Our 9th grade students are in their second week of their service learning project at Best Friends LA, and the experience has been great. As part of their project, students are learning about animal welfare, contributing to the care and support of shelter animals, and gaining hands-on experience in service work.

During Last week's community meeting, we kicked off by recognizing students who have demonstrated our PBL core values during the first six weeks of school—congratulations to those who have shown Compassion (Carolina), Independence (Hudson), Problem-Solving (Caiden), and Scholarship (Malaika)! The meeting ended with an exciting team-building activity called "Lava Flow," where students worked together to cross Prospect Hill using only cardboard pieces. It was a fun and challenging exercise in communication and problem-solving!

It was fantastic to see so many PBL students and families attend the College Fair last Thursday! It's never too early to start thinking about post-secondary plans, and we hope the event inspired new ideas and possibilities for the future. A Special Shout Out and Thank You to our Samohi PTSA for sponsoring this event each year.

I caught Dash, class of 2026, and his mother, Cris speaking with a representative from Humboldt State University.

Speaking of inspiration... Our school board president, Jennifer Smith, took time out of her week to come and speak with our juniors and seniors. Her journey onto the SMMUSD school board is unique and illustrates the fact that there really is not a straight path to success. I was particularly impressed by our students well thought-out follow up questions for her, demonstrating that they are well on their way to becoming active citizens.

Make sure to show your school spirit this week and check out the changes to the schedule on Wednesday for Carnival and Friday for the PEP Rally.

We are excited to announce a special Leaving to Learn experience for all grades following the PSAT! Students will venture into the Santa Monica community to encourage residents to fulfill their civic duty and vote in the upcoming election. This hands-on experience will help students engage with local issues and understand the importance of active participation in our democracy. Trip slips have been distributed—please make sure to return them as soon as possible!

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!

The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is seeking new members for our Youth Advisory Council, which supports the mission of the Commission by providing a youth perspective on state policy and practice. This unique opportunity to help shape public policy is open to girls ages 14-20 living in California. Members will be asked to attend, virtually or in person in Sacramento, 6 meetings each year, approximately 2 hours each, and engage in approximately 4 hours of advocacy, outreach, or support each month. Meetings take place on weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and applicants must be available during business hours to be considered. All references to “women and girls” include gender-expansive individuals, cis women and girls, trans women and girls, nonbinary individuals, gender-nonconforming individuals, genderqueer individuals, and any women or girl identified individuals.

Applications are due by October 17, 2024. You can download the application below.

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.

Thursday, October 24. 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. REGISTER HERE
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

PTSA Reflections Art Program - Submissions due October 17th 2024

Samohi students - YOU are encouraged to submit original art to share your personal reflection on this year’s theme: “Accepting Imperfection”. Art may be submitted in six categories or in the Accessible Arts Division. Artwork will be recognized and celebrated at Samohi! The top selections will be submitted to Council and then to Thirty-Third District PTA to be judged. GET THE ENTRY FORM by October 17th, 2024 https://forms.gle/PcksgALZ51iEkmSd8.

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

Come and attend Enchanted Forest Homecoming Dance!

Saturday October 19th 7-10 pm at Samohi Discovery and Innovation Quad

Tickets include:~Snacks~ Games~DJ~

Ticket Prices:

• Regular Price- $60

• With ASB card- $45

• Free and Reduced Lunch-$40

If you plan on bringing a guest, you must submit a Guest Dance Application which can be found in your house office and need to be turned into the M House Office by October 11!

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.

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.

• The Visual Art Department cordially invites you to celebrate Dia de los Muertos in the Roberts Art Gallery on Thursday, October 24, 4-6pm. Join us to see art from Drawing, Ceramics, Film and AP Art. Spanish classes will create an ofrenda. We will have food, music and dancing. Celebrate the lives of those who have passed with us. See you 10/24, 4-6pm in Roberts Art Gallery.

• We will celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month from October 1st through the 31st. To help honor the month please wear pink as much as possible. Also, ASB will hand out bows on the lawn at lunch every day, so make sure to grab one before your next class.