PBL Weekly Blast

Our schedule shifts this week as students wrap up projects in their English and Social Science AND prepare for their Science 12/12 and Math 12/13 FINAL EXAMS. Students - check with your PBL teachers about FINAL submission Deadlines for each of your classes.

Next week, our focus is on SAMOHI FINALS and PRESENTATIONS OF LEARNING.

Click on the button below for the Schedule.

Our PBL Community thrives when we connect students with inspiring guest experts who share their unique life journeys, skills, and expertise. Last Thursday, we had the privilege of learning from professionals in carpentry, music composition, collegiate sports, criminal law, grief therapy, and Somatic experience. A highlight was senior Sadie O'Connell leading a focus group for the airport conversion project, a key component of her senior thesis.

These opportunities spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and show students the diverse paths they can pursue. We are eager to continue these enriching experiences during the spring semester. If you or someone you know is interested in joining a PBL Community Meeting to share your expertise, please reach out.

Have you marked your calendars for our 10th–12th Grade Presentations of Learning (POLs) on Thursday, December 19th?

This round of POLs will take a fresh approach to sharing of the individual projects focusing on "evidence of learning" and meaningful reflection rather than traditional presentation skills.

Additional information and times will be emailed this week.

Nicole will be reviewing graduation requirements with each grade on Monday, December 16th. At this time, students will be able to sign up for their Individual Academic Planning Meeting (Jan - March). These meetings are to discuss academic progress, long term academic goals, and selection of courses for the 2025-26 school year. It is a student meeting, but parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

• • UNCF Scholarship List - deadlines vary
  • Anthony Quinn Foundation Scholarship Program (provides financial assistance to high school students who wish to attend a recognized pre-college, or summer intensive arts education program) - registration part due 11/30/2024
  • Coolidge Scholarship-The Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that may be used by recipients for undergraduate study at any accredited college or university in the United States.please note the submission deadline: 5:00 PM Pacific time, Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
  • Martin Marillyn Hewson Scholarship-AIAA is awarding one $10,000 scholarship to a female high school senior who is intending to pursue an engineering major at a college or university in the United States or one of its territories.close on 31 December
  • Playa Vista Optimist Club-looking for student entries for the Optimist International 2024-2025 Essay Contest.The local award for the winning essay is $400 and the winner will then advance to the District Contest. The first place winner of the District Contest is then awarded a $2500 scholarship and a plaque which is presented at a special District Awards luncheon.

• Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) - due Jan. 10, 2025

• (YYGS) is an academic enrichment program for outstanding high school students from around the world. Each summer, students from over 150 countries (including all 50 U.S. states) participate in one interdisciplinary, two-week session at Yale’s historic campus. Immerse yourself in a global learning community at Yale University.

• USC Bovard Scholars Program - due Jan. 17, 2025

• The USC Bovard Scholars program helps high-achieving students with financial need gain admission to and succeed at the nation’s top universities.

• MIT MITES - due Feb. 1, 2025

• The MITES Semester and MITES Summer application and selection process is holistic, meaning that we consider a variety of factors when determining which students are the best fit for our programs. We look for students with demonstrated interest in science and engineering and a strong academic record who are motivated, hard-working, and focused on growth and improvement

• California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) - due Feb. 28, 2025

• CSSSA is a rigorous, preprofessional, month-long training program in the visual and performing arts, creative writing, animation and film for talented artists of high school age. CSSSA provides a supportive environment in which students hone acquired skills and explore new techniques and ideas for an intense and exciting learning experience.

• California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) - coming soon!

• COSMOS is an intensive four-week summer residential Pre-College Program for high school students who have demonstrated an aptitude for academic and professional careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Lastly, reminder that you also have a list of Fly-In Programs here.

EmpowerLA is excited to announce that applications for the 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference are now open! On Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 8:00 am-4:00 pm, EmpowerLA will host 100 young people between the ages of 14-17 from across Los Angeles at Los Angeles City Hall to participate in a one-day event focused on civic engagement, leadership development, and local government. Conference attendees will dive into the role the Neighborhood Council system plays in grassroots local democracy, attend learning sessions on ways to be civically engaged in the community, network with like-minded young leaders, engage with City leaders, and so much more! Applications close Friday, December 20th at 11:59 p.m

The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) co-sponsor the Research Science Institute (RSI), a six-week program that nurtures high school scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). CEE seeks talented 11th (or the equivalent) Grade STEM Students who have a desire to complete an unforgettable research program through the RSI program.

