PBL Weekly Blast

As part of their American Studies (English 11 and US History), our 11th grade students will be visiting the Autry Museum of the American West. What better way to learn about history than through artifacts?

Here’s what’s happening each day - for more details, check out the flyer attached.

Monday – Camo Day

• Wear your best camo and blend in with the crowd.

Tuesday – Anything Animal

• Stripes, spots, feathers, or fur—any animal print works!

Wednesday – Stuffed Animal Day

• Bring your favorite plush buddy to school.

Thursday – Tourist in the Wild

• Break out the vests, hats, binoculars, cargo shorts—dress like you’re ready for a safari adventure.

Friday - School Colors & Rally Day

• Show your school spirit by wearing our colors as we celebrate our Fall teams at the first rally of the year and cheer them on at the home game that night.

More of a Game Expo, we are excited to welcome Samohi students and middle school students from SMASH to come play the 25 games our PBL Students created.

Leadership meets every week during PBL Advisory Flex time. Leadership members work on PBL recruitment as well as planning and/or facilitating PBL community events. PBL recruitment involves presenting at middle schools, representing PBL during SAMO tours or panels, facilitating or helping with prospective student/family presentations, and reaching out to prospective students/families, along with any other recruitment activities that take place throughout the year. Planning community meetings means brainstorming, planning, and setting up the events and facilitating them, and this process can sometimes mean staying after school or coming early to set up or prepare. Examples of the activities planned by leadership in the past include the PBL Advisory Olympics and the PBL Halloween Carnival, as well as most advisory competitions. Additionally, leadership members can also be asked to attend school or district meetings as a student representative.

If you want to apply:

You must be willing to commit to every advisory flex period for leadership as well as occasionally staying after school for event preparation. To qualify for leadership, you must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA throughout the school year and have no grades below a C in any class at each grading period. You must also have under 18 absences.

Leadership candidates will write a 50-150 word candidate statement to be read by all advisory members as their pitch to be a leadership member. The candidate statement should explain what skills you have that you think would be beneficial to leadership and why you think you would be a productive member of the group.

How the selection process works:

Each grade will have two representatives. In the 9th grade, there will be one representative from each advisory, and the other grades will have two per advisory. Members of the advisory will be given all of the candidate statements to read anonymously. They will then vote for the candidate(s) they think will be the best person for leadership based on their skills.

At the end of each year, the leadership group will decide on one junior who is part of leadership to be the Legacy Leader for the next year. The role of the legacy leader is to run the next election and ensure that there is consistency in how leadership is run the next year. The legacy leader is an additional role that is not an elected position and does not take away a senior representative spot. The legacy leader this year is Ryan Meyer. If you have any questions about leadership or the selection process, you can ask Ryan or email her (rhm@smmk12.org).

Document with Info

Applications open Sept 2–30, 2025 for students to join Metro’s Youth Council (Jan–Dec 2026). Selected members will share ideas, advise on Metro projects, and advocate for better transportation in their community. Eligibility: ages 14–17, living and attending school in LA County. Applications are straightforward and easy to complete in one sit down session. An FAQ page is also attached. Learn more at metro.net/youthcouncil.

Metro Youth Summit, 9/13

Students are invited to join us on Saturday, Sept 13, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Union Station. The Metro Youth Summit is a youth-driven event led by Metro’s current Youth Council to expose their peers to Metro and encourage them to apply to the 2026 Youth Council. This event is open to all LA County high school students, and it’s a great opportunity for youth to share their input on upcoming Metro projects. Students may RSVP by visiting metro.net/youthcouncil or 2025MetroYouthSummit.eventbrite.com.

TAP Cards

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is pleased to announce that the District has enrolled in year four of Los Angeles Metro’s GoPass program, which provides free public transit rides and Transit Assistance Program (TAP) cards to all kindergarten through 12th-grade students. The initiative promotes accessibility and encourages the use of public transportation.

Students can go to the PBL House office (B111) to get a new TAP card and eligibility code.

To reactivate your existing TAP card, please submit the following form to receive a new eligibility code: REACTIVATE YOUR TAP CARD HERE.

ASB CARD

Take advantage of purchasing an ASB card. For $75, you can get free admission to football and basketball games (not during playoffs), up to 3 free I.D. replacement, a reduced price for your tickets for formals, homecomings, and prom, reduced price for school plays and band concerts, reduced price for your yearbook, and local business benefits like Donut King, Little Bean Coffee, Pita House, Samo’s Oaxaca,and Sylvan Learning. Saving you over $250!!!

https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home

Free and Reduced Lunch Application

Fill out the Free/Reduced Meal Application by Thursday, October 2 to ensure that Samohi receives its Title 1 funding (see SMDP article). This application also entitles qualifying students to discounted rates on prom tickets, AP exam registration, and more. Breakfast and lunch are provided free to ALL students in the district, but families still need to complete the application!

https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home

Margaret’s Place

Margaret’s Place is back in E117 this school year! See below for the latest info on how students can get involved in individual or group counseling, Peer Leadership Club, or other activities at Margaret’s Place—plus, resources for parents and caregivers:

• Fall newsletter for Parents from Margaret’s place

• Fall newsletter for Students from Margaret’s place

• FOR FRESHMEN PARENTS: Video on Supporting Youth’s to High School

Email LDeSanto@smmusd.org with any questions!

PSAT

The PSAT (Preliminary SAT) is a practice version of the SAT that helps students prepare for college entrance exams. It also qualifies juniors for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The test measures skills in reading, writing, and math and provides valuable feedback on areas to strengthen before taking the SAT. All 9th-11th graders will automatically take the practice exam in the fall.

