Sylvan Park Book Week: We Love Reading!

Book Week

February 26- March 1st: A whole week to celebrate books and reading!!!!

Each day students are encouraged to dress up to show their love of reading and books.

Monday Feb 26 – “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover Day” – Everyone wears their clothes inside out!

Tuesday Feb 27 “Crazy Sock Day” – We love books from our heads to our TOES!!! Wear crazy socks to show your book love. 

Wednesday Feb 28 – “Read ME Day” – Wear shirts, socks, buttons, stickers, anything with school-appropriate writing that can be read by everyone during the day.

Thursday Feb 29 – “Snuggle Up with a Book Day” for DEAR Time (Drop Everything And Read) – Wear pajamas to snuggle up with a book for “DEAR Day”. Classes will ,Drop Everything And Read for 20 minutes during the day.

Friday March 1- “Book Parade Day” – Come to school with your favorite book. Everyone is encouraged to dress as a favorite book character. We will parade out back around the track starting at 8:10.

Book Parade

On Friday March 1st everyone will bring their favorite book to show in the Book Parade. Students are encouraged to dress as the book character in the book they are carrying! It is not necessary to buy Book Character outfits, be creative and use items in your home like scarves, hats, or paper in new ways.

The Book Parade will be outside around the track behind the school. Families are invited to come to the parade and share in our joy of reading!

If you are coming to see the parade, please sign-in at the tables at the back of the school. 5th & 4th grades will lead our Book Parade starting at 8:10am, each grade level will join in, circling around the track. We anticipate the Book Parade ending around 8:30am.

Other Book Celebration Activities

At school we will have book riddles, a favorite book display, and more to celebrate the week.

Questions? Email Sylvan Park Librarian Kelly.Bulbulkaya@mnps.org

Alive’s FREE Youth Group Grief Support

Alive’s FREE Youth Group is for any child or teen in Middle Tennessee ages 4-17 who have experienced the death of someone significant.

Alive’s FREE Youth Group is for any child or teen in Middle Tennessee ages 4-17 who have experienced the death of someone significant.

Each session includes dinner, grief education, games, and activities that allow youth to cope with loss, while connecting with peers in similar circumstances.

Youth Group Meets:
January 30 – March 26, 2024 (no session March 12 due to Spring Break)
On Tuesdays from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

GriefSupport@AliveHospice.org | 615-963-4732

February 8th, 6pm: Diversity Night Speaker Series

Diversity Night 2024

February 8th, 6pm: 3rd Annual Diversity Night Speaker Series brings a panel discussion about LGBTQ+ Identities: How to support young people through their journeys.

This support starts with educating and supporting the parents/caregivers and educators about these identities so children feel comfortable to talk about their own process as well as their peers’ process.

Date: 02/08/2024 (Thu.)
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm CST
Location: Childcare in the gym/Event in the library

This is a sign-up for Sylvan Park Diversity Night childcare/pizza. Childcare will be available for elementary-aged children at least 5 years old in the gymnasium.  

What is Diversity Night?

Diversity Night is an opportunity for the EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) chairs on the PTO Board to invite parents/caregivers and educators at Sylvan Park Elementary to educational discussions around diversity and inclusion. This occurs one night per year and childcare (and pizza) is provided. We believe it is important for parents/caregivers to come to a space where they can learn with an open heart and be part of discussions with minimal distractions. 

Previous topics in the series include: 

  • The Value of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in School-aged Children Learning Environments
  • Understanding Neurodiversity in Learning 

Congrats to Logan Eggleston as NCAA Woman of the Year

Logan Eggleston led Texas to the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship title and was named Most Outstanding Player

We would love to extend a special congratulations from our Sylvan Park Family to the Egglestons as they celebrate Logan’s amazing accomplishment.

Logan Eggleston played D1 volleyball for University of Texas and majored in Business Management. She developed the Developing Neighborhood Athletes Fund, which raises money and funds sports opportunities for underprivileged youth in Austin, TX. Of 619 student-athletes nominated for this award, Logan was announced the winner on January 11th of the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year. 

She is currently working toward her master’s in sports management from Texas while playing professional volleyball for Galatasaray Sport Club in Istanbul, Turkey. 

Student Work from the School Wide Seminar on “ish”

ish seminar student work

We had our second school-wide seminar right before Thanksgiving break. 

Each class read the book ish by Peter Reynolds.  The story is about a boy who loves to draw until he is mocked for his drawings and loses his confidence and joy in creating art.  The ideas and values discussed were perfection, improvement, joy, motivation, and confidence. 

For our post seminar activity, students created a drawing to show how ‘ish‘ thinking may bring you joy and the feeling of confidence and success.  We created a school-wide crumpled art gallery to showcase our ish pictures.

The next time you visit, check it out!  It is located in the hallway near the cafeteria.    

Thank you to everyone who helped us “Stock the Lounge” this December!

Stock the Lounge Cookie Bar

For our December STL, we set up a cookie swap and hot chocolate bar. 

In January, we are doing a Fresh New Year Salad Bar.  Please consider signing up to bring cookies or another staple for the lounge OR let us do the shopping for you and help us fill up the salad bar by donating via paypal.  

Our Teachers love this show of appreciation and love.  Thank you for all you do to make this possible!

Text me if you have any questions: 615-579-2806

Thanks so much!
Sarah & Theresa

Highly vetted college babysitters & nannies, Support for Sylvan Park

Find, book, & pay background checked, college student sitters, and give back to Sylvan Park!

