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South Lake Newsletter 8/15/2025

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Good Afternoon South Lake Families,
 
We had fun meeting our 7th graders and welcoming back our 8th graders on Wednesday...we hope they did too! Here is helpful information to assist with getting ready to start school next week: (If your child is not planning to attend South Lake for the 2025-2026 school year, please communicate this to the front office immediately at 949-936-6700...thank you!)

  • Please be sure to complete Data Confirmation by August 19th…thank you!
  • IUSD IT department will be emailing you a copy of your child’s schedule on August 18th. In addition, the IUSD Parent Portal will display your child's class and teacher information by 5pm on August 18th. Please review our  Quick Guide to View Classes in Parent Portal to find your child's schedule online, and please note that the Parent Portal has the most up-to-date schedule information. Should you have any difficulty accessing the IUSD Parent Portal, please contact our technology team at helpdesk@iusd.org.
  • 7th grade students start on Tuesday, August 19th at 8:15am, school ends at 12:30pm. Students pick up their schedule at the blue lunch tables area upon arrival at school. We will have staff to assist students to their Homeroom class.
  • 8th grade students start on Wednesday, August 20th. They will go straight to their Homeroom class (same as last year) where they will be given their schedule and Planner. Returning students must bring their Chromebook to school, charged and ready to go! 8th graders new to South Lake will also receive their Chromebook and charger.
  • 7th grade students will get their Chromebook on Wednesday, August 20th as well as their Planner. Please make sure they bring these to school every day.
  • There is no specific supply list, students will need minimal materials at this time, like a pen and pencil. It is best to wait to see what they will need based on their classes.
  • Parent/Guardians…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:
    1. Tuesday, August 19th at 8:20am
    2. Tuesday, August 19th at 5:00pm
    3. Wednesday, August 20th at 9:05am
    4. Wednesday, August 20th at 5:00pm
    5. Thursday, September 4th at 5:00pm
  • Bonus Period PE starts on Thursday, August 21st at 7:15am. Reminder that we do not have Bonus Period PE on Late Start Wednesdays.
  • PE Clothing can be purchased at MySchoolBucks.
  • Picture Day is on Friday, August 22nd during PE class. You can purchase pictures through South Coast Photography. Students will be getting their Identification Cards as well which they need to bring to school every day.
  • A reminder that student cell phones are OFF and AWAY from bell-to-bell. We are also an AirPod/Wireless Headphone free campus. Students can use plug in headphones (we will provide) and used only with a Chromebook. Smartwatches can be used for time but not as a cell phone. Please refer to our Cell Phone Expectations information provided in Data Confirmation.
  • Please ensure your child's Immunizations are up to date...this is important to be able to start the school year! 


Lastly, we encourage students to grow their independence and walk, ride, skateboard to school. Students are to bring a lock to lock up their belongings in the bike rack area. Students riding bikes, scooters and skateboards MUST wear a helmet and should not be on their cell phones while riding. In the event that you are dropping off and picking up your student, please be safe and patient! We expect the parking lot to be jammed up a bit as new families get used to this process. Please do not drop your student off at the cross walks or along W. Yale Loop as this is dangerous...thank you! We encourage drivers to be supportive and kind, and allow extra time to get to your next destination…much appreciated! 
 
Welcome to a new school year at South Lake! We are excited to partner with you in creating a positive, supportive, and challenging environment where every student can thrive. Together, we will make this a year of connection, growth, and excellence for all our Sharks.
 
Have a wonderful last few days of summer break…go Sharks!
In kindness,
Belinda Averill
Principal

Week of August 18th - 22nd
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
Summer Break

Start in Homeroom

Minimum Day

8:15am – 12:30pm

7th Grade ONLY

 

Parent Orientation

@8:20am or 5:00pm

Start in Homeroom

Late Start

9:00am – 3:02pm 

 

Parent Orientation

@9:05m or 5:00pm

Start in Homeroom

Late Start

9:00am – 3:02pm

Bonus Period PE

Start in Homeroom

Anchor Day

8:15am – 3:02pm

Bonus Period PE

Information & Resources
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.
 
