and April 18-22 Summer Arts Camps in Culver City: July 11 through August 26. www.smartspacela.com
• Broadway Gymnastic School Spring Classes: April 5 - June 14. www.broadwaygym.com
• Rosie’s Girls - Summer Camp 2011 Session #1: July 5-22; Session #2: Aug 1-29 - Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm - Stewart Park Register online at: recenroll.smgov.net. www.rosiesgirls.smgov.net
• Peach Tree Pottery Gallery announces a Call for Young Artists Looking for young artists up to age 17 to submit artwork for exhibit and sale at PEACH FEST 3, Sunday, June 12 from 10am to 4pm. We are looking for a wide variety of media, but work submitted is limited to wall art: photography, painting, collage, mixed media, illustration; work must be ready-t-hang, either framed or on canvas. Maximum artwork dimensions are 29”x23”. The purpose of this art show and sale is to feature the work of young artists looking to showcase and sell their work in a professional gallery and to be part of a larger event. PEACH FEST 3 is a day-long art and live music celebration. It will also feature the pottery and ceramic work of Peach Tree Pottery students. Percentage of sales will benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and those affected by the earthquake in Japan. Contact Linda@peachtreepottery.com or 310-567-2708 ***************
ptsa news
president’s message Dear
SMASHing Parents,
I hope you got a chance to see the awesome talent on display last Wednesday at the SMASH Talent Show. Congratulations to all who participated.
As we move into the remaining months of the school year, efforts continue in preparation 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. 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 most important 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 this school year, there are still events that you can attend. REMEMBER: 100% of all SMASH BASH funds collected goes directly to SMASH. The following events still have space available: * Cinco De Mayo Margarita Party -- April 30th (SAT) 7pm (Adults Only) * High Tea on a Roof Garden -- May 22 (SUN) 1pm (Kids and Adults) * Poker Party -- NEW DATE -- June 4 (SAT) (Adults Only) * Tacos, Mojitos & Legos -- June 12 (SUN) 2pm (Kids and Adults) * Tapas and Drinks -- NEW DATE - June 18 (Adults Only) Please contact Marni Ayers Brady (marniayers@gmail.com) and sign-up for one of these remaining events.
SMASH ptsa nominating committee
• We are happy to report that Core 1 Mom, Snow, has decided to take over PTSA Membership starting next year. Thanks Snow for getting more involved in the SMASH PTSA.
• We are still looking for another parent or a two-parent team to fill a new position on the SMASH PTSA Board to help keep track of 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 AstroCamp, 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
• Less Meat, Greener Planet: Choosing what to eat not only has nutritional consequences but ecological ones as well. In the US, waste from cattle, chickens and hogs has polluted 35,000 miles of rivers in 22 states and contaminated groundwater in 17 states. (Environmental Protection Agency) Also, compare how much water is required to produce the following kinds of food: Beef-12,000 gal./pound, Chicken-500 gal./pound,Potatoes-65 gal./pound, Rice-250-650 gallons/pound. It might make you think twice the next time you are deciding between a beef, chicken, or veggie burrito!
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CORE 1 NEWS
Spring Has Sprung in Core 1
This is the last Friday Letter before Spring Break (April 11-24) The week after we return we will have STATE TESTING for 2nd-8th graders May 2-11. Any parent who does not want their child to take these tests needs to notify us in writing BEFORE TESTING BEGINS ON MAY 2. Opt out letters must include your child’s name, grade and birth date, and specify that you do not want your child to participate in the May 2011 California Star testing. Please remember to sign this note.
Bravo! Bravo! Encore! Encore!
Thank you again to our fabulous drama teacher, Kristy Pace for the amazing work she did with our children. We, again, send a big thank you to the film production crew-- John (Sofia Marie’s dad), David (Lilly’s dad) and Adam (Josh’s dad)-- for filming our drama plays. We, again, thank John for taking on the enormous editing project. This experience has been documented in a way that will be enjoyed for years to come. If you missed it, or can’t wait to see it again, don’t worry! The DVDs and “production notes” (that were posted outside The Sparkling Sea (Chrysta’s Room) are on sale NOW! Check your Friday Folders for details!
“Where is my Memory Game and/or Photo CD I purchased at the last ART SHARE?” Our apologies for not getting these out sooner. Terrel Turner (Marlee’s dad) was so awesome to get the memory game printed for us long ago! We are sending in the photo CDs to get duplicated with the movie DVDs, so we will pass them out at the same time. Thank you for your patience!
