TONIGHT!!
UPPER SCHOOL DANCE!
CORES 3 & 4 ONLY
6:00 to 8:00pm
MUSIC, FOOD, FRIENDS FUN!
Each student may bring one non-SMASH friend
$5.00 Suggested Donation for this fundraiser!
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IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES?
Students need to be prepared for PE classes, outside community activities, and just plain playing in the yard. PLEASE make sure that your child is wearing appropriate shoes to school each day. Boots, sandals and loose fitting shoes should not be worn to school. Thanks!
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SMASH SPIRIT GEAR
Check your email on Monday for SMASH spirit gear! All orders must be received by Dec. 16 - That's just 10 days! Everything ordered by December 16 will be available for pick up at school, on the 20th.
There are lots of great choices including 40th Anniversary gear!
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SMASH 8TH GRADE STUDENTS ARE SELLING $20 ICE TICKETS FRIDAYS, BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL
AT THE MAIN GATE AND IN THE SMALL YARD
ICE cards can also be purchased in the SMASH office (check or cash amount only).
ICE will create a SMASH booklet that you can purchase for $20. It can be used like cash for Admission, Skate Rental and/or Concessions. Admission and skate rental at ICE is $12, and the additional $8 left over can be used at the concession/food stand or 'saved' for the next trip to ice where it can again be used toward admission or for food and beverage. The cards can be used all season long (except New Year’s Eve) so stock up!
For every $20 card sold, the SMASH Trips Scholarship fund will earn $8.
Questions? Contact Lori Nafshun at gettalife1@gmail.com
Thank you for supporting our students!
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DATES TO REMEMBERWed, Dec 11 - 3:15pm - Site Council Meeting
Tues, Dec. 17 - SMASH and John Muir Winter Concert - Details in today’s Friday Letter
Wed, Dec 18 - SMASH Arts/Drama Share - Details in today’s Friday Letter
WINTER BREAK - December 23 - January 6. School resumes on Tuesday, January 7, 2014.
Monday, January 6 is a pupil free day for SMASH
SAVE THE DATE
Arts & Letters Sale is on Saturday, February 22. - We Need Art !
Questions?: info@smashartsale.com
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Tidbits From SMASH PTSA
Are you up to the Challenge? Take the D&B Matching Gift Challenge!Now through December 20, Dun & Bradstreet will match, dollar for dollar up to $150,000, your donation to the Education Foundation in support of the SMMUSD Vision for Student Success. Every gift, no matter the size, will double the impact at your Child’s school and every school in our district, $50 becomes $100, $500 becomes $1,000!
Make your gift online at www.smmef.org/donate Or mail your donation to: Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation; 1645 16th St; Santa Monica, CA 90404
THIS IS A GREAT DEAL!
Donate your gently used clothing and make money for SMASH.
Just visit our dedicated SMASH LA Stitch Page (below) , request a bag and fill it up. UPS will come pick it up when you are ready. SMASH makes 40% of the sales from your gently used clothing.http://www.schoola.com/stitch/santa-monica-alternative-k-8-santa-monica-ca
We need your voices and dialing fingers!
The Ed Foundation is Hosting a Phone - a - Thon to get the word out to SMMUSD families about the importance of donating to the Vision for Student Success. If you are willing to give an hour or two to this important cause, please contact Jessica Urena at 310/364-4557 or jessica.urena@smmef.org to sign up.The Dates and Times:
Monday, December 9 through Thursday, December 12
5pm - Training - Snacks provided
5:15pm - 6:30pm Phone calls
6:30pm - 6:45pm Break
6:45pm - 8:00pm Phone calls
The PTSA wants to hear from you!
Please feel free to email questions, thoughts and ideas: Jamee Tenzer, Co-President jameetenzer@gmail.com,
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SMASH/MUIR JUNIOR GREAT BOOKS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
We need volunteers to help run our Junior Great Books program!JGB is a nationally-recognized program for student book clubs, drawing on a diverse set of stories from all over the world to provoke student-led discussions of literature and life. Last year we ran sessions for Kindergarten through 4th grades. This year we are again partnering with Muir to share great books with old friends and make some new friends too!
