I joined two Magic Circles this week to look deeper with Core 2 students at our school focus on having a peaceful, healthy time to eat at the lunch benches after playing on the field. Over the last several weeks, various students had made comments about other people’s food. We talked about respecting family choices and needs around the food people bring or receive from the cafeteria for lunch. We are a diverse community of eaters based on preferences, allergies, time available to cook, family budgets, and other factors. Some of us are carnivores, vegans, vegetarians, eat gluten-free, or rotate foods for other reasons.
Core 2 students have suggested and agreed upon a couple guidelines to make everyone feel peaceful while they eat: “We cannot ask for food or money from someone or take someone’s food or money when they are not looking.” “If somebody makes a mistake and insults our food, we can remind them 1) Don’t yuck my yum or 2) I like it, have you tried it? or 3) Keep your thoughts inside this is what I have for lunch today.”
I know all of us adults who supervise the lunch area remind students of guidelines and help redirect when somebody forgets. I also know the greater power of student Upstanders (those who politely speak up when they see something inappropriate instead of passively observing). I hope all of us will help students of all ages eat food that makes them feel strong and alert and know how to respectfully assert themselves if someone tries to take or criticize their food. At a family dinner, role play using some of the Core 2 suggested quotes or come up with some that sound more natural for your child’s age group and personality.
Truly yours,
Jessica
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sun-Tues, Oct 30 to Nov 8 - SMASH hosts visiting principals from China
Wed, Nov 2 - 8:30am PTSA Mtg
Fri, Nov 4 - 6:00-8:00pm - SMASH Upper school Dance. Details in Core 3 & 4 letter
Sun, Nov 6 - Day Light Savings Ends (set your clock back one hour)
Mon & Wed, Nov 7 & 9 - SMASH restaurant FUNdraiser Nights (See today’s Flyer)
Wed, Nov 9 - 6:00-8:00pm - Middle School Music Mtg
Fri, Nov 11 - Veteran’s Day Holiday - SMASH CLOSED
Wed, Nov 16 - Elementary School Pupil Free Day - SMASH CLOSED
Thurs & Fri, Nov 24 & 25 - Thanksgiving Holidays - SMASH CLOSED
Shout outs to Jamee Tenzer and Kelly Lance
for running a financially successful and very smoothly run Rummage Sale last Saturday!
Despite the LONG hours to sort, set up, sell and break down,
they were both incredible until the very last item was sent away.
And the financials are: $4978 Rummage Sales; $375 Bake Sale; $111 Raffle Tickets;
For a total of $5,464. Thanks Kelly and Jamee!
SMASH Restaurant FUNdraiser Nights
Come out and have fun with friends and family at
Veggie Grill at 2025 Wilshire Blvd
Monday, Nov 7 and Wednesday, Nov 9 - 3-10pm
Veggie Grill will donate 50% of your total back to SMASH PTSA. (This includes take out.)
Come one or both nights! Make sure to bring the flyer. See you there
THINGS TO DO:
• Los Angeles Haunted Hayride and Maze at Griffith Park
Very Scary! Not recommended for ages 8 and under!
Losangeleshauntedhayride.com/la_haunted_house_mobile.html
• Mon, Oct 31 - 5:00-9:00pm - PALOWEEN CARNIVAL at Barker Hanger. 3021 Airport Ave.
Halloween Party for the whole family. FREE Entrance. Games 25¢, Fun House & Picture Booth $1. NO tickets sold after 8:15pm. For more information please call 310-458-8988 PAL ( Police Activities League)
• 3rd Annual Halloween Hop on Montana Avenue Oct 31 from 3-6pm
Kids of all ages will enjoy trick-or-treating all along Montana Avenue, plus all kinds of fun, spooky activities for kids including face painting, temporary tattoos, fortune telling, a doggie costume contest, and of course lots of candy! For a list of participating stores go to http://www.montanaave.com/events-details.php?eid=20
• Halloween Haunted House at Santa Monica YWCA, Friday, Oct 28, 3-9pm
Haunted house, maze, costume parade, balloons, crafts, face-painting and snacks. $10 adults, $5 children
• Haunted Heats Halloween Surf Contest, Saturday, October 29 - 8am at Lifeguard Tower 26
Surfers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in this competition, hosted by ZJ Boarding House. Spectators are also welcome, but in order to participate in the competition, you’ll need to be in costume!
