![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/u/backgrounds/custom_bg-64e78fc97b96a5d0241e08e6-291ae24a45e6.jpg)
Friday Focus
January 19, 2024
In This Issue...
- A Message from Marcie
- Front Circle Reminders for K-1 Families!
- Reschedule 3rd-5h Grade SEL Parent Event
- MAP Testing Continues
- Upcoming South Park Read-a-Thon - 2nd Posting
- Kindergarten Registration - 2nd Posting
- Inclusion Event for 109 Families - 2nd Posting
Don't miss the PTO Spotlight:
- Submit Yearbook Photos
- Bingo Night 1/28
- Volunteer Sign Up : Winter Booktacular & Gratitude Generation 2/3
- Skate Night 2/25
- And much more...
A Message from Marcie
What a wacky week, South Park!
I want to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to our families and staff for everyone's support during yet another unexpected eLearning Day that kicked off our short week! While we had some time to plan for last Friday's eLearning Day, our teachers did not expect to teach remotely after the long weekend. Please join me in thanking our staff for all that they did on Tuesday to keep students engaged and learning from home!
Due to the cold weather, we had to revert to indoor recess all week. As luck would have it, our PTO had previously scheduled an all-school assembly for this past Wednesday. The Dr. Cool and Pride assembly provided students with lots of movement and fun while also teaching them important life lessons about perseverance and kindness!
Finally, I want to send a huge thank you to all of the families who contributed lunches to Uncle Pete's Lunches yesterday. Students felt so proud as they came to school ready to donate their special, homemade lunches for people in need. Together, we provided 260 meals to people in need. Thank you for your support!
Have a great weekend!
-Marcie
Front Circle Reminders for K-1 Families!
Now that we are deep into winter, we notice many families of our kindergarten and 1st-grade students are utilizing the front circle to drop their children off each morning.
Please help by following the guidelines below:
- Pull your vehicle all the way up toward the front entrance of South Park and let your child get out of your vehicle unassisted.
- All drivers should stay in their cars while students exit their vehicles.
- If your child needs help getting out of the car, please pull all the way up and past the front entrance of our school to help them.
Upcoming 3rd-5th Grade SEL Parent Event RESCHEDULED
We have rescheduled our SEL Parent Event for Monday, February 5th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Please mark your calendars. We will send an RSVP as we get closer to the date of the rescheduled event.
MAP Testing Continues
MAP Testing will continue into next week. Please see the schedule below. Specific testing times will be shared by classroom teachers.
MAP Schdule
Financial Support Available for Park District Summer Camp - 2nd Posting
Financial support is available for Summer Camp! The Deerfield Park Foundation is a nonprofit whose mission is to make Deerfield Park District Camps and programs accessible to all families, regardless of their financial position. If you would like your child to attend a Deerfield Park District Summer Camp or program, but you are experiencing financial hardship, please reach out to the Deerfield Park District, registration@deerfieldparks.org, and inquire about Deerfield Park Foundation assistance.
Upcoming South Park Read-a-Thon - 2nd Posting
We are excited to announce that our Read-a-thon fundraiser is starting soon! Read-a-thon is a program that brings students together with family and classmates to encourage reading. Past Read-a-thons have funded our Storywalk and ClassVR system. This year our readers are raising funds for our annual Helping Hands Day, and to purchase new books for the library collection. The Read-a-thon starts January 29th. Next week, we will send home paperwork with your reader explaining how to activate their personal Read-a-thon page. Readers can qualify for fun prizes just by reading!
In addition, we’ll be holding some special events during the Read-a-thon to celebrate literacy. Thursday, February 1st, from 5:30-7:00 pm is the Winter Book-tacular! Bring the whole family to try our VR system, crafts, stories, reading to therapy dogs, hot cocoa, and pictures with Parker Penguin! Wednesday, February 7th, is World Read-Aloud Day. Each class will have the chance to Zoom with an author or illustrator to learn more about the process of creating books. We look forward to celebrating reading with each of your students!
Kindergarten Registration - 2nd Posting
2024 Kindergarten Registration online form is available! To register your new student please visit our registration page. If you want to register in person, you can by visiting the District Office at 517 Deerfield Rd. during the times below:
Thursday, Feb 1st: 12:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Friday, Feb 2nd: 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Inclusion Event for District 109 Families - 2nd Posting
Other Important Information ⚠️
- All visitors to South Park School MUST bring a valid driver's license or state ID card to the main office before entering into the building. Beginning this year, we will collect IDs during your visit and return it to you as you leave.
- If your child is going to be absent from school, you need to call or email us by 9:00 that morning. ** Call 847-945-5895, ext. 2103 and leave a message OR ** Email Nurse Nora Moskos.
- Please follow our morning procedures, and drop your children off at their regular grade level doors. If you choose to drive through the front circle at arrival, kindly stay in your car when you drop off to help us reduce morning congestion.
- K-5 drop-off is between 8:35-8:45 a.m. Students who arrive after 8:45 a.m. will need to enter through the front door of the school, as all other doors will be locked.
- Dismissal for all Kindy and 1st-grade walkers and car riders will take place at their grade level door.
- Early Learners drop-off/pick-up info can be found here.
- When parking in our Birchwood parking lot, please remember that our preschoolers are dropped off and picked up by the west end (closest to the school). Sometimes, their parents' cars can block a parked car from exiting for a few minutes. To avoid that, we suggest that you park closer to Birchwood Avenue.
Important Dates 📅
Thursday, February 1
- South Park Booktacular 5:30-7:00
- SEL Parent Event
- No School - Teacher Institute Day
- No School - Presidents Day
- No School - Casimir Pulaski Day
- Early Release at 11:40 a.m.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences - 1:00-4:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m.
- Non-Attendance Day for Students
- Parent Teacher Conferences from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
- Spring Break
- School Resumes
Fine Arts Night:
Thursday, April 18th - 4:00-5:30
Upcoming Music Concert Dates:
- South Park Singers - Monday, January 22nd @ 6:15
- 4th Grade - Thursday, February 8th @ 6:00
- 3rd Grade - Thursday, January 25th @ 6:00
- 2nd Grade - Thursday, February 8th @ 5:00
- 1st Grade - Thursday, January 25th @ 5:00
- Kindergarten - Wednesday, April 10 @ 6:00
- Early Learners - Wednesday, April 10 @ 5:00