PBL Weekly Blast

Did you know that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s famous, “I Have a Dream” speech was partially improvised and that the iconic phrase was left out of the original draft?

LEARN MORE FACTS

Our 9th graders will be diving into the woodworking and textile tools of the iStudio to create a multimedia self portrait. Students will learn woodshop safety and get their hands on the chop saw, band saw, and power sanders. They will also be using a sewing machine and hand embroidery to add texture, depth, and color to your work of art.

The City is now accepting applications for the Renters’ Energy and Cooling/Heating (REACH) Program, a new initiative offering free electric home appliances to income-qualified renters in Santa Monica!

Appliance offerings include air purifiers, portable heat pump HVAC units which offer heating and cooling, and battery storage systems that can store electricity and discharge it as needed to power appliances. These are all compatible with standard electrical outlets and don’t require any construction. More info on the program can be found here and more info on the appliances offered can be found here.

To qualify for the REACH program, applicants must be renters in Santa Monica, meet the program’s income requirements, and be customers of Clean Power Alliance since funding is provided by the Clean Power Alliance Innovation Fund. Applications are accepted while funds last and awards will be made on a lottery basis beginning in January.

After a year of devastating wildfires, displacement, and mounting financial pressures across Los Angeles County, at the direction of the Board of Supervisors, DCBA announces the launch of the Emergency Rent Relief Program.

This program will provide over $23 million in rental and mortgage relief to eligible landlords and homeowners impacted by the Palisades, Eaton, and other wildfires, as well as households facing new financial challenges tied to federal actions. The funds will provide critical relief from rental debt for thousands of tenants.

You can review eligibility requirements, sign up for updates (including a direct link to the application portal once it opens) at lacountyrentrelief.com.

The Directing Change Film Contest is for young people ages 12 to 25 that want to combine creative expression with making a difference in their communities by creating stories about mental health, suicide prevention, substance use, and other topics that matter.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 1

GET STARTED

We are excited to announce that the 3rd Annual Gen Z Wellness Summit will be held on Sunday, March 8th at UCLA. For our special friends who attended and supported last year's summit, we are offering early registration for you and your students!

Get ready for a full day of inspiration, connection, and hands-on experiences! Featuring voices from our very own Teen Advisory Council. Explore workshops and activities that celebrate wellness, curiosity, and being your best self.

REGISTER HERE.

The Playa Vista Optimist Club is looking for student entries for the Optimist International 2025-2026 Essay Contest.The local award for the winning essay is $500 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.

Topic: “How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me”

When: Club Deadline January 26, 2026

Who: Youth under age 19 as of 10/1/2025 located in the United States, Canada, or the Caribbean. There is no minimum age

*All essays are run through software to identify possible plagiarism or AI-generated compositions.

Click HERE for fillable contest application/entry form or contact us at playavistaoptimists@gmail.com for assistance.

District winners are awarded a plaque and a $2500 scholarship which will be presented at the District's 3rd Quarterly Meeting in May 2026. All scholarships are administered by Optimist International and funded by the Optimist International Foundation.

If you are interested or if you know of any students who may be interested in entering our Club’s Essay Contest, submit applications/entry forms along with a copy of your essay to playavistaoptimists@gmail.com.

For more information:

contact Essay Contest Chair, Samia Boctor at (310) 210-3716.

The Los Angeles Pediatric Society (LAPS), a non-profit, would like to invite current 11th and 12 grade students interested in the medical field to apply for the Eve and Gene Black summer medical intern program. LAPS works with various hospitals for a limited number of students to experience the in-person program in the hospitals. We also have two 2-week online sessions in July from 10:00am-12:00pm Monday-Thursday where the students will get to meet and listen to a wide variety of medical professionals explain their careers and how they got to where they are now. There isn't a charge to apply for either of the programs.

Deadline to apply is Friday February 13, 2026 at midnight

Learn More HERE.

Camp Indigo - a summer day camp for transgender and non-binary kids - is opening a location in Long Beach, and we would love your help spreading the word far and wide.

Important Notes:

• We’re a camp for trans youth ages 5-17 (with separate programming for the teen cohort)

• We offer unlimited scholarships. There are no applications needed, just use the discount codes on the website

• Camp runs 9am - 3pm

• We anticipate hosting about 75 trans and non-binary youth at our Long Beach site

• We’re hiring! Applications open in January for PAID summer jobs

• Camp Indigo is trans-led, has been in operation for over a decade, and also runs programs in Oakland, Austin, Minneapolis, Boulder, and Columbus!

