Cardinal Corner

Oct 1: Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM

6th Grade Intramurals 2:45PM

Girls Basketball Game vs Plum Grove (8th/7th) 3:30 - 6:00PM

Oct 2: End of Hexter 1

Middle School Band Night @ RMHS 3:30 - 6:30PM

Oct 3: XC Fox Trot Invite 9:00 - 10:00AM

Oct 6: Picture Retake Day!

Oct 7: Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM

Oct 8: Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM

Superintendent Office Hours 2:00 - 4:00PM

Girls Basketball Game vs Lincoln Park Ridge (8th/7th) 3:30 - 6:00PM

XC Sectional Meet TBD

Oct 10: Autumn Harvest Festival

Oct 14: Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM

Oct 15: Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM

Oct 16-17: Variety Show

Oct 21: First Quarter Ends

Oct 22-23: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Oct 30: Quarter 1 Report Cards Issued

Dear South Middle School Families,

As we approach the end of September, it has been wonderful to see our students continue to settle into the school year and find their rhythm at South. Our classrooms and hallways are filled with students learning, connecting with one another, and participating in the many opportunities our school has to offer. We are proud of the positive start our students have made and appreciate the support our families provide each day.

As we move into October, we encourage families to continue talking with their students about their school experience and checking in regularly on how things are going. This is also a great time to review routines around homework, organization, attendance, and getting a good night's rest so students are ready to learn each day. Please continue to use PowerSchool and Schoology as resources for staying informed about your child's progress and upcoming assignments. Parent Teacher conferences are coming up on October 22nd and 23rd. Please see below for important signup info.

We also want to thank our families for the continued partnership and communication. When students know that the adults at home and at school are working together to support them, it makes a meaningful difference. We are grateful to be part of such a supportive school community and are excited for all that October will bring!

The South Administration Team

We look forward to connecting with our South Middle School families during Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 22 and 23, 2026. These conferences provide a valuable opportunity for parents, guardians, students, and teachers to work together, celebrate student progress, and discuss areas for continued growth.

IMPORTANT INFO

• Parent Letter for dates, conference details, registration instructions, and additional information about our fall conference schedule.
• Online Conference Signup LINK - PTC Wizard
• Signup Opens: Monday, October 5 @ 8:30 AM and closes Monday, October 19 @ 8:30 AM.
• Families will use their child's Student ID to create an account and schedule conferences.
• Student ID's will be emailed to families on Monday, October 5th.

Students are invited and encouraged to attend conferences with their parents or guardians.

We look forward to partnering with our Cardinal families to support the continued learning and growth of every student!

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.

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!

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.

Physical/Immunization Record:

• 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

Vision Exam Form:

• 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

Dental Exam Form:

• 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

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

Please use the following links to access important information for the school year:

• South Middle School Website
• District 25 Student/Parent Handbook
• School Supply List
• “In’s and Out’s” and procedures of South Middle School

Congratulations to our South Middle School Boys Golf Team on an incredible trip to the State Tournament! The Cardinals finished 4th in the state with an impressive team score of 334. We are so proud of the hard work, dedication, and teamwork they demonstrated throughout the season. What an amazing accomplishment! Way to go, Cardinals!

South's Fall production of VShow 2026: A South Theatre Mystery runs Friday, October 16th-17th at 7pm each night. Come see our talented Cardinals perform acts from music to magic to dance and more, all tied together with a "whodunit"-style story written by our 8th grade Junior Thespians! Tickets are on sale starting Thursday, October 1st at 8am. Please email Wes Skym with any questions or seating accommodation needs.

We are also partnering with AniMend - Support for Shelters again this year to collect donations of pet food/treats, new or gently used blankets/towels, paper towels, and cleaning supplies at each show. Feel free to bring something to drop off! Visit animend.org for more info.

South's Speech and Acting Team is off to an exciting start this contest season, with our largest team yet at 64 students! We are currently rehearsing for this year's IESA State Area 3 Speech Contest at Millbrook Junior High on Friday, October 30th at 4pm.

If you cannot make it to the contest, we will also be hosting two showcase nights here at South for a more accessible performance: A 6th Grade Showcase on Wednesday, November 4th, and a 7th/8th Grade Showcase on Friday, November 6th, both at 6pm. Tickets are pay what you can to support speech entry fees. Come on by to see our Cardinals act out monologues, duet scenes, small group skits, and improv games they've prepared this Fall!

Congratulations to Matt M., Jack F., Will G., Mack W., Luke W., and Liam L. on an incredible victory at the Golf Sectional! Through hard work, determination, and teamwork, the boys secured a back-to-back Sectional Championship! We are so proud of their accomplishment and the dedication they showed throughout the course. Way to go, Cardinals!

The girls basketball season is officially underway, and we are excited to see our Cardinals back on the court! We look forward to a great season filled with teamwork, growth, and school spirit. Best of luck to our 7th and 8th grade teams. We can’t wait to cheer you on!

A BIG Shout Out to our wonderful 6th Grade Hangout volunteers. These events cannot happen without your time and energy. It was great to see the 6th Graders spending time with each other and getting to know one another better. Stay tuned for the 7th Grade Hangout date!

There are still a couple of PTA volunteer positions we would love to have filled with some fantastic folks! Please reach out to Abby Harkey if you are interested in taking on the role of Yearbook and/or 8th Grade Picnic. Prefer to be a part of a dynamic duo instead of standing out solo? Ask a friend to partner up with you! Many hands make less work.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! The PTA will begin sending out a monthly newsletter called 'The Chirp' starting in October. We will use this as another way to keep parents updated about all things South PTA related so you can stay informed. One of the features of this newsletter will be a 'Community Corner' that will highlight information pertaining to activities and events outside of South Middle School that relate to our families with middle schoolers. If you have something community minded to share that will benefit our readers, please email president@southpta.org by the 5th of the month to have it included.

On the horizon; a South PTA instagram account. Yay! More details to follow.

Head's Up! A Sign Up Genius link will be sent out in the near future for those interested in signing up to help shower our incredible staff & teachers with love via food and beverage donations!

Thank you for your continued patience with your PTA board. We are a work in progress and we are dedicated to making this an amazing school year for South Middle School families. Do not hesitate to reach out to us with any concerns or questions. GO CARDINALS!

Abby Harkey / President president@southpta.org

Carla Walloch / Vice President vp@southpta.org

Ivette Ramirez-Defever / Treasurer treasurer@southpta.org

Ryann Uden / Secretary secretary@southpta.org

Thank you to all of our families for your continued support of the PTA so far this school year! We truly appreciate everything you do to support our students and school community.

Mark your calendars for our next PTA meeting on Thursday, November 19th @6:30pm through Google Meet. We hope to see you there!

Remember to join South PTA during your student’s registration to support all our student, family, and school programs.

Note that each D25 school’s PTA is independent.

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