Cardinal Corner

Important Dates

• February 16th - Parent Teacher Conferences 7:45AM - 2:45PM

District News

• February 10th - Superintendent Office Hours 2PM - 4PM

• February 16th - Parent Teacher Conferences - Staff Only

• February 17th - Board Meeting 6:15PM

School News/Sports

• February 3rd - Sunrise Hoops 6:45-7:30AM

• February 3rd - 6th Grade Intramurals 2:45PM

• February 3rd - Wrestling vs Maple 4:30PM - 7:00PM

• February 4th - 6th Grade Intramural's 2:45PM

• February 5th - Sunrise Hoops 6:45-7:30AM

• February 5th - Sweetheart Girls Volleyball Tournament 3-9PM

• February 5th - Music For Youth 4-7PM

• February 6th - Sweetheart Girls Volleyball Tournament 3-9PM

• February 7th - Sweetheart Girls Volleyball Tournament 8AM - 3PM

• February 10th - Sunrise Hoops 6:45AM - 7:30AM

• February 10th - 8th Grade Grad picture Day 8AM - 3:00PM

• February 10th - Wrestling vs Lincoln MP 3:30 - 6PM

• February 11th - 6th Grade Intramural's 2:45PM

• February 12th - Sunrise Hoops 6:45AM - 7:30AM

• February 12th - 6th Grade Intramural's 2:45PM

• February 12th - Girls Vball vs Lake Zurich North 4:15 - 6:30PM

• February 12th - Music For Youth 4PM - 7PM

Dear South Parents and Guardians,

As we head into the second half of the school year, it is important for your child to continue building upon their successes from the first half of the year while learning from any challenges they may have faced. Our staff remains committed to supporting you and your child as they work toward reaching their full potential. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teachers if you have questions or need guidance. We look forward to a strong and successful second half of the school year for all.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

South’s Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on February 16, 2026. Parents will have the opportunity to schedule conferences with specific teachers, similar to the format used during fall conferences. Please note that Math and Language Arts teachers will not have information regarding next school year placements and will not be able to provide details about class placement. Additional information on how to sign up for conferences can be found below.

Ski Club Trip

Our Winter Ski Trip will take place this Saturday, January 31, 2026. Students and staff are looking forward to a fun day on the slopes at Alpine Valley. As always, we expect students to represent South positively by following school expectations and behaving responsibly, so that everyone can enjoy a safe and memorable experience.

Seventh Grade Field Trip

Our seventh-grade students will once again be visiting Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center this spring. The field trip will take place on April 28, 2026, for the 7 East team, and April 30, 2026, for the 7 West team. More information will be shared as the dates approach.

Thank You to Our South Community – Stock the Lounge

We would like to extend a thank you to our South community for your continued generosity and support of our staff. Your contributions to South's Stock the Lounge – Winter 2026 have not gone unnoticed. The donations have helped create a welcoming and supportive space for our teachers and staff, and we truly appreciate the time and effort you put into supporting our school. Your partnership makes a meaningful difference, and we are grateful for all that you do to support South Middle School.

Morning Drop Off Reminder

As a reminder, please be mindful during morning drop off on South Street. We have noticed that the parking lot entrance has been blocked at times, which prevents buses and other vehicles from safely entering. When dropping off your student, please leave adequate space and avoid stopping in areas that restrict traffic flow. Your cooperation helps create a safe and efficient arrival for all students and staff.

Have a Great Weekend!
South Administration

Date: February 16th

Time: 7:45 am - 3:15pm

Format: 7 min conferences per subject area

Who Needs a Conference?

• Middle School Conferences are different than Elementary School Conferences ~ NOT all students need a conference.
• We want to make conferences available to as many families as possible; but with approximately 825 students at South, time is very limited.
• Families are encouraged to schedule conferences only with the teacher(s) or subject area(s) where questions or a conversation is needed.
• If no conference is needed, or if you are unable to schedule on February 16, you may always reach out to your grade-level team leader to arrange a conversation at another time.
• Parents can request to meet with teachers or the team at any point in the school year if you have concerns regarding your child's academic progress.

Online Parent Sign Up – PTC Wizard

• Opens: Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 8:30 AM

• Closes: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 3:30 PM

• Login: PTC Wizard Login

• Demo Video on how to use PTC Wizard - LINK

Important Reminders

• If you already created an account in the fall of this school year, please use the same login information.

• Parents will need your child’s Student ID to create a new account. Student ID's were emailed to parents on January 27, 2026.

• Click Here - Detailed directions on how to create a parent account in PTC Wizard, & a staff list with teacher locations for conferences.

• If you would like to meet with an additional staff member that is NOT listed in the main screen under your child’s schedule: Click SHOW MORE TEACHERS at the bottom of the screen. This will allow you to view an alphabetical list of all additional staff members such as Social Workers, Psychologist, Interventionists, Speech, Extended Resource, Band, etc.

• We do NOT recommend scheduling a conference with your child's Homebase teacher.

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.

• 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.

Calendar Sync Update

Due to our recent website platform change, the process for syncing school and district calendars with your personal calendar is now different. The previous calendar sync from our former website will no longer show the most up-to-date information.

To continue receiving accurate event updates, please disconnect or delete the old calendar link and add the new one…it takes just a minute! A short how-to video is linked below to walk you through the steps.

CALENDAR SYNC VIDEO

Every February, the U.S. honors the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans who have helped shape the nation. Black History Month celebrates the rich cultural heritage, triumphs and adversities that are a part of our country's history.

A federal holiday for honoring all the past and present presidents who have served as president of the United States of America.

Celebrated on the third Monday in February, date changes year to year.

Lunar New Year is the beginning of a calendar year based on moon cycles. Also known as: Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Solnal, Tibetan Losar, or Spring Festival, typically celebrated in Asian countries that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later.

*Dates change year to year

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer for Muslims. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset, they break their daily fasts by sharing meals with family and friends. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a three-day festival known as Eid al-Fitr.

*You can exchange Ramadan greetings by saying “Ramadan Kareem,” which translates into “Have a generous Ramadan,” or “Ramadan Mubarak,” which translates into “Happy Ramadan.”

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