New Families
Welcome to Sycamore!
Welcome to Sycamore! We are thrilled that you have chosen to join the Sycamore community. This page is designed to help new families learn even more about Sycamore and to provide you with valuable resources about our school. Be sure to bookmark this page and visit frequently, as it will continue to be updated throughout the spring and summer!
Use the tabs below to find information that is grouped into the following categories:
- To-Do List — steps that your family will want and/or need to take this spring and summer
- Useful Links — links to key pages on our website
- Calendar Items — events you could attend this spring and a link to the 2025-2026 calendar
- Sycamore Lingo — terms, phrases, etc. that are unique to Sycamore
- Who to Ask — names and titles of who to contact for various needs
Also, be sure to use the navigation in the right margin of this page, even though some of those items are also shared within the tabs below.
There are several important items that your family will want and/or need to do throughout the spring and summer. Below is a list of such activities:
- Attend your new parent meeting — Each new family will have a meeting this spring or summer that will include the parents/guardians, our Head of School (John Huber), and the appropriate Division Head(s). Maria Truesdale will contact you to schedule this meeting.
- Enjoy playdates — Multiple playdates will allow new families to get to know other new families as well as some current families. The school will host two playdates for Early Childhood and Lower School at the school this summer (5:30-6:30 p.m. on June 18 and July 24). Sycamore families will host other gatherings at various locations. Stay tuned for email invitations, and dates will be added to the "Calendar Items" portion of this page.
- Set up your technology — No later than the first week of July, new families will receive information about various technology-related items at Sycamore, including the following: a new Sycamore parent email address, how to access the Portal, Verkada (building access), VisitU (student attendance and parent visitation), and Vidigami (student photos). Click the "Technology" link in the right margin of this page, or click here to visit the technology page for new families.
- Complete required summer forms — Very late in June or early in July, families will receive an email asking them to complete a number of required forms, which will be accessible via the Portal. These include, but are not limited to, the following: emergency contacts, lunch program registration, authorized drivers, Quest (before and after care), volunteer, acknowledgment of the school handbook, etc.
Below are items that are specifically for certain grade levels. Click on the grade level to see the list for that grade.
- Consider the Preschool Prep Camp (July 21-25) — This is specifically designed for incoming Sycamore Preschool students. Children will get acquainted with the teachers and will explore the classrooms via a "typical" classroom schedule. This is tremendously beneficial for children's transitions to Sycamore, all while being a lot of fun for them! Click here to see learn more about Sycamore's summer camp offerings. You can even view a list of summer camps specifically for incoming Preschool children.
- Continue to encourage and develop self-help skills — Parents often ask about potty training and other self-help skills. Click here for a Self-Help Skills Checklist for Preschool that Sycamore's Preschool teachers developed.
- Summer Academic Assessments — The Kindergarten teachers will contact families this spring about scheduling their child to complete assessments in Math and Reading. These assessments, which last about 20 minutes each, usually take place late in July. Results help the teachers understand the different needs and abilities of the class, which is critical to helping teachers differentiate instruction for these children from day one!
- Band Instrument Fitting and Information — Students planning to enroll in band will be invited to come to Sycamore for an instrument fitting day on Wednesday, May 21 (8:30-11:30 a.m.). Parents will be invited to attend a meeting with a representative from Paige's Music at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22. Families will receive an email with more details about these activities.
- Shadow Day in 5th Grade — All Sycamore 4th graders spend a day shadowing in 5th grade to experience a day in Middle School. We invite all incoming 4th graders to join us on that day too! That is scheduled for Friday, May 16. The Enrollment Management Office has emailed the families of all incoming 5th graders to provide more information about this opportunity as well as a related parent webinar on Wednesday, April 30.
- Music Class Selection — Since all Middle School students at Sycamore take one or both of our music classes (band and choir), all incoming 5th graders must let us know which class(es) they will be joining. An email with more information and a link to an online selection form will be sent to all families in May.
- Band Instrument Fitting and Information — Students planning to enroll in band will be invited to come to Sycamore for an instrument fitting day on Wednesday, May 21 (8:30-11:30 a.m.). Parents will be invited to attend a meeting with a representative from Paige's Music at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22. Families will receive an email with more details about these activities.
- Math Placement — The Enrollment Management Office will be contacting the families of all incoming Middle School students to discuss additional testing needs related to placing each student in the correct math course at Sycamore. Needed tests will be administered on select dates in early June.
- Summer Reading — Sycamore has a summer reading program for all Middle School students. Once this information is finalized, the Enrollment Management Office will share it on this page as well as via email.
- Middle School Supplies List — There is a supplies list for each Middle School grade. Once these are finalized, the Enrollment Management Office will share information on this page as well as via email.
- Athletic Participation — Students wanting to participate in a fall sport at Sycamore (co-ed cross country, co-ed soccer, tennis, and girls' volleyball) will register during the summer to do so. Once this registration form and additional information are available, the Enrollment Management Office will share information on this page as well as via email.
- Music Class Selection — Since all Middle School students at Sycamore take one or both of our music classes (band and choir), all incoming Middle School students must let us know which class(es) they will be joining. An email with more information and a link to an online selection form will be sent to all families in May.
