Dear SMASHing Families,
What a caring, celebrative, great learning community we are a part of. There were so many responses to my message about having a family cultural exchange with our Chinese guests David and Tony.
Special thanks to Ken, Yung, Caleb and Simeon for opening up their home as such gracious hosts to our Chinese guests David and Tony for all nine nights!
Thank you
*to Carrie and CJ for the Beverly Hills tour,
*to John, Patty, Andrew and Jason for the Temescal Canyon exploration,
*to John, Jeannine, Mac, Riley, and Violet for the taco feast,
*to Mike, Lori, Mica and Ari for the Getty adventure,
*to Janice, Jackie, and Tamara for Happy Hour/ Santa Monica Place rooftop dinner,
*to the SMASH staff for all the teaching explanations and demonstrations
*to Tamara and Mitch for the Downtown LA photo shoot,
*to Tom, Barbara and Liam for the attempted lunch.
*to Charles, Alicia, Bradley, and Rachel for the family dinner complete with high school tales
“We miss SMASH warm-hearted teachers and parents and of course the smart kids. Thank you for helping us to understand the special school-SMASH, giving us so many detail introductions of teaching, curriculum. Especially thanks for your great parents, gave us new day and new experience everyday. Please say "thank you" to who gave us help on behalf of us.” David and Tony
Jessica
*********************
Westside Annual THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY DINNER & CELEBRATION
This is the table to be at on Thanksgiving, and everyone is welcome. A carnival for the kids, live music, free medical, dental and eye exams, plus free clothing, blankets and haircuts.
Thanksgiving Day, November 24
Santa Monica Civic Center (Pico Bl & Main Street)
Carnival and Medical open at 8:00am
Dinner 11:00am - 3:00pm
Bring the Whole Family. It’s Free. It’s Fun. Fantastic Food
Please join folks from every faith and all walks of life
in a day of thanks and celebration
Info Hotline: 310-394-3153 www.westsidethanksgiving.org
*********************
DATES TO REMEMBER
No Friday Letter next week
Wednesday, Nov 23 is a regular schedule day - NOT minimum day
Thursday & Friday, Nov 24 & 25 - Thanksgiving Holiday - SMASH CLOSED
*********************
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.
*********************
WESTSIDE BALLET'S "THE NUTCRACKER" ENCHANTS THIS DECEMBER
SMASH's Olivia Sparling performs the lead role of Clara in four of the eight scheduled performances.
Get in the holiday spirit with Westside Ballet's Winter 2011 performances of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. One of the most highly regarded productions of The Nutcracker in all of Los Angeles, this year's performances are being held over the first two weekends of December at the Wadsworth Theater in Westwood.
WHAT: The Nutcracker, produced by Westside Ballet
WHEN: 1PM and 5PM, December 3, 4, 10, 11
WHERE: Wadsworth Theater, Veterans Administration, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles 90073
COST: $25 per ticket if purchased at Westside Ballet, 1709 Stewart St., Santa Monica 90404 on 11/19 and 11/26 from 10AM-noon, or $30 per ticket plus fees via Ticketmaster.com
*********************
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.
*********************
LOS ANGELES YOUTH ORCHESTRA
With artistic director, Russell Steinberg, Ph.D. Presents
EAGLES & DRAGONS - Music Exploring Light & Dark, Heaven & Hell
Beethoven Symphony No. 2; Russell Steinberg, Flag of 9/11; Paul Simon, America
BARNUM HALL, Sunday, November 20 at 4:00pm
Santa Monica High, 600 Olympic Blvd.
ZIPPER CONCERN HALL, Monday, November 21 at 7:30pm
Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave
For Tickets and information: LosAngelesYouthOrchestra.org; 310-571-LAYO
*********************
The new SMASH Directory is in!
PTSA member, please come into the main office to pick up your copy.
