Spartan Scoop 10/25/24

Last Friday, 10/18, after school, we got to host a really cool event at Shepard. A former Shepard teacher, Tony, will be turning 90 years old soon. Some of Tony's students from the 1960s(!) wanted to host a celebration for Tony and the impact he had on their lives at Shepard, and we were fortunate enough to be able to help that come to fruition. We heard tales from the Spartan alums in attendance of the impact Tony—and other Shepard teachers—had on their lives. Frankly, it was inspiring to see.

We reminisce on that as we think about our parent-teacher conferences that occurred Thursday and today. I know that, as administrators, we constantly reflect on how lucky we are to have the teachers we do at Shepard who pour themselves into their work and how spectacular our parent community is as a whole. Thank you for your partnership, support, feedback, and steadfast commitment to your children. We appreciate you.

In this edition, you will find:

New Information:

• Halloween Guidelines Reminder
• Parental Tech Tips #4
• Clubs and Activities at Shepard
• ARC at Shepard
• Reminder: Info Verification Due by November 1st

• Chasing Childhood Reminder

• E-Bike Rules of the Road Infographic from Officer Maldonado

• Elyssa's Mission

• No Place for Hate at Shepard and Caruso
  

• Arrival Lanes Reminder
• Deerfield High School 2024 School Chest Upcoming Trunk or Treat
  
• Middle School Health Curriculum Note
  
• Remind App Information
  
• 8th-Grade Yearbook Flashback Page
  
• Lockers, Locks, and Personal Responsibilities
  
• Yearbooks
  
• Lunch Information
  
• Medication and Attendance
  
• PTSO Information
  

Sincerely,

Rob Wegley, Principal

Cathy Van Treese, Associate Principal

Ginger Logemann, Director for Student Services

October 28 - 6th-Grade Boys Basketball - 7:00 - 7:45 am

October 28 - Cheer and Poms Informational Meeting - 3:00 - 3:45 pm

October 29 -6th-Grade Girls Basketball - 7:00 - 7:45 am

October 29 - Chasing Childhood screener at Caruso - 6:30 - 8:00 pm

October 30 - 6th-Grade Boys Basketball - 7:00 - 7:45 am

October 31 - Halloween

November 1 - 6th-Grade Girls Basketball - 7:00 - 7:45 am

This year, we will be celebrating Halloween at Shepard on Tuesday, October 31. We want to remind families to be cautious when helping your child select a costume for Halloween. Using another's culture as a Halloween costume can be viewed as insensitive or offensive. In addition, we encourage students to be as inclusive as possible when dressing in group costumes so that students do not feel excluded during the Halloween festivities.

Below are some additional reminders about wearing costumes at school:

• Students can only apply make-up, spray colored hairspray, or put costumes on at home. We want to make sure you have full knowledge of what your child will wear for school on Halloween.
• Props of a violent nature, such as toy guns, swords, knives, etc. are strictly prohibited.
• Students will not be permitted to wear any type of mask or any other costume that will obstruct/interfere with the learning environment at school.
• School rules for dress will apply. Students should not wear anything that has a sensual connotation or would be considered inappropriate dress.
• Costumes that promote graphic violence are not permitted.
• Please do not send students with accessories (e.g. witch's broom)

Thank you for your partnership!

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. What better time to introduce these tech tips than October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month! 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.

Here is a tech tip about 11 social media flags parents should know about

As you have noticed, we continue to emphasize inclusion at Shepard. One of the key ways to foster inclusion and a sense of belonging is through students getting involved in athletics, clubs, and activities at school. We have an updated clubs and activities page on our website. We have the same for athletics. We encourage you to take a look with your child to see if they may express interest in any they want to give a try!

During conferences, we heard it would be helpful to learn more about our ARC program and schedule at Shepard, so we want to share information here! Every morning from 7:15 - 7:45 am and every day after school (outside of Wednesday), we host ARC where students can come to work on homework with a staff member present to supervise. It is a nice resource of which all families can take advantage! Below, you will find the schedule. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Associate Principal Cathy Van Treese.

Some families still need to complete the quick process of verifying their information for this year. As winter approaches, we want to ensure we have the right contact info on file for you. It's also an easy way to read and acknowledge our handbook and review district opt-out forms. Please head to Skyward to get started today!

The adolescent years are marked by a roller-coaster ride of emotions—difficult for students, their parents and educators. It is easy to misinterpret depression as “normal” adolescent moodiness; however, depression (among the most common of mental illnesses) appears to be occurring at a much earlier age. Depression–which is treatable–is a leading risk factor for suicide. In addition, self-injury has become a growing problem among youth.

To proactively address these issues, Shepard Middle School is offering depression awareness and suicide prevention training as part of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program. The program aims to increase help-seeking behaviors among students concerned about themselves or a friend. Listed on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices, the SOS program showed a reduction in self-reported suicide attempts by 40-64% in randomized control studies (Aseltine et al., 2007 & Schilling et al., 2016).

Our goals in participating in this program are as follows:

• To help our students understand that depression is a treatable illness

• To explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated depression

• To provide students with the training on how to identify serious depression and potential suicidality in themselves or a friend

• To impress upon youth that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns

• To help students know whom in the school they can turn to for help, if they need it

This program will be presented to our 6th to 8th graders during the week of November 4, 2024. The SOS program is brought to us by Elyssa’s Mission, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention. Elyssa’s Mission is the only organization in the state of Illinois to fund, distribute and implement SOS. To get more information on suicide prevention, visit their website at www.elyssasmission.org. Make sure to view their online Parent Presentation at https://elyssasmission.org/for-parents/ for specific information on warning signs and how to keep your child safe. We also encourage you to visit www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn.