Weekend Bag Programs

SMMUSD's Weekend Bags Program offers nutritious, easy-to-prepare weekend food for Samohi students when school cafeteria breakfasts and lunches are not available. Students can drop by and pick up Weekend Bags on Fridays after school from the Vikings’ Hub in E113.

Each Weekend Bag holds two breakfasts, two lunches, and two snacks. The menus have been evaluated by a dietitian and provide a balance of healthy, nutritious non-perishable foods, and the menus change each week. Bags usually include mac and cheese, fruit cups, granola bars, trail mix or nuts or dried fruit, oatmeal packets, cereal, canned vegetables, and shelf stable milk, in addition to rotating entree items like soup and tuna; ravioli or beef stew and peanut butter; pasta and sauce; or beans and rice

Students or their families should let Community Schools Specialist Carla Nuñez (or their House Office assistant or House Advisor) know if they would like to receive Weekend Bags. Carla can be reached at carlanunez@smmusd.org or 310 395-3204 ext. 71-143 or in E113 after school.

To report a student’s absence, please send an email to:

AttendancePBL@smmusd.org

or call Crystal Griffis at 310.395.3204 ext. 71-177

Please include your student’s first and last names, student ID numbers, and the reason they are absent (illness, family matter, medical or dental appointment, etc.).

• Students who become ill at school need to go to the nurse’s office to be released from school

• If a students leaves at lunch, we MUST have an email from you IN THE MORNING, asking for an early dismissal pass…if we receive an email AFTER they have already left, the absence will not be excused

• Students can pick up their early leave pass from the PBL house office after the 1st period of the day

• These passes CANNOT be delivered to their class

• When students leave early for a doctor’s appointment, they must bring a note back from the doctor so we can clear their absence…if we don’t receive a note, it is marked as a cut.

• All absences must be cleared in 3 days…please email the PBL house office if your child is out sick…after 3 days, it is an unexcused absence

• After a student has had 5 full day absences in the school year for illness, any further absence for illness must be verified by a physician

• Attendance for athletic participation is cleared through the athletics office

• This can take a few days to be corrected. Thank you for your patience.

• Questions about attendance procedures, please go to our website: https://www.smmusd.org/domain/3026

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and we want to take a moment to talk about something that matters deeply: our students’ mental health.

We know it’s not always easy to talk about tough topics like suicide or emotional struggles, but starting the conversation can make a big difference. Students go through a lot, and just knowing someone cares can help them feel less alone.

Here are a few simple ways to check in with your child or teen:

• Ask how they’re really doing. A small question can open up a big conversation

• Be there to listen. No need to have all the answers, just being present and a listening ear is often enough.

• Know what support is available.

Through our partnership with Hazel Health, your child can access 1-on-1 virtual counseling sessions with a licensed therapist. Services are 100% free and optional for families.

Hazel therapists can help students with anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and more, giving them tools to feel better and do well in school and life. You can learn more and sign up here: getstarted.hazel.co

Please remember: Hazel is not for emergencies. If your child needs urgent help, call 911 or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Opportunities

Do you love sharing ideas, planning fun events, and making your grade the best it can be? Then join your grade’s steering committee! Steering is a group of students who meet every other week to brainstorm, plan, and bring exciting ideas to life at Samohi. Steering members are able to give input directly to their elected Class Cabinet. It’s your chance to share ideas, collaborate with others, and make an impact. Interested? Reference the attached calendar for meeting locations during lunch. Or reach out to your Class President - find their name and email on the Samohi ASB website. Don’t just watch things happen…help make them happen.

Do you want to help end the cycle of violence in relationships and your community? Join Margaret’s Place Peer Leadership Club, where you can help spread awareness about topics like dating red flags, domestic violence, consent, and more! Attend our lunchtime info session to learn more on

All Work Permits that were issued during the summer must be renewed as they expire 8/28/2025. To request a Work Permit Renewal:

1. Pick up a Work Permit Application in the College/Career Center (B120) or PBL Office (B111) before school, lunch, or after school ONLY

2. Complete sections one and two of your Work Permit Application and return to Ms. Griffis in the PBL Office (B111) before school, lunch or after school ONLY

Keep in mind processing may take up to one week; please plan accordingly. Remember, if you are under 18 years old, a work permit is required in order for you to work. If you have questions, stop by the College/Career Center (B120)

Hey Vikings, college admission representatives will be visiting Samohi to meet with you and share all about their institutions!! You must sign up for the rep visits through your SchooLinks account then pick up a Call Slip from the College/Career Center before school, lunch or after school only. All grades are invited, Seniors and Juniors have priority.

Each day, there are various reps and following are the upcoming visits:

9/8/2025 8:45AM Saint Mary's College of California

9/8/2025 10:00AM Reed College

9/8/2025 11:00AM The Ohio State University

9/8/2025 2:45PM Lafayette College

9/9/2025 8:45AM Willamette University

9/9/2025 10:00AM Berklee College of Music

9/9/2025 11:00AM Seattle University

9/9/2025 12:00PM Pepperdine University

9/10/2025 11:20AM Arizona State University-Tempe

9/10/2025 2:30PM The American University of Paris

9/11/2025 9:15AM Hobart and William Smith Colleges

9/11/2025 10:55AM University of Florida

9/11/2025 2:00PM Savannah College of Art and Design - Savannah

9/12/2025 8:35AM University of Southern California

9/12/2025 9:40AM California State University-Sacramento

9/12/2025 2:00PM Hofstra University