October 18, 2013

DON’T FORGET!

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

Wednesday, October 30 - SMASH is in session

Thursday, October 31 - Minimum Day 1:30pm Dismissal - NO Halloween costumes - SMASH Crazy Hair/Hat Day

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Dear SMASHing Families,

Yesterday, Thursday, October 17, was California’s Great Shakeout (10:17am on 10/17).  We had a full-scale earthquake drill, complete with mock-injured students that our search and rescue teams found and for which our first aid team  practiced providing care. Please note:  During drills as well as true emergencies, the school gates are locked until the drill/emergency is complete. 

We have a detailed plan to keep all of our students, staff, and visiting adults safe in the event of an emergency.    We have monthly fire drills, twice yearly “lock down” and earthquake “drop and cover” drills. In the case of an actual earthquake, all children will duck and cover in the classroom and then assemble on the field with their teachers until   the emergency is declared over or until released to an adult. In the case of a true emergency, you or someone on your child’s emergency card should pick up the children at the “reunion gate” on the 5th Street side of campus just north of the trash bins.  Records will be kept on all children released to adults.  In case of campus damage near the 5th Street gate, alternative staging areas may be designated to provide safe shelter to our students so be prepared to

1)      Look for “SMASH Reunion Gate” signs hanging on the perimeter fence to designate another pick up area,

2)      Receive an email blast if we have Internet function that gives you more detailed information.

What can you do? 

1)      Talk to your child about your family plan for an emergency.

2)      Keep the office emergency cards updated with approved people who can pick up your child. 

3)      It is also recommended that you tune your radio to KWFB (AM980) or KRSF (FM 103.1) for news reports that may have additional information during an actual emergency.

4)   If your child requires medication, please contact Nurse Sandy to be sure we have an adequate supply. 

In case of a true emergency, we have adequate food, water, and shelter to keep our students safe for an extended        period of time.  Our faculty and staff will take good care of our students until you are able to come to campus. Please remember to remain calm for your child and other children. will be important that you follow the emergency         procedures, especially remaining at the reunion gate until your child is brought to you and signed out with your name and destination. Thank you for reading this and thinking through the above preparations as we work together to keep our children safe.

Jessica

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Check today’s Friday Letter to see the Paint-A-Pumpkin flyer for details

on how you can have a chance to win a great prize just by decorating and bringing in a pumpkin!

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DATES TO REMEMBER

October:

Fri, Oct 25 - 1:30-3:30pm - Halloween Carnival - costume guidelines are in this Friday Letter

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30 - SMASH WILL BE OPEN

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

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

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

November:

Sun, Nov 3 - Daylight Savings Ends - Set your clock 1 hour back and sleep in!

Wed, Nov 6 - 8:30am - PTSA Mtg

Mon, Nov 11 - Veteran’s Day - SCHOOL CLOSED

Wed, Nov 13 - 3:30pm - Site Council Mtg

Wed, Nov 13 - 6:00pm - Yosemite Trip Parent Mtg

Fri, Nov 15 - School Picture Make-up Day

Sun, Nov 17 - 7:00pm - Comedy Night at Magicopolis   -  1418 4th Street, downtown Santa Monica

                                                                                                           Tickets are available at www.smashcomedynight.eventbrite.com

Mon, Nov 18 - 9:00am - SMASH School Tour

Wed, Nov 20 - SMASH restaurant fundraiser night at El Cholo’s Restaurant –details to come

Wed, Nov 27 - 1:30pm - EARLY DISMISSAL

Thurs, Fri, Nov 28 & 29 - Thanksgiving Holiday - SCHOOL CLOSED

December:

WINTER BREAK - December 23 - January 6.  School resumes on Tuesday, January 7, 2014

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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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SMASH & JOHN MUIR HALLOWEEN 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

-$50 gift certificate for M Street kitchen

      -Gift Certificate to Treats Frozen Yogurt and

Ice Bar on Ocean Park Blvd.

