Cardinal Corner

District News

February 11: School Board Meeting, 6:15pm

February 14: Parent Teacher Conferences — No School

School News/Sports

February 3: No Activity Bus, Boys Basketball, 2:45-4:30pm; The Little Mermaid Auditions, 3-5pm, Drama Room; Wrestling Home Meet, 3:45-6pm; Sci O practice, 6-9pm; Girls Volleyball @ LZN

February 4: GIrls Volleyball Practice, TBD; Wrestling Practice 3-4:30pm: The Little Mermaid Auditions, 3-5pm, Drama Room

February 5: Fifth Grade Band Concert, 7pm

February 6: Sweetheart Girls Volleyball Tournament; Poms Practice, 3-4:30pm; Wrestling Practice 3-4:30pm; The Little Mermaid Callback, 3:-6pm, Drama Room; Music For Youth, 4:30-7:30pm;

February 7: Sweetheart Girls Volleyball Tournament; Wrestling Practice, 3-4:30pm

February 8: Sweetheart Girls Volleyball Tournament

February 10: Wrestling Practice, 3-4:30pm

February 11: Wrestling Practice, 3-4:30pm; Girls Volleyball vs Plum Grove, 3:30pm

February 12: Wrestling Meet vs Thomas

February 13: Poms Practice, 3-4:30pm; Music For Youth, 4-7:30pm; Girls Volleyball @ Barrington Station, 4:15pm, 7th/8th; Wrestling Meet vs Lake Zurich North, 4:30pm

February 14: Wrestling Practice, 3-4:30pm

Dear South Parents and Guardians:

As we head into the second half of the school year, it is important for your child to continue to build upon their first half of the school year's successes and learn from their challenges. We will continue to strive to support you and your child to help them reach their full potential. Please reach out to your child's teachers if you have questions or need direction. We want everyone to have a successful second half of the school year.

Second Quarter Assembly

Students and staff enjoyed our End of Second Quarter Celebration assembly. The students who we recognized were Girls Basketball, Special Olympics and Spelling Bee winners. The Pom-Pom Squad performed and students selected for the CARDS awards were celebrated. The assembly ended with a team challenge of musical chairs. The winner, 7 West, claimed the traveling trophy for the second quarter in a row!

Parent-Teacher Conferences

South's Parent/Teacher conferences is on February 14, 2025. Parents will have the opportunity to schedule a conference with a specific teacher, similarly to the fall conference format. Math and Language Arts teachers will not have the data nor the information regarding the next school year’s placement for your child. They will not be able to provide any information regarding class placement. Please see further information below on how to sign up for conferences.

Lock Down Drill

On January 23, 2025, South Middle School participated in a practice Lock Down Drill with the assistance of the Arlington Height Police Department. Six police officers worked closely with South's administrative team to monitor the drill. We are happy to say that our students and staff did a wonderful job of creating a safe and secure environment.

Winter MAP Scores

Families should have received an email on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, with your child's Winter NWEA MAP scores. Please contact South's Main Office if you did not receive the email.

Winter Ski Trip

On Saturday, January 25, 2025, 100 students and five staff members participated in a ski trip to Alpine Valley. The weather was nice and everyone involved had a great time, and returned without any broken bones. Attached below is a picture of the trip.

Sports

In sports, the boy's basketball season is winding down, as the girls volleyball and South's wrestling team are starting up. You can find information regarding their seasons in the sports section below.

Updated Eighth Grade Graduation Information

There has been an important update regarding the Eighth Grade Graduation Ceremony. The Eighth Grade Graduation Ceremony on June 3, 2025, will begin at 4:30pm at the Forest View Education Center Field House. Students will be asked to arrive at 4pm. Further details regarding the Eighth Grade graduation and events will be coming in the near future.

Seventh Grade Field Trip

This year, our seventh-grade students will be taking a field trip to Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center. The trip will take place on April 28, 2025 for the 7 West team, and April 29, 2025 for the 7 East team. Further information to come.

Random Acts of Kindness Week

South's Student Council will be hosting a Random Acts of Kindness week during the week of February 17- 21, 2025. Students will receive information during the announcements during the week of February 10, 2025.

Have a great weekend!

South Administration

Date: February 14, 2025

Time Frame: 7:50am -3:15pm. (7-minute conferences per subject area.)

Online Parent Sign Up - PTC Wizard

• PTC Wizard Online Conference Scheduler Info

• Opened On: Monday, January 20, 2025 at 8:30am

• Closes On: Friday, February 7, 2025 at 3pm.

• If you already created a login account this school year, you should use the SAME account.

• Parents will need your child’s Student ID in order to create a NEW account.

Click the link below for detailed information regarding conferences.

