Weekly School Update
Dear Parents,
May is my favorite month of the school year. It is the time we celebrate student accomplishment and honor staff who works tirelessly teaching and supporting our students to this end. We celebrate together through special festivities, ceremonies and events. Staff appreciation week begins on Monday. Special lunches and other surprises are planned for staff on behalf of the district and building office staff and PTSO. We look forward!
For students, we are working on field trips, field days, concerts, graduation, special recognition and more. Even as the last session of MAP begins next week for 6th and 7th, we will recognize and celebrate at least 50 students accomplishing individual growth in ELA or math. There is only one ELA test next Thursday in the morning.
Pease join us next week for our final SMS Band Concert on Wednesday, May 8, at 6:30pm and SMS Orchestra concert on Thursday, May 9th at 6:30 pm both in Shepard gym. These final concerts are extra special because our 8th graders will be honored.
Throughout May's Spartan newsletters, we will continue to share more end of year special events.
And finally, we hope to see many of our 6th graders here tonight for their 3rd social dance!
Sincerely,
Dr. Theresa Dunkin, Principal
Mrs. Marie Zlotnikov, Associate Principal
Mrs. Ginger Logemann, District Coordinator of Student Services
PRINCIPAL 200 BREAKFAST
NEW - Every Friday morning, in our cafetera, Mrs. Zlotnikov and Dr. Dunkin will host a special breakfast for approximately 30 students demonstrating aspects of the Spartan PRIDE Code (Personal Responsibility, Respect, Inclusivity, Determination, Empathy). Students are nominated by staff and those names fill up the Principal 200 Board in the front office. As columns fill each week, students are invited to a Friday breakfast.
Erin's Law
We are very grateful to the staff from Childhood Victories, Inc. for spending time in all of our buildings last week to present age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention curriculum in accordance with Erin’s Law (House Bill 6193). If you are interested in additional information to review with your child as a follow-up to the presentations, here is the link to the website for Childhood Victories, Inc.
You can request free access to follow-up videos and e-books on the website. Please also feel free to reach out to Joanna Ford, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services (jford@dps109.org), if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Graduation Information
Families of 8th Graders:
Eighth grade graduation will be here before we know it. Below find answers to some initial questions. We will continue to update our communication about the ceremony and activities as they become available.
Graduation Q/A:
1) When is graduation? Wednesday, June 5th, 2024. Students will need to arrive at DHS Auditorium at 4:30 pm. Please let us know by May 15th if your child will NOT be attending the ceremony.
2) Do students come to school that day? Yes. On Wednesday, eighth grade will be dismissed at 10 am to get home and prepare for graduation. There will be a bus to take them home if needed. Monday and Tuesday are regular school days.
2) Where is graduation? Graduation is held in the Auditorium at Deerfield High School (DHS)
3) What time is graduation? Graduation will begin promptly at 5:30 pm.
4) When will we receive our tickets? Students will bring tickets home following the graduation practice on June 4, 2024.
5.) How many tickets will each student receive? Each student receives 4 tickets for the ceremony (your 8th grader does not require a ticket). There are no additional tickets for graduation. Sometimes asking a friend if they need all 4 of their tickets can be a helpful way to find a extra ticket.
6.) When will students receive graduation gowns? Gowns will be distributed on June 4th. This is also the day that the class photo and individual graduation pictures will be taken.
7) Is there a student celebration after graduation? Our PTSO runs a celebratory event and will be distributing information about this.
Important Dates
May 3 Sixth Grade Social Dance 7:30 pm Shepard Gym
May 8 Band Concert 6:00 pm Shepard Gym
May 9 Orchestra Concert 6:30 pm Shepard Gym
May 10 Sixth Grade Social Dance 7:30 pm Shepard Gym
June 3 Sky Zone - 8th Grade Evening PTSO Sponsored
June 5 Eighth Grade Graduation DHS @ 5:30p
June 6 Fifth grade Fly Up Day @ Shepard Middle School
