Wildcat Weekly

Hello, Wildcat Families and Students!

A huge thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigated the unexpected school closures due to power shutoffs this past week. We recognize the challenges and frustrations caused by the short notice, and we appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we worked to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff. As always we appreciate your support!

A few updates:

• Final semester grades are now posted in Aeries. Grade reports will NOT be mailed out. Please check Aeries for the final updates.
• PTO fundraisers:
• Mountain Mikes Pizza: SMS RECIVES 35% ~ January 30 11:00 am to 9pm!
• Nothing Bunt Cakes is coming!: January 21 to Feb 3

Parents, we will be starting a math intervention class for students once a week during their PE classes beginning after the Winter Break. It will be for students who need extra help based on recent tests and Star scores. If your student has been chosen for this intervention, you will be notified via email or phone call.

Have a wonderful week!

Angie James,

Your Proud Principal!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Kami Padilla, and I am delighted to introduce myself

as your child’s 6th/7th grade science teacher here at Sullivan.

A little about my background: I graduated from CSULB with a credential in Health/Science and

taught 8th-grade science and AVID for nine wonderful years in Long Beach before moving to

beautiful Fallbrook with my family. I am passionate about fostering creativity, promoting critical

thinking, and building a supportive classroom community. Communication is key to your child’s success, and I value your input and partnership in their education journey. Please feel free to contact me via email or phone, and I will do my best to respond promptly.

I am looking forward to getting to know each of you and working together to ensure a productive

and enjoyable school year for your child.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Padilla

Kami.padilla@bonsallusd.com

1. NO SCHOOL MONDAY 1/20/25

2. Basketball and soccer play at SMS against San Marcos on Tuesday.

3. ELAC meeting: Wednesday 1/22/25 from 3:00 to 4:30

4. Saturday School: 1/25/25 from 8:00am-12:00 am

1. Basketball and soccer play Valley Center at SMS on Monday, 1/27

2. Basketball and soccer play at SMS against Woodland Park, Tuesday 1/28.

3. Basketball and soccer play at Valley Center, Wednesday 1/29

4. Semester Awards Assembly: Thursday 1/30/25.

5. 8th grade to UCSD on Tuesday, 2/4

6. 7th grade to SDSU on Wednesday, 2/5

7. ROAR Awards on Thursday, 2/6

8. PTO Meeting Monday, 2/10

9. 6th grade to Cal State San Marcos, Wednesday 2/12

10. SMS Friendship Dance, Wednesday 2/12 3:00 to 4:30

11. Lunch on the Lawn, Friday 2/14.

CONGRATULATIONS SUPERSTAR WILDCATS!

ROAR Awards: 4 students per grade level are picked by the teachers at each grade level. The students that are picked are chosen because they represent Sullivan's Character Traits of

R - Responsible

O - Organized

A- Can Do ATTITUDE!

R- Resilient

Parents are invited in the morning to help recognize and honor their Wildcat for this accomplishment. We have a light breakfast with juice, coffee, and water offered for our Wildcats and Families during this time in the morning.

The students receive:

1. Front of the lunch line pass

2. Get out of school 3 min early pass

3. Parents get a placard so you can drive up to the top, past the gates to pick up your Wildcat right at the front, ROCKSTAR STATUS!

This event happens once a month and the passes are good everyday for that entire month!

Sullivan will be hosting our GPA Semester Awards Ceremony on Thursday, 1/30/25. Students will be recognized for their outstanding academic work and success. The categories are as follows:

Gold Award - Principal's Honor Roll with Distinction - 3.9-4.0 only A/A-

Silver Award - Principal's Honor Roll - 3.5-3.99

Bronze Award - Honor Roll - 3.0-3.49

The Semester Awards Ceremony for GPA will take place on Thursday, 1/30/25:

8th grade: 12:45 to 1:25

7th grade: 1:30 to 2:05

6th grade: 2:10 to 2:45

Please make sure to arrive 15 to 20 min early to allow for time to be checked in.

Please mark these events on your calander!

ELAC Meeting

Dear Parents,

Our ELAC meeting will be on Wednesday 01/22/2025 from 3:00pm-4:30pm in the Library.