As part of the program, facilitators, which includes our social workers, counselors, psychologists, and P.E. staff will show SOS video clips and lead students in discussion. Students will then complete a brief depression screener, as well as fill out a Response Card indicating whether or not they would like to speak to an adult about themselves or a friend. The depression screening tool addresses thoughts and feelings which a parent may be unaware their child is having. This tool does not provide a diagnosis of depression, and rather alerts school staff to those students requiring further investigation. School mental health staff or a qualified community mental health partner will be available to meet with designated students; school staff will subsequently notify parents/guardians regarding any needed next steps.

In addition, attached here is a parent/caregiver handout for your review.

If you do NOT want your child to participate in the SOS program, please complete THIS form by Friday, November 1st. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in this program.

As we focus further on student sense of belonging and inclusion, we are excited to announce that both Shepard Middle School and Caruso Middle School will be participating in the No Place for Hate program this school year. This initiative, created by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), is designed to foster a positive, inclusive school environment where all students feel safe, respected, and valued.

As part of No Place for Hate, our schools will focus on promoting respect, empathy, and kindness among students in partnership with student leadership groups. Throughout the year, students will engage in activities and lessons that celebrate diversity and encourage a culture of acceptance and unity. More information will be coming soon after our first student committee meeting. Together, we can emphasize a school community where everyone belongs.

If you have any questions about No Place for Hate or would like more information, please feel free to contact Mark Schwarz at mschwarz@dps109.org (Caruso) or Rob Wegley at rwegley@dps109.org (Shepard).

Thank you for your continued partnership in creating a positive learning environment for all of our students.

As we continue to work together to ensure the safety of our students, we want to remind everyone of the expectations for drop-off.

Below, you will find a map with our expected procedures. Please help us by following these procedures and not cutting through the parking lot. When individuals are cutting through the parking lot, they are making it less safe for staff and students walking to the building and less safe for cars as they exit from drop off because they, understandably, are not expecting cars to be pulling out of the parking lot at that time. Moreover, they are slowing down the drop off line for all of the parents who are following the school procedure because of the time it takes students to walk across the crosswalk from the parking lot.

Important reminders:

• Follow the green arrows for the correct traffic flow

• Do not cut through the staff parking lot (marked with red Xs). This area is for staff only and cutting through creates unsafe conditions for our staff and students.

• Pull all the way up for drop off to maximize the number of families who can drop off behind you. We're getting signs to help with this!

• Remain patient and follow our procedures. We are in this together as a community.

Thank you in advance for helping us keep everyone safe and traffic flowing smoothly!

As part of the Physical Education/Health curriculum at Shepard, your child will take part in lessons designed to develop life-long health habits. Topics are aligned with the National Health Education Standards (NHES), which are designed to help establish, promote, and support health-enhancing behaviors. Middle school units of instruction are as follows:

• Social and Emotional Health (6th Grade)

• Nutrition (6th Grade)

• Mental Health (7th Grade)

• Injury Prevention & Safety (7th Grade)

• Violence Prevention (8th Grade)

• Substance Abuse & Prevention (8th Grade)

Specific sexual health topics are addressed in partnership with outside agencies. In February, 8th-grade classrooms partner with Candor Health for a live virtual session called Teen Sexual Health. Similar to the 5th-grade session titled Puberty I, an on-demand parent webinar will be provided prior and an opt-out made available. In April, speakers from Childhood Victories, Inc. provide age-appropriate presentations focused on sexual-assault and abuse awareness (Erin’s Law). This program occurs for all grades and an opt-out is made available. While not a stand-alone unit, sexual health topics may be discussed in Health classrooms as a result of student questions or in connection to related topics. If parents/guardians have concerns, they should email their child’s PE teacher no later than 12/20/24.

As we strive to keep you informed about important events and updates at Shepard Middle School, we are excited to use the Remind app again as a valuable tool to strengthen our school-family partnership. Through this app, you will receive announcements from our Student Council (also known as StuCo), led by Mrs. Greenberg. These announcements will not only keep you informed about spirit days, fundraisers, and other important events throughout the school year but will also actively involve your child in the exciting activities shaping our school community.

To sign up, please follow the directions below. Check out this video if you would like step-by-step instructions.If you require any assistance setting up the app, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Greenberg.

The Yearbook is looking for Elementary school photos of your 8th grader and friends for this year's Yearbook FLASHBACK PAGES!

* Please choose up to 3 of your favorite photos (include/tag Kipling or Walden and the names of the students) and send it to the link below.

* Our Yearbook staff works very hard to include as many students as possible, especially on these pages, so 3 photos max will be very appreciated.

* If you are new to Shepard for middle school, we are happy to add a photo from your student's other school. Please be sure to tag the school name.

Thanks so much for contributing K-5 memories and enjoy your day!

Flashback Photos

- The Yearbook Staff

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.

Below is the link to purchase a yearbook at Yearbookforever.com.

Parents should enter Alan B. Shepard Middle School (Deerfield, IL, not Texas)!

The cost is $30. After January 15th, the cost will be $35.

yearbookforever.com

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.