Cardinal Corner
November 1-15, 2022
Oct. 31: Happy Halloween! No Activity Bus Today
Nov. 1: 8th Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts
Nov. 2: 8th Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts
Nov 4: Speech Team Parent Showcase, Drama Room #232, 6pm; End of 1st Quarter Assembly - Adjusted Bell Schedule
Nov. 5: State Speech Contest, 8am
Nov. 8: Election Day - No School
Nov. 9: Girls Basketball vs LZS, 8/7, 4:15pm
Nov. 10: Girls Basketball @ LZN, 95 Hubbard Ln Hawthorn Woods, 7/8, 3:45pm
Nov. 11: Brave Challenge Basketball Tournament, 3:30-8pm
Nov. 16: Girls Basketball @ Lincoln MP, 700 W Lincoln, MP, 8/7, 3:30pm
Nov. 21-25: Thanksgiving Break - No School
Dear South School Families:
It was great to see so many Cardinal families at Parent-Teacher Conferences last week. Our goal is to continue to build a strong partnership with our parents to help all of our students have a successful school year.
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Halloween. Celebrating Halloween on a Monday evening is unique. Since we have school on Tuesday, please monitor your children's activities and their time outside trick or treating. We do want our students to have fun, but we also would like them to be ready to learn on Tuesday.
I am happy to say that our after-school clubs and activities have grown this year. It is wonderful to see students socializing in activities that they enjoy and are passionate about. Please encourage your child to join at least one club if you feel they may be interested. Here is a link to the extracurricular activities page that contains the names and dates of the clubs at South.
We would like to give a special thank you to South's PTA for providing our entire staff with a delicious Lou Malnati's dinner during Parent-Teacher Conferences. South Staff were very appreciative of their generosity.
As the weather changes, so do the driving condition and the number of students being driven to school each day. Please remember that parent vehicles are not allowed to use the bus lanes or staff parking lot in the morning or afternoon to drop off your child. The bus lane is one way for buses only. Students should be dropped off in the front circle drive on Highland Ave. Please pull forward as much as possible into the circle drive to ensure our traffic flow moves as quickly as possible. If cars stop short, they create a traffic jam behind, and increase the time for other students to be dropped off.
During severe weather, students may enter any door, including a different grade assigned door. Please allow at least five (5) extra minutes to travel on inclement weather mornings. We are witnessing a large increase in the number of students driven to school on inclement weather days.
Just as a reminder, our school tardy policy is if a student is considered late to school if they are not in Homebase by 7:50am. After three tardies, parents will be contacted and students will receive a lunch detention on the fourth tardy. Even if children are in the building prior to 7:50am, but late to Homebase, they will be considered tardy to school.
Happy Halloween!
Dr. Jim Morrison
Principal
Ms. Sheri Rosen
Associate Principal
Dr. Perkins
Associate Principal
November is the month to remember the contributions of Native Americans and Alaska Natives as well as honoring the unique heritage of our continent’s first inhabitants.
Also known as “The Day of the Dead”. It is a two-day holiday that originated in Mexico, where it is mostly observed. These days honor friends and family members that have died.
More information: https://dayofthedead.holiday/
Veterans Day - November 11
Veterans Day is a federal holiday to celebrate the anniversary of the World War I Armistice between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers.
On this day, we honor all military veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Cardinal Cash Winners
RULER
We are continuing to promote the social-emotional wellbeing of our students and grow their emotional intelligence through implementation of the RULER approach. For the past couple months, the emphasis across all three grade levels has been on establishing Grade Level Charters. A Charter addresses two essential questions:
How do we want to FEEL in school?
What BEHAVIORS can we exhibit that will bring out those feelings?
Students started by creating Homebase Charters. Next, each Homebase sent a “Rep” to a grade level meeting where we talked about all the many feelings students want to have at school. We discussed, listened, and distilled the list of feelings down to the 5 most essential for each grade level. Finally, just this week, students worked with their homebases to brainstorm BEHAVIORS that will help us achieve the chosen feelings. Once that list is narrowed down, we will have complete Charters for each grade level. Charters do not replace discipline and rules. Rather, they emphasize the importance of establishing a safe climate and sense of community in the classroom. This is so important, not only for the emotional wellbeing of students but most importantly for effective learning! Students who feel safe and connected achieve more. Period.
