MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 - PRESIDENTS’ DAY - SCHOOL CLOSED
Dear SMASHing Families,
California’s 2013 Budget Act includes
a new funding formula (Local Control Funding Formula or LCFF), which gives
SMMUSD more spending flexibility.
In order to start defining
goals and improvement plans SMMUSD is launching an LCFF Stakeholder
Survey.
The survey asks about key
topics, such as
·
Student
Achievement on tests
·
Student
Engagement/attendance
·
Parental
Involvement
·
School Climate
·
Basic Services
(facilities, food, transportation)
·
Course Access
·
Implementation of
Common Core State Standards (new California standards that focus on deep
thinking
processes across the subject areas)
processes across the subject areas)
·
Other Student
Outcomes
You can rank these in order
of priority to you. There is also some information embedded in the survey about
key CA funding components for schools, SMMUSD Board of Education (BOE) goals
and Superintendent Sandy Lyon’s goals.
For example, did you know that the SMMUSD BOE goals are: Vision for
Student Success, School Leadership Capacity Building, Facilities Improvement
Projects, and Communication or that the Superintendent’s goals are
Implementation of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), Further
Implementation of Response to Intervention and Instruction (RTI),
Implementation of Equity and Access for Student Success Plan, Common Core
Implementation, DeepeningScience Technology Engineering and Math
Curriculum?
Please take 10 minutes and
go to www.smmusd.org to the LCAP and LCFF SURVEY for Community
Members. “Click here” to take the survey.
All feedback will be
confidential, with responses anonymous to SMMUSD staff. Once the survey has
closed, the district will share the
results with the community.
Truly yours,
Jessica
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DATES TO REMEMBER
Fri, Feb 14
to Tues, Feb 18 - Sepulveda Pass lane closures.
For details go to http://www.metro.net/projects/I-405/
Tues, Feb 18 - 6:30-8pm - Leaving to Learn
book talk
Wed-Fri, Feb 19, 20, 21 - AstroCamp
Sat, Feb. 22 - 7:00-10:00pm - Arts &
Letters. Buy tickets now at SMASHartsale2014.eventbrite.com
Mon, Feb 24 - 9:00-10:30am - SMASH school tour
Wed, Feb 26 - 6:00-8:00pm -
SMASH Multicultural Potluck
Thur, Feb 27 - Elementary
Music Disney Trip
SAVE THE DATE - SMASH TALENT SHOW - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5
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Only 3 more
weeks until Jog-a-thon 2013 Friday, March 7th
GO GET THOSE PLEDGES!
Ask your neighbors
Call family and friends
Pledge your whole Core (penny a lap anyone?)
Email those faraway relatives (sample wording
sent with pledge packet and Friday Letter)
Is your teacher or parent running? They can get pledges too! We have extra pledge packets in the office.
Contact Lillie Schlessinger at 213-742-3394
or lillie.schlessinger@transamerica.com to volunteer.
You can volunteer or just come and cheer!
Pledge Packets are due back Thursday,
March 6th
**************************
LICE NOTICE
The presence of head lice (pediculosis) in our
community is being observed in the schools.
Since your child may be exposed to this infestation, it is important you
are aware of the symptoms, treatment procedures, and your role in the
prevention of the spread of this contagious disease. Head lice can affect anyone. Prompt treatment and reporting are
essential to control this epidemic.
SYMPTOMS: Persistent itching is the most common symptom. If your child is constantly scratching
his/her head, check for lice. A severe
infestation can cause inflammation and open sores on the scalp, and swollen
lymph glands in the neck.
EVIDENCE: Adult lice, wingless crawling insects, are rarely
seen. Look for the eggs (nits), which
are glued to the hair shafts. Nits are
tiny, gray-white, teardrop shaped objects, usually found in clusters above the
ears, at the nape of the neck, or the crown of the head. Compared to dandruff, which flicks off
easily, or hair casts caused by hair spray, which easily slide up and down the
hair shaft, nits adhere tightly to the hair shaft. The have to be removed forcibly.
TREATMENT: Check with your physician or purchase a high quality
lice-killing shampoo at your local retailer.
No prescription is needed.
Shampoo your child’s hair as directed on the product label. KEEP SHAMPOO OUT OF THE CHILD’S EYES! Rinse well.