We will run 6 week sessions from January to February, in parallel with the CREST Enrichment winter schedule, starting the week of January 14. You can run your weekly one-hour session on whatever days / times are convenient for you, we will work with your schedule.
Leading a session is immensely rewarding and fun -- the children will amaze you with their ideas!
Please contact peterjkovac@yahoo.com if you are interested in volunteering. No experience necessary. Sign-ups for your kids will occur in late November or early December.
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REGISTRATION FOR BASKETBALL HAS BEGUN FOR GRADES K-8!
Don’t miss out! Sign up today!For more information call 310-458-8540 or register online at www.smgov.net/crest.
You can also drop your registration form with the CREST staff in bungalow B or in the SMASH office
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DISTRICTWIDE VISUAL ART SHOW
Friday, January 31 - 6:00-8:00pm
Roberts Art Gallery, SAMOHI campus
We will be celebrating the incredible work of our Visual Art students and teachers with our "Districtwide Visual Art Show.” Two dimensional artwork, photography, ceramic and video work will be professionally installed in Roberts Art Gallery for all to see. All the art teachers from across the district will be in attendance as well as the young artists and their families.While admiring the fantastic work of our students, you will be entertained by the Samohi jazz combo. Light refreshments and food will also be available, so please mark your calendars now. You won't want to miss this great event!
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THINGS TO DO!
Sat, Dec 7 - 21st Annual CANDY CANE DRIVE - Santa Claus is coming!10:30-11:00 - Douglas Park
11:15-11:45 - Christine Reed Park
12:00-12:30 - 3rd Street Promenade at Wilshire
1:45 - 2:15 - Virginia Avenue Park
2:30 - 3:00 - Marine Park
3:15 - 3:45 - Clover Park
Santa will be escorted by Santa Monica Police cars and motorcycles.
LISTEN for sirens and LOOK for him on the bright red fire engine! Candy canes available for all!
Main Street - Saturday, December 7
Beginning at 5pm, join Main Street’s merchants for their annual holiday extravaganza that begins at the California Heritage Museum at Main and Ocean Park Blvd. There will be pictures with Santa, two three lightings and plenty of parties at a number of stores on Main St. For more info: mainstreetsm.com
Montana Avenue HOLIDAY WALK
Friday, December 6. 5-9pmMusic - Refreshments - for info: www.montanaave.com
Woodlawn Cemetery Tree of Life and Holiday Open House
Saturday, Dec 7 11am-4pmIn honor of loved ones who have passed , personalize ornaments and place them on our Tree of Life in the Mausoleum Lobby. 1847 14th St, SM
Downtown Santa Monica Holiday Events
ICE AT SANTA MONICA SKATING RINK
November 1—January 20 5th Street at Arizona
RANDY GARDNER’S SCHOOL OF SKATING
Days vary beginning November 13. Details at ICESanta Monica.com
POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE GIFT DRIVE
November 1 - December 11. Drop unwrapped gifts at ICE
HOCKEY CLINICS WITH THE LOS ANGELES KINGS
Dates vary beginning December 1. Details at ICESantaMonica.com
CITY OF SANTA MONICA’S OFFICIAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
December 12, 7:00pm. 3rd Street Promenade at Wilshire
FREE KIDS CRAFT: HOLIDAY PUZZLES
December 21, noon to 3:00pm. 3rd Street Promenade, Center Court
SANTA’S LITTLE SAVERS SUPRISING SHOPPERS IN DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA
December 21 - 24, 3rd Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place
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SMASH and JOHN MUIR
WINTER CONCERT
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
6:00 pm
4th Grade Violin – Music Room
4th Grade Viola & Cello – Cafeteria
4th Grade Flute & Clarinet – SMASH Room 415
4th Grade Trumpet & Trombone – Computer Lab
7:00 pm
4th Grade Chorus - Library
5th Grade Band, 5th Grade Chorus, 5th Grade Orchestra – Cafeteria
8:00 pm – SMASH Middle School Groups
Chorus, Winds, Orchestra, Jazz Band - Cafeteria
We are looking forward to sharing this evening with you!