Math Competition Information
Sharpen your math skills by joining our math competition team coached by Mr. Dharman. He has coached hundreds of students in the AMC 8 and some have even scored in the top 5% in the country!
The link to sign up is HERE. For more information, please contact Mr. Dharman at gregorydharman@iusd.org.  

Parent Partnership Opportunities
In partnership with CHOC, South Lake would like to present an in-person 4-week Parent Power Hour (1x/week for about an hour each session). If you are interested, please complete the form below to receive updates. This is a great opportunity!!
 
Topics covered: 
1. Improving Communication with Validation 
2. Rewards and Consequences
3. Connecting While Holding Boundaries 
4. Giving Prompts for Tasks and Coping Skills


Data Confirmation – Online Registration
Complete Online Registration by going through all the Data Confirmation steps on the Parent Portal at https://my.iusd.org. Please refer to the Online Registration (Data Confirmation) Guide for steps to complete. Instructions include how to access your student contacts, links to important documents for the school year, and permission for required authorizations. We are updating several of our schoolwide practices around use of technology - it is vital that you read all authorizations. Thank you! 
Donations and Optional Items for Purchase are part of this process which can be completed online through https://www.myschoolbucks.com or submitted by your student with cash/check at the start of the school year. Please see Instructions for Setting up an Account to set up your MySchoolBucks account. Items for purchase include Planner, Yearbook, PE Clothing etc. 
 
We strongly encourage donations to our academic, athletic and technology programs to support class activities. All donations go directly to the classroom to provide materials, equipment and other items much needed to allow for enriched learning. 
 
Online Re-Registration (Data Confirmation) must be completed by August 19th…thank you! 

E-Bike Safety Presentation
e-Vehicle Registration is required for students in IUSD wanting to ride and park their electric vehicle on campus. Students and at least one parent/guardian must attend IUSD eVehicle Required Training at one of the high schools. Upon completion of the orientation, students will be able to register their vehicle (e-bike, e-scooter, e-skateboard) with Mr. Vasquez, Campus Security, to receive a registration sticker to be able to park at school. Students are expected to adhere to ALL safety guidelines reviewed in the orientation in order to continue to park on campus. Students who attended in the past, do not need to attend again. 
Students who already have completed the training and have a sticker, MUST complete the SLMS eBike Registration Form and indicate your sticker number. Please submit to Mr. Vasquez at the start of school.  

Anxious Generation - Community Read 
We invite you to be part of a powerful and timely community conversation as we launch a schoolwide read of The Anxious Generation by renowned social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. This compelling book explores the rising rates of anxiety, depression, and mental health challenges among young people—and the cultural and technological shifts that have contributed to these trends.

Haidt offers research-backed insights into how the widespread use of smartphones and social media has transformed childhood and adolescence, and how we, as parents, educators, and community members, can work together to bring back healthy development, resilience, and connection.

This is an important read for anyone who cares about the well-being of our youth. By coming together around this shared text, we hope to spark meaningful dialogue, deepen our understanding, and empower each other to take informed, constructive action. We have free copies available to pick up in the front office. Let’s read, reflect, and grow—together. 

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.
Upcoming Events
August 19th - Re-Registration (Data Confirmation) Due 
August 19th - First Day of School for 7th grade students - Minimum Day
August 19th - Parent Orientation 8:20am or 5:00pm 
August 20th - First Day of School for 8th grade students
August 20th - Parent Orientation 9:05am or 5:00pm
August 22nd - Picture Day
August 29th - Minimum Day
September 1st - Labor Day (no school)
September 4th - Back to School Night (Early Out)
September 4th - Parent Orientation 5:00pm
September 5th - Minimum Day