Cougar News

All students participating in 8th grade activities will be responsible for meeting the participation requirements which are the following:

• Positive Merit standing (a student may not have more negative demerits than positive merits)
• Students with 100 or more demerits will not qualify to participate
• Cumulative 1.0 or higher GPA for the duration of 8th grade
• No more than two F's in the 4th quarter
• No 4th quarter suspensions

If a student does not meet the above criteria they will be offered the opportunity to participate in the 8th grade appeals process. Students and families will be notified individually and scheduled for an appeal.

Please join us as we celebrate the achievements of our 8th grade students during our 8th grade promotion ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 5:00pm. The ceremony will take place at Mesa Verde High School in their gym. We understand this is a different date than what was originally posted in our student planner. Sylvan does not have a gym large enough to host this event and we have to utilize the high school. Our original date did not align with events happening on the campus at Mesa. Please accept our apology for any hardship this date change may have caused.

The 8th grade dance will be held at Barrett Middle School on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 5:30-7:00 pm. 8th graders from Barrett, Will Rogers, Arcade and Sylvan will be present. Please add this event to your calendar. This is such a fun event and I do not want our kiddos to miss out! The cost is $5.00 and it's a great way to wrap up 8th grade with friends and make new ones as they head off to high school.

8th grade students will be treated to our annual 8th grade breakfast on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. During 8th grade breakfast, students will receive breakfast and get to hang out with friends, take pictures, and sign yearbooks. 8th graders will also have the opportunity to view the 8th grade promotion slide show for the first time. This is a student-only event, and students will need to meet the indicated 8th-grade activities requirements to be able to participate. Students who do not meet the criteria will be provided an alternative location during the activity.

Reminders: Please encourage our young scholars to:

• Eat a healthy breakfast
• Get a good night sleep
• And encourage your children to do their best.
• Good Luck Cougars!

The summer enrichment catalog and sign-up form is officially available for parents to sign up. The Catalog is above and the link is here.

Here is the link to register: https://forms.gle/X1QWATNtQwd64syy8

Here are some of the fun things we will be doing at Sylvan this summer.

Cooking

Legos

Build robot cars

Co2 cars

Vr Headsets. Math and science

Murder Mystery — become as detective and solve crimes

Plus Stem lessons.

It’s time to begin putting together our 8th grade slideshow. We want all 8th grade students to have representation in the slideshow. We are now collecting photos! These photos will be used during the Promotion Ceremony in June.

Each student may submit one childhood picture and one middle school picture with friends.

Photos are due by Friday, May 1 2026.

Please use your child’s name as the subject line for your photos and send them to:

Schuermannmichelle3@gmail.com

Don't let your student get left out!

The AVID application form is available below for students who are interested in joining the program for the 26-27 school year. Click on the link below. If you have additional questions please email Ms. Goode. riley.goode@sanjuan.edu

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-xIe7yG5wITMtmEipQLM4jUdaKfFHmKu_VbvYbPWbHFU4yw/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Best,

4/9/26 @ CASA ROBLES

4/16/26 @ CASA ROBLES

4/23/26 @ MESA VERDE

4/30/26 @ BELLA VISTA

TIMES ARE TBD

Our Boys and Girls Soccer Teams will have games on:

• 4/29/26 at 3:30pm vs. Churchill at Sylvan MS.
• 5/6/26 at 3:30pm vs. Barrett at Sylvan MS.

This is a friendly reminder when dropping-off or picking-up your students to please:

1. Do not drop-off or pick-up students along the side of the road on Auburn. Also we have been asked by the businesses in the Starbucks parking lot to please do not drop-off or pick-up your students there as well.

Thank you.

Math Club is open to students that want support with 6th-8th grade math. The front gate will open at 7:00am just for those students. Students will still be served breakfast starting at 7:25am and the campus will continue to fully open at 7:40am.

Thanks.

Due to a loss of critical Title 1 funding this past year, the front gate will not open until 7:25 am. Please DO NOT DROP OFF YOUR STUDENT(S) BEFORE 7:25 am. There will be no adult supervision for your child/children. This is new this year, due to a loss of funding that previously paid for supervision during early student drop-off. Students will be permitted on campus for breakfast service beginning at 7:25 am.

Media class is now broadcasting live on Media YouTube Channel. Please stay informed and check out the incredible work our student and Ms. Taylor do everyday at Sylvan!

Here is the link:

https://youtube.com/live/NroOJJ9HcGs

Live School information goes out every Thursday. This information includes weekly updates, merits/demerits, teacher comments, classroom information, including tardies, bathroom passes, and more, when provided by teachers.

Helmets must be worn for bikes and scooters of all kinds.

E-Scooters are not allowed, and riders must have a driver's license regardless of speed.

Parents, you can report absences by calling 916-971-7875, or you can email at sylvanabsence@sanjuan.edu, or in the parent portal.

NOTE:NOTE: If you are withdrawing your student from Sylvan, please contact the school directly.

Thank you.

Parents, please review the district cell phone policy with your student. It is in the Sylvan Middle School student planner and will also be reviewed in class by teachers and administrators during the beginning of the school year. Cell phones use is not permitted during instructional time and specified events. Thank you.

As a general rule, cell phones may only be used:

• Before and After School
• During Passing Periods
• During Lunch

Parents, please review the district dress code policy with your student. It is in the Sylvan Middle School student planner and will also be reviewed in class by teachers and administrators during the beginning of the school year. Please click on the PDF link above to see the district poster of the dress code policy. Thank you.

Bridges is still accepting applications for the after-school program at Sylvan Middle School. Please go to the front office for applications and additional information.

• CAASPP Testing April 13 - May 15, 2026.
• ELAC Meeting Thursday April 23rd, 2026 at 4:00pm in the Library.

Every Friday Evening at 5:00pm you will receive the Cougar News. It will keep you in the know about what is happening at Sylvan.