Wildcat Weekly

Hello, Wildcat Families and Students!

Last Tuesday, our eighth graders took part in a mock election in Mr. Davis’s class. It was a fun, hands-on way for students to experience the voting process and connect what they’re learning in class to life outside of school.

There’s plenty more to look forward to this week! On Tuesday, we have a field trip to San Diego’s Broadway Pier, our eighth graders will visit Palomar College, and the student store will open with Dippin’ Dots. Our school store fundraiser continues, and after-school math intervention is scheduled for sixth grade on Monday and seventh grade on Tuesday. Winter sports will also be starting soon, and we’re excited to cheer on our Wildcats!

This week, we’re celebrating School Psychologist Appreciation Week. Thank you to our school psychologist for helping students feel supported and ready to learn. On Wednesday, we’ll observe Veterans Day and honor those who have served. We will not have school.

After-school tutoring with Ms. Bonds started October 28, from 2:45–3:45 p.m.

Please check below for important School Safety Information.

Thank you for supporting our students and the experiences that make middle school memorable. Thank you for being part of our Wildcat community!

Please contact the office with any questions you may have!

Important Links:

DISTRICT CALENDAR.

BHS Legion Landing

Gratefully,

Angie James, Proud Principal ~ Click to email.

Sullivan Middle School and Bonsall High School

MONDAY:

• School Psychologist Appreciation Week
• School store Fundraiser Starts
• After School Math Intervention- 6th grade

TUESDAY:

• Student Store Opening (Sell Dippin Dots)

• SD Broadway Pier Fieldtrip and 8th Grade to Palomar

• Afterschool Math Intervention 7th

WEDNESDAY:

• NO SCHOOL

THURSDAY:

• Ballet Folklorico Practice 1:30 pm SMS

FRIDAY: Have a great weekend.

11/16: I Choose My Future Presentation

11/17: Coffee and Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Golly 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the library.

11/18: SoCal Indigenous Day Presentations

11/19: SoCal Indigenous Birst Singing Event

12/4: See's Candies PTO Fundraiser- Last day to order.

12/5: Fallbrook Christmas Parade.

The School Store Fundraiser has started. The SchoolStore is an online fundraising program that helps our school earn money and provides classroom resources for teachers and students. Families and friends can support the school by shopping through participating retailer links or donating Caring For Classrooms gift cards, which teachers redeem for supplies, books, games, and other educational materials. Students can also earn prizes for participating.

A Message from Student Services

Dear BUSD Families,

Following Friday's safety concern at Sullivan Middle School, we've heard from families who have questions about how we respond to potential threats, when a school goes into lockdown, and how we communicate during these situations. We understand these concerns and appreciate the opportunity to provide some clarity.

How do we determine when a lockdown is necessary?

Every BUSD school has a School Site Safety Plan that guides our response to potential safety concerns. When a concern is reported, school administrators assess the available information, consider the level of risk to students and staff, and work with law enforcement as appropriate.

A lockdown is generally used when there is an immediate or credible threat to campus safety, such as a dangerous individual on or near campus, evidence of an imminent act of violence, or direction from law enforcement.

Not every concerning report requires a lockdown. Depending on the circumstances, other safety measures may be more appropriate, including increased supervision, coordination with law enforcement, and continued monitoring. Our goal is always to respond appropriately to the level of risk and prioritize the safety of students and staff.

What happened on Friday?

When the concerning message was brought to the attention of school administration, staff responded and worked with law enforcement to assess the situation. Based on the information available, there was no known or substantiated threat to campus. Law enforcement did not direct a lockdown, and officers remained on campus as a precaution.

We recognize that families may have heard different accounts of what happened. While we cannot share every detail out of respect for student privacy, we want to assure you that the situation was taken seriously and action was taken immediately.

Communication with families

We understand that families want timely, accurate information when a safety concern arises. Our responsibility is to assess the situation, take appropriate safety measures, and communicate verified information as quickly as possible.

We also recognize that our communication on Friday did not reach every family as intended. Some families received an email but not a text notification, and we understand how concerning that can be when student safety is involved.

We are working with ParentSquare to review our notification procedures and explore options to ensure urgent safety messages reach families promptly. In the meantime, we encourage families to verify their contact information and notification settings in ParentSquare. Our school offices can assist if needed.

Keeping our schools safe

We know that information can spread quickly, especially when families are understandably concerned about their children's safety. Unfortunately, not all information circulating about Friday's situation has been accurate. We encourage families to rely on official school and district communications and to reach out directly whenever they have questions or concerns.

How you can help

• Keep encouraging your child to speak up. A student reporting this message is exactly what we want. If your child sees or hears something concerning, in person or online, they should tell a trusted adult right away.

