Newsletter 12/12/2025

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Good Afternoon South Lake Families,

If your family plans to give e-vehicles (e-bikes, e-skateboards or e-scooters) this holiday season, or if your student already has one, please review these important safety reminders from the Irvine Police Department.
 
The Irvine Unified School District (IUSD), the Irvine Police Department (IPD) and the City of Irvine continue to receive reports of students riding e-bikes recklessly, including riding in lanes of traffic, running into pedestrians on sidewalks, swarming pedestrians and runners and other risky actions that have resulted in serious injuries.
 
As our educational partners, we encourage our parents and families to have conversations with their child about riding responsibly and with caution, to help keep themselves and all people in our City safe.
 
Important Regulations
Age and Licensing Requirements
 

  • E-scooters: Riders must be 16 years or older and have a valid driver’s license or permit.
  • E-bike classifications: There are three different e-bike classifications. California law restricts Type 3 e-bikes (up to 28 mph) to riders 16 and older.

Do not allow e-Bike Modifications
 

  • Students may be tempted to modify their e-bikes to increase the speed by purchasing a kit online or having a friend modify the bike for them. This can be extremely dangerous.
  • Many e-bikes are not equipped to handle higher speeds, and the braking systems may not be sufficient.

Safety Tips for All E-Vehicles
Follow the Rules of the Road
 

  • Obey traffic laws: stop at signals, yield to pedestrians, and ride with the flow of traffic.

Always Wear a Helmet
 

  • Required for riders under 18 and all Type 3 e-bike users. Helmets greatly reduce the risk of serious injury.

Stay Visible
 

  • Use a front white light and rear red reflector, wear reflective clothing, and avoid poorly lit areas at night.

Avoid Distractions
 

  • Do not use mobile devices or wear headphones while riding. Stay alert to your surroundings.

Ride Courteously
 

  • Yield to pedestrians, use a bell or audible signal when passing, and slowdown in crowded areas.

Maintain Safe Speeds
 

  • Practice at lower speeds, understand your braking distance, and ride within your comfort and equipment limits.

Did You Know?
 

  • E-vehicles must be ridden safely on shared paths.
  • Riders must always yield to pedestrians.
  • Proper equipment, responsible behavior and rule-following significantly reduce accidents.

By following these guidelines, students can enjoy their e-vehicles safely and responsibly. Thank you for helping protect our community!

Next Friday is our last Shark Shoppe of 2025 and we need your help!!! Our students have been motivated and earning their Shark cards and are ready to spend but we are lacking the goods. This is where you can help! Check out our Amazon wish list of items our students have been loving! Please note, you do not need to use this link to purchase but use as a guide for things you may be willing to contribute 🙂 Any and all help is appreciated! 
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/14WM9RQXRQG5G?ref_=wl_share
Please drop off any contributions to the office by Wednesday, 12/17...Let's end this year with some fun!! 

Chipotle is hosting our next Shark Night Out...head to Chipotle on December 17th when 25% of all sales will be donated to South Lake PTSA! See you there! 
Lastly, please see the flyers below for upcoming Middle School Program (MSP) and Youth Action Team (YAT) events and programs. All programs can be found and registered for at www.YourIrvine.org.





Have a wonderful weekend…it’s a great day to be a Shark! 
In kindness,
Belinda Averill
 

Principal

Week of December 15th - 19th
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday

Anchor Day

8:15am - 3:02pm

Bonus Period PE

 

Anchor Day

8:15am - 3:02pm

Bonus Period PE

Odd Periods

Late Start

9:00am - 3:02pm

Shark Night Out @Chipotle

Even Periods

Late Start

9:00am - 3:02pm

Bonus Period PE

 

Anchor Day

Minimum Day

8:15am - 12:30pm

Bonus Period PE

Information & Resources

Yearbook Baby Pictures Needed
Attention 8th grade Parent/Guardians! Ms. Byars is collecting baby photos for the Yearbook. If you would like to submit for your student, please do so by December 19th. 
 
Warrior Run
Woodbridge High School Athletic Boosters are hosting their first 5k Run on January 31st to support all athletic teams. To register, please go to https://www.woodbridgewarriors.org/warrior-run/.  

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.

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. 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/

Upcoming Events
December 17th - Shark Night Out at Chipotle
December 19th – Minimum Day
December 22nd – January 2nd – Winter Recess
January 5th - School Resumes