Friday Focus
August 19, 2022
In This Issue...
- A Message from Marcie
- The Penguin Principles
- Upcoming All-School Assembly - Wednesday, 8/24
- Curriculum Night - Tuesday, 8/30
- Other Important Information
- Important Dates
- News from the District
Don't Miss the PTO Spotlight!
- PTO Directory and Membership
- Spirit Wear
- Bike Rally - September 10th
- Rent a Birthday Sign
- After School Enrichment
- Before School Club
- Fun Lunch
- And more...
A Message from Marcie
Greetings, South Park Families!
When we welcomed our staff back to school at the beginning of the week, we used the symbol of a hot air balloon, reminding everyone that it is time to move onward and upward after the past two unimaginable years. I am so proud that our school has embraced this important idea and created a place of learning that already feels calmer and happier than ever before.
Last night, we were blown away by the incredible turnout at our PTO-sponsored Ice Cream Social. A special thanks to the PTO volunteers and our wonderful staff who joined all of our families to celebrate being back to school.
This is my first Friday Focus newsletter for the school year. These newsletters are designed to give you a snapshot of the past week and/or a preview of the weeks to come. In addition, at the top, you will find a link to the South Park PTO's Spotlight newsletter. Please open and read the PTO newsletter each week. It contains very important information regarding all of the activities provided by our outstanding PTO.
If you take a few minutes to read through both of these newsletters each week, you and your children will not miss out on the great things that happen at South Park.
We are off to a smooth start, and I look forward to all that's in store for our South Park students this year! Have a terrific weekend!
-Marcie
The Penguin Principles
The Penguin Principles is a comprehensive school-wide behavior plan that includes four simple, yet very powerful school expectations. If you have had children at South Park for the last few years, I hope you have become very familiar with them. We believe that these guiding principles, which are listed below, clearly establish a way of life at school that will benefit all of us in the South Park community. Additionally, we hope that our students will embrace these important principles in their personal lives today, tomorrow, and for many years beyond elementary school.
The Penguin Principles:
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Helpful
Be Safe
Mrs. Klita, the teachers, and I have been reviewing these rules as they pertain to the halls, bathrooms, lunchroom, playground, and classrooms. Students were directly taught the behavior expectations, and we will be reinforcing the expected behaviors throughout the school year. Ask your children if they can recite the four Penguin Principles by memory. I bet they can!
Upcoming All-School Assembly on Wednesday, August 24th!
To celebrate being back to school in a seemingly normal year, we will also be holding our first all-school assembly in over two years! Bringing all students into one space is something many of us took for granted prior to COVID. To celebrate its significance, we are assigning all of our grade levels a special color shown below. All students are invited to wear their grade level color on Wednesday.
Save the Date - Curriculum Night - Tuesday, August 30th
Curriculum Night will be in person this year! This is an opportunity for you to visit our beautiful school and classrooms, meet your child’s teacher, and learn about our instructional program.
The purpose of Curriculum Night is to share information about how we meet the needs of all students in the classroom. As such, we respectfully ask that you refrain from asking questions about your child’s individual needs. If you need to speak with your child’s teacher about any issues specific to your child, please make an appointment to do so. We are always happy to meet with parents.
We will not be hosting any Zoom sessions now that we are returning to in-person events. Please see the schedule below.
Curriculum Night Schedule - Tuesday, August 30th
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. We will no longer run a front circle pick-up line like the past two years.
Important Dates You Need to Start the School Year
Wednesday, August 24
- Early Release Wednesdays begin - Dismissal is 2:25
Tuesday, August 30
- Curriculum Night - Details
Monday, September 5
- No School - Labor Day
Picture Day
Enrichment classes begin
NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT
Is your child symptomatic for COVID?
SHIELD Take Home Testing Begins Next Friday
If your family opted in prior to August 11th, expect your child to bring home testing supplies next Friday along with information on what to do. Those that opted in after our initial deadline will begin testing next month.