Smash Friday Letter

SPRING BREAK - APRIL 2-15
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Dear SMASHing Families,
Are you aware of what the Santa Monica Malibu Education Foundation (SMMEF) currently does for SMASH?
The SMMEF funds SMASH:
Core 2 and Core 4 dance classes
3rd grade recorders
Library books
Technology grants to teachers (ELMOs and LCD Projectors)

In order for the SMMEF to continue to help SMASH and all Santa Monica-Malibu district schools, they need our support. For $1 per day you can make a difference! Remember the successful Save Our Schools (SOS) campaign that saved jobs thanks to parent leaders and SMMEF joint efforts? SMMEF is a non-profit organization that raises district-wide funds in support of Academics, Arts, and Athletics for all students in SMMUSD. The goal is “to ensure an equitable and vibrant educational experience for the students in our public schools with the support of our community.” We can show our SMASH community support to SMMEF in three ways right now:
1) Sell your SMMEF Golden Raffle Tickets.
2) Buy your ticket to the April 21st music benefit
3) Write your check for $365 to SMMEF for the $1 a day campaign.

This new $1 a day campaign is a launch to build the Education Foundation’s funds to pay for staff at elementary schools through centralized fundraising starting in the 2013-14 school year.

As you read Dan McGee’s PTSA entry in the Friday Letter last week (also email blasted through core reps), you learned more about the Centralized Fundraising Roundtable that occurred last Saturday and the encouraging guidance given by PTSA and Education Foundation leaders in Palo Alto, Beverly Hills, Irvine, and Manhattan Beach, places that moved to centralized fundraising and have seen an overall increase in the funds their Districts raise thanks to 90plus percent parent participation and bigger corporate donations.

Centralized Fundraising is the shift from site-generated funds to hire supplemental personnel (such as artists or reading specialists) to pooled district-wide parent donations as well as corporate donations to fund these programs at every site. The process and exact rules are still being formed by the Superintendent’s Advisory Group that Dan McGee and I serve on. Centralized Fundraising will apply to supplemental funding, monies supplemental to the Districts funds that come from the state and the cities.

The ability to raise additional funds through organized corporate donations to district-wide programs is part of the reasoning for the switch to Centralized Fundraising. Monetary equity across the district is another of the driving forces behind this new system. In addition, if we are able to reduce the constant need for SMASH fundraisers, parent volunteerism could be freed up for classroom participation and community building activities. I am confident that in this new Centralized Fundraising system, SMASH will retain its unique progressive mission, that SMASH (as well as the other sites) will continue to make choices and be given enough flexibility to experiment with curriculum and structure of teachers. We need your continuing commitment to make Smash a leader in the community.

Let’s show our SMASH leadership in embracing this new funding system and culture change by supporting the Education Foundation campaign with whatever amount you can afford.

Truly yours,
Jessica
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DATES TO REMEMBER
Mon, Mar 26 - 9:00-10:30am - Last SMASH School Tour
Wed, Mar 28 - 9:00am - Core 1 Drama; 1:00pm - 3 Drama; 6:00pm - OPEN HOUSE - All Cores Fri, Mar 30 - Last day to apply for SMASH for September (ALL K siblings MUST have their applications in)
Fri, Mar 30 - Beach Day Cancelled (but we’re still going to have a FUN day)
Mon, Apr 2 - Sun, Apr 15 - SPRING BREAK
Mon, Apr 23-Wed May 2 - CST Testing - 2nd through 8th Grade
Wed, Apr 18 - 5:00pm - Site Council Mtg
Tues, May 29 SMASH music concert rescheduled to Thurs, May 31
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Sustainable Works World Water Day Green Living Workshop
Saturday, March 24, 2pm-4pm Santa Monica/Westside YWCA 2019 14th Street,
This FREE workshop will focus on Water issues in general as they relate to Food production.
www.sustainableworks.eventbrite.com
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USTA 10 and Under Team Tennis ‘Play Day”
All Levels - $15 - Rackets provided/fun, prizes, awards
Sunday, March 25 - 4:00-6:00pm
Reed Park Tennis Courts (7th & Wilshire) - rsvp: brooks@scta.usta.com 310-804-0010
* * * * * * * * *
Spanish for Kids & Adults
Santa Monica Community Class - Spring Session (April-June)
Euclid Park at 1525 Euclid St, Santa Monica - www.tesoroescondido.org
* * * * * * * * *
Play To Your Health
Youth Sports Fitness - Jump Start - Sign up through CREST - PlayToYourHealth.com
* * * * * * * * *
World Groove After School classes
A fun, friendly & creative environment for children ages 5-10
Each week students explore dance, art & culture from around the world. April 19 to June 8
Joslyn Park Auditorium, City of Santa Monica Parks & Rec www.recenroll.smgov.net
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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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Brave Irene
Santa Monica’s Morgan-Wixson Theatre
Y.E.S. Youth Education/Entertainment Series
Featuring SMASH Student, Gabriel Schier running the sound board!
March 24 - April 8
For tickets & more visit us on our Facebook page or http://www.morgan-wixson.org/
In this musical retelling of William Steig’s classic tale, young Irene finds herself having to brave the elements — the Cold, the Wind, and the Dark — in order to deliver a ball gown to a spoiled brat of a Duchess – just in time for the Duchess’s ball. A wonderful musical story of courage and perseverance for all ages.
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Jog-a-thon ‘12
ALL pledges
are due
now!

