Friday Focus

• A Message from Marcie
• 109 Gives Back Holiday Gift Drive Begins!
• Reminders about the Morning Drop-Off
• Weekly Tech Tips
• Parker's Picks
• This Week in Pictures
• News from Early Learners
• Other Important Info

• Fun Fair Volunteers Needed!!
• Sign up to be an event photographer!
• Volunteer in the library!
• and much more...

Thanks for a great week, South Park!

This week brought our first snowfall of the season! While strong winds kept us indoors during the school day, the changing weather is a great reminder for families to ensure students are dressed warmly for the cold. Warm coats, hats, gloves, and proper footwear are essential for staying comfortable during outdoor recess. To avoid mix-ups, please label all items with your child’s name. We also encourage students to keep a change of clothes at school.

When snow accumulates, snow pants and snow boots will be required for playing in the snow. Students without these items can still enjoy recess on the blacktop with their friends.

Fresh air and outdoor play are important for students’ well-being, even in cooler temperatures. To help your child enjoy this time safely, please ensure they’re dressed appropriately. We will head outside for recess as long as the wind chill is 15 degrees or higher.

Finally, a quick reminder: school will be in session next week on Monday and Tuesday only. We hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

-Marcie

It’s time for the annual 109 Gives Back Holiday Gift Drive! This collaborative effort across all six of our schools directly supports local Deerfield families.

Click here to learn more about the gift drive or the button below to jump straight to the wish list.

Families, thank you for your help with our drop off procedures!

The Village of Deerfield is in the process of replacing the section of the sidewalk to the west as you enter the front driveway toward our circle. They will be adding yellow paint as a visual to help remind parents not to park there during morning drop off.

Please remember that we need all families to follow our procedures 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.
• Students can enter through the front door on cold/snowy/rainy days so that they don't have to walk all the way to their grade level doors.

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.

• Lunch Lady: The Breakfast Bunch — friends Hector, Terrence, and Dee — used to speculate about their Lunch Lady’s life outside of the cafeteria, but they never could’ve guessed the truth: that she’s actually a spatula-wielding superhero, and justice is on the menu.

• Max and the Midknights: Max may be expected to become a troubadour, just like Uncle Budrick, but Max truly dreams of becoming a brave knight instead. Then villainous King Gastley takes Budrick captive and it’s up to Max to assemble a group of kids, a.k.a. the Midknights, to help rescue Uncle Budrick.

• Hilo: D.J. and Gina befriend a boy with superpowers after he crash-lands on earth. Between robot monsters, mysterious portals, and annoying siblings, this nine-book graphic novel series has enough humor and adventure to keep your kid reading for weeks.

• Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom: Meet Ben, a kid who takes things literally! He also has a kind heart and a massive appetite for sweets. Follow along as Ben takes his fortune cookie's advice to the next level, creating some hilarious hijinks in the process.

Our preschool program had a truly wonderful week of learning and fun! The Full-Day PreK class had an exciting time showcasing their letter knowledge in an ABC fashion show for our morning classes and First Grade buddies. They also began preparing for next week’s Annual Early Learners Friendsgiving feast with some hands-on cooking activities, making delicious Thanksgiving treats like homemade butter and cornbread. Across all preschool classrooms, students enjoyed listening to Miss K read Duck for Thanksgiving, sparking a meaningful conversation about how Thanksgiving celebrations vary from family to family, but the most important traditions are sharing food and being together. This week, we also introduced the spirit of gratitude and the tradition of Thanksgiving, while focusing on practicing winter readiness skills to prepare for the colder months ahead. What a week filled with learning, creativity, and celebration!

This week in Grady's Group, we discussed the many types of families and the love that unites them. We explored the different people who can be part of a family and shared personal family photos. The group also read The Family Book by Todd Parr, which highlights the diversity of families. For home fun, families are encouraged to explore real photo albums and share fun facts about their family members.

Wishing everyone a joyful and memorable Thanksgiving!

• 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, November 27-Friday, November 29th

• No School - Thanksgiving Break

• Last Day of School Before Winter Break

Tuesday, January 7th

• School Resumes for Students

• No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• No School - Teacher Institute Day

Monday, February 17th

• No School - Presidents' Day

Thursday, March 20th

• Early Release at 11:40 a.m.
• Spring Conferences from 1:00-8:00 p.m.

• Non-Attendance Day
• Spring Conferences 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Monday, March 24th-Friday, March 28th

• Spring Break

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