Smash Friday Letter

The SMASH Jog-a-thon is next
Friday, March 9th!
Only one more week to get pledges!

The Jog-a-thon schedule is as follows:
9:00-9:25 Core 1 (Candis) and Core 3 (Blue) Warm up & Run

9:30-9:55 Core 1 (Chrysta) and Core 3 (Orange) Warm up & Run

10:00-10:25 Core 2 (Laura) and 7th graders (Darwin) Warm up & Run

10:30-10:55 Core 1(Graciela),Core 2(Tamara) & 8th graders (Kurt) Warm up & Run

Come and cheer for our amazing athletes!
Don’t miss out on this action-packed, fun-filled day at SMASH.
We still need volunteers to count laps and hand out water.
To volunteer, contact Lillie Schlessinger at
lillie.schlessinger@transamerica.com.

Runners, please remember to
apply sunscreen and wear athletic shoes!

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Dear SMASHing Families,
Thanks in advance for all your help with the Jogathon event next Friday, March 9th 9:00-11:00am. It is SMASH’s third biggest fund raiser (last year we raised over $18K) and Jogathon Chairs Darlene Flanders and Lillie Schlessinger and I really appreciate the time parents take to get kids ready for the event and time dedicated to volunteer on the Field. To quote Lillie, “Cheering makes a HUGE difference. It can be really tiring to run for 20 minutes but hearing someone call your name or give you a hand slap is very motivational”
so we hope many of you can join us to cheer and enjoy this great community fundraiser.
9:00 – 9:25 Core 1 (Candis) and Core 3 (Blue)
9:30 – 9:55 Core 1 (Chrysta) and Core 3 (Orange)
10:00 – 10:25 Core 2 (Laura) and 7th graders (Darwin)
10:30 – 10:55 Core 1 (Graciela), Core 2 (Tamara) and 8th graders (Kurt)
For those whose work and other commitments make it impossible to be on the Field with us, be sure to ask your child about the experience so you can relive at home some of the great memories and feelings generated by this wonderful day of fitness and fun at school.
Jessica

REMINDER! Pledge packets for grades K-7 are due Thursday, March 8.
Grade 8’s packets are due Monday, March 5
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SMASH TALENT SHOW IS COMING!
Tuesday, March 13 at 6:00pm
Know a song, a dance, a skit, or even a couple of good jokes?
The first 20 students who respond with their detailed plan will be in the talent show.
All acts are limited to 3 minutes or less. Any music used needs to be on a cd or ipod
E-mail your performance idea and the names of the students performing to Janice at jwold@smmusd.org
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ED FOUNDATION “GOLDEN TICKETS”
A FLYER AND 2 PACKS OF TICKETS WENT HOME WITH EVERY STUDENT ON 2/24
ADDITIONAL PACKS OF TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SMASH OFFICE
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DATES TO REMEMBER
Fri, Mar 2 - Movie Night Cancelled
Mon, Mar 5 - 9:00-10:30am - SMASH School Tour
Tues, Mar 6 - California state writing tests for 4th & 7th grades
Wed, Mar 7 - Site Council canceled due to SMASH VAPA presentation
Fri, Mar 9 - SMASH Jog-a-Thon. Sign up now to volunteer at lillie.schlessinger@transamerica.com
Sun, Mar 11 - 2:00am - Set your clocks one hour ahead - Daylight Savings time begins
Tue, Mar 13 - 6:00pm - SMASH Talent Show - e-mail Janice to sign up at jwold@smmusd.org. Limited to 20 acts.
Wed, Mar 14 - 8:30am - PTSA Mtg
Fri, Mar 16 - 9:15am - Astrocamp assembly
Mon, Mar 26 - 9:00-10:30am - Last SMASH School Tour
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Summer Adventure for Elementary School
June 25 - July 20; 8:30-12:30 daily
Roosevelt Elementary School - 801 Montana Avenue
$420 for full morning program; childcare available for additional fee - scholarships available
Brochures & Registration Forms available on March 26 and online at www.smmpta.org or www.smmef.org
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CREST SPRING ENRICHMENT CLASSES - REGISTER NOW!
8-Class Session starts April 16.
See the e-mail version of this week’s Friday Letter or CREST website (crest.smgov.net) for class descriptions and more information. Sign-up online at recenroll.smgov.net. drop off, mail in, or fax the registration form.
Youth Office at Reed Park; 1133 7th St; Santa Monica, CA 90403. Office hours Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Phone: 310-458-8540; fax 310-451-3569
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SAMOHI Theatre Presents
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC
March 1-10
Barnum Hall at Santa Monica High School
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:00pm ; Saturday Matinee, March 3 at 2:00pm
Tickets available at samohitheatre.org or 310-395-3204 x 71239 - Adults $15 - Students $10
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Santa Monica High School Choir’s Masterworks
Friday, March 16 - Barnum Hall
6:30 pre-concert lecture; 7:00 pm concert
Tickets $10 general, $5 students (at the door)
Santa Monica High School’s Madrigal Ensemble, Chamber Singers and Chorale team with students from our amazing orchestra and band programs plus professional soloists on the Barnum Hall stage to present Maurice Durufle's Requiem, one of the masterpieces of 20th century choral music. Durufle based the entire work on Gregorian chants,which are sometimes prominent and almost directly quoted from the Liber Usualis, and at other times are discreetly
woven into the texture of the background. The result is a sublime and overwhelmingly tranquil setting for the Requiem Mass for Chorus, Organ, and Orchestra. The concert will open with Bach's Motet Lobet den Herrn, BWV 230, seven minutes of non-stop vocal athleticism and an excellent example of the extravagant compositional style of the high Baroque. SAMOHI Vocal Music Director Jeffe Huls leads a pre-concert lecture about the Requiem at 6:30 pm.
www.samohichoir.org; 310-395-3204
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Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation
FOR THE ARTS BENEFIT CONCERT
Saturday, April 21
VENICE and FRIENDS with special guest, Glen Phillips
Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School
Tickets $35—$175 on sale NOW at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/230906
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SANTA MONICA PUBLIC LIBRARY CITYWIDE READS FOR KIDS
This year the Santa Monica Public Library has expanded its annual Citywide Reads program to include children. The featured book is Trouble is My Beeswax, the latest installment of Bruce Hale's popular "Chet Gecko, Private Eye" series, starring fourth grade lizard detective Chet Gecko. Author Bruce Hale will be appearing at the Main Branch on Wednesday, March 28 at 3:45 p.m. in the MLK Auditorium.

