Friday Focus

• A Message from Marcie
• Front Circle Drop Off Reminders
• MAP Testing Continues
  
• Join the Library Advisory Team
  
• Join South Park Singers (Open to 3rd-5th Graders)

Check out the PTO Spotlight here:

• PTO Directory & Membership is open
• Order Fun Lunch
• Order a Birthday Sign
• Volunteer for Fun Lunch, LMC & Event Photographer
• Upload photos to the yearbook
• and much more...

Thanks for a great week, South Park!

Last week, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents. As a parent myself, this message deeply resonated with me. In light of the challenges we face in managing our own stress and supporting our children, I want to invite as many of you as possible to join us for an in-person discussion about the topics introduced in the book, The Anxious Generation.

Please save the date for Tuesday, October 1st, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the library for this important community event, which we are repeating after its success over the summer.

Click here to learn more and RSVP.

Now, more than ever, we must come together to strengthen our community and support one another. I look forward to seeing you there.

Have a wonderful weekend!

-Marcie

We would like to remind anyone in grades K-5 who utilizes the front circle for morning drop off to follow the guidelines below:

• Pull your vehicle all the way up toward the front entrance of South Park and let your child get out of your vehicle unassisted.
• All drivers should stay in their cars while students exit their vehicles.
• If your child needs help getting out of the car, please pull all the way up and past the front entrance of our school to help them.

On cold and rainy days, we will let children through the front door of the school so that they don't have to walk too far to their grade level door. We must ask that everyone pull up to keep the traffic flowing!

We will continue administering the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) next week. Please see the schedule below for the remaining test sessions.

Did you know that South Park is home to an Illinois Exemplary School Library? We’re proud of that achievement, but we can always get better! Mrs. Jahng, the South Park Library Information Specialist, is seeking to assemble a Library Advisory Team made of parents/guardians and staff members to provide feedback and ideas on current goals and initiatives for the South Park library. This team will meet once each quarter: fall, winter, and spring, at a mutually convenient time for its members. If you would be interested in joining this group, please complete this form.

Contact Kelly Jahng (kjahng@dps109.org) with any questions.

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.

This week, the Early Learners classrooms kicked off their construction unit. Classes were able to "build" upon the theme in different ways! For example, some classrooms decorated a house and used it in their classbuilding games while others painted with construction tools! Be sure to ask your child how the construction theme was integrated into their week. Each class read the book The Three Little Pigs to continue with the construction theme. With the book, students practiced various comprehension skills such as retelling and making predictions.

This week, students also experienced the first fire drill of the year at South Park. Students practiced this drill throughout the week in preparation for the drill on Friday. This allowed for students to feel prepared!

As a reminder, we would like to invite ALL Early Learners and South Park parents and guardians to join us on Tuesday, October 1st from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the South Park library to take part in a conversation centered around the book The Anxious Generation. Please reference Dr. Faust's most recent communication for more information.

• 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, September 17

• 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

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.

As last week's events have shown us, we need to be able to reach you in case of unexpected news! Some families still need to complete the quick process of verifying their information for this year. It's also an easy way to read and acknowledge our handbook and review district opt-out forms. Please head to Skyward to get started today!