Ms. Bersch, Ms. Cruz, Mrs. Quíroz, Mrs. Spike-Gravelle
Mr. Hyziak, Mr. Muñoz, Mr. Anderson
Students: Please arrive 15 minutes before your performance time
with appropriate concert attire.
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FREE E WASTE DISPOSAL
Saturday, December 14 - 9am—1pm
SAMOHI Campus - Enter through Olympic Gate
For Info: ewasteclubsamohi.webs.com/ or e-mail at ewasteclubsamohi@gmail.com
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CORE 1 NEWS
Drama ShareSave the date for our Drama Share titled Holding On to the Story on Wednesday, December 18, from 9:00-10:00. The Core 1 children will present The Full Belly Bowl by Jim Ayleswork and Jubal’s Wish by Audrey Wood.
We will have three screenings: 9:00-9:15, 9:20-9:35, and 9:40-9:55. The whole school community is invited to see how characters’ feelings change over the course of a story.
The Partners’ work will be presented Graciela’s room,
The Bigs’ work will be presented in Chrysta’s Room, and
the Mentors’ work will be presented in Christian’s room. We hope that you can join us!
Lice Alert for Boys and Girls
It is time to check our children’s hair for lice, again. Nurse Sandy has been checking children in school, but we can use your help to check for the presence of lice at home. Please keep in mind that lice can live in all types of hair regardless of length!
Math in Core 1
The children in Core 1 have been playing math games to help develop their number sense. We know that children learn best when they are introduced to ideas that are within their zone of proximal development. We also know that introducing strategies to children that they are not ready to learn could cause frustration and confusion. If you have questions about when to introduce equations, addition or subtraction strategies or workbooks, please check with your child’s workshop teacher. We want to make sure that math is contextualized and that children enjoy it. Tell number stories, counting objects, and playing with dice are fun ways to help you child develop number sense.
Lost and Found
Please visit the Core 1 Lost and Found and label jackets, sweaters, and long sleeve shirts. We will be donating all unclaimed clothes over winter break.
Have a great weekend!
Graciela (gbarba-castro@smmusd.org Chrysta (cpowell@smmusd.org) Christian (ccarter@smmus.og) & Nadja
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CORE 2 NEWS
Celebrating and sharing our hard work is an important aspect of learning at SMASH. It helps promote intrinsic motivation, quality work, a sense of ownership, and self-esteem. This is especially true when the process of learning is as valued as highly as the end product of that learning. At SMASH, we work very hard to emphasize the learning process over the final product, and when we share our work we invite parents into the learning process with us. The Core 2 students have a lot to share and celebrate with you Tues, December 17 and Wed, December 18.Fourth Grade Music Concert: Each music group will be sharing what they have been practicing in the room where they have music each week. Bring a little extra cash to buy flowers to show your support of their efforts -
All proceeds go toward our Core 4 trips and celebrations. Our budding 4G Musicians will have their first music sharing on Tuesday, December 17 at 6:00 pm.
Art Sharing: The Core 2 students have been working with our SMASHing visual artist, Juliana, since the beginning of the year. They have explored a variety of art-making tools, techniques, and concepts. We encourage you to check it out! Their artwork will be on display Wednesday, December 18, 11:00 – 11:30 (for C2 parents only) and 11:30 – 12:15 (for C2 parents, as well as students from other cores).
