Blue Jay Buzz

In this issue you will find:

New Info

• Community Corner
• Upcoming Dates
• Update: Traffic Flow - Drop off and Pick up Safety
• Weekly Tech Tip -What is Roblox?
• Spirit Days!
• Clubs and Activities
• Holiday Gift Drive
• PTO Upcoming Events

Old News

• Cellphones, Medication, Attendance, Tardiness to school

11/22/2024 Newsletter

11/15/2024 Newsletter

11/08/2024 Newsletter

11/01/2024 Newsletter

10/25/2024 Newsletter

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

Donnie Castans - Associate Principal - dcastans@dps109.org

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

Left to Right Jonah T(7), Sean B(7), Mrs. Kaplan, and Mrs Beermann

Behind every smoothly running middle school is a pair of superheroes, and we’re lucky enough to have our very own dynamic duo in the CMS front office! These two secretaries are more than just amazing at their jobs, they have appeared to have mastered multi-tasking.

Here are some fun facts about Mrs. Beermann and Mrs. Kaplan that make them even more extraordinary:

• Three Cheers for Three Years! This is their third year at Caruso, and it’s clear they’ve already made a lasting impact.

• Orange You Glad They’re Here? Both share a favorite color—orange—which matches their vibrant personalities and sunny attitudes!

• Cool Friends, Warm Office? They dream of a world with controlled heat and air conditioning.

• Friends First, Co-Workers Second: They were besties before becoming coworkers, and their friendship makes Caruso feel like home.

• Like Mother, Like... Bestie?: Their kids are the same age, meaning they can swap parenting stories and survival tips. Mrs. Beermann’s sons were Caruso Blue Jays and Mrs. Kaplan’s sons were Shepard Spartans.

• Vacation Vibes: When they’re not running the school, they’re hitting the road together for well-deserved adventures.

• Puppy Pals: Even their dogs are best friends—clearly, this bond goes beyond the office!

Together, they bring energy, humor, and kindness to every interaction, whether they’re helping students, assisting a parent, laminating some documents, or fixing yet another copier jam. Their teamwork and shared connection make CMS a better place every single day.Thank you to our fantastic admin assistants for all you do—you’re truly a dynamic duo we couldn’t live without! 🧡🐾 7th graders Sean B and Jonah T

See the photos for what is happening at Caruso.

Join us for coffee @ 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.

Thursday 12/19 - Coffee @ Caruso - Call Office to RSVP

Friday 12/20-Jan 6 - Winter Break.

Tuesday Jan 7th - Students Return

Tuesday June 3rd - 8th Grade Graduation @ DHS

Drop Off and Pick-up

• Please use only the right lane to drop off your students in the morning. The left lane is for through traffic.
• Do not stop on the crosswalk to drop off students. This becomes a safety concern for our students walking to school.

Parking and Traffic Guidelines

Please be mindful of the surrounding residences when parking. This includes:

• Avoiding blocking driveways or fire hydrants.
• Parking close to the curb to ensure that school buses and emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, can easily pass through.

Additionally, U-turns at the end of Montgomery Road. are not permitted to avoid entering the Caruso Circle around the school. This area experiences heavy foot traffic, especially during dismissal times, so please proceed with caution and be considerate.

Please note that school buses are on a tight schedule, so your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

While we encourage everyone to limit time spent on devices, we understand that these tools can foster meaningful connections when used wisely. However, in today’s digital age, it can be difficult to stay informed about the latest apps and trends to ensure your child's online safety. We want to do our part in supporting students and families in the various ways they can implement security settings on their children’s devices and monitor time spent online. Throughout the school year, we will feature practical technology tips in our newsletters, offering fresh ideas for families to use at home developed by our own Student Resource Officer, Lauren Maldonado, and our Innovations Specialist, Maria Galanis.

Once again Caruso families have an opportunity to bring joy to children and families within our own community this holiday season by donating gifts.

Here’s how it works:

1. View the wish list:
   Click the link below to access the list of requested holiday gifts. (The list will grow over time, so check back often!)

2. Select your gift(s):
   Choose items to purchase from the list. Click here or use the button below.

3. Shop and drop off:

1. Bring unwrapped items to Wilmot on any weekday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM from Monday, December 2 through Wednesday, December 11th.