BEACH DAY!
Our All School Beach Day is on Friday, April 8. Please read the Beach Day Guidelines. Partner families and “new” families, the Bigs and Mentors are pros at Beach Day, if you have any questions.
Circle Group Changes
Sometime (but not immediately after) spring break, we will do our last circle group change. You and your child already know who this teacher is, because it is the one circle group teacher you child has not had yet! It has always been our intention that by the end of the school year, all children would have each of the teachers as a circle group leader, and each teacher would have the opportunity to have each Core 1 child in their circle group. We are looking forward to meeting and getting together our last circle group of the year during the first or second week after our return from spring break. Of course, your child’s workshop teacher will remain the same.
Spring Break Memories As optional spring break “homework” please help your child pick out “a memory” to bring in about something they did over the break. This could be a memory of something that happened near (in Santa Monica) or Far. It could be a photograph, a funny story or a memento from a trip or special day. (If your family travels to any different beaches, please also bring in a small sand sample for our naturalist study!) We will be sharing these memories the in the days before we switch circle groups, as a closing activity with our current groups—The Sparking Dolphins, The Mighty Rain, and the Flying Piggies!
Wish List If now, or over the break you are doing gardening, and notice that you have extra rakes or outdoor brooms you don’t need, please donate them to Core 1! We could use extra indoor brooms as well (new or gently used) if you have any available. Thanks!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Candis, Chrysta, Graciela, Jackie, and Karin
cberens@smmusd.org
cwyse@smmusd.org
gbarba-castro@smmusd.org
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CORE 2 NEWS
This is the last Friday Letter before Spring Break (April 11-24)
The week after we return we will have STATE TESTING for 2nd-8th graders May 2nd-11. Any parent who does not want their child to take these tests needs to notify us in writing BEFORE TESTING BEGINS ON MAY 2. Opt out letters must include your child’s name, grade and birth date, and specify that you do not want your child to participate in the May 2011 California Star testing. Please remember to sign this note.
Friday, April 8 is an all-school SMASH Beach Day!
Please read the following information very carefully: Core 2 will leave school for Life Guard Station #26 (at the end of Ocean Park Blvd.) around 9:00 a.m. We will stay at the beach all day--sunning, swimming, and snacking--and return to school by 1:30 dismissal. We need all the help we can get, so if you can walk with us and/or spend some time with us during this wonderful community experience, please let Tamara or Laura know. Each child needs to come to school with a backpack filled with some food, a drink, a towel, sunscreen, and a hat, plus a sweatshirt and dry clothes for the walk back to school. Please make sure your child's backpack, towel, and stuff is labeled with their name and that can comfortably carry all of their own belongings—there are no sherpas for this trip! We would like your child to put on sunscreen at home and to wear their bathing suit under their clothes. We’ll change after our day at the beach (walking in a wet suit = a rash). We encourage sand toys and other beach items that will help your child have lots of fun, but please NO boogie boards. We are excited to continue this wonderful SMASH tradition, and we look forward to seeing everyone ready to go Friday morning, April 8! If your child cannot go to the beach, please let us know so we can arrange an alternative activity on campus.
Advisory News: Spring is in the air! The students danced the Charleston, celebrated Tamara’s good test results, and congratulated Isabel and Nick on their contest-winning artwork! See more details about their art display at City Hall and your chance to vote for one of their posters at a special exhibit and film screening at the Main Branch Library in this week’s Friday Papers. ***Family HW: The Fair Housing Poster Contest gave us a wonderful opportunity to study the work of Harlem born African American artist Romare Bearden to inspire collage-art pictures of Santa Monica. Talk about what fair housing means to your family—how are people, schools, and neighborhoods affected by poverty and de-facto segregation?
Theme: Laura’s Science students made a chart and brainstormed/researched the way Waves, Wind, Water and Ice shape and reshape the earth. During this unit the children will be writing an Informational Essay about the big idea topic, including a specific fact, plus an example.
Tamara’s Social Studies students have been listening to read alouds—this week we read Molly’s Pilgram and My Name is Maria Isabel. We discussed how sometimes immigrants struggle to feel comfortable—and welcome—in their new home in America.
Literacy: RW: This week we excitedly started our Historical Fiction Book Clubs!!! Every student has chosen a book to read with a partner or a small group of friends at school and at home. We look forward to discussing our books with our friends next week. ***RW HW: Core 2 students—don’t forget to do the reading homework that you and your friends agreed upon.
