I want to acknowledge the creative energy, inspiration, and generosity throughout our community. There are countless contributions of time, talents, and resources. As I went through the recent deposits with Ofer, the PTSA Treasurer, this week, I was reminded that it is not only parents and staff who invest in SMASH; it is students and SMASH friends as well. Here are three heart-warming examples of donations to SMASH reflective of people’s care and commitment to our school:
Thank you to Caz, Gabby, and Shira, Sadie and Molly, Willow, Mika, Mira, and Maya for donating $33 raised by hosting lemonade stands
Thank you to Lydia for donating $123 she raised by performing in a concert
Thank you to Marni Gittleman for teaching others about SMASH and facilitating a donation of $1,000 to the SMASHing Arts Program
Two of SMASH’s biggest student and parent run events are ahead of us in March and May: Jogathon March 15 and SuperSMASH May 18. These incredible days full of community fun are also big fundraisers that rely on all families to run smoothly. If you are able to volunteer to help with either event, please email me (jrishe@smmusd.org) and I will let the event chairs know of your interest and availability.
In gratitude for the many ways you each support our school -
Jessica
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Dear Smashing Parents,By now, you have received the Education Foundation’s Dollar A Day annual appeal letter. If you haven’t already, please consider a gift of a dollar a day for each child, or $365 per student in your household, or whatever you can give. The campaign’s goal is $4 million by January 2014 to ensure that our children – and all children in our District – have the best educational opportunities available based on the District’s identified priorities which are in alignment with what we emphasize at SMASH:
• Educational Excellence in Reading and Math: Your gift will provide schools with reading and math coaches and the tools necessary to improve, challenge and accelerate all students. These coaches would be in addition to the instructors we currently have at SMASH.
• Investment in Staff: Your contribution will make sure that our teachers receive high quality education and training that keeps them at the forefront of best practices and educational innovation. We are hopeful this will provide SMASH instructors access to continued Reading and Writing Workshop training, Project-based Learning Workshops, Math, and Responsive Classroom professional development.
• Instructional Assistants in the Classroom: Your gift will provide academically-trained assistants to teachers to boost student reading and math performance. We all celebrate the importance of the instructional assistants, Malaika, Nadja, and Laura, who are on our SMASH team.
• School Enrichment: Your commitment will ensure that schools continue to choose special programs which enrich students’ education and are tailored to each school’s unique environment. This money could help to pay for SMASH middle school music, drama, visual arts, and perhaps new creative programs such as dance.
Remember, a gift of a dollar a day - or whatever you can generously give, will make a tremendous difference in the lives of our children.
Giving is easy. You can donate online (www.smmef.org) or mail your contribution using the remit envelope you received with the letter.
We strongly encourage to take part in this campaign and to give as generously as possible.
Thank you,
Jessica, Jamee and David
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MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR BIRTHDAY OBSERVED - MONDAY, JANUARY 21 - SCHOOL CLOSED
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DATES TO REMEMBER
Mon, Jan 21 - HOLIDAY - Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday observed - SCHOOL CLOSEDWed, Jan 23 - 6:30pm - SMASH MULTICULTURAL POTLUCK/DIVERISTY NIGHT
Wed, Jan 30 - 6:00pm - Dialogue On Race, Part II - SMASH Library. Childcare available
Tues-Thur, Jan 29-31 - PE mile run. See schedule in today’s Friday Letter
SAVE THE DATE -
SMASH IHOP Fundraiser 9am - 4pm, Saturday, January 26
Come for breakfast, brunch or lunch.. 20% of all sales will be donated back to SMASH PTSA
12115 West Ohio Avenue, Los Angeles. Flier will be in next week’s Friday Letter
SMASH JOG-A-THON!! Friday, March 5
T-Shirt design submissions due by February 1. Sponsorship to have your name on the t-shirt due by February 8. See form in today’s Friday Letter
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Seeking Canadians
to participate in setting up a table for the SMASH multi-cultural night on Wednesday, Jan 23, 6:30 pm.