Vinegar rinse (2 tbsp. white vinegar/1 quart of hot water) or
“detangling” conditioner may help. Dry
with a towel. REMOVE ALL NITS using
fingernails or a “lice” comb. You can get prescription shampoo that kills live lice and eggs from
your health care provider.
HOME HYGIENE: Examine all family members. If infested, treat promptly. Notify your child’s playmates, who might be
infested. NOTIFY SCHOOL NURSE. Machine wash, in HOT water, all washable
towels, combs, hairbrushes, sheets, pillowcases, and washable clothing. For non-washable articles: take them to the
dry cleaner or seal them in a plastic bag for 20 days. Wash all surfaces in the living and sleeping
areas, as well as the bathroom(s), especially chair backs. Temperatures greater than 128 degrees for 5
minutes kills lice and eggs.
SCHOOL READMITTANCE:
A CHILD WHO IS FOUND TO HAVE HEAD LICE WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM
SCHOOL. AFTER TREATMENT, THE STUDENT MAY
RETURN TO SCHOOL.
**************************
Tidbits From SMASH PTSA
Would you like
to participate in choosing next year's PTSA Board? If you have someone you
would like to nominate, please contact Jamee Tenzer by February 28th at jameetenzer@gmail.com.
As of today,
the following people have been nominated for the positions listed below:
President:
Marni Ayers Brady
Vice
President: Sabine Werk
Treasurer:
Rachel Ginnerty
Financial
Secretary: Snow Lam-Hansen
Parliamentarian:
Dan McGee
Legislative
Representative: Jeff Jarow
We are also taking
nominations for:
V.P.
Fundraising (please talk to Marni Ayers if you are interested)
In addition, we
are looking for Committee Chairs. Please contact Jamee Tenzer if you have
questions about any of these positions at jameetenzer@gmail.com:
Volunteer
Coordinator
Jogathon
(need 2 co-chairs)
Graduation
Chair
Multi-Cultural
Potluck
The election
will take place at the PTSA Meeting on Wednesday, March 5th at 8:30am in the
school library.
Please join us!
The SMASH Alumni site is now up and running
Anyone that wants to stay connected to SMASH and
upcoming events, including the 40th Anniversary Celebration
is encouraged to sign up so you can get the emails and
updates! Hope to see you all in May for the family event at
SuperSMASH and then the adults only celebration on
Main St! Please share with everyone that you are in touch with that are alumni!
Cheers! www.smashalumni.com
*****************
We have lots of great SMASH events coming up this
year, but we need your help to pull them all off!
Whether you
volunteer 2 hours or 100 hours - everything is appreciated. Click here
to volunteer!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?fromEmail=true&formkey=dFRJQU9sNTBEQ3poNnc0YTJlTXMtWVE6MA
*****************
40th Anniversary of SMASH, SUPERSMASH and SILENT
AUCTION
You may not believe it, but
we are already working on putting together SuperSMASH and the SMASH Silent
Auction - May is just around the corner!
Plus, we are going to be inviting all SMASH Alumni to
attend the event this year to celebrate our
40TH Anniversary - which means lots of people and
lots of fun.
To pull it all off, we need you to help in any way you
can. There are many small and large tasks that can be done off campus,
leadership roles, and ways you can help during the actual event. Please contact
the Chairs for these 3 events to see which jobs are available and if there is
one that is a good fit for you.
Silent Auction Chair: The
fabulous Sabine Werk visionwerk@mac.com
SuperSMASH Chair: The
marvelous Naren Desai narendesai@icloud.com
40th Anniversary
Co-Chairs: The awe-inspiring Summer Germann summergermann@aol.com
STORAGE SPACE NEEDED:
We are looking for some space
close to school to use for Silent Auction Storage. If you have space available
or know of someone who might, please contact me: jameetenzer@gmail.com. We might even be able to pay a small rental fee!
*****************
**************************
**SMASH Bash Sign-Ups for Remaining Spots! **
Spring SMASH Bash was a huge
success -- thanks to all of our wonderful SMASH Bash hosts, parent volunteers, and SMASH families who signed up
last Friday. We raised about $4000 for our school (and raised about the same last fall as well).