CLICK HERE: South Parent-Teacher Conferences

• February 11: Eighth grade graduation pictures. The students will be assigned a time based on their picture ticket provided by the portrait company. Please understand that the students will still need to change for PE for the day even if the picture time is after the PE class.
• March 12: Graduation picture retake day for those that are not able to take their photos.

• May 29: Eighth Grade Great America Field Trip

• June 2: Eighth Grade Picnic, 12:30-2:45pm at South
• June 3: Eighth Grade Graduation @ 4:30 pm at Forest View Education Center Field House, 2201 S. Goebbert Rd., Arlington Heights. Students arrive at 4pm.

There is a rise in common illness within our schools.

Please help us keep our students and staff healthy by following this guidance:

Consider keeping your child at home for a day of rest if they have any of these symptoms:

• Mild stuffy or runny nose and/or mild cough

• Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)

• Headache

• Stomach ache

Your child must stay home if they have any of these symptoms:

• Fever (100.4ºF or higher)

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Chills

• Feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches

• Frequent Cough, including congested (wet) or croupy cough

Your child may return to school when:

• Fever free for at least 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medication

• At least 24 hours since the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea

• 24 hours after starting antibiotics if prescribed by a provider

• Symptoms are improving and they are well enough to participate in normal activities

Help prevent the flu and other colds by teaching your children good hygiene habits:

• Wash hands frequently

• Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth

• Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Avoid sharing personal items, food, or drinks.

Illinois Department of Public Health fact sheets for common illnesses

• Flu

• Strep Throat

• RSV

• COVID
  

The South jazz ensemble performed at the Chicagoland Jazz Workshop on Saturday, January 25th at Buffalo Grove HS. They performed three pieces and also received a clinic from the three professional jazz educators/musicians. Great job Cardinals!

District 214 has planned a placement makeup exam for eighth grade students who missed the initial placement testing in the fall. We emailed the parents/guardians of students who missed the fall exam. The makeup test information is below:

• Date: Friday, February 21, 2025
• Time: 8-11am
• Location: Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005
  • Check-in at Door 33.
  • Students provide their own transportation.
• Register at https://links.d214.org/D214makeupexam by February 13 to reserve a spot.

South's Student Council went on a field trip to Feed My Starving Children on Thursday, January 30. We packed over 20,000 meals for the hungry. Way to go Cardinals!

Additional information and the opt-out form can be found on the D25 website.

We are looking to honor South Middle School 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.

Congratulations to South's eighth grade girls volleyball team on their victory against Thomas Middle School for the championship of the Hawks Frostbite Tournament at Holmes Junior High School.

Seventh grade boys basketball just completed their season last week. The team celebrated wins over Sundling, Cooper, and MacArthur, amongst other teams. They showcased great sportsmanship on the court and exemplified the Cardinal Way consistently throughout the season.

The eighth grade boys basketball team has been working hard in practice to get ready for the IESA regionals. The boys play Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 11:30am, at South. Come watch them try and advance in the regional.

The South PTA is sponsoring lunch and stocking the lounge for the upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences on February 14th. We need your help with all the snacks and dessert for everyone to enjoy. You can drop off Stock the Lounge items any time! Please donate items today!

The PTA will help to sponsor the Eighth Grade Dance this year. We are currently looking at dates and locations and will communicate when we have more details. If you would like to participate in the Eighth Grade Dance Committee, please sign up here!

They created a LIVE inventory store and can deliver to school you order. We will do a new order with additional products in March, but if you are in need of sweatshirts, pants or t-shirts now, please check it out and order today!

Our partner has remaining inventory from the previous spirit wear orders.

We are looking for new leaders for the PTA next year! If you are interested in helping to plan events for the students and staff for the 25-26 school year, please email Sarah Baird at president@southpta.org.

If you are a current PTA member in any school, have held one executive committee role, and want to help with District 25 PTA for the next year, then this is for you! Please fill out this Nomination Form today if you or someone you know is interested!

Most students receive a yearbook through their parent’s South PTA Individual/Parent Membership or by pre-ordering during D25 registration. However, for non-PTA members now is your time to order a Yearbook!

Quantities are limited, so order early.

Order before March 1st. You have three ways to order/pay:

1. Send a Check. Cost is $25 (non-member) or $20 (member). Make checks payable to "South PTA", note your child's name in the memo line. Deliver to the main office.

2. Send Cash. Cost is $25 (non-member) or $20 (member). Include a note with your child's name. Deliver to the main office.

3. Purchase Online. Cost is $26.64 (non-member, includes $1.64 CC processing fee) or $21.44 (member, includes $1.44 CC processing fee); you'll enter your child's name and homebase/teacher. Order at https://smspta.memberhub.com/store.

   
   

Questions? Email southcardinalsyearbook@gmail.com (please put your child's name in the subject line). Need assistance? Contact the South Main Office.

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