www.smash.smmusd.org
April 19, 2013
The
lower student council presents. . . . .
CRAZY
HAIR & HAT DAY! FRIDAY, APRIL 26!
EARLY
DISMISSAL (1:30PM) APRIL 24 & 25 (conferences)
*******************
Dear SMASHing Families,
Every year we receive submissions from our
SMASH alums now at Samohi seeking a $500 scholarship for college. The alums
write about how they were influenced by their time at SMASH and submit some artistic/creative
piece.
This year, we had two submissions. This
week, I share a poem called “A New Life Poem” by Cole Kastner, SMASH Class
of 2010:
A new life has begun, scary and new. It’s
time for learning not for fun. Meeting the faces that I will know, after three years
our friendships will grow, it is no time to fear. People think alternative is
for illiterate minds. They think that we were held back and stood behind. But
it’s not the home for special ED, it is a place where we imbed knowledge in our
heads. We don’t have thousands of faces but less than a hundred are putting on
their kicks and tying their laces. Dream chasing and racing to the finish line.
Our graduation is not far. A void of homework lets our intellect’s shine. We
don’t just learn math, history and science; we learn compassion, assertion and
how to make an alliance. With one another, with each other, with sister and
brother. Like a family we stick together. We are compressed, mashed and
SMASHed. Like educational flapjacks we get hit in the face with knowledge we
are smacked. Our teachers are not drones. They care for us and don’t leave us
alone. There is no Mister or Miss. We have the bliss and privilege to be
dismissed…by not just a teacher but also a friend. Year after year we would see
them again. The last year arrives and we have our last chance to live our
eighth grade lives. We are on top on an academic rampage we can’t stop. We have
a goal to fulfill, projects to finish, it fills us with a thrilling chill. And
a burning desire lies in all of us to graduate and stand tall, witness by our
loved ones’ smiles in the dance hall. The wall of the great and mighty “Project”
stands in our way. But we tackle it with no delay and watch our barricade
decay. We were educated with life lessons of assertion and determination. The
“Project” finally fades away. The long yearly battle comes to an end. Our cloudy
skies become a clear Santa Monica day. Now approaches the time for fun, the
long wait has arrived and our time has come. For a new life has begun.
I enjoy learning about the ways our alums
view their SMASH exposure from their young adult perspective. I hope you too enjoy these two weeks of reading our
alumni reflections about their moments at SMASH.
Truly yours,
Jessica
*******************
YEARBOOK PHOTOS WANTED
Yearbook time is upon us and many of your
children's happy faces
will not make it in if you don't send us your photos
from school events asap!
We can use any photos taken at school that
you have!
We want that stunning close-up of your child
and his/her best friend.
We want the one you took walking through
the gate the other day.
We want the one you took of your kid
showing you a project in class.
WE WANT IT ALL!
Please send your photo attachments to Lori
Nafshun at gettalife@earthlink.net
then do it again and again-it’s so easy!
- Your friends on the yearbook committee
*******************
DATES
TO REMEMBER
Apr 21 - 25 - Restaurant Nights at Kay ‘N
Dave’s. All 3 locations for 5 days. Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and Culver City.
Mon, Apr 22 - 9:00-10:30am - Last SMASH
School Tour
Mon, Apr 22 - 6-7:30pm - SMASH Talent Show
Wed, Apr 24 - 8:30am - PTSA Mtg
Wed-Fri, Apr 24, 25 & 26 -
Conferences. MINIMUM DAYS, 1:30 dismissal. Conference sign-ups are in the
office unless your child’s advisory teacher has
e-mailed you with different plans.
Fri, Apr 26 - Last day to turn in “Are You
Returning” to SMASH form.
Fri, Apr 26 - Crazy Hair and Hat Day!
SAVE
THE DATE!