WW: This week, we did a writing exercise to help us warm up for our Historical Fiction Stories. The students wrote a letter from one character to another including 3 facts from their nonfiction book about the era, event, or person of their choice. We continue to explore how Historical Fiction writers do research so their story sounds authentic and includes accurate information about the people, events or era. ***WW HW: Core 2 Students—Write a Historical Fiction diary entry—it could be from the same character/about the same event as your letter or you could pick a different character, event, or era.
Math: Laura’s 3rd graders learned about multiples and product during their investigation of multiplication ***3G HW due F 4/8.
Tamara’s 4th graders used a variety of math manipulatives, 4 x 6 rectangle grid paper, and each other to explore fractions. Ask your child what fraction of our class was wearing jeans on Wednesday. We say ____ out of ____ or ____out of every ____ is the same as ____. ***4G HW due F 4/8.
Beyond the Photo with Alie’s Kelly: each child has a completed piece of artwork that began with a family photo. These special projects will be a gift to you for Mother’s/Father’s Day, so look for them in May. We know you will treasure them!
Dates to Remember: Friday, April 8 – Beach Day – NO Friday letter!
Monday, April 11 – Friday, April 22 – Spring Break (keep reading, writing, and doing math for fun and practice! We hope you enjoy some quality family time over the break.)
Wish List – bean bags, pillows for reading nooks and someone to make new pillow covers for our outside furniture.
The Family Dance is sure to be a swell time for all—thanks for supporting Student Council Laura:
lsherman@smmusd.org
tmugalian@smmusd.org
j.wold@smmusd.org
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CORE 3 NEWS
If you would like to own the Core 3 Art with Juliana 2011: Patterns and Designs DVD for a $10 donation, please email Genie to place your order.
If you would like the Astro Camp pictures, please bring in a thumb drive with a 1.1 GB capacity to Darwin.
Skirball Center Field Trip,
Americans and Their Family Stories, Wednesday, April 27th 8:45-2:30 (the week we're back from spring break). Please contact Genie if you can chaperone! We need as many as possible!
SMASH Beach Day Guidelines for Friday, April 8:
Students may not stay at the beach with anyone other than their parent/guardian without a written note! This will be strictly enforced! We will not take a phone call on the beach as permission.
Bring a snack, sack lunch and water, apply sunscreen and wear your swimsuit on under your clothes. Bring a towel and a change of clothes.
Core 3 students may bring Boogie Boards, no surfboards.
We will be leaving SMASH for Life Guard Station #26 (at the end of Ocean Park Blvd.) beginning at 8:45 a.m. We will leave the beach at 1:00 to return to school by 1:30 unless your child has written permission or a parent/guardian is picking up your child at the beach at 1:00.
5th gr Math w/ Genie: We looked at easy ways to find the common denominator and found the clock and the number 12 very helpful and finally, we took the final unit assessment. This week's homework includes the different fraction games that can be played at home and is a good way to practice fractions, factors, multiples, basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. I hope you will continue to play the games over spring break and for the rest of the year.
6th gr Math w/ Carrie: We continued our work with adding and subtracting fractions. Everyone is getting better at knowing what to look for (first, check to see if there is a common denominator). On Tuesday we took a quiz to see how well we understand what we have learned so far. This will help determine how to best move forward. Most students did pretty well and are ready to move to more complex fraction work.
6th gr Math w/ Erin: More angles this week. Students used an angle ruler to determine what happens when a line intersects to parallel lines. Which angles will be the same? Which will add up to 180 degrees? Students recorded their findings and thought about what might happen if a line went a different direction through two parallel lines. Would the same rules apply?
Next week we will be watching (along with the 5th graders) the award winning PBS documentary, "Between The Folds." This amazing film, recommended by Kanoa's dad, takes a look at the intersections between geometry, science, and origami - all of which we've been busy exploring.
Science: We are in the home stretch of our Power projects. Everyone should be working on final drafts of their essays and other assignments. This week, students had time to work on their visuals as well as to fine tune their writing. We also went to all of the other cores and explained our project to create 1,000 cranes for Japan. We taught them how to make cranes and we will likely make far more than 1,000 cranes! Don't forget that the sharing is on Tuesday, April 5th. It will be from 1:20-2:50. Parents, we hope you can join us. Looking ahead to after spring break, we will be studying "Systems of the Body". If you have any expertise in anything related to the human body, please contact Carrie to see if we can find a time for you to come and share your knowledge with us. Mon. and Tues. after lunch are our science times.
