We hope you enjoyed the long weekend and are feeling refreshed as we dive into another full week at Sycamore Junior High.

This past Monday, our school community came together to remember and honor the life of Mrs. MariLouise Hubbard, a beloved educator who made an unforgettable impact on Sycamore Junior High. She touched the lives of generations of students and colleagues, not only as a teacher but also as a committed substitute after her retirement. To support our students and staff as we process this loss, we were grateful to have district counselors and Children's Hospital crisis response counselors with us on Monday. In her memory, students also participated in a Flex activity where they created heartfelt posters honoring Mrs. Hubbard’s legacy. If your student is in need of additional support in the coming weeks, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office team, we are here for you.

In other news, we’re proud to share that our students have wrapped up state testing, and they did a fantastic job! We are incredibly proud of their focus and effort throughout the testing window.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to begin planning for Staff Appreciation Week (May 5–9). Our staff gives so much to our students each day, and we want to make sure they feel the love! In the coming weeks, you’ll see ways you and your student can help us recognize and celebrate our amazing team. Below, you’ll find information about how to submit a note of appreciation for a staff member or how to sign up to help through our PTO—we’d love for you to take part.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are grateful to be part of such a caring and connected school community.

Warmly,

Mrs. Schunk, Mr. Meyer, Mrs. Helms

• May 2-4: Choir Trip to Chicago

• May 5-9: Staff Appreciation Week

• May 16 & 19: Art Exam (Cydrus' Art Foundations Only)

• May 19 & 20: World Language Exam

• May 20 & 21: HS Math Exam (Algebra & Geometry)

• May 22: 7th Grade Day

• May 22: 8th Grade Day @ BARC

• May 23: Last Day of Classes & End of 4th Quarter

As part of Staff Appreciation Week, we invite you to celebrate our amazing Sycamore Junior High staff!

Staff Appreciation Google Form

Please share a favorite memory, story, or a heartfelt message of gratitude for a staff member who has made a difference. You can submit a written response or upload a short video message—whatever feels most meaningful to you!

All submissions are due by April 28th. Your kind words mean more than you know!

Teacher and Staff Appreciation week is coming up in early May. The PTO has some awesome ideas for ways to shower our staff with love and appreciation for all they do for us. Please see the sign-up genius for items to bring in or you can Venmo money to help shower our staff with love. We will provide them with self-care bags, a snack cart, a coffee cart, a catered hot lunch, and a fun popcorn bar. Thanks for helping to show our appreciation by donating.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4CA5A722ABFD0-56380132-sycamore

As we approach the end of the school year, all students will be required to return their school-issued locker locks. Please make sure you know where your lock is and that it is still securely on your locker. Any locks that are lost or not turned in will result in a replacement fee of $8. Help us wrap up the year smoothly by keeping track of your lock now! If you haven't used your locker in a while, don't worry! Flex bell teachers have locker assignments and combinations.

Registration for Sycamore Summer School 2025 will begin on April 1. We will be offering enrichment and credit recovery for students. Click on the grade level to view the associated Summer School

Course Catalog:

• Grades 7-8: June 2-27 at Sycamore Junior High

Registration can be done via Google Forms specific to each grade level beginning April 1. Registration for transportation must be completed by May 16.

• 5-8 Summer School Registration

• Transportation Form

Huge shout out to our School Resource Officer Mr. Kassem and his colleagues Officer Martin and Officer Flick. They were special guests at Technology Club these past few weeks. Technology Club participants got to see all their awesome police technology, from their decked out cruisers to radar guns to amazing drones! Mr. Brenner and Mr. Gutermuth and the Technology Club greatly appreciated their time and their presentation was top notch!

Sadie F. - In addition to her strong work ethic, Sadie is kind, respectful, and always willing to help others. She participates in class, seeks help when needed, and can always be counted on to do the right thing. - Mrs. Craver

Cate T. - She is incredibly kind, always willing to help others, and goes out of her way to make sure everyone feels included and supported.- Mrs. Cydrus

Ziniyah O. - She is dependable, kind, hard working, and mature. She advocates for herself, has strong communication skills, takes initiative and is willing to take risks to learn more about herself and the world around her. - Mrs. Darbyshire

Miriam Y. - She has become a leader in our classroom who I can always depend on to participate and help her peers. Miriam is also one of the most thoughtful and kind students I have ever taught.- Mrs. Deaton

As we look ahead to the second semester, we want to remind everyone about the exciting 7th and 8th Grade Day events at the end of the year! These events are a great way for students to celebrate all their hard work and have a blast with their friends. Here's a quick preview:

What is 7th Grade Day?
Students will spend the day playing games, watching movies, hanging out with friends, enjoying outdoor activities on the field, and much more! It’s a fun and relaxing day full of excitement.

