PBL Weekly Blast

Our 9th-grade students continue their service learning project in partnership with West LA Animal Shelter and Best Friends LA, exploring the essential question:

How can we positively impact the well-being of animals and the community through service at a local animal shelter?

Students at Best Friends LA wrapped up their latest Leaving to Learn visit cuddling with kittens—a heartwarming reward for their efforts to support shelter animals. Their journey continues in the i-studio next week, where they'll address another essential question:

How can we use creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills to design and build innovative solutions in the i-studio?

These sessions will equip students with the tools and skills to create impactful products for their shelters.

Meanwhile, the West LA Animal Shelter team is diving into hands-on experiences, including reading to dogs to calm their anxiety—an act of kindness that nurtures both animal and human connection. This dual approach combines service, skill-building, and compassion, empowering our students to make a lasting difference in their community.

Advisor’s Academic PlanningPresentation

November 19th

@ 6:00pm

Please join the Advisors as they present information to prepare you for your student’s Academic Planning Meeting.

The Zoom link: https://smmk12.zoom.us/j/84178177116

We look forward to seeing you on November 19th!

De-Stress & Reset with a Sound Bath! Experience a soothing journey through sound to calm your mind, recharge your energy, and let go of stress. Benefits of a sound baths:

• Reduces stress and anxiety.
• Helps with focus and concentration
• Promotes relaxation and better sleep
• Boosts mood and emotional balance

In the College & Career Center:

• After school workshops on November 25 and 26 from 2:30-4:30 PM

• Saturday, November 23 from 9 am -12 pm

• FLEX TIMES now through December

• 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

• Young Worker Leadership Academy - due 12/1/2024

• Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Contest (ranging from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year) - due 11/12/2024

• 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.

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 March of the Living trip is an experiential education program where Builders of Jewish Education take Jewish High School Seniors in Los Angeles to Poland to learn about the Jewish life, during, and after World War II and spend Holocaust Remembrance Day in Poland. This year the trip is from April 21-April 30, 2025.

Flyer with more information

FAQs

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.

Interested in a career in the building and construction trades? We have a FREE introductory course!

Click here to see the flyer for more information.

Ryman Arts offers FREE advanced studio art program that is designed to help you achieve your dreams by strengthening your art skills, and preparing you for college, and for a career in the arts.

Eligibility: Anyone who will be enrolled in high school (grades 9 – 12) for the semester they are applying for is eligible.

Cost: All classes are free of charge. If selected, you will receive a full scholarship that covers the cost of instruction, art supplies, and field trips. Public transportation reimbursement and passes are available.

Locations: Saturdays at California State University, Fullerton and Sundays at Otis College of Art & Design, in Los Angeles. Online when required under public health guidelines. 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM or 1:00 to 4:30 PM

Learn more about Ryman Arts by joining us on Zoom for our Information Sessions. We will give a presentation about the Ryman Arts program, give lots of tips on how to have a successful application, and of course answer all your questions! This event is for potential applicants, parents, families and teachers.

Wednesday, November 20. 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. En Español REGISTRAR AQUI
Wednesday, December 4. 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. REGISTER HERE

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 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.

• Auditions for Samohi's Spring Musical: "Chicago" are right around the corner. We need actors, We need singers and we certainly need DANCERS!! Auditions take place the week of November 18th-22nd. Visit samohitheatre.org and click on "program" for more information about the auditions.

• The next round of tryouts for the 2025 Boys Tennis team will be Tuesday, December 10th, starting at 3:45 PM 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.

  Gift Hope is thrilled to announce our upcoming shoe & clothing drive, taking place from November 15th to December 6th. We're kindly requesting all students to donate any and all new or used shoes and clothes for women, men, and children. All donation drop-offs can be made at any house office anytime between November 15th to December 6th. Remember, your generosity can make a significant difference in the lives of those less fortunate!

• PSAT Scores are in! Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors----log into your College Board account or to the BigFuture School app to access your test scores. If you don't see your scores, please contact Ms Garrett or Ms. Bravo in M House, for your Record Locator number.

• Thriving Thursdays at Samohi! Come get resources and learn information for your wellness on Thursday, November 21st at lunch. We will have community partners, goodies, music, and therapy dogs