Literacy Sharing: The Core 2 students have fiction and nonfiction work to share with you. Jayme led the students through a Realistic Fiction Unit. She read examples of realistic fiction stories to them, the students read realistic fiction books during independent reading, and they spent several weeks collecting and planning ideas to draft, revise, edit and publish their own realistic fiction stories – which they are ready to share with you, along with evidence of all the hard work they did along the way. Tamara and company spent several weeks doing research for their Animal Projects. The students learned to use techniques for remembering what they learned; they gathered information from a variety of types of resources (documentary film, read aloud books, textbooks, etc. Some kids even included internet research!). Then they practiced assimilating the information, taking notes, and sharing their learning to teach others. Finally, the students used what they learned about the features of nonfiction books (table of contents, illustrations with captions, diagrams, glossary) to create their own books. They’ll share their Literacy work Wednesday, December 18, 11:00 – 11:30 (for C2 parents only) and 11:30 – 12:15 (for C2 parents, as well as students from other cores).
We know how busy parents are at this time of year (and always!). We do our best to share work at varying times over the course of the year – during the day or in the evening – to meet the needs of different families. We know it isn’t possible to make it to every sharing event, and we do our best to help students understand that and to make sure all students have an audience for their work if their parents can’t make it.
Narrative Report Cards are one more way we give you a peek into your child’s life at SMASH by sharing how they are doing at this point of their personal learning process in Core 2. This year, Jayme and Tamara will be reporting your child’s progress as With Assistance, which means that your child needs support from an adult in order to progress successfully and additional support and practice at home is helpful in this area or Developing Independence, meaning that your child consistently demonstrates progress in this area. Developing these skills is a two-year process whereby students develop along a continuum. Expectations vary based upon the number/type of lessons, the needs of the whole group, and each student’s personal goals and grade-level. The skills addressed on the Core 2 Narratives are complex enough to extend across both 3rd and 4th grades, as well as two years. 1st Semester reports will be mailed after Winter Break.
Important Dates:
Tuesday 12/17 ~ Music Sharing Concert, 6:00 pm (students should arrive no later than 5:45) Wednesday 12/18 ~ Visual Arts & Literacy Sharing, 11 – 12:15 (11 – 11:30 ~ C2 parents only!)
Have a warm & cozy weekend!
Jayme: jwoldflorian@smmusd.org Tamara, Jayme, & Malaika Tamara: tmugalian@smmusd.org
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CORE 3 NEWS
Thank you for all the chaperones who were able to come on our field trips! The Autry, The Nutcracker, The Huntington Gardens, and The National Geographic photographer's talk were all amazing experiences.~Astrocamp is Feb 19-21, 2014 for 5th graders. If you have a balance on your payment it will be due in January. If you are unsure about what is left on your balance, please email Genie (ghwang@smmusd.org).
Upper School Dance is today from 6:00-8:00. Each SMASH student may bring ONE non-SMASH friend who is a 5th-8th grader. We have discussed how they are responsible for that friend and his/her behavior.
6th gr Math with Erin: This week students got a better understanding of the relationships between fractions and decimals. Students thought about the meaning of fractions using a hundreds grid. What does 4/10 look like on a hundreds grid? What about 23/100? Students then practiced converting these fractions to decimals with the assistance of a place value chart. Ask your child if they can tell you how to make 4/25 into a decimal.
5th gr Math with Genie: We hope you had a chance to look at your child's subtraction assessment and discuss with your child their strategies and how they got correct answers and where they made mistakes or were confused. Please sign their assessment and have your child return it to school. Please make sure you take time to continue subtracting and adding large numbers with your child. We have dived into fractions and percents and a little decimals. (We'll get more involved into decimals in January. You can start discussing decimals with your child but keep in mind that developmentally decimals, reading them, ordering them, understanding their fraction equivalences is challenging.)
