Congratulations to our amazing 8th grade Sharks on their Promotion to high school! We are so proud of their growth, resilience, and accomplishments during their time at South Lake. They have shown what it means to be scholars, leaders, and kind community members—and we know they will carry those strengths into this next exciting chapter.
A heartfelt thank you to our families for your partnership and support, and to our dedicated staff for their unwavering commitment to each student’s success. This year brought many achievements, including academic excellence, creative expression, and a strong sense of community.
We wish all of you a joyful, restful summer and can’t wait to see all the incredible things our Sharks will do next! Please see the comprehensive list below of resources available during summer break.
Thank you for making my 10th year at South Lake so fantastic!
In kindness,
Belinda Averill
Principal
Current 7th grade Parent/Guardians – Required Orientation
Please plan on attending one of our in-person South Lake Orientation to go over our schoolwide practices and specific South Lake Cares expectations so that we can partner together in ensuring both you and your student are set up for a successful year. The orientation will last about 45 minutes and will be held in the MPR. At least one parent/guardian from every household is being asked to attend on ONE of the following dates/times:
- Tuesday, August 19th at 8:20am
- Tuesday, August 19th at 5:00pm
- Wednesday, August 20th at 9:05am
- Wednesday, August 20th at 5:00pm
- Thursday, September 4th at 5:00pm
Summer Resources are available – please see IUSD’s comprehensive Parent Resources Brochure for resources and supports over summer. Here are some of the resources included:
Hotlines and Crisis Resources
Orange County Suicide Prevention/Crisis Line
Confidential 24-hour telephone counseling to at risk individuals.
(877) 7-CRISIS (877-727-4747) |
https://988lifeline.org/
The OC Warm Line
Non-crisis, caring support for anyone struggling with emotional/mental health challenges.
(877) 910-WARM (877-910-9276)
Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis
(714) 957-2737 - 24/7, 7 days a week
211 & OC Links Information & Referral Service
Free 24 hr information and referral line linking to local health and human service programs in the OC. Dial 2-1-(855)-OCLINKS (888-625-4657)
988 Free 24hr call or text crisis line
Centralized Assessment team (CAT)
Services: Suicide assessment of children and referral linkage to families.
(866) 830-6011 | (714) 517-6353
Irvine Police Department (Non-Emergency Line) (949) 724-7000
Support Groups
The Prevention Center
Services: Parenting programs and resources.
(714) 543-4333 | https://theprioritycenter.org/
NAMI - Family Support and Connection Groups
Services: NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Language(s): English, Spanish and Korean
(800) 950-6264 | https://www.nami.org/support-education/support-groups/nami-family-support-group/
CHADD - Orange County Children and Adults with ADHD
Services: Monthly expert educational and support meetings for parents of children with ADHD. Free of cost and meets every 3rd Saturday of the month via Zoom. | https://greaterocchadd.org/south-oc-parent-meeting/
EVOLVE Parent Support Group
Services: Free weekly group for parents and caregivers of teens. Can gain practical guidance and emotional support from other parents. Shares resources for teen mental health and addiction recovery. Meets every Thursday 10am-11am via Zoom.
(844) 741-6702 | https://evolvetreatment.com/resources/for-parents/parent-support-groups/
IUSD Parenting Workshops
Irvine Parent Education Program (IPEP)
Services: 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.
(949) 936-5283 | https://iusd.org/ipep
Community Resources
IUSD Family Counseling Center
Services: Short-term, solution-focused individual and family therapy services for students enrolled in IUSD.
(949) 936-8775 | https://iusd.org/about/departments/education-services/student-support-services/mental-health-and-wellness/irvine
IUSD Parent Center
Services: Offers a variety of services to foster parent engagement and student success. These include parent and family education workshops, tips for being an active part of your child’s education, language support, community resources and more.
(949) 936-5283 | https://iusd.org/familyengagement
OC Accept
Services: Free individual, family counseling and support services.
(714) 645-8000 | https://www.ochealthinfo.com/page/oc-accept
Turning Point For Families – Costa Mesa
Services: Individual, family and group counseling
(714) 547-8111 | https://www.turningpointoc.org/
Western Youth Services
Services: Mental and behavioral health counseling, addiction, advocacy, support and housing.
(714) 378-2620 | https://www.westernyouthservices.org/
OC Navigator
Services: Find help in Orange County by connecting with health, wellness and other resources.
https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn
Summer Planning
Here are a few ways families can support students in maintaining balance, well-being, and connection during the summer months:
🕒 Maintain a Simple Routine
While students deserve flexibility, keeping a loose daily structure helps them feel secure and productive. Encourage a consistent sleep schedule, regular meal times, and a few daily responsibilities (like chores, reading, or physical activity). This rhythm helps prevent the summer slide and makes the transition back to school smoother.
📱 Manage Screen Time Mindfully
With more free time, screen use often increases. Talk as a family about what healthy screen time looks like—balancing entertainment with creativity, connection, and movement. Consider device-free meals or “unplugged” hours each day. Resources like Common Sense Media can help families evaluate age-appropriate content and build digital habits that support mental health.
🤝 Nurture Friendships & Social Confidence
Middle schoolers deeply value their social connections. Encourage in-person and outdoor hangouts, or local camps where students can practice teamwork and communication in relaxed settings. Another great option is community service! Summer is also a great time to reflect on what healthy friendships look and feel like—and how to navigate challenges with kindness and confidence.
Middle School Programs
Through our partnership with the City of Irvine Youth Outreach, there are some fun after school programs starting soon…register now! Visit www.yourirvine.org and search “MSP” in the filter box to see all locations and options. Click South Lake After School Programs and Activities. Please contact our Youth Outreach Specialist Aaron Silva with any questions.
Call/Text: (949) 664-2351
Email: asilva@cityofirvine.org
Mental Health & Academic Supports
IUSD Family Counseling Center
The IUSD Family Counseling Center (IFCC) offers short-term, evidence-based mental health services provided by licensed mental health therapists for IUSD K-12 students and families.
Care Solace
To better serve our students, families, and staff, IUSD has partnered with Care Solace, which offers free and confidential services to connect families to outside mental health providers. Care Solace provides concierge services to assist families in navigating mental health services in the community.
Hazel Health
IUSD has also partnered with Hazel Health, a telehealth behavioral health company that provides one-on-one counseling from a professional therapist at no cost to IUSD students. A parent/guardian may refer their student through a link found on the IUSD website, or a referral can be made by the student’s school counselor, elementary resource counselor, mental health specialist, school psychologist, or administrator at their school. Students must have parental permission to enroll for services unless they are 18 or older.
Academic Supports
Khan Academy and Paper Tutoring provide students with avenues for academic assistance, alleviating some of the stressors that may impact their mental well-being.
For families seeking more information on IUSD mental health supports, please visit the Mental Health and Wellness website.
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.
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.
Important Dates to Calendar
August 1st – Re-Registration Opens
August 13th – Shark Week (7th & 8th Transition Camps)
August 19th – First Day of School for 7th Grade
August 20th – First Day of School for 8th Grade