The Navigator Newsletter
Sycamore Junior High's Parent Communication
February 25, 2022
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:
- February 25-27: District-wide Fine Arts Weekend @ SHS
- February 26: Band & Orchestra Pancake Day as part of Fine Arts Weekend @ SHS
- February 27: Deadline for submitting course requests
- March 1: Fine Arts Choir Concert @ SHS
- March 2: Beta Club Induction Students only - 3:00 pm
- March 3: Spring Teacher-Requested Conferences - Invitation only 3:15-6:45 pm
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- March 9: NAMI Mental Health Presentation (virtual) 7:30 pm
- March 11: Sycamore HS Transition Day for 8th Graders
- March 14-18: Spring Break
AIR Testing
State AIR testing will be on April 11, 12, 19, 20, and 27. Please make every effort to not schedule appointments for your children prior to noon on these days. Thank you!
Important Links
Did you know?? Every newsletter includes these helpful links:
Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying
Bell Schedules:
2-Hour Delay Bell Schedule (inclement weather, etc)
8th Grade Beta Club Member Announcement
To the parents of current 8th-grade Beta Club members,
As posted on the school calendar, the 2020-2021 Beta induction ceremony (which was postponed from last year due to COVID protocols) is on Wednesday, March 2nd. This ceremony will be held in the cafeteria directly after school and end at 4:00. Unfortunately, due to this year's COVID protocols, as well as the limitations because of construction, this event is for the students only. However, a link will be provided so that parents can watch a live stream of the ceremony. This link will be posted to the Beta Club Google Classroom, and your student can share this link with your preferred email or device.
If you should have further questions, please contact either Leah Dworkin at dworkinl@sycamoreschools.org or Dana Darbyshire at darbyshired@sycamoreschools.org
Honor Roll
Winter MAP Scores
Lost & Found
Student Council Needs YOUR help!!
- Toilet paper
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Formula
- Deodorant
- Tissue
7th vs. 8th Grade!!
The grade level that brings in the most items will force their assistant principal and corresponding teacher to learn a TikTok dance. The dance will be filmed and shown on the SJH announcements.

Sycamore Who-Dey Challenge: THANK YOU
Thanks to all who donated to the Sycamore Who-Dey Challenge! The District was thrilled to announce over $23,000 in total was raised. Your gift supported both Operation Give Back (OGB) and Sycamore Bridges in their efforts of assisting local families in need.
OGB has proudly served the Sycamore community for 20 years by providing after-school tutoring services for elementary students, food, and personal care items through our Community Food Pantry, as well as the OGB School Supply Giveaway and Holiday Store events. None of these programs would be possible without the generous support of donors and volunteers.
If you would like to learn more about OGB, please visit www.ogiveback.org; or follow
OGB on Facebook, Instagram @ogiveback and Twitter @ogiveback
Sycamore Bridges launched in May 2019, advocating for children and families experiencing temporary crises. To date, we have provided over $250,000 in goods and services to our neighbors. Needs are identified through an advocacy program to protect the identity of our recipients. They are then posted to our website and social media, where community members can respond to help fill the needs.
To learn more about Sycamore Bridges, please visit
www.neighborhoodbridges.org/community/sycamore; or follow us on Facebook and
Instagram @SycamoreBridges, and Twitter @BridgesSycamore.
FOUR WEEKS left to purchase your 2022 SJHS Yearbook!
Time is running out to order your 2022 SJHS Yearbook. The SJHS Yearbook Club is committed to documenting this school year for YOU! The cost is $35/copy. Click HERE to order your 2022 Yearbook.
Do you have photos you would like to submit to the Yearbook Club? Click HERE and find the “Submit Photos Here” button (must use a school gmail account to access the shared folder). We want to represent ALL students in this year's historic yearbook.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Melissa Speelman
COUNSELING CORNER
Rising 8th Grade Scheduling News
The deadline for submitting course requests in the online portal is SUNDAY, February 27.
On March 1st, verification sheets will be made available for all students so that course requests can be reviewed.
Thank you!
The Counseling Team
Mr. Brenner A-G brennerb@sycamoreschools.org
Mrs. Suter L-T suterk@sycamoreschools.org
Mrs. Morris U-Z morrisra@sycamoreschools.org
Rising 9th Grader Scheduling News
Academic Fair and Transition to HS Activity
8th Grade Families,
The 8th-grade transition day will take place on Friday, March 11th in person. On that date, 8th-graders will be bussed from the JH to the HS for much of the day and then return to the JH prior to dismissal. If the situation at that time continues to warrant more social distancing and precautionary measures, we will hold this event virtually as well. If so, you will be notified in advance.
Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as we seek to balance the student experience with overall health. For additional questions, please contact SHS Dean of Students, Ashwin Corattiyil, at CorattiyilA@SycamoreSchools.org.
HS Scheduling Update:
The deadline for submitting course requests in the online portal is SUNDAY, February 27.
Students received an email on February 18 with online scheduling instructions. This email included a unique username and password that will be needed to access the scheduling portal. The next step will be to enter their class requests online. The window to do so is February 19-27th. Here are links to resources that may be helpful as you work with your student over the next week:
Scheduling Portal - link to the website in which students will view their recommended academic courses and add their electives.
Online Scheduling Instructions - this is a document with step-by-step instructions for the online scheduling process.
Scheduling Instructions Tutorial - this is a video tutorial in case that's more helpful.
List of Class Offerings by Grade - this is a spreadsheet of all classes and class codes. Each grade has a separate tab.
Course Planning Guide - this is our main scheduling resource. This site includes class descriptions, teacher videos, links to summer assignments, graduation requirements, and more.
The class of 2026 counseling team:
Mrs. Brenda Fisher (A-K)
Mrs. Bonnie Stephenson (L-Z)
PTO NEWS
Aviator Bash: Thank you
A huge thank you to all who helped out with the Aviator Bash - Dr. Rea, Mr. Lavercombe, Mrs. Bernofsky; the custodians; the teachers and aides; all the volunteers; and the PTO. This amazing group of people helped the Junior High students have a fun couple of hours after school. The students ate, played games, chilled out with friends all while DJ Joel Berg played music.
Also, a huge shout out to Kenwood Chik-Fil-A and LaRosa’s in Blue Ash for supporting the Aviator Bash by supplying food for the event.
Presentation: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Wednesday, March 9 at 7:30 PM on Google Meet (Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wqb-bbpv-pgd Or dial: (US) +1 316-778-9927 PIN: 612 971 522#)
Ending the Silence is an engaging presentation about mental health for middle and high school students, parents, and school staff. In presentations, a lead presenter shares an informative presentation and a young adult with a mental health condition shares their journey of recovery.
The presentation gives an opportunity for audience members to ask questions and learn more about an often-misunderstood topic. The message of empathy and hope encourages people to actively care for themselves and for their peers, whether by reaching out for help, encouraging a friend or family member to seek help, or by reducing stigma. The goal of NAMI ETS is to create a generation of individuals who are well-positioned to end the silence and stigma surrounding mental illness.
Topics include:
- Signs and symptoms of mental illness and suicide
- Statistics on how mental illness affects youth
- Personal perspectives on the experience of living with mental illness
- Recovery and coping strategies and resources available
- Ways to seek help for themselves, a child or for a friend
- Ways to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
- How to work with school staff to get help for your child
- How to advocate for your child with insurance, healthcare providers
Sycamore JH Ambassadors
Sycamore Junior High Ambassadors is a group of volunteer parents of Junior High students just like you! We are available all year round to welcome and assist all families new to our community transition to the Junior High. We offer help to all families on various aspects of school life including enrollment forms, computer systems management, and getting connected with the school community.
Need Help?
Besoin d'aide?
¿Necesita ayuda?
Нужна помощь?
Yordam kerakmi?
你需要帮助吗?
도움이 필요하세요?
お手伝いします.
Click here to be connected with Sycamore JH Ambassadors: https://www.sycamoreschools.org/Page/3624
Click here if you want to help other families: https://forms.gle/azpu6FPUKLC3ntNy8
SJH: IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
From our Nurse
Parents/Guardians please check with your children each morning to make sure they feel well.
You will find the Covid-19 Daily Parent/Guardian Checklist linked here and on our website. Translations of this document may be found HERE.
Please visit the District's Healthy Aves page for more detailed information.
IMPORTANT: Reporting COVID-19 Cases
PLEASE call the COVID-19 Attendance Line (513) 686-1707.
In addition, families and staff can report COVID-19 related absences online. Please visit https://goav.es/reportCOVID and simply fill out the Google Form for your student or yourself. You can also find an icon to the form inside the Sycamore Community Schools Mobile App. Submissions will be monitored daily.
AROUND OUR DISTRICT


SBOB Pancake Day

