Spartan Scoop 10/11/24

From fall sports wrapping up to clubs continuing to get up and running, it is cool to see our students engaging with Shepard beyond the classroom. We are intentionally examining student sense of belonging and engagement at Shepard, which makes it so awesome to witness our students involved in everything from cross country to esports to Model UN and beyond. We are going to continue to plan opportunities and teach targeted lessons to emphasize student sense of belonging, and we would love for your help in encouraging your child to get involved—whether that is attending a club, trying out for a sport, or even attending Shepard games as a fan. Thank you for all that you do!

As a reminder, we do not have school on Monday, October 14th.

In this edition, you will find:

New Information:

• Parental Tech Tips #2
• REMINDER: Health Information Due Soon!
• REMINDER: Upcoming Safety Exercise
• No Place for Hate at Shepard and Caruso
• Parent-Teacher Conference Sign Ups Closing 10/13 at 11:59 PM
• Save the Date: Chasing Childhood Film Screening
• Halloween Guidelines
• Deerfield High School 2024 School Chest Upcoming Trunk or Treat
  

• Middle School Health Curriculum Note
  
• Remind App Information
  
• Chicago Bears Middle School Girls Flag Football Clinic
• 8th-Grade Yearbook Flashback Page
  
• Arrival and Dismissal Lanes Reminder and Request
• Lockers, Locks, and Personal Responsibilities
• Yearbooks
  
• Lunch Information
  
• Medication and Attendance
  
• PTSO Information
  

Sincerely,

Rob Wegley, Principal

Cathy Van Treese, Associate Principal

Ginger Logemann, Director for Student Services

October 14 - No School

October 15 - 7th-Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts Day One - 3:10 - 4:45 pm

October 15 - Cross Country — Conference Meet @ Wood Oaks - 4:30 pm

October 16 - 7th-Grade Girls Basketball Tryouts Day One - 2:10 - 3:45 pm

October 16 - 8th-Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts Day One - 2:10 - 3:45 pm

October 17 - 7th-Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts Day Two - 3:10 - 4:45 pm

October 18 - 7th-Grade Girls Basketball Tryouts Day Two - 3:10 - 4:45 pm

October 18 - 8th-Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts Day Two - 3:10 - 4:45 pm

While we encourage everyone to limit time spent on devices, we understand that these tools can foster meaningful connections when used wisely. However, in today’s digital age, it can be difficult to stay informed about the latest apps and trends to ensure your child's online safety. We want to do our part in supporting students and families in the various ways they can implement security settings on their children’s devices and monitor time spent online. What better time to introduce these tech tips than October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Throughout the school year, we will feature practical technology tips in our newsletters, offering fresh ideas for families to use at home developed by our own Student Resource Officer, Lauren Maldonado, and our Innovations Specialist, Maria Galanis.

Here is a tech tip all about Parental Controls for Gaming Devices!

It is very important that we have the most up-to-date health information for your child. There are some important deadlines coming up soon.

PHYSICALS: All new students, Early Learners, kindergarteners, and 6th graders must have an updated health form on file by October 15th, or they will be excluded from school.

EYE EXAMS: Kindergarteners and new students must have an updated eye exam on file by October 15th, or they will be excluded from school.

DENTAL EXAM: All new students, kindergarteners, 2nd graders, and 6th graders must have an updated dental exam on file by May 15th of this school year.

Get more information by clicking here.

You received an email earlier this week notifying families about our upcoming safety exercise on October 15th. As a reminder:

• Students in grades K-3 will read the book I’m Not Scared, I’m Prepared, followed by a discussion with their teacher.

• Students in grades 4-8 will watch a short screencast reviewing the components of ALICE, followed by a discussion on how to respond in various situations.

If you have any questions about ALICE or safety procedures at your child’s school, please contact our Director of Safety and Security, Solveig Jurmu (sjurmu@dps109.org), or reach out to Rob Wegley (rwegley@dps109.org).