If you have any curios or trivia to offer that is uniquely Canadian, especially French Canadian,
or if you would like to represent a specific province
please contact Barbara Williams at 310 471 4718 or liamjack1@mac.com.
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SMASH Multi-Cultural Potluck Dinner
Wednesday, January 23
6:30 – 8:30pm
Please bring your favorite salads, appetizers, and main courses from your culture
We will provide dessert
Questions?
Lori Nafshun: gettalife1@gmail.com
Barbara Williams: liamjack1@mac.com
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Midsummer Night's Dream
Morgan-Wixson theater is presents a current, hip and teenage version of a Shakespeare Play, Midsummer Night's Dream. Sebastian Schier is Lysander, Gabriel Schier is Assistant Stage Mgr, and Sadie Saltzman is running sound The show runs from 2/2/ through 2/17. School shows are on 2/5 and 2/14, at 9AM and 11AM on both days
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ALL STUDENTS GRADES 1-8 WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PE MILE RUN
Tues, 1/29: Core 2, Core 3 blue, Core 4 boys
Wed, 1/30: Core 1 grades 1 & 2
Thurs, 1/31: Core 3 orange, Core 4 girls
Please make sure your child is properly dressed for this PE activity
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Calling all Santa Monica Students!
The City of Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability & the Environment, the Santa Monica Disabilities Commission and Sustainable Works are very excited to announce the 5th Annual Sustainable Santa Monica Student Poster Contest open to all K-12 students that attend school and/or live in Santa Monica!This year, students will investigate sustainability and accessibility through art, answering the question,
"How do people with disabilities access and enjoy nature in Santa Monica with their friends and family?"
Classroom presentations are available for all Santa Monica Schools offered by the City! Presentations range from 20-30 minutes and will discuss principles of sustainability as it promotes a healthy community and environment, highlighting how disabilities awareness and accessibility are a part of a sustainable community.
FREE 11 x 17 poster paper available for Santa Monica Classrooms.
Posters are due on Friday, March 22, 2013.
Community wide poster contest awards ceremony and celebration to honor student winners and all participants will take place in May 2013! Help us grow to our biggest year yet - spread the word and encourage participation in the student community! Please refer to the contest flyer online for the information and guidelines. http://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/OSE/Poster_Contest_2013.pdfIf you have any questions, are interested in scheduling a classroom or all-school assembly presentation, or to get the 11 x 17 poster paper for participating classrooms, please contact:
Samantha Sommer, samantha.sommer@sustainableworks.org
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UCLA FAMILY COMMONS
Fun and Free FIRST FRIDAYS - Parent’s Nights Out
First Friday of Every Month - 5:00-9:00pm - $25 per child - Ages 4 and upA fun night of games, activities, movies and snacks.
Register at 310-395-5650
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Sustainable Works Green Living Workshops
Did you know it takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef?You save more water by not eating a pound of beef than by not showering for 6 months!
Join a FREE Sustainable Works Green Living Workshop and learn how information like this will help you save money and positively impact your family, community, and ultimately the planet!
When: Tuesdays: Jan. 15th, 22nd, 29th, Feb. 5th, 12th, 19th • 7-8:30pm
Tuesdays: Mar. 12th, 19th, 26th, Apr. 2nd, 9th, 16th • 7-8:30pm
Where: Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. SM 90401
Encourage your friends to join you for this fun, educational opportunity.
•Reduce your Water & Energy usage
•Save $ on Utilities
•Cut landfill Waste
•Reduce your Family's Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
•Reduce your Transportation Impact
•Make more sustainable Shopping & Food choices
Receive FREE resource saving tools
Water saving hose nozzles, Energy saving light bulbs, Reusable shopping bags, safe cleaning supplies, healthy energy bars, and more… Visit www.sustainableworks.eventbrite.com to reserve your space at an upcoming workshop.