2. It is essential that you include the family name (e.g. Candy Cane, Cocoa, etc.)

3. If you’re donating gift cards, please drop them off in the front office.

4. Alternate options:

1. If you prefer to ship gifts directly to Wilmot, address them to Mark Schwarz - Holiday Gift Drive (1801 Montgomery Rd)

2. For alternate drop-off arrangements, contact me at mschwarz@dps109.org.

3. Not a shopper? Consider donating gift cards (Target, Amazon, Walmart, Jewel etc.), which we’ll share with families.

Note: Please do not wrap gifts. Wrapping supplies, such as paper and bows, will be provided to families.

Our goal is to come together as a community to make the holidays brighter for everyone. Thank you for your generosity and support!

With gratitude,

Mark T. Schwarz

Visit us this Saturday, December 7th, at the Park District’s Winter Market. The Patty Turner Center will host this indoor event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We’ll have exciting crafts for kiddos, and our Superintendent and board representatives will be there to answer any questions you may have. We’ll see you this Saturday!

Please upload pictures for the yearbook throughout the year! If you have any questions or trouble uploading, please email Ms. Cadkin or Ms. Matan (ecadkin@dps109.org or hmatan@dps109.org). Thank you!

Use this link to update!

Cell phones will be off and away in lockers from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm every day (8:00 am - 2:00 pm on early release Wednesdays). Here's the why: This will help our students focus on their learning, build relationships with those around them, and hopefully disconnect from the anxiety that comes from even just having a phone in the pocket, wondering what notifications they are missing.

If students are using their phones during the school day, they will be instructed to bring their phone to the main office. There will be a progressive response when this occurs that resets each semester:

First and Second Occurrence: Email home and student picks up phone at the end of the school day.

Third Occurrence: Parent/guardian must come pick the phone up from school. Student will serve a lunch reflection.

Fourth Occurrence +: Parent/guardian must come pick the phone up from school. Student will also drop phone off at office each morning. Student will serve an after-school reflection.

MUST be wired and are not used during passing periods.

A student who fails to meet the expectations will be asked to comply with them and may be subject to a verbal warning or behavior check in.

Backpacks must be kept in students’ lockers throughout the school day unless it is a documented accommodation. They will not be traveling from class to class. Here's the why: We do not have room in our classrooms to safely store backpacks without having a tripping/fire hazard, and—by keeping backpacks in lockers—we have a wonderful opportunity to teach and reinforce important executive functioning skills with material organization, case-its, and other organizational tools.

We ask that you try to limit student deliveries during the school day. We will not be allowing and/or accepting any DoorDash or similar delivery options for any student under any circumstances. All deliveries will be refused. Families are welcome to drop off lunches themselves. We have extra Chromebooks, chargers, and copies of books here at Caruso, so it is not necessary to drop what you're doing and run these items to school. If something is truly needed during the day, we ask that you bring it in to the front entrance, label it with your student's name and grade, and leave it on the Drop Off table in the vestibule. We will then bring it into the office for your student to pick it up. Please note, students are not permitted to order their own lunches during the school day. If you order/bring lunch for your student, please do not provide food for other students.

If arriving between 7:30 and 7:45, students should enter at the north side of the building at the Athletics Entrance. Students will wait until 7:45 to head to class. If a student needs to see a teacher before school, they will need to present a pass/note/email from the teacher to do so.

After 7:45, students should utilize the following entrances:

All students riding the bus: Athletics Entrance (north side of building)

6th Grade - Front Door (south side of building)

7th Grade - 7th Grade Door, north side of building (walk down sidewalk towards building)

8th Grade - 8th Grade Door, west side of building

Students should enter and exit vehicles only on the passenger side and on to the sidewalk or grass, and once you drop off, please keep moving.

Respect the staff working and please follow their directions. They are doing all they can to keep all students and staff safe.

When the weather is beautiful, we have many students who walk or ride their bikes to school. When the weather is less than ideal, many more students are driven. Please ensure that you leave home early enough to account for the increased volume of traffic. It is expected that students are in class at 8:00 AM ready to learn.

Students entering after 8:00 AM must do so through the main office and will receive a tardy pass.

If you are picking up your student during the school day, please buzz the front door and we will call your student down for dismissal.

Please help us be good neighbors, and do not turn around in driveways in the neighborhood.

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 doctors' note on file. We will confiscate any meds found outside of the nurse's office. Contact our school nurse Ms. Gwen Dowell gdowell@dps109.org

Attendance:

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