Sunlake Weekly Update

Highest points of all traditional high schools!

Student Hours: 7:10 AM-1:44 PM

Email: kmerlin@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: https://slhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/
Location: 3023 Sunlake Boulevard, Land O' Lakes, FL, USA
Phone: (813) 346-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/SLHSseahawk
Twitter: @SLHSseahawks

Dear Sunlake Families,

As we prepare for another successful school year, I am proud to share that, according to the State grading system, Sunlake High School once again ranks highest among traditional high schools in Pasco County. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to academic excellence. To maintain this standard, we will address any disruptions to the learning environment, including, early dismissals swiftly and appropriately.

This handbook edition of the Weekly Update contains essential information about our policies, procedures, and schedules—all designed to support our academic priorities. I strongly encourage every family to read all included documents to ensure a smooth and informed transition into the new school year.

Your partnership is vital; student success in academics, attendance, and behavior is only possible through the strong collaboration between school and home. Thank you for being an integral part of our continued success and I look forward to the best year yet for our Seahawk community!

Ms. Merlin

As outlined in the attached document, Sunlake will follow the District Student Code of Conduct policy on wireless communication devices. Please thoroughly review the attached document as this applies to cell phones, ear buds, and wireless headphones. The paragraph below is taken directly from the Student Code of Conduct.

Grades 9 through 12 – Students who bring WCDs to school must ensure that they remain on silent mode and completely out of view for the entire school day except for the student’s lunch period, or as expressly authorized by the classroom teacher for a specific instructional activity. Classroom teachers may also provide, and students may utilize, a cell phone storage area in their classroom. These expectations also apply to extra-curricular and co-curricular activities that occur before or after the school day. The district will utilize its existing IEP, Section 504 plan, and student medical processes and procedures to evaluate requests for accommodation that are supported with the needed documentation.

Be sure to download the 25-26 Bell Schedule and keep it handy!

To better support instructional continuity and reduce the number of early dismissals, the bell schedule has been adjusted to move the lunch period to the end of the school day. This change minimizes disruptions during critical testing windows and allows upperclassmen who drive to school the opportunity to complete six on-campus classes before being dismissed during C lunch. This structure supports both academic focus and student flexibility. The administrative team is committed to working closely with families to accommodate students with documented medical needs by developing individualized snack plans as needed.

We understand that there are rare occasions when students may need to leave early due to medical appointments or other extenuating circumstances. However, we kindly ask families to schedule such appointments outside of school hours whenever possible, especially after 2:00 PM.

Your cooperation with the procedures below helps us maintain the integrity of instructional time and supports the academic success of all students. Please note: Early dismissals will no longer be accepted via telephone.

1. Due to student safety concerns and large increases in traffic during dismissal time we do not dismiss students after 1:15 PM. If your child has an afternoon appointment that requires them to leave campus prior to 1:44 PM they need to be signed out prior to 1:15 PM. Entrance to the front parking lot will be locked from 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.

2. Parents/Guardians of students that do not have a valid 2025-2026 campus parking permit must come into the front office and sign out their student if they are leaving prior to their last scheduled class on campus.

3. Students with a valid 2025-2026 campus parking permit must have a written and signed note from a parent/guardian and submit that to Guidance in order to drive themselves home prior to their normal dismissal time. #4 below still applies.

4. All early dismissals will count as unexcused absence from missed classes unless a note from a physician or therapist is submitted the day following the early dismissal.

5. All students, including those with a valid 2025-2026 parking permit, will report to guidance to sign out early.

6. Parents that come to the front office to sign out their student will exit the front office and then wait outside of the main gate for their student.

I encourage you to read this document thoroughly each year...although it is a hefty document! You may notice that I will often refer to district policy that is listed within this document. No time to read it all today? No worries, after today's Handbook Edition of the Weekly Update the Student Code of Conduct can always be found at the bottom of each Weekly Update under Frequently Referred to Documents.

No changes...other than increased enforcement!

ARRIVAL:

With 2200 students entering campus between 6:40 AM and 7:05 AM our morning procedures have to be TIGHT so please read all procedures carefully to help ensure a safe and smooth start to each day! Student supervision begins at 6:40 AM.

