News from Principal Bourke/Noticias
March 10, 2023/10 de marzo de 2023
UPDATE: PLEASE SEE NEW INFORMATION BELOW
"Spring Break-Out" - Send out pledge requests!
We've almost reached our $50,000 goal and our color break-out party! If your child wants to be a part of the fun, they MUST register as a participant on PledgeStar so we know their tee shirt size for the color party. Make their size selection on PledgeStar.
To qualify for their t-shirt and extra color packets for the color break-out party, make sure your child has entered at least 10 emails or phone numbers of family members - grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, your business partners, etc.
Is your student in the homebase of Burns, Hartson, Hoffman and McCoy?! These kids have earned their teacher a coffee gift card and themselves an otter pop party this week. We are wrapping up our Spring Break-Out fundraiser and hope everyone has had an opportunity to log in to PledgeStar to see all the ways your students are earning prizes, giveaways and a really fun day on campus. These things mentioned, plus school clubs, field trips, school enhancements and 8th grade celebrations can't happen without your support and we thank you for being a part of our community!"
ATTENTION 8TH GRADE FAMILIES
The PTSA is working hard to plan celebration events for the end of the year for our graduates. 50% of all money that 8th graders raise for Spring Break-Out will go directly to our 8th Grade Promotion Fund for culmination activities! Currently, only $6,000 of the almost $50,000 raised by the school came from 8th grade students. Parents - we need your help! Please make sure your child has entered at least 10 emails or phone numbers of family members - grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, your business partners, etc. on PledgeStar.
Thank you to robbie sikora, our friend, LMS dad and sponsor, for his generous donation to Spring Break-Out and the LMS PTSA!
Wednesday Hot Chocolate! Start the day with warm hot chocolate! Hot chocolate will be for sale every Wednesday before school @8:45am! Hot chocolate + a treat will be available for $2 in front of the cafeteria and donuts at the Washington Gate. Please have your kiddos bring exact change! Click here to Volunteer.
If you need translation/Si necesita traducción
If you need translation services for News from Principal Bourke, please see the video on how to use this translation function that Smore offers. If you have any questions you can contact Nallely Gutierrez at n.gutierrez@smmusd.org or by calling 310-393-9227 ext. 73-105.
Si necesita traducción de las noticias del Director, usted podrá ver el video de como usar esta función de traducción que tiene la plataforma de smore. Si tiene alguna pregunta se puede comunicar con Nallely Gutierrez a n.gutierrez@smmusd.org o llamando al 310-393-9227 ext. 73-105.
Important Updates
Superintendent Search – Spring 2023
The SMMUSD Board of Education is in the process of conducting an Executive Search for the District’s next Superintendent. Leadership Associates, an executive search firm, was selected to advise the school board in this important process. Updates will be provided on this webpage throughout this process: https://www.smmusd.org/SuperintendentSearch
Community Input Survey
The SMMUSD school board is asking for your help in selecting our next superintendent. To ensure this is a collaborative and inclusive process, the board is providing an anonymous online survey and encourages your participation. This is an opportunity to receive input from students, staff, parents, and community. Please follow the link below to provide your input.
This survey will be open from: March 6, 2023 to March 16, 2023, at 4 p.m.
Errors in COVID Test Billing
Please check to ensure that your insurance provider is not being billed for COVID testing that is no longer happening. It has come to my attention that some insurance companies are being billed for on-site COVID testing that has not occured since last school year.
8th Grade Promotion Ceremony Requirement
The 8th Grade Team is proud to report that over 100 students have finished their Promotion Ceremony Requirement EARLY! These students have contributed at least 5 hours of service, totally over 700 hours so far!
During the Nutrition celebration on Wednesday, March 8, many reported that they plan to continue serving these non-profit and/or human service through the year. Those who reach a 25/50/100 hour milestone will earn special recognition in their 8th Grade Promotion. Note: Students have until April 18 to complete this Promotion Ceremony requirement. Please encourage your 8th graders to consult our 8th Grade LMS Community Service Hub website, freely accessible from the Lincoln Homepage under Students or hyperlinked here:
https://sites.google.com/smmk12.org/lms-community-service-hub/home
Get Excited…Spring Picture Days are coming to Lincoln Middle School on MONDAY and TUESDAY!
Spring Picture Day is coming!! Lincoln Middle School is thrilled to announce that Beja B Photography is coming to photograph our students next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.These individual portraits will provide families with a glimpse into students during their PE time. It is not necessary to dress up for these photographs. We want to showcase students during thier PE experience.
This isn't your ordinary school photo experience: bring your shades and your personality 😎
Mark your calendar, set reminders, and GET READY for the photographers on March 13th, 14th and 16th during your PE class.