There will also be "Detective Schools" taking place at the library branches March 21-29.
See link for more info. http://smpl.org/uploadedFiles/Library/Kids_and_Parents/Programs_and_Events/
March2012YSInsert.pdf

FYI - the Citywide Reads book for adults is Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler
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The SMMUSD Department of Music will be presenting its annual district-wide performance, “Stairway of the Stars” on
Thursday, March 22, 2012 and Friday, March 23, 2012 at 7:00 pm
in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Please be advised that this year, in order to increase the availability of tickets for each night, the middle and high school orchestras will only perform on Thursday evening and middle and high school choirs will perform on Friday evening.
The bands will perform both evenings since this year the Bands are the focus group at Stairway. The elementary honor groups and jazz band will perform both evenings as well.
Stairway Performing Ensembles
All-District Elementary Honor Band, Choir and String Orchestra - Mar. 22 & Mar 23
SMASH MS Choir - Mar 23
SMASH MS Strings - Mar 22
SMASH MS Winds - Mar 22 & Mar 23
For questions and comments, please feel free to call Tom Whaley at 310 450 8338, x70287.

Stairway ticketing began Thursday, March 1 and will continue until 11:59pm on Wednesday, March 14—or until all online tickets are sold. Stairway Families Only may purchase tickets in advance by following the steps outlined below.
There have been a handful of violations of our Stairway advance online ticketing policy, so please read carefully, and remember that Stairway families are entitled to purchase a MAXIMUM OF FOUR TICKETS PER FAMILY (not per event night, nor per student). Online advance ticket purchases over the four tickets per family total will be refunded.

ADVANCE TICKET SALES: Tickets are available online for Stairway Families Only to assure that Stairway Families have priority in purchasing tickets and attending a performance.
Each family may purchase in advance online up to a MAXIMUM OF FOUR (4) TICKETS PER FAMILY—NOT PER STUDENT, NOR PER PERFORMANCE.

TO PLACE YOUR ADVANCE STAIRWAY TICKET PURCHASE ONLINE:
1. Go to https://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/18981
2. Enter your MEMBER CODE = [this is your SMMUSD Student ID Number, found on the first line of the mailing label on the back of your Stairway mailing].
3. Select the appropriate evening and place your ticket order.

