PBL Weekly Blast

Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31...The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats. Learn more.

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican tradition celebrated on November 1st and 2nd to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. It is a joyful celebration of life and memory. Learn more.

Our 11th and 12th grade students attended a performance of Guac at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles last Wednesday. The one man show captivated our students, describing the performance as “powerful” and deeply moving.

An interdisciplinary project between PBL government and Voices in World Literature classes, “I Declare” challenges students to compose and perform spoken word pieces inspired by the Declaration of Independence and current political events, reasserting and/or redefining the founding document’s key ideas. Students film their performances using green-screen and design a video montage to reinforce their rhetoric.

In Voices in World Literature, students examine the various persuasive tools the founders used to get their message across to both the King and the American people, and they use some of those same tools – as well as a little rhyme – in their pieces. In government, students study the context and the purpose of the founding American documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They evaluate the fundamental rights and look at current events to understand how our rights are being upheld or challenged in today's world.

All views expressed in these works are those of the individual students.

LINK to the exhibition video on Google Drive.

Homeboy Industries is a prison re-entry and gang rehabilitation organization. “Homeboy Industries provides hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community.” This organization provides many services including education, mental health support, vocational training, and legal resources.

This week, our 9th grade students will attend a performance of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding at the Mark Taper Forum as part of their Freshman Seminar Class.

The PBL Halloween Carnival is happening this Friday, October 31st. There will be games, a haunted house, crafts, and other fun Halloween activities!

SAVE THE DATE

Advisor’s Academic Planning Presentation

November 18th

@ 6:00pm

Please join the Advisors as they present information to prepare you for your student’s academic planning for next year. The Zoom link will be sent out for this presentation the week before. We look forward to seeing you on November 18th!

Need help with your classes? Come to the library at lunch or after school! Monday through Friday Samohi Peer Tutoring offers tutoring to anyone from tutors who are current Samohi students. Tutoring is offered in all subjects and in all levels of courses. Follow the instagram @samohipeertutoring for more specific information(tutors, the subjects they tutor, what days they tutor).

Teachers are available to support students after school in the library!

Mondays- Spanish

Tuesdays- Research

Wednesday- English

Thursday- Chemistry

They are in the library Monday through Thursday 3:30-5 pm.

You are invited to SAMOHI Bands first concert of the year this coming Tuesday, October 28th at the beautiful JAMS Performing Arts Center. Food will be available for purchase starting at 5:30 pm. Concert starts at 6:30 pm. Get your tickets at samohiband.org.

-That time of the year to let your costume creativity roar! Running with Speakers is summoning all spirited souls for our annual Halloween Costume Contest on October 31st at lunch in front of Barnum Hall. Show off your most amazing, spooky, or hilarious look and join the fun!

Join us for a hands-on leadership training with fellow Samohi student leaders on Monday, November 3rd (Periods 1–4) at Gold’s Gym! This collaborative session will help you grow your confidence, strengthen your team, and develop real-world strategies to create a more inclusive campus culture. Connect, share ideas, and learn how to lead impactful events and empower your club members for lasting success! https://forms.gle/Nqotwd8nGRQn7uPz5

Art School Afficionados: National Portfolio Day is coming soon. Meet art school representatives from around the country in San Diego on November 15 and Los Angeles on November 16. See nationalportfolioday.org for list of schools. AP Art will host School of the Art Institute of Chicago on October 27th, 3rd period and School Visual Arts on November 20. Sign up for portfolio reviews on Schoolinks

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

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!

Need your lunch pass added to your ID now that attendance obligations will not be carried over. Please fill out the link OR use the QR codes in the PBL office to request your lunch pass to be added. Each ID will be verified, so you will not be charged. You will be emailed once it is ready.

LINK

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.

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)

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

Super Saturday is an opportunity for students to sign up and attend school Saturday mornings to help clear their absences. Students are expected to bring homework and Chromebook to complete their necessary assignments and/or study for classes. SIGN UP LINK