The application period for Camp Cinder 2026 is open from 12/01/2025 to 01/31/2026. Camp Cinder 2026, CAL FIRE’s free firefighting camp for young women, will take place from June 22nd to June 25th in Redding and June 29th to July 2nd in San Luis Obispo, California.

The mission of Camp Cinder is to provide young women a safe, dynamic, interactive and challenging environment to gain strength, knowledge, and confidence in their ability to excel in the profession of firefighting and beyond. Upon completing the camp, young women will leave with a sense of empowerment and the confidence that they can succeed in any career they choose.

For more info, click HERE.

The SAT will be given to all 11th graders on Wednesday, April 15th. The SAT will be administered digitally. This exam is free and students do NOT need to sign up. All students will need to bring their SMMUSD-issued Chromebooks. Students need to check in to their assigned classroom by 8:30 am. No one will be admitted to a room once testing has begun.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE! College Board has a strict guidelines regarding use of prohibited devices DURING testing time. If a student is using any of the prohibited items during testing time regarding of location (on the way to the restroom), their scores will be canceled. The following materials are prohibited: cell phones must be turned off and put away in a bag or backpack, airPods, headphones, alarm watches, protractors, compasses, rulers, stencils, dictionaries (including those used to translate English to another language) or other books, pamphlets, papers of any kind, highlighters, colored pens or pencils, or listening, recording, copying, or photographic devices, and other aids.

You may bring bottled water only, and light snacks. You will be directed to remove them from your backpack and placed underneath your desk.

Your English teacher will announce and post your testing room location to your Google Classroom prior to Spring Break. Students will test in with their English class. If you will be receiving accommodations, you will receive an email to your smmk12 account prior to Spring Break.

Students need to bring…..

1. Your SMMSUD-issued chromebook. No personal laptops

2. You must have a photo ID (school id or government issued) to take the SAT exam

3. You may bring a calculator (-a quiet type; no beeping, talking or other noises). See allowed calculators

4. It is recommended you bring two sharpened #2 pencils. Pens or mechanical pencils are not allowed

You can find more information on our website, here.

If you have any questions, please contact, Ms. Christine Garrett, M House Assistant, at Cgarrett@smmud.org or Ms. Lissette Bravo, M House Principal at lbravo@smmsud.org or 310-395-3204 ext 71-854

Hazel Health provides free, school-based physical and mental health support for students. Through Hazel, students can quickly connect with licensed medical and mental-health providers by video during the school day, helping them access care, manage symptoms, or receive guidance without leaving campus. Families can sign up once, and students can use the service anytime they need support.

You can schedule your first visit by going to get started.hazel.co.

Through Hazel Health, your student can receive support for:

• Academic Stress: Balancing schoolwork and break activities

• Anxiety: Coping with uncertainty and changes

• Managing Emotions: Understanding and expressing feelings

• Relationship Challenges: Navigating friendships and family dynamics

Flyer - English | Spanish

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.

https://app.smore.com/n/a6pjmy-college-career-center-newsletter

THE COLLEGE and CAREER CENTER provides resources to all Samohi students as they plan for their post-Samohi plans. In addition to SchooLinks, college, career, military and gap year publications are available for student research. Secondary school reports, letters of recommendations, and testing materials are handled by the College/Career Counselors. The College Fair, Samohi Scholarship Program, SAT & ACT, FAFSA/CADAA, CSS Profiles and college, career and military representative visits are all part of the service.

Students are welcome to come in before school, during lunch and after school to research specific colleges and financial aid opportunities - but you need an appointment to meet with one of the College/Career Counselors. Please note that college/career planning meetings are reserved for Seniors only during the fall, and Seniors and Juniors during the spring. Seniors/Juniors, to schedule a meeting with your College/Career Counselor, please click on their "calendly" link to access his/her availability.

Scholarship Opportunities

• 2026 UCB Myasthenia Gravis Scholarship™ - due Jan. 31, 2026

• Horatio Alger Association Scholarship Program - due Mar. 1, 2026, 12pm EST

• Foundation for Fraternal Excellence Men's College Scholarship - due Apr. 1, 2026, 11:59pm EST

SAMOHI SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

• We’re very fortunate to be supported by alumni, community members and other stakeholders who donate over $100,000 each year to our graduating Seniors.

• THIS IS THE LINK TO CLICK FOR APPLICATION

Margaret’s Place in E117.

Email LDeSanto@smmusd.org with any questions!

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.).

• 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