Dear Shepard Families:
Happy Friday! Today, Spartans participated in our second Pride-a-Palooza of the school year to celebrate how they have continued to demonstrate our Shepard Code: Personal responsibility, Respect, Inclusivity, Determination, and Empathy. There was some origami, karaoke, kickball, making movies, and more! Beyond that, we have continued our learning across the school. From Reality 101 in sixth grade (thank you, parent volunteers!) to eighth-grade scientists simulating running their own mining businesses, we have been working on project-based learning to keep our Spartans engaged. With just a couple of weeks left of school, we all know how important that is!
As a reminder, we have no school on Monday, May 26th due to Memorial Day. We want to take a moment to thank all of those who serve and have served our country while emphasizing our thoughts for those who have fallen while doing so.
In this edition, you will find:
New Information:
- Middle School Athletic Tryouts & Participation Requirements
- Variety Show
- DHS Show Choir Opportunity
Sincerely,
Rob Wegley, Principal
Cathy Van Treese, Associate Principal
Ginger Logemann, Director for Student Services
If your child wants to try out for a sport during the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, please ensure they have either the Certificate of Child Health Examination or the Pre-participation Examination forms completed and up-to-date beforehand. You will need to submit one of the two forms below:
Examination forms must be dated within 12 months of the tryout date. If you have any questions, please contact our building nurse.
As we end this year, we know many are already planning for next school year. On the PTSO website, you can find the update school supply list.
Families can now log into Family Access to:
Pay your 2025-2026 fees before the July 1 early payment deadline
Verify your contact and other information
Review the Student/Parent-Guardian Handbook
Learn about new publication permission opt-out procedures
InfoCheck is a new online form that brings together a few important annual procedures in one place and time. When you log into Family Access, click on the “2025-2026” InfoCheck tile.
8th-Grade Families: We sent out a newsletter earlier today with details for the end of the school year and graduation for our 8th-grade students. You can find that here!
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.
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.