• Halloween Hullabaloo, Santa Monica Playhouse, Saturday & Sunday 12:30-3pm, Oct 29 & 30
The interactive musical comedy will delve into the history of Halloween. Kids can win prizes, hop onstage to join the actors, participate in sing-a-longs and get their faces painted before the show. If they arrive in costume, they’ll get two-for 1 passes to a future Family Theatre production. Reservations required. $10.50 12 years-old & under, $12.50 13 years-old & over. 310-394-9779 x 1 or santamonicaplayhouse.com
Don’t shop for the holidays until you’ve been to our annual
Holiday Boutique & Art Affaire
Friday, December 9, 11:30 – 5:30
We are looking for vendors and artisans* who have unique handmade items to offer at the sale. If you are interested in selling your creations (jewelry, scarves, art work), contact Birte Reimer at reimer.birte@gmail.com. Students are welcome to sell, too.
****
We also need volunteers** to help manage our food and activity booths (Waffles, Chili, Candle-Making, Soap-Making, Spin art, SMASH Gear). If you can help, please contact Helga Schier at helgaschier@verizon.net.
*Vendors fill out a vendor’s agreement, and are responsible for their own set-up and clean-up.
PTSA receives 20% of vendor’s gross receipts.
**If you want to help at the Core Art Tables, please contact your Core Rep.
SEUSSICAL!
November 12-December 17
Performances: Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm (no performance Dec 11)
Welcome to the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss!
Join us for the adventures of Horton the Elephant, along with a host of characters from Dr. Seuss. $15 reserved seats at www.morgan-wixson.org or 310-828-7519 Morgan-Wixson Theatre; 2627 Pico Bl, SM
Terrific news from our friends at Americans for the Arts and one of their corporate partners, KRIS Wine.
As part of its second annual “Art of Education” program, KRIS has launched a new program that will award $25,000 to 16 public schools in the United States to help support arts education programs. Who decides which schools will receive the funds? We do!
Visit KRIS Wine’s Facebook page(http://apps.facebook.com/krisartofeducation/
I hope that every SMASH member will take a moment and get started today --- cast your vote, set a reminder on your calendar to do it every day through November 30, and spread the word to your friends, family, and colleagues.
The UCLA Family commons
Social Skills Training ages 5-7 & 8-10
1221 2nd Street, Santa Monica
310-395-5650 www.uclacommons.com
SANTA MONICA SYMPHONY 2011-2012
Allen Robert Gross, Music Director & Conductor
Sat, Oct29 at 7:30pm Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Pre-concert talk at 6:30pm, Professor Raymond Knapp
FREE ADMISSION. Bring School-age children!
www.smsymphony.org 310-395-6330
Santa Monica-Malibu USD – Food & Nutrition Services
Phone: (310) 450 – 8338 ext. 70228 Email: fns@smmusd.org
NONFAT CHOCOLATE MILK “OPT OUT”
Parents or Guardians ONLY, to have your child(ren) “Opt Out” of nonfat chocolate milk served in school cafeterias at lunch please follow these steps:
1. Email: fns@smmusd.org. Indicate your child’s full name, school name, student identification number.
OR: Call your school office OR Food and Nutrition Services (310 450 8338 ext. 70228) with the same information required above.
2. Allow 3 days for the information to be available to the cafeteria staff.
3. Tell your child that he/she will only be able to take the “white” unflavored milk.
When a student presents his/her lunch card at the cash register a flag will appear on the screen indicating this student has opted out of nonfat chocolate milk. If a child takes nonfat chocolate milk by mistake, cafeteria staff will exchange it for the non flavored milk. Non flavored white milk choices are: nonfat or 1%. Nonfat chocolate milk is not served at breakfast.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH ALL THAT CANDY?
Dear John Muir/SMASH Families
We are so excited to announce that next week we will be hosting a Halloween Candy Give Back. The candy will be donated to the troops stationed overseas via Operation Gratitude. Please consider having your child donate his/her Halloween Candy for a good cause. This is an excellent opportunity for the kids to still have an excellent time Trick-or Treating, while learning about "giving back" and keeping the sugar out of their systems and teeth. Candy collection will begin Tuesday morning beginning at 7:45 am until 8:45 and Wednesday morning beginning at 7:45am until about 8:45 am.
Please note that the media has been made aware of this project and love the idea. So far two news crews have put it on their schedule to be at John Muir on Tuesday morning.
Thanks, Jackie Naidoo
“Like life, racial understanding is not something that we find, but something that we must create.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Santa Monica‐Malibu Unified School District
Is sponsoring an opportunity for members of the community to come together to participate in
a Dialogue on Race.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Santa Monica High School
Noted educator, Dr. Sylvia Rousseau, will be part of the morning’s activities. We welcome your voice and contribution to the dialog, and working with us to make our community a truly respectful place.