PLEASE REMEMBER, STAIRWAY FAMILIES ARE LIMITED TO FOUR ADVANCE TICKETS TOTAL PER FAMILY, NOT PER STUDENT, NOR PER PERFORMANCE.
Each advance online ticket purchase will be reviewed by the Stairway ticketing coordinator for violations of the four ticket per family rule, and over purchases will be refunded.
♫ General Stairway Tickets are $15.00 each. Credit & Debit Cards accepted online.
4. This year, we are also offering options for making a STAIRWAY DONATION online with your ticket order. Simply choose the “TICKET + DONATION” option, and select the donation level of your choice.
5. Tickets will be mailed directly to your home from Brown Paper Tickets.
6. Answer the required questions – for your eldest Stairway performer: 1) First and Last Name; 2) School; 3) SMMUSD Student ID Number; 4) Grade.
7. Please also indicate if you are interested in being a VOLUNTEER for STAIRWAY, and include your name, email address and telephone number in the appropriate boxes.

GENERAL TICKET SALES ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Remaining tickets will be available for sale at $15 per ticket at the Civic Center Box Office on the night of each performance: Box Office opens at 5:30p.m.
On Thursday, March 22, tickets will be sold for the March 22 performance only;
On Friday, March 23, tickets will be sold for the March 23 performance only.

PLEASE DONATE YOUR UNNEEDED TICKETS TO THE BOX OFFICE before the performances! Donated tickets are sold to benefit Stairway, and are always needed.
For more info, please contact Chandra Narain at cnarain@smmusd.org
or by calling 310 450-8338, x70338.
Visit the Stairway Website at http://www.smmusd.org/vapa/stairway/index.html
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Saturday, March 3
ALL THINGS SEUSS
Main Library
601 Santa Monica Blvd., 10:30 a.m.
Stop by the library for the Fifth Annual Super Seuss-Abration. The celebrationbegins with a juggling show. After that, there will be crafts and activities for kids. For more information, call (310) 458-8621.

ROCKING THE MALL - SANTA MONICA PLACE
Broadway and Third Street, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Enjoy live music at the mall’s main plaza every weekend.

405 CLOSURES SCHEDULED
More overnight closures are planned beginning Friday night on the San Diego (405) Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass. The southbound freeway will be closed from the Ventura (101) Freeway to Getty Center Drive on Friday and Saturday nights as crews continue to work on rebuilding the Mulholland bridge across the 405. Some freeway ramps in the area could begin closing as early as 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and some lanes could be blocked beginning at
10 p.m. All southbound lanes will be closed at midnight, but the closures should be lifted by 5 a.m. The closures will impact the northbound lanes between Getty Center Drive and Ventura Boulevard on Monday and Tuesday nights. More southbound closures are planned on the nights of March 12 and 13.According to Metro, which is overseeing the project, Sepulveda Boulevard will remain open during the freeway closures and will be available as an alternate route.
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The UCLA Family Commons

Youth Mindfulness - Ages 10-12 & 13-16
Mindful awareness offers simple techniques that improve mental, physical and emotional well-being. Adapted for tweens, our program includes fun games, simple body movement, breathing exercises, and guided visualizations.

When Stress is Good for Children
Tuesday, March 6 - 7:00 - 8:30pm
Santa Monica Place Community Room
310-395-5650; www.uclacommons.com

Children’s Mood Swings - When is it More Than a Bad Day?
Wednesday, March 7 - 7:00-8:30pm

UPCOMING TALKS:
Social Skills
Creating Family Rituals
School Transitions: Entering Kindergarten
Preparing for Middle School
Parenting in the Social Media Age
Raising Compassionate Children
Friendship & Bullying
Sisters & Brothers: Building Healthy Sibling Relationships
Raising Sons & Daughters: Part 1
Raising Sons & Daughters: Part 2
Raising Financially Literate Children

UCLA Family Commons
A unique family experience developed by the professional team
at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior
1221 2nd Street; Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-395-5650 - www.UCLACommons.com

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ptsa news
president’s message

Dear SMASHing Parents,
As we move towards our major Spring fundraising events at SMASH, now is the time for all SMASH families to get involved and do your part to support SMASH. First up is the SMASH Jog-a-Thon next Friday March 9th. If you have never attended this event, please take a couple hours from your busy schedule to cheer on our SMASH kids as the run laps in the big yard.

