Friday Focus

• A Message from Marcie
• Resharing last week's Message from Marcie
• G.O.P.E.N.G.U.I.N.S. Spirit Days!
• Summer 2025 Digital Tool Access Information
• Parker's Picks

• Project Innovate! STEM Camp for 2nd-5th Graders at Deerfield High School

• 2025-2026 Fees & InfoCheck

• This Week in Pictures

• News from Early Learners
• Other Important Info

• End of the Year Bash- 6/6, 12-2pm
• Order 2025-26 School Supplies
• Volunteer for a 2025-26 PTO Committee
• Sign up to be a 2025-26 Room Rep
• Summer Book Check-Out - 6/10 & 7/16
• Buy tickets for the Cubs game on 6/1

Dear South Park Families,

A heartfelt thank you to all of the incredible volunteers who made today’s Helping Hands Day and Field Day such a success!

It’s days like today that remind our students that it truly takes a village to make great things happen. Field Day was packed with fun and energy—none of which would have been possible without the enthusiasm and support of our amazing parent volunteers.

Meanwhile, Helping Hands Day was a beautiful example of how our community comes together to give back. The thoughtful planning and coordination behind each activity showed our students that their actions can make a real impact in the world around them.

Earlier this school year, our students participated in a school-wide vote to select the organizations that would benefit from today’s Helping Hands projects. I’m proud to share that their choices were:

• North Shore Foundation

• Orphans of the Storm

• The Dragonfly Foundation

• Deerfield Food Pantry

• District 109 Angel Families

Today is just one of many reasons I love and admire the South Park community. Thank you for showing up—not only to celebrate our kids’ successes with a joyful day like Field Day, but also to model the power of service and the importance of giving back.

One week to go—let’s make it count!

With gratitude,
Marcie Faust

We recently learned that last week's Friday Focus may not have reached all of our families, so we are re-sharing the Message from Marcie to ensure everyone has a chance to read it. Thank you for staying connected!

At South Park, we deeply believe that all kids are good inside. No matter the behavior we see on the outside, every child is doing their best with the skills and support they have at the moment. One wonderful resource that echoes this belief is the book Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy. It offers thoughtful, compassionate guidance for parents and educators alike, helping us respond to children with empathy and understanding—even in challenging moments.

Sometimes we notice that when adults speak negatively about a child—whether on the playground, in the parking lot, or at home—it can shape that child’s reputation in harmful and lasting ways. Children hear more than we think, and these messages often trickle down into how they view their peers.

When your child comes home frustrated about another student, it’s easy (and human) to respond with something like, “He’s always mean,” or “She’s such a troublemaker.” But these moments are opportunities to help your child build empathy and understanding. Instead, try responding with curiosity:

“I wonder why he acted that way?”
“Maybe she was having a tough day.”
“How did that make you feel, and what could you do next time?”

By modeling this kind of thinking, we teach our children to look for the good inside others—even when it’s not immediately obvious.

We are all part of the South Park village. And it truly takes all of us—parents, caregivers, staff, and students—working together to see the best in our kids so that they can learn to see the best in each other.

Let’s keep showing up with kindness, curiosity, and compassion.

-Marcie

Our G.O. P.E.N.G.U.I.N.S. Spirit Days will continue next week! Let's keep the fun going!

Monday, June 2 – G: Game Day (Tech-Free!)
Play board games, card games, or enjoy some outdoor fun—no screens allowed!

Tuesday, June 3 – U: USA Day
Show your spirit by wearing red, white, and blue!

Wednesday, June 4 – I: Inside Out Day
Flip your fashion—wear your clothes inside out!

Thursday, June 5 – N: New Name Day
Pick a fun new name for the day—nametags will be provided!

Friday, June 6 – S: Swing Your Way Into Summer
Celebrate the last day of school and a fantastic year!

M A T H

During the 2024-2025 school year, District 109 has been undergoing a math curriculum review. Updates for 2025-2026 will be shared at curriculum nights in the fall. For students/families interested in math practice over the summer, the Big Ideas Common Core 2019 Student Editions are publicly available and can be found here. Digital tools, such as IXL (grades K-8) and ST Math (grades K-5), will also remain available through June 30th and can be accessed on any home device. Students will just go to clever.com, click "Login as student" on the top right, search for the school, and "Login with Google" using their dps109 email address and animal password.