• Talk with your child about online safety. Remind them not to engage with unknown or anonymous senders, and to show you or a staff member any message that makes them uncomfortable.

• Check your notification settings. Make sure your ParentSquare account has your current phone number and that text alerts are turned on. Contact your school office if you need help.

• Come to us first. If you have information or concerns, please contact school administration directly. That way we can respond quickly and with accurate information.

Next steps

The district will be holding cyber security and safety discussions at all sites to review best practices for students when navigating the online world.

The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your commitment to keeping our school community safe.

Allen Williams, Executive Director

Student Services

Congratulations to our 12 Sullivan Middle School ROAR Award recipients! Teachers at each grade level selected four students who exemplify what it means to ROAR at Sullivan. ROAR stands for Responsibility, Organization, a Can-Do Attitude, and Resilience. Our honorees show these qualities by following through on commitments, coming to class prepared, approaching new challenges with a positive attitude, and sticking with it when things get tough. We’re proud of the example they set for their fellow Wildcats!

Congratulations:

Annika Lascola

Sean Wetherald

Zoey Rose Domagalski

Emily Schmidt

John Wiley

Molly Mckenzie

Victoria Mack

Shon Bernabe

Andrew Hollister

Nathaniel Hesselgesser

Brooklyn Knaack

Kayden Walter

There’s a lot to be excited about in our Sullivan classrooms! In Mr. Davis’s class, eighth graders got a firsthand look at the voting process by casting ballots in a mock election. In science, students are exploring thermal energy and how Earth’s curved surface affects the angle at which sunlight reaches it. They’re learning why direct sunlight produces more warming by concentrating energy over a smaller area, while indirect sunlight spreads that energy over a larger area. In math, students turned test review into a friendly classroom competition as they prepared for their upcoming test. Meanwhile, our choir and guitar students are hard at work rehearsing for their upcoming shows. We can’t wait to hear what they’ve been working on!

Bigger and better than ever—the Bonsall Woman’s Club / Bonsall Unified School District Stages of Inspiration Art Contest & Show returns January 20, 2027, at SMS/BHS!

This year’s theme is “Building a Brighter Future.” All BUSD students (TK–12+) are invited to share their 2D/3D/Photography Art! January is right around the corner—start planning and making your artwork now!

Submit your entries December 1–16, 2026. Read the contest rules & complete the online submission form.

Meet the student artists helping spread the word!

Congratulations to the SMS and BHS art students whose art was selected to promote this year’s show; you will see their posters hanging at all BUSD school sites!

Winning Poster Artist: Charli Nguyen
Selected Poster Artists: Harper Ross, Selma Haven, Lily Winebrenner, and Jessica Clift-Crudo
Poster Contest Runners-Up: Chloe Ferrante, Kenia Delgado, and Brooklyn Knewek

Their creativity is just the beginning—we can’t wait to see yours!

Save the date: January 20, 2027 | SMS/BHS

Thank you to our sponsor, Nessy Burgers, for supporting the arts in Bonsall Unified School District!

Sullivan Parents & Athletes,

The Athletic Director Mr. Arteaga will be hosting a Q&A in room 19 Monday October 26th to answer all questions about winter sports. Please attend if you or your child is interested in participating in our winter sports. Meeting time will be from 4:30m to 5pm.The 2 sports offered in the WINTER are Boys Basketball and Girls Soccer.

Please bring an electronic device to join the TEAMREACH APP.

TRYOUT INFORMATIONWinter Sports Tryouts are November 16th - November 18th! **Your child may try out without being registered on Home Campus, but if they are selected for the team, they MUST be cleared by Friday, Nov. 27th, or their spot on the roster will be in jeopardy. Please have a plan to get them a sports physical NOW so you are prepared! The Physical must have a STAMP to verify they went to see a Doctor! Dr. Richard Uhler in Temecula, can do physicals for $40. He will get you scheduled within a day or two! His phone number is: 951-693-9678

Here are the links on how to clear your athlete as well as HOMECAMPUSSullivan Clearance Checklist
HOMECAMPUS

Boys' Basketball Tryouts will be Monday, Wednesday, Nov. 16,18th from 3:00pm -4:15pmand Thursday Nov 19th from 1:30 to 3:00pmFinal Roster Posted Friday

Girls' Soccer Tryouts will be on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Nov. 16th, 17th, and 18th on the upper field from 3:00-4:15pm. Final Roster Posted Friday Nov 20th

Practices will begin Nov 30th. You must be cleared in order to practice.
Please email Mr. Arteaga if there are any questionssierra.arteaga@bonsallusd.com