-Set of 4 AMC Movie Tickets

               

Rules and Info:

-DO NOT carve the pumpkin in any way (carved pumpkins get moldy)

-Pumpkins must be at least 6 inches tall (so they are more visible)

-Do not use electric or battery operated gizmos on your pumpkin

-Pumpkins must be submitted starting no later than Tuesday, Oct 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 Oct 25.  You do not have to be present to win.

*Remember to take your pumpkin home after the Carnival so you can enjoy it for Halloween.

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Notes from your PTSA. . . .

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 September 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!

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District in partnership with Santa Monica-Malibu PTA Council presents

Common Core State Standards: Webinar Series for Parents

October 23- Elementary School Focus

10:00am (Watch Live at School Sites: McKinley, Pt. Dume, Cabrillo, Grant, Franklin, Roosevelt, and Rogers.)

6:00pm (Watch live at Edison, Cabrillo, Grant, Rogers.)

Common Core State Standards represent an exciting, real-world approach to teaching and learning that has been adopted by 47 states including California. Implementation will mean changes in curriculum, teaching and assessments. The Common Core State Standards will prepare our children for college and career readiness in the 21st century; it's critical that parents understand these significant shifts in education so that we can help all our young students succeed!

Learn how to support your student. Receive valuable resources.

Take part in one of the hosted Webinar viewings, or tune in and participate from your home or office.

Here’s the link: https://smmusd.adobeconnect.com/commoncoreelem

Panelists may include Dr. Terry Deloria, Dr. Maureen Bradford, Rosa Serratore, Irene Gonzalez, Aida Diaz, and Patti Braun.

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?fromEmail=true&formkey=dFRJQU9sNTBEQ3poNnc0YTJlTXMtWVE6MA

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CORE 1 NEWS

Earthquake Drill Reactions

Core 1 joined the many Californians who practiced earthquake preparedness.  In Circle Groups, we prepared children for the drill by telling them why we have drills, explaining the procedures, and reminding them that drills are only for practice.  Children ducked and covered under tables and filed out to the big yard to be counted.  We played games and looked at books while the search and rescue team practiced doing their jobs.   This is what the children had to say:

We practice for an earthquake so we won’t get scared and we will know what to do. –Sahar

I liked it when we went under the tables. –Savannah

I liked it when we got to go out and look at the books. –Dean

I liked that everyone was calm. –Nico

We had to practice because if an earthquake really happened we would know what to do. –Avey

If we had a real earthquake we wouldn’t want the roof to fall on us so we should go under a table. –Maya

The roof of this building was designed a special way – it’s not meant to come down in an earthquake. – Mira

We were out there for a reason.  We have to learn the safety rules to follow in an earthquake.  The older kids have done it more times.  We need more practice.  –Jules

We have this shake down every year.  –Dashiell W.

If a real earthquake came, it would be that long or longer than that.  A earthquake is a serious thing. –Juliette

Outdoor Play

Encouraging children to play safely and productively after lunch and recess is very important to us. We have noticed that some children are very interested in dramatic play and others aren’t.  Sometimes the dramatic play involves story  or action figure characters from Batman, Ninjago, Star Wars etc. We have set up safety cones to delineate a space for children to make a plan and come to agreements about their stories and about personal space boundaries without       involving children who are not interested in this type of play.  Other areas in the yard are designated for running,      tagging, climbing, sliding, dancing, hula-hooping, freeze dancing, sidewalk chalk drawing, tossing bean bags, etc.  If you are interested in volunteering to lead an outdoor group, please contact us.  Our wish list this week is related to our outdoor hopes and dreams.