**********
In order that we may plan appropriately, please let us know that you will be attending, by contacting Sarah Wahrenbrock at swahrenbrock@smmusd.org. or (310) 450‐8338, ext. 70241;
or send the bottom section of this sheet to
Sarah Wahrenbrock – SMMUSD; 1651 16th St, Santa Monica, Ca 90404
________________________________________________________________________________________ I will be attending the Dialog on Race on Saturday, October 29
Name__________________________________________________
Number of people attending including yourself________
Name(s) of additional attendees _____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
NOVEMBER SCHOOL LUNCH MENU
Tues, Nov 1 Teriyaki Chicken Dippers And Steamed White Rice
Wed, Nov 2 Waffle, Stix w/Turkey Sausage Patty, Baked Hash Browns, 100% Orange Juice
Thurs 3 Turkey Taco Bar And Tortilla Chips Salsa
Fri, Nov 4 Pizza Friday! Thin Crust Cheese Pizza w/Cherry Tomato Salad, Fresh Grapes
Mon, Nov 7 Baked Breaded Chicken, Patty Sandwich w/Baked Potato Smiles Frozen Wild Cherry Cup
Tues, Nov 8 Cool Lunch! Baked Corn Dog w/Fresh Baby Carrots
Wed, Nov 9 Cool Lunch! w/Baked Chicken Nuggets And Warm Dinner Roll
Thurs, Nov 10 Cool Lunch! Señor Felix Bean & Cheese Burrito w/Corn, Mild Chili Salsa
Fri, Nov 11—VETERAN’S DAY HOLIDAY
Mon, Nov 14 Char Broiled Beef Hamburger w/Baked Seasoned Potato Wedges Frozen Vanilla Yogurt Cup
Tues, Nov 15 Cool Lunch! Oven Fried Chicken w/Whole Wheat Roll
Wed, Nov 16 - PUPIL FREE DAY—SCHOOL CLOSED
Thurs, Nov 17 Cool Lunch! Crunchy Taco w/Frozen Watermelon Cup
Fri, Nov 18 Pizza Friday! Big Daddy Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza w/Fresh Garden Salad Fresh Orange Slices
Mon Nov, 21 - 3 Cheese Ravioli w/Warm Bread Stick, Tamai Farm Salad Greens, Red Ruby Grapes
Tues, Nov 22 Cool Lunch! Honey Rib Sandwich on Whole Grain Bun And Baked Beans
Wed, Nov 23 Slice of Cheese Pizza w/Fresh Baby Carrots, Thanksgiving Cookie, Cry Baby Sour Apple Cup
Thurs, Nov 24 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Fri, Nov 25 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Mon, Nov 28, Orange Chicken, w/Steamed White Rice, Broccoli Florets, Orange Slices
Tues, Nov 29 Cool Lunch! Turkey Hot Dog on Whole Grain Bun w/Seasoned Potato Wedges
Wed, Nov 30 Cool Lunch! Baked Chicken Strips w/Whole Grain Roll
Second Choice Vegetarian Option
Nov 1-4 Cheese Quesadilla
Nov 7-11 Bean Burrito
Nov 14-18 Yogurt & Pretzels
Nov 21-23 Cheese Sticks
Nov 28-30 Toasted Cheese Sandwich
Breakfast Menu
Monday - French Toast, Fruit, Milk
Tuesday - Biscuit w/Turkey Sausage, Fruit, Milk
Wednesday - Breakfast Pizza, Fruit, Milk
Thursday - Belgian Waffle, Fruit, Milk
Friday - Turkey Sausage & Egg Breakfast Frittata, Fruit, Milk
Offered Daily: assorted fruits, 100% juice, 1% & nonfat milk; assorted cold cereal, whole grain crackers
Prepay online: www.mylunchmoney.com
CORE 1 NEWS
Dear Core 1 Families,
Nursery Rhymes
For the past three weeks, we have shared Nursery Rhymes in Core 1. Nursery rhymes come in song, poem, chant, and game forms. We have enjoyed nursery rhymes that have traveled around the world as people move from one place to another. We invite you to share a nursery rhyme that has been passed down in your family.
Write it and illustrate it with your child on a white sheet of letter-sized paper. We will add it to our Core 1 collection of nursery rhymes book.
Here’s a song we sing in Core 1 to begin our morning:
Good Morning by Greg & Steve
Good morning, good morning, good morning to you
Good morning, good morning, good morning to you
Our day is beginning, there’s so much to do
Good morning, good morning, good morning to you
Buenos días, buenos días, buenos días a ustedes
Buenos días, buenos días, buenos días a ustedes
El día comienza hay mucho que hacer
Buenos días, buenos días, buenos días a ustedes
Wish List
Brooms
Dustpans
Rakes
Scratch paper (to re-use one side)
HAVE A WONDERFUL & SAFE WEEKEND!
