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
• Encouraging Independence Before and After School
• Bussing
  
• Lunch Times
  
• District-Issued and Personal Devices in District 109
• PTO News
  
• South Park School Supply Lists
• Important Dates
• Important Contact Information

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 15th

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 19th (Grades K-5)

The first day of school for students in grades K-5 will be a half day. The attendance hours are 8:45-11:40 a.m. Ordinarily, we open our doors at 8:35 a.m. but on the first day, we will gather on our blacktops to welcome everyone back to school. Students in grades K, 1, and 2 will find their teacher 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 a.m., 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 20th

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 - 8:45 a.m. - 3:25 p.m. (Doors open at 8:35 a.m.)

Wednesday - 8:45 a.m. - 2:25 p.m. (Doors open at 8:35 a.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.
• Instruction begins at 8:45 a.m. and students are expected to be in their classroom by that time.
• 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 as far as you can to leave space for cars behind you. Staff will be present to wave you forward to keep the traffic moving.
• 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 - Parents are welcome 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.

Some families who read the book, The Anxious Generation, have asked about their primary-age child walking to/home from school without a parent escort. If you are comfortable with your child walking to or from school without other students rather than with an adult, we ask that you communicate this information to your child's teacher so that they are aware and can support your child.

If you have been wondering about ways to encourage your child's independence, consider talking to neighbors to see if walking to school without an adult is something your children can do together.

This week, visit Family Access and click on transportation to see your student's assigned bus stop and time. Please note that for security reasons, we do not post entire routes on our website. Times listed are not set in stone due to traffic issues that come up, so please have students 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. You can expect assigned bus seats at some point throughout the year. 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.

NOTE: Grades 1 and 2 have switched times from previous school years.

• Grades K, 2: 11:25 - 11:52 eat lunch; 11:52 - 12:20 go out for recess
• Grades 1, 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 20th. Orders must be placed by Tuesday at 12pm for each subsequent week. Click here for info about ordering from Marla's.

All kindergarten and first grade students receive an iPad at school, which we store overnight for charging. The district continues to discuss the future of devices going home with our students. At this time, 2nd-5th graders will receive a chromebook, charger and carrying case that is to be brought to and from school each day. Charging the device takes place at home.

If a parent chooses to provide their child with a cell phone, this personal device is expected to be kept silenced and out-of-sight during the regular school day. (Exceptions are made for students who use a device as part of their IEP, 504 Plan, or Health Plan). While smart watches are still permitted in school, they should also be silenced at all times and never used for texting while students are in school. Any personal devices that become a distraction to the learning environment will be brought to the office and families will be notified to pick the device up from the school.

If a parent needs to send a message to their child, we respectfully ask that you refrain from texting your child directly. Please call our front office and a member of our team will get the message to your child. We appreciate your cooperation!

Check out the PTO Spotlight here:

• Sign up for PTO Membership & School Directory
• Fun Lunch Ordering is Open Now
• Ice Cream Social 8/22- 5:30-7:30pm
• Order South Park Spirit Wear
• Register for Family Field Day on 9/14- 2-3:30pm
• Volunteer for Fun Lunch and Event Photographer
• and much more...

The South Park PTO sold school supply kits last spring. If you ordered by June 9, 2024, your child’s school supplies will be delivered directly to the school and will be in your child’s classroom on opening day. If you were unable to order this kit, click the link below to see a list of school supplies.

As a reminder, all K-5 students are required to have headsets, which may be used daily in all classrooms. These are included in the kindergarten school supply kit but not included in the school supply kits for the other grade levels unless ordered. Students should bring headsets from home during the first week of school if headphones were not ordered for the 2024-25 school year.

Thursday, August 15

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

Monday, August 19

• First day for students (Half Day) - 8:45-11:40 a.m. (Doors open at 8:35 a.m.)

• First FULL day of school - 8:45 a.m. - 3:25 p.m. (Doors open at 8:35 a.m.)

Wednesday, August 21

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

Thursday, August 22

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

• Curriculum Night - Anticipated Schedule (More information to come!)

Monday, September 2

• No School - Labor Day

• Picture Day

Stephanie Monaco

South Park Assistant Principal

Phone: 847-945-5895 x2105

Email: smackey@dps109.org

Nora Moskos

School Nurse

Phone: 847-945-5895 x2103

Email: nmoskos@dps109.org

Jenny Newman & Sally Smith

South Park Administrative Assistants

Phone: (847) 945-5895

Email(s): jnewman1@dps109.org, ssmith@dps109.org