*********************
Flyers Available in the Office
Broadway Gymnastic School Classes Grades K-5, Tues3:20-4:15 classes www.BroadwayGym.com
Youth Mindfulness - UCLA Family Commons www.uclacommons.com or 310-395-5650
Ages 8-12, Classes Wednesdays 4-5pm (Nov 16 to Dec 17) or Saturdays (Nov 19-Dec 17)2-3pm
Mad Science Enrichment Winter Camp - Dec 19-23 and Dec 26-30 www.MadScience.org
Kids On Stage/Teens On Stage: Winter Play Festival & Winter Camp www.KidsOnStage.com
*********************
WINTERLIT - Holiday Celebrations in Santa Monica
Sat, Nov 19 - 6:00pm -Tree Lighting & Santa arrival celebration at Santa Monica Place, Center Plaza at Santa Monica Place. Event includes Tree Lighting, Santa and Mrs. Clause arrival, musical entertainment, giveaways and snowfall.
Tuesday, December 20-27 - Chanukah Menorah Lighting at sundown
Nov 1—Dec 31 - Gift Your Schools. Shop & dine at Santa Monica Place and earn SMASH 5% donation. Just present your receipts at the Concierge on level 1. For details 310-260-8333.
Ice Skating - 5th & Arizona, November 11-January 16 - admission & skate rental $12
2 for 1 Tuesdays, Wacky Hat Wednesdays, After-Hours Broom Ball, Rock ‘N’ Skate Fridays, Costume Skate Sundays
Arthur Christmas Activities:
Sat. Nov 19 - Santa Photo - 2:00-5:00pm. 3rd Street Promenade & Wilshire Blvd
Sun, Nov 20 - Ice Skating Party - 2:00-5:00pm. 5th St and Arizona Ave
Mon, Nov 21 - Craft Day - 3:30-5:30pm 3rd Street Promenade & Santa Monica Blvd
Tues, Nov 22 - Ornament Decorating - 3:30-5:30pm - 3rd Street Promenade & Arizona Ave
Nov 22-23 - Snow Days - 3:00, 5:00 & 7:00pm - 3rd Street & Arizona
For a list of all events visit WinterLit.com - SantaMonicaPlace.com - ICEatSantaMonica.com
*********************
Freedom Riders: A Community Conversation on Democracy in Action
Wednesday, Dec 7 - 7:00-9:00 p.m. - The Broad Stage - 1310 11th St, Santa Monica, Join us for a Community Conversation featuring the award-winning film Freedom Riders by PBS American Experience. The film shares the powerful, harrowing, and ultimately inspirational story of eight months in 1961 that changed America forever. From May until December 1961, more than 400 black and white Americans risked their lives—many endured savage beatings and imprisonment—for simply traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. Deliberately violating Jim Crow laws, the Freedom Riders were met with bitter racism and mob violence along the way, sorely testing their belief in nonviolent activism.
The program will include excerpts from the film and conversation led by former Justice Department civil rights attorney, author, and Facing History board member Gerald Stern. He will be joined by Freedom Rider Ernest “Rip” Patton Jr., who will share experiences as a participant in the Nashville Movement and the Freedom Rides. Patton was one of 14 Tennessee State University students expelled for participating in the Rides.
Seating is limited. Visit facinghistory.org/communityconversations.
For more information contact Jennifer Lenardson at 213-202-2811 x28 or Jennifer_Lenardson@facing.org.
As part of Facing History’s national series of Community Conversations, this event is free and open to the public. This event is presented by Facing History and Ourselves and The Allstate Foundation in partnership with Santa Monica- Malibu Unified School District, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council, and The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition.
****************
The World Leader In Obstacle Racing, Spartan Race
Comes to Malibu’s Calamigos Ranch Nov. 19
This Sat., Nov. 19, approximately 4,000 competitors from across the U.S. and several foreign countries representing every walk of life, age and stage and varying degrees of athletic abilities will converge on Calimigos Ranch in Malibu, Calif. for the Spartan Sprint Race
*********************
Upcoming Textiles Recycling/Green Holiday Workshop–Sat, Nov 19, 9am-3pm
MODERNIZE YOUR HOLIDAY WRAPPING AND RECYCLE YOUR TEXTILES AT THE SAME TIME!
