Due to state testing for 11th graders, our schedule will be adjusted for the next three weeks. This change impacts both PBL and Samohi classes, so it’s important for students and parents to review the schedule closely to stay on track.

On Monday, March 3, our 10th and 11th grade Biology students will take their learning beyond the classroom, visiting 8th graders at JAMS! As part of an interdisciplinary project merging Biology and Social Science, students have explored Genetics, Eugenics, and the concept of a healthy society while tackling the essential question: 🧬 Should society use technology or other interventions to create the healthiest population possible?

Our students will showcase their knowledge through professionally designed infographics and engaging discussions, fostering meaningful conversations with younger learners. We are excited to see their research and critical thinking in action!

On Wednesday, our 11th grade students will be leaving to learn once again—this time to the Autry Museum.

Students will dive into the art, history, and diverse cultures of the American West, gaining a deeper understanding of the people, stories, and movements that shaped this region. This hands-on experience will bring history to life and spark meaningful connections to their American Studies class.

Friday’s PBL Community Meeting, led by our incredible Student Leaders, was a high-energy celebration of Black History Month! Advisories went head-to-head in a game of Jeopardy, competing for the coveted PBL Trophy. It was a joy to see students collaborating, strategizing, and showcasing their knowledge. In the end, the juniors claimed victory! 🏆

We also took time to honor students who exemplify PBL’s core values:

💙 Compassion – Ava G.

💡 Independence – Numa

🔎 Problem Solving – Neelah

📚 Scholarship – Sage S.

A huge shoutout to everyone who participated and made this meeting such a success! Let’s keep the momentum going, PBL! 🚀

Students - don't forget to sign up for your academic planning meeting via google classroom. You will find the link in your Class of... (2026, 2027, 2028). Make sure to review the Samohi Course Catalogue so you are familiar with the many elective choices.

At the meeting, we will review your progress toward graduation and college admission requirements AND select your electives for the 2025-26 school year. Parents can join the meeting in person or via Zoom.

EVERY WEEK, students need to sign up for Academic Support time provided on Wednesdays. Take advantage of this opportunity to get extra help from a teacher, catch up on missing assignments, or get ahead on your work. The first grading period of the semester is approaching fast—use this time wisely!

Students - Sign up during Advisory on Monday! Failure to sign up will result in an absence. 😕

The PBL staff is diving into The Anxious Generation, and we invite parents to read along with us! We’d love to host an evening book discussion this May with Parents and Teachers. Stay tuned for more details about our Parent Book Study Group—we hope you’ll be part of the conversation!

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

Categorized as a coming-of-age psychological thriller.

New civic engagement opportunity! Apply now to the official Santa Monica Youth Advisory Council! The council is an amazing way to get involved in your city, facilitate real change, learn about government, and pump up your resume. Members will collaborate and discuss relevant topics in monthly meetings, working directly with the city council. Mentors like the mayor and other council members will be present in the meetings, even further enriching the experience. All students are encouraged to apply!

Complete the application!

Players of all ages/levels invited.Third St. Promenade, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

FLYER LINK

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.
• Foundation for Fraternal Excellence Men's College Scholarship - due 4/1/2025
• Asian Pacific Community Fund Scholarship Program - due Apr. 21, 2025
• Sacramento Region Community Foundation 2025 Scholarship Opportunities - deadlines vary; many are for Sacramento area only, but there are a few opportunities open to all

The Wilfandel Club is committed to promoting education for young people in the community. On behalf of the club, the Fannie Williams Scholarship Committee promotes higher education by providing scholarship awards for high school seniors. The scholarships are designed to financially assist deserving high school seniors who want to attend college. The number of scholarships granted each year, the amount of the scholarships and the recipients shall be determined by the scholarship committee. Scholarships are funded by donors and fundraisers. Deadline is April 1st!

Click here for the application.

Junior Scholars represents a key part of the Foundation’s mission to inspire and empower the next generation of innovators, problem solvers, and leaders and equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge to thrive in this rapidly evolving global landscape. This program fosters scientific education by incorporating hands-on experimentation in a collaborative environment. Formerly known as Junior Fellows, Junior Scholars is a unique, three-week summer fellowship for rising high school seniors interested in clinical or research oncology, designed to foster a lifelong passion for scientific education.

https://eirf.org/education/

The Volunteer Services Student Programs is divided into 3 separate programs:

• General Student Program (Year-Round) - Undergrad/Recent Graduate Students

• General Student Program (Summer Only) - High School Students

• Mattel Youth Ambassador (Virtual Only) - Mattel Youth Ambassadors

*The minimum age to volunteer in any program is 16 years old.

2025 High School Student Volunteer Information Session

Summer 2025 Volunteer Information Session will take place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025

All interested students must attend the mandatory Information Session to be able to apply to our program. A Zoom Meeting Invite will be sent out via email the day before the session.

Summer 2025 Sign Up Link: Opening on March 10, 2025

Click here for more information about volunteer opportunities!

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

• 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.

• Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement - coming soon!

• The Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement is a four-week summer intensive academy for 26 talented high school students from the communities surrounding the USC University Park and Health Science Campuses. Students are exposed to the equivalent of first-year college-level courses and develop a rich conceptual understanding and practice of the necessary role that media communications and journalism play in fashioning civic-minded thought leaders and innovators.

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

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

The California State Seal of Biliteracy is a special recognition for students who have achieved a high level of proficiency in two languages. If you meet the requirements, a State Seal of Biliteracy insignia, issued by the California Department of Education, will be affixed on your diploma.

COMPLETED APPLICATIONS must be SUBMITTED BY Monday, MARCH 3, 2025

Seal of Biliteracy Requirements for 24-25

Application for Seal of Biliteracy

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 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'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.

Do you have your tickets for Chicago yet? Don't miss the sizzling-hot Broadway sensation at Barnum Hall. Come support your talented friends! Only one more weekend. Details and $10 student tickets at SamohiTheatre.org. Score the best seats in Barnum while you can!!

Seniors, SMC is offering their annual Discover SMC event to prospective students. On this day, they will highlight insights into the first-year college student experience and SMC’s various majors and career paths. If you are planning on attending SMC after graduating from Samohi and want to participate in Discover SMC on Tues., Mar. 4, 9:45am—1:30pm, see your College/Career Counselor during lunch to pick up a Trip Slip; space is limited.