To our 109 community,

As we approach spring break, I hope you enjoy time with your families and loved ones and do the things that refresh and recharge you. Whether you're escaping the Chicago area for a beach somewhere or just taking some extra time at home, I sincerely hope you savor and appreciate these moments.

Parent teacher conferences are around the corner. I always loved these chances to talk to my kids’ teachers because they saw and heard things from my kids that we found interesting and much more often than not affirming. Your Board of Education heard parental feedback and worked hard with our teacher's union to create this opportunity for you to strengthen your connections with your child's teachers.

We look forward to seeing you and your students refreshed and reinvigorated after the break.

Sincerely,

Michael V. Simeck

Superintendent of Schools

With an extended period away from school, there's time to fill. We know that kids will potentially have more time to be on devices. As a reminder, DPS 109 had a Well-Being & Safety Night earlier this year where staff members and experts shared a lot of resources for families. Check out some popular ones below and click on the button with "Other Helpful Links" to access a page full of helpful articles:

Families, you should have received an email earlier today from the district about a rare learning opportunity coming up on Monday, April 8th. Students and staff will be able to safely watch the upcoming eclipse while at school, as the district has secured viewing glasses for everyone!

In regard to your child’s participation in this viewing event, it is ultimately the decision of the parent/guardian. A parent/guardian signature will be required in order for students to participate in the viewing event using the eclipse glasses. Students whose parents do not complete a permission form or who refuse to wear the eclipse glasses will participate in alternative activities during that time. Your child will be coming home with a paper permission slip today or tomorrow. If you would like your child to participate, please sign the consent and return to your child’s school no later than Wednesday, April 3, 2024. If you are scheduled for a parent-teacher conference, this would be a perfect opportunity to drop the form off in the main office or leave it with your child’s teacher. The consent form is also linked below if it is easier for you to print and sign at home.

We had such a great turnout and a lot of fun during Pack the Place earlier this month. It was an incredible showdown between our 8th grade basketball teams vs. the Deerfield Police Department and Deerfield Bannockburn Fire Department. Over $3,100 was raised for the 100 Club of Illinois! You can view more photos on our Facebook Album.

On the other side of town, another packed gym! The staffs from Caruso, Wilmot, and South Park squared off in a volleyball tournament for charity and you could feel the energy and enthusiasm in the CMS gym! You can also view a gallery of photos in our Facebook album.

At our recent board meeting, we heard a presentation from Wilmot staff & students about their Mindfulness Minute series and how they have the whole school participating in these challenges. Special thanks to Mrs. Hoyt, Mrs. Miltimore. Ms. Sims, and Ms. Selvaggi for presenting along with students Ellie, Emma, and Harrison!

We were also so excited to honor the three young men that qualified for the IESA State Wrestling tournament a few weeks ago.

5th grader Drew B. finished 2nd in the state of Illinois!

Additionally, 5th grader Mateo & 6th grader Angel also qualified for the state tournament.

Great job, gentlemen!

A reminder, we do a recap of every board meeting, and all regular meetings are livestreamed and recordings are posted on the DPS 109 website. Click below to read the recap of this month's meeting.

Registration for our incoming 2024-2025 kindergarten class is open! We really want to try and get as close to a fully accurate count of our incoming class as early as possible, because it helps us plan better for budgeting and staffing!

Arts Alive!, the new arts festival launching at Deerfield High School, will culminate the week long celebration with a Professional Art Expo. This free, family friendly event is open to the public on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Check the website at www.dhsartsalive.org for more information and a detailed schedule.

The Deerfield Park Foundation is a nonprofit whose mission is to make Deerfield Park District Camps and programs accessible to all families, regardless of their financial position. If you would like your child to attend a Deerfield Park District Summer Camp or program, but you are experiencing financial hardship, please reach out to the Deerfield Park District, registration@deerfieldparks.org, and inquire about Deerfield Park Foundation assistance.