Without further ado, here are the Charter words for each grade level!
6th grade wants to feel: SAFE - RESPECTED - ACCEPTED - TRUSTED - BLISSFUL
7th grade wants to feel: SAFE - RESPECTED - ACCEPTED - CHILLAXED - CONNECTED
8th grade wants to feel: SAFE - RESPECTED - VALUED - CONFIDENT - CONTENT
Halloween Costume Rules
South Variety Show
Congratulations to all of the performers who participated in South's Variety Show.
ABC/25 Get Burbed Challenge Official Race Shirt and Posters
Let your imagination run (pun intended) wild! All D25 students have the opportunity to submit a design for the ABC/25 Get Burbed Challenge official race shirt and posters! These shirts will be worn by over 500 participants at the ABC/25 Get Burbed Challenge on April 15, 2023. The design winner also gets to help select the color of the shirt! Official rules and regulations and t-shirt design forms can be found at abc25challenge.org/tshirt. Submissions are due back to our school office by December 2, 2022.
Why Join ABC/25?
Why Join? ABC/25 stands for A Better Community for District 25. The mission of the Foundation is “To foster innovation, creativity, and excellence for the children of District 25.” By joining, you support District 25 schools and teachers with funds for innovative, creative, and excellence experiences for your students. Over 50% of the Foundation's grant money comes from membership dues. Once a school reaches 25% membership (including families and staff), that school gets an additional $2,500!
New this year are member benefits! Learn more at www.ABC25.org
We are currently offering a raffle for members that join by the end of October to win a ride to school by the Arlington Heights Police Department. Also new this year is a STEM interactive assembly event that will be free for members ($10 for non-members).
Brave Challenge Basketball Tournament
American Heart Association
Get ready! The American Heart Challenge is kicking off at our school on Tuesday, November 1!
We’re excited to learn about physical and emotional well-being while having FUN and CHANGING LIVES. Donations raised helps to fund research to improve treatments and survival rates for tiny heart heroes. Sign up today so you don’t miss out! Visit our school page at
http://www2.heart.org/goto/SouthMiddleSchoolArlingtonHeightsIL
The Homebase(s) that have the highest percentage of students sign up for the challenge will win a prize. Note that students signing up for the challenge counts towards the Homebase total, however donations are completely optional.
Teacher Appreciation Feedback Wanted!
South teachers and staff work so hard to support our students' learning and well-being. You're invited to fill out the form below if you would like to recognize a staff member or team for their positive efforts. We will be sure to pass along the good news. Thank you in advance for sharing your encouraging words.
Recognizing South Graduates
We are looking to honor South graduates who have made significant accomplishments/achievements by displaying them on a TV monitor that is located in our school entrance. We are asking you to please complete this form and provide us with a picture of the graduate.
Free COVID-19 Testing Kits
Free COVID-19 testing kits are now available at South Middle School. If you would like one or more for your family, please come by South Middle School and simply request them with our front office staff!
PTA Meeting: November 17, 2022
Be sure to join us at our next PTA meeting on November 17, at 6:30pm, via Google Meet. All are welcome!
Meeting link https://meet.google.com/uoc-bckd-hsb
PTA need your help!
The South PTA still needs volunteers! Please fill out the attached form to let us know how you can help. Day, evening and at-home jobs are available. The PTA relies on your help to make things happen! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Tj3mihaJZDe6fzIJBaywH2M6_gTvHy5YwkWTem7MzMo/edit
Join South's PTA
Remember to join South's PTA to support all of our student, family, and school programs. Note that each D25 school’s PTA is independent.
Office Information
The SMS Office is open Monday-Friday, 7am-3pm.
Address: 400 South Highland Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Twitter: @AHSD25South
Main Line: (847) 398-4250
Absence Line: (847) 506-6999 x7300
Fax line: (847) 394-6260