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SMASH and John Muir Elementary are proud to co-sponsor our
2nd Annual
DIALOGUE ON RACE
Join us as we explore stereotypes and how they contribute to ourDialogue on race with Ouch! That Stereotype Hurts!,
A presentation and discussion led by Peggy Harris,Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Wednesday, January 30
SMASH/Muir Library - 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Childcare will be availableSo that we may plan appropriately, please let us know that you will be attending by
contacting Elisabeth Bourdeau at el662001@yahoo.com
or send the bottom of this sheet to your child’s teacher.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I will be attending the Dialogue on Race on Wednesday, January 30 at 6:00pm
Name:________________________________ # of people attending (include yourself) ____
Names(s) of additional attendees ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_____I will need childcare that evening
Names and ages of children: ___________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
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SMASH Jog-a-thon FAQs
Question: When is the Jog-a-thon?Answer: Friday, March 15 from approximately 8:30 to 11:30 am. (An exact schedule will be printed in a Friday Letter before the event.)
Question: What happens at the Jog-a-thon?
Answer: SMASH students (and many teachers, parents, siblings and friends) run or walk laps to raise money for our school. Each student will be given a pledge packet a few weeks before the event and encouraged to get family, friends and neighbors to make a financial pledge for each lap run.
Question: How long is a lap and how many minutes will the students run?
Answer: Since SMASH’s field doesn’t have an official track, a ‘lap’ is as long as we say it is. We mark out a course on the day of the event and children run the course for 20 minutes (separated into different groups to avoid a Pamplona “running of the bulls” situation).
Question: How many laps will my child run?
Answer: It depends. A fast runner might complete as many as 60 laps - a good walker might complete 20.
Question: Are parents welcome?
Answer: YES! Parents are needed now as volunteers and are always encouraged to join in as runners or spectators. There will be music and refreshments for the kids and it is a great way to spend some time exercising with your child.
Question: What do volunteers do?
Answer: Volunteers help before, during and after the event and handle everything from setting up the course, to serving food/water to students, to counting laps and tallying pledges.
Question: How does my child submit a design for the t-shirt competition?
Answer: Simply have him/her draw the design (black/white or color) on an 8 ½ by 11 piece of white paper.
Include his/her name on the back and turn it into the office by February 1st.
Question: What about t-shirt sponsorship?
Answer: T-shirt sponsors are very important. They pay for the cost of the t-shirts so that all students/teachers get a free Jog-a-thon shirt. Corporate sponsors donate $150, $200 or $250 and SMASHing sponsors donate $25, $50 or $100. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. As a token of appreciation for their support, the t-shirt sponsor’s name will adorn the back of the shirt.*
Question: How can I find out more? How do I volunteer?
Answer: Contact Lillie Schlessinger, lillie.schlessinger@transamerica.com or Yvonne Lockhart, paradisekid@verizon.net
*Please use the form below for making t-shirt donations and return to the office with your cash or check made payable to SMASH PTSA by no later than February 8th.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsorship:
Corporate ___$250 ___$200 ___$150
SMASHing ___$100 ___$50 ___$25
Name (as you would like it to appear on the t-shirt):______________________________________
Child’s name (so we know who you are!):________________________________
Size preference for complimentary t-shirt: ___XXL ___XL ___L ___M ___S (All sizes are adult sizes since all students will already receive a complimentary t-shirt. If you specifically want your complimentary t-shirt to be a child’s size, please note this.)
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CORE 1 NEWS
FIELD TRIPSSANTA MONICA MUSEUM OF FLYING
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PARENT CHAPERONES ON TODAY'S FIELD TRIP TO THE SANTA MONICA MUSEUM OF FLYING.
GRACIELA'S CIRCLE GROUP AND 1/2 OF CHRYSTA'S CIRCLE GROUP WILL BE GOING NEXT WEEK. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD'S PERMISSION SLIP AND $5 DONATION IS TURNED IN SOON.
We need a few more chaperones for this trip. If you're available, please let Candis know or sign-up on our Google Doc.
CALIFORNIA SCIENCE MUSEUM –
We will be taking a school bus to the California Science Museum to participate in a study of ladybugs - then visit the ENDEAVOR exhibit. Finally, we'll see the space shuttle up close and get some answers to our questions! Children will need to bring snack and lunch – and VERY COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES. Expect an email with signups for chaperones.
