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School-wide Seminar for “Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem”

During the month of November, students participated in our second school-wide seminar using the book, Change Sings:  A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman.  The values and ideas for this seminar were change, tolerance, courage, and dreams.  Students discussed what change they want to be and see for our world.  For the post-seminar writing activity, students completed the sentence, Change is… on a tissue paper square.  The squares were put together to create stained glass windows and hung in the front of our school.  Stop by and check out our display showing what change is to our students!  A BIG thank you to Amy Thompson for creating the stained-glass displays!  

Trunk or Treat Pics, Congrats to the 5th Grade Best Trunk Winners!

Thanks to everyone who joined us in the Sylvan Park parking lot on Thursday 10/24 for Trunk or Treat. We had sooo many fabulously designed Trunks…. but the most popsicle sticks went to the 5th Grade Nashville Soccer Club themed trunk… GGGGGGOOOOOOOOOAAAALLL!!!

Much thanks to Hecklin Dental for sponsoring this year’s Trunk or Treat.

Enhance Creativity at Sylvan Park: Art Class Wish List

Art room wish list

As you gear up for the start of a new school year, remember it’s not just about notebooks and pencils—our art classes need your support too! Help make art more engaging and fun for your children by supporting our amazing Art teacher, Ms. Williams. By purchasing items from her Amazon wishlist, you’re not just stocking up our art room; you’re ensuring that our students have all the creative tools they need to thrive.

Each contribution also supports our “Kindness in Art” program, where students earn points for kindness towards themselves, each other, and their creative environment. Points lead to a “Free Art Day,” filled with special activities and extra supplies!

🌟 Please take a moment to check out and contribute to the SP Art Class Wish List. Let’s keep art vibrant and alive at Sylvan Park!

Check out the SP Art Class Wish List

Earn Money for Sylvan Park While You Shop at Publix

Public partners - apple and pencil

Support Sylvan Park with Publix Partners.

Publix Partners helps you support your favorite school every time you shop. Publix donates a portion of your eligible purchases to the school of your choice.*

Families – earn money for Sylvan Park when you shop at Publix! You must have a free Publix account linked to our school to participate. Connect your account to:


Sylvan Park Paideia Elementary School PTA

Learn How to Connect Your Account

Tip: When you register for an account, be sure to use your actual phone number. Each time you check out at Publix, you must enter your phone number into the credit card machine to link your purchase to Sylvan Park. Try to remember to do this when you shop!

OR Link up your profile with the Publix App.

To link your Publix account to Sylvan Park:

  1. Log in.
  2. Click “your account icon in the upper right corner
  3. On your account page scroll to “My Publix Partner”
  4. Search for and select Sylvan Park Paideia Elementary School PTA

Add Your Voice: Should High School Start Later?

alarm clock

We are a caring group of parents from various MNPS clusters who want to revive the conversation and action around starting Nashville Public High Schools later. We have the earliest high school start times in the nation. Most high schools in Nashville open their doors at 6:45am and start school at 7:05am.

There is a vast amount of research that shows that teenage mental and physical health, grades, sleep quality, learning ability, attendance, and even behavior improve when high schools start later. 

We have created this survey to get a sense of what other parents feel about this issue. We plan on sharing the results of this informal survey with the school board later this spring.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to tell us what you think, and whether you would like to join this initiative.

Background info & links:

Fill Out The Survey

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

Register Here for Alive Youth Group

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. 

Read All About it at NCAA.org

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. 8. Please bring them unwrapped to the front office with the family name and child labeled (ex. Family B, child 2)

Sing Up for The Holiday Giving Tree

Student Work from the School Wide Seminar on Elephant in the Dark

In September students participated in our first school-wide seminar for the 2023-2024 school year!  Our text for this seminar was Elephant in the Dark (based on a poem by Rumi; Retold by Mina Javaherbin).  In this seminar we discussed the values of perceptions, truth, understanding, differences, and cooperation.  For our post seminar activity, students worked in groups to write and/or draw what working together or solving a disagreement might look and sound like in our classrooms. 

Ask your child about this engaging and meaningful learning experience!  

Kindergarten Work

First Grade Work

Second Grade Work

Appreciation Notes For Teachers.

Thank You Teachers

By now you should have received an email from your room parent requesting that you send in a note of appreciation for our teachers. 

Each grade level was assigned a theme.  These notes are due no later than Wednesday afternoon. These notes should be to all teachers at Sylvan Park, not just your homeroom teacher.  If you would like to email your note instead or have any questions please email Theresa Yarber at tsyarber@gmail.com.  Be sure to include your theme word if you send a note.

Teacher Appreciation: “Espresso” Our Thanks

Teacher Appreciation

We were able to “Espresso” Our Thanks to our teachers on Friday by bringing in Java Breeze to make coffees and smoothies!  We were also able to stock the lounge with bagels, spreads, biscotti and lots of other snacks!

Thanks to all who donated!