--
Sierra ArteagaSullivan Middle School
Math Teacher | Athletic Director

Dear Sullivan Families,
This Thanksgiving, Love On Your Back (LOYB) is working to help local children and families enjoy a special holiday meal. We are currently serving 55 local families and are hoping to collect as many gift cards and monetary donations as possible to help make Thanksgiving a little brighter for everyone.
We are collecting $20 gift cards to Walmart or Grocery Outlet, allowing families to purchase the food they need for a Thanksgiving meal of their choice. Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated and will help us support these families during the holiday season.
Every donation, big or small, makes a difference!
Please see the attached flyer for details on how to donate. Your generosity helps ensure that local children and families can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with the people they love.
Thank you so much for your continued kindness, generosity, and support of our Bonsall community!
With gratitude,
Love On Your Back (LOYB)
Together, we can make a difference! ❤️

Every school day matters! Regular attendance helps students stay connected, keep up with learning, and build strong relationships with teachers and classmates.

Students are considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school days, including excused and unexcused absences. At this point in the year, missing just four days reaches that threshold.

When students are absent for any reason, our school offers an opportunity to complete an independent study agreement. Students must complete the missed work for their classes and have the independent study paperwork signed by each teacher. Students may use up to 15 independent study days, which, when properly completed and approved, do not count toward chronic absenteeism.

Ms. Carmen has been working with students and families to help them access this opportunity and stay on track with their learning. Please call the office with any questions about attendance or the independent study process. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our Wildcats learning and connected!

To help keep our Wildcats safe and ensure a smooth arrival and dismissal each day, please review the following important reminders.

Morning Drop-Off:
Parents and guardians should drop students off in their designated 6th, 7th, or 8th grade drop-off areas. Please do not drop students off in the bus drop-off area at the top of the parking lot. This area must remain clear for our buses to safely enter, unload students, and exit campus.

Afternoon Pick-Up:
To ensure the safety and supervision of all students during dismissal, starting at 3:15 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, all students who are still waiting to be picked up will be moved to the 6th-grade parking lot. On Thursday, our early release day, students will be moved to this area beginning at 1:40 PM.

If your 7th- or 8th-grade student has not been picked up by these times, they will be directed to the designated supervised area in the 6th-grade parking lot, where families can pick them up.

Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and partnership in helping us keep our Wildcats safe during our busy arrival and dismissal times!

Sullivan Middle School hosts a Lunch on the Lawn every other month for parents and families to eat lunch with their students on campus. Parents and families are welcome to bring lunch, chairs, or a blanket and eat lunch on the front lawn of Sullivan. Parents will be asked to check at the Welcome Booth before entering the campus.

Here are the dates for Lunch on the Lawn:

November 19 - Thursday

Lunch A - 10:27 to 10:57

Lunch B - 11:13 to 11:43

January 14 - Thursday

Lunch A - 10:27 to 10:57

Lunch B - 11:13 to 11:43

March 18 - Thursday

Lunch A - 10:27 to 10:57

Lunch B - 11:13 to 11:43

May 20 - Thursday: LAST LUNCH ON THE LAWN

Lunch A - 10:27 to 10:57

Lunch B - 11:13 to 11:43

Parent Liaison: Leonor Rodriguez

Welcome to another school year 2026-27/Bienvenidos a otro año escolar 2026-27

The Bonsall Unified School District and I welcome you back to school for the 2026-27 school year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

El distrito escolar unificado de Bonsall y yo les damos la bienvenida de regreso a la escuela para el año escolar 2026-27.

Community Liaison Newsletter

ATTENTION PARENTS!

Only emergency vehicles, buses, those with handicap placards, and those with other special placards have access to the upper lot, emergency lane closest to the front of our schools. You will need to show your placard to Campus Security.

We ask that If you have a parking pass because your student received the ROAR Award for that month you may continue to have access to the upper lot at the end of the school day. Please do not park in the bus lanes or block the handicap spaces.

This decision to enforce our existing parking lot plan aligns with the recommendations of our community safety partners and will increase our ability to maintain a safe and secure site:

• When dropping students off, please use the lower levels of the parking lot.
• When visiting either the middle or the high school office, please park in the lower levels, bring your ID to the front, and check in with the appropriate staff.

Gates accessing the upper lane will continue to be closed to secure the campus. We appreciate your partnership and support in our efforts to provide the highest levels of safety for our students

Exciting news!: Students will be able to eat for free during the 25-26 school year!

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM NUTRITION SERVICES and lunch menu.

Website: https://sm.bonsallusd.com
Location: 7350 West Lilac Road, Bonsall, CA 92003, USA
Phone: 760-631-5209