Healthier Sycamore Start Times

Dear Sycamore Families, 

We are excited to welcome our students back to school and hope that the recent holiday break provided a valuable opportunity for rest and time with loved ones.

As we plan for the future of Sycamore Community Schools, we are thoughtfully reviewing all options for school start times, particularly at the high school level. 

Established scientific research from leading pediatric psychologists and physicians has shown that later school start times correlate with more sleep, better academic performance, and significant mental and physical health benefits for adolescents. In an effort to ensure we are providing our high school students with the best opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed, we are diligently and carefully exploring all possibilities, while actively gathering feedback from our school community. 

As part of this process, we would like to invite you to attend one of two informational presentations and discussions taking place in December. One session will be in person, while the other will be virtual. 

At these sessions, you will hear from district leaders and Dr. Dean Beebe, a pediatric neuropsychologist who specializes in sleep medicine and adolescent health. Members of the Sycamore Advisory Commission (SAC), who analyzed school start time data as part of a SAC research project during the 2024-2025 school year, will be present as well to share specifics about their own findings.
 

In-Person Event: Healthier Sycamore Start Times Presentation #1

When: Thursday, December 4th | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 

Where: Sycamore Junior High Theatre

5757 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242
 

Virtual Event: Healthier Sycamore Start Times Presentation #2

When: Thursday, December 11th | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 

Where: Join via Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83625861194?pwd=1UvQe8dPCtlHaktsNzKVHe476g6Ztq.1

Meeting ID: 836 2586 1194

Passcode: 462110

If you are not able to attend either session, please be assured that we will continue to keep you informed. A portion of the district website will soon be dedicated to this topic, allowing us to share the latest information, research, and opportunities for feedback in the weeks to come.

Thank you for your continued support of Sycamore Community Schools.

Dear Sycamore Families and Staff,

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Healthier Sycamore Start Times Informational Sessions! Now that they have concluded, we wanted to update you on our next steps. The district is continuing its research-informed review of high school start times to ensure we are best supporting the needs of our adolescents.

If you were unable to attend either session, a recording of the virtual presentation is now available on the district's YouTube channel: Informational Session #1.

We are also now opening an initial community survey to gather your essential feedback about a possible adjustment to our high school start time. This survey is directed toward parents/guardians, staff members, and taxpayers. Your insight is invaluable to our review process, and we kindly ask you to share your perspective here: Healthier Sycamore Start Times Survey #1.

A dedicated portion of our district website focused on Healthier Sycamore Start Times is currently in progress and will be launched soon. There, you'll be able to find all of the information we have shared thus far, including research and presentation materials.

We sincerely appreciate your willingness to engage in this process, and we thank you in advance for taking the time to provide us with your perspective.

Good morning, 

You are receiving this email because you completed our Healthier Sycamore Start Times feedback survey and indicated that you would be interested in participating in a community conversation on this topic. Thank you for your willingness to share your perspective as we continue this important work.

We will host our first community conversation on Tuesday, April 28, from 6:00–7:30 p.m.

If you are still interested and available, please complete this online form by April 17: Healthier Start Times Community Conversation Interest Form

To support a productive small group environment, space for this session is limited. We will follow up via email after April 17 with confirmation and additional details for those able to participate.

If we’re unable to include you in this session, please know that we truly appreciate your interest. We will keep your information on file and prioritize you for future opportunities to share your insights.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Good morning,

Thank you for your interest in joining us for a community conversation on Healthier Sycamore Start Times. We are pleased to confirm your participation in the following session:

Healthier Sycamore Start Times Community Conversation

• Tuesday, April 28 
• 6:00–7:30 p.m. 
• Kenwood Learning Commons
• 11120 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242

Please note that due to limited capacity, this invitation is for one individual only rather than a family or group.

The evening will begin with a brief presentation outlining our process to date. We will also share several examples of what changes may be required to implement a later start time at the high school. These are simply options for discussion, and no final decisions have been made.

Following the presentation, you will be assigned to small groups to ensure a variety of voices are represented at every table. You will be invited to share your feedback during these group conversations.

If you are no longer able to attend, please let me know as soon as possible.

Thank you for your willingness to provide input on this important topic. We look forward to seeing you there!