R E A D I N G

The best way to maintain literacy skills over the summer is to keep reading! For students/families interested in ELA skill practice over the summer, digital tools, such as IXL (grades 2-8) will remain available through June 30th and can be accessed on any home device. Students will just go to clever.com, click "Login as student" on the top right, search for the school, and "Login with Google" using their dps109 email address and animal password.

In addition to the items above, any digital tool used throughout the year that requires a Google sign-on with a Dps109 email or a unique username/password created by the teacher, may be used as well. (i.e. WeVideo, CoSpaces Edu, Worldbookonline, etc.)

Reminders for student emails, passwords, and graduation years:

Graduation year:

Kindy: 2037

1st: 2036

2nd: 2035

3rd: 2034

4th: 2033

5th: 2032

6th: 2031

7th: 2030

Amina Khurram & Natalia West, juniors at Deerfield High School have launchd a hands-on STEM camp for elementary students (grades 2-5) this summer called Project Innovate.

The 5-day camp, hosted at DHS under sponsorship of DHS staff members, will feature fun and engaging activities across science, technology, engineering, and math, designed to spark curiosity and foster a love of learning. Learn more and register: https://tinyurl.com/projectinnovatedf

If your child wants to try out for a sport during the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, please ensure they have either the Certificate of Child Health Examination or the Pre-participation Examination forms completed and up-to-date beforehand. You will need to submit one of the two forms below:

• Certificate of child health examination

• Pre-participation examination form

Examination forms must be dated within 12 months of the tryout date. If you have any questions, please contact the Caruso nurse.

As we wrap up the school year, our Full Day Pre-K students have been reflecting on their experiences through our Memories Unit. The children voted on their favorite classroom centers from throughout the year, and we’ve brought those materials back out for a bonus round of fun! In addition, we’ve been rereading favorite books and revisiting pictures and videos from earlier in the year. This reflective practice is helping students process the close of the year while also preparing for some of our “lasts,” such as the final Grady’s Group and the last sessions of some specials classes. Mrs. Bergmann hosted our final art class of the year in her art room, sparking excitement among the children about what their kindergarten art rooms might be like!

In addition to our reflections, we’ve been celebrating the end of the school year with exciting countdown activities. PJ Day/Stuffy Sleepover, Glow Day, and Outside Day have been big hits! We’ve also begun rehearsals for our graduation ceremony happening next Tuesday evening. If you haven’t already, please RSVP to your child’s teacher so we can prepare for a fun and meaningful celebration. We’re looking forward to welcoming you to this special event!

This week was also filled with joyful reminiscing in our three-year-old classes. As the weather continues to warm, the children have been discussing all the fun that summer has to offer. They've loved engaging in summer-themed centers and revisiting favorite classroom toys from the year. The children also had a blast creating summer treat-themed art projects and talking about their favorite seasonal snacks. We can’t wait to celebrate all the growth and joy this group has experienced at their end-of-year celebration next week!

To conclude the year, our final Grady’s Group focused on remembering the valuable lessons we’ve learned throughout the school year. It’s been a year full of important life skills, and here are ten key takeaways you can continue reinforcing at home:

1. Was that soft or scratchy?
2. Zones of Regulation: Stay in the green zone. What zone are you in?
3. “Smell the flower, blow out the candle” – using deep breaths to calm down
4. Is that a Big Problem or a Little Problem?
5. Thought bubbles – What’s in your thought bubble?
6. Don’t wrinkle someone’s heart by being scratchy
7. Feelings; Problem; Fix It – Is it safe? Is it fair?
8. “Stop, Brain!” – Make the right choice, even when it’s hard
9. Sharing strategies – Take turns, play together, or trade
10. Say “Thank you” when you receive a gift and “I’m sorry” when you make a mistake, even if it’s an accident

As a special keepsake, the Pre-K children made friendship bracelets – a small gift from me as they prepare to leave Early Learners Preschool. It has been a wonderful year full of growth, connection, and joy. Thank you for sharing your children with us!

• 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.

Tuesday, May 20th

• VIP Day for Kindergarten, Third Grade, and Fifth Grade

• VIP Day for 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, and 4th Grade

• No School

• Last Day - Dismissal at 11:40 a.m.