Fri, May 3 - 1:30-3:00pm - Cinco de Mayo
Festival
Wed, May 8 - 6:30-8:00PM - SMASH Parent Ed
Night: Transitioning to SAMOHI
Sat, May 18 - SuperSMASH!
Tue, May 21 - 6:00pm - Strings and Winds
Music Concert - 4th-8th grades
Wed, May 22 - 5:30pm - PTSA Executive Mtg
Mon, May 27 - Memorial Day - School Closed
Tues, May 28 - 5:30-7:30pm - JAMS
cafeteria. Superintendent presents Centralized Fundraising Conversations with SMASH, Grant, Edison & Rogers parents.
Wed, May 29 - Restaurant Night TBA
May 30 - 6:00pm - Choir Concert - 4th-8th
grades
Fri, May 31 - 9:45am - Core 1 Assembly
Fri, May 31 - 3:00pm - Last day to turn in
SMASH application for 1st-8th grade lottery
Mon-Tues-Wed, Jun 3, 4 & 5 - 8th grade
San Diego trip
Tue-Wed-Thurs, Jun 4, 5 & 6 - 7th
grade Fulcrum Trip
Wed, Jun 5 - 6:30pm - PTSA Mtg
Mon, June 10 - 10:00am - SMASH 8th grade
graduation
Tues, June 11 - Last Day of School Beach
Day
Thur, Aug 22 - First day of school!
*******************
APPLICATIONS
FOR GRADES 1-8 are due NO LATER than May 31, 3pm
Applications
are in the SMASH office and online at www.smash.smmusd.org
*******************
REMINDER:
PLEASE RETURN THE “IS YOUR CHILD
RETURNING TO SMASH” FORM BY 4/26
*******************
Congratulations to our
newest Site Council members - Sabine Werk and Amber Baker
*******************
We are in TROUBLE!
Four weeks to
SuperSMASH
and the
donations we’ve received thus far
fit on a single table.
fit on a single table.
SuperSMASH
Saturday May
18, 2013
11:30AM to
5:30PM
REALLY needs your help!
Go to your favorite
stores • restaurants • salons • businesses
and ask for a donation to our Silent Auction.
Be a donor yourself and offer your
services • talents • goods • ideas
Go out and get as many donations as you can.
All donations are tax-deductible.
Donor forms are attached.
Thanks!
Naren Desai at
310-666-1680 or n.desai@bep-la.com
Dan McGee at
310-993-0707 or dmcgee@mcgeelere.com
*******************
IS YOUR CHILD RETURNING TO SMASH NEXT
YEAR?
We are in the process of making plans for
next year’s enrollment. It is important for us to know if you are planning on returning to
SMASH so that we can provide other children the opportunity to enroll.
If you are planning to attend another
school in the district, you must complete and submit an Intradistrict Open Enrollment Application
to the district’s Student Permit Office. Applications are available in the SMASH
main office.
Please fill in this form and return to the
main office by Friday, April 26.
_____ YES, we will be returning
_____ NO, we will not be returning
If no, please let us know the reason and
where your child will be attending so that we can transfer school records. Thanks.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
Child’s Name
Current Grade __________
_______________________________________
Parent or Guardian Signature
*******************
Prescription Drug
Drop-Off
April
27 - 10am-2pm
SM
Police Dept at 333 Olympic Drive
Bring your expired, unused/unwanted
prescription medications for disposal to the front of the Santa Monica Police Dept. An officer will be available at the
curb to make it easier for you to just drive up and drop them off. The service
is free, anonymous and no questions will be
asked.
*******************
Benefitting
the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation 10th Anniversary
FOR THE ARTS BENEFIT
CONCERT
May 18 - SOLD OUT -
MAY 17 ADDED!
May 17
date added doors open 6:00pm, Show at 7:00pm
Santa Monica
High School, Barnum Hall
Proceeds
support the arts in SMMUSD schools
Jackson
Browne, Gary Wright and Venice perform in an intimate venue.