What is 8th Grade Day?
8th graders will head to Blue Ash Rec for a day of swimming, playing games, hanging out with friends, grilling out, enjoying shaved ice, and so much more! It’s the perfect way to mark the end of middle school before moving on to high school.

These events are highly anticipated by our students, and we want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to join in on the fun. To attend these special days, students must meet the following expectations: (this was shared with all students on the first day of school and in the newsletter)

• No expulsions during the school year.
• No suspensions in the second semester.
• No more than one F in the 4th quarter (we will do weekly status checks).
• 10 or more staff managed referrals for defiance, disrespect, insubordination or safety 4th quarter will also lead to the lose of the event
• Behavior the week of the event can also lead to lose of the event

We want all students to have a positive and fun experience, so let’s work together to meet these expectations and make the most of the rest of the year! If your child loses eligibility they will remain at school in a supervised room for the duration of the event. If your child does not come to school that day they will be marked absence according to regular attendance policies.

Join us for the next General PTO Meeting on Wednesday, April 23 at 6:30. The meeting will be virtual. See the link below.

This meeting will introduce the proposed PTO Executive Board for next year. We will also give updates for the end of the school year.

We look forward to seeing you on April 23rd at 6:30 pm.!

Meeting Link

The Sycamore boys water polo team is about to embark on its 50th year of the program and we would love for your family to be a part of the journey. On Monday May 5th at 7pm at the high school, there will be a parent and future player meeting for Squadron 2025. The Meeting will take place in room 1809.

Come learn about this fast paced, exciting sport as we celebrate the long standing tradition of Sycamore Water polo and battle our way to the top of Ohio.

Meeting Details

Date: Monday May 5th

Time: 7pm

Location: Sycamore High School, room 1809 (1st floor orange- History Wing)

Hey 7th, 8th and 9th graders!

Are you interested in becoming a STEM Youth (K-6) Leader at the Symmes Elementary Camp Invention program this summer?

What: What does a youth Leader-in-Training do? They learn STEM and leadership skills to guide K-6 youth in hands-on invention challenges and also receive activities to complete at home.

Check this information out and/or register @Leader-in-Training) or

(https://www.invent.org/programs/leaders-in-training)

When: Camp runs daily, the week of June 2nd - June 6th, from 9 am to 3 pm!

Where: Symmes Elementary School

Cost: $175

Questions? Any questions? Email Mrs. Jarvis, Sycamore Junior High's Leader-in-Training mentor, at jarvisk@sycamoreschools.org.

Go Authentic STEM/ STEAM Education!

We are both a part of the INTERalliance Leadership Council, which plans the largest tech conference in the nation: TechOlympics. Along with about 30 other high school students, we fundraise, market, plan, and more various events to "Inspire and assist young talent to pursue an IT career in Greater Cincinnati." We want Sycamore to be a greater part and are looking for more rising freshmen to join! The application deadline is May 11th!

INTERalliance Leadership Council

Application

Did you know that Sycamore Junior High has its very own video announcements? Our talented News Crew students works hard to produce daily videos that every student watches in class. This is one of the best ways for students and families to stay updated on everything happening at the Junior High! Make sure to follow our channel and watch the videos to stay in the loop: https://youtube.com/@aviatorairways_sjhsnewscrew145?feature=shared

Households are encouraged to apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits via Payschools Central. Paper copies of the application can be obtained at the Sycamore District Office building, in the office of your student's school, or on the Sycamore Schools website.

For more information on Free & Reduce Meals please check out the Sycamore Schools Website.

"Stay connected and in the know with all the exciting happenings at Sycamore Junior High School! Follow us on Facebook for the latest updates, events, and highlights of what is going on during our school day. Don't miss the fun - check out our Facebook page today!"

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.

Email: SchunkJ@sycamoreschools.org
Website: www.sycamoreschools.org
Location: 5757 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Phone: 5136861760