Cardinal Corner

Aug 21: First Day of School - Students Attend

Aug 23: Saint Viator Cross Country Invite @ St. Viator High School 5:00pm

Aug 26: 6th Grade Locker Set Up, 2:50-3:45pm - Parents Welcome

Aug 27: Picture Day - All School

Aug 27: Prospect Cross Country Invite @ Prospect High School 3:30pm-5:00pm

Aug 27: 6th Grade Curriculum Night - 6:30 - 8:30pm

Sept 1: Labor Day, No School

Sept 4: 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night - 6:30 -8:15pm

Sept 5: Practice Crisis Drills

Sept 9-10: Fall MAP Testing - Adjusted Bell Schedule

Dear South Parents and Guardians,

The wait is over and the first day of school is tomorrow, Thursday, August 21, 2025!

Our staff and administration are so excited to welcome your children back for another amazing school year at South Middle School. Tomorrow will be filled with smiles, nerves, excitement, and we can’t wait to see our halls full of energy again! Please know that our staff is here for your students to make the transition from summer back to school as seamless and smile-filled as possible.

To make the day smooth, safe, and enjoyable for everyone, please take a few minutes to review the important information below.

🚗 Morning Drop-Off & Traffic Reminders (more details, including a map below)

The first day always brings extra traffic, so thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.

• Pull all the way forward in the drop-off zone to keep traffic moving.

• Have your child ready to exit quickly (they don’t need to bring all materials on Day 1).

• No left turns out of the front circle drive.

• Once your child exits, please drive away promptly — no double parking or idling.

• Remember: the front of the building is a fire lane — no unattended vehicles.

• Do not drop off or pick up students in the North Staff Lot or bus lane.

• Safety First: Students may walk between cars, so stay alert.

• Cell phone use is illegal in school zones (Public Act 96-0131). Please keep eyes up and students safe!

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🚪 Morning Arrival Locations (by Team)

Students should line up outside their assigned door at 7:43 a.m. and be in Homebase by 7:50 a.m.

• 6 East → Door #3 (South End of Building)

• 6 West → Door #4 (South End of Building)

• 7 East & 7 West → Door #10 (North Side Near Track)

• 8 East → Door #1 (Main Front Entrance)

• 8 West → Door #2 (Middle Front Entrance)

👉 Staff and administrators will be outside to guide students and make them feel welcome!

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🚲 Biking to School

• Students must walk bikes or scooters while on campus.

• Every bike/scooter should have a lock to prevent loss or theft.

• Bikes/scooters will not be allowed in the front office, they need to be locked up on the bike racks outside.

📘 First Day Schedule (a full picture of the schedule is below)

The first day will include extra time in Homebase/Advisory, which is the first period every day at South.

• Morning: 1 hour in Homebase → organizing materials, lockers, and team activities.

• Afternoon: 33 minutes in Homebase → preparing for the year ahead.

• After Homebase, students will follow a modified schedule of their regular classes.

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📸 Picture Day — August 27, 2025 (flyer below)

Mark your calendars! These photos will be included in the South yearbook.

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🌙 Healthy Routines for Success

Help your child shine this school year by starting strong:

• Aim for 8–10 hours of sleep each night.

• Encourage a healthy breakfast before school.

• Begin adjusting bedtime routines tonight to set them up for success.

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Let’s Go, Cardinals!

The beginning of a new school year is always exciting with new classes, friendships, and opportunities to learn and grow. We are so grateful for your partnership, and can’t wait to welcome your children back tomorrow morning.

Let’s make it a fantastic year, together!

South Middle School Administration

As we get ready for the first day of school, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to you and your children. Starting a new school year can bring a mix of excitement and a few nerves, and I thought a short video might help ease some of those feelings.

In the video, I share a little about who I am, why I’m so excited to join the South community, and most importantly, how ready our staff is to welcome your students tomorrow. I hope it helps our Cardinals feel just a bit more comfortable walking through the doors on the first day.

I can’t wait to meet you and your children soon!

