Cardinal Corner

Important Dates

• Jan. 15 - Practice Lock Down Drill with Police Department
• Jan. 16 - End of Hexter 3
• Jan. 16 - End of Quarter 2, Student Recognition Assembly
• Jan. 23 - Q2 Progress Reports Emailed Home

District News

• Jan. 19 - MLK Day - No School!
• Jan. 20 - School Board Meeting 6:15PM
• Jan. 27 - School Board Meeting - Strategic Plan Refresh 8AM - 12PM

School News/Sports

• Jan. 15 - Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM
• Jan. 15 - Boys Basketball vs. Thomas 3:30PM (8th/7th)
• Jan. 15 - Wrestling Meet @ Barrington Prairie 4:30 - 7:00PM
• Jan. 15 - Girls Volleyball @ Thomas 3:30PM (8th/7th)
• Jan. 17, 19-22 - Boys 7th Grade Basketball Regionals
• Jan. 20 - Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM
• Jan. 20 - Wrestling Meet @ Lincoln Park Ridge 3:30 - 6:30PM
• Jan. 22 - Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM
• Jan. 22 - C.A.R.D.S Wall Signing 7:30 - 7:45AM
• Jan. 24 - Wrestling Tournament @ Caruso Middle School
• Jan. 24 - Chicagoland Jazz Band Workshop @ BGHS (Jazz Ensemble) - 9AM - 12PM
• Jan. 24, 27-29 Boys 8th Grade Basketball Regionals
• Jan. 26 - No Activity Bus
• Jan. 26 - Wrestling Meet @ Emerson Middle School 4:00 - 7:00PM
• Jan. 26 - Boys 7th Grade Basketball Sectional
• Jan. 27 - Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM
• Jan. 29 - Girls Volleyball vs. Plum Grove 3:30PM (7th/8th)
• Jan. 31 - Boys 7th Grade Boys Basketball State Tournament, Ski Club Field Trip to Alpine

Dear South Parents and Guardians,

Happy New Year! We hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday break and enjoyed some time to relax and recharge. Thank you so much to everyone who sent gifts and treats for our staff. Your kindness and generosity mean a great deal to us.

As the weather gets colder, we tend to see more families choosing to drive their children to school in the mornings. On especially chilly or snowy days, this can lead to longer car lines and occasional late arrivals. Planning an extra five to ten minutes on these mornings can really help. Students should be in Homebase by 7:50 a.m. in order to avoid being marked tardy.

We also want to let you know that we will be conducting a practice Lockdown Drill on the morning of January 15th. This is a routine safety drill that helps our students and staff stay prepared. The Arlington Heights Park District will be present and supporting us during the drill. Please rest assured that this is only a drill and there is no cause for concern.

Lastly, our administrative team has noticed that some parent emails have been ending up in our SPAM folders. Please avoid replying directly to our newsletter or School Messenger emails, as these messages are automated and replies will not reach us. If you need to get in touch, sending a separate email will ensure we are able to respond promptly.

Stay safe and warm,
South Administration

South will be conducting a practice Lockdown Drill the morning of January 15th. The Arlington Heights Police Department will be present and supporting us during the drill.

Date: February 16th

Time: 7:45 am - 3:15pm

Format: 7 min conferences per subject area

More detailed information on how to sign up will be sent out soon.

Online Parent Sign Up - PTC Wizard

• PTC Wizard Online Conference Scheduler will OPEN for signup

• Opens - Wednesday, January 28th @8:30am

• Closes - Wednesday, February 11th @3:30pm

• If you already created a login account this school year, you should use the SAME account.

• Parents will need your child’s Student ID in order to create a NEW account.

School-age children are susceptible to various common illnesses.

We encourage you to take a moment to review this Information Letter on Common Illnesses for valuable guidance.

To help prevent these illnesses, please remind your child to practice healthy habits, including:

• Washing hands frequently.

• Staying well-hydrated.

• Avoiding the sharing of personal items, food, or drinks.

• Refraining from touching their eyes.

• Covering their mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter as we work together to keep our students healthy and safe.

• February 10th - 8th grade graduation pictures. The students will be assigned a time based on their picture ticket provided by the portraits. Please understand that the students will still need to change for PE for the day even if the picture time is after the PE class.
• March 19th - Graduation picture retake day for those that are not able to take their photos.

• May 28th - 8th Grade Great America Field Trip

• June 1st - 8th Grade Picnic from 12:30-2:45pm at South
• June 2nd - 8th Grade Graduation @ 4:00 pm at Forest View Education Center Field House: 2201 S. Goebbert Rd., Arlington Heights.

We are excited to share that Hope, our therapy dog, will be returning to SMS during the week of January 26th. Her visits continue to be a wonderful experience for our students, and we are looking forward to welcoming her back.

If you have already completed the permission form for your child earlier this year, you are all set and no further action is needed. If you have not yet filled out the permission form (click here), we encourage you to do so so your son or daughter has the opportunity to interact with Hope during one of her upcoming visits.

Because we want to give as many students as possible the chance to meet Hope, we will be prioritizing students who have not yet participated in a previous visit. We appreciate your understanding as we work to make these experiences available to everyone throughout the year.

Therapy dogs like Hope help reduce stress, support emotional regulation, and promote overall student well being. They also encourage positive social connections and contribute to a calm and welcoming school environment.

All interactions with Hope will continue to take place in safe, supervised settings and participation is always optional for students.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. We are grateful for your continued support and look forward to another great visit from Hope.

The 8th Grade boys basketball team is nearing the end of their season with playoffs starting on January 24th. There is still one big game left before then though, with the boys taking on the Thomas Timberwolves on Thursday January 15th after school. The boys have worked very hard to improve their skills this season, and they have shown tremendous growth. We hope to continue to see great sportsmanship and effort from the boys as we end the season. Go Cardinals!

The 7th and 8th grade girls volleyball season is off to an exciting start! We were thrilled to see such a strong turnout at tryouts this year, with so many talented and enthusiastic athletes ready to compete. The team is working hard and gearing up for our first match against Thomas Middle School this Thursday—let’s go Cardinals!

The Poms Team had a strong showing at last Saturday’s competition, earning 3rd place overall! Their final competition of the season will be held on January 23 at 6:00 PM at Thomas Middle School. Come out and cheer them on!

Did you know South hosts Homework Hangout twice per week? Encourage your student to start 2026 on a positive note by establishing good homework habits and staying on top of assignments. Many students struggle with procrastination, distraction, and busy schedules once they get home from school. Homework Hangout can help by providing a quiet and structured environment for students to get work done. Homework Hangout meets on Tuesdays in the Music Room from 2:45-3:25 and Wednesdays in the Library from 2:45-3:25. It is supervised by certified staff. We hope you’ll drop by and give it a try!

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

Let’s welcome back the amazing South staff by stocking their lounge! Please sign-up to donate today!

South Stock the Lounge - Winter 2026

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