Cardinal Corner
September 16th - 30th
Sept 15-16: Fall MAP Testing - Adjusted Bell Schedule
Girls Basketball Tryouts, 2:45 - 6:00PM
Sept 15 - Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
Sept 16: Mexican Independence Day
6th Grade Soccer Intramurals 2:45 - 3:15PM
Sept 17: 6th Grade Soccer Intramurals 2:45 - 3:15PM
Cross country Fall Flite Classic 3:00 PM (James Adams Jr High School)
Sept 19: Cross Country Troy Invitational 9:00AM
Sept 21: No School
Sept 22: Cross Country Tri Meet at South, 3:30 PM
Sept 23: 6th Grade Soccer Intramurals 2:45 - 3:15PM
Sept 24: 6th Grade Soccer Intramurals 2:45 - 3:15PM
Virtual PTA Meeting, 6:30 - 7:15 PM
Sept 25: Evacuation Drill (Fire Department Present)
Cross Country Meet of Champions @ Palatine 4:00 - 5:00PM
Sept 29: Girls Basketball vs Sundling (7th Grade) 3:30 - 4:30PM
School Board Meeting, 6:15 PM
Sept 30: 6th Grade Soccer Intramurals 2:45 - 3:15PM
Oct 1: Girls Basketball Home Game
Mr. Steve Prorok
Principal
Ms. Sheri Rosen
Associate Principal
Mrs. Aubrey DeMuth
Associate Principal
NWEA Fall MAP Testing
The NWEA MAP test is a computer-administered assessment that aligns with the Illinois math and reading standards. District 25 uses the information from the MAP assessment in a few ways including to help determine academic intervention groups, as an essential part of the advanced learning placement, as well as to identify student strengths and needs for the next school year.
All South students will be taking the NWEA Fall MAP assessments on September 15, 2026 and September 16, 2026.
Please remind your child to charge their Chromebooks, and bring in earbuds for the testing sessions. As a reminder, it is important for students to eat a healthy breakfast, and get a good night's sleep before testing so they can perform their best. Thank you for your assistance in helping to prepare your child for NWEA MAP testing.
Freshman Intent to Enroll and Placement
The high schools in Township High School District 214 are preparing for the incoming Freshmen Class of 2031 (current 8th grade students).
The first step in getting ready for high school is to complete the Intent to Enroll form. The Intent to Enroll form will be available from September 14 through October 30. Please complete this information as soon as possible, so the high schools can communicate directly with you about parent nights, the placement process, and annual high school registration (opens in June).
To complete this form visit the District 214 Intent to Enroll page.
Spring 2026 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) Reports
Parents and guardians, please keep an eye out for your child’s Spring 2026 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) results. Reports will be sent home via backpack mail on Friday, September 18. Be sure to check your child’s backpack for their IAR report.
Stay Up To Date with Morning Announcements!
Did you know you can access South Middle School’s morning announcements anytime on our school website? The announcements are a great way to stay informed about upcoming events, important reminders, activities, and other things happening around SMS. If you or your student ever miss the morning announcements, no problem, just visit the SMS website to catch up and stay in the know!
Welcome Back Hope
We are excited to share that Hope, our beloved therapy dog, will be returning to South Middle School this year! Hope brings so much joy, comfort, and positivity to our school community, and we are thrilled to welcome her back to SMS. We know our students and staff will be just as excited as we are to see her around the building this year. We can’t wait for another wonderful year with Hope!
If you do not want your son or daughter to participate in activities involving Hope, please contact the school to opt out.
Student Activities and Sports Interest Survey
We will soon be asking South Middle School students to complete a survey about their interests in clubs, activities, and sports. The survey will help us learn more about what students would like to see offered at SMS and guide our conversations about future opportunities. We encourage students to share their interests and preferences when the survey is available.
Lunchroom Volunteers Needed!
Looking for a fun way to connect with your child and be part of the South Middle School community? We are inviting parents of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to join us as lunchroom volunteer supervisors throughout the school year. Even if you’re only able to help for one day, we would love to have you!
This is a great opportunity to see a part of your child’s school day and support our students in a meaningful way. If you are interested, please email chumbert@sd25.org and let her know which day and lunch period you would like to help. Our lunch periods are:
- 6th Grade: 11:09–11:49 a.m.
- 7th Grade: 11:53 a.m.–12:33 p.m.
- 8th Grade: 12:37–1:17 p.m.
We hope you’ll consider joining us!
Health Office Information
We appreciate the families who have already submitted their child’s required health forms.
It is crucial that all necessary forms are provided to avoid any interruption in your child’s education as the State of Illinois REQUIRED EXCLUSION date of October 15th.
Our school nurses will be reaching out to families who need to submit updated information, so please be attentive to any communication via voicemail, email, or backpack mail. For any questions or further assistance, please visit our D25 Health Services page for the school nurse contact information.
- Required for all kindergarten, sixth grade, and new students
- The physical must be completed within a year of school start, dated on or after August 20, 2025
- Parents must complete and sign the health history section
- Immunizations Requirements must be met or include a MD approved schedule of administration
- Failure to submit the form and have it reviewed by the School Nurse prior to the OCTOBER 15th deadline will result in your child being EXCLUDED from school
- Required for all kindergarten and students new to the state of Illinois
- The exam must be completed by a licensed eye doctor and dated on or after August 21, 2025
- The official State of Illinois Eye Examination form is required
- Due date of October 15, 2026
- Required for all kindergarten, second grade and sixth grade students
- The exam must be completed by a licensed dentist and dated after November 15, 2025
- The official State of Illinois Dental Examination form is required
- This is due by May 15th, 2027
Supporting Positive Student Behavior
Across District 25, our schools are committed to creating safe, respectful, and supportive learning environments for every student. To help ensure consistency across all of our buildings, District 25 uses a common framework to define and respond to student behaviors, including tools that help distinguish between minor and major behaviors.