Warmly,
Principal Prorok

Here is a link to the 2025-26 School Year Supply List. Please note that to assist students with organizing their materials, we are asking parents to purchase the materials in these colors:

ELA: Yellow

Math: Green

Science: Red

Social Studies: Purple

Health: Orange

World Language/Resource: Blue

Creative Arts: Black/Gray

The reason for the colors is to help your child organize their materials. This color system will follow students throughout their three years at South.

Here is a link to our District 25 Student/Parent Handbook. It features important information that all families should review prior to the start of the school year.

Here is a link to view our “In’s and Out’s” and procedures of South Middle School. This document reinforces key information in our Arlington Heights School District 25 Handbook, along with information and procedures specific to South Middle School. Families should review both the District Handbook and this document to begin each new school year. This information will also be reviewed with all students during Homebase to start the school year.

We are looking forward to a HEALTHY school year. Please refer to our Health Services webpage for additional information and any required health forms. Please refer to the Medication Drop Off Reference Sheet and reach out to the school nurse to schedule an appointment if you need to drop off medication.

State of Illinois Certificate of Health Examination (AKA physical form)

• Due by October 15, 2025 (or first day of cross country practice if your student participates in this sport)

• All sports physicals are due BEFORE TRY-OUTS and must last for the entire season-NO exceptions

• Examination must be performed on or after 8/21/24 and must be on the state of IL form

• Includes Meningococcal (MCV4) and Tdap vaccines

Dental examination – Proof of Dental Examination Form

• Due May 15, 2026

• Examination dated November 15, 2024 or later

• Please do not drive through the bus lane.
• Pull as far forward as possible in the drop off lane, prior to exiting the car on the passenger side.
• Please have your child use the designated crosswalks and sidewalks, and not go between cars for their safety.
• Sixth grade enter at the far end of the front circle Door #3 & 4, Seventh grade students enter the doors on the track side, Eighth grade the two front entrances.
• On rainy days, students can enter any door; but please remember to pull all the way forward in the drop off circle and your child can enter the nearest door.

• Parents are NOT allowed to drop off in the staff parking lot.

• If interested in registering for bussing or determining if you are eligible for bussing to South please visit: https://www.sd25.org/transportation.

• Questions: District Transportation specialist is Laura Comastro lcomastro@sd25.org.

• School Messenger: Email, phone, text—make sure your contact information is up to date.

• Schoology: Student platform that hosts your child's classroom information.

• PowerSchool: If you're not able to access, reach out to SouthCLC@sd25.org.
  

• South Webpage: Daily Announcements and general information.

We have included our daily bell schedule below. Morning drop-off and supervision begins at 7:30am. Student dismissal is at 2:45pm. While our school day start and end times will always remain the same, we will follow a revised first day bell/period schedule to allow students and teachers more time together.

Sixth Grade Curriculum Night: August 27, 2025, 6:30-8:30pm

• Click Here for INFO - 6th Grade Curriculum Night

Seventh & Eighth Grade Curriculum Night: September 4, 2025, 6:30-8:15pm

• Click Here for INFO - 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night

We are looking forward to seeing all of our South Cardinal Families!

Before coming to school on the FIRST DAY, Thursday, August 21, 2025:

• PLEASE turn on your Chromebooks and connect to your home wi-fi.

• PLEASE allow your Chromebook to charge.

This will ensure that your Chromebook has the latest date/time.

Ukraine Independence Day takes place on August 24 and it marks Ukraine's declaration of independence from the U.S.S.R. in 1991. The day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and is the most popular day of the year for Ukrainians around the world.

Established by Congress in 1971 to commemorate the 1920 passage of the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote, and to encourage the ongoing efforts for women’s equality in all areas of American life.

If your child is interested in joining South’s Golf Club, please fill out the golf registration form. Please click here to register.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Leiby (oleiby@sd25.org) or Ms. Buck (abuck@sd25.org).

Mrs. Schneider & Mrs. Scapillato have a fun year of music, concerts and events planned for the three South bands and two jazz bands. For more information and to register for the band program, please access that here.

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