Please drop off your pledge envelope with check or cash in the office.
You can also pay online (via PayPal) at http://tinyurl.com/77lzpl9.

Thanks!

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ptsa news

president’s message

Dear SMASHing Parents,
As the last Friday letter before Spring Break, we hope every SMASH family has prepared for the first two weeks of April, when school will be closed, with some awesome trips, camps or other enjoyable activities for both kids and family.

Over the next few weeks, preparations will continue for SuperSMASH, which will take place early this year on May 19, 2012, so please mark your calendar. After we return to school in mid April, the SuperSMASH committee will continue to diligently strive to make sure this year’s SuperSMASH is successful, and assure that every SMASH family volunteers to work some portion of this very important fundraiser.

The next few weeks is a great opportunity for our SMASH families to reflect on the changes, coming to our school district, in regard to centralized fundraising. I hope that everyone has had the opportunity to review my message in last Friday’s ptsa news or read the letter that was emailed to the SMASH community last Tuesday, which was intended to keep the SMASH community informed about this important change and to instill optimism in our community that these changes will benefit our children. If anyone has questions or wants to discuss centralized fundraising, please free to give me a call. Now is the time for team spirit, to work together and help assure that centralized fundraising is smoothly and successfully implemented.
Dan McGee

ptsa annual family investment drive
The SMASH Annual Family Investment Drive continues throughout the year. Even though there will be changes to the fundraising by SMASH PTSA, nothing will change for this and the 2012-2013 school year.
SMASH must still 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. Even though there will be changes to the fundraising by SMASH PTSA, nothing will change for this and the 2012-2013 school year. We want 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 some openings for some of the remaining parties. 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
No Shoes For a Greener, Cleaner Home: The soles of your shoes are not only carrying dirt and small rocks, but they are also responsible for bringing in pesticides, lead and other pollutants from lawns, roads and other surfaces that can contaminate indoor air. According to a study conducted by Rockport shoe company and the University of Arizona, the outside of a regular pair of shoes, after 14 days wear, accommodates a whole host of bacteria, including E. coli. By taking off your shoes at the door regularly, 70% of the dirt that carries those germs and toxins can be avoided. Apart from living in a less toxic environment and reducing your indoor air pollution, you'll have a cleaner home and save time and energy from vacuuming and mopping regularly. thedailygreen.com
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SMASH Site Council Agenda
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
5:00 PM Core 2
Adopt Agenda

Approve minutes of last meeting

Community participation

Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)
Principal’s Report
Student Reports
Community Organization Reports (to include but not limited to the following):
PTSA
Student Council
Other
Old Business
New Business
Draft Play Before Lunch Student Survey
Community participation (is applicable)
Adjourn
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CORE 1 NEWS

Have you heard? Core 1’s THREEMENDOUSE SHADOW PLAYS are finally here!!

