We’ve had a great week here at the Junior High! From special celebrations to wrapping up big projects, our building has been full of positive energy.

This week was National Assistant Principals Week, and we had a wonderful time celebrating Mr. Meyer—not only for all he does for our school, but also for his birthday! We also recognized Mrs. Helms for her incredible support and leadership. We’re so lucky to have both of them on our team!

Our 7th and 8th grade students also wrapped up their History T-Shirt Projects. Congratulations to the winning groups, and a big shoutout to all students who participated and presented—we were so impressed by your creativity and hard work.

Looking ahead, we have our final days of state testing on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Along with 7th Grade MAP Testing on the same days. We’re also excited for a short week, with no school on Friday. Let’s finish strong and make it a great one!

Go Aves!

Mrs. Schunk, Mr. Meyer, Mrs. Helms

• April 15 & 16: Testing - AIR Science (8th) & MAP Test (7th)

• April 18: Spring Holiday - No School

• May 2-4: Choir Trip to Chicago

• May 16 & 19: Art Exam

• May 19 & 20: World Language Exam

• May 20 & 21: Math Exam

• May 22: 7th Grade Day

• May 22: 8th Grade Day @ BARC

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

Thanks for another great week of AIR testing! Students did a great job being at school with their chromebook charged and ready to do their best!

Next week is 8th Grade Science AIR testing on Tuesday and Wednesday, 4/15 and 4/16. The schedule will remain the same and we ask that any appointments or avoidable conflicts are scheduled after the testing window (10:30am).

7th grade Reading MAP will take place on 4/15 and 7th grade Math MAP will take place on 4/16 during the 8th grade AIR testing schedule.

Reminders:

• If a student arrives after 8:20am on a testing day, they will be housed in the cafeteria and will test on a make-up testing day.
• We ask that if you are scheduling appointments on testing days, please do your best to schedule them AFTER testing finishes which is roughly around 10:30am.

We understand that life presents unexpected challenges, and sometimes, students face circumstances that necessitate extended absences from school. We want to clarify our attendance policies and how they apply in these situations.

Legal Requirements and Excessive Absence Letters:

By state law, schools are required to send an "excessive absence" letter when a student accumulates 65 hours of absences, even if those absences are excused and documented. You do not need to contact the school regarding this letter. This is a legal requirement designed to ensure we communicate with families about attendance patterns and offer support when needed.

Special Circumstances and Exceeding 65 Hours of Excused Absence:

We recognize that there are special circumstances where a student may exceed the standard 65 hours of excused absence. These situations might include:

• Extended medical needs: Serious illnesses or injuries requiring prolonged treatment.

• Bereavement: Extended periods of grief and related arrangements.

• Court ordered appearances: Legal proceedings requiring student presence.

• College, Career, and Military Obligations

• Other significant, documented life events: Circumstances that significantly impact a student's ability to attend school.

When special circumstances arise, we work closely with families to ensure our students receive the necessary academic support and resources. Please communicate with your child's administrator if you find your child in this situation.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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!

Time is running out to order your 2025 SJHS Yearbook. The deadline for ordering is Friday, April 18th. A very limited amount of extras will be available for purchase and they sell out fast. The only way to guarantee your copy of the yearbook is to pre-order TODAY. The cost is $35/copy. Click HERE to order your 2025 Yearbook.

http://buythesycamorejuniorhighyearbook.com

Yearbooks will be distributed to students the last week of school.

Questions? Contact Mrs. Melissa Speelman

speelmanm@sycamoreschools.org

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

We’re excited to celebrate 8th grader Alana R., whose photo "Lurking Among the Lily Pads" was selected as a winner in the Montgomery EXPOSURE Photo Contest! Out of 260 entries, Alana's striking image stood out to the judges. While a few high school students from Sycamore were also recognized, Alana was the only winner from the Junior High—way to represent! We’re proud of her creativity and talent!

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

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!

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