The City of Santa Monica’s Resource Recovery & Recycling Division, 2500 Michigan Ave. 310-458-2223; www.smgov.net/r3
After the unwrapping frenzy, someone in your household grabs a plastic trash bag and fills it with balled up wrapping paper, plastic bows and ribbons. This year, try tapping into your creative side! How about wrapping a gift in a gift? Tshirts make wonderful wrapping and we are here to show you how! This year’s clothing/textile recycling event will also feature a mini workshop on constructing no-sew t-shirt bags and how to reuse cloth instead of purchasing new wrapping paper.
Santa Monica Resource Recovery & Recycling is hosting a textiles collection event at the City Yards, helping you to find a new home for all your unusable clothing, towels, bedding and so much more. Residents are encouraged to take reusable goods to any of the many charities benefiting the Santa Monica area. A reuse guide is available at www.smgov.net/r3.
The average American threw away 68 pounds of textiles last year — old rags, bedding, stinky socks, and unflattering clothing. We are looking for your assistance to help recover this material. Most “old” clothing in good condition can be resold by local charities. Even torn or stained clothing that is not suitable for resell can be recycled. Some recovered fabrics become wiping and polishing cloths, those old jeans can become wall insulation and cotton can actually be composted!
We have the recycling part covered; now it’s your turn to pitch in. Drop off the clothing you no longer need or want and learn an awesome way to make your holiday a little “greener”.
What to bring?
Clean and dry textiles like clothing, shoes, towels, sheets, scarves, hats, bags and belts. (Plus, a t-shirt for the workshop!)
When? Saturday, November 19, 2011 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Workshop drop-in between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
Where? City Yards, 2500 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404
Seams split? Doesn’t fit? Sick of it? RECYCLE IT!
Clean out your closet and join in for this ONE-DAY special recycling event. Bring clean and dry clothing, paired shoes, bedding, linens, hats, belts and other fabric. Items will be sorted for re-use or recycling.
Same Day No Sew T-Shirt Bag Workshop - Plus other green alternatives to paper gift wrapping Drop in between 10am-2pm
*********************
Solar Stuff
California is leading the nation in Solar energy generated electricity. We are currently at one gigawatt, which is equivalent to two coal fired power plants! But you could also be using more solar energy right now – even if you don’t have space for a clothes line – what about clothes racks? They are great because you can move them in and out doors, they hold a LOT and don’t take up too much space. Don't let all that clean sun-power go to waste.
Education/Activism/Gifts
As we guide our children to be effective world citizens, get involved as a family with organizations that are moving us towards a more sustainable future. Right here is Santa Monica, we have the NRDC - Natural Resources Defense Council. They are scientists and lawyers, and they never let the federal or state government slip through environmentally bad legislation without a fight. Check them out, follow what they do, get your children involved to help save the Polar Bears http://www.nrdc.org/default_t0.asp They also have great green holiday gifts - for all those family members and friends who already have enough stuff - you can make donations on their behalf to save Toucans, Gray Wolves and Grizzly Bears..... my father-in-law loved the Grizzly Bear one we got him.
*********************
Holiday Boutique & Art Affaire
December 9, 11:30 – 5:30
We need parent volunteers**to help manage our food stands (Waffles, Chili) and activity booths (Candle-Making, Spin Art… NEW ideas always welcome). If you can help, please contact Helga Schier at helgaschier@verizon.net.
****
We also have some space left 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.
*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 Chrysta, Tamara or Genie.