**The 1st 10 days of school we will keep gates open until the traffic is finished and tardies for 1st period are waived**

General Arrival Information:

• ALL buildings will remain closed to students until the 1st bell rings at 7:05 AM.
• Students with written passes from teachers can enter a building with permission from the monitoring staff prior to 7:05 AM.
• In the event of severe weather, students will be admitted to the buildings prior to 7:05 AM.
• ALL gates will close at 7:10 AM and tardy students that are dropped off after 7:10 AM, must enter through the front office and obtain a tardy pass. These tardies are considered UNEXCUSED tardies after Day 10.

Student Drivers & Staff Members:

• Only cars with Sunlake Issued Parking Tags can enter campus at the traffic light. Any car without a tag will asked to do a u-turn and this significantly slows down our prcoedures so please, please, please do not make this mistake.
• Students may not park on campus unless they have been issued a 2025-2026 parking tag and it is displayed on their rear-view mirror or dash. We have only 480-ish parking spaces and over 1000 juniors and seniors. We do not have enough parking spaces for everyone who wants them and illegally parked cars are considered a safety hazard and may be subject to having a wheel "boot" placed on the vehicle.
• Tardy students that are drivers will be marked unexcused tardy by their teacher. Student drivers are subject to losing their parking pass for repeated tardies as outlined in the parking agreement.

Student Drop-Off:

• Enter near the airplane, regardless of whether you are approaching campus from the North or South.
• Pull all the way to the TEAL COLUMN or until the car in front of you comes to a full and complete stop! If you stop too early you slow down the entire process.
• Be patient and kind with each other and with the Sunlake staff
• Please do not enter at the traffic light as that entrance is only for staff and student drivers that have a permit. You will be instructed to do a u-turn...this will slow down all other traffic and frustrate you!

Walkers, Bike Riders, Scooter and Skateboards:

• The front gate between the Administration Building (100) and the Band Building (200) opens at 6:40 AM and only walkers, bike, scooter and skateboard riders and students with valid front parking lot tags should enter at these gates.
• We do not have covered storage for bikes, scooters, skateboards or other modes of transportation. Please plan accordingly!
• We do provide bike racks and every student should bring a lock to secure their bike (boards and scooters) to the racks and or surrounding fence.
• Due to safety concerns, students must dismount bicycles, scooters and skateboards upon leaving Sunlake Boulevard and entering the campus sidewalk.

DISMISSAL:

While many upper classmen will leave prior to 1:44 PM, we are still dismissing over 1500 students at 1:44 PM so our dismissal procedures are as tight as our arrival procedures.

General Dismissal Information:

• Students are to remain in their 6th period location until the bell rings at 1:44 PM.
• When the 1:44 PM bell rings students are to go directly to their dismissal area or after-school activity and are not to loiter on campus.
• We dismiss all students at the same time.
• For the safety of our students using the sidewalk at dismissal, please do not pull over on Sunlake Boulevard to avoid the pick-up line.

Student Drivers:

• Student drivers must go directly to their vehicle and exit campus after their last class.
• Student drivers exit before busses and need to be vigilant for directives from adults on duty.

Bus Riders:

• Students must listen carefully to afternoon announcements in case there is a bus change.
• Students must go directly to the bus loop and immediately board the bus.
• Students may only ride on their assigned bus.

Car Pick-Up:

• The gate to Car Pick-Up will open at 1:40 PM.
• Students will report directly to the car pick-up area at 1:44 PM.
• When the cars begin to move please pull forward to the teal column or until the entire line has come to a complete stop.

For the past several years, all Pasco County Schools have been part of a federal program called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This program has allowed us to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of income.

However, due to rising food costs and changes in federal legislation, our district will be making some changes starting with the 2025–2026 school year.

Sunlake will no longer have free lunch and breakfast for all students so families will need to fill out Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications to see if their child qualifies for free or discounted meals.

Below is a link to the Free and Reduced Meal Application:

• Free and Reduced Lunch Application and Information

If you have questions, please contact Food and Nurtition through Let’s Talk: School Meals.

8/5/25- Meet the Teacher Day- 9:00 AM-11:30 AM

8/11/25- First Day of School

9/1/25- NO SCHOOL: Labor Day

9/15/25-9/20/25-Homecoming Week

9/15- Powder Puff Game

9/17- Skit Night

9/19- Homecoming Football Game

9/20/25- Homecoming Dance

4/17/26- GradBash

5/9/26- Prom

6/5/26- Graduation (6:30 PM)

https://sunlakeperch.com/

The link above will take you to Sunlake's very own virtual newspaper with articles written by our talented student journalists! This link will stay active all year and be posted at the bottom of each newsletter so be sure to check it out each week. Who knows? Your child may end up in a feature article!!