South Lake Newsletter 12/13/24

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Good Afternoon South Lake Families, 


As we head into the holiday season, it’s a wonderful time to celebrate and enjoy the festive spirit together! While excitement is in the air, let’s work as a team to maintain our positive behavior expectations during the last week before winter break. By taking care of ourselves, each other, and our school, we can ensure a joyful and respectful environment for all. Let’s finish 2024 strong, Sharks!

Next week is our last Spirit Week of 2024! We hope to see everyone get into the holiday spirit. On Thursday morning, YAT and our Counseling team will be hosting Holidays and Hot Chocolate before school. 
 
Today is the Winter Gala Dance. Students must have a signed permission slip (by their parent/guardian) and purchase a ticket to attend. This is always a fun time! Here are the guidelines we have provided for students:
 

  • Students who have an unexcused absence on the day of the dance may not attend the dance.
  • You must bring your ID to enter. If you lost your ID you may purchase an additional one in the front office for $5.00
  • Concessions will be on sale outside.  All food/drink must stay outside.
  • South Lake’s STUDENT BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS (see Planner) and DRESS CODE are still in effect.
  • Students with major behavior infractions and/or multiple 1/2 marks for citizenship and work habits may not be admitted to the dance, check with Mr. Bretz for approval.
  • Inappropriate behavior at the dance (before, during, or after) could result in the loss of any or all dance privileges.
  • NO phone usage in the MPR will be allowed.  Students may use their phones outside in the courtyard.
  • Students may not enter/purchase a ticket after 6:30pm the night of the dance.
  • Any inappropriate actions/activities during the dance will result in the student being removed from the event.

Lastly, we have a Minimum Day on Friday, December 20th and then we will be off for Winter Recess until January 3rd. School will resume on January 6th. 

We hope you have a wonderful weekend…it’s a great day to be a Shark!
Belinda Averill
Principal

Schedule for the Week of December 16th - 20th
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

Even Periods

Late Start

9:00am – 3:02pm

Bonus Period PE

Holidays & Hot Chocolate


 

 

Anchor Day

Minimum Day

8:15am – 12:30pm

Bonus Period PE

South Lake Information and Resources

PTSA - Shark Shoppe
We need help stocking our Shark Shoppe that the amazing Mr. Dharman leads for all our students! The Shark Shoppe is an incentive program for students to use their Shark Cards. The PTSA, along with our South Lake community keep the Shark Shoppe stocked for our students all year long. We would be so grateful if you could order from our South Lake PTSA Amazon Shark Shoppe. All orders on our Amazon storefront will get delivered directly to school! You can also pick up some of your students’ favorite treats at Costco, Ralphs, Target, or your favorite store and drop them off to the front office! We have over 150 students come through our Shark Shoppe each time Mr. Dharman hosts the event. Shark Shoppe is a big deal around campus!

PTSA – See’s Candies Fundraiser
It’s that time of year to spoil your family, friends and yourself with some sweet treats! You can help support our South Lake Sharks just by ordering See’s from our South Lake See’s Storefront. The shop is NOW OPEN for orders and a percentage of all sales will go directly to our Sharks! South Lake PTSA See's Candies Store. The online store is open until December 31st, so get your order in today! A big thank you to those who have already ordered!

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!

Yearbook Baby Pics 
Attention 8th grade parent/guardians…we need your 8th graders baby pic for the yearbook. Please send to Ms. Byars at mikaylabyars@iusd.org by December 20th. 

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. 

IUSD Parent and Family Engagement
IUSD has many great workshops and presentations set up for the parents/caregivers of Irvine students. Below you will find the links to workshops and other district wide parent/guardian presentations. Irvine Parent Education Programs (IPEP) are FREE seminars and educational workshops offered to Irvine parents/caregivers throughout the school year. Our goal is to empower parents/guardians with the skills and strategies necessary to become active participants in their student’s education. 
 
We invite you to register for one or more of the IPEP Parent Workshops.
Click here for a full list of November's offerings.

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
Youth Action Team - Fall
MSP Fall Registration

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.

Upcoming Dates to Calendar
December 13th – School Dance
December 16th – 20th – Spirit Week 
December 19th – Holidays & Hot Chocolate 
December 20th – Minimum Day
December 20th – Deadline for Baby Pics 
December 23rd – January 3rd – Winter Recess