Friday Focus

• A Message from Marcie
• This Week in Pictures
• Food and Supply Drive
• Weekly Tech Tips
• Learning Commons Corner (2nd Posting)
• Chasing Childhood (2nd Posting)
• News from Early Learners
• Other Important Info

• Gift Wrap Sale Open Now!
• Yearbook Cover Contest Open to all Artists!
• Last call for the Chicago Wolves Game!
• and much more...

Thanks for a great week, South Park!

On Monday, our students took part in an exciting school-wide election to choose a philanthropic cause that we will support during our annual Helping Hands Day at the end of the school year. Students also cast their votes for sticker designs created by our talented 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. The winning designs (pictured here) became symbols of pride, as students wore their chosen stickers after voting.

In the end, nearly 50% of our students selected Orphans of the Storm, a local animal shelter in Riverwoods, as the organization our school will support. Although this activity aligned with election season, we focused our discussions on the election process itself, making it relevant to our school's philanthropy selection rather than governmental politics.

As a reminder, we do not have school on Monday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day. Have a wonderful long weekend!

-Marcie

While we encourage everyone to limit time spent on devices, we understand that these tools can foster meaningful connections when used wisely. However, in today’s digital age, it can be difficult to stay informed about the latest apps and trends to ensure your child's online safety. We want to do our part in supporting students and families in the various ways they can implement security settings on their children’s devices and monitor time spent online. What better time to introduce these tech tips than October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Throughout the school year, we will feature practical technology tips in our newsletters, offering fresh ideas for families to use at home developed by our own Student Resource Officer, Lauren Maldonado, and our Innovations Specialist, Maria Galanis.

Did you know research shows a strong correlation between the amount of time students spend reading for fun and their academic progress, mental health, and social-emotional skills? In addition, kids grow in confidence and motivation from setting their own goals and working to reach them. At South Park, we know that kids who read what they enjoy spend more time reading and get better at it! We are encouraging all of our families to make reading for fun a daily priority. Each student has been challenged to read outside of school regularly and keep track of their at-home reading.

Students in grades K-1 receive a book tracking sheet from their teacher at the start of each month - look for the November sheet today! K-1 students should color in a book icon every time they read or listen to a book. Students in grades 2-5 should log their reading time in Biblionasium. These slides show how to log minutes in the program. Students can log their time every day, once a week, or somewhere in between. As long as their time is recorded by the end of the month, it will count. Classes that reach their self-selected minute goal will earn a fun class reward!

Our Biblionasium subscription is a great tool for all students and parents to find book ideas, keep track of books your child would like to read, and share recommendations with each other. Think of it like GoodReads for kids. Take a peek to see what it has to offer! If you have any questions about your child’s at-home reading, book tracking sheets, or Biblionasium, please feel free to contact South Park librarian, Mrs. Jahng, kjahng@dps109.org.

We appreciate everyone who came to watch our screening of the documentary Chasing Childhood this Tuesday. We have heard a lot of thoughtful discussion focused on this topic and how it ties in with our previous conversations surrounding the book The Anxious Generation. Efforts like these involve everyone in the community, and we hope to continue facilitating conversations and working with community partners to better our students' lives both in the classroom and out. If you were unable to attend our screening on Tuesday, you can view the documentary on YouTube. We also have mini-libraries of The Anxious Generation in the lobby of Caruso, South Park, and Wilmot to check out.

YouTube Link

In the 3-year-old preschool class, the children began exploring the concept of family as part of their early learning unit. They discussed the different people who make up their families and began to understand the importance of these relationships. Looking ahead, the children will create a "Turkey Tree," a fun variation of the traditional family tree, where they’ll use pictures of their family members to craft a collaborative display. This project will help them visualize the structure of their families and celebrate the connections that make them unique. Additionally, the children learned about the idea of voting, introducing them to the concept of making decisions as a group. To honor the holiday season, the children are also learning about Día de los Muertos, which provides an opportunity to reflect on family traditions and remember loved ones in a meaningful way.

The 4-year-old preschoolers participated in a variety of activities that enhanced their understanding of family, culture, and community. One key project focused on family food traditions, where the children shared stories about their favorite meals and the special occasions associated with them. This allowed them to connect with each other and recognize the cultural significance of food in family life. They also learned about Diwali, the Festival of Lights, deepening their understanding of the cultural and spiritual traditions tied to the holiday. The buddy activity was a huge hit this week, as students absolutely loved working with their buddies on their ABC Fashion Show materials. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to collaborate, share ideas, and get excited together as they prepared for the big event. The 4-year-olds were also included in South Park's school-wide election to choose which philanthropic cause the school will support on Helping Hands Day. This gave them a chance to practice decision-making and feel part of a larger community working together for a good cause.

November is off to a great start in Early Learners, and we are excited for the many fun and meaningful experiences the month ahead will bring!

• 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.

Monday, November 11th

• No School - Veterans Day

• No School - Thanksgiving Break

2024-25 Music Concert Dates:

• 5th Grade - Wednesday, January 29th @ 6:00

• 4th Grade - Wednesday, February 12th @ 6:00

• 3rd Grade - Wednesday, March 19th @ 6:00

• 2nd Grade - Wednesday, February 12th @ 5:00

• 1st Grade - Wednesday, January 29th @ 5:00

• Kindergarten - Wednesday, March 19 @ 5:00

• Early Learners - Thursday, May 1 @ 5:00