Dear SMASHing Families,
The new CA on-line assessment
that SMASH will administer 4/23-4/29/14 to 3rd-8th
graders will require kids to have certain digital skills. Some examples include: using a mouse, highlighting text, dropping
and dragging text, drawing lines and creating graphs on a screen, operating an
online calculator, and keyboarding.
“To show what they know on
computerized assessments, even digital natives may need help manipulating the
technology,” says education consultant Kristine Gullen in the March 2014
Educational Leadership magazine.
A 3rd grader said,
“The blinky line has to be in the box where you want your words to go…you can
press the letters all you want, but nothing happens if the blinky line isn’t in
the box!” [How to use a cursor.]
Another 3rd grader
said, “There are straws with a bubble on the side, on the bottom, and sometimes
in the middle. You can move them this
way and that. I had to use the arrow to
move the bubble.” [The difference
between a scroll bar and a touchscreen device.]
What computer skills has your
child mastered? In what ways will this
test measure thinking process and content knowledge and in what ways will this
test measure digital skills? Think about your own child and look at the
practice test.
Go to http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/practicetest.asp.
Go to “Take the Practice
Test”
Enter guest, guest, guest
Select a grade level
Select math or language arts
practice or performance tests
Jessica
**********************
IS YOUR CHILD RETURNING TO SMASH NEXT YEAR?
We are in the process of
making plans for next year’s enrollment. It is important for us to know if you
are planning on returning to SMASH so that we can provide other children the
opportunity to enroll.
If you are planning to attend
another school in the district, you must complete and submit an Intradistrict
Open Enrollment Application to the district’s Student Permit Office. Applications are available in the SMASH main
office.
Please fill in this form
and return to the main office by March 31.
_____ YES, we will be
returning
_____ NO, we will not be
returning
If no, please let us know the
reason and where your child will be attending so that we can transfer
school records.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Child/Children’s Name
Current
Grade/s_____________________
___________________________________________
Parent or Guardian Signature
IF YOU HAVE A SIBLING WHO WILL BE STARTING NEXT SCHOOL
YEAR -
YOU MUST SUBMIT AN APPLICATION NO LATER THAN MARCH 31!
**********************
Jogathon 2014 is a record breaker!
Dear SMASH students, faculty, family and
friends:
We are pleased to report that this year we received
over $20,000 in pledges, making the 2014 Jogathon our most successful
ever.
SMASH’s athletes were supported by an amazing group of sponsors and
volunteers who coached, DJ’d, talied numbers, MC’d, picked up supplies, set up
the course, designed posters, hung banners, counted laps, poured water, cut
bagels, picked up trash, ran alongside, cheered and made it possible to give
every athlete a t-shirt to commemorate the day.
We want to thank all of you and hope that everyone had
as much fun at this year’s Jog-a-thon as we did.
The money raised goes back into SMASH in the form of
arts programs, supplies, alumni scholarships, teacher education, gardening, computers and more.
Pledge packets (showing how many laps your student ran
and any money owed) will come home with each
student. Please collect all outstanding pledges and
turn in the money to the office or your Core teacher
by Friday, March 21.
Thanks again,
Yvonne Lockhart and Lillie Schlessinger
Jog-a-thon 2014 Co-chairs
PLEASE COLLECT ALL YOUR PLEDGES BY MARCH 21!
*It is easy to pay your pledge online (via credit card or PayPal) by using
this link:
http://ptsasmash.blogspot.com
-Click
on the “donate” button under “Support SMASH Jogathon Today!”
-Put your child’s name and
“Jogathon” under the “notes to seller”
**********************
DATES TO REMEMBER
MARCH
Mon, Mar 17 - Last day to
sign up for CREST sports!
Tues, Wed, Thurs, Mar 18, 19,
20 - 1:30 EARLY DISMISSAL - CONFERENCES
Wed, Mar 26 - 6pm - Core 1
Parent Education night
Mon, Mar 31 - 9am - Last
SMASH school tour
Mon, Mar 31 - 3pm - Deadline
for applications for 2014-15 school year
APRIL
Wed, Apr 2 - 6pm - Open
House/Art Share
Fri, April 4 - Field Day
April 7 - 18 - SPRING BREAK
Wed, April 23 through Tue,
April 29 - State Testing for 3rd-8th grades
**********************
**SMASH Bash UPDATES: Poker BASH
Added & Art BASH Updated**
POKER
BASH - NEW:
The SMASH
Poker BASH is back! WHO will take home the Trophy THIS year???
Sign up
yourself AND friends (who do NOT have to be from SMASH).
This year
our hosts are Mitch Lichterman and Matt Lombard.
