Oct 11, 2013

 

PICTURE DAY!  -  MONDAY, OCTOBER 14

                

Payment MUST be made at the time the photo is taken - Lifetouch does not accept late orders.

To pay by credit card, complete the paper order form.  Bring your form with the online payment code to school

Or bring the completed form with your check made payable to Lifetouch, or the exact amount in cash.

We CANNOT make change.

All children will be photographed for their school ID at no charge.

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Dear SMASHing Families,

 

Remember our 40^th year anniversary goals of Closing the Loop/Reflecting on our Learning and Public Advocacy for those beliefs and practices we deeply promote?  Yesterday, Thursday, October 10 SMASH hosted visitors from around the country as part of the Progressive Educators’ Network (PEN) yearly gathering.  Today, Friday, October 11 I was off campus with Chrysta, Graciela, and Candis as they presented about “Learning Through Play” at the PEN conference entitled: Play Hard!  The Serious Job of Keeping JOY in Learning.

 

Nietzsche observed: “The struggle of maturity is to recover the seriousness of the child at play.”  At SMASH, we give students time and materials to play, experiment, discover, explore and to make mistakes and learn from them. Education Consultant Charles Mojkowski and Big Picture Co-Director Elliot Washor wrote, “The most successful companies are striving to increase purposeful play into their organizations and cultures to spark creativity and invention.  [They] offer play, explorations, and interest-focused learning and work as a means of keeping and growing their employees…” In addition to the college prep knowledge and skills, for future not yet developed jobs, our children will need what   Educator Mark Thompson of Australia defines as “tinkering”: “research without a known outcome” that involves “a flow state” where a “certain sense of wonder propels the curiosity at the heart of every compulsive tinkerer.” As a staff, we continue to look at play/learning opportunities full of what ifs and why nots. 

 

Enthusiastically yours,

Jessica

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JOHN MUIR RUMMAGE SALE

Saturday, October 12

9:00am - 1:00pm

(Early bird entry at 8:00am for $5 person)

 

We have lots of great SMASH events coming up this year and we need your help to pull them all off!

 

Below is the link to the volunteer sheet with lots of fun ways to chip in.

There are jobs big and small. Good for one, good for all. You can see it is purely win-win

 

Check it out here:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?from

Email=true&formkey=dFRJQU9sNTBEQ3poNnc0YTJlTXMtWVE6MA

 

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DATES TO REMEMBER

 

SANTA MONICA SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN FOR COLUMBUS DAY, October 14

Sat, Oct 12 - 9am-1pm - John Muir Elementary Rummage Sale

Mon, Oct. 14 –SMASH PICTURE DAY -

                         To purchase a picture package, the form must be filled in and payment made.

                         All students will receive a picture school ID card at no charge

Thur, Oct 17 - 10:17am - The Great Shakeout - full scale earthquake drill

Fri, Oct 18 - 9:45am - Catalina trip assembly

Fri, Oct 25 - 1:30-3:30pm - Halloween Carnival - costume guidelines will be in the Friday Letter

SMASH WILL BE OPEN WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30

Other elementary schools will be closed.  SMASH will be taking the secondary pupil free date of Jan 6, 2014

Thur, Oct. 31 - MINIMUM DAY - 1:30 DISMISSAL - NO HALLOWEEN COSTUMES -

Thur, Oct 31 -  SMASH CRAZY HAIR/HAT DAY!

 

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Notes from your PTSA. . . .

 

Let's Support John Muir's Rummage Sale & get rid of the stuff we don't need anymore, at the same time!

Clean stuff out of your closets and drop it off on Friday, October 1l from 8:15a to 4pm - 2526 6th street!

Attend the Rummage sale on Saturday, October 12th from 9:00am - 1:00pm

Admission is FREE but if you want dibs on the really good stuff, show up at 8:00am and pay the early bird entry: $5

All proceeds benefit the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation and John Muir Elementary

 

 

SMASH can EARN UP TO $5,000 from Santa Monica Place and Westside Pavilion, but we need your help.

Every time you shop at Santa Monica Place and Westside Pavilion between Sept 1, 2013 and May 15, 2014

you can support SMASH by bringing your receipts to the Concierge at Santa Monica Place, or Guest Services at Westside Pavilion. Each dollar spent is worth five points. Be sure to turn in your receipts within 7 days of purchase!