Wyndy is a babysitting app started by some Vanderbilt grads that has vetted sitters/nannies. Here is how to use it:

  1. Visit Wyndy.com to download the app
  2. Post a job and use the school code SylvanPark
  3. Wyndy will give back $5 of every completed job to the Sylvan Park PTO

Finding highly vetted college babysitters and nannies should be easy, affordable and take seconds. This is the mantra Wyndy has followed since the very first day. They also knew they wanted to create an environment that fostered trust and safety, which is why every Wyndy babsysitter and nanny is screened by a Wyndy team member, extensive background check and are verified as enrolled students by the National Student Clearinghouse.

For every completed job, $5 will be donated to Sylvan Park PTO.

Save The Date: February 29th Sylvan Park Annual Social

Save The DAte - 2024 social

We are excited to announce that, after a brief hiatus, our annual parent social has returned!  Save the Date for Feb 29, 2024

Every single parent, teacher and staff member is invited. During the social, we will be having a charity auction to help raise funds for our wonderful teachers and school. Any contribution you make, be it time, goods and services, or money, will have an impact on our children.

What: Food, Drinks, & Silent Auction
Where: 14Tenn Event Venue
When: Thursday, February 29th, 2024

We do need your help! 

We are in need of items for the charity auction. We’re looking for restaurant gift cards, vacation homes, staycations, photography sessions, big items, small items, anything you can think to contribute! Do you have an air bnb you’d be willing to donate? Sport memorabilia? Sommelier skills? Season tickets to Bridgestone or Nissan? Soccer tickets? Do you have friends who own businesses in town that might want to contribute? You can talk to your room parent or email pto.spark.fundraising@gmail.com.

Thank you, as always, for all your help.

PTO Collection for Sylvan Park Elementary Staff

Sylvan Park giving, staff

At this time each year, we gather your donations to show our appreciation to Sylvan Park’s superb staff. Please consider donating by Paypal.

Donations will be collected through December 15.

Don’t forget to include “Holiday Staff Collection” in the memo!

Sylvan Park will be hosting a Holiday Giving Tree to provide gifts to students whose families may be experiencing financial hardship. 

Holiday Giving Tree

Thank you to all who expressed interest in being a volunteer this year for our Sylvan Park Holiday Giving Tree!

We truly appreciate your generosity. The sign up genius is below. You are welcome to sign up for as many children/families/supplies/gift cards as you would like.  If the sign-up fills up, please email me and I will let you know about some additional needs. Once you have signed up, I will email you with the gift wish list for that child.

For any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Meredith Middlebrooks, Sylvan Park School Counselor at 615-298-8423 x370311 or meredith.middlebrooks@mnps.org.

Gifts are due back any time before Dec. 8Please bring them unwrapped to the front office with the family name and child labeled (ex. Family B, child 2)

The PTO Holiday Gift Guide: Fantastic, personalized gift ideas that also support Sylvan Park.

Ideas for the Hard to Shop For

Need Ideas for Christmas That Will Leave Everyone Impressed?

Hate shopping?  Never know what to get a few folks on your list?  We’ll be sharing some gift ideas in our socials in the coming weeks so if you don’t follow us, go check out our account @sylvanparkpto!

Please share this with friends and family as well. The more that participate the more the school raises plus you get a nice discount too.

Everyone has the folks on their Christmas list that are near impossible to shop for.  They have everything… hard to impress… you know the drill.  We have some ideas below that will be sure to make them smile. 

BONUS: use FUNDRAISESYLVANPARK at minted.com/holiday you get 20% off PLUS 15% goes back to Sylvan Park.  Win win! 


Magpies

Magpie’s Children’s Clothing

Magpie’s curates the very best in baby, children’s, tween clothing, decor and beyond with a goal to bring JOY.

Use FUNDRAISESYLVANPARK in store and online to get 10% off PLUS 10% goes back to Sylvan Park.  Valid 11/16 through 12/23.


Minted: Unique Art, Home Decor, Holiday Cards

Use FUNDRAISESYLVANPARK at minted.com/holiday you get 20% off PLUS 15% goes back to Sylvan Park.  Win win! 

Custom Art:  

Minted has TONS of these but cool way to lock in a milestone memory, trip or guaranteed win for all the moms/grandparents out there.  

Framed Lyrics:  

First dance, favorite song, lyrics from your annual grade performance, T Swift song from Era’s tour or movie.  So many options for a cool gift here!

Framed Campus:  

Meet your spouse at college?  Graduate just pick a college?  Get that MBA or do a special course?  This is perfect to memorialize that big milestone moment!  

Gratitude Journal:  

Life can be hard.  Gratefulness helps.  Good for anyone!  There are recipe journals and even kids journals in here which we’ll highlight next week!

Personalized Tote

Put a magazine, favorite book or pretty journal for a special gift!  TONS of patterns and sizes online

Good to be Kind

Nice with a charitable donation in someone’s name or in a kids room by their give/save/spend jars!

Belle’s Library, Personalized:  

Just in time for the book fair, create a reading nook with books from book fair the week of the 13th with fun new art!

Pouch Link:  

Great for those teenagers and or something fun to give a gift card in!

Photos from 2023 Trunk or Treat

Trunk of Treat 2023 Best Costume Winners, Related Arts

Thank you to everyone who helped to make 2023’s Trunk or Treat a success!

Trunk or Treat was held in the school parking lot on Thursday, October 26th from 5:30-7:00. Thank you to all of our volunteers and our incredible teachers!!

Related Arts snagged the coveted “Best Costume” award for their portrayal of “The Addams Family.”