Cardinal Corner

District News

October 5: Coffee with Board, 9-11am

October 8: School Board Meeting, 6:15 pm

October 15: Superintendent Open Door Meeting, 2-4pm

School News/Sports

October 1: Evacuation Drill with the Fire Department Observing; CC Practice 3-4:15pm; Girls BBall, 3-4:30pm

October 2: Girls BBall, 3-4:30pm; Cheer Clinic, 3-4:30pm; CC Meet vs Plum Grove @Harper College, 3:45-5pm

October 3: Non-Attendance Day —All District 25 Schools Closed

October 4: Cheer Tryouts, 3-4:30pm; CC Practice, 3-4pm

October 7: CC Practice 3-4:15pm; Girls BBall, 3-4:30pm; Girls BBall 3-4:30pm; Sci O 6-9pm

October 8: Concert Band, 7-7:40am; CC Practice, 3-4:15pm; Girls BBall, 3-4:30pm; Poms Tryout Clinic, 3-4:30pm

October 9: CC Practice, 3-4:15pm; Girls BBall, 3-4:30pm; Poms Auditions, 3-4:30pm,

October 10: Concert Band, 7-7:40am; Girls BBall, 3-4:30pm; Poms Practice, 3-4:30pm; CC Sectionals @Deer Grove East Forest Preserve (Picnic Grove #2), Palatine 3:30-6pm

October 11: Sixth Grade Intramurals 2:45-3:25pm; CC Practice, 3-4pm

October 14: CC Practice 3-4:15pm; Girls BBall, 3-4:30pm; Sci O 6-9pm

October 15: Concert Band, 7am-7:40am; CC Practice 3-4:15pm; Girls BBall, 3-4:30pm; Poms Practice, 3-4:30pm; Cheer Practice, 3-4:30pm,

November 4: Parent/Teacher Conferences, 8:30am-7:45pm

Dear South Parents and Guardians:

Happy Fall! As we head into October, there are many activities and events scheduled for students, staff and families.

After school on September 30th South's PTA is sponsoring a Seventh Grade Activity Hour. All seventh grade students are welcome to attend. There will be treats, games, and activities in the multipurpose room and the gymnasiums. The event goes until 4pm. Students may take the activity bus at 3:30pm, or arrange for transportation home at 4pm.

If you haven't already please join South's PTA. This amazing organization supports South's students and staff and provides various events which maximizes our students' middle school experience. For further details, please view the PTA section below.

During the month of October, South's Student Council will be hosting its annual Halloween Door Decorating Contest. Each Homebase will design their classroom door. Each grade will have a first, second and third place winners. We will be posting the decorating progress and winners in the next few newsletters.

On October 4th, teachers will be sending out mid-term reports for students receiving a D or F grade. If you receive a mid-term report, please contact your child's teacher if you have questions about your child's progress. The end of the first quarter is approaching on November 1st. Please take the time to sit with your child and look at PowerSchool & Schoology to view any missing assignments or upcoming assessments.

As the temperature drops and colors on the trees change, we continue to provide opportunities for students to be outside. Please make sure your child dresses appropriately for the weather—daily.

As the weather changes, more parents are driving their children to school. It is more important than ever to pull all the way forward in the front circle drive as you pick up and drop off your child. Doing so will allow for more cars to enter the pick up/drop off area, which in turn will reduce the amount of time for everyone. We discourage parents from stopping on the east side of the circle drive or on Highland Ave. to pick up or drop off their children. This forces students to cross between cars and the circle driveway, where they could get hit by a car. In addition, please do not block the handicap spaces in the front of the building as we have parents that need to use those spaces to drop off and pick up their children. Our main goal for drop off and pick up is always your child's safety. Please partner with us in order to prevent dangerous situations.

Have a great weekend!

South Administration

A month to celebrate the rich heritage of Hispanic Americans and the many contributions they have made to American culture.

Celebrated September 15-October 15

www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov

October commemorates the first Polish settlers as well as the leadership of General Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko who fought in the American Revolution.

We also honor the contributions of Polish-Americans in the areas of arts, sciences, culture and more.

For more information, visit: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/polish-american-heritage-month.html

Jewish New Year and Holy Days. Days of Renewed Responsibility and the first of the High Holy Days. The traditional greeting during Rosh Hashanah is the phrase “Shanah tovah,” which translates to “Good year.”

*Date changes year to year

Yom Kippur is the Jewish holiest day, known as Day of Atonement. The 25-hour period is devoted to prayer, fasting, and repentance.

*Date changes year to year

A day to honor all explorers and to commemorate Columbus’ sighting of the New World in 1492.

A federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October.

A day to recognize and celebrate the Native people that first inhabited the Americas.

