Friday Focus

• A Message from Marcie - NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY, 9/2 (Labor Day)
• Reminder about Phones and Watches
• Repeat Session of Anxious Generation Conversation - 10/1
• MAP Testing Begins
• Upcoming SEL Survey
• Join the South Park Singers (Open to 3rd-5th Graders)
• Destination Imagination (Open to 4th and 5th Graders)
• Other Important Information
• Important Dates
• News from Early Learners
• News from the District

Check out the PTO Spotlight here:

• Last day to order spirit wear!
• Purchase PTO Membership & Directory
• Sign up to be a LMC and/or Fun Lunch Volunteer
• Order a Birthday sign
• and much more...

Thanks for a great week, South Park!

It was wonderful to see so many families attend Curriculum Night this past Tuesday, even during such inclement weather and the power outage that followed. We commend our amazing teaching staff for presenting in the dark, and we are grateful to our families for their unwavering support. Your child's teachers should have already shared their presentations with you, but please don't hesitate to contact them if you haven't received anything yet. To view the opening presentation shared by Stephanie Monaco and me, please click here.

Despite the unusually high temperatures on Monday and Tuesday which kept us indoors for recess, followed by the unexpected school cancellation on Wednesday, we are incredibly proud of our students for their flexibility and adaptability. They rose to the occasion and surprised us with how quickly they have learned all of their new school routines. Here's to hoping Mother Nature cooperates with us for the rest of the year!

A reminder that we do not have school on Monday, September 2, due to Labor Day. Have a wonderful long weekend!

-Marcie

This was shared at Curriculum Night, but in case you missed it:

• Phones should not be seen or heard at school.
• Watches should not be used to initiate or respond to text messages during school hours.
• If either becomes a distraction, the school administration will take student devices and parents/guardians will be responsible for picking them up.

This summer, Dr. Faust and several other community members read the book, The Anxious Generation, which explores the significant increase in anxiety among today's youth, examining the underlying causes and societal factors contributing to this trend. The book provides practical strategies and insights for parents, educators, and mental health professionals to help young people manage anxiety and build resilience.

If you missed the first event on July 31, we invite you to join us for a repeat session on Tuesday, October 1, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in the South Park library. During this event, we will guide you through a structured discussion on the topics explored in the book.

You do not have to read the full book to join the conversation! Since many of you are short on time, the links below will provide you with enough information to participate in this event.

Video Interview with the author (21 minutes)

Video Summary (9 minutes)

Written Summary (4 minutes)

Please RSVP using the link below.

We will be administering the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test in Math and Reading three times this school year for students in grades 1-5. Our kindergarten students will be taking the MAP test twice this year, beginning in the winter.

MAP testing begins at South Park on Tuesday, September 3rd. Below is the fall MAP schedule for South Park.

Building students’ social-emotional learning (SEL) skills is important in District 109. As a part of the learning process, we ask students in grades K-8 to reflect on skills related to social-emotional learning and the school environment. The fall survey will be administered to all students between September 3rd and September 20th and it should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. Per policy, if you would like your child to opt out of taking the survey, please contact your school principal no later than Tuesday, September 3.

Our new music teacher, Ms. Taylor Woods, is excited to be taking over the South Park Singers this year! South Park Singers is an extracurricular chorus open to all 3rd-5th grade students.

Rehearsals will be after school from 3:30-4:00 pm on MONDAYS beginning on September 30th.

The fee of South Park Singers is $40. The fee includes our uniform T-shirt and covers the cost of music. Fees will be collected at the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Click here to sign up for South Park Singers no later than September 23rd.

D.I. is a project-based STEAM learning program where students work in teams, mentored by parents and teachers, to complete both long-range and fast-paced challenges. The program teaches problem-solving, creative thinking, perseverance, collaboration, project management, and much more! There will be a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, 9/3 from 7:30-8:00 PM for parents with 4th and 5th grade students who are interested in participating in Destination Imagination this year.

Join us at this link for the meeting. A recording will be made available for anyone unable to attend. Contact DI District Coordinator Kelly Jahng kjahng@dps109.org with any questions.

• 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, September 2

• No School - Labor Day

• Picture Day

• The Anxious Generation Community Conversation 7:00-8:00

Thursday, October 3

• No School - Rosh Hashanah

• No School - Columbus Day

• K-5 Students Early Dismissal 11:40 a.m.
• Parent Teacher Conferences 1:00-8:00 p.m.
• Early Learners - Non-attendance Day, Tentative Family Event TBD

• Non-attendance Day for all students
• Parent Teacher Conferences 8:00-11:00 a.m.
  

• Halloween Parade 2:00 p.m. (Livestream available for working families)

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

This week our Pre-K classes kicked off our specials as well as Grady’s group! The children got a preview of all the exciting things they will learn in each group, and practiced generalizing the classroom expectations we’ve been learning to new spaces and teachers. They will have music, library, art, STEAM, and Grady’s Group once a week! Our 3s also participate in Grady’s Group and library weekly.

The kiddos have loved getting to know each other better through our “Welcome to School” unit, and are so excited to dive into our Construction theme over the next couple weeks!

Have you checked out our new AI chatbot, Scout? Visit dps109.org, and Scout will appear on the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. Scout is on a two-month trial from now until the end of September. The more you help train him (ask him questions), the faster he learns and "scouts" our website to help find the answers to your questions! Please use the feedback button and star rating system to help us decide if Scout is here to stay.