Social Studies/Science with Erin: Students are working feverishly to finish their country Social Studies projects. Most groups are almost done with the first draft of their informational group and many groups are busily planning their display. Our share is in less than two weeks - on Tuesday, December 17th. We will be sharing with the parents from 10:30-12:25 and with the rest of the school after lunch. Feel free to come at either time, but know that it will be more crowded with children after lunch. We would love any help in class next week as the students do their final edits on their books to make them the best they can be. Social Studies times to help: Monday 10:30 - 12:25 (Pink) 1:10 - 3:00 (Green), Tuesday 11:30 - 12:25 (Green), 1:10 - 3:00 (Pink), Wednesday 9:15 - 10:15 (Pink), 10:30 - 12:25 (Green), Friday 10:30 - 11:30 (Green) 11:30 - 12:25 (Pink). Thanks!
Reading and Writing Workshop with Genie: We had a fantastic Personal Essay Celebration last Monday. We have started looking at the backs of books and book jackets to think about how to write an interesting literary essay. We are going to write quick literary essays before winter break as well as begin to collect ideas that could be Science Fiction Short Stories. There is a lot that could be collected in their writing notebook for their homework entries.
Visual Arts with Julianna: Focus and good time management happens when we get closer to deadlines. The students are refining and finishing up their video clips and learning about how to create and edit in credits.
~Our Art Sharing of our Claymation clips and process will be Wednesday, December 17, 8:45-10:00 for parents and from 10:30-11:30 for the Cores to visit.
Homework:
5G math: packet #14. Due 12/20/13—Note the 2 weeks to complete this packet. Hope it doesn't get lost!
Nonfiction sheet due Wednesday 12/11!
Reading 30 minutes every day! When you remind your child, do they follow through?
WW: collect 3 entries (full pages) in writing notebook each week. Will be checked on Wednesdays. Entries can be writing about anything—fiction, reflections, book reviews, memoirs, articles, debates, essays, etc.
Enjoy the weekend!
Genie, Erin and Laura
Genie: ghwang@smmusd.org Erin: ehaendel@smmusd.org
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CORE 4 NEWS
MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE TONIGHT! - 6:00-8:00PM.
Humanities
• Reading - Every book club group has created a plan and norms for book club meeting. Each student should already have a copy of their book. Their next book club meeting is on Thursday, Dec. 12.
• Writing – Students are working on writing essays. They have completed a thesis for their cell essay and are writing their first draft, which is due on Monday, Dec. 9. Their final version is due Friday, Dec. 13.
• Social Studies - Students received an overview of the 5 major religions world religions and will be moving into their research groups for this project.
Science: We began our ecology unit this week. This is an “umbrella” unit that will help tie together learning in Yosemite and our study of genetics and evolution. For the next month or so, our focus will be on the “sandy beach” ecosystem. Each science group will be walking to the beach next week. A volunteer from the Audubon Society will join us to help students begin their study of shorebirds.
7th Grade Math: One group needs to complete chapter 5 by the winter break, while the other group needs to complete chapter 6.
8th Grade Math
• Group Fire - They are starting chapter 5 and they need to complete it before winter break.
• Group Ice - They are continuing with chapter 6 and they need to complete it before winter break.
Reminders:
We need another chaperone to walk to the beach on Monday, Dec. 9 with the “Newton” science group. Please email Pam if you are available. 8:30-10:15.
Our Drama Celebration is scheduled for Wednesday, December 16. Each student is assigned to a specific drama group. Please ask check in with your child about Drama. The performances will be held at the auditorium. Here are the show times:
1:15 - “Fairy Tales” Group
1:35 - “Mystery” Group
2:00 - “Everything Good” Group
Don’t Forget to Prepare for the Yosemite Trip. See previous Friday Letter for details.
Important Dates
Fridays until Winter Break - ICE ticket sales before and after school
Wednesday, December 18 - Core 4 Drama Celebration 1:15 - 2:30.
Friday, December 20 - Last day before winter break
Monday, January 6 - Pupil Free Day (No School)
Wednesday, January 8 - Yosemite Chaperone Meeting at 6pm
Sunday, January 12 to 17 - Yosemite Trip
Darwin Mendinueto - dmendinueto@smmusd.org Pam Dresher - pdresher@smmusd.org
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