If you missed the SMASH Bash
Sign-Up day last Friday, you're in luck -- there are 6 BASHES with remaining spots. Act quickly though, as some
have few open spots remaining. The remaining bashes with available spots are:
* Hands-Only CPR and AED
Training
* Afternoon Card Bash
* Cocktails and Kvetcing with
Local Officials
* Recycled Racecar races
* Art Party for Grown Ups
* Core 2 and 3 Obstacle
Course Mystery Adventure
To sign up to attend a SMASH
Bash, please do the following:
1) Look through the SMASH
Bash folder in the office and pick the events you want to attend (that still
have space)
2) To claim your spot, write
your name on the page of the event(s) you will attend.
3) Take a "Registration
Form and Receipt" from the front of the SMASH Bash folder, mark the events
you will attend and and total your
payment.
4) Leave payment (check or
cash) with Janice.
5) Take the yellow copy and
leave the while one in the folder-- along with the necessary signed waivers
QUESTIONS? Please email SMASH Bash Co-Chair Marni
Ayers Brady (marniayers@gmail.com)
*************************
Freeway Closures in the Sepulveda Pass
this weekend!
Los Angeles transportation
officials are alerting I-405 and regional freeway motorists of an 80-hour
northbound I-405 Freeway closure operation in the Sepulveda Pass this
Presidents' Day weekend, February 14 to 18, 2014, and asking motorists to help
prevent multi-hour freeway delays.
The closure consists of a
partial daytime lane reduction and a full nighttime closure of the freeway’s
northbound lanes between Getty Center Dr and Ventura Bl. Approximately 5.6
miles long, the closure equals two-thirds of the length of the entire I-405
Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project.
During daytime hours, two
northbound lanes will remain open while three lanes will be closed. During nighttime
hours, all five northbound freeway lanes will be closed. While the southbound
lanes will remain open during daytime hours of the closure, normal closures may
occur during nighttime hours.
Sections of the closure will
reopen as they are completed. Updates are available at Twitter and Facebook. Call
511 during the closure weekend and say
“Jamzilla” or visit go511.com for real-time traffic updates.
**************************
SMASH TALENT SHOW!
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5
6:00 - 7:30pm
OPEN TO ALL
SMASH STUDENTS
Limited to
the first 20 acts to sign up in the SMASH office.
All
acts must be 3 minutes or less.
DON’T WAIT TO SIGN UP!
NO sign ups the night of the show
**************************
Sustainable Works is
thrilled to announce that we are partnering with American Cinematheque
to present a series of
significant and compelling environmental documentaries at the Aero Theatre on
Montana Avenue in Santa Monica.
When: Wednesday, February 26th 7:30pm
Where: Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave. Santa Monica 90403
Each film will be followed by
a panel discussion with experts in the field who can expand on the issues
raised in the film and answer questions from the audience.
The premiere film in this
series will be Last Call
at the Oasis, a critically
acclaimed documentary about the world's water crisis, featuring Erin
Brockovich.
Given California’s current
drought emergency, the film couldn't be more timely. The discussion panel will
be moderated by Josh Rubenstein, the chief meteorologist for KCBS and
KCAL. The panelist will include: Mark Gold, Associate Director at the
Institute of the Environment & Sustainability UCLA, David Nahai,
former CEO/GM of LADWP and currently a partner in the law firm of Lewis,
Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith. From the City of Santa Monica Kim O’Cain,
Water Resources Specialist and Myriam Cardenas, Assistant Manager for
Water Production & Treatment.
To purchase tickets* visit: http://is.gd/lastcalltickets
*FREE Admission to Sustainable Works members and the first 100 Santa Monica residents who reserve at: http://is.gd/reserveSM
Everyone who attends the screening will receive a voucher for a FREE popcorn, soda or candy
A giveaway of a Beach Cruiser will follow the panel discussion
*FREE Admission to Sustainable Works members and the first 100 Santa Monica residents who reserve at: http://is.gd/reserveSM
Everyone who attends the screening will receive a voucher for a FREE popcorn, soda or candy
A giveaway of a Beach Cruiser will follow the panel discussion
**************************
Sustainable Works First 2014 Green Living Workshop!
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:
6 Wednesday Meetings: February 26,
March 5, 12, 19 & 26, April 2, 7pm-8:30pm
Where: Santa Monica Main Library Community Room, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. SM 90401
Where: Santa Monica Main Library Community Room, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. SM 90401
Your
friends, family and neighbors are becoming sustainable, why not you?