Candis, Chrysta, Graciela, Jackie, and Nadja
Candis: cberens@smmusd.org
Chrysta: cwyse@smmusd.org
Graciela: gbarba-castro@smmsud.org
CORE 2 NEWS
Core 2 4th Graders Page
10-28-11
What is your favorite part of Halloween besides the candy?
• Candis: the costumes (interviewed by Malia)
• Lillian: likes to dress up awesomely (Alie/Audrey)
• Graciela: I am getting creative with costumes (Nick)
• Janice: My favorite part of Halloween is costumes (Ava)
• Riley: Dressing up and getting my costume (Jullian/Morgan)
• Jayme: wearing funny/silly costumes (Giulia)
• Maya Reimer: costumes because you get to make them and you can be whatever you want (Lily/Zelda)
• Charlie: my favorite thing is dressing up (Abigail/Aidan)
• Coach Tony: scaring people (Eli)
*Use this data to create a bar graph. Remember to make a Horizontal Axis and a Vertical Axis first and then add the data. Turn your graph in with your math Homework that is due Friday, Nov 4!
Monday, October 31, during Creative Time at 2:00, we will begin planning our Table Team/ Island Altars. We talked to the children this week about Los Dias de los Muertos, Day of the Dead. They listened and discussed this celebration where families honor their dead relatives. To create alters, help your child to remember to bring in photos of family and friends, favorite "lovies" or small toys, small treasures (maybe one item from one of their collections), things they are proud of, and other small items to represent themselves in the altar. The altar will be a celebration of their lives in the Core 2 community and in their table teams/islands. We will work on them for 2 weeks, so if they forget next Monday, they will have time the following week too.
Thanks, Jayme, Tamara, Karin, and Laura
Jayme: j.wold@smmusd.org
Tamara: tmugalian@smmusd.org
Laura: lsherman@smmusd.org
CORE 3 NEWS
Our JPL trip is almost here! We will be going to JPL on Monday, November 7. WE NEED TO LEAVE AT 8:30 in order to get there on time so DON'T BE LATE that day! A permission slip is attached to this Friday Letter. Please return it by Tuesday, November 1 (to Carrie). We will be bringing sack lunches (no glass please) and eating at a local park. A $5 donation to help pay for the bus is greatly appreciated.
6th Grade Math with Carrie: We spent this week reviewing the material from our unit on PrimeTime. Our assessment will be on Monday! Students were reminded that they may want to bring their math binders home so they can use them to study.
6th Grade Math with Erin "Data About Us": This week we continued our unit by learning about how to find the mean (average) of a set of data. Please ask you student to show you a few methods of finding the mean. We also spent some time on warm-up problems regarding "random samples." What is a random sample? How can we get the most comprehensive set of data from any one question?
5th grade Math Workshop with Genie: Please make sure you sign your child's Unit 1 Reflection Sheet in the Green Folder and have your child return it to school! We have been busy looking at how we measure volume and how we know with visuals and with numbers. We will continue our study now looking at different units of measurement looking at centimeters and inches. Ask your child to find the volume of a box in your house using a ruler.
Science with Carrie: We took our planet assessment on Monday and everyone who took notes on the presentations did quite well. On Tuesday we ventured out past the Solar System and started looking at Black Holes since that is an area of great interest. We are really working on taking notes using a 2-column note system. Developing good notetaking skills will help us all as we move forward. Next week we will look a little more at Black Holes and also at stars and galaxies as we prepare for our trip to JPL.
Social Studies and Geography with Erin: We continued our study of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott with the viewing of a short Teaching Tolerance documentary called," Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks." Please ask your child to discuss the film with you. Some discussion ideas: What was life like for Rosa Parks as a child? How were young people involved in the bus boycott? What economic effects did the boycott have on the city? How were white citizens involved with the boycott?
Reading and Writing Workshop with Genie: We finished our Read Aloud, Slob. Ask your child what they felt were some big ideas they got from the book. Also in what ways did your child connect with the book or find it similar to another book or movie? In Writing, we have planned our essays using our boxes and bullets template (you can download one from our website), and used it to help us draft our essays to make sure we have each paragraph organized: an introduction, 3 middle paragraphs each with a separate reason, and a conclusion. We are learning that they can be in first person or third person, but not second person (no you's).
Homework:
JPL permission slip due Tuesday, November 1
6G math: Assignment #22 (and all assignments from Prime Time) are due Monday, 10/31 - the day of the assessment. Study for the assessment!