*********************
DECEMBER LUNCH MENU
Thurs, Dec 1 Cool Lunch!, Turkey Taco Bar w/Tortilla Chips & Salsa,Frozen Vanilla Yogurt Cup
Fri, Dec 2 Pizza Friday! Thin Crust Cheese Pizza, w/Fresh Garden Salad, Banana
Mon, Dec 5 Turkey Corn Dog, Fresh Veggie Stix, Fresh Kiwi
Tues, Dec 6 Cool Lunch! Baked Chicken w/Green Beans, Biscuit
Wed, Dec 7 Cool Lunch! Senor Felix Bean & Cheese Burrito w/Frozen Watermelon Cup
Thurs, Dec 8 Cool Lunch! Chicken Giggles w/Baked Potato Smiles
Fri, Dec 9 Pizza Friday! Big Daddy Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza w/Fresh Garden Salad Fresh Orange Slices
Mon, Dec 12 All American Char Broiled Beef Hamburger w/Seasoned Potato Wedges, Fresh Tangerine
Tues, Dec 13 Cool Lunch! Chicken Patty Sandwich
Wed, Dec 14 Cool Lunch! Rotini Pasta W/Meatballs Warm Bread Stick
Thurs, Dec 15 Cool Lunch! Chicken Fajitas w/Flour Tortilla, Salsa
Fri, Dec 18 Pizza Friday! Slice of Cheese Pizza w/Fresh Garden Salad, Cry Baby Sour Apple Cup
Mon, Dec 19Turkey Hot Dog w/Fresh Baby Carrots, Fruit
Tues, Dec 20 Baked Chicken Nuggets Baked Tater Tots, Fruit, Holiday Cookie
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 Frittata, Fruit, Milk
Offered Daily-Assorted fruits (fresh, canned), 4oz 100% Juice (no added sugar), 1% & Nonfat Milk. Assorted cold cereal (whole grains, reduced sugar), whole grain crackers.
Vegetarian Option
12/1-12/2 Toasted Cheese Sandwich
12/5-12/9 Cheese Quesadillo
12/12-12/18 Bean Burrito
12/19-12/20 Yogurt & Pretzel
Prepay online:www.mylunchmoney.com
*********************
CORE 1 NEWS
SPECIAL THANKS
Special thanks to all involved in our Holiday Boutique Project: Tie Dyed Fabric Napkins. From Julie (of Jadyn) spearheading the project, to all the parents who have donated their time and supplies to make this project work. Thank you to ALL involved!
ART PROGRAM SHARE
Mark your calendars! Tuesday, December 13 at 6pm is our ARTS PROGRAM SHARE EVENING! All families are invited to come out and celebrate our visual arts program, lead by the marvelous Julianna and Marni! All Core 1 children will have participated in 9 weeks of visual art education, based in art theory, and focusing on portraits and collections. We look forward to you joining us on this special evening.
WRITING CELEBRATIONS: YOU ARE INVITED!
This week, the Partners have launched writing workshop! A few of the Bigs paid them a visit, and shared what it means to be a writer and how to stay organized with all of you writing tools. Next week, the Bigs and Mentors will celebrate the publishing of their most recent work. On Wednesday, November 23, from 2:30- 3pm you are invited to join us during our writing celebrations! The Mentors will celebrate the publishing of their personal narratives. The Bigs will also celebrate their personal narratives, with a focus on writing for readers. The Bigs will also share their work in progress: Realistic Fiction. We hope you can join us!
CHANGE OF SEASON, CHANGE OF CIRCLE GROUPS
This December, your child will change Circle Groups. Their workshop group will remain the same. Half of each circle group will move to one teacher, and the other half will move to the other. This way, all children have the experience of getting to know new Core 1 friends and teachers, while maintaining the security of staying with a large group of children they know well. The new groups will be created at the end of this month, and the new groups will be announced sometime in December.
NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 2
This week will be filled with many opportunities for your children to practice: learning from different adults, flexibility and leadership. Jackie and Nadja will be in class, as usual. Throughout the week, some of the other teachers, participate in professional development and some personal days (Chrysta will be celebrating her big 4-0 with her family). At least one Core 1 teacher will be present each day! Other guest teachers you will see are former SMASH teachers Mimi and Tom (Jackie’s husband)! Also, please welcome Joy! She has subbed in Core 1 in the past and is looking forward to returning. Your children are in capable and loving hands. Please, contact your child’s workshop/touchtone teacher, if you have any questions.
