Last week, PBL core classes and Samohi electives were in full swing as our students settled into their routines.

• Students completed the STAR diagnostic assessments for Math and ELA, helping us gauge learning levels to set goals for the semester.
• Junior and Seniors had a guest speaker in their social science classes as they gear up for their "Get Out the Vote" project.
• To continue to build community spirit, PBL students participated in a fun and competitive Bingo/Scavenger Hunt during our Community Meeting. Mixed-grade level teams explored the SAMOHI campus, fostering collaboration and connection across grade levels (see images below).

PBL students will follow our regular class schedule (see the schedule linked below). Please note that student schedules are now set, and no elective changes will be made.

Parents, we kindly ask that you review the syllabus for each class with your child and acknowledge receipt, if you have not done so already. Additionally, please sign up for Google Classroom summaries to stay informed on your child's progress. If you're not already connected, email your child’s teacher for an invitation.

Lastly, with the heat expected to be brutal this week, make sure to bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated!

Interested in a career in healthcare or just curious about the dental field? You won’t want to miss the upcoming Diversify Dentistry Youth Summit Informational Session happening during Samohi's Flex Time on September 11th, 2024 in D100! Learn about the exclusive UCLA Youth Summit where you’ll have the opportunity to visit UCLA’s School of Dentistry to get hands-on experience in dental anatomy, connect with inspiring mentors, enjoy a mentorship lunch, and even participate in a White Coat Ceremony! This is your chance to see what it’s really like to step into the world of dentistry and healthcare. It’s more than just teeth—it's about making a difference in healthcare and diversity, and YOU could be part of that change! Don’t miss out—come find out how to get involved at the info session. 👏 We’ll answer all your questions and get you excited about the future of dentistry!

PBL Students can sign up by Tuesday, Sept. 10th using the link below:

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 Santa Monica-Malibu USD participates in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program by offering nutritious meals every school day. Students may buy lunch for $4.00/$4.75 and breakfast for $2.00/$2.25. Eligible students may receive meals free of charge or at the reduced-price rate of $0.40 for lunch and $0.30 for breakfast. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens to qualify for free or reduced-price meals. If there are more household members than the number of lines on the application, attach a second application. Applications are available on line at www.smmusd.org/foodservices.

You also get reduced fees for AP exams and school functions!

APPLY NOW

Textbooks will continue to be picked up during students' schedule class with their teachers. If you DO NOT have a chromebook, please see Nicole ASAP.

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!!!

SNACK Donations needed:

We are noticing that the long stretch between the start of school and lunch has left our young scholars hungry and thirsty. They have been finding healthy snacks in the PBL House Office, but our supplies are dwindling. Please feel free to donate healthy snacks to the office so that we can nourish our students when they need. 🙏

SAVE the Date: BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT on Thursday, September 26th (Save the Date).

Want to stay connected with other PBL Parents? Join the Opt in Parent Directory (form below):

To report a student’s absence, please send an email to AttendancePBL@smmusd.org ext. 71177

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

Attention Seniors: if you are applying to colleges that require letter(s) of recommendation and/or official transcript, the Guidelines must be completed– Letter of Recommendation & Transcript Request Guidelines

Many of you have asked what you need to be working on for your college apps. We got you! The updated College Admission Application Survival Guide ~ It’s Your Senior Year! includes the knitty-gritty on to-do tasks, deadlines, and frequently used websites. We recommend you bookmark it and use it everyday.

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.