Friday Focus

• A Message from Marcie
• Weekly Tech Tip
• Choosing a Photo for the Yearbook and Retakes
  
• Halloween is Coming!
  
• Save the Date: Chasing Childhood Film Screening
  
• Calling all 5th Graders! Join the Caruso Middle School Wrestling Team!
  

• 4th & 5th Grade Math Placement Information (2nd Posting)
  

• This Week in Pictures
  
• News from Early Learners

Check out the PTO Spotlight here:

• Pumpkin Decorating Contest Volunteers Needed 10/28-10/31
• Dad's Night Out Sign up- 11/7
• Elsie Mae Pie Fundraiser- Order now
• Chicago Wolves Game- 11/17 at 3pm
• and much more...

Thanks for a great week, South Park!

We were thrilled to welcome so many families to Family Reading Night and the PTO-sponsored book fair. Thank you to all of the families for the support and participation!

Today, we held our second fire drill of the year, and our students did a fantastic job getting out of the building quickly and quietly. As we head into next week, we will have two additional safety drills that we want to make sure all families are aware of.

Tuesday, October 15th - Safety Exercise

• Students in grades K-3 will read the book I’m Not Scared, I’m Prepared, followed by a discussion with their teacher.

• Students in grades 4-8 will watch a short screencast reviewing the components of ALICE, followed by a discussion on how to respond in various situations.

• Students will DROP to the ground
• Students will take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
• Students will HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk nearby, students are taught to drop to the ground in an inside corner of a building and cover their head and neck with hands and arms.

A reminder that we will not have school on Monday in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Have a wonderful weekend and we will see everyone back on Tuesday!

-Marcie

While we encourage everyone to limit time spent on devices, we understand that these tools can foster meaningful connections when used wisely. However, in today’s digital age, it can be difficult to stay informed about the latest apps and trends to ensure your child's online safety. We want to do our part in supporting students and families in the various ways they can implement security settings on their children’s devices and monitor time spent online. What better time to introduce these tech tips than October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Throughout the school year, we will feature practical technology tips in our newsletters, offering fresh ideas for families to use at home developed by our own Student Resource Officer, Lauren Maldonado, and our Innovations Specialist, Maria Galanis.

Now that school photos have been released, families are encouraged to select a photo for the yearbook. Please go to the Stuart-Rogers website and select a portrait-style photo for the yearbook by November 5th 2024? While there are several poses to choose from, it would be optimal for a "portrait" pose to be selected to be used in the yearbook.

If you would like your child to have their school photo retaken, please let your child's teacher know. Photo retakes will take place on Tuesday, October 22nd between 9:00-11:00 a.m.

This year, we will be celebrating Halloween at South Park on Thursday, October 31.

We want to remind families to be cautious when helping your child select a costume for Halloween. Using another's culture as a Halloween costume can be viewed as insensitive or offensive. In addition, we encourage students to be as inclusive as possible when dressing in group costumes so that students do not feel excluded during the Halloween festivities.

Below are some additional reminders about wearing costumes at school.

• Please do not send students with accessories (e.g witches broom).
  
• Toy weapons are strictly prohibited.
  
• Students should either wear costumes to school all day or have the ability to change into costumes in the classroom. Students will not be permitted to change clothes in the bathrooms.
  
• Masks that cover the face as a costume accessory can be worn during the parade and party, not during class time as it may be a distraction during learning.
  

If you need assistance in providing your child with a Halloween costume, please reach out to Dr. Faust.

Families who are not comfortable sending their child in costume, please reach out to your child's teacher so that we can be sensitive to you or your child's feelings about dressing up for Halloween. We want everyone at South Park to feel comfortable.

Weather permitting, families will be invited to watch our annual Halloween Parade at 2:00 on Halloween. Additional details will be shared in the coming weeks.

