Blue Jay Buzz

In this issue you will find:

New Info

• Upcoming Dates
• Community Corner
• Updates and Other Information
• 8th grade Information
• Clubs and Activities
• PTO Upcoming Events

Old News

• Cellphones, Medication, Attendance, Tardiness to school

3/20/2025 Newsletter

3/14/2025 Newsletter

3/7/2025 Newsletter

Mark T. Schwarz - Principal - mschwarz@dps109.org

Donnie Castans - Associate Principal - dcastans@dps109.org

Marcia Klita - Director for Student Services - mklita@dps109.org

April 9, 10, 11, 14, 15 - IAR Testing

Friday, 4/18 - No School

Wednesday, 4/23 - Erin's Law

Thursday 4/24 - Coffee @ Caruso 9-9:40am

Tuesday 6/3 - 8th Grade Graduation @ DHS

Wednesday 8/13 - Locker Day

Thanks to our amazing PTO, two brand-new microwaves were added to our cafeteria to ensure safe and responsible use, we recruited 6th grade Microwave Ambassadors—students who applied, answered safety questions, and proudly took on the role. Their #1 qualification? Responsibility!

So far, these ambassadors have been fantastic in preventing burnt popcorn disasters, keeping the microwaves clean, and making sure everyone heats their lunches safely. Thank you to our 6th-grade leaders for stepping up and keeping lunch warm (but not on fire)!

Dear Parents and Guardians of Middle School Students:

Erin’s Law (House Bill 6193) was signed by Governor Pat Quinn on January 24, 2013. This law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention curriculum for grades Pre-K through 12. District 109 partners with Childhood Victories, Inc., an organization founded by Victor Pacini who is a motivational speaker and a survivor of sexual abuse. Speakers from Childhood Victories, Inc. provide programming for our students that teaches them basic skills to keep them safe from dangerous or abusive situations. The program, Be Seen and Heard 2.0, is developmentally appropriate, interactive, aligned with learning standards, and will cover the following topics:

• Distinguishing safe from unsafe touches

• Safety rules at home and school

• Saying “NO”

• Secrets

• It’s not the child’s fault if someone touches them

• Telling a trusted adult

The staff from Childhood Victories, Inc. will be presenting to our middle school students on:

• Wednesday, April 23rd

Requests to Opt-Out: If you prefer that your child opt-out of this prevention education session, please email your child’s school principal by Thursday, April 17.

From April 9–10 (ELA) and April 11, 14, and 15 (Math), Caruso Middle School students will participate in the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). These assessments are an important tool for understanding each student’s academic growth and how their performance compares to grade-level peers across the state.

The IAR measures both mastery of the Illinois Learning Standards and progress toward College and Career Readiness benchmarks. The results not only inform instruction but also contribute to Caruso’s official designation on the Illinois School Report Card.

To help your child feel confident and prepared, we recommend the following:

• Stick to a regular sleep schedule. A well-rested student is more focused and alert.

• Provide a nutritious breakfast. This helps fuel their brain and improve concentration.

• Talk about positive test habits. Encourage your child to read directions carefully, pace themselves, and check their work. There’s no need to study specific content.

• Check that their Chromebook is fully charged each day and they have working headphones.

• Most importantly, remind them to do their best. Effort matters! Encourage them to approach the test with confidence, and remind them that mistakes are part of learning. Celebrate their hard work and persistence, no matter the outcome.

Thank you for your continued support in helping every Blue Jay succeed!

Join us on Tuesday, April 29th, at 7:30 PM in the DHS Café for "Parenting a Smooth Transition to DHS." This informative program offers valuable insights into the transition from 8th grade to DHS, featuring perspectives from current DHS students, a freshman teacher, a guidance counselor, a parent, and Student Activities Director Brian Verisario.

Don't miss this opportunity to ease your concerns and gain helpful guidance as your child prepares for high school!

Join us for coffee @ Caruso; a way for the adults in our students' lives to build stronger connections with us at Caruso. Space is limited to 25 people per event. Please RSVP by calling the Caruso Main Office at 847-945-8430. Thanks to the PTO for Sponsoring Coffee.

Cell phones will be off and away in lockers from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm every day (8:00 am - 2:00 pm on early release Wednesdays). Here's the why: This will help our students focus on their learning, build relationships with those around them, and hopefully disconnect from the anxiety that comes from even just having a phone in the pocket, wondering what notifications they are missing.

If students are using their phones during the school day, they will be instructed to bring their phone to the main office. There will be a progressive response when this occurs that resets each semester:

First and Second Occurrence: Email home and student picks up phone at the end of the school day.

Third Occurrence: Parent/guardian must come pick the phone up from school. Student will serve a lunch reflection.

Fourth Occurrence +: Parent/guardian must come pick the phone up from school. Student will also drop phone off at office each morning. Student will serve an after-school reflection.

MUST be wired and are not used during passing periods.

A student who fails to meet the expectations will be asked to comply with them and may be subject to a verbal warning or behavior check in.

Backpacks must be kept in students’ lockers throughout the school day unless it is a documented accommodation. They will not be traveling from class to class. Here's the why: We do not have room in our classrooms to safely store backpacks without having a tripping/fire hazard, and—by keeping backpacks in lockers—we have a wonderful opportunity to teach and reinforce important executive functioning skills with material organization, case-its, and other organizational tools.

We ask that you try to limit student deliveries during the school day. We will not be allowing and/or accepting any DoorDash or similar delivery options for any student under any circumstances. All deliveries will be refused. Families are welcome to drop off lunches themselves. We have extra Chromebooks, chargers, and copies of books here at Caruso, so it is not necessary to drop what you're doing and run these items to school. If something is truly needed during the day, we ask that you bring it in to the front entrance, label it with your student's name and grade, and leave it on the Drop Off table in the vestibule. We will then bring it into the office for your student to pick it up. Please note, students are not permitted to order their own lunches during the school day. If you order/bring lunch for your student, please do not provide food for other students.

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 doctors' note on file. We will confiscate any meds found outside of the nurse's office. Contact our school nurse Ms. Gwen Dowell gdowell@dps109.org

If your student will not be in school, please report the absence to the health office by phone (847) 945-8430 x6103) or email (carusoattendance@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 or legal guardian, or to emergency contacts designated in Family Access.

PTO Facebook Page

Email: cmsoffice@dps109.org
Website: https://www.dps109.org/Page/9
Location: 1801 Montgomery Road, Deerfield, IL, USA