Student
musicians play and sing backup; it’s a concert unlike any you’ve seen before.
It’s
inspiring and incredible...and benefits arts education!
*******************
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: 3 Tuesday Meetings: April 23rd (Water), 30th (Waste) & May 7th(Shopping/Food), 7pm-8:30pm
Where: Pluralistic School #1, 1225 Broadway SM 90404
When: 6 Wednesday Meetings: May 8th, 15th, 22nd 29th and June 5th
& 12th, 7pm-8:30pm
Where: Santa Monica Main Library Multipurpose Room, 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.
*******************
SAMOHI BAND EVENT
SMASH
students will be admitted FREE!
Silent
Movies with live pipe organ!
April 27 -
7:00pm
Barnum
Hall at Santa Monica high school
Buster
Keaton in Sherlock, Jr plus The Cook with Roscoe Arbuckle and Luke the Dog
Parking in
the Civic Center parking structure on 4th Street
*******************
Downtown Santa Monica
SPRING JUBILEE
Sat
& Sun, May 4-5 - Celebrates BritWeek
Celebrate
the first every BritWeek. 3rd Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place will
transform into a one-of-a-kind spring
festival featuring activities including hands-on demonstrations, live music,
children’s activities and more. DowntownSM.com/Spring-Jubilee
children’s activities and more. DowntownSM.com/Spring-Jubilee
*******************
Interested in trying
out for the 2013-2014 SAMOHI cheerleading team?
Come get
ahead at our optional pre-tryout clinic!!
When: Saturday, April 20th 1:30-3:30
Where: The Dance Studio at Santa Monica
High above the south gym.
What do I need to bring?: $15
What should I wear?: athletic clothing and
shoes
Sign up by email or at freshmen
orientation. ameadors@smmusd.org
*******************
Santa
Monica Family YMCA
HEALTHY KIDS DAY
April
20 10am-2pm
FREE
Games,
Bounce House, Arts & Crafts, Camp Tours & Sign-ups,
Local Community Vendors
Local Community Vendors
1332
6th St, Santa Monica 310-393-2721 www.ymcam.org
*******************
Steve & Kate’s
Camp
At
Roosevelt Elementary June 17—Aug 9
Customizable Enrollment. You are free to
attend any number of days, anytime from 7:30am to 6:00pm
by purchasing memberships or daily pass
packages. For information: www.steveandkat.com/activities
*******************
Special performance
and shadow puppetry workshop this Saturday April 20 at 7pm!
Change
the World, a shadow show
Projected
on the front entryway at Mercado La Paloma
3655
Grand Ave, LA (just south of Jefferson)
Then. .
. . .
Puppets to invade
Santa Monica with The Million Puppet March
Sunday,
April 28 - 3rd Street Promenade
10:00
am - 12:30pm - FREE
Los
Angeles Puppet Fest’s puppet parade and celebration. For information: www.lapuppetfest
*******************
The Growing Place
DINO FAIR 2013
Saturday,
April 20 from 11am-4pm
FREE
ADMISSION
Rides,
bouncies, games, art, music, food & more! www.dinofair.org
*******************
The Los Angeles
Children’s Film Festival
April
26– May 5
Aero
Theatre
1328
Montana Ave at 14th St, Santa Monica
Tickets
at Fandango.com (zip code 90403)
For
info americancinematheque.com. To read kid film critic reviews:
la.mommyoppins.com/lacffcritics
*******************
Los Angeles Times
FESTIVAL OF BOOKS at
USC Campus
April
20 & 21 - Free Admission
*******************
Next School Year’s
4th and 5th Grade Students
Does your child
play a musical instrument?
Do they like to play, but need some
motivation to open their cases at home? We have great programs to help inspire your
child to take out their instrument and play, play, play! Our students can't
wait to start rehearsals each week, and don't want to leave when we finish.
Come experience the transformative power of music. Watch as your child
discovers their own voice as a musician. Make friends that will last for years.