EQUITY AND SAFETY: More City Funding Needed For Youth Service
Last month, the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs voted to advocate for increased funding for youth services in Santa Monica’s budget, and will call upon our City Council to fully fund before-and-after-school programs, to meet the needs of Santa Monica families. With this vote, SMMPTA, which includes elected leadership from all our Santa Monica schools, took a critical step to support parents who depend on City programs for safe, free and affordable, quality enrichment and child care before and after school. On behalf of children and families across the city, we are raising awareness of the need for expanded access to before-and-after-school programs.
Meeting to be held Saturday, March 11th at the Main Library at 9am (601 Santa Monica Blvd) Please come to advocate for our youth Programs. Please visit the website for additional information and to sign the petition that is being sent to the City of Santa Monica. https://smmpta.org/youthbudget Thank you!
Changes in Pricing for Snacks
Recently, there have been some pricing changes concerning the snack items below, available for sale during nutrition and lunch.
- Cookies $1
- Water 16oz $1.25
- Sun Chips $1.50
- Kettle popcorn $1.50
Updates from the PTSA
"Spring Break-Out" - Send out pledge requests! We've almost reached our $50,000 goal and our color break-out party! If your child wants to be a part of the fun, they MUST register as a participant on PledgeStar so we know their tee shirt size for the color party. Make their size selection on PledgeStar. To qualify for their t-shirt and extra color packets for the color break-out party, make sure your child has entered at least 10 emails or phone numbers of family members - grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, your business partners, etc. 8th grade families, we really need your students to send out pledges - half of all donations they bring in will go directly to 8th Grade Promotion fund and culmination activities.
Wednesday Hot Chocolate! Start the day with warm hot chocolate! Hot chocolate will be for sale every Wednesday before school @8:45am! Hot chocolate + a treat will be available for $2 in front of the cafeteria and donuts at the Washington Gate. Please have your kiddos bring exact change! Click here to Volunteer.
Next week's Restaurant Giveback partner is Frozen Fruit. Check out the February Calendar for the full list of partners! Portions of all sales come directly back to Lincoln PTSA for our students. Please be sure to mention "Lincoln Middle School" when placing your orders.
8th Promotion! We are busy planning 8th Grade Promotion activities! Exciting Promotion activities include the 8th Grade Dance, Beach Day, and Yearbook Signing Day. We're also hoping to add a trip to Six Flags which requires volunteers and donations! For more information, to volunteer, and to make a donation, please Click Here.
Volunteer Here!
Reminders from Past Newsletters
Community Conversations about DEI
SMMUSD Launches New Athletic Program for Santa Monica Middle School Students
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District announced a new afterschool interscholastic competitive sports program for Santa Monica middle school students attending John Adams Middle School, Lincoln Middle School and SMASH. The program will be free to all student-athletes.
The program starts this spring with free clinics for current Santa Monica sixth, seventh and eighth grade students in basketball and soccer for skill development. Registration starts March 1, 2023 at 6 p.m. Registration and more information is available online: English / Spanish and on the District’s webpage: www.smmusd.org/athletics. Registration for spring clinics closes on March 11,2023 at 9 p.m.
If registration exceeds space, additional spring clinics will be considered. SMMUSD seeks to provide a space in a clinic for every student who wants to participate, but space is limited. Clinic selection and grouping is random to accommodate the sport and the student athlete's experience.
Fall 2023 sports
Fall sports will be flag football, soccer and girls volleyball. Student athletes will try out for a spot to represent their school. SMASH students will be placed with the JAMS or LMS team. More information will be coming soon.
As the program builds, the District will host tournaments, expand sports offerings and schedule additional ways to participate in clinics and games.
SMMUSD currently has a partnership with the Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club for recreational sports programs for middle school students, along with afterschool opportunities for elementary school students. These non-competitive programs will continue to serve students interested in recreational sports programs.
Parent interest meeting
Interested parents gathered to learn about the program at Samohi in early February, expressing enthusiasm for the planned articulated program starting now in middle school, and planned to expand to elementary in the coming years.
The meeting included a presentation from the Santa Monica Education Foundation (SMEF) on their soon to be launched athletics fundraising campaign, including their plans to establish an athletics endowment to secure ongoing funding to support athletic programs for TK-12 and a presentation about the District’s plan for a free afterschool interscholastic competitive sports program for Lincoln, John Adams and SMASH middle schoolers.
A frequently asked questions document has been created as a follow up to parent questions submitted during the meeting: https://bit.ly/SMathleticsFAQ0223
More information on the athletic program, contact Jason Hurd, Athletic Coordinator for Santa Monica Schools, jhurd@smmusd.org. More information on the SMEF athletics campaign, contact Linda Greenberg, Director of Special Projects, SMEF, linda@smedfoundation.org.