Cardinal Corner

Aug 14: 6th Grade Orientation and PTA Chill Out - 9:30 - 11:00am - Student Only Event

Aug 15: Pool Party Mixer - PTA Sponsored 6th Grade Event

Aug: 18: Locker Set Up; Students and parents are welcome to walk the building and set up lockers 4:00 – 6:00 PM (All SMS Families)

Aug 20: First Day of School - Adjusted Bell Schedule

Aug 25: Picture Day - All School

Aug 26: 6th Grade Curriculum Night - 6:30 - 8:30pm

Aug 28: Practice Crisis Drills

Sept 3: 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night - 6:30 -8:15pm

Sept 7: Labor Day, No School

Sept 14-16: Fall MAP Testing - Adjusted Bell Schedule

Dear South Middle School Families,

We hope you have had a wonderful summer filled with time to relax, recharge, and make lasting memories with family and friends.

As the start of the 2026-2027 school year quickly approaches, the South Middle School Administration Team would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our returning and new families. We are incredibly excited to welcome our students back to the building in a little over a week and begin another year of learning, growth, and connection.

Our staff has been hard at work preparing for an outstanding school year, and we cannot wait to see our hallways filled with the energy and enthusiasm that our students bring each day. We look forward to partnering with you to support every student's academic, social, and emotional success.

Please take some time to review this Back-to-School Newsletter, as it contains important information to help your family prepare for the first day of school. Inside, you'll find details about schedules, important dates, transportation, school procedures, supply information, and other helpful reminders.

If you have any questions after reviewing the newsletter, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are always happy to help and look forward to working together to make this a successful and rewarding school year for every student.

Enjoy the remainder of your summer, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back soon!

South Middle School Administration

Here is a link to the 2026-27 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.

All medication requests must be renewed each school year. All medication administered at school (including over-the-counter medication) requires a completed medication administration form with physician and parent signatures. No expired medication will be accepted. All medications must be dropped off by a parent or guardian-we will not accept medication from students.

Medication can be dropped off Monday, August 17th (afternoon only), Tuesday August 18th (7:50am-2:45pm) or Wednesday, August 19th (7:50am-2:45pm). Please call 847-506-6305 with any questions about hours or to make an appointment

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

• Due by October 15, 2026 (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 8/21/25 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, 2027

• Examination dated November 15, 2025 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 4, Seventh grade students enter the doors on the track side, Eighth grade door 2.
• 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.

Make sure your email is up to date in our system, so you will receive all important information.

• 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.

To keep our building and students safe, we are reducing the number of adult visitors entering the school. Please review our updated lunch drop-off procedures below and discuss them with your child so they know what to expect.

• Drop-Off Location: Place lunches in the front vestibule inside the designated grade-level bins.
• Timing: This applies to any lunch dropped off after 7:50 AM.
• Labeling: Clearly write your child's first and last name on their lunch. Post-it notes and markers are available next to the bins if you need them.
• Fountain Drinks: Place drinks next to the bin rather than inside to prevent spills.
• Lunch: Bins are brought directly to the cafeteria during the 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade lunch periods.
• No Outside Delivery: Food delivery services (such as DoorDash, UberEats, etc.) are NOT permitted to drop off student food.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school safe and organized!

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 26, 2026, 6:30-8:30pm

• Click Here for INFO - 6th Grade Curriculum Night

Seventh & Eighth Grade Curriculum Night: September 3, 2026, 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 20, 2026:

• 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.

See below for information about our lunch service at South Middle School.

August 25, 2026

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.

Girls basketball tryouts will be held September 16–17 from 2:45–6:00 p.m. Students interested in trying out should plan to attend both days.

Please remember that all participants must have a current physical on file with the school before they are eligible to try out. We look forward to a great season and wish all of our athletes the best of luck!

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. Conlin (oconlin@sd25.org) or Ms. Buck (abuck@sd25.org).

Welcome to new and returning band members! All band participants for this year should fill out the band registration form. We will be sharing how students can upload their band placement video with students once school starts. All are welcome, regardless of ability.

Contact Mrs. Scapillato or Mrs. Schneider with any questions.

Summer is flying by-we want to make sure you have this on your calendar because this is one night our incoming 6th graders will not want to miss!

The South Middle School 5th Grade Mixer Committee is excited to invite all 2026 Incoming 6th Graders to our Pool Party on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM at Woodland Trails Pool in Mount Prospect.

This free event is a great opportunity for students to meet new friends, reconnect with classmates, and kick off middle school together before the school year begins. Registration is required, so please be sure to scan the QR code on the flyer or sign up here!

We need a few 6th grade parents to help with the 6th Grade Chill Out on 8/14. Will be only an hour from 10:30-11:30. Very easy - handing out popsicles and drawing names for a raffle for t-shirts. Please sign up today!

Let’s welcome our wonderful teachers back to South! Please help us provide a delicious Welcome Back Breakfast and Stock the Teacher’s Lounge to start the year off right! Sign up 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