Over the past eight weeks students in Core 1 have had the opportunity to try out the many different roles in our shadow plays. Everyone was challenged to test their comfort levels about performing in front of others and to try out being an actor, storyteller, shadow and a narrator. The roles you'll see in our final show are the ones that they chose for themselves, the ones they felt most comfortable with for the sharing in front of a large group of peers and parents.
-Kristy Pace, Performance Artist in Residence

Wednesday, March 28 9:00- 10:00
ALL CHILDREN ARE REQUESTED TO WEAR BLACK CLOTHES FOR THE DAY.

Stage: The Golden Galaxy (Graciela’s Room)
Please walk around the Core 1 building and enter through the door to The Golden Galaxy. After each show, you can meet and greet the actors on the Small Yard. Actors will exit “backstage” while the guests exit the Golden Galaxy and walk around the building to the small yard.

MENTORS
Play: The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Time: 9:00-9:20 am
Guest List: Mentors' Parents, Mentors' Siblings, Core 2

BIGS
Play: Goldilocks & The Three Bears
Time: 9:20-9:40am
Guest List: Bigs’ Parents, Bigs’ Siblings, Core 2

PARTNERS
Play:The Three Little Pigs
Time: 9:40-10:00am
Guest List: Partners’ Parents, Partners’ Siblings

Core 1 plans to show the movies of our performances in the evening at Open House. If you’re unable to come to our live performances, we hope to see you at Open House (6:00 pm).

Support our ARTS PROGRAM! Shadow Puppet Kits will be for sale on Wednesday morning and evening ONLY. An order form for personalized, framed SILLOUHETTE DRAWINGS and DRAMA DVD is in your Friday Folder. All proceeds will go directly to our Spring Arts Budget.
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TRIP TO THE FARMER’S MARKET
Thanks to Kaila’s mom, Devorie, we have field trips planned to the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market after Spring Break. The children will be touring the market in Workshop groups. Please note your child’s date.
Mentors – April 18th , Bigs – April 25th , Partners – May 16th
Mentors and Bigs will find their permission slips in their Friday Folder. Please return them NEXT WEEK. Partners
will receive their permission slips after Spring Break.
*********************************************************************************************** Wishlist: Castille Soap (any scent), vinegar, spray bottles, antibacterial soap, Method anti-bacterial spray for our Spring Cleaning

Enjoy more family time over Spring Break!!
Candis, Chrysta, Graciela, Jackie, and Nadja

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

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CORE 2 NEWS

Advisory News: Can you believe another trimester has come and gone?! It’s been a good run, but the Coolios and the Mysterious Chubby Gummy Monkey Bears have reached the end of the road, and it’s time for new groupings. After Spring Break, we will be getting into our third, and final, Advisory Groups. The students have all written persuasive letters to Tamara and Laura to help us put these groups together. We know you know how much time, thought, and care we put into this process.

Theme: The students enjoyed their physics Projects Groups with Candis. They’ve been experimenting with gravity, slope, speed, acceleration, deceleration, friction, mass/density through their ramps and pathways activities. Everyone is also working hard on their Animal Projects. The students are learning how to gather resources, learn from their resources, and take notes related to their topic idea (rather that simply copying everything from the book without thinking). After Spring Break, they will be organizing their information and showing what they learned in a variety of ways: an essay, a hybrid-nonfiction book, a speech, a presentation, a fundraiser. Projects and independent research will continue, along with units on the Solar System, Native Americans, and ecosystems (producers, consumers), after
Spring Break.

Literacy:
In Readers Workshop, we continue reading our Just Right books. The students have been exploring the big idea - what the book is really, really about - in fiction read alouds and in their independent reading books. We are helping them relate that idea to the main idea and details found in nonfiction text. This concept leads naturally into essay writing.
In Writing Workshop, we published our Realistic Fiction stories and most of us published a free-writing piece, too!
These kids love free-writing comics, historical fiction diaries and letters, realistic fiction “school drama” stories, and poetry. After Spring Break, we will delve into fantasy by incorporating a fantasy element into a realistic fiction story (a fantasy element can be magic powers, an alternate world, a fantastic object, or a mysterious magical person or creature). In non-narrative WW, we continue our essay work. By now, you should be very familiar with “I think… because…” sentences. The students have supported their ideas in discussions, persuasive letters, essay drafts, etc. We even explored the difference between supporting your idea with reasons that are facts (I have piano lessons, the character is in his underpants, it is a bestseller) versus supporting your idea with reasons that are opinions (It is boring, it is funny, people like it). The students will continue to build upon this work to create an outline, with a thesis idea
and supporting sentences, to write a standard 5-paragraph essay after Spring Break.

