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Friday Focus
November 17, 2023
In This Issue...
- A Message from Marcie
- 109 Gives Back Holiday Gift Drive
- Preparing for Winter Weather
- Deerfield Park District Enrichment Brochure
Important Dates
Don't miss the PTO Spotlight:
- Spirit Wear Flash Sale
- Feed My Starving Children
- And much more...
A Message from Marcie
Thanks for a great week, South Park!
It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is less than a week away! As I reflect on this time of year, I want to take a moment to share how grateful I am for the educators who put their hearts and souls into the work they do each day with the students of South Park. Our amazing staff consistently shows up for students with compassion, love and positivity to make our school a welcoming place for everyone. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I hope you will consider sharing messages of gratitude to the educators who have touched the lives of you and your children.
Next week is shortened due to Thanksgiving break with students being out of school Wednesday-Friday. Due to the short week, we will not be sending another newsletter until after our break on December 1.
To all of our South Park families, I wish you all a joyful Thanksgiving holiday!
-Marcie
109 Gives Back Holiday Gift Drive
It’s the holiday season and for the fourth consecutive year District 109 is coming together to host our 109 Gives Back Holiday Gift Drive! This drive benefits local Deerfield families.
Sign up now to make someone’s holiday a little bit brighter! (Note: the list will continue to grow… so check back again in the next week or two as more things are added!)
Gifts can be dropped off at any 109 school or our district office between Monday, November 27th and Friday, December 8th.
Please make sure gifts are not wrapped
Please make sure gifts are labeled with the themed family name (example: Candy Cane family)
If you are bringing gift cards, we ask that you bring them to the school’s front office.
Gifts can also be shipped directly to Wilmot Elementary School at 795 Wilmot Road in Deerfield care of Eileen Brett.
If you need to make an alternate drop-off arrangement for a gift, please reach out to Eileen Brett at ebrett@dps109.org.
If you have any questions, please reach out to communications@dps109.org. Thank you for helping ensure that our neighbors have a wonderful holiday season!
Preparing for Winter Weather (2nd Posting)
DPS 109 community,
As we march closer to winter, we wanted to remind everyone of how we approach the process of determining whether school will be open and how we will communicate any changes with you. If school cannot physically be open, we will shift to an e-learning day.
When would school not be in person?
On www.dps109.org/badweather, you can review the process the Superintendent and district leaders undergo to determine if school will physically be open. There are multiple factors at play, including the timing and amount of precipitation, the temperature, wind chill, and road conditions. As stated above, the district would transition to an e-learning day.
When will we receive an initial notification?
We will closely monitor the forecast and send home devices the day before an expected weather event. A “heads up” email will be sent to staff and families the day prior and every effort will be made to send out this “heads up” as early as possible in the day to allow teachers to prepare and devices to be charged.
When is a final decision made and how will we be notified?
Every effort will be made to make a decision by 5:30 a.m. Families & staff will receive a text and email immediately from the district, along with a follow-up robocall.
How will my student know what to do on an e-learning day?
Your building principal will send school-specific information via email on the day of. Students will meet with their teachers using Google Meet. Links to join will be made available in the principal email, Seesaw, and/or Google Classroom.
Please reach out to me or your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
Deerfield Park District Enrichment Brochure (2nd Posting)
The Deerfield Park District holds after-school enrichment programs in our school. The winter program brochure is now available. Resident registration begins on December 4th, while non-resident registration begins on December 6th. All questions should be directed to the park district (847-945-0650).
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 📅
Wednesday, November 22-Friday, November 24
- No School - Thanksgiving Break
- Winter Break
Tuesday, January 9
- School Resumes
Monday, January 15
- No School - MLK Day
- 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
Music Concert Dates:
- 5th Grade - Wednesday, December 13th @ 6:00
- 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