Social Studies: We're busy getting ready for the Core 3 sharing next Tues. We hope you'll be able to come! Students are working hard with cardboard, clay, leaves, dirt, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, branches, sugar cubes, foam board, frosting, glue, fabric, and paint to create model pyramids, tepees, wigwams, longhouses, adobe houses, plank houses, igloos, wickiups, and modern stucco homes. They're looking great!
Reading & Writing Workshop w/ Genie: We are publishing our literary essays in our best handwriting. If you get a change to read a draft/final piece you should notice lots of sophisticated words. We've been helping each other out with another way to say the same thing as well as using a thesaurus. Also new seats and new reading/ writing partners have helped to create a more effective workshop and use of time. Ask your child how that is going for them.
Homework:
6g Math - Assignment 12 is due April 4. Assignment 13 is Extra Credit and also due on April 4.
5g Math - Packet #24 is DUE FRI 4/8 Science - All components of the Power project are due on Tuesday, April 5th!
Social Studies – finish Native American Home by Tuesday, April 5th!
Reading - Article "FDA Examines Link Between Food Dyes, Hyperactivity"—read and mark up by Wed 4/6!
Writing – literary essay published piece in neat handwriting, 5 paragraphs, and completed rubric by April 5
This is the last Friday Letter before Spring Break (April 11-24)
The week after we return we will have STATE TESTING for 2nd-8th graders May 2nd-11. Any parent who does not want their child to take these tests needs to notify us in writing BEFORE TESTING BEGINS ON MAY 2. Opt out letters must include your child’s name, grade and birth date, and specify that you do not want your child to participate in the May 2011 California Star testing. Please remember to sign this note.
Genie:ghwang@smmusd.org
Carrie:cferguson@smmusd.org
Erin:ehaendel@smmusd.org
***************
CORE 4 NEWS
Conferences have come to a close for this spring and they were a glorious experience. On to our final months as a core! If you have missed the opportunity to enjoy a conference, please email us and we shall schedule you in for a meeting after spring break. We look forward to speaking with you in person.
After spring break 7th graders will be developing an experiment investigating a topic of interest to them and returning to the beach for field science. This is the finest expression of SMASH’s unique blend of student voice, choice, and academic rigor. Put simply, if they bring me an enduring interest in music, sports, surfing, anything really. I’ll help them find the relevant science in the topic.
8th Grade Notes: The project portion of the upcoming Risk and Sexuality unit is called the Egg Baby Project and it has our young friends experiencing a 24/7 responsibility and exploring budgets, joining Planned Parenthood for a series of presentations on birth control, and performing an interview with a young mother. Please email me if you wish to meet with Planned Parenthood representatives or opt your child out of the learning experience before the unit begins.
Dates to remember! Due date for the Hess Kramer trip is April 1. Please send a check for $350. Or communicate with us before the due date to insure your child’s spot. Our learning celebration for the Ocean Action Project is April 6 beginning at 11:30am.
Please make plans to join us as the kids explain, celebrate and defend the learning choices, then stay for the students Art celebration with artist, Kristy Pace beginning at 1:00pm.
Planned Parenthood is scheduled to begin on April 27. Parents wishing to opt out their children need to e-mail kholland@smmusd.or and jrishe@smmusd.org prior to April 27.
This is the last Friday Letter before Spring Break (April 11-24)
The week after we return we will have STATE TESTING for 2nd-8th graders May 2nd-11. Any parent who does not want their child to take these tests needs to notify us in writing BEFORE TESTING BEGINS ON MAY 2. Opt out letters must include your child’s name, grade and birth date, and specify that you do not want your child to participate in the May 2011 California Star testing. Please remember to sign this note.
SMASH Beach Day Guidelines for Friday, April 8:
Students may not stay at the beach with anyone other than their parent/guardian without a written note! This will be strictly enforced! We will not take a phone call on the beach as permission.
Bring a snack, sack lunch and water, apply sunscreen and wear your swimsuit on under your clothes. Bring a towel and a change of clothes.
Core 4 students may bring Boogie Boards, no surfboards.
Core 4 students MAY go get food at Perrys - go in pairs or groups and eat there - they may not bring the food back to the beach!
Follow these guidelines or get escorted back to school.
Kurt:kholland@smmusd.org;
Darwin:dmendinueto@smmusd.org *************
