D109 Family News

• Wednesday, February 4 (TODAY!): Pack the Place at Shepard (5pm, 440 Grove Ave)
• Friday, February 6: Kindergarten Signing Day (9am-4:30pm, 517 Deerfield Rd)
• Wednesday, February 11: Letters from Anne and Martin at Caruso (7pm, 1801 Montgomery Rd)
• Friday, February 13: No School - Institute Day
• Monday, February 16: No School - President's Day
• Thursday, February 19: Regular Board of Education Meeting (7pm, 517 Deerfield Rd)
• Monday, February 23: Family Program with Devorah Heitner - Supporting Kids Who Are Growing Up in Public at Caruso (7pm, 1801 Montgomery Rd)

• Thursday, February 5: Kipling (6pm tour/7pm presentation, 700 Kipling Pl)
• Monday, February 9: Shepard (6:30pm, 440 Grove Ave)
• Wednesday, February 11: Walden (4pm, 630 Essex Ct)
• Thursday, February 19: Virtual Lunch & Learn (12pm, register for the webinar)
• Saturday, February 21: Wilmot (1pm, 795 Wilmot Rd)
• Tuesday, February 24: Caruso (6:30pm, 1801 Montgomery Rd)
• Saturday, February 28: Walden (1pm, 630 Essex Ct)

If you need a quick-look calendar with all the key dates to hang on your refrigerator, we've got you covered!

New Student Registration for 2026-2027 is open! If you have a kindergarten student, it's important to register now, because staffing and class size decisions are made in the spring, based on early registration numbers. In addition, only fully registered students are invited to attend the spring Ready, Set, Kindergarten event at their school.

There are just three quick steps to get started: fill out the 2026-2027 New Student Application, upload four required documents, and keep an eye on your inbox.

Learn more and register today!

Please share this information with friends and neighbors who don't yet have children in District 109 schools!

We can’t wait to welcome our newest learners at Kindergarten Signing Day, a special moment for families of our future students to stop by, ask questions, meet school and District staff, and officially commit to kindergarten in District 109.

This event is optional, but it’s definitely a fan favorite.

Kindergarten Signing Day
Friday, February 6
9:00am to 4:30pm
District Office, 517 Deerfield Road

Stop in anytime that works best for your family. Expect smiles, school spirit, and a fun first step into your child’s kindergarten journey. We’re excited to celebrate this milestone with you and officially welcome your child to their school community.

MAP scores for students in grades K-7 were sent via ParentSquare today, and we see that so many families have already accessed their child's report. So, starting with the March issue of D109 Family News, the District will send newsletters and all District-wide communication through ParentSquare. The format of the newsletter and other communication will look a little different, but the content will continue to be the news you need!

We encourage you to download the ParentSquare app and log in so you can set your notification preferences – but it's not required. You will still receive important messages from the District and your child's school.

These resources can help you make the most of ParentSquare.

• Getting Started Guide (English, Spanish, Russian, Hebrew, Ukrainian)
• Getting Started Video

If you need any help (missing a child, wrong email/phone, etc.), please contact Annette Maloney (amaloney@dps109.org).

All D109 Families are invited to cheer on the Shepard School 8th Grade Basketball Teams as they take on the Deerfield Police Department and the Deerfield Bannockburn Fire Department in a special community charity game tonight, February 4, at 5:00pm in the Shepard Gym.

Tickets are $3 in advance or $5 at the door, with concessions available for purchase. All proceeds from the event will benefit the 100 Club of Illinois, which supports the families of fallen first responders.

Purchase your ticket in advance (donations are welcome too!).

We hope to see you there for an evening of school spirit and community support.

February 23

6:30pm

Caruso Middle School (1801 Montgomery Rd)

Dr. Devorah Heitner is the author of Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. Devorah will explore what it means for kids to grow up with an online presence—sharing realistic strategies to support children’s privacy, identity development, and digital well-being.

January's family education program with Dr. Doug Bolton featured insights into the myths – and real facts – around student achievement (and "achievement addiction"), the role of stress and struggle, resilience vs. self-esteem, belonging, the impact of "intensive parenting" on kids and adults, and so much more. Parents had great questions – and Doug had great answers.

While we didn't record the event, he gave a very similar presentation last spring and he asked that we share that recording, as well as the presentation slides.

This spring, our school communities will come together for a book study centered on The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey. Families will have the opportunity to engage in thoughtful, supportive conversations about independence, resilience and how we can help children learn and grow through challenges. We will share opportunities to borrow books from your child's school, or you can purchase a copy and start reading now!