Wish list

Foam noodles, lightweight balls, beach balls, scarves, bubble wands, cones, pop-up soccer goals 

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Graciela (gbarba-castro@smmusd.org                                               Chrysta (cpowell@smmusd.org)                                                                     Christian (ccarter@smmus.og)  & Nadja

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CORE 2 NEWS

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my…

Next week – Friday, October 25 – is our SMASH/Muir Halloween Carnival from 1:30 – 3:30 (all students must be picked  up by 3:30).  There will no Playground Access or Crest.  Core 2 students are invited to dress up for a full day of spooky, silly fun (NO Halloween costumes on October 31 – we’re doing crazy hair/silly hat day instead!).  Please follow the SMASH Halloween Costume Guidelines –  dress for comfort, NO masks, NO weapons/props, and NO candy.  It’s going to be spooktacular! 

Literacy: Both groups continue to develop stamina for sustained reading and writing.  They are learning to balance   the freedom (fun, personal interests) of free/choice reading and writing with the responsibility (purpose, content knowledge) of reading to learn and writing to demonstrate understanding. 

Tamara’s group has been thinking about what animals they would like to be:

Micah would like to be a Cheetah because they are fast.

Katell wants to be a Hermit Crab - an exoskeleton and a shell house means double the protection.

Kaleb would like to join the Merfolk, which he’s decided are amphibians based on their traits.

Alani dreams of a Dog’s life so she can be everybody’s best friend.

Sydney would like to be a Koala, which she’s learned is a marsupial AND a mammal.

Luca wishes to be a Porcupine with one clever adaptation designed to keep predators away.

Olin wants to be a Rainbow Unicorn because who wouldn’t want to be a Rainbow Unicorn.

The students are exploring the phylum/class/family, adaptations, traits, and habitats of their animals by listening to read alouds, watching movies, reading nonfiction, playing games, and utilizing the textbooks to find facts that      support WHY it would be cool to be the animal they’ve selected. 

Jayme’s group is wrapping up their Scary Stories and getting ready to dive into the process of writing Realistic Fiction.  They will be collecting a variety of ideas before choosing the best one to plan and draft, then using revision to make it the best story possible before the final stage of editing and publishing.  Whew!    

In addition to reading to support our writing assignments, we make time for Just Right Books each day.  The most important thing about a Just Right Book is that you can read and understand it independently.  Oh, and it should be interesting to you.  Oh, and you should want to read it from cover to cover.  Oh, and you should love it so much you want to read it at home and at school.  Oh, and it should make reading fun!  Ask yourself these questions to determine whether or not you are reading a just right Just Right Book.  RW HW: read for 20-30 minutes each night.  Tamara’s group is bringing in current favorite Just Right Books from home to recommend and lend to our class!  Please write your name in your book.

Math:  Just like reading and writing, math (and, by extension, math homework) should be just right.  In order to meet the diverse needs of all the students, we strive to make packets that are a little bit review and a little bit preview, some challenging problems and some easy problems, not too much and not too little. 

Our Homework Mantra is:  Start with what you know, do what you can, bring it in and ask for help!

Have a great weekend!

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

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CORE 3 NEWS

Thanks so much to Kathleen for being the only parent chaperone AXIS Dance @ UCLA on Friday!

~Mon, 10/21—LA Zoo chaperones: Tracy, Ross, Sandy, Bianca, Mimi, JessyElena

~Fri, 11/1—UCLA weather station chaperones: Jamee, Sandy, Marni

Leslie (Andre's mom) has found a person to donate beautiful shelves for our Core 3 Library but we need a truck and human power to move the shelves from their current location to Core 3. Please let Genie (ghwang@smmusd.org) or Leslie (lesliezuczek@gmail.com) know if you have a truck and can help!  Thanks!

6th gr Math with Erin: We are completing our unit on Factors. Students will have an assessment next week to see what they have learned. The sixth graders also spent time preparing for the Catalina assembly. We hope you were able to come and see it!
5^th gr Math with Genie: Today your child should hand you a copy of their final assessment from our multiplication and division unit. Please look through the assessment, talk to your child about what they understand, where they may be still confused, and sign the back so your child can turn it in. Thanks! We are currently working on a ten-thousands chart. It is 100 across and 100 down. You probably remember seeing a 100's chart way back when that was a 10x10 grid. This is the same thing but much larger and so with all the numbers within one number, it's hard to keep track—but we are trying!  Remember to read large numbers with your child as you see them on your speedometer, populations, government budgets, etc!

