Blue Jay Buzz

In this issue you will find:

New Info

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

Old News

• Cellphones, Medication, Attendance, Tardiness to school

4/4/2025 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 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

26 seventh-grade students working to join the National Junior Honor Society came out to sort donations. These donations supplied clothes to 5 different local schools. These kids did a fantastic job!

The team from Caring 4 Kids was not only incredibly grateful, but also genuinely impressed with how respectful, focused, and efficient our students were throughout the process. Their hard work made a real difference, and they represented Caruso with pride.

We’re so proud of their leadership and commitment to service!

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!

If your child is feeling unwell during the school day, they should go to our health office. Our nurse will assess their symptoms and, if necessary, contact you to arrange for them to be picked up from school.

We kindly ask that students do not text or call home to be picked up before visiting the nurse, so we can ensure they’re properly supported and we’re following our district and CDC health and attendance protocols.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep everyone safe and healthy!

With warmer weather here, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in students riding electric bikes and scooters to and from school. While it’s great to see kids enjoying the outdoors, it’s important to remember that these vehicles can pose serious safety risks if not used properly.

The Village of Deerfield and local law enforcement are actively looking into ways to better regulate the use of e-bikes and scooters due to growing concerns about student safety. In the meantime, we’re asking families to help by reinforcing safe riding habits at home.

Please remind your child to:

• ✅ Wear a helmet at all times

• ✅ Follow all traffic laws and signals

• ✅ Avoid riding on busy roads without bike lanes

• ✅ Never engage in risky behavior

• ✅ Be respectful of pedestrians and drivers

As a school community, we want to keep our students safe while also supporting their independence. Thank you for partnering with us—and with the Village—to help make that happen.

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.

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