As we focus further on student sense of belonging and inclusion, we are excited to announce that both Shepard Middle School and Caruso Middle School will be participating in the No Place for Hate program this school year. This initiative, created by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), is designed to foster a positive, inclusive school environment where all students feel safe, respected, and valued.

As part of No Place for Hate, our schools will focus on promoting respect, empathy, and kindness among students in partnership with student leadership groups. Throughout the year, students will engage in activities and lessons that celebrate diversity and encourage a culture of acceptance and unity. More information will be coming soon after our first student committee meeting. Together, we can emphasize a school community where everyone belongs.

If you have any questions about No Place for Hate or would like more information, please feel free to contact Mark Schwarz at mschwarz@dps109.org (Caruso) or Rob Wegley at rwegley@dps109.org (Shepard).

Thank you for your continued partnership in creating a positive learning environment for all of our students.

As a reminder, parent-teacher conference sign ups will be closing this Sunday, 10/13 at 11:59 pm. Here is the link for signing up: https://app.ptcwizard.com/ptc1706041106. For further information and directions, please check out our previous communication about conferences.

Join us on Tuesday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the Caruso Middle School auditorium for a special screening of Chasing Childhood. This thought-provoking documentary explores the decline of free play and independence in children’s lives, replaced by a culture of perfectionism that has fueled increasing rates of anxiety and depression. An RSVP form will be sent out in the coming weeks. We look forward to seeing you there!

This year, we will be celebrating Halloween at Shepard on Tuesday, October 31. We want to remind families to be cautious when helping your child select a costume for Halloween. Using another's culture as a Halloween costume can be viewed as insensitive or offensive. In addition, we encourage students to be as inclusive as possible when dressing in group costumes so that students do not feel excluded during the Halloween festivities.

Below are some additional reminders about wearing costumes at school:

• Students can only apply make-up, spray colored hairspray, or put costumes on at home. We want to make sure you have full knowledge of what your child will wear for school on Halloween.
• Props of a violent nature, such as toy guns, swords, knives, etc. are strictly prohibited.
• Students will not be permitted to wear any type of mask or any other costume that will obstruct/interfere with the learning environment at school.
• School rules for dress will apply. Students should not wear anything that has a sensual connotation or would be considered inappropriate dress.
• Costumes that promote graphic violence are not permitted.
• Please do not send students with accessories (e.g. witch's broom)

Thank you for your partnership!

As part of the Physical Education/Health curriculum at Shepard, your child will take part in lessons designed to develop life-long health habits. Topics are aligned with the National Health Education Standards (NHES), which are designed to help establish, promote, and support health-enhancing behaviors. Middle school units of instruction are as follows:

• Social and Emotional Health (6th Grade)

• Nutrition (6th Grade)

• Mental Health (7th Grade)

• Injury Prevention & Safety (7th Grade)

• Violence Prevention (8th Grade)

• Substance Abuse & Prevention (8th Grade)

Specific sexual health topics are addressed in partnership with outside agencies. In February, 8th-grade classrooms partner with Candor Health for a live virtual session called Teen Sexual Health. Similar to the 5th-grade session titled Puberty I, an on-demand parent webinar will be provided prior and an opt-out made available. In April, speakers from Childhood Victories, Inc. provide age-appropriate presentations focused on sexual-assault and abuse awareness (Erin’s Law). This program occurs for all grades and an opt-out is made available. While not a stand-alone unit, sexual health topics may be discussed in Health classrooms as a result of student questions or in connection to related topics. If parents/guardians have concerns, they should email their child’s PE teacher no later than 12/20/24.

As we strive to keep you informed about important events and updates at Shepard Middle School, we are excited to use the Remind app again as a valuable tool to strengthen our school-family partnership. Through this app, you will receive announcements from our Student Council (also known as StuCo), led by Mrs. Greenberg. These announcements will not only keep you informed about spirit days, fundraisers, and other important events throughout the school year but will also actively involve your child in the exciting activities shaping our school community.

