“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

From freshman year to published author—Malaika's journey is a testament to dedication and perseverance. She used her Learning Through Interest time over the years to write, revise, edit, and bring her vision to life. With mentorship from WriteGirl, she refined her craft, proving that commitment and discipline truly pay off. Now, as a senior, Malaika has officially published her novel!

The plot revolves around Naoyuki Yoshida—a young musician, and newly crowned Grammy Award winner. Despite his apparent success, the horrific murder of his brother and mother 15 years ago continues to plague his psyche with guilt and rage. One night, he is visited by his estranged father, Kiichiro—recently released from prison and whom he hasn’t seen since that fateful day. Kiichiro offers Naoyuki the opportunity for vengeance, claiming to know the man responsible for the destruction of their family.

Categorized as a coming-of-age psychological thriller. Support a young author and purchase Malaika's book on Amazon today!

Show off your PBL pride with our latest merch—T-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and trucker hats are now available! Don't miss out—place your order by March 2nd so we can all sport our new gear before Spring Break. Students and parents, get yours today! 🔥

Link to t-Shirts + Hoodies

Link to Tote Bag

Link to Trucker Hat

Students - don't forget to sign up for your academic planning meeting via google classroom. You will find the link in your Class of... (2026, 2027, 2028). Make sure to review the Samohi Course Catalogue so you are familiar with the many elective choices.

At the meeting, we will review your progress toward graduation and college admission requirements AND select your electives for the 2025-26 school year. Parents can join the meeting in person or via Zoom.

EVERY WEEK, students need to sign up for Academic Support time provided on Wednesdays. Take advantage of this opportunity to get extra help from a teacher, catch up on missing assignments, or get ahead on your work. The first grading period of the semester is approaching fast—use this time wisely!

Students - Sign up during Advisory on Monday! Failure to sign up will result in an absence. 😕

The PBL staff is diving into The Anxious Generation, and we invite parents to read along with us! We’d love to host an evening book discussion this May with Parents and Teachers. Stay tuned for more details about our Parent Book Study Group—we hope you’ll be part of the conversation!

New civic engagement opportunity! Apply now to the official Santa Monica Youth Advisory Council! The council is an amazing way to get involved in your city, facilitate real change, learn about government, and pump up your resume. Members will collaborate and discuss relevant topics in monthly meetings, working directly with the city council. Mentors like the mayor and other council members will be present in the meetings, even further enriching the experience. All students are encouraged to apply!

Complete the application!

We would like to invite you all to an orientation on Thursday, February 27th at 6pm for a site visit to the PYFC Music and Film Studio where we will provide information regarding our leadership program, music and film production. We will also share information regarding our nutrition program.

The Orientation will take place at our new Studio Office, located at 1630 Euclid Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404. For additional Information, visit: www.picoyouth.org

Players of all ages/levels invited.Third St. Promenade, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

FLYER LINK

Volunteer tutors offer free help reading documents, writing letters and resumes, completing forms, navigating government websites, using mobile devices, email and more. Santa Monica Main Library, Thursdays, 2-4 p.m.

FLYER LINK

• UNCF Scholarship List - deadlines vary
• 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.
• Foundation for Fraternal Excellence Men's College Scholarship - due 4/1/2025
• Asian Pacific Community Fund Scholarship Program - due Apr. 21, 2025
• Sacramento Region Community Foundation 2025 Scholarship Opportunities - deadlines vary; many are for Sacramento area only, but there are a few opportunities open to all

💸 Ready to secure the bag for your college dreams? Whether you're aiming for FAFSA or the CA Dream Act, now’s your chance to grab FREE $$$ for school! Scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans—there’s something for everyone to help lighten the load.

📅 Don’t wait—deadlines are closer than you think!

• FAFSA: Open to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens → Click here to apply

• CA Dream Act: For undocumented students meeting AB 540 requirements→ Click here to apply

• CSS profile: out-of-state and private colleges may require an additional app → Click here to apply

Why apply?

• It’s free and easy 💻

• You might get money you don’t have to pay back 💵

• Your future self will thank you 🙌

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) announces the release of a new informational resource to assist Mixed-Status Families in applying for financial aid.For more details, please view GSA 2024-93.

