We hope you all had a relaxing, joyful, and well-deserved Spring Break—whether you spent it resting, traveling, adventuring, or simply enjoying time with loved ones. In whatever manner you chose to recharge...we look forward to welcoming everyone back.

As we return, we are heading into the final stretch of the school year—an exciting time for continued growth, reflection, and opportunity. Let’s bring that refreshed energy into our classrooms, projects, and community as we finish the semester strong! We’re so proud of everything this community has accomplished so far, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the semester brings.

Here’s to a strong, focused, and thriving finish to the school year!

With appreciation and excitement,

Nicole 🌺

P.S.

It is a Regular Schedule this week. Scroll all the way to the bottom for the PDF.🙃

Our seniors are wrapping up their project cycle in the i-studio, creating incredible products that will impact both current and future PBL students! Help support their work by donating materials or Home Depot gift cards. Every contribution fuels hands-on learning and innovation!

Got a business idea but need funding to make it happen? The Next Big Thing is your chance to pitch like Shark Tank, impress real investors, and compete for up to $2,000. Open to all Samohi students. Pitch in front of actual entrepreneurs (Experience leading multi-million dollar companies) Don't wait - spots are limited! Think you’ve got what it takes?

Sign up at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sWAZpupyJn5JPSxpMB-C8xrqhCbtj2RQ_8rLrRqoPQA/edit

For more info: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qlK-0CM8QOaVpywRp0kKnpQyIAAfBwsfd20Hy2jSug0/edit?tab=t.0

Sign up for a special Leaving to Learn experience at Snapchat’s headquarters, where you’ll get an inside look at one of the world’s most innovative tech companies! This visit will highlight the various career opportunities Snapchat offers—ranging from engineering and design to marketing, storytelling, and business strategy.

If you're curious about the tech industry and want to see how creativity meets cutting-edge technology, don’t miss this chance! Space is limited, so sign up now! 🔥

Did you know that the largest teen and young adult book festival in the US takes place right here at Samohi? On Saturday, May 3rd rock star authors, illustrators and literature creators will descend up on campus for a day of book and swag giveaways for thousands of guests. Want to get in on the literary action – we need volunteers, like you, to make this happen. Sign up here to learn more about volunteering for Yallwest https://www.yallwest.com/get-involved/#volunteers

Volunteer tutors offer free help reading documents, writing letters and resumes, completing forms, navigating government websites, using mobile devices, email and more. Santa Monica Main Library, Thursdays, 2-4 p.m.

FLYER LINK

• 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.
• Sacramento Region Community Foundation 2025 Scholarship Opportunities - deadlines vary; many are for Sacramento area only, but there are a few opportunities open to all

Teen Gallery Guides at the Getty Center is a paid summer internship opportunity for teens interested in art, working in community with teen peers, building public speaking skills, and engaging with art professionals and museum spaces in unique ways. Over the summer, interns will learn strategies for understanding and discussing artwork, audience engagement techniques, and teaching strategies to lead gallery experiences and activities for school-aged visiting groups. Transportation to and from the Getty Center is provided to each intern, as well as a stipend.

Questions? Please email us at gettyteens@getty.edu

https://www.getty.edu/education/teens/index.html

Monday, June 23 to Friday, July 25, 2025

We are pleased to offer in-person opportunities for students this summer. Summer School at Samohi will be held in the Innovation Building on the Samohi campus. We will offer breakfast and lunch daily to students. Summer at Samohi includes the following programs:

Accelerated Course details—deadline to apply is Apr 25, 2025

PBL Students may take Geometry or Art. History courses are an integral part of our PBL Pathway and are required to be taken as part of our program.

• Accelerated Geometry: Students who wish to accelerate in the math pathway of their choice. Students with grades of an A or B in Algebra will be considered for this course. Students who take Accelerated Geometry will still be enrolled in a math class for the following year.

• Accelerated Geometry Application

• Accelerated Art: students looking to develop their artistic skills and explore various techniques in drawing, painting, and design. Perfect for those passionate about visual arts, this course provides a strong foundation for future artistic endeavors

• Accelerated Art Application

If you are interested in taking a course through an outside program (NOT SAMO or Community College) please read the following information. All students MUST APPLY AND BE APPROVED BEFORE registering in a class.

Information on policies and schools that are accepted by Samohi can be found at: https://www.smmusd.org/Page/4233 Application to turn into Advisor and can be found on the website: CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT APPLICATION 2025. Deadline to apply for approval is May 25, 2025

😎 SMC Summer schedule is AVAILABLE! It can be found here: https://www.smc.edu/academics/classes/

All students must apply to be a SMC student before you can submit the SMC’s High School Concurrent Enrollment Form. Please follow the directions LINKED below on how to enroll at SMC as a student.

Students MUST turn in this SAMO Concurrent application to Nicole if wanting to take an SMC class: CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT APPLICATION 2025. This is in addition to the SMC application.

Please read thoroughly:

• All applications will be submitted virtually

• Your first step is to apply to SMC - apply online today

• Once that is complete, application materials must be submitted through the High School Concurrent Enrollment Application Form

• Once you complete the student portion of the form and attach the required documents, it will be forwarded to your parent to approve, and then to Nicole Nicodemus (your HS Counselor) smmusd email and mcruce@smmusd.org (HS principal) for approval.

• Students may take a variety of classes as long as you meet any SMC requirements and get approval from Samo. Please speak to Nicole if you have any questions. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL CORE SUBJECTS ARE TAKEN AT SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL. You must enter the correct course number when you fill out the High School Concurrent Enrollment form

More information was sent to you by your advisor please read over all the directions

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

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

ISPE affords students the opportunity to extend physical education learning activities beyond the school campus and regular school hours. ISPE allows the student advanced study in activities not normally available in the District’s physical education program. ISPE is available for eligible students in grades 9th-12th. Students who participate in ISPE are engaged in advanced levels of competition through demanding, regular, out-of school, elite physical activity. The program is designed for the student who is engaged in a preparation program for State, National, or Olympic-level athletic competition and is a highly ranked athlete in their program. ISPE is not for recreational programs; a major factor in determining acceptance or rejection of the ISPE request will be the difference between a recreational and a competitive program, if the student is a highly ranked competitor in their program, and if the sport/program is already offered at the school or not. The nature of the ISPE program must provide a training and weekly practice schedule minimum of 7.5 hours per 5 school days Monday-Friday.

Please carefully review the application for eligibility criteria and ISPE policies.

2025-26 School Year Application Window:

March 21, 2025 through May 2, 2025

25-26 9th -12th ISPE Application - English

25-26 9th -12th ISPE Application - Spanish

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

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.

Counseling groups for 2nd semester will be starting soon and are taking referrals!

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 for this semester will include:

• Finding flow (watercolor art therapy group),
• AFFIRM (support group for Queer students),
• Write your own story (art therapy journaling group),
• a Grief and loss support group.

Wellness Services Center Website

Mental Health Referral Form

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.

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.

Support a young author and purchase Malaika's book on Amazon today!

Categorized as a coming-of-age psychological thriller.