Tuesday, January 29, 9am – 1:30 pm (GREEN permission slip)–
Candis’ Circle Group and ½ of Chrysta’s Circle Group
Tuesday, February 5, 9am – 1:30 pm (YELLOW permission slip) -
Graciela’s Circle Group and ½ of Chrysta’s Circle Group
January and February Birthday Bash–
We will be celebrating January and February birthdays on Friday, February 1 at 11:45 AM in The Magic Garden (Candis’ room). If you child’s birthday will be celebrated, we’d love for you to join us! On the day of Birthday Bash, the birthday child is invited to bring his or her favorite fresh fruit or vegetable to share with the Core 1 community. Other snacks will not be served. The child can bring a fresh fruit or vegetable (as it was purchased) to school at 8:30. The birthday children will prepare the fruit or vegetable by washing it, cutting it, and presenting it during Projects Time from 9:00-10:00. Birthday families are invited to help at that time. At 11:45 the whole core will gather in Candis’ room for a story, a poem, and a song. At about 12:00 the children will snack on the fruits and vegetables that were prepared by the birthday children and they will eat their lunch at that time. We always need help to set-up the buffet tables on the small yard, to serve the food, and to help the children clean up. Our reusable dishes will need to be taken home by a birthday family to be washed in a dishwasher. Please let Graciela know if you can help or if you have any questions. Her e-mail address is gbarba-castro@smmusd.org.
Core 1 Art
The children continued their explorations with paper, fabric and wire. They are creating amazing works of art while developing their fine motor skills by weaving, twisting, puncturing, creasing, creating lines, dividing, sculpting, wrapping, threading, pushing, pulling, scrunching, wrapping, and coiling. They are using tools such as shears, needles, and pliers.
ART IS EVERY WEDNESDAY 9:00-10:15. Parent volunteers are welcome to assist and participate.
Wish list
Self-care: band-aids, hand lotion, jojoba oil, Vaseline, and hand sanitizer.
Repurposed materials: milk jugs and long cardboard tubes for making instruments.
Storage materials: gallon- sandwich- and snack-size ziplock bags
Project materials: assorted tapes i.e. packing tape, duct tape, electrical tape, office tape
SCHOOL CLOSED Monday, January 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!
Candis, Chrysta, Graciela, Nadja & Laura
Candis: cberens@smmsud.orgChrysta: cwyse@smmusd.org
Graciela: gbarba-castro@smmusd.org
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CORE 2 NEWS
In Tamara’s advisory, students are engaged in learning the story from the movie “Dolphin Tale,” in which people used empathy to help a dolphin that lost its tail in a trap and was given a prosthetic tail. Working together, students are learning about the true story of this dolphin and the compassionate people that helped. Students begin to notice others that need extra help and how they can work together to assist them. This topic builds community because students see this topic as a “real-world issue” as it relates to human/animal interaction and the care of animals.
In Jayme’s advisory, students are creating a strong, positive community while they work together to investigate the solar system as if they were travel agents in an “Intergalactic Travel Agency.” Students examined the “Visit California” website and brainstormed all the information that would be necessary to determine if a specific location is where you might want to visit. Students are applying this information to create a brochure for Earth’s Moon. They are looking for the travel time and distance, what attractions or features might someone visit, the weather and the best time to go, as well as what supplies you would need to pack if you were going to visit the Moon. Another community-building activity in this advisory is a “Secret Service Agency” project, in which they are to deliver an act of kindness (notes of encouragement,
shout outs, and positive comments) each day to their “Target” without blowing their cover! During a reflection circle, students stated that they felt “special, happy, inspired, and surprised” after receiving positive notes from their “Agent.” We also discussed how it makes each of us feel when we are doing something kind for others.