Want to join us?
Auditions for the 2013-2014 season will
take place on Saturday, May 18 at the Will Rogers Cafetorium
Elemental Strings
Rehearsals: Fridays after school at JAMS
Who? 4th and 5th grade string students with at least eight
months of instruction
What time? 9am-11am
Where do I sign up? www.elementalstrings.com/auditions <http://www.elementalstrings.com/auditions>
NEW PROGRAM! Elemental Band
Rehearsals: Tuesdays after school at JAMS
Who? 4th and 5th grade band students with at least eight months
of instruction
What time? 1pm-3pm
Where do I sign up? www.elementalband.com <http://www.elementalband.com/>
*******************
SANTA MONICA
CELEBRATES EARTH DAY
SANTA MONICA PIER
SATURDAY, APRIL 20
10 a.m. — 12 p.m.: Nothin' But Sand
Beach Cleanup at the Santa Monica Pier
11 a.m. — 2 p.m.: Beach Cleanup
supplies/check-in in front of the Aquarium
1 p.m.: Story time and crafts
2 p.m.: Presentation: Pollution
Solutions
3:30 p.m.: Whale of a Tale Story Time
SUNDAY, APRIL 21
11 a.m. — 2 p.m.: Beach Cleanup
supplies/check-in in front of the Aquarium
1 p.m.: Story time and crafts
2 p.m.: Presentation: Pollution
Solutions
Free admission to the Santa Monica Pier
Aquarium will be given for those who participate in Saturday’s beach
cleanup or who pick up supplies to clean
the beach.
LINCOLN BOULEVARD
SATURDAY, APRIL 20
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Lincoln Boulevard Task Force will be
holding an Earth Day clean up event to make the busy street “safe, clean, beautiful, and green,” according to a
task force press release. Volunteers will be asked to bring their own brooms,
work gloves, clippers and trowels to pick up
litter and other debris and pull weeds along the sidewalks and grass strips of Lincoln Boulevard from the I-10 Freeway
south to the Venice Boulevard border at Ozone Street. The city will provide plastic bags for litter/debris and weeds
and will arrange for pickup of the refuse. There will be live entertainment,
music, and a variety of art events along
Lincoln Boulevard ranging from chalk sidewalk art to painting of murals, with a
party afterwards at TRiP, 2101 Lincoln Blvd.
*******************
CORE
1 NEWS
THANK YOU
Thank you to our wonderful parent
volunteers for accompanying the Partners on their Farmers Market field
trip!
Mentors will have their turn on May 1. If you would like to
volunteer to help on this trip, please sign up at: https:// docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc key=0AvVnCh4_XSOCdGhwS3FyRDhETG1rX1RWd2U5S2t2NlE&usp=sharing
Spring Conferences-
Partner & Mentor Parents: Please sign
up to have a conference with your child’s classroom teacher and complete the conference questionnaire to help us
prepare.
SMASH SPIRIT DAY Lower School Student Council has picked out next spirit day,
taking place NEXT FRIDAY. Wear a crazy hairstyle or a crazy hat to
participate!
Lice Alert-
We have found lice on children in Core 1
and we need your help. Please take time to check your children’s hair for lice
periodically. Reoccurrence is common with lice, so if your child has had lice
in the past couple of weeks, it is imperative that you continue to check,
manually to remove all nits, and re-treat until no evidence of lice is found.
Two websites that have information for parents about lice are www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/ and www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/.
STAR Testing for the Mentors
A group of Mentors continue to take the
California Standards Test through Thursday, May 2. If you are in the testing group,
please get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and come to school on
time and ready to try your best. If you are in the project group, please
get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and come to school on so you do not interrupt the testing.
