Good Afternoon South Lake Families,
Middle school can be a time of tremendous growth and learning for students—both academically and socially. It’s normal for students to encounter new challenges, misunderstandings, or social conflicts, and we want you to know that we’re here to support them every step of the way. As we are finishing up the first Trimester of the year, we want to share some tips with you that we have shared with you students thus far.
We are encouraging our students to speak up when they face challenges, whether it’s about social conflicts, misunderstandings in class, or needing additional help with coursework, is an important step in building their confidence and resilience. Here are some tips to help guide these conversations with your child at home:
- Normalize Asking for Help: Remind them that all students need help from time to time and that their teachers, counselors, and other staff at South Lake are here to support them. Asking for help shows strength and determination to succeed. We are here to support…we want students to let us know what they need.
- Address Concerning Language and Behavior: If they hear language or behavior that makes them uncomfortable, encourage them to share this with a trusted adult. By speaking up, they contribute to a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. Sometimes students aren’t sure of what will happen if they report…please know it always makes a positive difference!
- Create a Safe Space for Conversations: Let your child know that it’s okay to come to you or other trusted adults with anything on their mind, whether it’s a social situation or a classroom challenge. It is best NOT to match their reaction and to size the problem.
Here are two strategies we use to size the problem:
- Break Down the Problem into Smaller Parts: Start by dividing the problem into manageable segments or categories, like time, impact, and resources required. By breaking it down, it becomes easier to analyze each part independently, which can reveal the scope of the problem and its main challenges. For example, if your child reports that their teacher isn’t giving them enough time to complete their assignments start by asking questions to better understand the assignment, asking how they use their time in class, offer to help chunk the assignment, clarifying how to seek help during class time or understanding what resources are available to aid in the assignment…model a growth mindset!
- Use a Scale to Measure the Impact: Assign a scale (e.g., 1 to 5 or low, medium, high) to gauge the problem’s impact and urgency. Factors like the number of people affected, recognizing what is in their control and what is not, and the potential consequences of not addressing it can help you better understand its scope. For instance, if there’s a social conflict among friends, you could evaluate its impact by who this involves, helping your child reflect on their role in the conflict, separating anger from hurt feelings, and gauging any disruption to their learning.
At South Lake, we’re committed to providing a strong support network for all our students. Our counselors, teachers, and staff are ready to listen, guide, and assist students as they navigate these important years. Please encourage your child to reach out, knowing they have a community that cares deeply about their growth, learning, and well-being.
We have several Parent Engagement opportunities coming up next week. First, we would love to hear from you and bring parents together to have a robust discussion about The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt at our first Book Club happening on Wednesday, November 13th from 8:15am to 9:00am in the Media Center. To assist with the discussion…please see the guiding questions below. We will host Book Club again during second and third trimester. We have copies of the book in the front office so please stop by to pick one up.
Hazel Health is hosting an engaging session on how social media impacts children and teens’ mental health, also on Wednesday, November 13th from 5-6pm via Zoom. See flyer below for more details.
Click on this link https://hazel-co.zoom.us/meeting/register/Km9ECxunSYyWGML8KxFuxA#/registration to Register Via Zoom.
Lastly, South Lake parent Sandra Albers is hosting a casual meet-up for South Lake parents on Nov. 18th at 8:15am (right after the bell). Please check in at the front office. Everyone is welcome!
Next week we honor Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11th, a time to recognize and thank the brave men and women who have served our country with courage, dedication, and sacrifice. Their commitment to protecting our freedoms reminds us of the importance of service, gratitude, and unity in our community.
Have a great weekend…it’s a great day to be a Shark!
In kindness,
Belinda Averill
Principal
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PTSA
Save the Date for our next Dine Out Night on November 19th at Mooyah and Handel’s Ice Cream at Alton Square.
Woodbridge High School Fall Play
Noses Off is a play within a play about a murder mystery gone wrong…check it out starting November 13th.
 Signing out Procedures
Just a reminder that when you are picking up your student early from school, please bring your photo ID into the office to verify your identification for safety purposes. This identification may be your driver’s license, passport or a California ID card. It is critical to check your student out through the front office…thank you for helping us keep your student safe.
IPSF 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/ |
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