The Navigator Newsletter
Sycamore Junior High's Parent Communication
OUR MISSION, VISION, & VALUES
- Mission: Create a culture of academic excellence through inclusive and innovative learning opportunities for the whole child.
- Vision: Empower all learners to reach their full potential in a globally competitive world.
- Values: Academic Excellence, Diversity & Inclusion, Community, Character, and Collaboration
Speak Up/Save Lives
By calling or testing the statewide hotline
- 844-SAFEROH -
- 844-723-3764 -
you can report anything that is suspicious or endangering you, your friends or school.
COMING UP
THIS WEEK:
- May 30: Memorial Day - No School
- June 2: 8th Grade Day, Group Photo
- June 3: Last Day for Students
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- August 18: Schedule Pickup 8:00 am - noon and 1:00 pm - 5:00pm
- August 29: First Day Transition Day for 7th Graders
- August 30: First Day/Transition Day for 8th Graders
8th Grade Day
WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE?
Students will leave the building by bus at 9:45 AM and return around 2:00 PM.
WILL THEY GET LUNCH?
Lunch, snacks, and plenty of water will be available to students thanks to our generous PTO.
WHAT IF I NEED MY CHILD THIS DAY?
If you need to access your 8th-grade student during this time, please coordinate with Ms. Lally prior to that day via email at lallyl@sycamoreschools.org or via phone 686-1760. Students will NOT have their cell phones on.
WHAT ITEMS SHOULD MY CHILD BRING?
Required -
Optional -
It is our recommendation that students do not bring valuables to school on this day. We will not be able to respond to stolen or lost valuables, including cell phones. Additionally, students are not permitted to use their cell phones at this event.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS THIS DAY?
In order to have the privilege of attending this event, students must be in good academic and behavioral standing.
Have no suspensions from April 1 through Jun 2, 2022
Maintain passing grades in your classes. Students with multiple failures for the 4th quarter will not be permitted to attend.
Follow directions from adults. Students that are chronically non-compliant will not be permitted to attend.
Demonstrate respect for others. A student that is rude or disrespectful towards others or property will not be permitted to attend.
Be a leader. Model excellence. Students that continue to violate the code of conduct or demonstrate behaviors that are not outstanding examples of what an SJH student exemplifies will not be permitted to attend.
Please remind your student of these expectations.
This will be a fantastic day of celebration for our students. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Lavercombe at lavercombec@sycamoreschools.org or 686-1760.
Sign up to help at 8th grade day!
Please use this
link to volunteer on June 2nd at Blue Ash Rec Center.
Yearbook Distribution
Yearbooks will be distributed to all students on Thursday, June 2nd (Eighth Grade Day). If you pre-ordered a yearbook your student will receive it during first bell on June 2nd. There are some extra yearbooks available for purchase. Extra yearbooks are $40 (cash or check written to Sycamore Jr. High). Extra yearbooks can be purchased from Mrs. Speelman in room 246 until June 3rd. Please direct any questions to Melissa Speelman. (speelmanm@sycamoreschools.org)
8th Grade Group Photo
8th graders will take a panoramic picture on June 2. See below for ordering information.
JH Fundraiser Review
The SJH PTO and Administration have been actively considering the best option for our annual fundraising event at the Junior High. The PTO uses the funds raised at this event to support athletics, clubs, and student activities throughout the year.
Flight Fest has been our community-wide event for the past decade, but due to declining interest and cost efficiencies, we have been exploring other options. The recent Fun-A-Thon was a pilot event to test if we could successfully hold a pledge-a-thon event and garner more interest from students, parents, and the community. The event was deemed a success in terms of the money raised and participation. A committee of parents, administrators and teachers has made the decision to replace Flight Fest with the Fun-A-Thon starting this fall.
If you have feedback regarding the change, please let us know through an email to NamakyR@sycamoreschools.org.
Thank you for your continued support!
Modeling Respect and Responsibility
Parents,
Please help us by reminding your children who walk home to obey all traffic laws and to be respectful and responsible young people. We have recently had less than stellar feedback from our Blue Ash and Montgomery community residents and hope that students will represent the Aviator Way in the future. Thank you!
Dress Code
As you and your junior high student shop for clothes over the summer, please refer to our
dress code. Thank you!!
School Supply Lists
As you start shopping for supplies for next year, please refer to our GENERAL SUPPLY LIST and TEACHER-SPECIFIC SUPPLY LIST. Ohio's Tax-Free weekend will be August 5-7, 2022.
Junior high students are allowed to carry backpacks. Because our hallways are small and space is restricted, we ask that you send your child with a modest-sized backpack. To help in this effort, our teachers have worked to limit the supplies that the students will need for each class.