The schools that earn the most points will receive up to $5,000 in gift cards!
                **********************

SMASH COMEDY NIGHT

a PTSA "Adults Only" Fundraiser

Sunday, November 17 at 7pm

Magicopolis   -   1418 4th Street, downtown Santa Monica

 

Tickets are available at www.smashcomedynight.eventbrite.com. This is the most convenient way to purchase tickets but if you prefer not to buy online you can leave a check or cash with Janice in the office. Please fill out the requested information on the sheet she has so that we can confirm your purchase and hold your tickets at the door. Tickets are $40 each - a bargain for this show. Checks made to Smash PTSA.

 

SMASH Dad Jake Johannsen is hosting this night of laughs - he has appeared on the David Letterman Show 43 times (more than any other comedian!) and has done specials for Showtime and HBO. Jake has put together a talented group of comedians and magicians including Laurie Kilmartin, Owen Smith and Derek Hughes. This promises to be a great night of fun and good times.

 

If you have already bought your tickets - thank you! Please invite and encourage your family and friends outside of our Smash community to come as well. If you haven't bought your tickets - PLEASE BUY THEM SOON! There are about 50 seats left and we are starting to promote the event to the general public. We expect a sell-out and would rather it be sooner than later to avoid promo costs.

 

This promises to be one of the best nights of comedy that Santa Monica has ever seen.

Visit www.smashcomedynight.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets. Thanks for supporting SMASH!

 

Hope to see you there!

Nina Furukawa
SMASH Comedy Night Event Chair
nina@smdp.com    310-922-2060

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SAVE THE DATE

 

SMASH Restaurant FUNdraiser Night at VEGGIE GRILL

 

Come out and have fun with friends and family at Veggie Grill on Wilshire.

Veggie Grill will donate 50% of your total back to SMASH PTSA. (This includes take out!)

 

Last year they donated almost $400 to our school. Let's try to make it even higher this year.

DATE: Wednesday, October 16

TIME: 5 to 9pm

LOCATION: 2025 Wilshire Blvd.

Present the flyer or mention our fundraiser and

50% of your food and beverage purchase will be donated to SMASH PTSA

 

See you there!

 

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SMASH/JOHN MUIR HALOWEEN CARNIVAL

Friday, October 25

1:30 to 3:30 pm

 All students, parents and siblings are welcome to our Carnival. We would like to remind everyone that children are allowed to wear costumes to school as long as they follow these guidelines:

·    All costumes must be appropriate for school (your child must be able to do all of the school activities in whatever they are wearing).                     

·         NO MASKS - we need to see their faces

·         NO WEAPONS of any kind (including canes, pitchfork, any kind of stick or pole, etc.)

·         NO CANDY

PLEASE NOTE THESE IMPORTANT CARNIVAL RULES:

 

·         Children must be picked up from the Carnival NO LATER than 3:30 pm

·         Core 1 students need to be picked up from class and supervised by an adult at Carnival

·         School rules regarding costumes, masks, weapons and candy still apply.

·         NO PLAYGROUND ACCESS

·         CREST enrichment classes WILL NOT be held but will be made up at a later date

If your child is in CREST and CREST Childcare and you plan to have your child attend, please make arrangements in advance with their CREST instructor. 

The SMASH office cannot make any decisions regarding CREST arrangements.

NO Halloween costumes at school on October 31.  That will be an EARLY dismissal (1:30pm) day

And SMASH Crazy Hair and Crazy Hat Day!

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PALLOWEEN CARNIVAL-  FREE ENTRANCE 

 

Thursday, October 31  -  5:00-9:00pm

 

Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Avenue

For kids and their families

 

Games 25¢     Funhouse & Picture Booth each $1.00     

Costume contest begins at 6pm.  No tickets sold after 8:15pm

For information call 310-458-8988

 

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    PAINT - A - PUMPKIN RAFFLE

                     Turn the SMASH campus into a giant pumpkin patch!

Paint, decorate, and use your imagination to create a spook-tacular Halloween pumpkin.

Bring it in to enter this year's raffle.

Write or tape on the bottom of the pumpkin your full name, core, and your advisor.

You could win one of these GREAT PRIZES:

 

$50 iTunes Gift Card

 

Set of 2 Unlimited Rides Wristbands for Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier

 

Set of 4 AMC Movie Tickets

 

Gift Certificate to ZJ Boarding House (Surf and Skate Shop)

 

Gift Certificate to Treats Frozen Yogurt and Ice Bar on Ocean Park Blvd.

More prizes to be announced.