For more information about the application process, please visit RSI application materials at https://www.cee.org/programs/apply-rsi

Deadline to apply to RSI ’25 is December 11, 2024

The Plastic Revelation is offering a volunteer opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our environment. Join us for clean-ups around Santa Monica at our beaches and parks. If you are interested, please email info@theplasticrevelation.com or visit our website, theplasticrevelation.org.

Cancer Support Community LA will be launching our next 8 Week Series of Creating Connections for Kids and Teens groups beginning January 21, 2025! If you know a child who has a cancer diagnosis or a loved one with cancer (including siblings), we would love to have them join us for 8 weeks of fun activities and community! There will be an ongoing Parents Support Group that takes place on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month.

Click here for more information

Click here for parent support group information

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

Here's are a few perks of donating:

• knowing you may save the lives of people in your community - even a family member or friend

• free snacks

• $10 Starbucks gift card

• bragging rights for doing the right thing for others

In AD 103- Across the hall from the nurse’s office,

Open on Tuesday from 1 to 3:45 pm and on Thursdays from 8:30 to 11:45 am!

• Immunizations

• Physicals

• Medical Care

• And so much more

Counseling groups are now open!

We are offering a variety of support options based on the needs of our students. This is a great opportunity for students to find support and build connections in confidential group therapy sessions.

Groups include: 9th grade young women’s group, coping skills for anxiety and depression, finding flow: watercolor art therapy group, affirm-support group for Queer students, SELFY- social emotional learning for youth, write your own story, art therapy journaling group, One on campus, and grief and loss support group.

Wellness Services Center Website

Mental Health Referral Form

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

Students should let Carla Nuñez, Community Schools Specialist in E113, (or their House Office assistant or their House Advisor) know if they would like to receive Weekend Bags. Families wishing to have their students receive Weekend Bags on Fridays should contact Carla Nuñez at carlanunez@smmusd.org or 310 395-3204 ext. 71-143.

SMMUSD continues to provide free TAP cards to all of our students. For our PBL students this is important that each student have an active TAP card as this is our main mode of travel for many of our Leaving 2 Learn experiences (ie: field trips).

If your child did not receive a TAP card or activation code, please have them come to the PBL House Office (B111).

To reactivate your existing TAP card, please submit the following form to receive a new eligibility code: https://bit.ly/GoPass2024-2025.

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!!!

Margaret’s Place is open for the school year in E117 and offers services to students every weekday! At Margaret’s Place, our mission is to help end the cycle of violence in our relationships, schools, and communities. We offer free counseling for students, open lunch drop-in, therapeutic recreation activities, and more! See our newsletter for students and our newsletter for parents/caregivers to learn more about services and how to get involved, email ldesanto@smmusd.org with any questions.

If you have not received an ID card,

you LOST your ID card,

you now have an ASB card and need the stamp, or

you now have an off campus lunch pass...

use the QR code (or click on the image) to have an ID reprinted/ printed.

The next round of tryouts for the 2025 Boys Tennis team will be Tuesday, December 10th, starting at 3:45PM at the SAMOHI campus courts. Tryouts are open to all grade-levels. Any student who wishes to participate at tryouts must have a valid Physical/Health History form completed and be able to provide proof of insurance at tryouts.

Are you great at giving gifts but lack time to wrap them? Let our PAES Lab students add a touch of magic to your packages while you take all the credit! Just bring your items to D106 any time December 9th-18th. Don't forget to leave a To/From note so we can complete everything from bows to tags! Consider giving a donation per box to supplement our Lab supplies. Thanks and Happy Holidays!

TRACK TEAM TRYOUTS DECEMBER 11th . Are you interested in trying out for the track team? All returning and new students who would like to tryout for the team MUST sign up and participate in the December 14th All-Comers Track meet hosted here on campus. QUESTIONS? email ksaunders@smmusd.org

The UCLA blood drive is taking place right here on campus on Thursday, December 12th in D100 from 9 AM-2 PM. If you are 16 and older and interested in donating, see an ASB member to sign up or use this link to sign up directly https://shorturl.at/03J8Y 16-year olds need to also complete the parent consent form here https://shorturl.at/vIEpR

Join Samohi Orchestras for our Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 10 in Barnum Hall. Taco and bake sale concessions start at 5:30pm and the concert begins at 6:30pm. Student tickets are $5 at www.samohiorchestras.org.

Get ready to spread some holiday cheer, Vikings! Our Holiday Door Decorating Contest kicks off on December 2nd! Work with your homeroom/2nd period to create the most festive door by December 13th. Once your masterpiece is complete, snap a photo, include your 2nd period teacher’s name, and send it to Ms. Tovar at stovar@smmk12.org or send it on Instagram at @vikingssamohi. Let’s make the season bright—happy decorating!