Wish List: Rakes, Brooms, Plastic Spoons
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND
Candis, Chrysta, Graciela, Jackie, and Nadja
Candis: cberens@smmusd.org
Chrysta: cwyse@smmusd.org
Graciela: gbarba-castro@smmsud.org
REMINDER: No Friday Letter next week.
Wednesday, Nov 23 is a regular schedule day—NOT minimum day.
November 24 & 25 - Thanksgiving Holiday - SMASH closed
*********************
CORE 2 NEWS
As we embark upon our first Theme (Science and Social Studies) unit in Core 2, we are really focused on utilizing many avenues for students to take in information (interviews, personal experiences, resources, videos, experiments, nonfiction books, etc), as well as creating a variety of ways for them to demonstrate what they have learned (written report, poster, speech, skit, debate, etc.). We call this Multiple Ways of Knowing and Showing. In addition to meeting a variety of learning styles, we also try to create opportunities for students to develop and pursue their personal interests and curiosities. We call this Choice and Voice. This educational philosophy and practice is one of the many key components of SMASH education.
Please see this week’s education article, which is about improving motivation, to learn more about how these practices affect student motivation, interest, and learning. The article also points to a variety of resources for more information. You’ll find the entire article in this week’s Friday Folder.
Student Motivations and Attitudes: The Role of the Affective Domain in Geoscience Learning
Teachers have a lot to do with their students' motivational level. A student may arrive in class with a certain degree of motivation. But the teacher's behavior and teaching style, the structure of the course, the nature of the assignments and informal interactions with students all have a large effect on student motivation. We may have heard the utterance, "my students are so unmotivated!" and the good news is that there's a lot that we can do to change that.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
Educational psychology has identified two basic classifications of motivation - intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation arises from a desire to learn a topic due to its inherent interests, for self-fulfillment, enjoyment and to achieve a mastery of the subject. On the other hand, extrinsic motivation is motivation to perform and succeed for the sake of accomplishing a specific result or outcome. Students who are very grade-oriented are extrinsically motivated, whereas students who seem to truly embrace their work and take a genuine interest in it are intrinsically motivated.
Motivating Students
This chapter from the book Tools for Teaching by Barbara Gross Davis (Jossey-Bass Publishers: San Francisco, 1993) is a great place to start for ideas and tips about increasing student motivation in your classes. The author presents a handy distillation of research on motivation and uses examples and anecdotes that bring this material to life. In addition to general strategies, this chapter addresses successful instructional behaviors, how to structure a course to motivate students, de-emphasizing grades and responding with other types of feedback to students, and tips to encourage students to complete assigned readings. A reference list points the way to more specific information.
Excerpts from this chapter:
Give frequent, early, positive feedback that supports students' beliefs that they can do well.
Ensure opportunities for students' success by assigning tasks that are neither too easy nor too difficult. Help students find personal meaning and value in the material. Create an atmosphere that is open and positive. Help students feel that they are valued members of a learning community.
Laura: lsherman@smmusd.org
Jayme: j.wold@smmusd.org
Tamara: tmugalian@smmusd.org
REMINDER: No Friday Letter next week.
Wednesday, Nov 23 is a regular schedule day—NOT minimum day.
November 24 & 25 - Thanksgiving Holiday - SMASH closed
*********************
CORE 3 NEWS
6th Grade Math with Carrie: We continued our investigation of fractions, decimals, and percents this week by making fraction strips to show different fractions and their equivalent fractions (for example: 1/3=2/6=3/9=4/12). We also estimated fractions of fundraising goals. Students are being encouraged to think about the relationship between fractions, decimals and percents. Any opportunity you have to talk about these at home will help them in their understanding.
6th Grade Math with Erin "Data About Us": This week we only spent a little time on data due to no school Wednesday and our Catalina assembly Friday. The students continued to work on their personal graphing question - collecting data from classmates, creating a bar graph, and finding out the mean, medium, mode, and range of their data.