5G math: packet #8. Due 11/4/11
RW: Read every day! Be ready for your book club talk! What's the big idea of your book?
WW: Finish Personal Essay Draft and Revise using the Rubric! Be ready to edit!
Genie: ghwang@smmusd.org
Carrie: cferguson@smmusd.org
Erin: ehaendel@smmusd.org
Calling all interested SMASH middle school music parents and musicians!
Join Jessica Wednesday, November 9th 6-7pm in the Library to discuss:
*Reflections on how Winds, Strings, and Choir are rolling out this year
*How to set up funds/inventory for those who need to rent instruments in the future
*How to raise monies this year towards Robbie’s String and Mike’s Wind contracts
*How to create a future schedule where all musicians could do both choir and an instrument
*Equity across Wind and String course structure/offerings
SMASH's Upper School Dance for Core 3 and Core 4 is coming up!
It's a great way to spend the evening of Friday, November 4, from 6-8pm. Having fun, dancing with friends, and the simple pleasure of going! Taking place at the SMASH Auditorium. It is your duty as an upper school SMASH student to go and have fun! Only $5 admission and awesome raffle prizes to win! SEE YOU THERE!
CORE 4 NEWS
Hess Kramer Ropes Course: Oh how I wish all parents could see firsthand the growth in communication skills, maturity, and responsible autonomy that children experience on this trip. Deep thanks go to SMASH parent Leslie Bourne and her staff at Fulcrum Adventures. We have learned a great deal from these exceptional people and look forward to growing our relationship in the immediate future. Stand by for exciting developments related to our working relationship later in the year. For now ask your child to describe this thrilling experience in specific terms. We hiked steep hills, leapt from the top of telephone poles, swung out over cliffs, and used pillows to battle for night-time supremacy. In addition, ask them what are they planning to bring to SMASH from the experience? Finally and most importantly, how did this experience help them become independent of their teachers, parents, and other loving adults? Asking them probing questions and patiently supporting efforts to be descriptive now will help them process this meaningful adventure and become strong, independent learners and people.
Yosemite Trip: Our winter adventure for 7th graders in beautiful Yosemite Valley is coming up in just six working weeks and three days after the winter break. Preparations are coming to an end and soon we shall be enjoying the mountains during their finest season. Our stellar chaperon team is set, reservations are made, and copious quantities of cash are leaving our accounts to pay for transportation, housing, and learning activities. Please do everything possible to insure your child’s attendance; this trip is potentially life changing, memorable, and fun. Some details:
1. Payment for the trip is now past due. Please be sure to communicate with us consistently about any payment plans you have negotiated. I assure you this trip is worth the price, despite the $600 dollar expense, and a great value!
2. We will depart very early Sunday, January 8 from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and return during the evening on Friday, January 13. Exact times are being arranged by trip goddess, Malaika, and will be sent out late next week along with permission slips and medical forms.
3. Use the following link http://www.naturebridge.org/yosemite/parents to find out all you could want to know about the trip, the location, or the people we work with up in the park. Of course you may drop around to ask me questions as well. I love seeing parents.
4. It is critical that children be provided with non-cotton winter-wear made of synthetic or organic fibers that wick moisture away from their body. This is a safety issue and non-negotiable. We have many clean jackets, over-shirts, fuzzy sweaters, and some ski pants to lend to people on a first come-first served basis. You will wish to buy the long undies, synthetic socks, and hiking boots soon as prices begin to rise after Thanksgiving.
We will be having a bag check to insure students are safe and a mandatory information meeting for parents on Wednesday, Dec 7 at 18:00. Please make plans now to join us as we finalize the arrangements necessary to insure your child’s safety during this learning adventure.
Drop around if you have any questions. You are always welcome here.
Kurt: kholland@smmusd.org
Darwin: dmendinueto@smmusd.org
Calling all interested SMASH middle school music parents and musicians!
Join Jessica Wednesday, November 9th 6-7pm in the Library to discuss:
*Reflections on how Winds, Strings, and Choir are rolling out this year
*How to set up funds/inventory for those who need to rent instruments in the future
*How to raise monies this year towards Robbie’s String and Mike’s Wind contracts
*How to create a future schedule where all musicians could do both choir and an instrument
*Equity across Wind and String course structure/offerings
SMASH's Upper School Dance for Core 3 and Core 4 is coming up.
It's a great way to spend the evening of Friday, November 4, from 6-8pm.
Having fun, dancing with friends, and the simple pleasure of going! Taking place at the SMASH Auditorium. It is your duty as an upper school SMASH student to go and have fun! Only $5 admission and awesome raffle prizes to win! See you there!