Math: Laura’s 3rd graders are working on multiplication and division (factors, arrays, times tables), 2-d geometry (area, perimeter), and fractions. Tamara’s 4th graders are wrapping up the 2-d geometry unit, Size, Shape, and Symmetry (measurement, polygons, angles, symmetry) which related our work with arrays (multiplication) to calculating area. After the break, we will relate this work to fractions and coordinates (algebra). Both groups are exploring the mathematical vocabulary and concepts they might encounter on the state tests.

News from Tamara: I am thrilled to report that my most recent PET scan showed “significant” improvement, which means the treatment I’ve been undergoing since October is working. I will continue to take daily oral medications, as well as receive shots and an IV treatment on a monthly basis. Other than making me a bit of a sleepy-head, I have no
troubling side-effects from this regimen. As you may have already heard, I am taking my son Gabriel on a trip to Asia. Since my diagnosis, I have taken each of my four children on a month-long trip to show them the world and enjoy some one-on-one time. It’s Gabe’s turn, and since he wants to go to Asia, spring is the logical season (Bangkok in July? No thanks). I will be gone F 3/23 – M 4/16. Core 2 will be in great hands with Jayme, Mimi, and, of course, Laura.

Enjoy your Spring Break—wishing you fun, sun, and family time!
Tamara, Laura, Jayme & Karin

Laura: lsherman@smmusd.org
Tamara: tmugalian@smmusd.org


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CORE 3 NEWS

Need Jogathon Pledges!
$5.00 for Out of the Dust book if you haven't already donated!
No district music on Tuesday. Yes district music on Thursday.

Planned Parenthood Parent Information Meeting for 6th grade parents:
The 6th graders will begin their sessions with Planned Parenthood soon after we return from spring break. We will be holding a parent information meeting on Wednesday, April 18 (the first Wednesday back from break) from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. A representative from Planned Parenthood will be there to let you know what the students will be learning and to answer any questions you may have. Erin and Jessica will also attend. Planned Parenthood needs at least ten parents in attendance to make the trip out to SMASH, so we are asking that you RSVP if you plan to come. Please email Erin (teacher Erin, not parent Erin) by next Thursday, 3/29 if you are planning on coming to the information session. Thanks! ehaendel@smmusd.org

Our 6 weeks with Amanda are coming to an end! They have flown by and we are sad to say "see you later" but we know we will see her as a sub and around the district. We've been excited to learn about ancient Greece in fun ways and appreciated Amanda's smile and generous spirit. Amanda's last day is Friday, March 30! Please stop by our Greek Olympics and Feast on Friday to say good bye and thank you.

6th gr Math w/ Carrie: We are winding down our unit on multiplying and dividing fractions and will have our assessment next week before spring break.
6th gr Math w/ Amanda: We have been reviewing area of polygons and we will be moving on to 3D objects. Ask your child to identify polygons in everyday life and to estimate the circumference and area.
5th gr Math w/ Genie: We took our unit assessment this past week after sharing lots of different strategies in understanding decimals and how to add them. We will be taking some time in math to look at questions that will be on the California State Test. It is good practice for those who are going to take the test and for those families who opt out.

Science w/ Carrie: The Biome projects are looking great! Don't forget that we will be sharing them at Open House on Wednesday night (6pm-7pm) and during the day on Thursday 11:30 to 12:25. (**Note time change from last week's Friday Letter.) We hope you all are able to come and see the work the kids have done. It's quite impressive!

SS w/ Amanda: We have been learning about the Peloponnesian War and its effect on Ancient Greece. Ask your child who was involved, how and when it started, and what happened after it ended. Also ask what happened to poor Themistocles? Where does the word ostracized come from? Our Olympics and unit celebration will be Friday, the 30th. Students will be competing in 4 events and will dress in their city state colors. Our Greek Feast will be presided over by the City State winners who will also award medals to the Olympians. Your child will sign up to bring something for the feast in their city state.