To sign up, please follow the directions below. Check out this video if you would like step-by-step instructions.If you require any assistance setting up the app, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Greenberg.

The Yearbook is looking for Elementary school photos of your 8th grader and friends for this year's Yearbook FLASHBACK PAGES!

* Please choose up to 3 of your favorite photos (include/tag Kipling or Walden and the names of the students) and send it to the link below.

* Our Yearbook staff works very hard to include as many students as possible, especially on these pages, so 3 photos max will be very appreciated.

* If you are new to Shepard for middle school, we are happy to add a photo from your student's other school. Please be sure to tag the school name.

Thanks so much for contributing K-5 memories and enjoy your day!

Flashback Photos

- The Yearbook Staff

As we have navigated arrival and dismissal, our students are doing a wonderful job entering and exiting school, getting to the bus on time, and being mindful of those around them. I have also had the opportunity to better understand what our procedures are, and I'd like to highlight them again as some cars are still cutting through the parking lot or waiting in the parking lot at dismissal, which is blocking cars, parking spots, and traffic.

Below, you will find two maps with what our expected procedures are and what we are seeing that we need your help in stopping. Please help us out by following the expected procedures and not cutting through/waiting for your child in the parking lot. During dismissal, please wait for the buses to depart before pulling in and picking your child up—they leave at 3:07 or a smidge after every day! Thank you in advance!

Students are doing a nice job using their lockers during the school day. Sometimes, though, students are leaving locks unlocked or not putting a lock on their locker. To protect your child's materials and personal items, please reinforce the need to use a lock! Students are responsible for their own materials and items during the school day, and we want to help our students continue to learn that crucial skill of personal responsibility.

Below is the link to purchase a yearbook at Yearbookforever.com.

Parents should enter Alan B. Shepard Middle School (Deerfield, IL, not Texas)!

The cost is $30. After January 15th, the cost will be $35.

yearbookforever.com

Our amazing PTSO shared information on this in their welcome back letter, too, but we wanted to add a reminder that you can purchase school lunches through Lunch Solutions in advance! Ordering opened Tuesday, August 6th. Ordering for the following week closes at 10:00 am on THURSDAY each week. For information and ordering, please visit http://ptgms.com/lunchsolutions/shepard.

Medication

Please do not send any medication, over-the-counter pain pills (Tylenol/Advil/aspirin), or cough drops with your students. State law prohibits students from taking medication at school outside of the nurse's office with a doctor's note on file. We will confiscate any medications as listed above found outside of the nurse's office.

Attendance

If your student will not be in school, please report the absence to the health office by phone—(847) 948-0620 x5103 or email (shepardattendance@dps109.org) before 8:00 am. If you do not contact our school nurse by this time, she will contact you at home or at work to ascertain your child’s whereabouts. Children must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. Students will only be dismissed to a parent/legal guardian or to emergency contacts designated in Family Access.

Student Tardiness to School

Students who arrive late are greatly disadvantaged because they miss starting the day with their peers and miss out on the instruction given at the beginning of class. This means that they are often unsettled and confused about tasks, resulting in reduced achievement, regardless of academic ability. It is also very important that students establish good routines and habits in preparation for the rest of their lives. Punctuality is a life skill that is important to develop.

Tardiness to school will be unexcused even if a family member brings the student(s) to school. Oversleeping, missing the bus, car/traffic problems, etc. are all unexcused. Tardies are excusable under the following circumstances: personal illness of student, serious illness or death in the family, a doctor/dentist/professional appointment (a note or phone call from a parent or a professional), family emergencies, and religious holidays.

School begins promptly at 8:00 am. Students are expected to be in class ready to learn by 8:00 am.

Student Tardies to Class

Students are expected to be in class, in their seats, ready to learn at the start of class. Students who are not are subject to school discipline.