A huge thank you to the incredible Halloween Committee and our generous parent donors for making the Halloween Carnival an unforgettable experience for the entire PBL Community! Students and staff had a blast exploring the haunted maze, trying their hand at glow-in-the-dark bowling, and decorating pumpkins. The PBL Staff showcased their creativity and school spirit with Wizard of Oz-themed costumes. Even Samohi security officers joined in the fun! We appreciate everyone’s hard work and enthusiasm in creating an event that was full of joy and spooktacular memories!

PBL Pathway’s Get Out the Vote initiative is making headlines! Our PBL students ventured out into the Santa Monica community to advocate for and activate citizens to vote. We are proud of their learning and the positive attention they’ve garnered for the importance of voting! Check out the Santa Monica Daily Press articles below.

If you are 18 or older, don't forget to VOTE on Tuesday, November 5th in the General Election.

Click HERE for more info

Monday, November 11th is Veteran's Day. School will be closed in observance.

Parents/ Guardians -

Do you have available time on Tuesday mornings 8:30am - 1pm? If so, consider chaperoning one of the two 9th grade groups when they volunteer at the animal shelters: Best Friends LA + West LA Animal Shelter. Starting 10/29, all 9th graders will be out volunteering and we would love one or two parents to chaperone. If you are interested, email Nicole nnicodemus@smmusd.org.

• 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

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.

We are excited to announce that registration for the Culver City Fire Department Girls Camp is now open!

Saturday, November 16 & Sunday, November 17, 2024

8 AM - 4 PM

Culver City Fire Department Training Tower

9275 Jefferson Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90232

Over the course of two days, campers will learn how to wear personal protective equipment, climb ladders, pull fire hose, learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and more! All teens (ages 14-18) are invited to sign up. Lunch will be provided.

Attendees must register for this FREE event in advance. Space is limited

Learn more about the CCFD Girls Camp and register today!

If you are a teen writer or an artist, then the Santa Monica Public Library has an opportunity for you! If you want your work published for free and printed for the community, then the Teen Literary and Arts Magazine is accepting submissions now, under the theme “Change”. Click the link below or visit SMPL to get more information and submit! https://santamonicacity.wufoo.com/forms/m1y8oobr0jcycve/

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.

Saturday, November 16. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. REGISTER HERE
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.
• Get ready for an ASB hosted movie night next Thursday, November 7th in the Centennial Quad! We will be screening the film, 10 Things I Hate About You. Buy tix online for $5 for SAMO STUDENTS and $7 for Community members. Tickets at the door are $5 for ASB Card holders with ID and $8 for everyone else. Snacks and concessions will be available. Doors open at 6 PM and movie starts at 6:45, so show up early with a folding chair and blankets to get a good spot! Hope to see you there.
• The Outsiders OPENED on FRIDAY, Nov. 1st! You will not want to miss this compelling tale of rebellion. Samohi acting students portray these characters with style and you won't want to miss it! Support your friends and the theatre program! Performances are November 1, 2, 3 and 8, 9, 10. Reserved seat tickets at samohitheatre.org.