August 2024

Dear SMASH Families,

During the Aeries parent portal data confirmation (online registration) process, you will have the opportunity to contribute to both our Santa Monica Education Foundation and our PTSA. So many transformative educational opportunities are made possible for our students because of your financial support. Please consider making a donation of any amount to BOTH the Ed Foundation and PTA. (For those who have asked me: the suggested donation to Ed Foundation is $750 per student. Suggested donation to SMASH PTSA is $325 per student.)  Thank you!

Has everyone been enjoying watching the wide range of impressive Olympic athletes? Coached by our very own SMASH mom Andrea and SMASH dad Victor (Kilian and Sira’s parents), the U.S. artistic swim team (formerly known as synchronized swimming) earned the silver metal on Wednesday. Congratulations to them for their ongoing training, hard work and now worldwide recognition and celebration! Check out the 3-minute performance on the links below to Instagram or YouTube (within the Guardian article).

• https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-VQHVgIM9_/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA%3D%3D
• https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/07/usa-artistic-swimming-moonwalk-to-silver-medal-at-paris-olympics

The acrobatics, athleticism, power, endurance, and energy– let’s draw inspiration for our 2024-2025 school year as we channel our parent and educator versions of those same traits.  

Safety First!
Please note: SMPD will be around our neighborhood ticketing those who don’t follow traffic laws and parking signs.

DROP OFF/PICK UP LOCATIONS
FOR SAFETY REASONS,
ANYONE COMING IN A CAR NEEDS TO
DRIVE WESTBOUND ON OCEAN PARK BLVD
TURN RIGHT/NORTH ON 7TH STREET
TURN RIGHT/EAST ON PINE STREET

DO NOT have your child cross traffic or walk across the parking lot driveway 

• If you are walking/biking, enter or exit from the gate next to the grassy field on Pine Street 1/2 block West of Lincoln. 

• If you are arriving via car,  enter or exit from the gate next to the Obama Center parking lot on Pine Street just next to Lincoln Blvd. In order to avoid students walking where cars are pulling in and out of the staff parking lot, follow the loop in the North end of the parking lot for drop/pick up.  There will be a staff member in a neon vest there to direct you.

Reminder: Every Friday all SMASH K-8 students get out at 1:30 p.m.

Drop off 8:15-8:30 a.m. M-F
Pick up 1:30-1:45 p.m. for Ks M-F and 1st-8th F
Pick up 3:00-3:15 p.m. for 1st-8th M-TH

Because the AERIES parent portal is new to some families,  here is  an 11-minute tutorial that I hope will help you.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1echL0WVtk9sTUzpNbWfzW9BhZ9TlEu4U/view?usp=sharing

We welcome new staff to SMASH! 

Paul Brown, 6th-8th Structured Therapeutic Education Program (STEP) Teacher
Paul has taught in special education classrooms for 7 years.  In addition to his masters in education, he has an undergraduate degree in legal and medical interpreting.  He speaks fluent Spanish. Be sure to ask him about teaching English to guides along the Machu Picchu Trail or his instrumental music background. 

Jay Baldwin, Elementary Library Coordinator (ELC)
Jay worked for 3 years as a Santa Monica Public Library Assistant  with a focus in the Youth Services Department. Jay will be at SMASH from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, which works well with their Masters in Library Science program. Jay also has 5 years of experience in youth development and education. Jay’s Mindfulness Certification will be welcomed at SMASH.  

Montse Vasquez, Para 3 in 8th grade
Montse has been a special education assistant (Paraeducator) at Malibu Middle School for two years.  With her consistency, skills and good energy, she helped students gain independence and is ready to support new students. She lives close to Santa Monica and is happy to join the SMASH team.

Joseph Pullard, PE Teacher
We are excited to have Joseph and Angel as a dynamic duo PE team at SMASH this year!  All SMMUSD elementary schools will now have a credentialed PE Teacher and Physical Activities Specialist/PAS that travel between two sites. Joseph and Angel will be at SMASH Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday mornings (and at Franklin Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday afternoons). Joseph taught PE at McKinley Elementary last year and coaches multiple team sports after school. He knows how to build athletic and social-emotional skills!

Caitlin Smith, Middle School Orchestra Assistant to John Kibler
Caitlin is a SMASH alum and talented musician. She helped create the strong music program we have today. She has been working with the other SMMUSD middle school orchestras, and we are thrilled to have her support our middle school orchestra. Caitlin and John will be a wonderful teaching team for our string players.

Andrea Chavez Trejo Social and Emotional Wellness Initiative (SEWI)
Mental Health Counseling  Intern 

Thanks to SMMUSD Mental Health Services Coordinator Shuli Lotan, SMASH will once again have individual and small group counseling sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Group focus might be:  Friendship, Changing Bodies, Family Changes, or more. We are grateful to Andrea for joining us this year to share her therapeutic skills with our students.   

Pepperdine Student Teachers Alexandra Weiss in Core 1 and Laura Whiteland in Core 2
When we meet them in September, we will let you know some highlights about them. 

Enthusiastically yours,

Jessica