The next big event on the horizon is SuperSMASH, our biggest and most important fundraiser.
This year SuperSMASH will be earlier than usual on May 19, 2012. Organizing efforts by volunteer parents are well underway. Please remember that this very important event cannot operate successfully without the help of every SMASH parent. Everyone should sign-up to fill a shift and help with set-up, clean-up, food and craft booths, silent and live auction set-up and close-out or help run the various game and activity booths. Parents will be asked after Spring Break to commit at least two hours or more to fill a shift for SuperSMASH.

One of the most important fundraising aspects of SuperSMASH is the silent auction, which takes
place in the cafeteria during SuperSMASH. The silent auction accounts for more than half the money raised at SuperSMASH. As always SMASH families our relied upon to help get donations of items that are needed to make the silent auction successful. This year we are sending emails to businesses asking for donations to the SMASH silent auction. We need help now in getting email addresses for businesses that might donate. At this time, we would like every SMASH family to get 10 email addresses for a business that you think might donate to the SuperSMASH silent auction. All email addresses should be sent to Dan McGee (dmcgee914@gmail.com) or Helga Schier (helgaschier@verizon.net).
- Dan McGee

ptsa annual family investment drive
The SMASH Annual Family Investment Drive continues throughout the year. Have you made a commitment? Even though there will be changes to the fundraising by SMASH PTSA, nothing will change for this and the 2012-2013 school year. Therefore, we must keep up our efforts to make sure that our SMASH kids have a great education. From teacher assistant salaries to underwriting the office copy machine to field trips, PTSA literally keeps the school moving. Your generosity is appreciated and makes a difference. This year we are aiming for 100% parent participation and your donation brings us closer to our goal. If you have any questions, contact Marni Ayers Brady (marniayers@gmail.com).

SMASH bash
If you have not been able to enjoy a SMASH bash event, there are still openings. Please contact Marni Ayers Brady (marniayers@gmail.com) at your earliest convenience and find out what upcoming events are still available.

GREEN TIP FOR THE WEEK
Recycle Natural Corks at Whole Foods Markets. Look for the Cork ReHarvest dropbox or ask a Customer Rep for assistance. Cork ReHarvest is the leading national recycling organization focused on recycling natural cork and educating the public about the vital importance that the Mediterranean cork forests have in the world's ecological balance. Visit corkreharvest.org for more information.
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CORE 1 NEWS

THE JOG-A-THON IS NEXT WEEK!!
Please help your child be prepared next Friday, March 9 for our annual Jog-a-thon. We will be running in Workshop Groups beginning right after Morning Meeting. Here’s the schedule:
Partners: 9:00-9:25
Bigs: 9:30 – 9:55
Mentors: 10:30 – 10:55

You can help your child be prepared by…
Getting a good night’s sleep
Eating a hearty, protein-filled breakfast
Wearing proper (layered) clothing and running shoes
Putting on sunscreen
And don’t forget to bring your pledges!!!
The Core 1 teachers are collecting pledges, too. If you would like to sponsor us, please see the pledge sheet on Graciela’s white board. Pledges are due Thursday, March 8.
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Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate the Partners’ published Pattern Books last Wednesday morning. If you’re interested in seeing your child’s AMAZING work, please stop by and look inside his/her portfolio. Some children published extra stories to take home, or have works-in-progress for them to keep. Soon we will begin our new study of “How-To” books.

Next week, the Bigs and Mentors will be celebrating their writing, too!!

Bigs’ Writing Celebration: Wednesday, March 7 at Morning Meeting
Join your child in their circle group on Wednesday morning to celebrate the Bigs and their published pieces. During our Authors as Mentors unit of study, the Bigs wrote their pieces in the style of one of their favorite authors, Olivier Dunrea and his Gossie & Friends series. Come and enjoy a reading of Gossie and then stay for the Bigs’ own creative and original adaptations.

