PBL Weekly Blast

Monday = Cozy Winters Day (PJs and fuzzy socks)

Tuesday = Winter Wonderland (white out – wear all white)

Wednesday = Ugly Sweater Day

Thursday = Puffers vs Flannels

Friday = Holiday Characters (dress as any holiday character)

We are excited to invite you to our Presentation of Learning (POL) to celebrate student progress and engage in meaningful conversations about learning. This year, the POL will feature a new format, emphasizing evidence of learning toward each student’s Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) goals.

The goal of the POL is to provide students with valuable feedback from peers and parents about their learning, time management, and strategies for moving forward.

Here’s how the event will unfold:

· Senior Thesis Pitch: our seniors will be kicking off each session of the Presentations of Learning with pitches for their Senior Thesis Projects. This is an opportunity for our senior students to present their ideas, outline their goals, and share the vision behind their culminating projects.

· Deep Dive Exhibit: Explore your student’s project work and a one-page learning summary. This session allows for review of their work in detail and an opportunity for participants to jot down observations and questions.

• Round Table Discussion: Participate in a collaborative discussion with clarifying questions, wonderings, and constructive feedback. The student will then reflect on the input, addressing questions and sharing ideas about next steps in their learning journey.

This experience is designed to foster student reflection, build confidence, and spark ideas for growth and improvement.

Details:

📅 Date: Thursday, Dec 19th

🕒 Time: Session A - 8:30 – 10:30am or Session B 11:25 – 1:14pm

Location: Samohi’s Business Building

PARENTS/GUARDIANS -

If you can attend, send a quick email to attendancePBL@smmusd.org. We want to make sure that your name is added to the Samohi visitor list. Validation will be provided if you park at the Civic Center lot.

Our 9th graders will present their learning on Tuesday, December 17 at the locations where they completed their service learning projects: Best Friends LA and West LA Animal Shelter.

This unique Presentation of Learning (POL) will allow students to share their growth, achievements, and reflections on their service learning experiences in a meaningful and authentic setting. Due to limited space and to minimize the impact on the shelters, only 9th-grade students will attend this event.

Parents, we’ve got you covered! We will document the exhibition with plenty of pictures and videos so you can experience and celebrate your child’s incredible work.

As is our PBL tradition, we will close the semester with a holiday celebration featuring our much-anticipated Annual Advisory Gingerbread House Challenge. Which advisory will walk away with the coveted Advisory Trophy as we close the semester? The competition is sure to be creative, spirited, and fun!

In addition, our amazing parents will be hosting a special community lunch. Parents, if you’ve already reached out to Claire (clairebidwellsmith@gmail.com) to support—thank you! We owe a huge thank you to Claire as she is organizing this lunch and... spoiler alert, an event for parents in January. Make sure to add your name to the Parent OPT in Directory so that your invite isn't lost in the mail.

ARE YOU STILL IN THE GIVING MOOD?

Consider bringing in a PIE. We love to have a bit of sweetness to our day and pie hits the spot. If you would like to bake (or purchase) a PIE for holiday celebration feel free to Sign up using the button below:

Nicole will be reviewing graduation requirements with each grade THIS WEEK. During these presentations, students will be able to sign up for their Individual Academic Planning Meeting (Jan - March). These meetings are to discuss academic progress, long term academic goals, and selection of courses for the 2025-26 school year. It is a student meeting, but parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

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  • UNCF Scholarship List - deadlines vary
  • Martin Marillyn Hewson Scholarship-AIAA is awarding one $10,000 scholarship to a female high school senior who is intending to pursue an engineering major at a college or university in the United States or one of its territories - close on 31 December
  • 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.

• Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) - due Jan. 10, 2025

• (YYGS) is an academic enrichment program for outstanding high school students from around the world. Each summer, students from over 150 countries (including all 50 U.S. states) participate in one interdisciplinary, two-week session at Yale’s historic campus. Immerse yourself in a global learning community at Yale University.

• 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.

EmpowerLA is excited to announce that applications for the 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference are now open! On Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 8:00 am-4:00 pm, EmpowerLA will host 100 young people between the ages of 14-17 from across Los Angeles at Los Angeles City Hall to participate in a one-day event focused on civic engagement, leadership development, and local government. Conference attendees will dive into the role the Neighborhood Council system plays in grassroots local democracy, attend learning sessions on ways to be civically engaged in the community, network with like-minded young leaders, engage with City leaders, and so much more! Applications close Friday, December 20th at 11:59 p.m

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.

Cancer Support Community LA will be launching our next 8 Week Series of Creating Connections for Kids and Teens groups beginning January 21, 2025! If you know a child who has a cancer diagnosis or a loved one with cancer (including siblings), we would love to have them join us for 8 weeks of fun activities and community! There will be an ongoing Parents Support Group that takes place on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month.

Click here for more information

Click here for parent support group information

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.

A senior is conducting research on a project about pet rescue. Please take a moment of your time to fill out the survey. Go to the Blue Bulletin on our school website and click on the link below to go to the survey. https://forms.gle/kj4iJPi3QhWFmaJe6

Additionally, submit to the SunLit, Samohi’s literary and arts magazine. This year, the SunLit’s theme is “Cycles”. Patterns can be found in every part of reality — nature, time, and the cycle of life itself. From the way that waves ebb and flow to the human behaviors of the people around you, cycles permeate the fabric of our lives. Submissions to write or create art that gives meaning to these cycles are open now with an early deadline due December 13 for special recognition and the opportunity to perform your poem in our December 14 open mic, as well as a regular deadline of January 28. Please visit https://samoliterarymagazi.wixsite.com/sunlit/submissions for submission instructions and guidelines.

A student is working on a project about street art. Please take a moment and take the brief survey out this topic! https://forms.gle/CxwFkxhw9o1WY8fp7

Are you looking for a way to help out your community and spread holiday joy? From December 11th to December 17th, there will be donation boxes in E209 for new, unused toys. These toys will give less fortunate kids an opportunity to celebrate the holidays with a gift! Thank you for helping out this holiday season, Vikings!