Students will be able to access lockers three times a day to retrieve items for morning and afternoon classes:
SJH Summer Reading
Help prevent summer reading loss by reading a great book! Studies have shown that reading proficiency levels can decrease over the summer. To help lessen the loss of reading skills, students at Sycamore Junior High are encouraged to keep reading all summer. All of the language arts classes at the junior high have summer reading expectations. Assignments and instructions are located in Google Classrooms that students access using their Sycamore student accounts*. See below for the Google Classroom codes. All summer reading assignments are due on the first day of school.
*New to Sycamore and do not have an account? Look for the asterisk at the bottom of each course's assignment description.
Honors Language Arts 7
Students enrolling in Honors Language Arts 7 for the 2022-2023 school year need to use the Google Classroom code fjnujob to access the summer reading assignment and instructions. Students must use their Sycamore provided student account* to join the Google Classroom.
*New to Sycamore and do not have an account? Use the links below to download a PDF of the summer reading assignment instructions and materials.
~ Assignment Sheet
~ Chapter 1 Excerpt
~ Chapter 5 Excerpt
~ Chapter 10 Excerpt
~ Chapter 11 Excerpt
~ Chapter 14 Excerpt
Honors Language Arts 8
Students enrolling in Honors Language Arts 8 for the 2022-2023 school year need to use the Google Classroom code i637diw to access the summer reading assignments and instructions. Students must use their Sycamore provided student account* to join the Google Classroom.
*New to Sycamore and do not have an account? Use the links below to download a PDF of the summer reading assignment instructions and materials.
~ Overview of Three Tasks
~ Task Three: Assignment Sheet
~ Task Three: Example Product Ideas Sheet
Language Arts 7 and 8
Students enrolling in Language Arts 7/8 for the 2022-2023 school year need to use the Google Classroom code h7zzngf to access the recommended summer reading. Students must use their Sycamore provided student account* to join the Google Classroom.
*New to Sycamore and do not have an account? The junior high language arts department recommends that you read at least one book this summer. You can choose any book that appeals to your individual interests. We encourage you to choose a book that interests and challenges you. There is no written assignment. Your language arts teacher will ask you about your book at the beginning of the year to learn more about your preferences as a reader.
Sara Sheldt
Language Arts and Reading Teacher
Language Arts Department Supervisor
Sycamore Junior High School
Free Meal Waivers Expire June 3, 2022
Sycamore Child Nutrition will return to pre-pandemic operations, which include charging for student meals, at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
For the past two years, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has offered waivers to Child Nutrition (CN) Programs across the United States, allowing these programs to offer all students breakfast and lunch, at no charge. These waivers will expire June 3 and will not be renewed for CN programs nationally.
Families who qualify for free and reduced meals based on the income of all family members will once again be asked to complete and submit a current school year Free and Reduced Meal Application. Please look for more information after July 1 when the application period opens.
Kelsey Warren RD, LD
Child Nutrition & Wellness Director
Sycamore Community Schools
(513) 686-1796
twitter: @SycamoreCNS
SJH: IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Moving out of the District??
As we plan for the next school year, it is important we have a count of pupils attending school at Sycamore Junior High School. If you know that your child will be moving out of Sycamore Community School District or will be attending a private or parochial school next fall. The State of Ohio requires a parent/guardian to fill-out and sign a Student Withdrawal form and return to the Sycamore Junior High School by May 20, 2022. After this form is complete please email to manningt@sycamoreschools.org This is important for transferring school records. For this form, please click on the following link:
Sycamore Community Schools Withdrawal Form
Message from Technology Department
To Parents and Students,
If you are not returning to Sycamore Community School District for the 2022-23 school year, you are to return the school issued Chromebook and charger before you leave school in May 2022. Please return the Chromebook and charger to the school library/media center and give it to the librarian or technician. If you leave the district during the summer, please return the Chromebook and charger to the District Office: 5959 Hagewa Drive.
If the Chromebook and charger is not returned, you will be charged $250 and the device will be permanently disabled for use on the last day of school. If the charger is not returned with the Chromebook, you will be charged $25. The fees can be paid in your Parent Portal account - Online Fees.
For Graduating Seniors:
You are to return the device on or before May 13, 2022 to the High School Media Center. If not, you will be charged $250 for the device and charger. If you do not have the charger, you will be charged $25.
For Students Not Returning for the 2022-23 School Year:
You are to return the device on or before June 3, 2022 to the building media center/library. If not, you will be charged $250 for the device and charger. If you do not have the charger, you will be charged $25.
For Returning 8th Graders:
You will keep your current device until Freshman Orientation Day. You will bring your Chromebook and charger to Freshman Orientation Day and receive a new Chromebook. Failure to bring your Chromebook and charger will result in a fee of $250.
If you have any questions, please send an email to helpdesk@sycamoreschools.org
Thank you,
-Bill Fritz
Director of Technology
Fall Sports at SJH
Making summer plans? Have a child who wants to participate in fall sports at the Junior High?
Check out the Fall Sports Start Dates
Gifted Summer Enrichment Opportunities
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University of Cincinnati DAAP Summer Camp
Sycamore Junior High School
