Friday Focus
February 4, 2022
In this Issue:
- A Message from Marcie
- Learning Commons Corner
- Valentine's Day Celebrations
- Music Concerts - Updated
- Kindergarten & New 1st Grade Student Registration for 2022-23
- 5Essentials Survey
Don't miss the PTO Spotlight!
- Snow Building Contest - submit pics by Mon, Feb 7
- Save the Date for Bingo Night - Sun, Feb 27
- Winter Spirit Wear - delivered soon
- Marla's Lunch - Order now through June
- Sign up to Volunteer for Fun Lunch
- Cute pictures? Send to the Yearbook!
A Message from Marcie
Happy Friday!
Despite a few extra cold days that kept us indoors, we had a wonderful week of learning together at South Park. It is our practice to let students go outside for recess if the temperature/wind chill is 10 degrees or warmer and it is not raining or snowing too hard. Please send your child to school with appropriate winter wear, especially when there is snow on the ground. Students need snow pants and boots to be able to play in the snow.
Next week, we will be sending home MAP reports on February 9th. Please note that MAP Growth scores are just one data point that teachers use to determine how a student is performing. If you have questions about your child's progress, it is always best to reach out directly to your child's teacher for more specific information about their classroom performance.
As a reminder, we were unable to SHIELD test this past week due to the weather but we expect to resume testing next week on Thursday.
Enjoy the weekend!
-Marcie
Learning Commons Corner
Each year, our South Park Penguin readers have the chance to participate in the Illinois reader’s choice book award voting. K-2 students read the Monarch book nominees together with Mrs. Jahng when they come each week for book checkout. There are 20 exciting new books each year, and soon, each student will vote for the book they think should win the Illinois Monarch Award. Students in grades 3-5 who complete at least four of the books nominated for the Bluestem Award will be invited to a Bluestem Party in March. They’ll be able to vote for the winning book and also have fun with games, raffles, and prizes! We’re grateful the PTO helps us fund this program each year which gets our penguins excited about reading some great books!
Valentine's Day Celebrations
If your child's teacher has not provided information about creating a collection box, it is fine to send your child to school with a bag or container to use to collect their valentines.
Parents who have signed up to volunteer at the parties will need to bring a driver's license to the office when checking in and be prepared to show a vaccine card or show proof of a negative COVID test in the last week.
Music Concerts - Updated
We are hopeful that each grade level will have the opportunity to showcase their music learning through in-person concerts this school year. To keep our students and families safe, we will be limiting audience members and spacing chairs apart to encourage social distancing. In the event that a performance cannot be held in person, we will do everything we can to provide a live-streamed alternative.
Please take a moment to save the date for all upcoming performances (subject to change) which last for approximately 30 minutes:
- 1st Grade RESCHEDULED - February 16, 5:30 pm
- 2nd Grade - February 16, 6:30 pm
- 3rd Grade - March 16, 6:30 pm
- 5th Grade - April 6, 6:30 pm
- 4th Grade - April 27, 6:30 pm
- Kindergarten - May 4, 6:30 pm
Kindergarten & New 1st Grade Student Registration for 2022-23
Online registration for incoming kindergarten and new first-grade students for the 2022-23 school year is open! Please share this information with your friends and neighbors who have children heading into the big adventure of kindergarten (who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2022)!
Current District 109 parents do not have to re-register current students in grades K-7 for next year; registration is only for students who will be new to District 109 in the 2022-23 school year (and Early Learner students moving to kindergarten).
Click here to learn more about registration.
Once you register, plan to attend a Drop-In/Drop-Off session at the District Center (517 Deerfield Road, by the Little Red Schoolhouse) to review documentation and verify residency:
February 23 7:30AM-2:30PM
February 24 12PM-6:00PM
February 25 8:00AM-2:00PM
Save the date for Kindergarten Round-Up on May 17. More information about Round-up will be coming out after registration.
If you have questions about registration, please contact Rebecca Rudd at rrudd@dps109.org.
5ESSENTIALS SURVEY - LEND YOUR VOICE TO HELP OUR SCHOOL!
Please consider taking the 5Essentials Parent Survey by visiting https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and selecting the appropriate survey to begin. Your identity and responses will be kept completely confidential and will not be connected to you or your child. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete.
In addition to parents, 4th through 8th-grade students will also be responding to this survey. Per school board policy 7:15, you may opt your child out of any survey. If you would not like your child to participate in the 5Essentials Survey, please contact Marcie Faust.
Important Dates
February 16 - 1st Grade Music Concert @ 5:30 p.m.
February 16 - 2nd Grade Music Concert @ 6:30 p.m.
February 21 - No School - President's Day
February 22 - No School - Institute Day
February 23-25 - D109 Kindergarten Registration
LOOKING TO OPT OUT OF NEXT WEEK'S SHIELD TESTING?
This opt-out will be for testing on Thursday, February 10rd.
Fill out this Google Form prior to 7 AM on THURSDAY, 2/10.
*Please note that if you have consented but want to opt out of a week, you must fill out the form every week.