Fourth and Fifth graders who are interested in playing an instrument are encouraged to join band (woodwind, brass, percussion) or orchestra (strings) starting in the fall of each year.  

A separate spelling bee is held for each grade level (1-5) in January of each school year.  This is an optional activity in which all students are eligible to participate. The top spellers from the 4th and 5th grade spelling bees will complete to represent South Park in the Lake County Regional Spelling Bee.

Students in 4th and 5th grade “compete” to test their knowledge in national and world geography.

Led by a South Park teacher, South Park singers is a club for all 2nd through 5th grade students who like to sing.  The Singers meet once per week during the lunch hour, and they perform for the students and parents in the spring.

Book talks are held three times per year for students in grades 1-5. Students and their parents are given a book to read, and then meet for a lunch-time discussion of the book.  Parents join their children for lunch and book discussions.

Led by our school social worker, the game room provides an opportunity for students in all grades to meet during their recess time to play indoor board games.  The purpose of game room is to provide an alternative to outside play in a safe, structured environment.  Game room meets two days per week during the lunch hour.

The Young Authors’ Conference, held each year in May at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, is an event sponsored by the Illinois Language and Literacy Council, in conjunction with the Illinois Reading Council. Designed as a celebration to honor exceptional writing by students in grades K through 8, the conference provides an opportunity for these young writers to meet published authors and to hear how the authors themselves create the characters and stories that have become their boo

This is an activity for students in grades 3-5 who are interested in taking on leadership roles within the school.  Student Council provides services to the school and assists in organizing school-wide activities and philanthropic projects.

The Deerfield Speech Tournament provides early opportunities for students to develop oral communications skills.  Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 have an opportunity to perform a published piece or give a speech written by the student.  The students are critiqued on their expression, memory, and interpretation.