South Lake Newsletter - March 8, 2024

DST

Good Afternoon South Lake Community,

We hope you enjoyed Open House last night…it was wonderful to see so many Sharks together, enjoying the evening with music, food and great energy! We celebrated our students this week in our Third Trimester Kick-Off Assemblies. There have been so many Sharks participating in all sorts of activities over the past few months and in the coming months including Honors Chorus and Orchestra, Math Competition, VEX Robotics State Finals, Winter Bowl Championship, Hoops Classic, Holocaust Writing and Art Competition, Cyber Security Competitions, Science Fair OC Finalists, and National History Day, and we had the largest number of students run for ASB officer positions for next school year! In this final trimester for our 8th graders, we are looking to see soon to be high schoolers step up their independence, self-advocacy, and determination. For our 7th graders, soon to be 8th graders, we are looking to see students modeling South Lake Cares, improved student agency, and accountability in taking ownership for their learning…they are our future leaders! 

Don’t forget to set your clocks one hour ahead on Sunday for Daylight Savings! Monday is a Staff/Student Holiday so enjoy the three-day weekend! 
 
Go Sharks!
In kindness,
Belinda Averill
Principal
Schedule for Week of  3/11 - 3-15

Monday 

Tuesday 

Wednesday 

Thursday 

Friday 

Staff/Student Holiday 

No School

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 Announcements and Information
PTSA Information 
Stay informed on all SLMS PTSA information by subscribing at PTSA LINKS and here for our Year-At-A-Glance PTSA Calendar
SLMS GEAR: Get your SLMS GEAR and stay cozy while showing your school spirit! ORDER HERE
ASB SPIRIT WEAR: We have a limited supply of ASB spirit wear being sold on our webstore and all proceeds go to ASB. ASB Spirit Wear

SHARK SHOPPE:  We are looking for donations to stock the Shoppe with snacks, candy, and drinks.  Please order from our Amazon link SHARK SHOPPE WISHLIST or purchase from any store and drop off in the front office.  We appreciate any and all donations. This is a great incentive for our students, so please consider donating.

Knott's Berry Farm - Attention 8th Grade Families
Our end of year fieldtrip and celebration for 8th graders is at Knott’s Berry Farm. This event is for 8th graders only and we encourage all to participate in this fun day! The Knott’s Field Trip will be on June 6, 2024.  This is an all-day school event, all 8th graders are required to ride the bus to and from school. This is not a mandatory trip, should your student not wish to participate, they are expected to come to school that day. This year, Knott’s is requiring us to purchase out tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased at MySchoolBucks, we will not be accepting cash or checks. Instructions for how to pay through MySchoolBucks are HERE. There are two payment options:
  1. $60 for Ticket + Bus
  2. $20 for Bus Only (For Season Pass Holders ONLY)
The deadline to purchase your ticket is May 10th, 2024. Please make sure to get your ticket! More information about trip, including permission slip will be coming after Spring Break. For questions about the trip, please contact Mrs. Baringoldz, Administrative Assistant, at cindybaringoldz@iusd.org

ELPAC Testing Information – English Learners
This ELPAC Parent Notification Letter is to inform the parents/guardians of our English Learner students that your child will be participating in this year's statewide Summative English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) on Wednesday, March 20th and Thursday, March 21st in the domains of listening, reading, and writing. On Thursday, April 18th and Friday, April 19th your child will be taking the speaking portion of the assessment. You will receive your child’s results at or before the beginning of the next school year. Test results will identify areas where your child is doing well or needs more support, so we can better assist their learning.

IPSF Summer Enrichment
Registration for summer classes and camps is opening on March 20th…see flyers below.

Chromebook & Charger Reminders
Welcome back! We have seen an increase in missing/lost chargers and lost/damaged Chromebooks during the past couple of months. Just a reminder that Chromebook insurance only covers damage and does not cover lost chargers or lost Chromebooks. The fine for a lost charger is $25 and a lost Chromebook is $225. It is part of your child’s responsibility to charge their Chromebook each night and keep their charger at home. If you have any questions please reach out to our librarian Ms. Byars at mikaylabyars@iusd.org.
 
7th Grade Parent-Guardian Notification Letter
Yesterday all 7th grade families should have received an email detailing the upcoming Health Unit for all 7th grade students. Please make sure to read the 2023-24 Parent-Guardian Notification Letter as it contains all information about resources and what will be covered. For specific questions please reach out to your students 7th grade Science teacher or Principal Averill.

Middle School Program (MSP) at South Lake
If you are looking for great after school activities for your students, there are several events and classes to get involved with through our Middle School Programs hosted by the city of Irvine. Please contact Site Coordinator Karley Abeyrama at (949) 724-7190 or at KAbeyrama@cityofirvine.org for information.    Paper – Free Tutoring
As your student is getting going with their academics, please know that IUSD offers Paper Tutoring, a free resource, giving your student 24/7 access to chat with tutors for live help and assignment support. Paper helps parents and guardians avoid the cost, time, and stress of having to relearn geometry and poetry or hire a private tutor to help their child with classwork. Paper can provide support with homework help, writing feedback (i.e. editing essays), and study support. Help is available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and French. Students can access Paper Tutoring directly from their class Canvas Page. Some additional resources are this informational video on Paper TutoringPaper for Parents & Guardians and Paper Website: Unlimited Tutoring, Anywhere & Anytime.  
 
Student Attendance
It is important to make every effort to have your student in school and on time. While attendance and success in school are positively correlated and directly linked, there are times when a student should stay home and absences are necessary.
  • Illness - Please keep student home when they have any of the following signs and symptoms of illness: Fever (temp > 100.4), excessive runny nose, excessive cough, two or more episodes of vomiting in the last 24 hours, or an unexplained rash.
  • Mental health – a new California law states that absences for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavioral health shall be excused (Ed Code 48205)After 5 absences, a doctor’s note will be required. 
  • Doctor appointments
  • Court appointments
  • Funerals for immediate family members
We want to honor and support the mental and physical health of our students, and we also need to prioritize the importance of attendance both for student success and to ensure that IUSD receives critically important state funding for our schools. Please know that the School Attendance Review Board (SARB process) will be initiated, when a student accumulates 3 unexcused absences or truancies. If you have concerns about extended absences or if you have any questions about attendance, please don’t hesitate to call. We appreciate your partnership in supporting the health, happiness, and academic achievement of our students. 

OCTA Youth Ride Free Program 
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is excited to announce the continuation of their “Youth Ride Free” promotional bus pass program.  This free youth pass allows youth ages 6 to 18 to ride all OC fixed-route buses every day for free. The purple/orange Youth Ride Free passes are valid now through September 30, 2024 and require a new Parent Request Form for each recipient.  For more information regarding the program visit: OCbus.com/YouthRideFree. 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 form to the front office to be issued a purple/orange youth bus pass for the 2023-24 school year. 
Parent Request Form: OC Bus Ride Guide – How to Ride:



Bell Schedule 
The 2023-2024 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
March 8th - Minimum Day
March 11th - Student/Staff Holiday
March 29th - Minimum Day
April 1st - 5th - Spring Break 
April 10th - 8th Grade Family Night