DATE: TBD
LOCATION: Lichterman Residence, West Los
Angeles
COST: $40 Buy In (Multiple Buy Ins
Allowed)
DETAILS: Join our 4th Annual Poker BASH
Tournament! All levels welcome - and the winner takes home the SMASH Trophy
(for one year ;-). Chili, cornbread and
drinks provided.
Bring
friends!
ART
PARTY FOR GROWN-UPS - UPDATED:
The
"Art Party for Grown-Ups" (hosted by Mei Lisa and Kip Thompson) is
now NOT just for pairs/couples. All are welcome - come alone, or with a friend.
One lucky person will win the coveted group painting at the end of the night.
Only $30 per person to attend. (May 31)
The
following ADDITIONAL bashes still have some availability (but ARE filling up):
Hands-Only CPR and AED Training
(March 23)
Afternoon Card Bash (March 30)
Cocktails and Kvetching with Local
Officials (April 26)
Recycled Racecar races (May 4)
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 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 Mari Ayers Brady (marniayers@gmail.com)
**********************
Tidbits From SMASH PTSA
Thank you to Lillie Schlessinger, Yvonne Lockhart and the
many volunteers that helped to make this the most successful Jogathon EVER! You
make it look effortless and we want you to know - that WE know - it's not
effortless! It takes organization, efficiency, diligence and ALOT of heart. We
will all thank you by getting in our pledge money ASAP!
SMASH PTSA
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!
*****************
How to Earn
Point for SMASH through School Cents
Earn money for SMASH when you shop, exercise, get crafty or
visit Facebook! The School Cents program is THAT simple. The program ends April
30th – so act now to help SMASH earn more. All you have to do is:
* Shop at Westside Pavilion OR Santa Monica Place (clothes,
food court, etc), bring receipts to the Concierge / Guest Services desk and
SMASH will earn five points per dollar spent. If you forget, just bring receipt
in before the 7th of the next month to get credit. MARCH IS DOUBLE
POINTS MONTH…so shop a lot in March!
* Visit the Westside Pavilion AND Santa Monica Place
Facebook pages, click School Cents (at top of the page), “Like” the page,
choose SMASH from the dropdown list, and we’ll earn 500 pts per like (for each
mall!) Get your spouse/partner/friend to do the same from their account!
* Go to a FREE Zumba class at Santa Monica Place (every
Saturday at 9am) and earn 500 pts for EACH class you attend. Friends AND kids
can attend and EACH earn points for SMASH too!
* Bring the little ones to KIDS CLUB to do FREE crafts and
earn 500 pts for SMASH. (4th Wednesday of the Month at Westside
Pavilion 6pm-7 AND 1st Wednesday
of the month at Santa Monica Place 11am-12 -- both held in the Food Court)
Join SMASH on
FACEBOOK
If you have a Facebook account be sure to:
“Like” the Santa Monica Alternative School House – PTSA
page— A public page that provides information about our school and any
events, opportunities and fundraisers that are open to the public.
Posts/Likes/Messages on this page are visible to ALL. Go to:
https://www.facebook.com/SMASH.PTSA
“Join” the SMASH Friends and Family Facebook GROUP –
A closed, permission-only group for current SMASH families and alumni families
to receive school event reminders and share information about local happenings
that may be of interest to SMASH families. Posts/Likes/Messages within this
closed group are ONLY visible to the group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/82414520641
**********************
|
CORE 1 NEWS
Core 1 Art Share
Core 1 students have been hard at work in
collaboration with our SMASHing arts program. Please join us after Morning
Meeting (9:00-10:00) on April 2nd to enjoy and learn about how your children
have interpreted our theme: “Transformation & Transportation.” If you
cannot make it during the day, we will be sharing our work, again, at Open
House that evening. Prepare to be transformed, yourself.
Candis and Chrysta's Smashing Spa Party
You are invited to enjoy an afternoon pampering
yourself and relaxing with friends at Candis and Chrysta’s SMASHing Spa Party.
Special guest Alegre willoffer her high
quality, non-toxic beauty products for purchase with free individual
consultations. No purchase is required. 10% of all purchases will be donated to
SMASH. Adults only please!
Where: Candis' House
When: Sunday, March 23 from 1:00-4:00
RSVP: chrystapowell@gmail.com
Workshop for Parents and Teachers,
Wednesday, March 26 at 6pm
Please join Candis, Chrysta & Graciela as they
lead the first in a series of parent evenings: “Curiosity, Exploration and Purposeful Play.” RSVP
to smashcore1@gmail.com
Reminders
Please turn in your conference questionnaire ASAP so that we can prepare
for our Parent-Teacher conferences next week.
Please remember your monthly head check for your child. Lice is an ongoing
issue in all elementary schools and you can help!
