PTSA
Spirit Wear is Here! Show your Shark spirit and grab your gear today. Visit the PTSA website to check out all the latest spirit wear. Last date to order is October 15th. Don't miss out and represent with pride!
Ask A Scientist Night
The Irvine Unified School District, in partnership with the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, is hosting Ask-A-Scientist/Engineer Night! This free annual event will assist students in grades 6 through 12 who are working on science fair projects.
Event Details:
Date & Time: October 14, 5:30-7 p.m.
Location: IUSD Learning Center (3387 Barranca Parkway, Irvine 92606)
Students will have an opportunity to speak with scientists and engineers from local businesses, various industry sectors, UCI and more. In addition, IUSD science teachers will be on hand to help answer questions. Please note that all students must be supervised by an adult for the entire duration of the evening.
For questions, contact IUSD’s STEM Department at 949-936-5057.
College and Career Fair
Join the IUSD College and Career Fair on October 28! IUSD's College, Career and Life Readiness Fair is on October 28 from 5-7 p.m. at Irvine High School (4321 Walnut Avenue, Irvine). All students, families and community members are invited to this free event. The event will feature:
- Interactive workshops
- College and university representatives
- Military Information
- Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway information
- Learning opportunities from community partners
- National Collegiate Athletics Association information
- A chance to engage in your future and life readiness!
We hope to see you there!
IPSF
SAVE THE DATE: TURN IRVINE ORANGE OCT 16
Wear orange Thursday, October 16 on IPSF Giving Day to show you value educational excellence in Irvine! Whether you are at school, work, or out in the community, rock your ORANGE to raise awareness about the importance of community support of public education! https://ipsf.net/event/ipsf-giving-day/
TOGETHER, WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
As a new school year begins, we celebrate the incredible impact made possible by our community’s support of Irvine students and schools. Thanks to you, last year IPSF:
- Invested $6.3 million in grants and program support to Irvine students and schools
- Provided enrichment for over 14,500 students through IPSF summer and after school programs
- Advanced long-term impact through multi-year innovation grants at 11 schools
Thank you for helping ensure every child has the tools to thrive. Lean more in our 2024–2025 Annual Report! https://ipsf.net/together-we-make-a-difference/
SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE GALA
Celebrate with fellow community leaders at IPSF’s signature event, the Spirit of Excellence Gala on Saturday, November 22. Enjoy an evening of red-carpet moments and inspiring performances while supporting opportunities that help students shine. Seating is limited—reserve your place today and be part of shaping the future of educational excellence! https://ipsf.net/news-and-events/spirit-of-excellence-gala/
eBike Safety Presentation
All the eBike Safety presentations hosted by the high schools are completed. Moving forward, if you need to complete this in order to obtain a registration sticker to park on campus, please contact our Campus Supervisor, Mr. Vasquez at orlandovasquez@iusd.org. Safety presentations will most likely be held on Thursday mornings before school.
Chromebook Insurance
As we all know, accidents can happen with the IUSD Chromebook that is assigned and loaned to each student. Depending on the damage, this can be costly to a household. Please take a moment and get your Chromebook insurance. The 2025-2026 updated information and link is provided to you for your convenience: https://support.iusd.org/hc/en-us/articles/360033840394-IUSD-Chromebook-Insurance-Program.
Middle School Program
If you are looking for fun and active activities for your child to engage in after school, look no further. South Lake partners with the City of Irvine Youth Outreach, and they have some great activities coming up…Register now!
Youth Action Team (YAT) – The Middle School Youth Action Team is an after-school community service-based program that encourages students to be actively involved in their community. YAT is a great way for students to learn new skills, experience new challenges, make new friends, and discover they have what it takes to make a difference in their community.
YAT T-shirt included in the course.
All students attend weekly meetings on Mondays after school, but teams of 13 rotate weekly to offsite excursions on Wednesdays. Wednesday projects will start after school at 3:02 pm, and end times will vary depending on project locations. Weekly YAT emails will be sent out by staff.
Who: South Lake Middle School Students
When: Monday and Wednesday after school during the Fall
Price: $39
Course#: 124318
Visit www.yourirvine.org and search “Youth Outreach” in the filter box to see all locations and options.
Please contact Youth Outreach Senior Leader Jackson Clements with any questions.
Call/Text: (949) 664-2098
Email: JClements@cityofirvine.org
Attendance Matters
As we move through the school year, I want to emphasize the crucial role that regular attendance plays in your student’s success. Every day of learning matters, and consistent school attendance is one of the most important factors in achieving strong academic outcomes and fostering a sense of belonging at school. Here’s why:
- Improved Academic Performance: Students who attend school regularly are more likely to keep up with daily lessons and assignments, leading to better grades and a deeper understanding of the material.
- Building Positive Habits: Consistent attendance helps students develop responsibility, time management, and perseverance—skills they will carry with them long after middle school.
- Social Connections: Being in school allows students to participate fully in group work, social activities, and extracurriculars that are vital for their emotional and social growth.
- Strong Foundations for Future Success: Studies show that students with high attendance rates are more likely to graduate and pursue higher education or career opportunities with confidence.
We understand that occasional absences are unavoidable due to illness or emergencies. However, I encourage you to do your best to schedule appointments, vacations, and other non-urgent activities outside of the school day to minimize disruptions to your child's learning.
Youth Ride Free
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is excited to announce the continuation of their “Youth Ride Free” promotional bus pass program. This pass allows youth ages 6 to 18 to ride all OC fixed-route buses every day for free. Last year’s blue Youth Ride Free Passes expire September 30, 2025; the new Wave Youth Ride Free Passes are valid now through September 30, 2026, and require a new Parent Request Form for each recipient. To participate in the program, complete a new Parent Request Form, available using the below links, printed forms are also available in the front office. Return the completed and signed Parent Request Form to the front office to receive the new Wave youth bus pass for the 2025-26 school year.
Parent Request Form:
English – OCTA.net/YouthRequest
Spanish – OCTA.net/YouthRequest_SPN
Korean – OCTA.net/YouthRequest_KOR
Vietnamese – OCTA.net/YouthRequest_VIET
Mandarin – OCTA.net/YouthRequest_MAN
 For more information regarding the program visit: OCTA Youth Ride Free Pass Program
Language and Accessibility Resources for Families
As part of IUSD’s and our school’s ongoing commitment to making important information, resources and services accessible to our diverse community, we want to remind families that they can adjust language and accessibility preferences on the platforms used for school communications. Whether through ParentSquare, the Parent Portal or the IUSD website, it is easy to set your preferred language, ensuring you receive updates, notifications and resources in the language that works best for you.
CLICK HERE for resources, in multiple languages, to show how you can select your preferred language and accessibility features on ParentSquare. With ParentSquare, you can set your language preference to receive notifications, messages and updates directly in the language of your choice.
Bell Schedule
The 2025-2026 Bell Schedule includes all the minimum days and special schedules for the year. Please make sure to review the start and end times for these schedules.
Stay Connected
Stay connected by checking your email for communication from South Lake and IUSD. South Lake is also on Instagram @southlakemiddleschool and our website is at www.southlake.iusd.org.
Stay up to date about what is happening at school and in class by reviewing your student’s Planner, becoming a Canvas Observer, checking Parent Portal and visiting our website.
Canvas https://iusd.instructure.com/login
Parent Portal https://my.iusd.org/
Website https://southlake.iusd.org/ |