Rules and Info:

 

·         DO NOT carve the pumpkin in any way (carved pumpkins get moldy really fast - ew).

 

·         Pumpkins must be at least 6” in height (so that they are more visible).

 

·         Paint, markers, and collage materials (e.g. googly eyes, feathers, popsicle sticks, stickers, leaves…           you get the idea) may be used to decorate your pumpkin.

 

·         Do not use electric or battery operated gizmos on your pumpkin.

 

·         Pumpkins must be submitted starting Monday, October 14, through Tuesday, October 22.

 

·         Pumpkins turned in after October 22 will not be entered into the raffle.

 

·         One entry per pumpkin. Enter as many pumpkins as you like.

 

·         Winners and prizes will be announced at the Halloween Carnival on Friday, October 25.                          You do not have to be present to win.

 

·         Note that you may take your pumpkin home after the Carnival and still enjoy it for the
week up to Halloween.
                          COSTUME DRIVE

Please donate your gently used costumes to the Costume Drive.

Just drop off your costume in the blue bin outside John Muir’s main office from now until Friday, October 11.

The costumes will then be on sale starting Monday, October 14.

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CORE 1 NEWS

 

REMEMBER- PICTURE DAY IS ON MONDAY!

Turn in your order forms to your child’s ADVISORY TEACHER.

 

Community Group Morning Meetings are a SMASH tradition. Approximately once a month, your child meets - with their Family Group - with one of the SMASH teachers AND students from Core 1 through Core 4! They participate in a Morning Meeting, planned by our very own SMASH Student Council. This group stays the same all year. Next year, your child’s teacher leader will change, but the group will remain the same (bringing in the new Partners.) Most children can trace their “Family Group Lineage” in their Community Group. For example, this year’s Mentors see   their (now) Core 2 “Bigs” during Community Groups.  Last Friday, students were asked what they love about SMASH.  These were the responses from Chrysta’s Community Group:

 

“I like the overnight Trips” ~Caz

 

“Super SMASH is my favorite.” ~Katell

 

“I like that there is one class per grade.” ~Dixie

 

“Birthday Bashes are my favorite.” ~Sadie

 

“Student Council. We didn’t have it at my last school.” Violeta

 

“I like the Cores, and how you can hang out with younger and older kids and it is ‘normal.’” ~Jobim

 

“I like the smaller groups and more help from teachers if you need it.” ~Joe

 

“That it is a small school and your get to know a lot of people.” ~Bailey

 

“That I get to be here with my sister who is still in school.” ~Rowan

 

“I’m going to like it when my sister is here when I’m a Mentor.” ~Sadie

 

“All my brothers and sisters and I like that I follow in their footsteps.” JoJo

 

Participation in Morning Meetings

 

We have noticed a lot of new participation in Morning Meeting. Thank you so much.

 

Other Reminders

 

Sat, Oct 12 - 9am-1pm - John Muir Elementary Rummage Sale

Mon, Oct. 14 - School Picture Day - Forms went home last Friday

Thur, Oct 17 - 10:17am - The Great Shakeout - full scale earthquake drill

Fri, Oct 25 - 1:30-3:30pm - Halloween Carnival & Core 1 Costume Parade on Main Street

Thurs, Oct 31 – Crazy Hair Day and 1:30 Dismissal

 

October Birthday Bash

 

We will be celebrating October birthdays on Friday, October 18 at 9:45 AM in The Magic Garden (Graciela’s room).      If your child’s birthday will be celebrated, we’d love for you to join us! The birthday children are invited to bring a fresh fruit or vegetable (as it was purchased) to school at 8:30. They will prepare the fruit or vegetable by washing it, cutting it, and presenting it during Projects Time from 9:00-9:45. Birthday families are invited to help at that time. At 9:45 the whole core will gather in Graciela’s room for a story, a poem, and a song. At about 10:00 the children will snack on   the fruits and vegetables that were prepared by the birthday children. We will need parents to 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. Have a great weekend!

Graciela: gcastro-barba@smmusd.org

Chrysta: cpowell@smmusd.org

Christian: ccarter@smmusd.org

and Nadja

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CORE 2 NEWS

Conferences last week were a success!  We were able to connect with families and discuss Core 2 academic and social expectations.  Off we go on our way to meeting those goals!

 

Literacy:

We have been spending time building our reading and writing habits and stamina.  Each of us has published a personal narrative piece, and all of us are enjoying some CHOICE writing or Free Writing. 