Welcome Bailey Chrysta is out this week, celebrating her dad’s 70th birthday with
her family in Mexico. Bailey is substituting for the week. Bailey is a
SMASH parent and has worked in the Upper School as a SMASH teacher. She has
been a regular substitute in Core 1 this year, and we are happy to have her as
part of the regular team next week. Chrysta & Bailey have co-planned a
special week for the students. Chrysta (& Emma) will be back on Monday the 29th.
Got Fridge? Our two small refrigerators that we use for projects and
perishable food have stopped working. If you have an extra small refrigerator
that you would be willing to donate to Core 1, please let one of the teachers
know. We would really appreciate a donation of this kind. Thank you so much!
Other wish list items: Kleenex, Method brand spray cleaner,
Band-Aids
Next Friday, April 26, the Mentors will be reading their adapted fairy tales
during morning meeting from 8:30-9:00. Please join us for this celebration.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!
Candis, Chrysta, Graciela,
Nadja & Laura
Candis: cberens@smmsud.org
*******************
CORE
2 NEWS
Hi Core 2 Families and Friends,
In Core 2, we are busy looking back on
this year’s learning for Spring Conferences. Students are looking at 4
different areas of their choosing to show what they know. Some of the
choice areas include: literacy, CARES, Field Trips, Theme/Science, Art, and
Music. Self-reflection in learning is an important part of being an
intrinsically motivated learner that can evaluate their own progress and set
goals for themselves.
Throughout this process, not only are the
students choosing what they will show, but also deciding the best way of
how to show their learning. During Conferences, parents will see 4
topics shown in 4 different ways. These might include: a written paragraph,
speech, poster/visual representation, demonstration/how-to, or an artifact.
Students will not only show these pieces of work, they will discuss what
they learned from each project or topic, why they are proud of their work, and
where they see their learning going now that the project is completed.
This reflection process is challenging because
students really have to critically think about their work and how these
activities have lead them to learning and understanding. Some students have had
to revise their ideas based upon their ability to distinguish which activities
were just for fun and which activities they enjoyed AND learned from.
During the conference, parents are welcome
to ask questions about what and how their child learned, why they are proud of
their learning, and what they are still wondering or want to learn more about.
Make sure that you sign up (in the office) for conferences with your child’s
advisor, Jayme or Tamara, to experience your child’s interactive learning
exploration.
THANK YOU TO OISIN’S KATHLEEN for putting together a beautiful slide
show for our Temescal Canyon overnight trip! Also, thank you to all the parents
that emailed photos to be included in the slide show and those that attended
the Core 2 Assembly.
CALLING
ALL CHAPERONES! We are
attending a Guitar Trio at UCLA on Monday, May 6. Please let Tamara or
Jayme know if you can attend. It will mostly likely be in the middle of the
day, not the whole day. Having parent chaperones on a trip makes for a smooth,
organized, and fun trip!
Upcoming Events
WED. APRIL 24-FRIDAY, APRIL 26 1:30
Dismissal for Conferences
FRIDAY, APRIL 26 CRAZY HAIR OR HAT DAY!
MONDAY, MAY 6 Field Trip-Guitar Trio at
UCLA
SATURDAY, MAY 18 SuperSMASH
Have a fantastic
weekend!
Jayme, Tamara, and Nadja
Jayme: jwoldflorian@smmusd.org
*****************
CORE
3 NEWS
A note
from the Nurse
ATTENTION
ALL 6th GRADERS!
You
need proof of a Tdap shot before you enter 7th grade in August.
Forms
will be sent home next week - please return them ASAP to the nurse.
For
vaccine information: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/VIS/downloads/vis-td-tdap.pdf
Don't
forget EARLY 8:15 DEPARTURE TIME FOR FIELD TRIP ON MONDAY MORNING!
~Monday, April 22, Circa: 31 Acts in 60
Minutes at Pepperdine University through the Center for the Arts Guild. Bus Grant and the free art program equals
completely free trip!
~Monday, April 29, Getty Villa, Mythology
and Art. Museum is free to class trips but the bus costs each student $7.00.
