Cardinal Corner

Sept 7: Labor Day - No School

🟨 Sept 9: 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night – 6:30–8:15 PM – UPDATED DATE 🟨

Sept 15-16: Fall MAP Testing - Adjusted Bell Schedule

Sept 15 & 16: Girls Basketball Tryouts - UPDATED DATE

Sept 21: Yom Kippur - No School

Sept. 25: Evacuation Drill (Fire Department Present)

Dear South Middle School Families,

What a great first full week it has been at South Middle School! There is nothing quite like seeing our hallways filled with students again. The energy, excitement, and enthusiasm have been wonderful to see.

We want to thank our students, families, and staff for helping us get the school year off to such a positive start. Our students have been busy settling into routines, reconnecting with friends, meeting teachers, and getting back into the rhythm of middle school. We are already seeing so many examples of students learning, growing, and making South a welcoming place to be.

As routines continue to take shape, we encourage families to check in with their students about how their first days have gone, review upcoming assignments and activities, and continue to reach out with any questions or concerns. Our doors are always open, and we value the partnership we have with our South families.

Thank you for helping make the start of the school year such a success. We are thrilled to have our students back and cannot wait to see what this year has in store!

The South Administration Team

• Click Here for INFO - 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night

We are looking forward to seeing all of our South Cardinal Families!

The NWEA MAP test is a computer-administered assessment that aligns with the Illinois math and reading standards. District 25 uses the information from the MAP assessment in a few ways including to help determine academic intervention groups, as an essential part of the advanced learning placement, as well as to identify student strengths and needs for the next school year.

All South students will be taking the NWEA Fall MAP assessments on September 15, 2026 and September 16, 2026.

Please remind your child to charge their Chromebooks, and bring in earbuds for the testing sessions. As a reminder, it is important for students to eat a healthy breakfast, and get a good night's sleep before testing so they can perform their best. Thank you for your assistance in helping to prepare your child for NWEA MAP testing.

As our 8th grade students prepare for high school, District 214 is making an important change to its freshman placement process for students entering high school in fall 2027. Beginning this year, District 214 will no longer administer its traditional fall Saturday placement assessment. Instead, NWEA MAP assessment results administered by middle schools will be used as one component of the high school placement and course recommendation process. Because these assessment results will now be used as part of the placement and recommendation process, we encourage students to prepare themselves to do their best by getting a good nights sleep, eating a healthy breakfast, and trying their best on the assessment.

As part of our commitment to student health, wellness, and safety, District 25 is notifying families that some science lessons this school year may involve the use of food or food-related products as instructional tools. Please click on the letter below that corresponds with your child’s grade level for more information about the specific items that may be used.

6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade

We appreciate the families who have already submitted their child’s required health forms.

It is crucial that all necessary forms are provided to avoid any interruption in your child’s education as the State of Illinois REQUIRED EXCLUSION date of October 15th.

Our school nurses will be reaching out to families who need to submit updated information, so please be attentive to any communication via voicemail, email, or backpack mail. For any questions or further assistance, please visit our D25 Health Services page for the school nurse contact information.

Physical/Immunization Record:

• Required for all kindergarten and new students
• The physical must be completed within a year of school start, dated on or after August 20, 2025
• Parents must complete and sign the health history section
• Immunizations Requirements must be met or include a MD approved schedule of administration
• Failure to submit the form and have it reviewed by the School Nurse prior to the OCTOBER 15th deadline will result in your child being EXCLUDED from school

Vision Exam Form:

• Required for all kindergarten and students new to the state of Illinois
• The exam must be completed by a licensed eye doctor and dated on or after August 21, 2025
• The official State of Illinois Eye Examination form is required
• Due date of October 15, 2026

Dental Exam Form:

• Required for all kindergarten, second grade and six grade students
• The exam must be completed by a licensed dentist and dated after November 15, 2025
• The official State of Illinois Dental Examination form is required
• This is due by May 15th, 2027

Cell Phones & Electronic Devices

As we begin the new school year, we want to remind families of our expectations regarding cell phones and other electronic devices at school, including wearables. These expectations are designed to help students stay focused on learning, minimize distractions, and support a positive school environment.