- Band Instrument Fitting and Information — Students planning to enroll in band will be invited to come to Sycamore for an instrument fitting day on Wednesday, May 21 (8:30-11:30 a.m.). Students who already play a band instrument will not need to do so. Parents will be invited to attend a meeting with a representative from Paige's Music at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22. Families will receive an email with more details about these activities.
- Math Placement — The Enrollment Management Office will be contacting the families of all incoming Middle School students to discuss additional testing needs related to placing each student in the correct math course at Sycamore. Needed tests will be administered on select dates in early June.
- Summer Reading — Sycamore has a summer reading program for all Middle School students. Once this information is finalized, the Enrollment Management Office will share it on this page as well as via email.
- Middle School Supplies List — There is a supplies list for each Middle School grade. Once these are finalized, the Enrollment Management Office will share information on this page as well as via email.
- Athletic Participation — Students wanting to participate in a fall sport at Sycamore (co-ed cross country, co-ed soccer, tennis, and girls' volleyball) will register during the summer to do so. Once this registration form and additional information are available, the Enrollment Management Office will share information on this page as well as via email.
- Music Class Selection — Since all Middle School students at Sycamore take one or both of our music classes (band and choir), all incoming Middle School students must let us know which class(es) they will be joining. An email with more information and a link to an online selection form will be sent to all families in May.
- Band Instrument Fitting and Information — Students planning to enroll in band will be invited to come to Sycamore for an instrument fitting day on Wednesday, May 21 (8:30-11:30 a.m.). Students who already play a band instrument will not need to do so. Parents will be invited to attend a meeting with a representative from Paige's Music at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22. Families will receive an email with more details about these activities.
- Math Placement — The Enrollment Management Office will be contacting the families of all incoming Middle School students to discuss additional testing needs related to placing each student in the correct math course at Sycamore. Needed tests will be administered on select dates in early June.
- Summer Reading — Sycamore has a summer reading program for all Middle School students. Once this information is finalized, the Enrollment Management Office will share it on this page as well as via email.
- Middle School Supplies List — There is a supplies list for each Middle School grade. Once these are finalized, the Enrollment Management Office will share information on this page as well as via email.
- Athletic Participation — Students wanting to participate in a fall sport at Sycamore (co-ed cross country, co-ed soccer, tennis, and girls' volleyball) will register during the summer to do so. Once this registration form and additional information are available, the Enrollment Management Office will share information on this page as well as via email.
Click the links below, some of which are also in the margin to the right, to access other areas of the Sycamore website:
- Extended Programs — This refers to everything that takes place at Sycamore outside of the school day, including Quest (before and after care), After School Activities (for Early Childhood and Lower School students), and Middle School activities such as academic teams, clubs/activities, and athletics.
- Summer Programs — Sycamore offers a wide array of summer programs/camps to children entering all grades available at Sycamore. As a new Sycamore family, your family can also utilize Extended Care, which provides full-day supervision and care for those children participating in a Sycamore summer camp. While it is similar to Quest (before and after care), it is more structured with weekly themes, activities, and projects.
- Lunch Program — Families have the option of purchasing hot lunch for their children. Flik Independent School Dining provides high quality food prepared from whole, fresh ingredients. Families purchase lunch for half of the year or for the full year. Registration for lunch will happen via summer forms.
- Student Services — Supporting the whole gifted child at Sycamore involves health and wellness (Nurse), academic support for students identified as Twice Exceptional (Learning Resource Specialist), and social/emotional wellness (Psychologist).
- Sycamore School Association (SSA) — The SSA promotes a sense of community through volunteerism, school events, and more. Each family pays a fee of $85 per child for membership in the SSA, which in turn uses those funds to support various initiatives and events.
We invite you to join us for any or all of the following events happening at Sycamore this spring!
- Alumni Speaker Series (April 25 at 5:30 p.m.) — Join us for presentations (think "TedTalks" here) by three Sycamore alumni. Cocktails and appetizers begin at 5:30 p.m., and presentations begin at 6:30 p.m. Please note that this event is for adults only.
- Symphony on the Playground (May 14 at 7:00 p.m.) — Come enjoy an evening featuring Sycamore's Middle School musicians as they perform on our playground!
- Early Childhood & Lower School Playdate #1 (June 18 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.)
- Early Childhood & Lower School Playdate #2 (July 24 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.)
Visit our Academic Calendars page to view the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar. Below is a list of key dates to put on your calendar now!
- August 8, 2025 — All School Social
- August 12, 2025 — First day of school (1/2 day for Prekindergarten and Kindergarten, and a one-hour visitation day for Preschool)
- October 13-17, 2025 — Fall Break
- November 26-28, 2025 — Thanksgiving Break
- December 22, 2025 - January 2, 2026 — Winter Break (school resumes January 5)
- March 30-April 10, 2026 — Spring Break (school resumes April 13)
- May 28, 2026 — Last day of school
Not sure who to contact if you have a question about something at Sycamore? Click here for a "Who to Ask" list.
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