Attend
1 meeting or all 6, whichever fits your schedule.
•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
•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,
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.
Please refer to www.smmusd.org website for more information (under Departments and
Health).
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CORE 1 NEWS
Helping Our Children Understand and Work Through
Stress
Stress is a normal part of
our lives. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Stress is a psychological and
physical reaction to the ever increasing demands of life. In looking at the
causes of stress, remember that your brain comes hard-wired with an alarm
system for your protection. When your brain perceives a threat, it signals your
body to release a burst of hormones to fuel your capacity for a response. This
has been labeled the fight or flight response. Once the threat is gone, your
body is meant to return to a normal relaxed state. Unfortunately, the nonstop
stress of modern life means that your alarm system rarely shuts off.”
Although we often think of
stress as being a natural part of adult life, it is also prevalent in the lives
of our children. Fitting in, peer pressure, and separation from friends and
adults are just a few of the things that bring stress to kids. In Core 1,
teachers are working hard to help students identify what their stressors are
and to help them work through stressful situations in positive ways.
Core 1 students have learned
that we have internal “thermometers” that indicate our stress levels. When we
are under a lot of stress, our temperature rises and when we are calm and free
of stress, our temperature is low. When trying to understand how our students
are feeling, teachers often ask, “Where is your temperature?” or “How is your
thermometer?” Doing this helps your child better identify and communicate their
feelings. It also establishes a common language for teachers and students. To
help work through our stressors, Core 1 has also discussed and created “Icing”
strategies that we can use to help “cool” our temperature in times of stress.
Taking a drink of water, a bathroom break, reading a book, and finding a friend
to talk to are among the many strategies that students have come up with.
Our goal is for your child
to identify when they are stressed and independently initiate strategies to
positively work through these situations.
We encourage you to support your child’s sense of self-awareness and ability to
address their stress by engaging in discussion around this topic outside of
school and utilizing the vocabulary and language that we are imparting in the
classroom.
Super SMASH Auction: Student
Art Projects
It’s almost time for Super
SMASH! Every year volunteers help create AMAZING, memorable group art projects
to be auctioned off at our silent
auction. This is a fun opportunity to volunteer while spending time your child
and their class. Your role can be to take it on 100%, help clean up, or
anything in between. Email Molly Lagüe and find out more:
Molly.media@verizon.net
Core 1 Wish List
Core 1 is looking for tape
for students to use during projects. If you have tape, of any type, please drop
it off with any of your child’s teachers.
Have a great 3-day weekend!
Graciela (gbarba-castro@smmusd.org Chrysta
(cpowell@smmusd.org)
Christian (ccarter@smmus.org) and Nadja
**************************
CORE 2 NEWS
Valentine’s Day is a perfect day for Thank You’s! So
here we go!
THANK YOU to Allison Diftler for leading students in healthy
and fun movement activities.
THANK YOU to Helen, Audrey, Virginie, Jennifer, Grace, and
Michelle for donating snacks and/or time to the Orange group’s healthy
celebration last Friday. Our healthy
snack was amazingly colorful and beautiful.
Some students even tasted a few fruits/veggies they’ve never tried
before.
THANK YOU to Dina, Sam, Mei Lisa, and Jessica for chaperoning
our rockin’ field trip to School House Rock LIVE. Here are a few reviews from Core 2 students:
It was awesome!
~Sadie
I liked that all the songs were really happy. ~Skylar
I liked the counting songs the most. ~Samy
It was entertaining. ~Simone
I
thought it was really good. If I was in it, it would be really fun. ~Emie
THANK YOU for the generous donations of tissue. We go through them faster than you’d think!
THANK YOU to Core 2 families for helping us celebrate
Valentine’s Day today. We had a lovely
day in sharing and making sweet cards and Rice Krispy treats. Students were
encouraged to write Valentine’s cards to people who make a difference in their
lives but to whom they do not usually show thanks. Ask your child who they
chose to thank today.
Advisory Teacher
Switch: We will be switching Advisory Teachers on Tuesday,
February 18. The groups will remain
intact. They will simply switch teachers
and rooms. The Gray Group will
enjoy the Fantasy Literacy unit and the
Nutrition/Human Body unit with Mimi.
