First Week of School Reminders

Below is all of the information you should need for our first week of school! We can't wait to see our South Park students!

The following information will be covered:

• The First Few Days
• Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
• Bussing
  
• Lunch Times
• PTO News
  
• Important Dates

We want to wish all of you and your children a wonderful school year. Remember, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us or your child’s teacher.

Enjoy your last few days of summer with your families!

-Marcie

Thursday, August 17th

Early Learners, Kindergarteners, and students who will be new to South Park have all been invited for a school visit on Thursday. These families should have received an email last week with sign-up information and details about visiting South Park. If you feel as though you should have been included and did not receive an email regarding a visit for your child, please reach out to Marcie Faust at mfaust@dps109.org).

Monday, August 21st (Grades K-5)

The first day of school for students in grades K-5 will be a half day. The attendance hours are 8:35-11:40 a.m. On the first day, we will gather students in grades K, 1, and 2 on the Kenmore blacktop. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will find their teacher on the Rosewood blacktop. There will be signs up for each classroom teacher along the perimeter of each blacktop. At 8:35, the teachers along with the South Park staff will come outside to greet the children and families. Please note that this special gathering will only take place on the first day of school.

Tuesday, August 22nd

This is our first full day of school. Doors open and supervision begins promptly at 8:35 a.m. South Park school hours for K-5 students are listed below. All K-5 students will enter our building at their designated grade level door (shown below).

School Hours (K-5)

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday - 8:35 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.

Wednesday - 8:35 a.m. - 2:25 p.m.

*Early Learners families will receive a separate communication with the school hours as well as arrival/dismissal procedures for the program.

Each morning, students will enter the building at their grade level door shown above. Staff members will welcome students at their assigned door and show them where to go while classroom teachers wait in the classroom and greet their students as soon as they arrive.

Reminders:

• Our arrival time for all elementary schools is 8:35 a.m.
• Please do not drop students off prior to 8:35 as that is the time staff is on duty to assist students.
• Students are expected to be in the building by 8:45 a.m.
• If your child arrives after 8:45, please have them enter through the front entrance of the school.

Grade Level Entry and Exit Assignments:

• Kindergarten - Exterior Door #15 - Adjacent to the driveway just north of the school
  

• First Grade - Exterior Door #14 - West of the kindergarten door across from the fence

• Second/Third Grade - Exterior Door #13 - Adjacent to Kenmore/Hackberry

• Fourth/Fifth Grade - Exterior Door #5 - Off of Rosewood Avenue

A Note for Kindergarten and 1st Grade Families: Teachers will be outside to greet your child for the first few days to welcome students and help establish routines of going into the building.

We have developed very clear traffic procedures for before and after school. Here are our suggestions for the best places to drop off your children in the morning:

• Kindergarten and First Grade - Use the front circle. Please pull up to the signs that will say “Drop Off Zone.” We ask that you pull up to the next available drop-off zone to let your children out of the car.
• Second and Third Grade - The best place to let your children out of your cars is on Hackberry facing east. We suggest that you stop before the Kenmore stop sign so the kids can walk down Kenmore to the school.
• Fourth and Fifth Grade - Use Rosewood Avenue. Please stay in the queue until you reach the school. You can let your children out onto the sidewalk or at the school’s driveway. This is where our three buses will stop to unload the students. Please be patient and never drive through the bus stop arm.
• Early Learners Program - You will be receiving specific directions with drop-off procedures from the preschool teachers.

• Kindergarten and First Grade - Trusted adults should park and walk over to greet their child at the grade level door. Older siblings are invited to meet up with their younger siblings at the K and 1 grade level doors, too.
• Second and Third Grade - Have your children walk north on Kenmore and meet your car on Hackberry Rd.
• Fourth and Fifth Grade - Your children will exit on the east side of the school, and they will meet you on Rosewood Avenue. Parents are not allowed to drive into the Rosewood parking lot after school because it is reserved for our buses.
• Early Learners Program - You will be receiving specific directions with pick-up procedures in a separate communication.

Bus information was made available online through Skyward Family Access when schedules are released on August 11th. Please know that the times listed are not set in stone due to traffic issues that come up, so please have the kids at the stops at least 10 minutes before the posted times. All busing questions should be sent to: transportation@dps109.org

Our goal is to keep all students safe when riding the bus. Please review the rules linked below with your child before opening day. Questions about transportation should be directed to transportation@dps109.org.

Please make a note of the times your children will be eating and going outside for recess.

• Grades K, 1: 11:25 - 11:52 eat lunch; 11:52 - 12:20 go out for recess
• Grades 2, 3: 11:25 - 11:52 go out for recess; 11:52 - 12:20 eat lunch
• Grades 4, 5: 12:25 - 12:52 eat lunch; 12:52 - 1:20 go out for recess
• Early Learners Program: 11:30 - 12:00 eat lunch; 12:00 - 12:30 go out for recess

If you need to bring a late lunch to school, please label it with your child’s name, and leave it on the blue cart in the main entrance foyer.

**Marla's Fun Lunch service begins on Tuesday, August 22nd. Orders must be placed by Tuesday at 12pm for each subsequent week. Click here for info about ordering from Marla's.

Don’t miss the PTO Spotlight:

• Membership Directory Sign Up
• Room Parent Sign Up
• Spirit Wear for Sale
• Fun Lunch Ordering is Open
• And much more...

• Thursday, October 26th - Will now be a half day of school, with conferences held in the afternoon and evening.
• Friday, October 27th - Will be a non-attendance day for students, with conferences held in the morning.
• Tuesday, November 21st - Will now be a regular attendance day.
• Thursday, March 21st - Will now be a half day of school, with conferences held in the afternoon and evening.
• Friday, March 22nd - Will be a non-attendance day for students, with conferences held in the morning.

Thursday, August 17

• Kindergarten Orientation - 3:30-4:30 (20 minute slots for each student)
• New Student Orientation - 3:45-4:15 p.m.

Monday, August 21

• First day for students (Half Day) - 8:35-11:40 a.m.

• First FULL day of school - 8:35 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.

Wednesday, August 23

• Early Release begins - Dismissal is 2:25 p.m.

Thursday, August 24

• Low sensory Ice Cream Social - 5:30-6:00 p.m.
• Ice Cream Social from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
  

• Curriculum Night - Times TBD

Monday, September 4

• No School - Labor Day

• Picture Day

• Enrichment classes begin

• MAP Testing Window - Teachers will share classroom schedules

• PTO Sponsored Bike Rally - 9:30 a.m.

Monday, September 25

• No School (Yom Kippur)

Monday, October 9

• No School - Columbus Day

Tuesday, October 17

• Picture Retakes