Mentors’ Writing Celebration: Wednesday, March 7 2:15 P.M.
The Mentors will be celebrating their writing with the Bigs on Wednesday afternoon from 2:15-3:00 in the Golden Galaxy. The Mentors will read their stories and share their planning, drafting, revising, and editing process. Find out what stories inspired the Mentors to write their own fiction stories and what important lessons their characters learned. Mentor Parents are welcome to join us.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Candis, Chrysta, Graciela, Nadja, and Jackie

Candis: cberens@smmusd.org
Chrysta: cwyse@smmusd.org
Graciela: gbarba-castro@smmusd.org

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CORE 2 NEWS

In case you haven’t heard, Projects have started in Core 2! We expanded Theme (science, geography, social studies, and history) from 2 to 4 days a week, so we could add 4 “projects” times. On Mondays and Tuesdays, the students go to Core 1 to investigate Ramps and Pathways with Candis and Jayme. This hands-on exploration encourages the students to develop their own understanding of principles of physics, while experimenting with materials to test their ideas and build upon their concepts. The Core 1 team has been studying, using, and adapting a Reggio Emillia approach to learning for many years, and we are excited to bring Projects and Candis’ expertise to Core 2. Ask your child about Projects with Candis.

On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the students have started Independent Research Projects. Inspired by their field trip to the STAR Ecostation, the students brainstormed a list of topics related to animals that they wanted to learn more about. Each student chose what type of group they wanted to work in (buddy, truddy, or quaddy), what specific topic they wanted to research, and what type of end-project they wanted to create in order to share their learning with others. Then the groups started planning next steps for doing their research at home and at school. Tamara is using Projects-Based Learning to guide this unit. Ask your child about his/her animal project.

In science and social studies with Laura, they are learning how to read informational text, determine important information, and answer questions about what they’ve read--essential skills for Projects!
Projects is an exciting, busy, fun time in Core 2—and extra hands are always welcome. Feel free to stop by and check it out or lend a hand. Mondays/Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays 2:00 – 3:00 pm.

What is Reggio Emilia? by Rose Garrett from education.com
One of the core values of Reggio Emillia:
The child as an active participant in learning. The Reggio approach “sees a child as a very competent protagonist and initiator, who interacts with their environment,” says Lyon. Andra Young, head teacher of a Reggio inspired school in San Francisco's Presidio State Park, says that students are allowed to follow their own interests, but that “it's not willy-nilly.” For example, she says, students in her classroom were showing an interest in building, so she brought wood stumps and building materials into the classroom. While exploring how to hammer nails, the children were given the opportunity to reinforce math skills, problem-solving, and emerging literacy –all in relationship to their hands-on project.

Although adapting the values of the Reggio Emilia approach can be challenging for teachers, Young says it's worth it. “Validating the children's work and supporting the child to go deeper into their perception of the world is the most important part of the process.” Parents and teachers will agree: it's never too soon to start giving your child a nose for knowledge and the tools to investigate the world.

What is Project-based Learning? from pbl-online.org
Project Based Learning is an instructional approach built upon authentic learning activities that engage student interest and motivation. These activities are designed to answer a question or solve a problem and generally reflect the types of learning and work people do in the everyday world outside the classroom. *For more information, read the article with this week’s Friday papers.

Jog-a-thon - Friday, March 9: Jog-a-thon pledge packets are due Thurs, March 8.
Laura ’s advisory will jog from 10:00 to 10:25
Tam ara’s adrisory will jog from 10:30 to 10:55

Reminders: Tuesday, March 6 - 4th grade STAR writing test

Have a great weekend exploring your interests and making sense of your world!
Laura: lsherman@smmusd.org
Jayme: j.wold@smmusd.org
Tamara: tmugalian@smmusd.org
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CORE 3 NEWS

Jogathon Pledges due Thursday 3/8! Come cheer us on!
Blue at 9:00-9:25 and Orange at 9:30-9:55 Fri 3/9

Sell your Ed Foundation Golden Raffle Tickets!

6th gr Math w/ Carrie: We started our new unit - Bits and Pieces 2. In this unit we will be learning how to add/subtract /multiply/divide fractions, decimals and percents. We started by using what we know about "landmark fractions "to help estimate addition problems. We are talking about common denominators and making equivalent fractions in order to help us add them. You can help at home by talking about where fractions appear in your life and how you add them together (most of us estimate a lot to figure out of we are close - this is an important skill for kids to learn).
6th gr Math w/ Amanda: The mathematicians have worked on polygons and triangles. Ask your child to identify different types of angles and triangles.
5th gr Math w/ Genie: The mathematicians have been busy understanding decimals how .125 is less than .4 even though it looks like it has more numbers. One strategy is using money equivalents: 12 and half cents is less than forty cents. We also are looking at sports records and learned that records are in decimals rounded to the thousandths by dividing wins by total games played. So 10 wins and 10 losses give a .500 record.