The Orange Group will enjoy exploring US Geography & History
and Electricity & Magnetism with Tamara.
Drama with Kristy: During our
first week of Drama, students posed in various costumes in interesting nooks
and corners of our school neighborhood.
We then used these photos as inspiration to develop and write creative
stories and scripts in small groups. We are currently working on finishing our
scripts.
Enjoy the holiday weekend!
**************************
CORE
3 NEWS
Astrocamp goers need to bring in
their packed bag to school on Tuesday
and any permission slips not turned
in! Without school on Monday, please don't forget.
We also need all those cleaned out 2
Liter Soda Bottles!
Theater
by the Blind, the only
entirely blind theater troupe in the country, will be performing
"Sit" an original play based on the life of a cast member @ Promenade
Playhouse, Friday, February 21 through Sunday, March 2 (right in Santa
Monica!). Tickets are $15, but we can
get a group discount for the March 2nd 7:00pm show, which Kristy and
Genie will attend. More info@
http://www.creoutreach.org/ For tickets for the March 2nd 7:00pm
show: Visit: http://tinyurl.com/sit-play, enter discount code: smash
6th gr
Math with Erin: For
our Dream Room project, we have started to look at architectural drawings. We are
measuring the classroom and
drawing the classroom to scale on paper.
We are learning how to incorporate doors and windows into these scale
drawings. You can start brainstorming
with your child what they would like their dream room to look like!
5th
gr Math with Genie:
We have moved to multiplying fractions with fractions. We figured out quickly the algorithm of
multiplying the top numbers (numerators) and multiplying the bottom numbers
(denominators). But what is important is
to understand that when we multiply fractions, the answer (the product) is
smaller. If we take a ½ of a ½ we have a
¼ of the whole. That is ½ x ½ = ¼. The
final answer is in relationship to the original whole.
Interdisciplinary
Project: Medical Issues: Knowledge of
Diseases, Conditions, and Syndromes and their Inclusion within Society: We have continued to dive into our
areas of study! We are learning how the
symptoms of the disease affect the body and how treatments and medication work
in the body as well. We are also
continuing how to work in our small groups and we discussed how put-downs, even
as a joke or teasing, can hurt the group dynamics. Students are responsible for their own
essay and for helping out with designing their Prezi Presentation and a
glossary. Ask to see their Prezi
Presentation - they are impressive! Our field trips have added more information
and insight into different medical conditions as we look into the biology and
the social dynamics and treatments. We
have all been really enjoying this unit!
Reading/Writing
Workshop with Genie:
In our Read Aloud, we are learning that Melanin is learning about who he
is. He writes beautifully in his
notebook. We learned he is close with
his mother and has two best friends. We also have learned that he is homophobic
and early on in the book learns his mother has fallen in love with a woman, a
white woman. These are societal topics you may have discussed with your
children. Books open the world of
different places and people and this book may be coming from a very different
place, with very different people than your child's typical book. We hope it makes for
interesting conversation at home.
Dramatic
Arts with Kristy: We
had a guest speaker from The Theater by the Blind who will be performing in the
troupe's next play "Sit" March 7, 8, 14, 15, 16 @Promenade Playhouse
in SM. Kristy and Genie will be attend
the Friday, March 14th 8:00
performance if you or your child would like to join us!
Homework:
5G math:
packet #20. Due 2/28/14—TWO WEEKS to turn in!
No
nonfiction sheet this week
Reading 30
minutes every day!
WW: collect
2 entries (full pages) in writing notebook each week.
Enjoy the 3-Day Weekend!
Genie, Erin, and Laura
**************************
CORE 4 NEWS
Humanities
Reading - Students did an amazing job
presenting their book club project last Thursday. We had skits, tableaux, and talk shows. Most
groups were very prepared. Videos of the
performances will be available soon.
Social Studies - The comparative world
religions projects are almost done.
Presentations start next week. If any parent would like to join us, a
presentation schedule will be emailed soon.
Science: We are finishing our work with genetics
and moving on to evolution.
7th Grade
Math - We are
continuing our work with graphs and functions. Some are starting chapter 8,
which is geometry.
8th Grade
Math -
One group is
learning about exponential functions and polynomials. Another group is
learning about solving systems. A third
group is learning about functions.
Important Dates
February
17th - President’s Day
Holiday (No School)
