District News:
April 4: 3rd Quarter Ends
April 8-10: Illinois Assessment of Readiness Testing, All Grades, Adjusted Bell Schedule
April 11: Progress Reports Issued;
April 15 - Superintendent Open Door, 2-4pm
School News/Sports:
April 1: Track Practice, 3-4pm; Boys Volleyball Tryouts, 3-5pm; Musical Rehearsal, 3-5pm; Sci O Practice, 6-9pm
April 2: Musical Rehearsal, 3-4pm; Boys Volleyball Tryouts, 3-5pm; South Track Practice, 3-5pm; Special Olympics, TBD
April 3: South Track Practice, 3-3:30pm; Boys Volleyball Tryouts, 3-5pm; Musical Rehearsal, 3-5pm; Thomas Time Trials, 3:30-5pm; Music For Youth, 4-7:30pm
April 4: Boys Volleyball Tryouts, 3-5pm; Track Practice, 3-5pm
April 7: Boys Volleyball Practice, 3-5pm; Musical Rehearsal, 3-5pm; South Track vs River Trails, 3-5pm
April 8: Track Practice 3-3:30pm; Boys Volleyball Practice, 3-5pm; Musical Rehearsal, 3-5pm; Thomas Track vs River Forest, 3:30-5pm
April 9: Boys Volleyball Practice, 3-5pm; Musical Rehearsal, 3-5pm; South Track vs Sandburg 3-5pm; Special Olympics, TBD
April 10: South Track Practice, 3-4pm; Boys Volleyball Practice, 3-5pm; Musical Rehearsal, 3-5pm; Music for Youth, 4-7:30pm
April 11: South Track Practice, 3-4pm; Boys Volleyball Practice, 3-5pm
April 12: Sci O State Tournament @ UUIC; Drama Set Build/Paint Day, 11am-3pm; Boys Volleyball Practice, 3-5pm; South Track Meet, Prairie Derby @ Barrington High School
April 14: Boys Volleyball vs Emerson, 3:30pm; Musical Rehearsal, 3-5pm; South Track vs Lincoln MP, 3-5pm
April 15: Bus Evacuation Drill During PE; South Track Practice, 3-3:30pm; Musical Rehearsal, 3-5pm; Thomas Track vs MacArthur, 3:30-5pm; Boys Volleyball @ MacArthur, 3:45pm
Dear South Parents and Guardians:
Welcome back, we hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break! Wow, it is amazing how quickly the school year is going!
Thank you to everyone who filled out the 5 Essentials Survey. We reached and surpassed our 20% mark. You will be able to view the results on the next Illinois School Report Card for South.
We would like to congratulate our Science Olympiad students who took in the regional championship, and are heading to the state tournament later this month. Go Cardinals!
On Tuesday, March 18th, several of South staff participated in a Staff vs Staff volleyball game to fundraise for the ABC25 Pack the Piggies event. In front of a large crowd of students, Ms. Van den Akker's team was victorious over Ms. Sparlin's team in a very close, three-set match. Then, Ms. Van den Akker's team lost to the eighth grade Girl's volleyball team. Everyone involved and attended enjoyed the event. We were able to raise over $560 for ABC25's fundraiser.
On April 8, 9, and 10, all students will be taking the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) state testing. We will have an adjusted bell schedule on these days. Please ensure your child gets plenty of sleep and eats a good breakfast each morning prior to school. Also, make sure they have their Chromebook charged and bring their earbuds to school. Further information can be found below.
Have a great week!
South Administration
In April 2022, President Biden officially recognized the month of April as National Arab American Heritage Month with a special commemorative letter. The month celebrates the Arab American heritage and culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans.
Passover, also called Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates freedom and justice. Passover is celebrated with two traditional meals called seders, on the first two nights of the holiday. Seder translates to "order" in Hebrew, because there is a ritual order of the prayers read and the foods eaten.
*Dates change from year to year
Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is an important Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
For millions of people around the world, Easter falls on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
Countries that officially observe the Orthodox Easter period include: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine.
We are very excited to inform you that this spring our sevnth grade students will have the opportunity to attend a day trip to Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center in Bartlett, Illinois. The purpose of this field trip is to incorporate science and social studies curriculum into outdoor activities that contribute to a sense of togetherness and instill teamwork within our students.
DATES
- 7 WEST will attend on Monday, April 28, 2025
- 7 EAST will attend on Tuesday, April 29, 2025
TIME
- During the school day (7:45am-2:45pm)
- Students will take regular transportation routes to and from SMS that day.
On your child’s assigned day, we will take school buses to Sunrise Lake, departing school at approximately 9am and returning to SMS before the end of the school day at 2:45pm. Students should follow their regular arrival and dismissal transportation routines.
The activities provided will mostly be outdoors. Students will be grouped up by their Homebases for the day’s activities.
What to Wear/Bring
- Students should come dressed & prepared for the outdoor elements as we will attempt to participate in outside activities as much as possible, including in the rain.
- Your child may bring their own sack lunch and water bottle on the field trip, or may select the option of a district-provided lunch.
Over twenty SMS staff members will be in attendance each day, along with administrators and our nursing staff to help run and assist activities alongside Sunrise Lake staff.
We look forward to a wonderful experience with your child, and know they will have a great time!
With warmer weather here, children are spending more time playing outside and participating in sports and other activities. If your child has been seen by a doctor and is returning to school with activity restrictions, please SEND the note to the school nurse and ensure the note includes the following:
Physical Education “Gym” Restrictions: Any Physical Education restrictions must also address recess for students in grades K-5.
Timeframe for Restrictions: The note must specify the DATE that your child may resume regular activities (e.g., "may return to regular activities on DATE" or "may return in one week").
If the note states "student can resume activities once medically cleared," an additional note will be required to confirm when restrictions are lifted.
For any concussion diagnosis, the doctor must provide clear parameters including restrictions and timeline to return to activities.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us support your child's health and well-being.
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.
Office Information
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