• Middle school students are expected to turn off electronics and store devices in their middle school locker during the school day.
• Elementary students are expected to leave electronics in the “off” position and in their backpacks throughout the school day.
• A supervising teacher may grant permission for them to be used or if needed during an emergency.
• They may not be used in any manner that will cause disruption to the educational environment or will otherwise violate student conduct rules.

The District will provide access to students who do not own a mobile learning device in circumstances when its use is required for instructional purposes during the day. Electronic devices may be used during the school day if:

• Use of the device is provided in the student’s IEP, or
• Permission is received from the student’s teacher with administrator approval

We appreciate your partnership in helping our students be present, engaged, and ready to learn each day. Please take a moment to review the flyer to the right, along with the full policy in the Parent/Student Handbook.

Prospect High School is thrilled to welcome so many future Knights to our Friday night football games. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, please note the following visitor policy:

• Non-high school-aged students will only be admitted when accompanied by their parent(s) or guardian(s) at the gate.

• Patrons may not bring in groups of students and claim them as their own.

• Students must sit with their parent(s) or guardian(s) during the game and leave when their parent(s)/guardian(s) leave.

• Spectators may not:

  • Play pick-up games in or around the stadium

  • Bring sporting equipment into the stadium

  • Carry backpacks into the stadium

  • Re-enter after leaving the stadium

This policy is in place due to ongoing discipline issues involving unsupervised non-high school age students. We appreciate your support and partnership in creating a safe and positive game day atmosphere at Prospect High School.

Current 7th and 8th grade students have an exciting opportunity to participate in Next Generation of Engineers (NGE), an after-school program at Rolling Meadows High School that is celebrating its 10th year! Beginning October 5, 2026, students will have the opportunity to explore RMHS’s Engineering and Design pathways through hands-on problem-solving activities, learn to use Adobe and Fusion software, and gain experience with engineering and design equipment and machines. Students will also have the chance to become familiar with Rolling Meadows High School and meet other future Mustangs before beginning ninth grade. The program is designed for students of all experience levels and interests. Registration is open through September 16, 2026. Families interested in learning more or applying can fill out the Student Application Link.

Saturday, September 19 | 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Arlington Heights Historical Museum
110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights

Heritage Fest is looking for families to host booths celebrating their culture, traditions, and heritage. If your family has participated in a D25 Multicultural Fair, this could be a great opportunity to share your culture with the broader Arlington Heights community.

Sign up to host a booth

Heritage Fest is presented by the Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights Historical Museum, and Village of Arlington Heights.

Please use the following links to access important information for the school year:

• District 25 Student/Parent Handbook
• School Supply List
• “In’s and Out’s” and procedures of South Middle School

UPDATED DATE - Girls basketball tryouts will be held September 15–16 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!

Calling all future stars! We’d love for your student to join the South Theatre Program and be part of an exciting year filled with creativity, collaboration, and fun. Check out the infographic below for all the details on what’s happening in Theatre this year!

In addition, you can help support the South Theatre program by dining at Culver’s on Wednesday, September 2nd! This is a great opportunity to enjoy a meal while giving back to our talented South students. A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit South Theatre and help support the program’s productions, students, and future opportunities. See the flyer below for more information!

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 or Ms. Buck.

Congratulations to two of our South Cardinals who represented our school on the Carnegie Hall stage this summer as part of the highly selective, international Honors Performance Series!

We are incredibly proud of them for earning this prestigious opportunity and for representing South Middle School on such an incredible stage. What a tremendous accomplishment! We are so proud of you!

Please help us continue supporting our amazing South Middle School staff throughout the school year by helping us Stock the Lounge! Your generosity helps keep our staff lounge stocked with snacks, drinks, and other goodies that brighten their day.

If you are interested in contributing, please complete the Stock the Lounge Form. Thank you for helping us show our staff how much we appreciate all they do for our students and school community!

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