109 News

Welcome to the first 2025 edition of 109 News! Here, you'll find important updates and stories from across the district. As always, if you have questions or suggestions, feel free to email us at communications@dps109.org.

Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year is OPEN! Families of all incoming kindergarten students, please visit our registration page to begin the process today.

Starting kindergarten is an exciting milestone in your child’s life! Join us at the district office (517 Deerfield Road) on Friday, January 31, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to:

• Ask any registration questions you may have,
• Drop off required documents if you did not already upload them in your child's application, and
• Capture a special moment with a photo op and souvenir as your child signs their "letter of intent" for their kindergarten journey!
  
  

Be sure to like and follow the event we’ve created on Facebook to stay updated, ask questions, and learn more. We can't wait to welcome your family!

As a reminder, we announced last week that the new Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is now in effect across all 109 buildings. Students have been trained on the updated terminology, and the new vocabulary is being implemented immediately.

To learn more, you can watch the video below from our Director of Safety & Security, Ms. Solvei Jurmu, or review the newsletter that was shared last week.

When would school not be in person?
In the Adverse Weather Procedures section of our website, you can review the process the Superintendent and district leaders use to determine if school will remain in person. Multiple factors are considered, including the timing and amount of precipitation, temperature, wind chill, and road conditions. If needed, the district will transition to an e-learning day as mentioned above.

When will we receive an initial notification?
We closely monitor weather forecasts and will send home devices the day before a potential weather event. A “heads-up” email will be sent to staff and families as early as possible the day prior, allowing teachers time to prepare and devices to be fully charged.

When is a final decision made, and how will we be notified?
A final decision will be made by 5:30 a.m. Every effort will be made to notify families and staff immediately. If the district shifts to e-learning, you will receive a text, email, and follow-up robocall.

To ensure you receive notifications, please log in to Skyward to verify that your contact information is up to date. Additionally, based on feedback from a family poll last year, we will notify everyone regardless of the decision. Even if school remains open, a text, email, and status update will be shared on dps109.org.

How will my student know what to do on an e-learning day?
Your building principal will send school-specific information via email on the day of an e-learning event. Students will meet with their teachers on Google Meet, with links provided in the principal's email, Seesaw, and/or Google Classroom.

If you have additional questions, please email communications@dps109.org or contact your building principal.

Click here to see next year's calendar!

The annual "Pack The Place" showdown is back! Watch as the Deerfield police, firefighters, and Shepard 8th grade basketball teams face off in an exciting matchup.

📅 When: Wednesday, February 5th at 5:00 p.m.
📍 Where: Shepard Gym
🎟️ Tickets: $5 at the door

All proceeds will benefit the 100 Club of Illinois. Don’t miss this fun community event!

Caruso 8th graders had an incredible experience earlier this week when they participated in an interactive lesson with Mike Byster, often called the "Human Calculator." Mike taught students how to identify patterns and apply problem-solving strategies to tackle complex math problems—all without using a calculator.

One of the highlights? He can determine the day of the week for any given date with 100% accuracy! Over the past few weeks, Mike has visited all our buildings to showcase his impressive math skills and inspire our students.

Wilmot students and staff celebrated Principal Brett’s birthday earlier this week with a magical Disney-themed assembly—completely led by students! Kindergarteners added to the festivities by creating fun Disney-inspired cutouts. Check out that fantastic group photo below!

Resident registration for Deerfield Park District's summer camps opens next Tuesday, January 21. Visit their website to view their summer camp brochure and contact them with any questions.

The Village of Deerfield has released its 2025 Special Events Calendar! Head to their Facebook page and check out the many family-friendly activities planned for the year. Don’t miss out—mark your calendars now!

Did you know the Deerfield Public Library offers a newsletter called Preschool Pages? It’s filled with fantastic reading recommendations for your little one! Check out the latest issue here.