109 News

June 6, 2025

Here's to a great year – take a look at all the fun we've had together!

Earlier this week, our 8th grade students officially finished their time in District 109 and became high school students. With reflections from principals, the Superintendent and students themselves, and a warm welcome from Deerfield High School Principal Kathryn Anderson, the ceremonies were meaningful and joyful. You can watch the recordings of both Caruso and Shepard graduations on the District 109 YouTube channel.

This year, 11 District 109 staff members are moving to new adventures. All of them have left a lasting impact on students and families; they're forever part of DPS 109. Join us in thanking and celebrating them!

At its third and final meeting, the Referendum Task Force took a deep dive into updated financial data, reviewed the escalating costs of inaction, and explored both renovation-only and new construction options to address District 109's aging facilities. Task Force members heard detailed presentations on tax impacts, long-term risks of continued emergency repairs, and the advantages and drawbacks of two major plans under consideration. The group also studied voter demographics and timing, public engagement plan and the contents of a proposed community survey aimed at testing support for a potential 2026 bond referendum.

Following the comprehensive presentations over three meetings, Task Force members took all they learned and engaged in thoughtful, candid conversations about the best strategies to address the District's facility needs. While there were varied perspectives, there was strong consensus that the District cannot afford to wait on addressing its facility needs. The Task Force ultimately recommended that the District share and seek public input on one clear proposal this fall—one that balances educational benefit, cost impact and likelihood of community support.

The Superintendent’s report at the June 17 Board of Education will outline the proposal, with more details shared in a presentation at the July 24 meeting.

If you haven't yet responded to the "Net Promoter Score" survey, please do so before 5pm on Friday, June 6.

A note about the "Exchange" part of the survey. Comments are automatically moderated by the ThoughtExchange system; any comments submitted with identifiable information must be reviewed before they are shared publicly. We do not ever allow comments with student or family names, and other than our superintendent, negative comments about individual staff members are filtered out. While we appreciate constructive criticism, any concerns about individual staff members should be handled in conversations with building or District leaders.

Log into Family Access todayto:

• 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.

A few features of Family Access will close on Wednesday, May 21, at 3:30pm until Friday, June 6 for end-of-year grading. You will not be able to view the Portfolio, Grading or GradeBook features. Everything else (including fee payment and InfoCheck) remain open!

On the last day of school, June 6, by 3:30pm, everything will be available again, including your child's report card.

During the 2024-2025 school year, District 109 has been undergoing a math curriculum review. Updates for 2025-2026 will be shared at curriculum nights in the fall. For students/families interested in math practice over the summer, the Big Ideas Common Core 2019 Student Editions are publicly available and can be found here. Digital tools, such as IXL (grades K-8) and ST Math (grades K-5), will also remain available through June 30th and can be accessed on any home device. Students will just go to clever.com, click "Login as student" on the top right, search for the school, and "Login with Google" using their dps109 email address and animal password.

The best way to maintain literacy skills over the summer is to keep reading! For students/families interested in ELA skill practice over the summer, digital tools, such as IXL (grades 2-8) will remain available through June 30th and can be accessed on any home device. Students will just go to clever.com, click "Login as student" on the top right, search for the school, and "Login with Google" using their dps109 email address and animal password.

In addition to the items above, any digital tool used throughout the year that requires a Google sign-on with a Dps109 email or a unique username/password created by the teacher, may be used as well. (i.e. WeVideo, CoSpaces Edu, Worldbookonline, etc.)

The District will close access to Clever, Google/Google Classroom, Family Access, etc. on the afternoon of July 17 to allow us to complete the summer digital system rollover. Systems will go live again on August 4 at 3:30pm, when class placements go live.

The best place to get questions answered over the summer is:

District Office

517 Deerfield Road

Monday-Thursday (Closed on Friday)

7:30am-4:00pm

Students new to District 109, as well as all Early Learners, kindergarten students and sixth grade students must submit a health examination form before the start of the school year. Note that if the form is not submitted as required, students will be excluded from school on October 15th.

See all health requirements below, and find detailed information and the forms you need on our health information page.

Each year, District 109 recognizes our writers in the Young Authors program. Mr. Simeck awarded certificates to this year's winners from each building and heard about their stories and their writing process. If you know these authors, ask them to share their work – it is great summer reading! Congratulations!

You know that DPS 109 is a supportive school community for students and families. The District also cultivates a community where staff feel valued, and they can pursue their career interests, whether they are teachers, administrators, support and office staff or guest teachers – all of whom play an important role in the education of our students. The District is currently hiring the following roles:

• Kindergarten Teacher
• Cross Categorical (Special Education) Teacher
• Guest Teachers (substitutes), with flexible schedules
• ...and more!

If you're looking for meaningful work in a supportive environment, close to home, visit dps109.org/DefineYourself – and share these jobs with friends and family!

The Deerfield Police Department is excited to announce the return of its Junior Police Academy, on August 4–8, 2025. This unique program gives middle school-aged students a behind-the-scenes look at the world of law enforcement while building positive connections with Deerfield Police Officers. Through a mix of engaging instruction and hands-on activities, participants will explore various aspects of police work and public safety. The program emphasizes leadership, service, physical fitness, and safety, offering valuable insight into the responsibilities of law enforcement professionals. All participants will receive an official Junior Police Academy T-shirt.

There will be two daily sessions, each running Monday through Friday:

• Morning Session: 9:00-11:30am
• Afternoon Session: 1:00-3:30pm

Each session is limited to 10 participants, for a total of 20 spots. Registration is now open and will close once both sessions are full. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with session details. The program is FREE and open to Deerfield residents ages 10–13 at the time of the Academy. The Deerfield Police Department reserves the right to deny enrollment at its discretion.

Register now!

For questions or more information, please contact School Resource Officer Lauren Maldonado.

Such as E-bikes and E-Scooters

The Village of Deerfield has enacted new regulations governing the use of motor-driven vehicles—such as electric scooters and motorized bikes—in response to a growing safety concern.

Under the ordinance, these vehicles are prohibited on sidewalks, bike paths, and other public property to protect pedestrians and reduce the risk of collisions. Additionally, riders must meet age and licensing requirements. These rules are designed to enhance public safety, promote responsible use and ensure that all users of public spaces—whether walking, cycling, or driving—can do so without

unnecessary risk.

Read more information about the new regulations, including age and license requirements and penalties.

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The Deerfield Historic Village, located at the southwest corner of Deerfield and Kipling Roads, will be open to the public every Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, beginning in June and continuing through the end of September. This year, we’re excited to offer a variety of family-friendly events that bring history to life and offer something for all ages. Join us for a season full of engaging activities, local heritage, and community fun!

• June 8: Wheels Through Time: Explore vintage bicycles, buggies and more
• June 22: Civil War Living History: Reenactor, displays and an old-time photographer
• July 13: Dog Days with Orphans of the Storm: Celebrate Man’s best friend with adoptable pets
• July 27: 1800s String Band: Enjoy live music from Tubway, Subway and the Terrible Goat
• August 10: Ask a Master Gardner: Bring your garden questions and learn from the pros
• August 24 (1-4 PM): Plein Air Painting: Artists of ALL AGES are invited to paint on-site. Bring your favorite art medium (paint, pastels, markers, crayons) and paper/canvas) to bring the Old Village to life through your creative process!
• September 14: Everything Bee Day: Beekeeper demonstrations, local honey and fun for all ages
• September 28 (1-4 PM): Scout Fun for Everyone: Wall climbing, monkey bridge, s’mores and classic scouting activities