Core 1 Wish List
Core 1 is still looking for embroidering needles, AA
batteries (80 total for our ScribbleBots!!!), and tape. All supplies are used
by children and support their learning during both project and workshop times.
Please drop any contributions off in the Studio. We appreciate your help!
Have a great weekend!
Graciela (gbarba-castro@smmusd.org) Chrysta
(cpowell@smmusd.org)
Christian (ccarter@smmus.org) and Nadja
**********************
CORE 2 NEWS
Family Conferences will take place next week. If you have not done so already, please sign up
for a time slot in the office. Students
have been working on ways to share their learning and excitement with you.
Thank you to Allison, Andrea, Snow, Arati, Grace, Stephanie, Jeanine, Maggie, Kim,
Dina, and Theresa
for helping the
Gray group with its healthy celebration.
Students participated in a sampling of movement activities that relate
to some of the body systems we learned about.
The healthy snack was a beautiful
representation of
“eating a rainbow of colors”.
3G Math: We have begun
relating multiplication to division.
Please continue working with the multiplication cards that were sent
home two weeks ago. Strategies to use
when learning multiplication combinations: 1. skip count, 2. start with a
combination that you already know “in a snap” (for 3x9, if you know 3x10=30,
you can use that knowledge to start at 30 and then simply take away one set of
three to get 27). Start with what you
know and practice, practice, practice!
3G Recorders: The recorders have
arrived! Your child’s recorder and
recorder bag is labeled with their name.
Please help them remember to bring their recorder to school every
Wednesday for music. The cleaning
rod is to be kept at home.
Jog-a-thon
Packets: Students are taking home Jog-a-thon
packets today. Please help your student
collect their pledges!
Enjoy the weekend
Tamara:
tmugalian@smmusd.org Mimi: mimilichterman@yahoo.com
**********************
CORE 3 NEWS
Junior Great Books to
begin after spring break! Joining
forces with Muir, a parent volunteer will lead an after school book discussion
group on Thursdays starting April 24th from 3:00-4:00.
We have successful Junior Great Books for Core 2/Muir and would love for
our 5th and 6th grade to join Muir's 5th grade to
be led through literature and rich discussion.
The sessions will run for 6 weeks.
The cost is $25 to cover book cost (and scholarship is available-talk to
Genie). This year's book is a Greek
Mythology book. The program suggests
book club members to read the stories twice before each meeting and then they
will be discussed in depth in the meeting!
Theater by the Blind, "Walk Me Home", $15/tickets but we can get a group discount
for the March 14th 8:00pm show. More info@ http://www.creoutreach.org/ For
tickets for the March 14th 8:00pm show:
Visit:
https://creoutreach.secure.force.com/ticket#sections_a0FU0000006FW6SMAW discount code: smash
Astrocamp Assembly Slideshow
and trip photos are available! Please bring in a flashdrive if you want a copy!
6th gr Math with
Erin: The sixth graders continue to work
on their geometry unit with story problems about area and perimeter. They are
also in the process of finalizing their dream house floor plans. Construction
will begin next week. We have some craft supplies in class, but feel free to
send odds and ends from around your house: cardboard, fabric, etc. for the students
to use as they build and decorate their dream houses. On Thursday Eleanor's
mom, Beck came in and talked to us about her career as a designer. Students
learned more about architecture and design and were inspired in their dream
house process. Thanks Beck!
5th gr
Math with Genie: We have moved to
decimals! Some strategies to solving
some of our problems is using what we know about fractions as well as
change. $0.1 can seem like it's 1cent
but the place value of to the right of the decimal is 1/10 or tenths
place. It may seem obvious to you but it
can be confusing for a 5th grader. More conversations will help with
understanding so try to have some around the dinner table, in a car ride, or at
night getting ready for bed.
Interdisciplinary
Project: Medical Issues: Knowledge of
Diseases, Conditions, and Syndromes and their Inclusion within Society: Essays should be done, revised/edited and finalized!
Prezis are being fine-tuned and now rehearsing the 10-15 min presentations are
happening. Each group member must present and we are learning how to have
notecards, not read from our slideshow which will have our back to the
audience, and say more as we are the experts on each slide. We are anticipating questions from the
audience so we are prepared. You can ask your child to practice in front of you
before their scheduled presentation—practice makes for a good presentation!
