Blue Jay Buzz

In this issue you will find:

New Info

• Upcoming Dates
• Community Corner
• School Updates and Other Information
• PTO Updates
• 8th grade Information

Old News

• Cellphones, Medication, Attendance, Tardiness to school

5/23/2025 Newsletter

5/2/2025 Newsletter

Mark T. Schwarz - Principal - mschwarz@dps109.org

Donnie Castans - Associate Principal - dcastans@dps109.org

Marcia Klita - Director for Student Services - mklita@dps109.org

Tuesday 6/3 - 8th Grade Graduation @ DHS

Friday 6/6 - Last Day of School for grades 6 and 7 - 11am dismissal

Wednesday 8/13 - Locker Day

What an incredible season for the 2025 Caruso Track & Field team!

This spring, our athletes gave it their all, and it paid off in a big way. Caruso proudly hosted the IESA Sectional Meet at Deerfield High School, where our team not only set countless personal records but also brought home a mountain of place ribbons—and a Sectional Championship Plaque! A huge congratulations to our 7th Grade Boys Team, who took 1st place overall at sectionals!

We are thrilled to announce that 11 athletes qualified for the IESA State Meet: Chris Bennie, Enzo Jimenez, Samuel Pastoral Martinez, Zachary Adolph Wes Bailey, Ethan Moran, Maria Pastoral Martinez, Annabel Witenko, Audrey Klerman, Eleanor Merrick, and Emma Hanson. These standout athletes qualified in events including the 7th grade boys and 8th grade girls 4x100 meter relays, the 1600 meter run, 800 meter run, hurdles, and both the 100 and 200 meter dashes.

The weekend at State was filled with excitement, energy, and even more personal records. Chris Bennie earned a spot on the podium with a third-place finish in the 1600m, running a time of 4:53.90. Annabel Witenko also hit the podium with an eighth-place finish in the 100m dash, clocking in at 13.45 seconds.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the parents who made this season such a success—from your generous donations for the concession stand to the countless hours volunteering to help the sectional event run smoothly. Your support was truly appreciated.

The Caruso coaching staff—Coach Signa, Coach Padal, Coach Swanson, Coach Hoy, and Coach Brenner—couldn’t be more grateful for this incredible season. It was a joy to watch our track and field family grow, compete, and succeed together.

We’re already looking ahead to next season and hope to see all of our athletes return—along with some new faces! If your child is looking to stay active and strong, don’t forget that Cross Country is in the fall and Track & Field returns in the spring. Let’s keep the momentum going, Caruso!

Check out this article from the Patch.

The Caruso Chapter of National Junior Honor Society inducted their first group of students on Wednesday evening. Students worked hard all year keeping a 3.75 GPA and volunteering in sponsored service projects to become eligible to apply to be accepted into the organization.

Wednesday night was a culmination of all the hard work these students put in this year and the beginning of their journey as National Junior Honor Society members. We look forward to seeing these students lead Caruso and recruit new members next year.

If your child wants to try out for a sport during the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, please ensure they have either the Certificate of Child Health Examination or the Pre-participation Examination forms completed and up-to-date beforehand. You will need to submit one of the two forms below:

• Certificate of child health examination

• Pre-participation examination form

Examination forms must be dated within 12 months of the tryout date. If you have any questions, please contact our building nurse.

Families can now log into Family Access to:

• Pay your 2025-2026 fees before the July 1 early payment deadline

• Verify your contact and other information

• Review the Student/Parent-Guardian Handbook

• Learn about new publication permission opt-out procedures

InfoCheck is a new online form that brings together a few important annual procedures in one place and time. When you log into Family Access, click on the “2025-2026” InfoCheck tile.

Find all the fee details at dps109.org/fees.

Family Access will be closed from May 21 until June 6.

This is a friendly reminder that Family Access will be unavailable from Wednesday, May 21, at 3:30 p.m. until Friday, June 6. During that time, teachers will be submitting their grades for the school year. During this window, you will still have the ability to log in to pay fees or review your account information. However, you will not have access to preview your student’s Portfolio, Grading, or GradeBook. Access to those, along with your student’s 24-25 report card, will reopen in Family Access on Friday, June 6, by 3:30 p.m.

Over the past several weeks, our teachers have been thoughtfully collaborating with one another and with administration to ensure that every student is placed in the best possible learning environment for next school year. These conversations consider many factors, including academic needs, social dynamics, and student support services.

As we begin the scheduling process, we kindly ask that families do not request specific teachers or teams. Our goal is to create balanced classrooms that support the success and growth of all students. Thank you for your understanding and partnership.

8th Grade Graduation is right around the corner, and we want to make sure you have all the important details in one place—including information about tickets.

Click here for graduation details on our website.

Thanks, and we’re looking forward to celebrating this milestone with you!

If your student will not be in school, please report the absence to the health office by phone (847) 945-8430 x6103) or email (carusoattendance@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 or legal guardian, or to emergency contacts designated in Family Access.

PTO Facebook Page

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