PTSA - COLOR RUN!!
We have officially launched our 2025 South Lake Color Run Fundraiser!! It is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we want to crush our fundraising goal this year and make it one to remember forever! Please visit our South Lake Color Run Fundraiser site. You can also view all flyers and information related to Color Run HERE. We are so excited for this event and all the fun that comes with it! All money raised goes back to our students to be used for this school year! The day of Color Run is February 11th and all parents and families are welcome to cheer on our students! We can’t wait to celebrate this fantastic day with everyone!
Students can ask family, friends, and neighbors to make flat donation. To get started please follow the directions below:
1. Go to https://pledgestar.com/southlake/
2. Enter your name and email address, then click Register
3. Follow the instructions on-screen
 PTSA - PTSA Meeting: Wednesday, January 29th @ 9:15am
Please join us for our first PTSA meeting of the new year! Listen to Principal Averill give updates about what’s going on at school and listen to Counselor Siapin talk about important topics she discusses with our students. Hear what your PTSA is up to, volunteer opportunities, and what exciting event is around the corner! There will be sweet treats and coffee! We hope to see you there!
Shark Night Out - February 5th: 4pm-8pm @ Chipotle
Mark your calendars Shark Families! Our next Shark Night Out will be February 5th at Chipotle Mexican Grill (3966 Barranca Pkwy) from 4pm-8pm.
PTSA - Contact Info
If you have any questions regarding your South Lake PTSA or would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to contact our PTSA President, Jill Pearson at JillKPearson@gmail.com. You can also visit our PTSA Website at South Lake PTSA. Please follow us on social media @southlakeptsa for all the up-to-date information of what’s going on at South Lake!
IUSD Annual Survey
The Annual Survey is open now through Monday, February 10th. This is an opportunity for you to tell our school and the District what is important to you, what we’re doing well and areas we need to improve so that we can meet the needs of our community. This interactive process helps our school and IUSD identify annual goals, act on those goals, and measure progress on academic achievement, school climate, and parent engagement as part of the 10-month LCAP process. It allows us to align our budget and educational goals while being accountable to our community.
The Annual Survey is available in multiple languages. Responses are anonymous, and it only takes a few minutes to complete the survey.
Responses to the survey have helped to refine our instructional practices and expand our social and emotional learning objectives. Examples of this include:
- Refining our Homework plan which has significantly reduced the amount of time outside of school students spend on schoolwork.
- Refined our grading and assessment practices where teachers accept all late work within the unit of study without penalty and students are provided multiple opportunities to show their learning through test corrections and retakes.
- In response to feedback and respect we have focused on teaching and reinforcing use of inclusive language, using intentional collaborative strategies, and responding to bias acts. We prioritize building positive relationships with students and teaching effective coping strategies.
Our recent National Blue-Ribbon School and California Distinguished School Awards are largely the work we have done as a staff using data from the annual survey so please know your voice truly matters and is heard. Our school, the IUSD Board of Education, the Superintendent's leadership team, and District staff review each and every response. By taking a few minutes to participate, you can help us shape the educational experiences of current and future generations of IUSD students.
CLICK HERE to take the Parent Annual Survey.
Intradistrict School Choice
All 8th grade families should have received an email about the Intradistrict School Choice request process – this is to request to transfer to a high school that you are not zoned for. The initial lottery window to apply for an Intradistrict School Choice transfer runs from January 6, 2025 through January 24, 2025. Based on requests submitted by the deadline, a random and unbiased lottery is conducted, which does not account for extenuating circumstances or specific reasons. Requests are randomized and are not based on a first come first served basis. Your request will either be approved or your student will be placed on a waitlist, and you will be notified of the decision via email by mid-February, 2025. For more information please visit https://iusd.org/about/iusd-enrollment/intradistrict-school-choice.
Yearbook
Just a reminder to preserve all of your student’s memories at South Lake by purchasing a yearbook. The cost right now is $30 per yearbook, but on March 1, 2025 the price will increase to $40. Purchase now on-line at MySchoolBucks and save memories and money at the same time! Go to: http://www.myschoolbucks.com/. Please see MySchoolBucks Purchase Instructions for how to set up an account for purchasing.
E-Bike Safety Presentation
Mr. Vasquez, our Campus Supervisor, coordinates our E-Bike registration. If you would like to schedule a time to participate in the Safety Presentation in order to register your student’s E-Bike, please contact him at orlandovasquez@iusd.org.
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.
Middle School Program (MSP)
If you are looking for great after school activities for your students that build community, have service components and are just plain fun…there are several upcoming events and classes to get involved with through our Middle School Programs hosted by the city of Irvine. Each of the flyers linked below have information about registration, cost and contact information. For more information, please contact Site Coordinator Karley Abeyrama at (949) 724-7190 or at KAbeyrama@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.
OCTA Transportation Information
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 purple/orange Youth Ride Free Passes expire September 30, 2024; the new blue Youth Ride Free Passes are valid now through September 30, 2025, 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 be issued a blue youth bus pass for the 2024-25 school year.
Parent Request Form: OC Bus Ride Guide – How to Ride: For more information regarding the program visit: OCbus.com/YouthRideFree. OC Connect is another option for students. This is a free shuttle service that runs every 20 minutes between the northern end of Irvine and the Irvine Train Station. This route drops off at Woodbridge High which is a short walk from here. The IrvineCONNECT webpage may be accessed through this link: https://www.cityofirvine.org/transportation/irvine-connect. On the webpage there is a link to track the shuttles in real time, which can be used in a similar way to watching for an Uber to see how far out it is.
 Bell Schedule
The 2024-2025 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.
Nondiscrimination Statement
The Irvine Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities including membership in student clubs shall be free from discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, ethnic group identification, age, religion, actual or potential parental, family, or marital status, or the exclusion of any person because of pregnancy or related conditions, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or genetic information; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The District does not discriminate in enrollment in or access to any of the activities and programs available. Admission to these programs is based on age appropriateness, class space, interest, aptitude, and prerequisite coursework where applicable. The lack of English skills shall not be a barrier to admission to or participation in the District’s activities and programs. The Irvine Unified School District also does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices. |
Residency Verification – For Parent/Guardians who HAVE NOT completed