MEDICAL ISSUES PRESENTATION SCHEDULE
|
Monday, March 24th
9:00 –
Nick, Shai C. (Alzheimer’s)
9:20 –
Nathan,Sadie, Josh, Clair (Bipolar Disorder)
9:45 –
Aidan, Leo, Sofia Marie (Eating Disorders)
1:20 –
Andre, Lucca, Lola (Angelman Syndrome)
1:40 –
Max, Ginger, Owen (Progeria)
2:05 –
Zelda, Zion, Ramrattan (Eating Disorders)
Tuesday, March 25th
10:40 –
Morgan, Lilly C., Hannah (Influenza)
11:00 –
Maya, Jack L, Nola (Cystic Fibrosis)
11:20 –
Eleanor, Quinn, Oisin (Narcolepsy)
|
1:15 –
Carissa, Dixie, Ava, Alie (Cancer)
1:35 –
Ocean, Blaise, Shira (Dwarfism)
2:00 –
Myles, Alana (Parasites)
Monday, March 31
8:45 –
Lily T., Shai G. (Allergies)
9:05 –
Abigail, Emily, Malia, Jovanna (OCD)
9:25 –
Hayden, Sam, Jullian (Rabies)
9:45 –
Nalani (Schizophrenia)
1:15 –
Giulia, Jack Z., Rise (Cerebral Palsy)
1:35 –
Sarah, Gala (Seizure Disorder)
1:55 –
Jobim (Agoraphobia)
|
Dramatic Arts with
Kristy: We filmed all 22 chapters! Our script came out with the feel and depth
that the book, Rules has. We will
be sharing on April 2nd during the day and at Open House in the
evening. More info to come!
Homework:
5G math: packet #23 Due 3/14/14
Nonfiction sheet due Wed!
RW: Reading 30 min/day! WW: collect 2 entries
Genie: ghwang@smmusd.org Erin:ehaendel@smmusd.org
CORE 4 NEWS
8th Grade
We would like to give a shout out to
Kate, Sophie, and Nathan G. Last week, on March 6, 2014, they presented about
Project Based Learning to the SMMUSD School Board. They worked hard preparing
for the presentations. The School Board
members were impressed with all three of them and commented on how eloquently
they spoke. We want to thank the
students for positively representing SMASH during the School Board Meeting and
their parents for supporting their efforts.
Humanities - The Secret Life of Bees: we worked on epigraphs, wrote a paragraph on
character traits, and started our discussion of the book using the factual,
interpretive, and evaluative questions they created. Bee Action Research Project: The students now
know the required components for their bee research project. Each of them have
identified a research question and a potential action they will take. For the
next three weeks, they will be researching, writing, and implementing their
action. This project will culminate in a Bee Fair after spring break. They are
using art time with Julianna to create bee related projects.
Science - We are wrapping up evolution this week with a lab
practical on classification. By Friday, students will have completed their
classification flip books and using them as a reference tool for the lab
practical.
Math - Most of the 8th graders took a test this past
Wednesday. Please check with your child
about their results. The Algebros are
starting the Factoring Polynomial unit.
The Variables are going to do some more work with Linear Systems then
start Exponential Functions. The GUFs
will start the Functions unit.
Important Reminders for 8th
Grade Parents
- Please turn in 9th Grade Course Request Form to the office by March
21. We know that the deadline is not
until March 28, but Pam, Darwin, and Jessica need time to review them.
2. We will be
visiting Samohi on May 1st from 11:00-12:30.
Students will get a tour of the campus and visit a few freshmen classes
led by SMASH alumni.
3. Eva Mayoral
will be visiting SMASH on April 2 during Open House/Art Share. She will be here between 7:00 - 8:00. She will be available informally from 7:00 -
7:30 while she visits the open house/art share.
She will meet with 8th grade parents as a group at from 7:30 - 8:00.
7th Grade
Humanities - We finished reading The Giver and finished our
factual, interpretive, and evaluative question for discussion. We have finished
working with analyzing The Giver in terms of Jonas and his world and our
ideal world. We will now analyze The Giver around the topic of rites and
rituals. Take Action Project: The students now know the required components for
their research project. Most students have identified a research question and a
potential action they will take. For the next three weeks, they will be
researching, writing, and implementing their action. This project will
culminate in a share day after spring break.
Science - We are wrapping up evolution this week with a lab
practical on classification. By Friday, students will have completed their
classification flip books and using them as a reference tool for the lab
practical.
Math - “The B.L. Broskis” and “The 42% Mathecols” are still
continuing their worked on Two-Dimensional Geometry which includes perimeter,
circumference, and areas of triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, circles, and
irregular shapes. “The Mathemagicians” are still working on the rates of change
and slope.
Important Dates
March 17, 18, 20 - 7th Grade Family Conferences
March 24, 26, 31 - Aquarium Field Trip for 7th grade - We need parent
chaperones to walk with us!
April 2 - Open House
Darwin Mendinueto - dmendinueto@smmusd.org Pam Dresher - pdresher@smmusd.org