BRING LUNCH/WATER/SNACK! We would love a
few more chaperones!
~Only a few families have responded about
committing to Next Year's Overnight Field Trips. Forms are due April 26th! We can not make deposits
without your commitment and will be forced to cancel next year's trips.
~Spring Family Conferences! Sign up in the
office! April 24, 25, and 26 and around those dates! Minimum days (1:30 dismissal) April 24 & 25.
~Jogathon pledge packets need to be turned
in!
6G Math with Mimi: We met only once this week due to State
Testing. 6G continued getting acclimated to decimals by reviewing fact families and how they
help us solve for a variable. We also talked about how using our knowledge of fractions, percentages, and decimals to
find equivalent values helps us solve decimal problems.
6th Grade Math with Erin: Only one day of math this week since we
had testing. We continue in our data unit, looking at the differences between mean, median,
and mode.
5th Grade Math with Genie: We missed a few math sessions this week
due to the state testing but will get right back on track next week! We will continue
looking at the different operations and decimals. Please also challenge your
child to know their multiplication facts up to
12x12 quickly. This foundation helps with the larger problems they will be working with for their lives.
Science With Mimi: No science this week due to State
Testing.
Social Studies with Erin: On Monday and Wednesday students put the
finishing touches on their food projects. Thank you for coming to our Food Festival share
on Thursday if you were able. I hope you were able to learn new things about why people eat what they eat in different
countries. Thank you to all parents who helped out by taking your children to various ethnic markets and restaurants or
helping them prepare their food! On Friday we talked about what we know about Ancient Rome and brainstormed about
what we might like to learn more about in the coming six weeks.
Reading and Writing Workshop with Genie: We have started a new read aloud called Wonder
by R.J. Palacio. Ask your child who the main character is and
what it is about and how the book relates to their life. In writing we have learned how to take photographs, download
them, input and crop them in the Pages software. We are also collecting ideas in our notebook for our next writing
unit, Independent Writing Project, where students will be able to choose any genre or topic to write. Some choose to
continue their fantasy story, some will choose to write poetry, others will
want to make a brochure or newspaper, and some
will write a memoir.
REMINDER: CRAZY HAIR AND HAT DAY - FRIDAY, APRIL 26
Homework:
5G math: Packet #30 Due 4/26/13
*******************
CORE
4 NEWS
Aquarium
Next week is the last time the 7th graders
will be visiting the aquarium for the year. The 7th graders will have the
opportunity to showcase what they have learned from their visits throughout the
year. They will also get a preview of future 8th grade lessons. We would like
to have at least one parent (or more than one, of course) to join us either
Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.
8th Grade Exit Projects,
The 8th graders are working on their exit
project presentation on their SMASHing experience or how SMASH helped with
their growth academically and socially. This will be presented on the week of
May 20th. They will have 20 minutes to present and it includes an activity.
They have been working on this for a few weeks now, but the preparations have
been happening all year long. They are being evaluated in their public speaking
skills and their organization skills. They are excited and happy to celebrate
their accomplishments.
Textbooks
The end of the school year is fast
approaching and we would like to start checking the inventory of the Core 4
textbooks. For any textbooks that have been borrowed and is still at presently
at your home by either a student or parent, we would appreciate it if those
textbooks make their way back to school. We will still continue to use them in
class.
Upcoming
Events
● April 22 - 24 Aquarium Trip
● April 22 - 26 Last Week of 7th Grade
Conference
● April 22 & 23 Last 2 day of state
testing for 8th grade
● April 24 & 25 Early Dismissal - 1:30
for all grades
● April 29th - May 10 Safe Routes To
School Program
● May 8 Tile Project for 8th Grade
● May 18 Super SMASH
● May 20 - 24 8th Grade Presentations
Darwin Mendinueto - dmendinueto@smmusd.org
Kurt Holland - kholland@smmusd.org
*******************