Teaching children to work together and care for others is essential in order for them to grow into compassionate citizens that exemplify CARES. Ruth Sidney Charney, a co-founder of the Northeast Foundation for Children, explains this idea when she states, “We need to teach children to give care as well as to receive care. We must help them learn to contribute, to want to contribute, to believe that they have something vital to contribute.” Teaching children to care is one of the most enduring things that students will learn during their time at SMASH. We practice these skills through Morning Meeting, Community Group Meetings, Academic group work, and team-building activities. How can you practice at home?
Calling All CHAPERONES for Core 2’s Upcoming Events!
FIELD TRIPSWalt Disney Concert Hall - Tuesday, February 5
Shane’s Inspiration Play Date - Monday, February 11
Temescal Canyon - Thursday, February 21-Friday, February 22
Have a fantastic 3-day weekend!
Jayme, Tamara, & Nadja
Tues, 1/29: Core 2 PE running test. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately.
Jayme: jwoldflorian@smmusd.org
Tamara: tmugalian@smmusd.org
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CORE 3 NEWS
PE Running test Tuesday, January 29: Core 3 - Blue Thursday, January 31: Core 3 – Orange
6th Grade Math with Mimi: This week, we worked on strategies for adding fractions and the number sentences that go with them. You can ask your student what strategy they use to add fractions that have different denominators.
Math HW due Thursday, 1/24.
6th Grade Math with Erin: Students are busy completing the budgeting stage for their geometry dream room project and some students are already starting to measure and build their dream room models. While we practice area and perimeter through the project, we are also engaging in mini-lessons about area and perimeter of circles. On Wednesday we reviewed how to find the area of circle and learned or relearned terms such as radius, diameter, and pi.
5th grade Math Workshop with Genie: We have begun to learn how to add fractions by playing a game using the fractions we know about the clock. The clock let's us see twelfths, sixths, thirds, fourths, and halves. We also talked about how you can multiply the bottom two numbers to get the same denominator and using the equivalent fractions as another strategy. Please make time this week to play the game, In-Between that was sent home for homework. It is practicing ordering fractions with a little game strategy that can be played to maximize chances to win.
Science with Mimi: We continued talking about fat as a nutrient in a healthy diet and discussed the results of our fat experiment. We took notes while listening to an article about the difference between good and bad fat. Groups read articles, took notes, and then shared information with the class. The articles discussed the importance of fat, digestion, fatty foods, and interesting fat facts. Look for the email blast for more detailed info on our discussions.
Social Studies with Erin: It's crunch time for our "Election Issues" projects. Students worked hard all week creating and editing their presentations. Many students are creating boards, Prezis, videos, and other media to share their knowledge about their specific subject. We have also been busy working on the action end of the project. Last weekend a number of students studying animal rights volunteered in an animal adoption event. One family even went so far as to foster a hardto- place dog so that it would not end up being euthanized. On Wed our Women's Health group had a guided tour of Planned Parenthood and afterward met with their middle school education representative about being trained as peer educators. And on Fri, the 11 students studying homelessness took a plethora of items donated by SMASH families to the
Upward Bound House in SM to help them furnish their transitional apartments for homeless families. While there the students were able to meet with the staff and tour one of the transitional apartments.
Next week all students, led by our two groups studying healthcare, will have the opportunity to visit the Venice Family Clinic. We will be given a tour of the facility and be given the chance to ask questions to a panel of doctors and other healthcare professionals. The students will also be putting together basic hygiene packages for their homeless patients. We are hoping each family can donate a few items for this cause—see homework below.
After all this preparation, the week of the presentations is quickly approaching! Below is a schedule of when each student will be presenting their research/action project. I did my best to accommodate the parents who let me know about any work scheduling and tried to put siblings on the same day where possible. I also had to consider which other Cores were coming as an audience each day and the appropriateness of the subject matter. I hope you will be able to come and see some of these wonderful presentations!
Presentations are scheduled for every half an hour in case they run long and for technology set-up. In reality they are supposed to be about 10 minutes.