Junta de ELAC

Estimados padres,

Tendremos nuestra próxima reunión de ELAC el Miércoles 01/22/2025 de 3:00 p.m. a 4:30 p.m. en la biblioteca.

Sullivan Middle School

English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)

Agenda

01/22/2025

The mission of Bonsall Unified School District is to empower all students to achieve their maximum learning potential. Each California School with 21 or more English Learners, regardless of their language, must form an English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC). The purpose of this committee is to advise the principal and staff in the development of a site plan to the School Site Council for consideration of inclusion in the School Plan for Student Achievement. Assisting in the development of the schoolwide needs assessment; ways to make parents aware of the importance of regular school attendance; and each ELAC shall have the opportunity to elect at least one member to the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC).

Location: Sullivan Middle School - Library

3:00 pm Call to Order (Llamar a la orden)

• Welcome, Introductions, and Attendance (Bienvenidos, Introducciones, y Asistencia)

• In attendance: Mrs Suetos VP, Mr. Mencias ELD teacher.

3:10pm ELPAC testing

• Parents will view practice test problems

3:30 p.m. Learning Ally

• How parents can help their students to access learning Ally

• How Learning Ally can give access to an endless amount of books

3:40 p.m. Update on EL testing

• Our Long-term English Learners decreased by 47 points last year in Language Arts and are currently at 116.8 points below standard in language arts.

• Math: Declined by 16 points and are currently 152 points below grade level.

• English Learner progress declined by 8.3%, with 56% making progress. The state is at 47%, making progress with a decline of 3%

4:10p.m. Multilingual student panel

• Why is being bilingual important?

• How does being bilingual help you in your everyday life?

• What do you enjoy about coming to school?

• What is your favorite class and why?

• What has been a book you can relate to and why?

• What career path do you want to pursue?

• What is one memory you have of the ELD program?

• What advice would you give future ELD students?

4:25 p.m. Parent Input: What is going well? What is not going well? What can we do to change it?

4:30 p.m. Closing

Thank you to Molly Stegmiller for your beautiful art work!

Calling all TK-12th grade artists!

3rd annual Bonsall Woman’s Club/BUSD Stages of Inspiration Art Contest & Show: “Belong, BELIEVE, Achieve”

Art Show date: April 30, 2025

Art submissions due: March 17, 2025, submit to teacher/front office

PRIZES Sponsored by Nessy Burgers will be awarded by age/category.

CATEGORIES:

• 2D (“fine arts”)

• Watercolor, acrylic, or oil painting; oil pastel, chalk pastel, pen and ink, or graphite drawings; mixed media work

• 3D (“crafts”)

• Sewing, crochet, knitting, cross stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, pottery, sculpture, woodwork, metalsmithing, jewelry, “trash-to-treasure” etc.

• Photography

• grades 6-12 only, 8x10 prints only

• 
  

Original art only; pre-packaged “kits” not allowed.

BUSD students will also be “taking the stage” for musical and dance performances during this celebration of THE ARTS!

The History of Sullivan Memorial Garden

The Sullivan Memorial Garden is a unique, peaceful place in the center of Sullivan Middle School with a lovely story behind it that started in 2002.

The McGuinness Memorial Tree was planted in 2002 in memory of Tom McGuiness who was a pilot on one of the infamous 9-11 planes on 9-11-2001. His son, Tommy attended Sullivan Middle School. After the 9-11 tragedies, Cheryl McGuinness, Tom’s widow, planted a tree in the center of SMS in Tom’s honor. At that time the garden surrounding the Tree was in disrepair.

Joshua Metzler who attended SMS from 2003 - 2006 was a boy scout and in 2006 he decided to serve the community and the school through his Eagle Project. Josh had met the McGuinness family while attending Riverview Church and often played with Tommy. For his Eagle Project, Josh wanted to honor Tom’s memory by building a suitable garden around the “McGuinness Memorial Tree.” Josh landscaped the area surrounding the tree and built a fence around the newly planted garden, giving the McGuinness Memorial Tree, the distinction it was due.

