Cardinal Corner

Important Dates

• Dec. 9 & 10 - Winter MAP Testing 8AM - 10:30AM Adjusted Bell Schedule
• Dec. 10 - SMS Spelling Bee 3:00pm -4:15pm
• Dec. 10 - 8th Grade Girls Basketball Sectional Championship Game @6:00 PM
• Dec.15 - No Activity Bus
• Dec.18 - 3rd annual South Middle LIVE Improv & Sketch Comedy Show @6:00 PM
• Dec. 19 - No Activity Bus
• Dec. 22 - January 5th - Winter Break - No School!
• Jan.16 - End of Quarter 2, Student Recognition Assembly
• Jan. 19 - MLK Day - No School!

Dear South Parents and Guardians,

We hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving. It is amazing to think that Winter Break is less than two weeks away.

We are thrilled to share exciting news about Hope, our new therapy dog. Hope’s first visit will be this Monday, and she will be meeting with students during Periods 6, 7, and 8. Because this is her very first visit and there will be many more throughout the year, not all students who wish to see her will be able to meet her on Monday, but we will make sure that all interested students have opportunities to meet Hope during future visits. We had an incredible response from our students, with 285 requesting to meet Hope during their lunch period on Monday and more than 700 permission slips already submitted. The enthusiasm from our community has been wonderful to see, and we cannot wait to welcome Hope to the South community.

We also want to celebrate the tremendous success of this year’s Turkey Trot. A huge thank you goes out to Tyler Stordahl for leading the charge and organizing such a wonderful event in such a short amount of time. More than 550 people registered for the inaugural Arlington Heights Turkey Trot, and the event raised over $6,600 for the Wheeling Food Pantry, not including the generous in-person donations collected that morning. It was amazing to see our community come together, and Tyler’s hard work made the morning special for our students and staff. The energy and excitement were terrific, and we are already looking forward to seeing this event grow even more next year.

Our holiday concert is fast approaching. Our Jazz Band and Choir Concert will take place on December 10 at 7:00 pm. We hope you will join us for his wonderful evening filled with music and song.

South’s Student Council is planning a Spirit Week for December 15 through 19, 2025. Each day, students will be invited to dress up to show their South spirit. The themes for the week are: Monday is pajama day, Tuesday is fun hats and headbands, Wednesday is fun socks, Thursday is ski versus beach, and Friday is holiday cheer day.

As we continue to prioritize the safety and efficiency of our daily routines, we want to remind families about our morning arrival drop off process. To help all students arrive to Homebase by 7:50 am, please allow for extra travel time on inclement weather days.

Morning Arrival Reminders

• Efficient Unloading: Upon entering the drop-off lane, please pull forward as far as possible, before coming to a complete stop. This will allow multiple vehicles to unload simultaneously, minimizing wait times for all.
• Quick Goodbyes: We kindly ask that all farewells and last-minute preparations be completed before reaching the designated drop-off zone. This will contribute to a swift and efficient flow of traffic.
• Safety First: As always, please exercise caution and adhere to the speed limit while navigating the drop-off lane. Our top priority is the safety of our students and families.
• Indoor Lineup Days: On days when students line up indoors, any grade student can enter any door. Please still pull all the way forward; while the farther down doors may not be your child's usual door, they are likely closer to their Homebase.

Thank you for your cooperation to help make a smooth and efficient morning arrival for all families.

Finally, Winter Break is a time for everyone to step back, reflect, and restore our energy. Having children ourselves, we understand their desire to play video games and communicate with friends over social media. Research shows that reading a book, completing a puzzle, or playing problem solving games stimulates the brain, helping students return in January feeling mentally refreshed. May your Winter Break be filled with moments of joy, connection, and relaxation. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year.

Happy Holidays!
South Administration

NWEA MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) is a valuable tool that provides us with insights into your child's academic strengths and areas for growth. Unlike traditional standardized tests, the NWEA MAP adapts to your child's individual performance, offering a personalized assessment experience.

We understand that testing can sometimes be stressful, but we want to assure you that our primary goal is to create a positive and supportive testing environment. Please encourage your child to do their best, get a good night sleep and eat a healthy breakfast before testing. Also, please make sure your child comes to school with a fully charged Chromebook.

We are so excited to share that Hope’s first visit will be this Monday. She will be meeting with students during Periods 6, 7, and 8. Because this is her very first visit, and there will be many more throughout the year, not all students who wish to see her will be able to do so on Monday. We will make sure that all interested students have opportunities to meet Hope during her future scheduled visits.