Monday, January 28
9:15 - Luke (Environment)
9:45 - Aurora, Simeon, Owen (Foreign Affairs)
10:35 - Caleb (Foreign Affairs)
11:00 - Gaby, Abbie, Clara, Alex (Women's Health)
11:30 - Theo, Julian (Veterans)
12:00 - Alan, Asher (Healthcare)
Wednesday, January 30
9:45 - Mosi, CJ, Rise (Gang Rehabilitation)
10:35 - Eli, Kaiden, Sarah (Animal Rights)
11:00 - Ali, Andre, Nathan (Veterans)
11:30 - Aiden, Mike, Malia (Animal Rights)
12:00 - Eleanor, Maya, Jobim, Joe (Animal Rights)
1:10 - Nick, Max (Fur Industry)
1:40 - Audrey, Blaise (Animal Rights)
Friday, February 1
10:35 - Willow, Zion, Giulia, Bailey, Zelda (Homelessness)
11:00 - Ava, Carissa, Gala, Zoey Rose (Animal Rights)
11:30 - Lillian, Lily, Molly (Homelessness)
12:00 - Caz, Riley, Isabel, Cole (Gay Rights)
Monday, February 4
1:10 - Mika, Abigail, Morgan (Homelessness)
Reading & Writing Workshop with Genie: We finished off revising our fantasy pieces by looking at the beginnings and endings to make sure our stories are clear to the readers and moved into editing. For Core 3, editing is looking at conventions, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. We spent time looking at run-on sentences and fragments so we make sure we have complete sentences. We looked at spelling strategies, and thought about how to reword something to make more sense.
A sentence: The golden flames always kept their small cottage warm. Could be rearranged to say Their small cottage was warmed by the golden flames. Or The golden flames warmed the small cottage. Writers know that the subjects are important as they are the doer in the sentence and more active verbs make for more action. It all needs to be decided by the writer—what they want to emphasize, where do they want to be direct or passive. Our read aloud is getting exciting and even though it's realistic fiction, it is a reality that none of us have experienced. We hope your child is sharing with you at home the latest plot development in The Breadwinners.
Homework:
5G math: packet #19. Due 1/25/13
RW: Please remind your child to do some nonfiction reading!
WW: Please help your child edit their fantasy piece. They have learned how to check for sentences (capital letters, periods), spelling, but getting your professional help will make sure all readers can easily read their writing.
SS: Please bring travel size toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, etc.)for our field trip to the Venice Family Clinic next week. The students will be packaging these items into hygiene kits for their homeless patients. Thanks!
Monday, January 21
SCHOOL CLOSED
Martin Luther King, Jr Holidayghwang@smmusd.org
ehaendel@smmusd.org
mimilichterman@yahoo.com
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CORE 4 NEWS
ScienceThe 7th graders have just picked our partners for our projects. Our projects will be mostly about beachology, but if we have our own topic, we can get Kurt’s approval. We got to pick our partners, but with one boundary, that it would have to be at least one boy and one girl. Our group will be three people, which is normally expected when we do group work. We also just finished a self evaluation on our habits of mind and heart.
Math
Math has been fun. Darwin likes Core 4 to plan out where we will be at the end of the month. Last week we wrote a plan on where we would be on the 31st of January and how we would get there. Darwin lets us work at our own pace, which is good if you are a little slower. You can never really be behind, but he does however expect you to find a pace where you would finish chapter 12 by the end of the year.
Humanities
We have just finished our 2nd and final draft of our position paper on popular government issues. We have to write three types of evidence with a quote and we have to preview the opponent's argument and have a counter argument. We had a share on Thursday night before and between the music concerts with Kurt. We showed our parents all the stuff we were doing last semester such as our poster board bill of rights and our constitution. Every student worked hard on this and it all turned out very well.
We are reading an article and writing an essay on it. We get a new article every 2 weeks and write an essay on it. We also mark up the article with questions and other icons of such to remind us of something that we did, etc. In this essay we have to write our introduction with three supporting reasons - a thesis. The body paragraphs include our support for the thesis. We finish with a conclusion and restate our reasons.
Written By Toby and Liam
Monday, January 21
SCHOOL CLOSED
Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday
Darwin Mendinueto - dmendinueto@smmusd.orgKurt Holland - kholland@smmusd.org
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