Dear Shepard Families:
We had a nice week here at Shepard with continued learning, ExSEL starting, and MAP testing. We have been very impressed with your children as they have taken the MAP testing seriously and continued to strive to meet school expectations. As a school community, it takes all of us to help our students demonstrate the personal responsibility, respect, inclusivity, determination, and empathy that make up our Shepard PRIDE expectations. We've been incredibly grateful for your partnership in this work. Mostly, we just want to give praise to our students because they are, of course, the most important person responsible for demonstrating these competencies. Collectively, the Spartans are crushing it, and we are so impressed.
In this edition, you will find:
New Information:
- Arrival and Dismissal Lanes Reminder and Request
- Lockers, Locks, and Personal Responsibility
- Shepard Students Honored by the Village of Deerfield
- 8th-Grade Parent/Guardian Consent to Share Information with DHS
- Deerfield Parent Network's Tweens and the Social Scene
- Reminders from Last Week:
- The Anxious Generation Parent Event
- PE Cold Weather Uniforms
- 6th-Grade Springfield Trip
- Yearbooks
- Help Train Scout, our New AI Chatbot
- Lunch Information
- Medication and Attendance
- PTSO Information
Sincerely,
Rob Wegley, Principal
Cathy Van Treese, Associate Principal
Ginger Logemann, Coordinator for Student Services
Upcoming Dates
September 9 - Girls Volleyball—Away @ Attea - 4:30 pm
September 9 - Soccer—Home vs. Attea - 4:30 pm
September 9 - Cross Country—Away @ Northbrook Jr. High - 4:30 pm
September 10 - Girls Volleyball—Away @ Wilmette Jr. High - 4:30 pm
September 10 - Girls Volleyball—Away @ Wilmette Jr. High - 4:30 pm
September 10 - Soccer—Home vs. Wilmette Jr. High - 4:30 pm
September 10 - Cross Country—Home vs. Wood Oaks - 4:30 pm
September 12 - Soccer—Away @ Caruso - 4:30 pm
September 12 - Volleyball—Away @ Caruso - 4:30 pm
September 25 - The Anxious Generation parent event @ Shepard — 7-8 pm
Students are doing a nice job using their lockers during the school day. Sometimes, though, students are leaving locks unlocked or not putting a lock on their locker. To protect your child's materials and personal items, please reinforce the need to use a lock! Students are responsible for their own materials and items during the school day, and we want to help our students continue to learn that crucial skill of personal responsibility.
Earlier this summer, we read the book, The Anxious Generation, which explores the significant increase in anxiety among today's youth, examining the underlying causes and societal factors contributing to this trend. The book provides practical strategies and insights for parents, educators, and mental health professionals to help young people manage anxiety and build resilience.
We would like to invite parents and guardians to join us in person on Wednesday, September 25 from 7:00-8:00 in the Shepard library to discuss some of the topics introduced in the book.
You do not have to read the full book to join the conversation! Since many of us are short on time, the links below will provide you with enough information to participate in this event.
Video Interview with the author (21 minutes)
Video Summary (9 minutes)
Written Summary (4 minutes)
Please consider joining us on Wednesday, September 25 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Shepard library for a structured conversation about the topics explored in the book. Please RSVP below.
Your Shepard PE team is offering alternative clothing options that can be worn during PE class. While our PE uniform is mandated for all students, the optional sweatshirt and sweatpants can be purchased as an acceptable alternative to the short sleeve shirt and shorts.
If you are interested in placing an (optional) order, please visit the online store and order by September 8th. Orders will be delivered after the store closes. Any questions? Please contact Coach Brown.
Our amazing PTSO shared information on this in their welcome back letter, too, but we wanted to add a reminder that you can purchase school lunches through Lunch Solutions in advance! Ordering opened Tuesday, August 6th. Ordering for the following week closes at 10:00 am on THURSDAY each week. For information and ordering, please visit http://ptgms.com/lunchsolutions/shepard.
Medication
Please do not send any medication, over-the-counter pain pills (Tylenol/Advil/aspirin), or cough drops with your students. State law prohibits students from taking medication at school outside of the nurse's office with a doctor's note on file. We will confiscate any medications as listed above found outside of the nurse's office.
Attendance
If your student will not be in school, please report the absence to the health office by phone—(847) 948-0620 x5103 or email (shepardattendance@dps109.org) before 8:00 am. If you do not contact our school nurse by this time, she will contact you at home or at work to ascertain your child’s whereabouts. Children must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. Students will only be dismissed to a parent/legal guardian or to emergency contacts designated in Family Access.
Student Tardiness to School
Students who arrive late are greatly disadvantaged because they miss starting the day with their peers and miss out on the instruction given at the beginning of class. This means that they are often unsettled and confused about tasks, resulting in reduced achievement, regardless of academic ability. It is also very important that students establish good routines and habits in preparation for the rest of their lives. Punctuality is a life skill that is important to develop.
Tardiness to school will be unexcused even if a family member brings the student(s) to school. Oversleeping, missing the bus, car/traffic problems, etc. are all unexcused. Tardies are excusable under the following circumstances: personal illness of student, serious illness or death in the family, a doctor/dentist/professional appointment (a note or phone call from a parent or a professional), family emergencies, and religious holidays.
School begins promptly at 8:00 am. Students are expected to be in class ready to learn by 8:00 am.
Student Tardies to Class
Students are expected to be in class, in their seats, ready to learn at the start of class. Students who are not are subject to school discipline.