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109 News
Issue #9 - December 19th, 2023
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Hoping Your Family Has A Wonderful Holiday Season
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Winter break presents a time to reflect on the closing year, reset for the coming year, and see friends and family. This school year has often been referred to as “a return to normal.” That seems overstated as we continue to hear about the struggles with anxiety and loneliness in our community. What I can say for certain is that parents/guardians are children’s first and most influential teachers, and they need time to (re)learn the social skills that bond them to each other and to their families. Break time is an ideal opportunity to restore or further children’s connections with people closest to them. Personally, I’m a fan of “retro” or non-electronic connectors such as board or card games or the like. Whatever your activity with your kids, I hope it is memorable in a positive way and that you take the time to make it happen during this school break.
Sincerely,
Michael V. Simeck
Superintendent of Schools
REMINDER: Slightly Longer Break This Year... We're Back Tuesday, January 9
THANK YOU to those who donated to our 109 Gives Back Holiday Gift Drive! You have helped dozens of DPS families have a brighter holiday season! Special thanks to Dr. Brett, Ms. Ford, Mrs. Chroman, and Mrs. Beane for all their hard work organizing everything at Wilmot!
109 Way Magazine Fall 2023 is Here!
We captured so many good things from this first half of the school year. You can check them all out (and see what Miles and Samik are doing on the front page!) by clicking here or the image below!
2024-2025 School Calendar is Out!
Get your family calendars out because the 24-25 school calendar is officially here!
What's Good in 109: Pop-Up Concerts and the Lu!
There are so many GOOD things going on in our buildings and around our district each day... we do our best to try and capture it and bring it to you! Walden 5th Graders toured around their building to perform pop-up concerts for their peers. Such a fun way to celebrate the holidays and who knows, maybe a new tradition will begin 👀
The Deerfield High School robotics club visited South Park to work with 4th and 5th graders as they built and ran through obstacle courses.
Please enjoy the many faces of Principal Cybulski this holiday season thanks to Shepard's holiday door decorating contest.😄
Thank you Mr. Simeck, Mrs. Strenger, Mr. Lombardo, and Mr. Steckling for being our judges!
The Choraliers paid their annual visit to our 109 schools and continued a very fun tradition of having the new teachers perform with them in a very silly song at Kipling. Head to our Facebook page below to see one of our most viewed videos of the year!
Shepard's Band & Orchestra took a field trip over to Tamarisk to perform three of their favorite pieces.
The Board of Education's Fun Field Trip
The DPS 109 Board of Education held its December meeting last week.... and took a field trip! They traveled to Kipling to check out the Lu Interactive Playground and take on some eager 3rd graders! There's a photo gallery below... and a fun video that will be in our next issue! Click below the pictures for the recap of the meeting.
Upcoming Dates
Thursday December 21st - Monday January 8th - Winter Break
Tuesday January 9th - School Resumes
Tuesday January 9th - District 109's Well-being and Safety Information Night
Monday January 15th - No School