This thought-provoking documentary explores the decline of free play and independence in children’s lives, replaced by a culture of perfectionism that has fueled increasing rates of anxiety and depression. An RSVP form will be sent out in the coming weeks.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Caruso Middle School has a long tradition of running a successful wrestling club open to 5th through 8th grade students.

Though practice begins at 3:15 p.m. at Caruso, 5th graders can still participate after they are dismissed from school at South Park.

For more information, reach out to Tom Hoy at thoy@dps109.org.

District 109 offers all students exposure to a rigorous sequence of mathematical concepts. Teachers and teams consistently review trends in student achievement data, as well as educational research on best practices in math instruction. In fact, many 109 graduates complete Algebra 1 or Geometry before transitioning to Deerfield High School.

In grades K-4, the focus is on mastery of both procedural and conceptual skills in mathematics. Having a strong foundation is vital for all students. Extensions and remediation are available through differentiated instruction in the core classroom. At the conclusion of 4th grade, student data, skills, and learning behaviors are closely analyzed for placement into math pathways (see image here).

The most accelerated pathway, called the Geometry Pathway, prepares students to complete Geometry by the end of 8th grade. This will set them up to enter into Algebra II as a freshman with the potential of Multivariable Calculus as a senior. As you likely suspect, this pathway moves at a much quicker pace and involves both compacting and acceleration of standards. Entrance and retention into the Geometry Pathway is revisited at the conclusion of 5th and 6th grade.

It is most important that students are enrolled in a math course that supports their success. If not enrolled in the Geometry Pathway, all students still have the opportunity to take a sequence of courses that prepares them for Geometry as a freshman and Calculus as a senior.

Evaluation for the Geometry Pathway begins in the month of May. Criteria for entrance into Geometry Pathway has been established based on the profile of students who have seen long-term success in previous years. Criteria for placement is as follows:

• Consistent performance at or above the 95th percentile (nationally) on NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Math. Students will begin the spring MAP assessment the week of May 1st.

• If meeting the criteria above, 4th grade students will take a math assessment to show proficiency of 5th grade standards. 5th grade students will take an Algebra Readiness Assessment. This step in the process will occur the week of May 6th.

• Student performance on pre/post assessments, mastery of standards, and habits of success have been historically strong. Students in the Geometry Pathway have typically exceeded expectations on grade-level standards.

In late May or early June, families of students placed in the Geometry pathway will be notified. If you have additional questions about the process, please contact me. You can also reach out to Sarah Hogan (shogan@dps109.org), Math Curriculum Specialist, or Danielle Arnold (darnold@dps109.org), Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction.

Early Learners are excited to share that our fall unit is off to a fantastic start! In the three-year-old classrooms, students are diving into the world of apples and pumpkins. They’ve been experimenting with different apple flavors, carving pumpkins, and learning about the various parts of an apple. In math, the focus has been on number identification and matching quantities.

In the four-year-old classrooms, the fall unit is thriving as well! Each room has embraced the themes of apples, pumpkins, or leaves, with students creating art inspired by these topics and enjoying fall-themed sensory activities. In math, they are working on one-to-one correspondence and grouping objects into sets of five. This week’s letter is E, providing a great opportunity to practice its top, middle, and bottom formations.

Additionally, Grady’s group has introduced the Glitter Jar/Calm Down Jar to help with emotional regulation. We also conducted a fire drill this morning, and we’re proud to say that everyone did an amazing job!

Update for PM Families - Picture Retake Day will be on Tuesday, October 22. This is a morning only even that ends at 11:00 AM. If you are interested in having your student come to Picture Retake Day, please be sure to arrive during the event.

• 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.

Wednesday, October 9

• Family Reading Night - 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 8-Thursday, October 10

• PTO Sponsored Book Fair

• No School - Columbus Day

• Picture Retake Day - 9:00-11:00 a.m.

• K-5 Students Early Dismissal 11:40 a.m.
• Parent Teacher Conferences 1:00-8:00 p.m. (Sign-Up here)
• 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 link will be shared by 1:30 p.m.)

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