Meet Your School Board Member: Erin O’Hara Block

Hi Sylvan Park families! I’m Erin O’Hara Block, your elected representative on the Metro Nashville Board of Education for District 8—and a proud parent of a freshman and a sophomore at Hillsboro High School. I’m a longtime education policy leader and advocate for strong, equitable public schools.

As a school board member, I work with other board members and Dr. Battle to help shape district policy, oversee the MNPS budget, and aim to ensure every student has the support they need to thrive. Parents can reach out to me when district or state policy is affecting their child’s school experience, if there are facility needs or safety concerns, or if support from the district or city services could make a difference for their family or school. I’m always eager to hear from you—whether you have a question, concern, or great idea.

I’ll be around at school events this year—please say hello and introduce yourself! You can also reach me anytime at erin.block@mnps.org. Hope you have a great start to the 2025-26 school year!

August 7: Spirit Night @ SuperNormal

SuperNormal Celebrates Sylvan Park Elementary!
Thursday, August 7th from 5:00-7:00 PM

Visit SuperNormal on Thursday, August 7th from 5:00-7:00 PM, to celebrate the start of the school year, and enjoy griddled burgers, hot dogs, fries and soft serve. 25% of net proceeds of all purchases benefit SPE! And for a little extra credit, anyone wearing SPE spirit wear gets a free soft serve with their meal!

Tears & Cheers: August 5 at 7:30AM

Come cheer on students (and maybe shed a few tears) as they begin a new school year. Snacks, photo ops, and tissues will be provided outside the front doors of the school beginning at 7:30am.

Kindergarten School Supplies – Special Announcement!

MNPS is providing supplies for all kindergarten students for the 2025-2026 school year. That said, Sylvan Park Elementary’s school supply orders pre-existed this decision. Kindergarten parents, you have options:

If you have already purchased a supply kit and want to consider it a donation to the school, no action is needed.

If you have already purchased a supply kit but would like your money back, please email Ashley Terrell: ashleyoterrell@gmail.com

If we do not hear from you by August 5, then we will consider it a donation to the school.

Hillsboro Cluster Back-to-School Bash: Thursday, July 24

It’s time to get ready for back-to-school! Join our school cluster for a Back-to-School party, complete with games, music, food trucks, a staff kickball game, and giveaways of school supplies and backpacks.

Location: Hillsboro High School

Date: July 24

Time: 4 – 6 p.m.

Meet the Teacher: Monday, August 4

On Monday, August 4th, from 8:00am – 9:30am, parents and students are invited to the school to meet their teacher, drop off school supplies, and see their new classroom! Light refreshments will be served. See you soon!

Family Work Day: Saturday, August 2

Please sign up to join us for our annual Family Work Day at Sylvan Park Elementary on Saturday, August, 2nd from 9am – 2pm.

Family work day is a chance to build community, help our teachers and staff get ready for the first day of school, and see your child’s classroom!

Please plan to come for an hour shift to do some light cleaning and organizing, and get the school ready for the new year!

Sign Up Here

Kindergarten popsicle party is Sunday, July 27, from 4-5pm at SPE playground

Sylvan Park! Kindergarten Popsicle Party

Incoming Sylvan Park Elementary Kindergarten families! Join us on the Sylvan Park Playground on Sunday, July 27 from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. for a fun popsicle party where your child will get to meet, run, and play with their future classmates.


This is a fun and informal way to beat the heat and kick off your child’s Sylvan Park journey. Siblings welcomed!

We can’t wait to meet all of our future Panthers — hope to see you there!

Dress Code: Changes to SSA 2025-26

This dress code was developed with a concern for modesty, safety, and the general good order of the school.

  • Sleepwear or pajamas are not permitted as school attire and should not be worn to school.
  • Crop tops are not permitted. All students must have entire torsos covered.
  • ripped jeans/ clothing not permitted
  • shorts must be visible below shirt (no shirts that fully cover bottom/shorts permitted)
  • No visible under garments.
  • Large backpacks and winter coats are not allowed in classrooms, must be placed in lockers.
  • Head coverings are not permitted on head in the building (except for religious and cultural purposes).
  • Hoodies and hats may not be worn on the head inside the building.
  • Any text or imagery on the clothing must adhere to the school expectations for appropriate content. Clothes that have words or saying that are profane, sexually suggestive or that promote drugs, tobacco, alcohol, violence, racism, sexism, any form of hate or are likely to cause a disturbance are prohibited.
  • Spirit Wear is still encouraged! 🙂

Welcome to Sylvan Park! Kindergarten Popsicle Party 5/18

Sylvan Park! Kindergarten Popsicle Party

Incoming Kindergarteners are invited for popsicles, playtime, and new friends on May 18!