Here are some ideas about why Core 2 writing is going well:

 

Dominic- “I like writing because I get to write cool stories.”

 

Taj- “Once I get into a story, it’s kinda like a feeling that I want to get this done pretty soon.”

 

Samy- “I like that you could basically do whatever you want.  It depends on if it’s a scary story and you can make it up.  It’s a little harder for me to write real stories because it would be hard to pick one part.  In fiction, I can just make it up and make it a little realistic.  Fiction is easier.”

 

Nadia- “I like writing because it’s fun and you get to really think on that typical thing.  It’s nice and I really like writing things that I really want to say.”

 

Fionnula- “I really like making a story.  My favorite is fiction because I like to make stories, and you can re-read them later.  If you want to remember details, you can open the book and read it again.”

 

Sadie- “I like that when you get to write scary stories, you can write whatever you want to.  You get to work with a friend, but you don’t have to.  I like fiction stories because fiction is when you get to make up your own stories and it’s fun for me.”

 

Tamara’s advisory is working on researching and writing about animals.  If you have any animal books at home, please bring them in for us to use as a resource! 

 

In our Just Right Books, we are practicing telling the story across our fingers to answer WHO, WHAT, WHEN/WHERE, WHY, and HOW.  Try it at home in books that you are enjoying for your daily reading after school. Make sure to read for 20-30 minutes each night.  You can read Just Right Books, magazine articles, comics, or “Adventure” books that are shared with a parent or sibling.

 

Students are welcome to bring in current Just Right Books from home to share as recommendations for our class!

 

Math:  Jayme and the 3^rd Grade Mathematicians have just completed our addition and subtraction unit of the year: Trading Stickers, Combining Coins.  Next week, we will be diving into Surveys and Line Plots: Data Analysis.

3^rd graders will be asked to describe, summarize, and compare data.  They will also be designing and carrying out a data investigation, as well as representing their findings.  In your Friday Folders, you will find: directions and recording sheets for Close to 100 and digit cards to be cut and saved for other games.  Play math games often! 

 

Tamara and the 4^th Grade Mathematicians are working on learning their multiplication facts and figuring out ALL the different ways to solve multiplication problems.  At first, students thought there was only ONE way to solve a given multiplication problem, but as they looked again, they figured out 9 ways to solve the problem!  Now is the   time to practice your multiplication combinations (times tables) at home.

 

Have a great weekend!

Jayme: jwoldflorian@smmusd.org                  Tamara, Jayme, & Malaika      Tamara: tmugalian@smmusd.org

 

REMEMBER- PICTURE DAY IS ON MONDAY!

Turn in your order forms to your child’s ADVISORY TEACHER.

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CORE 3 NEWS

 $25 donation for art supplies, please!  Last reminder!

 

Need chaperones for the following trips:

~Mon, 10/21—LA Zoo Chaperones: Tracy    -Need a few more!

~Fri, 11/1—UCLA weather station Jayme    -Need a few more!

 

Catalina Assembly on Friday October 18^th at 9:45-10:15 in the cafeteria!

 

6th gr Math with Erin: In our short two days of math we continued working on our factoring unit. We will be done next week and move on to fractions.

 

5^th gr Math with Genie: We practiced a lot with division compare, story problems, and plain number problems with multiplication and division. We've thought a lot about numbers and using our logical thinking to attack and solve problems or know who's ahead in division compare. We've thought a lot about factors and prime factors. We ended our unit on multiplication and division this week and will begin a unit on addition and subtraction with large numbers. This unit deals with numbers in the thousands up to a million. It is helpful to read large numbers with your children so they can read 1,678,032 is read one million, six-hundred seventy eight, thirty-two.  There are no ands in technical math speak because the and in language represents the decimal point (3.5 is said three and five tenths). I know we all say ands in the middle of a large number or where the commas are—it's a hard habit to break.

 

Social Studies/Science with Erin: On Thursday and Friday students worked on their group research projects. Students are learning different forms of note-taking and how to use "Google" to search for specific age-appropriate informational sources. Students in both groups have completed their notes on geography and our moving on to religion as we continue to use GRAPES to understand different nations.

 

Reading and Writing Workshop with Genie: We are researching our debates and publishing our pieces. We went over the basics of editing and to be aware by circling words we aren't sure are spelled correctly and then finding a source to help us find the conventional spelling. We have so many words in our language that it's hard to remember how to spell them all but some basic ones that we use frequently need practice.  Take time to note 2 or 3 words frequently used words in your child's draft and help them find strategies to help remember the correct spelling. 