 Social Studies/Science with Erin: This week students continued research on their country of choice. Working in groups, students completed the Geography and Religion sections of their "GRAPES" research. Students are working   on looking more deeply at the information they are getting. Instead of simply writing down that most people in Japan are Shinto, students are learning to make sense of the information. What is Shintoism? Is it a religion or a way of life? Students are being encouraged to truly understand what they are writing down.

~Zoo Field Trip--We are heading to the LA Zoo on Monday to learn about what animals live in different areas of the world. Students will have a world map and will be placing the animals that they learn about in the appropriate regions. Hope for cool weather!

Reading and Writing Workshop with Genie: Thanks for coming to help celebrate our writing Thursday! There will be more celebrations to come! We reflected on our memoir unit and had a final quickwrite to see if we could write a solid memoir in 30 minutes by using all our new writing skills. We are working on our 3^rd debate and we will begin our next writing unit, Personal Essay. 

Diane, the wonderful SMASH/Muir librarian has started a tradition of "Free Book Friday" in the library. It has been a hit with students of all ages. If you have books you want to donate to this wonderful weekly event, please drop your books off to Diane. Thanks!

Homework:

5G math: packet #8. Due 10/25/13

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

WW: collect ideas in notebook for next unit: Personal Essay

Nonfiction reading sheet—complete front and back by Wednesday (10/23)

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

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CORE 4 NEWS

Social Studies: Students have been working on their world region project in preparation for our travel fair to be held in November (exact date TBD). Students are working in groups to learn about a specific region of the world and then will design and present individual service learning trips to their particular region during the travel fair.

Science: Our study of cells as the basis of life continues. In addition to learning about the structure and function of cells, students have used the metric system to gain some understanding of the size of cells and organelles. All students will be visiting the Aquarium in the next two weeks to deepen their understanding of life on the cellular level.

Book Clubs:  Students are currently working on their group project.  Each group will need to create a poster with captions, complete a timeline, perform a scripted skit, and record a discussion using a “talk show” format around a specific theme.  In addition, 8th graders have a tableaux performance and two choice assignments, while the 7th graders have one extra choice assignment.  For more details, talk to your child about this project.  Almost all of these assignments are to be completed in class to maximize collaboration time. 

Math:  Both 7th and 8th grade students are learning how to solve word problems.  We start the process by unpacking the problem.  Once they have tapped into their prior knowledge, they begin to solve the problem.  When the word problem is complete, they write a short reflection to describe the concepts they learned, the concepts that were reinforced, and the strategies they used to solve the problem.  This is a very, very short description about the process of solving a word problem.  Look for more detail about this process on a future Friday Letter.

7th Grade - Chapter 3-3 Multi-step Algebraic Expressions

8th Grade - Either finishing chapter 4 or finishing chapter 3.

                       

Reminders

·         Yosemite Preparation - Get waterproof hiking shoes or use waterproofing spray and get in shape for the trip.  See last week’s letter for more details.

·         Letter of Recommendations for private school - Please get any letters to us as soon as possible.  We will write them between now and Thanksgiving. 

Important Dates

Wednesday, October 23, - Aquarium Field Trip for 7th grade

Friday, October 25 - Halloween Carnival - No Swimming

Monday, October 28 - Aquarium Field Trip for 7th grade

Wednesday, October 30 - Aquarium Field Trip for 8th grade

Thursday, October 31 - Minimum Day, 1:30 Dismissal. Crazy Hair/Hat Day.  No Halloween costumes or make-up

Friday, November 1 - Hiking Shoe Check

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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