We’re excited to welcome our newest Sylvan Park Panthers! Join us for a Kindergarten Popsicle Party on Sunday, May 18th, from 3:00–4:00 PM on the Outdoor Field at Sylvan Park Elementary (4801 Utah Ave, Nashville, TN 37209).

Incoming kindergarten students and their families are invited to enjoy popsicles, meet classmates, and connect with other Sylvan Park families. It’s a fun and informal way to kick off your child’s Sylvan Park journey!

Event Details:

Location: Sylvan Park Elementary Outdoor Field. (4801 Utah Ave, Nashville, TN 37209)
Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025
Time: 3:00–4:00 PM
Hosted by: Sylvan Park PTO

We can’t wait to meet our future Panthers — see you there!

Spring Fling Photo Booth

Spring Fling Photo Booth 2025

Thanks to everyone who attended the 2025 Sylvan Park Elementary Spring Fling this past week!

Thank you to everyone who worked so hard on the social and auction. And thank you to everyone who attended and bid on our specialty items. We raised a lot of money for our school… even more than last year!

Check Out all of the PhotoBooth Pics

Celebrating Our 4th Grade Poets: Finalists in Belmont’s Annual Poetry ContestFourth Grade Finalists

Support Our Talented Students as They Turn Poetry into Song and Compete for Top Honors!

In the Fall, the 4th grade ELA classes did optional poetry submissions for Belmont’s annual Poetry Contest in conjunction with our lessons on poetry. We have (4) Fourth grade students who are finalists in this year’s Belmont Poetry Contest in the 4th-5th grade category. 

Congratulations to our finalists:

  • Iris Pua – “My Red Maple Tree”
  • Patricia Thomas – “Snowlit”
  • Nyah Smith – ” Spring, Spring” (*sings her own song)
  • Cherish Cole – ” Happiness”

Belmont recently concluded their songwriting sessions where each finalist got the chance to collaborate with local professional songwriters to turn their poem into a song. Voting is now open to the public. The link to listen to the songs and vote for your favorite in each category (1st-3rd; 4th-5th; 6th-8th)can be found at: https://www.belmont.edu/service-learning/events/family-literacy/poetry-contests/

The poets worked very hard on creating their songs and we want everyone to hear the final product! We also would love our SP students to be able to win 1st -4th places.

The winners of the elementary school contests will be announced at Family Literacy Day on Saturday, April 12th. The event is free and runs from 1-4pm at E.S. Rose Park & Easley Center. In addition to the awards ceremony, we will have fun activities to celebrate the joys of reading. You can find more information about this year’s event at https://www.belmont.edu/service-learning/events/family-literacy/

New Personal Technology Policy at Sylvan Park Elementary: What Families Need to Know Starting March 17

Beginning March 17, 2025, Sylvan Park Elementary will have a new personal technology policy.

 Any “smart device” (“smart device” is any device that can access the internet, wifi etc.) cannot be on a student’s person while they are on school property. If a student must come to school with a “smart device,” it needs to be placed in their backpack, on school mode/ cellular data off/ device off, until they leave school property. 

NOTE: This applies to PNA as well. 

  • 1st Offense: Warning and teacher keeps device until the end of the day and returns to student.
  • 2nd Offense: Parent/Guardian Notification and administration keeps device until parents can come to school to pick it up. 
  • 3rd Offense: Discipline Referral Code 203 (Using a cell phone, electronic device, or the internet for non-educational purposes or without the permission of the classroom teacher or school administrator. A teacher may withhold a student’s phone from the student for the duration of the instructional time if the student’s phone is a distraction to the class or the student. -TCA Title 49, Chapter 2 and Title 49, Chapter 6.)

Thanks, in advance, for your cooperation and understanding as we further minimize distractions to the educational environment.