Memoir Publishing Celebration will be on Thurs 10/17 at 1:15 for Pink and 2:15 for Green.

 

Homework:

5G math: packet #7. Due 10/18/13

6G math: Complete questions #24 - #48 in ACE packet.

RW: read every day for 30-40 minutes (around 100 pages a week)

Nonfiction reading sheet—complete front and back by Wednesday (10/16)

 

Dates To Remember:

Monday, October 14 - SMASH PICTURE Day

Thursday, October 17 - Memoir Publishing Celebration

Friday, October 18 - 9:45-10:15am - Catalina Assembly

Monday, October 21 - Field Trip - LA Zoo

Friday, October 25 - 1:30-3:30pm - Halloween Carnival - See costume and carnival rules in this Friday Letter

Wednesday, October 30 - SMASH will be open.  Other elementary schools in the district have pupil free day

Thursday, October 31 - Minimum Day - 1:30pm Early Dismissal.  No Halloween costumes.  Crazy Hair/ Crazy Hat Day

                              

Genie, Erin & Laura

 

Genie: ghwang@smmusd.org                                                                                  Erin: ehaendel@smmusd.org

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CORE 4 NEWS

Yosemite Preparation Part 1 - Our winter adventure in beautiful Yosemite Valley (January 12 to January 17) is still 13 weeks away (hopefully that is enough time for the federal government to get back to business) but, we need to start our preparations.  Here are some ways to get ready for Yosemite.

 

1.    Waterproof Hiking Shoes - It is time to shop around for a pair of waterproof hiking shoes for your child if they don’t have a pair.  Please have them by Friday, November 1st.  We will start breaking them in as a class during our walk to the Santa Monica Swim Center. 

2.   Get in shape for the trip – There is a lot of walking on this trip, so plan a few hikes with your child (invite some core 4 friends if you can) before the trip, break-in those hiking shoes if they are new, have your child walk more each day, and slowly add hills your hikes.

3.   Use the following link http://www.naturebridge.org/yosemite/parents to find out all you could want to know about the trip, the location, or the people we work with up in the park.

4.  Turn in the Yosemite Packet by Monday, October 14th if you haven’t done so yet.

 

Reminders

1.       Letter of Recommendations for private school -  Please get any letters to us as soon as possible.  We will write them between now and Thanksgiving.  After that, we will be shifting our focus on writing narratives.

2.       7th Grade Math - Starting chapter 3

3.       8th Grade Math - One group on 3-2, the other group on 4-3.

Important Dates

Friday, October 11, & 18 -  All Core Swimming at the Santa Monica Swim Center

Wednesday, October 23, - Aquarium Field Trip
Friday, October 25 - Halloween Carnival - No Swimming
Monday, October 28 - Aquarium Field Trip
Wednesday, October 30 - Aquarium Field Trip
Thursday, October 31 - Minimum Day, 1:30 Dismissal
Fridays, November 1, 8, 15, & 22 - All Core Swimming at the Santa Monica Swim Center
Monday, November 11 - No School (Veteran’s Day)
Wednesday, November 13 - Yosemite Parent Meeting at 6 p.m.
Thursday & Friday, November 28 & 29 - No School (Thanksgiving Holiday)

Darwin Mendinueto - dmendinueto@smmusd.org

Pam Dresher - pdresher@smmusd.org

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JOIN THE SMASH PTSA

Parent Teacher Student Association

 

 

Arriving very soon ~

SMASH Phone Book

 

Your golden ticket to a copy of the SMASH Phone Book is a SMASH PTSA membership. If you haven’t already joined, it’s not too late. Pick up a PTSA envelope at the office and submit your check ($9 per membership), payable to SMASH PTSA. You get one Phone Book for each membership you purchase. Multiple memberships = multiple  copies of the directory = one will always be at hand.

5 More Great Reasons to Join the SMASH PTSA

 

1. Be in the know. The PTSA helps you keep up with what’s happening at SMASH. You’ll find out what you can do to make a difference for your child and to make SMASH an even better place.

 

2. Make connections. Whether you attend PTSA meetings and events or just link in via e-mails, through the PTSA you’ll connect with others who share your concern for our kids and their education. The PTSA is a way to meet other SMASH parents and build relationships.

 

3. Hone your skills. In the PTSA, you’ll have the opportunity to use what you know, try new things, and develop your skills.

