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.  

Sylvan Park Diversity Night Childcare/Pizza Sign-up

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. 

Read All About it at NCAA.org

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

Donate (Paypal) Here

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.

Visit Wyndy.com

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.

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

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.”

2023 INVEST Campaign: We Made It!

We started this year with the most ambitious fundraising goal that we have ever had… And we made it!

Thank you so very much, we could not have made it without the generous support of each and every member of our Sylvan Park Elementary Community. Your generous donations have helped to fund the instructional interventionist, a position which provides crucial support for students who are not at grade level, and benefits all Sylvan Park students.

Special thank You’s to Jenn Morse, Jamie Hess, Ashley Ryan, OscarAnderson, Leah Monica and Jon Wright for a STRONG INVEST campaign 

A huge Thank You to all our business sponsors:

Laps, Bubbles, Popsicles, & Medals… A Fabulous 2023 Fun Run

We had a fabulously successful 2023 Fun Run!


The students came out by grade during their related arts period, decked out in their fancy new shirts. After Coach Scott led everyone through warm up, the runners were off. Making it all the way around the track and through the ballon arch marked the completion of a lap. Four complete laps earned a medal, popsicle, and bracelet.

Thank You to Everyone who helped to make this such a great event!

Fun Run Shirts are available for $12

Fun Run T-Shirt

Photos from National Walk to School Day

Thank you to everyone who made Walk to School Day on October 4th, 2023 Amazing!

Special thanks to Holly Hixson and Kimberly Linfert for their organizational prowess. 🙂

Thank You to Our Generous Walk to School Day Sponsor: Shakti Power Yoga

They are offering their best discount ever just for Sylvan Park families, good for 10 classes for only $120. Just use promo code “walktoschool” in checkout.

Please support our amazing Walk to School Day partner!

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿, @ShaktiPowerYoga.