Each school will host an in-person family conversation in April, followed by a District-wide virtual program in May.

Upcoming Dates

• Shepard and Caruso Middle Schools (combined event): April 9

• South Park: April 14

• Wilmot: April 14

• Kipling: April 22

• Walden: April 22

• Community-Wide Virtual Conversation (Zoom): May TBD

These events are designed to be welcoming and practical, with opportunities for families to reflect, connect and leave with ideas they can try at home. More details about each event will be shared as we get closer to the dates.

We look forward to learning alongside our families as we continue to show that we are Stronger Together!

District 109 invites you to a free performance from the Anne Frank Center, Letters from Anne and Martin, in the auditorium at Caruso Middle School on Wednesday, February 11 at 7:00pm. This theatrical presentation brings together the words of Anne Frank and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Born in the same year, the voices of these two significant historical figures will be represented together, exploring themes of hope, justice and resilience.

Tickets are required - but free! Reserve yours today.

Please join us to celebrate and showcase cultures, careers, health and wellness in our Deerfield community!

WHO: Parents, family members, and/or community members

WHAT: Share your unique background or professional journey with 6th-8th grade students.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 13th at Shepard Middle School

Sign up today! You'll hear from the organizers by April 15 about the schedule and details.

Look for a cross-town opportunity to do the same at Caruso this spring as well!

As part of our commitment to support students' social-emotional learning (SEL) and improve our school environments, we ask students in grades 3-8 to complete an online survey in both the fall and winter. We partner with a third-party vendor, Panorama Education in this effort. The winter survey will be administered in all schools between Monday, February 16 and Friday, February 27. It should take no more than 20 minutes to complete.

The first part of the survey, focused on student well-being measures, asks students to self-reflect on the following areas: Grit/Perseverance, Growth Mindset, Self-Efficacy, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Emotional Regulation, and Supportive Relationships.

The second part of the survey focuses on the school environment. This survey asks students to provide feedback on key aspects of their school, including engagement, sense of belonging, rigorous expectations. and the overall school climate.

The information we collect is incredibly valuable. Your child's individual responses help us better understand their unique strengths and areas for growth. Collectively, the data helps our educators identify specific needs across our classrooms and provide targeted support to benefit all students. Parents are also provided with a summative report of their child’s SEL ratings.

Survey Opt Out

Per policy, families have the right to opt their child out of this survey. Opt-out requests from the fall are on file; therefore, there is no need to resubmit. If you did not complete the form in the fall but wish to opt your child out of this administration, please complete this Panorama Student Survey Opt-Out Form for 2025-2026 by Thursday, February 12.

You know that District 109 is a supportive school community for students and families. The District also cultivates a community where staff feel valued, and they can pursue their career interests, whether they are teachers, administrators, support and office staff or guest teachers – all of whom play an important role in the education of our students. The District is currently looking for:

• Guest teachers
• Substitute nurse

The need is great! If you're looking for meaningful work in a supportive environment, close to home, visit dps109.org/DefineYourself – and share these jobs with friends and family!

District 113 invites you to participate in the final phase of our communications audit by completing an anonymous, 5-10 minute community survey, available in English and Spanish. Your feedback will help guide improvements in District 113 communications at both the district and school levels. The survey is open to all D113 stakeholders, including staff, students, caregivers and community members.

In January, focus groups were held to gather feedback from the constituents mentioned above. We thank everyone who shared their perspectives. This survey gives the entire community an opportunity to provide input on what is working well and what can be improved.

Please take a few moments to complete the survey. The survey will close at 5pm on Tuesday, February 10.

Questions? Please email communications@dist113.org.

TrueNorth is offering two family programs this February as part of their Family University Series.

• February 10, 7pm: Fostering Healthy Screen Habits presented by Compass Health Center
• February 12, 7pm: Unlocking the Power of Play: Supporting Social Play

Find full program details and registration information.

District 109 is making it easier than ever to stay connected with businesses and organizations that serve the students and families in our community. Starting soon, you’ll begin receiving a weekly Peachjar email every Thursday around 1pm, featuring digital flyers from:

• Your child’s school

• The District

• Local community organizations

• Businesses offering child- and family-focused programs

The flyers will clearly indicate that the District does not endorse the programs offered by outside organizations. The email will come from "school@peachjar.com." Each email has the option to unsubscribe (at no risk of unsubscribing from District or school emails).