 

4. Speak up. The PTSA is a forum for exchanging ideas. Your membership can be a means to effectively suggest changes and to be involved in making them happen.

 

5. Be a role model for your child. Through your involvement in PTSA, not only will you help your child and all children receive a better education but you’ll show your child how much you value education. You also will teach your child about giving back to the community.

 

Questions? Email Snow Lam-Hansen (mother of Kim/Core 2 and Tia/Core 1) at    snowwht@gmail.com.

 

Sincerely,

  Snow Lam-Hansen                       Jamee Tenzer                         Jessica Rishe

PTSA Membership V.P.                   David Saltzman                           Principal

                                                   PTSA Co-President

 

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SMASH Site Council Minutes

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

3:30 PM

 

In attendance:, Chryta Powell, Jessica Rishe, Sabine Werk, Aurora Delaney Lockhart, Amber Baker, Molly Domingue,  Graciela Barba-Castro, Christian Carter

Absent: Janice Wold, Malaika Boyer, Erin Haendel, 2 new student members

 

Agenda Adopted.  Motioned by Chryta Powell. Seconded by Molly Dominigue.   

 

Approved minutes of last meeting (done via email end of 2012-13)

 

Community participation

           

Reports and Announcements (regular agenda items)

            Principal’s Report:  TH 10/10, SMASH hosting Progressive Educators’ Network (PEN) visitors and Core 1 will       present at PEN conference 10/11 about Learning through Play.  40^th anniversary celebration plans underway for May 17, 2014 at SuperSMASH. 

 

            Student Reports:  Friday, October 11 is Bike It Walk It Day with Core 4 student facilitators.  Focus is on protective gear and safe riding habits.  Core 4 is swimming at the SMC pool every week, as a PE elective as well as a means of endurance hiking training before Yosemite trip in January.  Core 4 students made personal galleries that     represent what is important to them.  In Science they are studying about cells.  Students are reading Enders Game and To Kill A Mockingbird.

 

            Community Organization Reports (to include but not limited to the following):

                        PTSA:  Halloween Carnival 10/25.  SMASH provides food and Haunted House.  We will do paint a pumpkin raffle (instead of the scarecrow submissions). Donations have come from Albertsons, Treats Yogurt, Bobs Market, Pacific Park Pier, ZJ Boarding House.   Muir provides activities and decorations.  Comedy Night 11/17. 

 

                        Student Council:  Community Group Morning Meeting 10/4. New Partners and children new to SMASH have joined Community Groups.   We held our getting to know you Morning Meeting in these K-8 groupings. Students discovered the two family strings K-8 in their group. Crazy Hair Day will be 10/31.  Student Council members reported what they love about SMASH.   

 

Old Business:  None

 

New Business

 

            Introduction of Site Council members

 

Reviewed the updated Comprehensive School Safety Plan.  Discussed the role of parents who are on campus during a           drill or true disaster.

 

Reviewed the schedule of emergency drills for the year.

 

Reviewed the inventory of recently reorganized, restocked emergency supplies.  It would be helpful to update the     Entertainment Items in the bin and Cafeteria: Decks of cards, dominoes, checkers, chess, I spy books, small white boards with markers

Site Improvement Plan-Reviewed OLWEUS anti-bullying student survey results in preparation for School Climate goal for Site Improvement Plan.  Questions during our discussion of the data:

Graph 20  In what form are students taking action when showing empathy and helping others?  Are students’ skills and the overall expectation for helping each other improving? 

Graph 3a.  What positively shifted so that students feel a decrease in aggressive acts towards them since 2011 for the class of 2016?  Can talking about bullying connect to children feeling more equipped/trained to handle it?  Do they know we are expecting them to stand up to it?

Where are we at with common definitions with “exclusion” as a pattern of rejection versus young children temporarily changing allegiances?

Why do girls report more discomfort on the playground?

Graph 10a  What kind of protocols are in place for supervisors on the yard to differentiate what is conflict mediation and what is bullying?  And do the children know that these are handled differently in complete and appropriate ways?

Graph 23 For the 5-6 students who self-reported feeling socially isolated, what can we do to encourage others to directly reach out and try to help them feel anchor friendships?

Graph 24  When students say they dislike school, what is that about?  (Relationship with teacher, HW, poor social   connections, home life distractions…)

Confirmed meeting dates for the 13-14 year (10/9, 11/13, 12/11, 1/15, 5/7)

Community participation:  none

Adjourned.  Motioned by Molly.  Seconded by Aurora.