Cardinal Corner

Oct 17 & 18 - Variety Show @ 7:00pm

Oct 18: Cross Country State Meet

Oct 18: Girls Basketball Tournament at Thomas

Oct 20: Cheer Tryout 3:00 - 5:00

Oct 21: Bus Evacuation Drill - All day during PE

Oct 22: End of 1st Quarter (Recognition Assembly at 2:00)

Oct 23: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Oct 24: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Oct 29: Cardinal Wall Signing at 7:35am (parents invited)

Oct 31: Quarter 1 Report Cards Issued

Dear South Parents and Guardians,

Happy Fall!

Parent-teacher conferences are coming up on Thursday and Friday, October 23 and 24. We are looking forward to meaningful conversations and continued collaboration with our families. Please see below for more information on how to sign up for conferences.

On the morning of Friday, October 17, students and staff will attend our fall variety show, Welcome to the Middle (School) Ages! We can’t wait to celebrate the talents and creativity of our South students. Be sure to check the section below for details about the evening performances.

As Halloween falls on Friday, October 31st, students are welcome to wear costumes to school, provided they are school-appropriate. Please review the guidelines below to ensure costumes meet expectations.

Congratulations to South's Wind Ensemble on their outstanding performance at the Arlington Heights Autumn Harvest Fest on Saturday, October 11! It was a fantastic day filled with music, energy, and community spirit.

We are incredibly proud of our Cross Country team, who will be representing South at the state tournament in Normal, Illinois this weekend. Our runners will be recognized on the morning of Thursday, October 16 during our traditional Cardinal Walk through the building. Go Cardinals!

We wish you and your family a safe and fun Halloween!

Thank you for partnering with us,

South Administration

Mr. Steve Prorok

Principal

Ms. Sheri Rosen

Associate Principal

Mrs. Aubrey DeMuth

Associate Principal

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences Dates

October 23, 2025 - 8:20 AM - 7:40 PM (Individual PTC Wizard Sign Up)
October 24, 2025 - 8:20 AM - 11:40 AM (Reserved for Team Invited Only Conferences)

Conference Format

7 min conference per subject area, with a 3 min transition.
Teams will be sitting in the same location at different tables. However, it is possible that you will need to switch locations for Creative Arts, PE, World Language, and Intervention Teachers.

Online Sign Up - PTC Wizard

OPENS for sign up on October 7th at 8:30am
CLOSES for sign up on October 20th at 8:30am
Parents will need your child's Student ID to create an account. Student ID's will be emailed to parents on October 6th.

If parents are not able to sign up, and would still like to schedule a conference, please reach out to your child's team leader or email the classroom teacher directly to see if they can accommodate your request. *Students are invited and encouraged to attend conferences with their parents.

Click Here for more detailed information - Parent-Teacher Conferences Info

Morning Drop-Off Safety Reminder

As we continue to prioritize student safety during morning drop-off, we’re asking for your help to make sure our arrival routines are safe and smooth for everyone.

Always yield to walkers and bikers in crosswalks.
Do not drop students off at stop signs—this causes traffic to back up and creates unsafe conditions.
Use designated drop-off zones only—avoid letting students out across the street, which encourages unsafe crossings.

Thank you for helping keep our students safe!

Come on out for South Theatre's 2025 Fall Variety Show: Welcome to the Middle (School) Ages! Student-led acts from singing to dancing to instrumental pieces and more strung together with medieval-themed scenes written and performed by our 8th Grade MC Committee, supported by our student Stage/Tech Crew.

October 17th & 18th @ 7pm, doors opening at 6:30.

Get your tickets starting today! - Link to Purchase

Halloween at School – Costume Guidelines and Expectations

As Halloween falls on Friday, October 31, students are welcome to wear costumes to school that day, provided they are school-appropriate. To help ensure a smooth and focused learning environment, we would like to share a few important expectations for the day, while still allowing students to enjoy the holiday appropriately.

Please note the following guidelines:

Costumes are allowed only on Friday, October 31.
We plan to maintain an uninterrupted school day. No Halloween parties are allowed during or after the school day.
No candy or treats should be brought to or distributed at school.
Students must arrive at school in their costumes. Changing outfits or costumes during the school day is not permitted.
No makeup or hairspray application is allowed on school grounds.
All costumes must comply with the SMS Dress Code.
Costumes that depict violence or are otherwise inappropriate for a school setting are not allowed.
Halloween masks that cover the face may not be worn.
Full-face paint is not allowed.
Props of any kind are not permitted.
Inflatable costumes are not allowed.
Again, no candy or treats should be brought to school.

Thank you for helping us create a safe, respectful, and fun environment for all students. If you have any questions, please reach out and let us know.

ABC 25 Membership Promotion - Cruise To School

DETAILS:

Anyone that becomes a member of the ABC/25 Foundation will be entered into a drawing for their child(ren) to win a ride to school from our very own Arlington Heights Police Department!
They must join ABC25 Foundation by Friday, October 17th.
Anyone who has joined between May and 10/17/25 will be entered into the drawing.

Prewritten information for publication: see attached as well as below.

Help our school earn a $2,500 grant by becoming a member of the ABC/25 Foundation. Join by October 17th, and your child(ren) will be entered into a drawing to win a ride to school with the Arlington Heights Police Department!

Polish-American Heritage

October commemorates the first Polish settlers as well as the leadership of General Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko who fought in the American Revolution.

We also honor the contributions of Polish-Americans in the areas of arts, sciences, culture and more.

ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE

October is National Italian-American Heritage Month. This month was first recognized by the US Congress in October 1989 as a tribute to all Italian-Americans' achievements and contributions to our nation. It is a time to highlight the cultural impact of the Italian-American community.

DIWALI- October 20

A Hindu festival of lights celebrated especially in India. The five-day festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness.

*Date changes year to year

Cross Country

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from our cross country teams. Congratulations to Coaches Stordahl, Radzak, and Evans for guiding the girls team to the state meet happening this weekend. A special shoutout as well to 7th grader Sam P. who qualified individually. Way to go, Sam!

We’re proud of our athletes for their hard work and dedication! Best of luck at the state meet!

South Middle School Spirit Wear For Sale!

Show off your South pride with this awesome gear. The store will be open until October 29th so get your orders in today!!

https://awesportswear.com/southfall2025

Join South's PTA

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

Office Information

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