Columbus Day is a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas. Columbus went ashore at Guanahaní, an island in the Bahamas, on October 12, 1492.

Thank you to South's PTA for sponsoring this fun event!

A representative of Candor Health Education will hold an informational meeting exclusively for parents of current District 25 8th-grade students on October 9, 2024, at 6pm. This will be a virtual event.

Parent Night Quick Info:

Live via Zoom

Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 6pm

Zoom Link: CLICK HERE

Pre-Recorded Presentation:

If you cannot attend this meeting, you may access the pre-recorded presentation via Candor Health Education by clicking here. Then, scroll down to find Teen Sexual Health 1.

Password: Premier25

For further information please see the September 3rd email from the district office.

Starting Tuesday, October 1st, students will be required to show their bus passes to enter the bus. If you child has lost or forgotten their bus pass, they can get a temporary one from the school office.

• November 4th: 8:30am-7:45pm

• Format: 7-minute Individual Conferences, PTC Wizard Online Sign Up*

• Students are invited and encouraged to attend conferences with their parents.

*More detailed information and parent signup directions will be sent out in the next Cardinal Corner.

This is a reminder that Sixth Grade Health Requirements are due October 15, 2024!

Sixth Grade Health Requirements

State of Illinois Certificate of Health Examination (AKA physical form)

• Due by October 15, 2024 to avoid school exclusion.

• Examination must be performed on or after August 29, 2023 and must be on the state of IL form.

• Includes Meningococcal (MCV4) and Tdap vaccines.

Dental examination – Proof of Dental Examination Form

• Due May 15, 2025.

• Examination dated November 15, 2023 or later.

Please contact the nurse's office with any questions.

Placement Exam Dates at all six District 214 high schools:

• Saturday, October 26, 2024: 8am-12:10pm (arrival 7:45 am)
• Makeup, Saturday, November 2, 2024: 8am-12:10pm
  

Students should bring #2 pencils and a calculator to the exam. The placement exam is a paper test and students will bubble their answers on a separate answer sheet.

Registration Info—CLICK HERE

We are looking to honor South graduates who have made significant accomplishments/achievements by displaying them on an SMS TV monitor that is located in our school entrance. We are asking you to please complete this form and provide us with a picture of the graduate.

Come on out for South Theatre’s 2024 Fall Variety Show: Nightmare on South Street! Student-led acts from singing to dancing to skits and more, strung together with themed scenes written and performed by our Eighth Grade MC Committee, supported by our student Stage/Tech Crew.

Tickets go on sale October 7th at https://sites.google.com/sd25.org/souththeatre/tickets.

Email Director Wes Skym at wskym@sd25.org with any questions.

Last week Recap September 26-21, 2024

We had our last home meet of the year on Tuesday, the Crusader Fall Flite Classic on Thursday, and the Troy Invite on Saturday. Even though it was a lot of racing, and it was another hot week (hopefully the last one of the season), we had some great performances!

We performed well against Lincoln (one of the tougher teams in our sectional), fought hard at the Crusader Fall Flite Classic, placed 2nd overall as a team above 18 other teams (including powerhouse Rotollo), and some super fast times at the Troy Invite!

This Week & next week:

On Thursday our runners came to practice hungry for hills! We all ran to Sunset Meadows where they tackled some hills and had a FANTASTIC workout.

Next week we have the Cross Town Classic against Thomas at Hasbrook park on Monday, a dual meet against Plum Grove at Harper College on Wednesday, and the Fox Trot Invite down in Yorkville on Saturday. It's gonna be a great week!

The 7th grade girls basketball has been practicing for two weeks and just won their first game against Twin Groves 36-20. Anissa S. and Eva B. led the team in scoring in the first game. The team has a game next week against Lincoln of Park Ridge and is looking forward to a great season.

First PTA General Meeting: Please come show your support and find out how you can get involved this year. Tuesday, October 1st, 6:30pm, in the SMS multi-purpose room. Lucky winners will receive Arlington Heights gift cards for being in attendance!

Spirit Wear!: Your kids have asked for SMS Spirit Wear and the store is now open to order. Students love showing their SMS pride. Items will arrive at South within three weeks of October 3, 2024 and be delivered to your child's homebase. ORDER TODAY!

Join the PTA: The South PTA has many active PTA members and is always looking for more. We support many school and student programs through our memberships. One yearbook for your son/daughter is included with a PTA membership. If you didn’t join when registering your student, JOIN NOW!

The SMS Office is open Monday-Friday, 7am-3pm.

Address: 400 South Highland Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Twitter: @AHSD25South

Main Line: (847) 398-4250

Absence Line: (847) 506-6999 x7300

Fax line: (847) 394-6260