RW/WW w/ Genie: We finished up our 3rd newspaper issue and will be ready to share them with our families and the SMASH community (see Science section above for times). We will be starting our Poetry Writing Unit next week and will continue it in April. Each poet will need to come up with a theme or an idea that will connect 5-10 poems in an interactive visual and language arts piece. They should be exploring ideas that are important to them in their writing notebooks. Next week we will also begin a little test prep for the Language Arts CST test which will be administered in April.

Dramatic Arts w/ Kristy: We had our dress rehearsal this week to prepare for next week's show, celebrating a great unit and the end of our arts for this year. We also were fortunate that SMASH parent Jake Johannsen (Dad of Core 1 Fionnula) came to share his path to his profession and his process for his work. And Kristy's improv maestros came and shared their practice with us as well! Thanks to all of our guests! And a huge SHOUT OUT to Kristy and all her hard work teaching us about comedy and improv as part of the Dramatic Arts.

Homework:
Science: Finish Biome Project (research paper, PowerPoint/Prezi, visual).
6G Math: Study for assessment!
5G Math: Math Packet #25 due Friday, 3/30. No homework over Spring Break.
Writing: Collect 3 entries in their notebook.
Reading: read every day for 30-40 minutes! This can include Out of the Dust required reading.
Genie, Carrie, Amanda, Erin & Malaika
Genie: ghwang@smmusd.org
Carrie: cferguson@smmusd.org
Erin: ehaendel@smmusd.org

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CORE 4 NEWS


Parent Conferences are starting on April 16th and ending on April 26th. Please sign up at the office for available times. We are giving 7th grade students priority on the week of April 16th. If you met with Kurt last semester, you need to set up a conference with Darwin, and vice versa.

7th Grade
This week we went to 826LA. and we made our own create-your-own-adventure stories. We walked a long way from School to Venice Boulevard . We walked along the Venice Boardwalk, the beach and Abbot Kinney. Once we got there we were put in groups randomly and we started writing with the help of our tutors. To create your own adventure, the author (7th graders) makes multiple scenarios based on our choosing. Our Story took place on Planet X in the year 3014. We choose multiple scenarios and adventures for the reader. One of the scenarios was to fight a giant fish with a cat head. Another scenario was to become friends with rock people. The
story had multiple directions in which the reader can follow with multiple endings. One of them was a Dinosaur and a Famous rapper having a rap battle. An other one was fighting rock people and escaping on a spaceship. All in all, it was a fun experience.

8th Grade
This week in science we concluded our egg baby project. We still have to finish the journal entries, including an interview with a new parent. The parent can not be related to you and recently had a baby. The interview will include ten probing questions. On Wednesday, we gave our babies to Kurt for inspection. Each crack on the egg will take off a percent. Also on Monday, the egg baby journal will be due. The journal has to have ten different entries, pictures, and the interview with a mom. Every single place we have gone should have a picture documenting it. Some of the journal entries include how we got pregnant, risks of drugs and alcohol during pregnancy, and puberty. We also had to write entries about high school, the three main categories of drugs, and when our babies want to date older teenagers. All of these entries need to be printed and put in a booklet.
- by Eamonn Roth And Dylan Archer

Celebrate your Core 4 artist!
Joins us for LIVE SKETCH demonstrations featuring YOU as our key subjects and get a sneak peek inside our sketchbooks. For the past nine weeks we’ve been focused on exercising, stretching and strengthening our knowledge and skills around principles of drawing techniques and media. See for yourself how we’ve developed strength of perception and hand eye coordination to gain representational skills.

Week 1: Intro to traditional materials and contemporary practices.

Weeks 2 & 3: Classic proportions of figure, and how it is used in comic book and fashion illustration. Creating our own version of an ideal proportion fantastic or realistic.

Weeks 4 & 5: The Face. Exploring likeness and traditional vs. non-traditional portrait techniques. Final drawing pen on paper life size.

Weeks 6 & 7: Perspective. Making things recede in space by a use of perspective from the Renaissance. Exploration of perspective in creating an illusion of depth on 2 dimensional surfaces.

Weeks 8 & 9: Light and dark, Shading to show light source and objects as they are defined by light, shadow, composition, and negative space. Abstraction in drawing.

Darwin Mendinueto - dmendinueto@smmusd.org
Kurt Holland - kholland@smmusd.org