Why a Therapy Dog?

Therapy dogs like Hope can help reduce stress, support emotional regulation, and boost student well-being. They also encourage positive social interactions, improve focus, and contribute to a calmer, more connected school environment. We are thrilled for our students to experience these benefits during Hope’s visits.

Learn More About Hope

We’ve created a short slideshow to help families learn more about Hope, her training, and how therapy dog visits work at South.
👉 View the slideshow here: Click Here

Permission Required

For your child to participate in any interaction with Hope, we must have a completed permission form on file.

👉 Please click here to fill out the required permission form. Students will not be able to participate in therapy dog activities until this form is completed.

What to Expect

Hope will visit South on scheduled days throughout the year. All interactions with her will take place in safe, supervised settings and will always be optional for students. We look forward to the comfort, joy, and positivity Hope will bring to our school community!

Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

"Hanukkah" means dedication in Hebrew, this holiday is also known as The Festival of Lights and represents joy. Celebration includes time with loved ones, gifts, food, and lighting a candle on the menorah each night.

*Dates change year to year

Las Posadas is a festival that takes place in Latin America and some Mexican communities in the United States from December 16–24. The word posada means inn or lodging, and traditionally posadas are a celebration of the Christmas story.

A federal holiday celebrated as a religious and cultural celebration in all states and territories as well as across the world. Celebration includes time with loved ones, gifts and a feast.

A seven day, African American cultural festival dedicated to the 7 principles: unity, self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Celebrated December 26- January 1

January 1 the start of a new year. It is marked significantly with fireworks at midnight, New Year's resolutions, new beginnings and friends and family.

Christmas is celebrated on this day by those who follow a different calendar. Some Countries include Belarus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Russia and Ukraine.

Congratulations to our 8th grade girls’ basketball team on an extraordinary and hard-fought regional victory over Thomas Middle School. After facing an 18-point deficit early in the first half, the team demonstrated remarkable composure, determination, and teamwork, ultimately securing a 35–29 win and earning their place in the sectional game on Wednesday. Their resilience on the court is a testament to their dedication and spirit, and we could not be more proud of their accomplishment. Go Cardinals!

The 7th grade boys basketball team is off to a good start! We have wins over Barrington-Station, Barrington-Prairie and Springman. We are getting better and will compete at the Thomas Tournament December 11-13. Go Cardinals!

South Wrestling Team's season began right after the Thanksgiving break with the first practice on December 1st. This is a sport that can include anyone in the school! With 20 different weight classes that range between 65 and 275 pounds this sport can be done by students of any size, gender, or age as all grades 6 through 8 are eligible to compete.

This is also a sport where no prior experience is needed. South Wrestling has had athletes go from never being on a wrestling mat in their first year to becoming Sectional and State qualifiers. It teaches student athletes the value of putting work in to get results, while also fostering a team culture in a sport where the athlete has to be in a match individually.

If a parent or student is interested, please reach out to Coach Bingaman (jbingaman@sd25.org) or Coach Burdi (dburdi@sd25.org) and have the permission form and medical forms ready for your student to join when the season begins.

Join us Thursday, December 18th, at 6pm in the South MP Room for our 3rd annual South Middle LIVE Improv & Sketch Comedy Show, starring our Cardinal Players! The show will feature 7 original student-written sketches directed by Prospect High School theatre students, along with a few improv troupes led by our South Theatre Junior Thespians. Tickets are $5 each and will be available at https://sites.google.com/sd25.org/souththeatre/tickets starting Monday, December 8th at 8am.

All ticket and concessions proceeds of the show will go to AniMend, a local charity supporting shelters and animals started by a former South Theatre student. Feel free to bring donations of supplies for their drop-off box as well! They are accepting donations of pet food/treats, new or gently used blankets/towels, paper towels, and cleaning supplies. Help Cardinal Players support their mission of Comedy for a Cause and join us for a night of laughter!

Our 7th graders will be walking to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre to see A Christmas Carol on Friday, December 19. We will be leaving school at 9:30 AM for the 10:30 AM performance, so please have your student arrive to school on time. We will return for lunch at the regularly scheduled time.

Students will travel with their home base groups. Please remind your student to dress warmly. We will be walking and may need to wait outside before entering the theater. Students may not bring food, drinks, gum, or electronic devices, as these must remain at school.

This is a wonderful opportunity, and we are looking forward to a great experience for our 7th graders.

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

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