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Friday Focus
January 12, 2024
In This Issue...
- A Message from Marcie
- Upcoming 3rd-5h Grade SEL Parent Event
- MAP Testing
- SEL Survey is Coming
- Uncle Pete's Lunches
- Upcoming South Park Read-a-Thon
- Kindergarten Registration
- Inclusion Event for 109 Families
Don't miss the PTO Spotlight:
- Bingo Night 1/28
- Volunteer with Gratitude Generation 2/3
- Skate Night 2/25
- And much more...
A Message from Marcie
Who would have thought we would end the first week of 2024 on a day reminiscent of 2020! As we head into the long weekend, I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to our school community for everyone's flexibility and commitment during today's eLearning day.
With just a few hours to plan, our teachers seamlessly transitioned to eLearning, ensuring that our students' education remained uninterrupted. Their dedication to providing a high-quality learning experience is truly commendable.
To our families, thank you for your understanding and support as we navigated this change together. Your cooperation made a significant impact on the success of our eLearning day.
A reminder that there is no school on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We look forward to seeing our students back to school on Tuesday, January 16th. Next week, the weather forecast looks especially cold. We will take students outside for recess only if the temperature is 15 degrees or higher with the windchill.
Stay safe and warm, South Park!
-Marcie
Upcoming 3rd-5th Grade SEL Parent Event
On Tuesday, January 16th, we will host a special SEL parent event from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the South Park library. Though it is geared toward 3rd-5th grade families, we would like to open the event up to families of our younger students as well. Click here for specific details about the event.
We would appreciate it if you would take a moment to RSVP by clicking here so that we are prepared for all of our guests.
MAP Testing
We begin the winter administration of the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test in Math and Reading for students in grades K-5 next week on Wednesday, January 17th. The winter MAP testing window will run for three weeks.
Below is the MAP schedule for South Park. Specific schedule information will be shared by your child's teacher.
MAP Schdule
SEL Survey is Coming
Building students’ social-emotional learning (SEL) skills is important at [School Name]. As a part of the learning process, we will be asking students in grades K-8 to reflect on skills related to social-emotional learning and the school environment. The survey will be administered to all students in grades K-8 between January 18th and February 2 and it should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. Per policy, if you would like your child to opt out of taking the survey, please contact me no later than January 17th.
Uncle Pete's Lunches
On Thursday, January 18th, South Park will participate in a philanthropy project to make lunches for people in need. When we return to school on Tuesday, students will receive an empty lunch sack with directions to package a meal for Thursday morning.
As you are doing your grocery shopping this weekend, we wanted to include the food list for the lunches so that our families can be prepared to help when the lunch sacks are sent home next week!
All lunch sacks should include:
- 2 sandwiches (meat) on white or wheat, each in a plastic bag (no condiments or cheese)
- 2 hard-boiled eggs
- 1 small bag of potato chips or other chips/pretzels
- 1 piece of fruit: apple or orange (no bananas)
- 1 packet of cookies or a candy bar
- 1 small bottle of water or juice
- 1 napkin
Please consider participating in this worthy cause by packing a lunch in the provided lunch sack and sending it to school with your child on January 18th.
Upcoming South Park Read-a-Thon
We are excited to announce that our Read-a-thon fundraiser is starting soon! Read-a-thon is a program that brings students together with family and classmates to encourage reading. Past Read-a-thons have funded our Storywalk and ClassVR system. This year our readers are raising funds for our annual Helping Hands Day, and to purchase new books for the library collection. The Read-a-thon starts January 29th. Next week, we will send home paperwork with your reader explaining how to activate their personal Read-a-thon page. Readers can qualify for fun prizes just by reading!
In addition, we’ll be holding some special events during the Read-a-thon to celebrate literacy. Thursday, February 1st, from 5:30-7:00 pm is the Winter Book-tacular! Bring the whole family to try our VR system, crafts, stories, reading to therapy dogs, hot cocoa, and pictures with Parker Penguin! Wednesday, February 7th, is World Read-Aloud Day. Each class will have the chance to Zoom with an author or illustrator to learn more about the process of creating books. We look forward to celebrating reading with each of your students!
Kindergarten Registration
2024 Kindergarten Registration online form is available! To register your new student please visit our registration page.
Inclusion Event for District 109 Families
Other Important 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.
Important Dates 📅
Monday, January 15
- No School - MLK Day
- South Park Booktacular 5:30-7:00
- No School - Teacher Institute Day
- No School - Presidents Day
- No School - Casimir Pulaski Day
- Early Release at 11:40 a.m.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences - 1:00-4:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m.
- Non-Attendance Day for Students
- Parent Teacher Conferences from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
- Spring Break
- School Resumes
Fine Arts Night:
Thursday, April 18th - 4:00-5:30
Upcoming Music Concert Dates:
- South Park Singers - Monday, January 22nd @ 6:15
- 4th Grade - Thursday, February 8th @ 6:00
- 3rd Grade - Thursday, January 25th @ 6:00
- 2nd Grade - Thursday, February 8th @ 5:00
- 1st Grade - Thursday, January 25th @ 5:00
- Kindergarten - Wednesday, April 10 @ 6:00
- Early Learners - Wednesday, April 10 @ 5:00