Tragically, five years later, on his way home from college, Josh Metzler was in a fatal car accident at just 19 years old. The new Sullivan Memorial Garden that he had created seemed like the perfect place to plant a tree in his honor. The tree and plaque still stand in his honor to this day.

Since that time, many other people have been honored in the unique, serenity of the Sullivan Memorial Garden. Each year volunteers from Riverview Church have spent a day cleaning and caring for the garden to ensure the garden remains a peaceful, beautiful space on campus.

Recently, Josh’s Mom, Lisa Metzler and Riverview Church volunteers replaced the aging and deteriorating fence surrounding the Memorial Garden giving this Memorial Garden a brand new look. Wildcat families are encouraged to admire this wonderful space during Lunch on the Lawn or any time they are on the Sullivan Middle School Campus.

After school tutoring can be for any subject. I just ask that the students please come prepared. It'll be every Thursday from 2:45-3:45 unless I have to cancel for whatever reason. Please let students know my expectations when arriving.

Expectations:

1.) Sign in NAME, WHAT THEY WILL BE WORKING ON, TIME IN & TIME OUT
2.) Come prepared to work on something (I am not an afterschool care room). If they don't have anything, I will give them something to work on (MATH RELATED)
3.) Voice level - 0 to 1
4.) No horse playing
5.) Phones cannot be a distraction!
6.) Be respectful to everyone in the classroom.

Thank you and have a great night,
Veronica Toscano
Norman L. Sullivan Middle Math teacher
veronica.toscano@bonsallusd.com

Our sports teams have already started competing this season! Good luck, Wildcats!

**Attention parents**

There will be practices 4 to 5 days a week after school. The games will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with parents being responsible to pick up their child and take them to the game or arrangements with other parents can be made.

Any questions please email me: andrea.breuninger@bonsallusd.com

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL INFORMATION REGARDS SPORTS.

CLICK HERE FOR A PDF OF STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS OF WHAT IS NEEDED AND HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR ATHLETES INFORMATION.

CLICK HERE FOR A PDF OF THE SPORTS PHYSICAL.

Tues., Jan 28

Woodland Park Middle

1270 Rock Springs Rd, San Marcos, CA 92069

V 3:30pm, JV 4:30pm

V- 2pm

Wed., Jan. 29

Valley Center Middle

28102 N Lake Wohlford Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082

V 3:30pm, JV 4:30pm

V- 2pm

Tues., Feb. 4

Double Peak Middle

111 San Elijo Rd, San Marcos, CA 92078

V 3:30pm, JV 4:30pm

V-2:00pm

ZAP(Zeros Aren't Permitted) started last week with students being assigned to after school from 2:45 to 3:45; ZAP sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to give our Wildcats the opportunity to make up classwork and homework. If your student is assigned, they will bring home a ZAP reminder.

Parent Liaison: Leonor Rodriguez

Welcome to another school year 2024-2025/Bienvenidos a otro año escolar 2024-2025

Mensaje de la Cordinadora de Enlaces Comunitario

The Bonsall Unified School District and I welcome you back to school for the 2024-2025 school year.

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

El distrito escolar unificado de Bonsall y yo les damos la bienvenida de regreso a la escuela para el año escolar 2024-2025.

• Workshops at the district office #4
• BUSD all school's schedule
• Next board meeting
• 3RD. Annual Car Show at BHS
• 3RD. Annual Multicultural Night at SMS
• Breakfast and lunch menu (all schools)
• Safe storage of firearms state memorandum (Spanish included)
• Local library resources
• Local health resources
• Local food pantry resources
• BUSD Hiring website and contact information
• Joining PTA Information
• BEF information
• Transportation information
• Public Health Updates from the County
• My contact information (all information is in both languages, English and Spanish)

Thank you all for your support. Please continue to send me referrals of parents and students who need support and assistance in any area. Our goal is to assist, support, and guide parents and students to a successful education.

Please access Leonore's newsletter at the following link: https://secure.smore.com/n/9naue

Grief Support Group at School in Partnership with The Elizabeth Hospice

Creating a safe and meaningful space for students to share about their loved one who has died provides an opportunity to gain support from peers who have a shared experience. There are many benefits to facilitating a grief support group at school. These include students learning about grief and loss, developing coping skills and tools, honoring and memorializing loved ones, and sharing grief experiences with peers.