Science w/ Carrie: Our projects are well under way. The students are working on Power Point and Prezi presentations as well as their visuals (experiments, biomes in boxes, and paper bag scrapbooks). Ask your child what they have chosen to do for their visual. A reminder to families - I have asked children for a list of supplies (inexpensive). I will purchase them this weekend. These are meant to be creative and inexpensive projects so please check with Carrie if you have a question about something your child has said you need to get (like a new pet you weren't expecting!). You can talk with your child about a couple of important questions: Why is your biome important in the world? What are some of the issues affecting your biome? These are questions we will be delving deeper into as we continue our research.

SS w/ Amanda: The citizens are learning about different types of government in Ancient Greece. They also looked at life in Athens and Sparta and the similarities and differences between the two City States.
RW/WW w/ Genie: The readers and writers will move into Poetry after our nonfiction units in Journalism. We will be reading a whole class poetry novel by Karen Hesse set in the time of the Dust Bowl called Out of the Dust. The books have been ordered and the Core is asking for $5.00 donation to cover the cost. Having their own book will allow them to write notes right into the book. In Journalism, we continue to analyze news articles we read together in class. Ask
your child what they know about reading a news article. And in writing we are busy publishing our 2nd issue of our newspapers. We hope to share all 3 issues Thursday, March 29th. Details to come.
Dramatic Arts with Kristy: We were busy learning Long Form Improv and learning to listen carefully and to think on our feet! Next week we will be making our choices on what we want to do on stage for our final performance in front of an audience—you—our families! We hope you will be able to join us for our Comedy/Improv Share at Witz End on Lincoln in Venice, Wednesday, March 28th from 1:00-2:00. We know the last week of school before spring break will be busy but we hope you can make it.

SuperSMASH Core 3 Art Auction Piece: If you have any SMASH t-shirts you would like to donate for our Art Auction project, please start bringing them to Genie.

Homework:
6GMath: Assignment #3 is due next Thursday.
5G Math: Math Packet #22 due Friday.
Writing: Collect 3 entries in their notebook (3 full pages)—by the end of March, writers should be ready for their second
notebook for the year. We have extra notebooks in the core.
Reading: read every day for 30-40 minutes!

Have a great weekend
Genie, Carrie, Amanda & Malaika

Genie: ghwang@smmusd.org
Carrie: cferguson@smmusd.org
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CORE 4 NEWS
8th Grade
This week in Math most of the group has began Chapter 8, factoring polynomials, while some have finished Chapter 8. In Science, the 8th graders have been preparing for their demos, in which they present on any of the C.S.T. release questions. A small group is working on astronomy.
Written by Diego Marvel

7th Grade
In 7th grade math, students are finishing chapter five and will be starting chapter six soon! Chapter five was about ratios, proportions, and scales. We recently had a chapter 1-4 cumulative test.

In 7th grade science we are focusing on physics and chemistry. We have been studying about Isaac Newton’s three laws of motion, as well as astronomy. In addition, One of the QuikSCience teams placed in the top five, and had an interview at USC on Wednesday, February 29th. We will find out the final results soon.

Humantities
In Humanities we have been learning about the people of Darfur and their struggles. We have also been learning about the amazing things women can do, if they are given a chance. We have been brainstorming ways to make a difference concerning these issues. One of the things we will be doing is raising money to give women micro-loans. Micro-loans are small amounts of money, which can give women the ability to independently create a business, which can give them the power to stand up for themselves. All of Core 4 visited the Skirball Cultural Center where we visited an exhibit called “Women Hold Up Half The Sky”. We also got identities of real Darfurian people and we got the chance to learn about their daily lives. This was a great experience!
Written by Naomi Miller-Altuner

Upcoming Events
March 6 - 7th grade state writing test
March 9 - JOG-A-THON: Pledges due Monday, March 5 for 8th graders,
Thursday, March 8 for 7th graders.

7th graders run from 10:00 to 10:25

8th graders run from 10:30 to 10:55

Darwin Mendinueto - dmendinueto@smmusd.org
Kurt Holland - kholland@smmusd.org
Bailey Field - baileyfield@mac.com