South Lake Newsletter 9/27/24

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Good Afternoon South Lake Families, 

In case you didn’t see the announcement from earlier this week —South Lake Middle School has been named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education! This prestigious honor is a true reflection of the hard work, dedication, and collaborative spirit that defines our entire South Lake community.

Out of 356 schools nationwide, South Lake is one of only 33 schools in California and one of just two in Orange County to receive this award for exemplary academic performance. This recognition highlights not only our commitment to academic excellence but also the significant strides we’ve made in closing achievement gaps for all student groups.

This achievement is a testament to our amazing faculty and staff, who bring innovation and care to our classrooms every day. It is also a reflection of the incredible partnership we share with you—our parents and guardians—and the unwavering support you provide at home. Most of all, this award celebrates our exceptional students, whose commitment to learning, growth, and perseverance has truly made this possible.

We are honored to be able to display the National Blue Ribbon flag at our school, as it serves as a symbol of the excellence, resilience, and community spirit that make South Lake such a special place. 

Let’s continue to celebrate this monumental achievement together! We are planning a community celebration for later this year. To learn more about the award and see the full list of 2024 winners, please visit National Blue Ribbon Schools 2024 Winners.

On another note, I’d like to address parking lot etiquette for student drop-off and pick-up. Our parking lot has one entrance on W. Yale Loop and another on Misty Run, with two lanes that funnel toward the exit. For safety reasons, please refrain from using these lanes for dropping off or picking up your student. Instead, pull over to the curb or park in a designated stall.
 
We’ve noticed too many students moving between cars and crossing outside the marked walkways, which creates a hazardous situation. Please encourage your child to use the designated crosswalks for their safety.
 
Additionally, avoid cutting off other cars. If you’re in a rush, plan to arrive early in the morning. Lastly, remember that W. Yale Loop is not a designated drop-off area, and you risk getting a ticket from IPD if you use it. More importantly, it’s unsafe for our students. Thank you for helping us keep our parking lot safe for everyone!
 
Coach Doan and Coach Benner have sent out information about Volleyfest happening on October 26th and 27th. Girls tryouts occurred this week and boys are scheduled for 10/1 and 10/2 from 3:15-4:15 pm. 
 
Lastly, IUSD Parent and Family Engagement has several parent classes and workshops being held in October. Please Click Here to register and view schedule. 

We hope you enjoy your weekend…it’s a great day to be a Shark! 
In kindness,
Belinda Averill
Principal
 

Schedule for the Week of September 30th - October 4th

Monday 

Tuesday 

Wednesday 

Thursday 

Friday 

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

Anchor Day 

8:15am – 3:02pm 

Bonus Period PE

South Lake Information and Resources

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!

PTSA - Shark Shoppe
The Shark Shoppe is open! Our 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. Please consider ordering some fun stuff or pick some of our students’ favorite treats by visiting our Shark Shoppe on Amazon! Everything will get shipped automatically to school so all you need to do is pick and hit submit. You can also grab things from your favorite store and donate to the front office. Let’s keep this fun tradition going! Shark Shoppe Link

PTSA – Reflections: “Accepting Imperfections”
Calling all creatives! We are so excited for our Reflections contest that is going on now. Deadline to submit your project is October 4th. Students must submit an entry form online at Reflections Submission Form. For rules on each category and additional resources, please refer to the following link Rules & Resources.  If you have any questions, please reach out to our Reflection Chairs at southlakereflections2024@gmail.com. We can’t wait to see your projects!
 
Community Advisory Committee
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is a collaborative partnership comprised of parents, educators, and the community working together to support activities on behalf of IUSD students with an IEP or Section 504 Plan. Some of the collaborative work include parent outreach, parent education, legislative advocacy, school inclusion centered activities, Abilities Awareness events, working with community partners, and so much more. To learn more go to IUSD CAC Webpage. Below is the list of upcoming meetings with topics. 
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
Beach Flag Football 
Irvine Bike Adventures
Grill Masters 
Outdoor Adventures 
Knott's Scary Farm 
South Lake Movie Night 
CO-ED Football 
Youth Action Team - Fall
MSP Fall Registration

iPSF Announcements 
SAVE THE DATE: TURN IRVINE ORANGE OCT 17 
 Wear orange Thursday, October 17 on IPSF Giving Day to show you value educational excellence in Irvine! Whether you are at school, work, or out in the community, rock your ORANGE to raise awareness about the importance of community support of public education! www.Ipsf.net/givingday   
 
BECOME AN IPSF VOLUNTEER
Are you and your children looking for ways to give back to the community? Support for IPSF’s mission comes in many forms, and we are so grateful for the passionate volunteers who dedicate their time throughout the year to help IPSF make a greater impact in our schools. Check out upcoming opportunities. https://ipsf.net/get-involved/volunteer 
 
IPSF SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE GALA RETURNS
On November 9, join us for a night of celebration, community, and unforgettable memories at the Spirit of Excellence Gala. Enjoy an exclusive culinary experience by three celebrity chefs and a special appearance by this year's Spirit of Excellence in Music honoree, Multi-Platinum Top Billboard 200 Artists and IUSD alumni band - Young the Giant! Don’t miss out—limited seating packages remaining. www.ipsf.net/gala  

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
October 4th - Reflections Due
October 10th – First Progress Report  
October 14th – Staff Development (No School) 
October 17th – Turn Irvine Orange – wear Orange
October 23rd – Super Late Start
October 24th – Early Out (No Late Start)
October 24th – Celebrating Shark Success Night (Invited Parents) 
October 25th – Early Out