109 News - Happy Holidays!

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Dear Parents and Guardians,

It’s hard to overstate the relief of this first half of the year. In so many ways it’s been the school year we’d dreamed of with unfettered instruction and a return to robust classroom social engagement. Not that we weren’t anxious, mind you, and now that the fall is coming to an end, we realize the exhaustion from it, in part because of the aforementioned nerves but also because students and adults alike have had a surprising amount of relearning to do. “We forgot how to do school” was how one colleague explained it. Amidst all of this we have been able to count on you, and in the season of counting one’s blessings we are particularly grateful and appreciative of your willingness to come with us on this unpredictable yet successful ride. We hope for the same in the new year and wish you a relaxing and regenerative break with your students.

Michael V. Simeck

Superintendent of Schools

The 109 Gives Back Holiday Gift Drive was another success! Thank you for your generous gifts that helped dozens of DPS 109 families ensure that everyone has a great holiday season!

Be on the lookout for our first ever community magazine, headed to your mailbox as we speak! Or if you don't want to wait, you can click below to read it online. We are planning to publish this twice a year (late fall and late spring) highlighting the great things our district is doing, introducing you to key members of our staff, and discussing major initiatives. Click below to read our first issue! (Have an idea for the next one? Email communications@dps109.org)

If conditions are deemed unfit for opening school, it is DPS 109's intent to utilize a remote learning day when possible in place of adding an extra day to the end of the school year. If the forecast calls for unfavorable conditions, students and staff will be alerted the day before to bring home devices and prepare for the possibility of a remote learning day. The determination wouldn't be made until the actual morning of school.

See below for how you would be notified on the morning of a potential remote learning day and click below to read more on our bad weather procedures:

We like to share What's Good in 109 in every newsletter, at every board meeting, and on social media as much as possible. Check out some of the latest good things below.

DPS 109 was proud to collaborate with the Hyatt Regency Deerfield on their annual holiday card decoration! Students from all four elementary schools (Kipling, South Park, Walden & Wilmot) submitted designs, and one drawing from each school was selected to be part of the project! Congratulations to our talented artists!

Shepard students and staff had an awesome assembly a few weeks back where some were paired up as dance partners... and the adults had to copy the dance moves of the kids with no idea what was coming next!

Deerfield High School's Choraliers group visited a number of our schools over the past few weeks to spread holiday cheer. Below is a snapshot of the show they put on at South Park.

Thanks to members of our 6th & 8th grade girls cross country teams for joining us to celebrate their conference title! We also honored two 6th graders from Shepard who showcased their race car project from physics class.

• December 22-January 6: Winter Break
• January 9: School resumes!

We'll see you in 2023!!!