What to expect?

• Each group will have 8-15 students at your school site.
• Each person in the group has also experienced the death of a loved one.
• Group will run for 7-8 weeks, meeting weekly during school.
• Each group follows the same structure: an opening exercise, an activity to write and/or draw about loved ones and grief experiences, an opportunity to share, a closing.
• Group is meant to be a safe space where children can share their feelings, thoughts, memories, experiences about their loved one and grief as well as who and what supports them in coping with their grief.

To ensure the participation for your student, please sign the authorization link below. One form per student is required. Our team will confirm receipt of consent. For any other questions, please reach out to Kyliegh Fox, School Psychologist, at kyliegh.fox@bonsallusd.com.

o Student Authorization

o SPANISH - Student Authorization

About Love On Your Back

Love On Your Back was founded by Carol Wood, a teacher who taught in the Bonsall School District for 32 years. Upon retirement, Carol started the non-profit organization, along with the help of many others, to address the issue of Bonsall students who may have minimal access to food. The backpack program supplements food for low income families or children whose families are in crisis. These students rely on free or reduced breakfasts and lunches at their schools. Love On Your Back supplements these children by filling backpacks with nutritional food to last over the weekend when they are not in school. It is our belief that children need proper nutrition in order to learn. The goal of Love On Your Back is to fill that need for any student in the Bonsall Unified School District who is food compromised. No child should go hungry.

If you want to register for our program, please do so at your child's school in the front office. All children in the family can be registered on one application.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Hello AMAZING Wildcat Families!

Welcome to the 2024-2025 School Year. As you know we are always needing Parent volunteers. The Volunteer Packet must be completed every school year. If you already have the Lifescan (fingerprints) with BUSD, you do not need to get new ones. If your TB test is over 3 years old, we will be asking you for an updated negative TB Test result. You will need both of these extra forms along with the volunteer form to volunteer on campus or on field trips where you will be or could be alone with students. If you would be open to being a driver for sports, we will need all of the above and the drivers form.

I've attached all the forms to this email. Please feel free to complete them and scan them back to me..

Please let us know if you have questions. You can reach our AMAZING OFFICE MANAGER, LINDA PIPE at linda.pipe@bonsallusd.com

Thanks for all you do,
Sullivan Middle School

• Download Bonsall Unified School District Transportation Private Driver Registration Form (field trips, sports, performances, etc.) (1).pdf

• Download SMS Volunteer Packet (4).pdf

Sullivan Middle School hosts a Lunch on the Lawn monthly 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.

As a reminder, Sullivan will not be accepting any third party delivery for any students. Lunch on the Lawn is for Parents and guardians to spend time with their Wildcat during the school day and enjoy lunch together. I have schedule this once a month so families could attend as many as they would like or could attend. Please refer to the student and parent handbook for more information or you may call the office. Thank you in advance.

Here are the dates for Lunch on the Lawn:

December 13- Friday

Lunch A - 10:27 to 10:57

Lunch B - 11:13 to 11:43

January 17 - Friday

Lunch A - 10:27 to 10:57

Lunch B - 11:13 to 11:43

February 14 - Friday

Lunch A - 10:27 to 10:57

Lunch B - 11:13 to 11:43

March 14 - Friday

Lunch A - 10:27 to 10:57

Lunch B - 11:13 to 11:43

April 11 - Friday

Lunch A - 10:27 to 10:57

Lunch B - 11:13 to 11:43

May 16 - Friday: LAST LUNCH ON THE LAWN

Lunch A - 10:27 to 10:57

Lunch B - 11:13 to 11:43

Exciting news!: Students will be able to eat for free during the 23-24 school year!

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

School starts every day at 8:00 am and can be dropped off as early as 7:30 am. Please make sure to drop your student off in the lower parking lot because the upper parking lot will be closed to allow our students to walk across the walkway safely.

Your student will receive his/ her class schedule on the first day of school. All of the 6th grade and half of the 7th grade will have first lunch and follow Bell Schedule A.

All of 8th grade and half of 7th grade will have second lunch and follow Bell Schedule B.

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

Contact Ms. James here.

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