Caruso Connect - February 15th

Caruso Middle School is an inclusive and vibrant community where Blue Jays

take ownership of their social-emotional and academic growth by supporting,

challenging, and celebrating self and others.

Good Evening Blue Jay Families:

This week in our 8th grade Social Studies classes our teachers have talked to our students about the impact of language and symbols. We are bringing this conversation to the entirety of the Caruso Family Community and are asking all of you to have a conversation with your student(s). Students need to understand the impact of specific language and symbols on others. Some discussion points are below:

• If someone says anything unkind, hurtful, or inappropriate, tell a trusted adult right away.

• Think before you speak. If you do not want a trusted adult, parent, grandparent, or teacher to hear what you said, it is best not to say it at all.

• Consider how the other person may perceive your words and/or actions. While you may not intend for your words or behavior to be hurtful or offensive, others may feel differently.

• As a community (Caruso, Deerfield, and home), will not tolerate threats or hateful symbols towards any student or group.

If your student has access to a cell phone, tablet, or any social media accounts, we ask you to keep close tabs on your student’s behavior and review their messages and posts. It takes everyone’s help in monitoring our children’s communication to ensure that all who are part of our school community stay safe.

We appreciate your partnership in reviewing this information with your student.

Below you will find a selection of photos from our 6th grade science classes! Students worked to build arcade games that demonstrate physics concepts. Then, students and staff played the games and the students were able to explain which concepts they were demonstrating.

Thanks to those families that have completed the 5Essentials. If you have not, please do so. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. To take the Parent Survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. More information is below.

Finally, as a reminder, there is no school tomorrow Friday, February 16th and this Monday, February 19th.

Tim, Alli, Marcia & the Caruso Staff

Tim Brodeur - Principal - tbrodeur@dps109.org

Alli Waller - Associate Principal - awaller@dps109.org

Marcia Klita - Coordinator of Student Support - mklita@dps109.org

February 16th - Teacher Institute Day

February 19th - Presidents Day - No School

March 4th - Casimir Pulaski Day - No School

March 21st & 22nd - Parent Teacher Conferences

March 25th - April 1st - Spring Break

June 4th - 8th Grade Graduation 5:30 PM Deerfield High School

(Communicated 8/5/23)

Join us for coffee w/ 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.

Track and Field Season is coming up! We are so excited to have 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students on the team. New this year - Sectionals will take place at Deerfield High School on Saturday, May 11! There will be a student and parent informational meeting on Monday, February 26 from 3:15pm - 3:45pm in the cafeteria. At the meeting, we will share more information about the upcoming season and will provide the Track Packet (forms) that need to be filled out. Our first practice is Monday, March 18, the week before Spring Break. Please contact Coach Burke (nburke@dps109.org) or Coach Pire (apire@dps109.org) if you have any questions.

8th Grade Families, please read the following information regarding the IL Youth Survey. If you would like to opt your student out, please email Tim Brodeur tbrodeur@dps109.org by Friday, February 23rd.

Dear Parents/Guardians of Deerfield 109 students,

Again this year, parents across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, it allows you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness. Your responses also help guide district improvement.

The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:

• Effective Leaders

• Collaborative Teachers

• Involved Families

• Supportive Environments

• Ambitious Instruction

To take the Parent Survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. Your identity and responses will be kept completely confidential and will not be connected to you or your child. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

In addition to parents, 4th through 8th grade students will also be responding to this survey. Per school board policy 7:15, you may opt your child out of any survey. If you would not like your child to participate in the 5Essentials Survey, please contact your building principal no later than February 9th.

The D109 2024 Kindergarten Registration online form is available! To register your new student please visit our registration page.

Online Course Requests. Online course requests open on January 10. However, we recommend 8th grade families wait until the Course Registration Video is released and they have attended High School Preview night before making course requests.

Course Registration Video will be released by January 12. Families will have the opportunity to learn about course offerings and the online registration process.

Special Education Articulation Meetings will be held January 12-18. If a student has an IEP, the IEP team will update their registration to reflect the special education services that are agreed upon during the articulation meeting. Any course that requires special education services will be locked at the meeting. General education course registrations, such as advisory or electives, are the responsibility of the student and family.

High School Preview Night is Wednesday, January 17, starting at 6:30 pm. This in-person event is for both students and parents/guardians. If families have questions or concerns regarding course placement, they can speak with the DHS academic department chair at High School Preview Night.

Course Requests close on Tuesday, January 30. Families must submit their final course requests by 3:30 pm.

Counseling Collaboration Meetings late-January through early-February. During collaboration meetings, members of the DHS Counseling Department meet with middle school principals and staff to exchange information on 8th graders who are not receiving special education services. Students with 504 plans will be discussed at this meeting. In preparation for the meeting, we will share an outline of topics. All collaboration meetings will be held virtually.

Calendar of Events:

January 10, 2024: Course Registration Opens for Course Requests

January 12, 2024: Course Registration Video shared with families

January 17, 2024: High School Preview Night for Students & Parents/Guardians
6:30 pm- 8:30 pm (In-Person)

January 30, 2024: Course Requests Completed by 3:30 pm

February 13, 2024: Course Verification Opens after 8:00 am

February 15, 2024: Course Verification Closes at 3:30 pm

April 15, 2024: Extra-Curricular Night

May 1, 2024: Health Forms Due to DHS Health Services Office

Mid-August, 2024: Schedules posted on Infinite Campus

August 12, 2024: Warrior Welcome for Students & Parents/Guardians (evening)

August 14, 2024: First day of student attendance

(Communicated 8/25/23)

Our online yearbook offer is live and yearbooks can be purchased HERE or by phone at 1-877-767-5217.

Please encourage your students to dress up in our Spirit Days!

Email: cmsoffice@dps109.org
Website: https://www.dps109.org/Page/9
Location: 1801 Montgomery Road, Deerfield, IL, USA
Twitter: @109Caruso