We want to take a moment to acknowledge the profound physical and emotional impact that the Palisades Fire has had on our community. Our hearts are with everyone affected by this challenging situation.

As we come together tomorrow, we are grateful for the opportunity to reconnect as a community. At the same time, we completely understand that some students may not be able to join us due to the direct impact of the fire or evacuation concerns. Please know that our thoughts are with you, and we will continue to support you in any way we can.

The safety and well-being of our students are always our top priorities. As we navigate the days ahead, we are committed to incorporating social-emotional learning into our weekly plans to ensure our students feel supported and cared for.

Thank you for being a part of our incredible community. We will get through this together.

With gratitude,
Nicole

The Samohi Experience Open House will take place on Thursday, January 30 starting at 6pm. More details will be forthcoming. This event is for both incoming and returning Samohi families, and is an opportunity to:

• Explore the classes available in each department before making course requests for next year

• Learn what your student has been doing in their classes this year

• Visit parts of the campus you haven't seen yet!

Unlike Back to School Night, there isn't a bell schedule for Open House. Teachers will be set up with their departments in various locations around campus, and you can visit departments at your own pace, browse displayed work or course materials, and talk with teachers and students.

Just for reference, the PBL Pathway is considered its own department so we will all be together int he Business building.

📣 Calling all Future Vikings! 📣

Does your child love to cheer, dance, and have fun? Sign them up for the Future Vikings Cheer Clinic hosted by the SAMOHI Pep Squad!

Details:

📅 Clinic: Tuesday, January 14th | 4:00–6:00 p.m.

🎉 Performance: Wednesday, January 15th | extra practice at 5:00 pm and performance at the 6:00 p.m. halftime show of the SAMOHI basketball game

Cost:

💵 $50 - Includes the clinic and halftime performance

💵 $25 - Optional bow and t-shirt

Spectator fee: $10 per adult for the basketball game

Your child will learn skills and perform with the SAMOHI Pep Squad during halftime! Sign up Here: Future Vikings 2025 Registration

For questions, email Coach Lily Sheahan at lsheahan@smmusd.org

Let’s make memories together—sign up and join the fun!

This event is all about empowering young adults to prioritize their mental and physical well-being in today's world. Discover the latest trends in nutrition, mindfulness, and more. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to invest in your health and connect with like-minded individuals. See you there!

Click here to register!

The College/Career Center is thrilled to invite you and your student to the STEM Admissions Night on Tuesday, February 4, 7-8:30pm in Barnum Hall.

We will be joined by a panel of experienced and knowledgeable college admission representatives who will be sharing about their institution's STEM academic offerings and the application process. If your student is interested in pursuing STEM fields in college or as a career, you will not want to miss out!

• UNCF Scholarship List - deadlines vary

• 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.

• Geri & Richard Brawerman Leadership Institute - due Feb. 17, 2025

• Foundation for Fraternal Excellence Men's College Scholarship - due 4/1/2025

The Samohi Scholarship Program will open today at 1:30pm. Scholarship application and any additional materials are due Fri., Jan. 31, 2025. This is a firm deadline, there will be no extension.

Click HERE to view the Scholarship Application Steps.

If you have questions/clarifications, please email your college/career counselor.

• USC Bovard Scholars Program - due Jan. 17, 2025

• The USC Bovard Scholars program helps high-achieving students with financial need gain admission to and succeed at the nation’s top universities.

• MIT MITES - due Feb. 1, 2025

• The MITES Semester and MITES Summer application and selection process is holistic, meaning that we consider a variety of factors when determining which students are the best fit for our programs. We look for students with demonstrated interest in science and engineering and a strong academic record who are motivated, hard-working, and focused on growth and improvement

• California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) - due Feb. 28, 2025

• CSSSA is a rigorous, preprofessional, month-long training program in the visual and performing arts, creative writing, animation and film for talented artists of high school age. CSSSA provides a supportive environment in which students hone acquired skills and explore new techniques and ideas for an intense and exciting learning experience.

• California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) - coming soon!

• COSMOS is an intensive four-week summer residential Pre-College Program for high school students who have demonstrated an aptitude for academic and professional careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Lastly, reminder that you also have a list of Fly-In Programs here.

💸 Ready to secure the bag for your college dreams? Whether you're aiming for FAFSA or the CA Dream Act, now’s your chance to grab FREE $$$ for school! Scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans—there’s something for everyone to help lighten the load.

📅 Don’t wait—deadlines are closer than you think!

• FAFSA: Open to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens → Click here to apply

• CA Dream Act: For undocumented students meeting AB 540 requirements→ Click here to apply

• CSS profile: out-of-state and private colleges may require an additional app → Click here to apply

Why apply?

• It’s free and easy 💻

• You might get money you don’t have to pay back 💵

• Your future self will thank you 🙌

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) announces the release of a new informational resource to assist Mixed-Status Families in applying for financial aid.For more details, please view GSA 2024-93.

This is a great opportunity for your child to strengthen their math skills over the summer! The sessions are designed to support your child in building a strong foundation in math, while also preparing them for more advanced topics in later grades. Additionally, attending this workshop will look great on their academic record, as they will have participated in a Young Mathematicians course hosted by UCLA!

Registration will open in January.

Please feel free to reach out to Christine Riad at riad@gseis.ucla.edu with any questions.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeu_eZ_o4gmQY0U0FfikGTGMCsaK1zjjBuZt7eBkVGbeRRiwA/viewform

For families in the evacuation warning area serving Roosevelt Elementary, Lincoln Middle School and Samohi, along with any family who makes the personal decision to keep their children home tomorrow, we will excuse these absences. Please contact your school office to report this absence.

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.

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.