Grounded in our shared expectations to Be Safe, Be Ready, Be Mindful, this approach focuses on clearly teaching expectations, helping students reflect on their actions, their impact on others, and providing opportunities to continue to grow. While each situation and student is unique, using common tools and processes across District 25 helps create a consistent approach for students, staff, and families.
Families can learn more about District 25's approach, including the Elementary School Framework and Middle School Framework, at Safe25.
A Quick Reminder For Families
Cell Phones & Electronic Devices
As we begin the new school year, we want to remind families of our expectations regarding cell phones and other electronic devices at school, including wearables. These expectations are designed to help students stay focused on learning, minimize distractions, and support a positive school environment.
- Middle school students are expected to turn off electronics and store devices in their middle school locker during the school day.
- Elementary students are expected to leave electronics in the “off” position and in their backpacks throughout the school day.
- A supervising teacher may grant permission for them to be used or if needed during an emergency.
- They may not be used in any manner that will cause disruption to the educational environment or will otherwise violate student conduct rules.
The District will provide access to students who do not own a mobile learning device in circumstances when its use is required for instructional purposes during the day. Electronic devices may be used during the school day if:
- Use of the device is provided in the student’s IEP, or
- Permission is received from the student’s teacher with administrator approval
We appreciate your partnership in helping our students be present, engaged, and ready to learn each day. Please take a moment to review the flyer to the right, along with the full policy in the Parent/Student Handbook.
ABC 25 Information
Your membership, along with any additional donations, helps fund another grant program specifically geared towards AHSD25 teachers, providing exciting new resources for the classroom! Our previous teacher grants have included a variety of biography books on influential women in history, lap desks, floor cushions, stability wobble cushions, freestanding flexible workspaces, and so much more!
Your membership covers all District 25 schools that your students attend, plus you’ll receive free access to the ABC/25 STEAM events!
D25 Families: Heritage Fest Is Looking for Booth Hosts
Saturday, September 19 | 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Arlington Heights Historical Museum
110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights
Heritage Fest is looking for families to host booths celebrating their culture, traditions, and heritage. If your family has participated in a D25 Multicultural Fair, this could be a great opportunity to share your culture with the broader Arlington Heights community.
Heritage Fest is presented by the Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights Historical Museum, and Village of Arlington Heights.
Partnership with Onmi
We are excited to partner with OMNI, a comprehensive behavioral health organization that provides accessible mental health services and counseling support to youth and families across Illinois. Through this partnership, OMNI helps provide students and families with additional resources and support as they navigate challenges, build healthy coping skills, and strengthen their overall well-being. We are grateful to have OMNI as a partner in supporting the whole child and helping our students thrive. For more information about Omni, please visit their website.
Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 - Oct. 15
Mexican Independence Day, Sept. 16
Yom Kippur, Sept. 20
Golf Sectionals Update!
This year, the South golf club had a team of 6 boys and 2 girls compete at the sectional tournament. Congratulations to Matt M, Jack F, Will G, Mack W, Luke W, Liam L, Kinsley B, and Grace K!
The boys won sectionals and are now back to back champions. Good luck to Matt M, Jack F, Will G, and Mack W as they compete in the state tournament!
Girls Basketball
UPDATED DATE - Girls basketball tryouts will be held September 15–16 from 2:45–6:00 p.m. Students interested in trying out should plan to attend both days.
Please remember that all participants must have a current physical on file with the school before they are eligible to try out. We look forward to a great season and wish all of our athletes the best of luck!
South Theatre
Calling all future stars! We’d love for your student to join the South Theatre Program and be part of an exciting year filled with creativity, collaboration, and fun. Check out the infographic below for all the details on what’s happening in Theatre this year!
In addition, you can help support the South Theatre program by dining at Culver’s on Wednesday, September 2nd! This is a great opportunity to enjoy a meal while giving back to our talented South students. A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit South Theatre and help support the program’s productions, students, and future opportunities. See the flyer below for more information!
Cross Country
Golf Club
There was a meeting last week for students regarding how to sign up for upcoming tee times. Please look at this slideshow for more information. Your student will find the sign-up form in the Golf schoology group resource page. The sign-up form for tee times will close on Wednesday, September 16th at 10pm.
The sign-up form is the only way to sign up for tee times, if you do not fill out the form, you will not be assigned a time. You are not guaranteed to play each date. Due to student interest, you may only be assigned one day to play.
Please reach out to Ms. Buck (abuck@sd25.org) or Mrs. Conlin (oconlin@sd25.org) if you have any questions.
Cardinal Spotlight
6 West rose to the challenge during our first assembly and came out on top! Their teamwork, enthusiasm, and Cardinal spirit earned them the traveling Cardinal Trophy, which now proudly makes its home on the 6th Grade floor!
Way to go, 6 West! We can’t wait to see which Homebase steps up to the challenge next!
Join Us for the South PTA Meeting!
Families are invited to join us for our upcoming South PTA Meeting on Thursday, September 24, from 6:30–7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually via Google Meet and is a great opportunity to learn more about the PTA, hear updates, and stay connected with our school community. We hope you’ll join us!
Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/obw-rvhz-beb
Or dial: (US) +1 302-364-5957 | PIN: 890 683 164#