5th grade Math Workshop with Genie: We have started our 3rd unit, Thousands of Miles, Thousands of Seats. We are focusing on place value and addition and subtraction in large numbers. We are using our mental math skills to solve subtraction problems like 10,000-2,308 in our head. Ask and see which strategy they use! Our unit on 3D geometry ended with a general understanding of volume as well as learning the formula lxwxh for a box and lxwxh÷3 for a pyramid. These abstract concepts challenged many of our 5th graders. Please continue discussing the formulas and the concepts of volume with your child. Check out the helpful parent guide pdf file (3Dgeo) on the homework webpage sites.google.com/site/smashcore3/.
Science with Carrie: We finally started our individual space explorations! Students are studying an incredibly variety of topics from Albert Einstein and Copernicus to Pulsars and Black Holes. Ask your child what he/she is studying and encourage them to do some research at home!
Social Studies and Geography with Erin: This shortened week in social studies began our investigation of differing schools of thought during the Civil Rights movement. Was everyone involved committed to nonviolence?
Students were introduced to Malcolm X and the Black Panthers. We will continue our study of these people/groups over the next few weeks. Purchase whole class biography, Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary by Walter Dean Myers by Nov 30! For those who brought in $6, we will purchase and have the book delivered to school by Nov 30.
Reading and Writing Workshop with Genie: Our writers published their personal essays and celebrated on Thursday all their hard work. They learned how to choose an idea and take it through the non-narrative writing process. They outlined their ideas on a boxes and bullets template, which helped them organize their 5 paragraphs—introduction, reason 1, reason 2, reason 3, and a conclusion. What made these essays personal was using their own narratives to help bring light to why their idea was important. Our next writing unit is Science Fiction Short Story. The students have all been asking for an opportunity to be more creative and write fiction. Realistic Fiction of course is welcomed! However with all their new universe knowledge from science and our read aloud White Mountains, many are excited to understand science fiction as a genre. The writers are back into their notebooks and should be collecting ideas. Any idea that comes to them should be jotted down and any ideas that could be part of their science fiction short story should be saved in their notebook.
Homework:
6G math: Assignment 2B is due on Tuesday.
5G math: packet #12 due Friday, 12/2/11.
RW: READ, READ, READ! Make sure to log in finished books on the yellow card in class.
WW: Collect 3 home entries in writing notebook by 12/2/11.
SS: Purchase Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary by Walter Dean Myers by Nov 30!
Genie: ghwang@smmusd.org
Carrie: cferguson@smmusd.org
Erin: ehaendel@smmusd.org
REMINDER: No Friday Letter next week.
Wednesday, Nov 23 is a regular schedule day—NOT minimum day.
November 24 & 25 - Thanksgiving Holiday - SMASH closed
********************
CORE 4 NEWS
Yosemite Trip Reminder: Our winter adventure for 7th graders in beautiful Yosemite Valley is coming up in just four working weeks and three days after the winter break.
Ways to prepare for the trip:
1. Get in shape for the trip – There is a lot of walking on this trip, so plan a few hikes with your child before the trip, break-in those hiking shoes if they are new, and have your child walk more each day.
2. 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 underwear, synthetic socks, and hiking boots soon as prices begin to rise after Thanksgiving.
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.
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.
Tardiness – This past Monday and Tuesday, we had high number of students who came to school late. We don’t want tardiness to become a new habit, especially for 8th graders. Please remind your child the importance of coming to school on time. This is also a great time to see if your child is getting enough sleep (and not on facebook all night), had a good breakfast to give them energy to start their day, and is prepared for school by having all the necessary materials. If your child already has a habit of coming to school early or on time, we want them to keep it up!
REMINDER: No Friday Letter next week.
Wednesday, Nov 23 is a regular schedule day—NOT minimum day.
Thursday & Friday, Nov 24 & 25 - Thanksgiving Holiday - SMASH closed
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Darwin and Kurt
Darwin: dmendinueto@smmusd.org
Kurt: kholland@smmusd.org
