Cardinal Corner

Important Dates

• April 2nd - Progress Reports Issued

• April 3rd - All schools closed

• April 9th - Bus Evacuation Drill

• April 10th - Shelter in Place Drill

• April 14th - Superintendent Office Hours 2-4PM

School News/Sports

• April 1st - Boys Volleyball Tryout 3:00 - 5:00PM

• April 2nd - Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM

• April 2nd - Track vs Sandburg 3:30 - 5:00PM

• April 7th - Sunrise Hoops 6:45 - 7:45AM

• April 7th - Track vs. Barrington Prairie 4:15 - 6:15PM

• April 7th - PHS Band Incoming Freshman Meeting @ PHS 6:30 - 8:00PM

• April 9th - Track vs. River Trails 3:00 - 5:00PM

• April 10th - Choir Showcase 5:30 - 8:30PM

• April 13th - Science Olympiad State Tournament

• April 14th - Boys Volleyball vs. Lincoln MP 3:30 - 6:00PM

• April 15th - Science Olympiad State Tournament

• April 15th - Boys Volleyball vs. MacArthur 3:30 - 6:00PM

Dear South Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back. We hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Spring Break. It is hard to believe that we are now entering the fourth and final quarter of the school year. Time has certainly flown by and we are looking forward to a strong finish to the year.

We would like to congratulate our Science Olympiad students on their success at the regional competition. We are proud of their hard work and wish them the best of luck as they prepare for the state tournament later this month. Go Cardinals.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support our recent Staff vs Staff volleyball game. This event was a great success and raised over 500 dollars for our South athletic fund. A special thank you to Ms. Katelyn Sparlin and Ms. Sara Van den Akker for organizing such a fun and engaging event and to all of the staff members who participated and gave their time. Congratulations to the eighth grade girls volleyball team for their victory over the staff.

As we begin the final quarter we have many exciting activities and events planned for our students. We ask that you please take time to speak with your child about maintaining appropriate behavior and continuing to demonstrate respect, responsibility, and positive decision making. Let us work together to finish the school year on a positive note.

We are also beginning the process of building student schedules for the 2026 to 2027 school year. If you happen to see any schedule information appear in PowerSchool please note that it is in draft form only. These schedules are not final and changes will continue to be made over the coming months. We kindly ask that you disregard any preliminary information at this time.

For our eighth grade families, additional information regarding end of the year activities and graduation will be shared in a separate email in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and school community.

South Administration

We are very excited to inform you that this spring our seventh grade students will have the opportunity to attend a day trip to Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center in Bartlett, Illinois. The purpose of this field trip is to incorporate science and social studies curriculum into outdoor activities that contribute to a sense of togetherness and instill teamwork within our students.

DATES

• 7 EAST will attend on Tuesday, April 28, 2026
• 7 WEST will attend on Thursday, April 30, 2026

TIME

• During the school day (7:45am-2:45pm)
• Students will take regular transportation routes to and from SMS that day.

On your child’s assigned day, we will take school buses to Sunrise Lake, departing school at approximately 9am and returning to SMS before the end of the school day at 2:45pm. Students should follow their regular arrival and dismissal transportation routines.

The activities provided will mostly be outdoors. Students will be grouped up by their Homebases for the day’s activities.

What to Wear/Bring

• Students should come dressed & prepared for the outdoor elements as we will attempt to participate in outside activities as much as possible, including in the rain.
• Your child may bring their own sack lunch and water bottle on the field trip, or may select the option of a district-provided lunch.

Over twenty SMS staff members will be in attendance each day, along with administrators and our nursing staff to help run and assist activities alongside Sunrise Lake staff.

We look forward to a wonderful experience with your child, and know they will have a great time!

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.

Attention 6th grade parents:

The Illinois State Department of Human Services requires a dental examination for all children entering kindergarten, second and sixth grades. The compliance date for this regulation is May 15, 2026. We can accept dental exams that have been completed after November 15, 2024. Children in kindergarten, second and sixth grades that do not have copies of the required dental exam on file by May 15, 2026 are not in compliance with this regulation.

Please feel free to contact echapin@sd25.org and smusolf@sd25.org with any questions.

Dental forms can be downloaded at www.sd25.org.

• 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.

In April 2022, April was first officially recognized as National Arab American Heritage Month. The month celebrates the Arab American heritage and culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans.

Passover, also called Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates freedom and justice. Passover is celebrated with two traditional meals called seders, on the first two nights of the holiday. Seder translates to "order" in Hebrew, because there is a ritual order of the prayers read and the foods eaten.

*dates change from year to year

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!

South Middle School 5th Grade Mixer – April 17

Dear South Families,​​

As we prepare to welcome the next class of South Middle School students, we remain focused on creating a smooth and confident transition to 6th grade. One important step in that process is helping students begin to recognize familiar faces and feel part of a supportive community before the school year even begins.

To that end, we invite all incoming 6th graders to join us for the AHCPTA South 5th Grade Mixer on Friday, April 17 from 6:30–8:00 pm at Get Air. This event brings together students from all feeder schools for an evening centered on connection, confidence‑building, and fun.

Student Registration:

https://ahcpta.givebacks.com/shop/items/d18ba564a094

Family Volunteers Needed

Our events are strengthened by the collaboration between school and home. To ensure a safe and well‑supervised evening, we are seeking parent and guardian volunteers. Your participation—even for a short time—has a meaningful impact.

Volunteer Sign‑Up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4AADA72CA7F49-61983184-5thgrade#/

Thank you for your partnership and for helping us create a warm and welcoming start for our newest Cardinals. We look forward to meeting them soon.

8th Grade Activities Update

• 8th Grade Dance-Weds. May 27th, 7-9pm at SMS-Hawaiian/Tropical Theme, this will be the decor, it does not mean the students need to dress like this.

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

• 8th Grade Picnic-Monday, June 1st 12:30-2:45pm

• 8th Grade Graduation-Tuesday, June 2nd 4:00pm-Forest View Academy, there are no tickets

• Graduation Signs-pre-odered, delivery & pick up info to follow

Any questions? please reach out to us at 8thgradeactivities@gmail.com

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

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