Junior Scholars represents a key part of the Foundation’s mission to inspire and empower the next generation of innovators, problem solvers, and leaders and equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge to thrive in this rapidly evolving global landscape. This program fosters scientific education by incorporating hands-on experimentation in a collaborative environment. Formerly known as Junior Fellows, Junior Scholars is a unique, three-week summer fellowship for rising high school seniors interested in clinical or research oncology, designed to foster a lifelong passion for scientific education.

https://eirf.org/education/

The Volunteer Services Student Programs is divided into 3 separate programs:

• General Student Program (Year-Round) - Undergrad/Recent Graduate Students

• General Student Program (Summer Only) - High School Students

• Mattel Youth Ambassador (Virtual Only) - Mattel Youth Ambassadors

*The minimum age to volunteer in any program is 16 years old.

2025 High School Student Volunteer Information Session

Summer 2025 Volunteer Information Session will take place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025

All interested students must attend the mandatory Information Session to be able to apply to our program. A Zoom Meeting Invite will be sent out via email the day before the session.

Summer 2025 Sign Up Link: Opening on March 10, 2025

Click here for more information about volunteer opportunities!

Teen Gallery Guides at the Getty Center is a paid summer internship opportunity for teens interested in art, working in community with teen peers, building public speaking skills, and engaging with art professionals and museum spaces in unique ways. Over the summer, interns will learn strategies for understanding and discussing artwork, audience engagement techniques, and teaching strategies to lead gallery experiences and activities for school-aged visiting groups. Transportation to and from the Getty Center is provided to each intern, as well as a stipend.

Questions? Please email us at gettyteens@getty.edu

https://www.getty.edu/education/teens/index.html

Monday, June 23 to Friday, July 25, 2025

We are pleased to offer in-person opportunities for students this summer. Summer School at Samohi will be held in the Innovation Building on the Samohi campus. We will offer breakfast and lunch daily to students. Summer at Samohi includes the following programs:

Accelerated Course details—deadline to apply is Apr 25, 2025

PBL Students may take Geometry or Art. History courses are an integral part of our PBL Pathway and are required to be taken as part of our program.

• Accelerated Geometry: Students who wish to accelerate in the math pathway of their choice. Students with grades of an A or B in Algebra will be considered for this course. Students who take Accelerated Geometry will still be enrolled in a math class for the following year.

• Accelerated Geometry Application

• Accelerated Art: students looking to develop their artistic skills and explore various techniques in drawing, painting, and design. Perfect for those passionate about visual arts, this course provides a strong foundation for future artistic endeavors

• Accelerated Art Application

• 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.

• Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement - coming soon!

• The Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement is a four-week summer intensive academy for 26 talented high school students from the communities surrounding the USC University Park and Health Science Campuses. Students are exposed to the equivalent of first-year college-level courses and develop a rich conceptual understanding and practice of the necessary role that media communications and journalism play in fashioning civic-minded thought leaders and innovators.

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

This is a great opportunity for your child to strengthen their math skills over the summer! The sessions are designed to support your child in building a strong foundation in math, while also preparing them for more advanced topics in later grades. Additionally, attending this workshop will look great on their academic record, as they will have participated in a Young Mathematicians course hosted by UCLA!

Registration will open in January.

Please feel free to reach out to Christine Riad at riad@gseis.ucla.edu with any questions.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeu_eZ_o4gmQY0U0FfikGTGMCsaK1zjjBuZt7eBkVGbeRRiwA/viewform

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

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 for 2nd semester will be starting soon and are taking referrals!

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 for this semester will include:

• Finding flow (watercolor art therapy group),
• AFFIRM (support group for Queer students),
• Write your own story (art therapy journaling group),
• a 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.

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.

Do you have your tickets for Chicago yet? Don't miss the sizzling-hot Broadway sensation opening at Barnum Hall on Friday, February 28 and featuring the immense gifts of over 160 Samohi performing arts students! Come support your talented friends! Two weekends only. Details and $10 student tickets at SamohiTheatre.org. Score the best seats in Barnum while you can!!