Walden Weekly
School News You Can Use
Dear Walden Families,
With the district’s announcement this morning about moving to a mask recommended environment starting on Wednesday, February 23rd, we are asking each family to talk to their children about their mask expectations. Some students, families, and staff will choose to transition away from masks, while others will continue to wear the mask. The goal at Walden, and in all schools in District 109, is to maintain the focus on teaching and learning. We respectfully request that you not reach out to your child’s teacher with your masking preferences, as they will not be enforcing any individual expectations. Below is some additional information that may assist you in the conversation.
Addressing the Change:
Explain to children that rules about masks have changed and that whether to wear the mask or not is a family choice.
Respecting Everyone’s Choice:
School is an emotionally safe place for everyone, and it will remain that way.
All children should be encouraged to promote kindness no matter others’ choices. They should be reminded that families have different circumstances that may be impacting their decision to mask or not mask.
Children should not question or try to persuade another to change their decision. Any disrespectful comments/behaviors towards others based on their choice to mask or not mask is unacceptable and will be addressed immediately.
Physical Health & Safety
Schools will continue to have students practice good hygiene, including washing or sanitizing their hands regularly.
Distancing practices will be maintained in classrooms and at lunch.
If students do not feel well, they should stay home.
If a child tests positive for COVID, they still need to isolate.
Shield testing and testing for symptomatic individuals will continue to be offered.
If you have specific health and safety concerns about your child and believe they may meet the criteria for home/hospital instruction, contact Joanna Ford at jford@dps109.org
Social-Emotional Health & Safety Considerations:
If a child is having difficulty understanding, or if they are feeling nervous or anxious in any way, they should be provided space to individually talk about their feelings with a trusted adult. School staff will be ready to offer support. Some examples are as follows:
For children who are shy or have social anxiety, the mask may have offered another level of security.
Masks have been talked about synonymously with safety, so some children will need support to feel comfortable about the abandonment of masks.
Some children, particularly adolescents, have reported feeling less self-conscious about body image while wearing the mask.
Thank you for your ongoing flexibility and support. We will continue to do everything we can at Walden School to promote safety, respect, and acceptance.
Have a great weekend and we look forward to seeing our students back at school on Wednesday!
Stephanie Strenger
Valentine's Day
Before/After School Care from the Deerfield Park District
DHS Girls Soccer Teams
The DEERFIELD HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS are running a Girls Youth Soccer Clinic on Sunday, March 13, 2022 from 10am-12noon. All girls players 1st through 8th grades are invited to join us at DEERFIELD HIGH SCHOOL for this fun soccer clinic! The DHS soccer teams and the DHS coaches will be leading your daughters through drills, skills, footwork, goalkeeper training and scrimmages! The cost is $25/player. Each participant will receive a DHS Soccer t-shirt. Please see the attached flyer with more information and click on the link to register! We can’t wait to see all on March 13th!!!
Registration Link: https://form.jotform.com/220267501568152
Kindergarten & New Student Registration for 2022-23
Online registration for incoming kindergarten and new students for the 2022-23 school year is open! Please share this information with your friends and neighbors who have children heading into the big adventure of kindergarten (who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2022)!
Current District 109 parents do not have to re-register current students in grades K-7 for next year; registration is only for students who will be new to District 109 in the 2022-23 school year (and Early Learner students moving to kindergarten).
Click here to learn more about registration.
Once you register, plan to attend a Drop-In/Drop-Off session at the District Center (517 Deerfield Road, by the Little Red Schoolhouse) to review documentation and verify residency:
February 23 7:30AM-2:30PM
February 24 12PM-6:00PM
February 25 8:00AM-2:00PM
We are still working on planning a "Kindergarten Round-up" event where incoming kindergarteners and their parents are invited to visit the school. More information about Round-up will be coming out after registration.
If you have questions about registration, please contact Rebecca Rudd at rrudd@dps109.org.
SHIELD TESTING
Looking to fill out the SHIELD consent form?
Please login to Skyward/Family Access and it should appear as a green box next to your child’s name. Contact the district's communications department (communications@dps109.org) with any Family Access questions.
Looking to opt-out of SHIELD testing next week?
Click here to access the form.
We share the same form each week. If you'd like to opt your child out each week, the form will need to be filled out on a week-by-week basis.
Forms are due by Tuesday at 3pm.
Upcoming Dates
Feb. 21 - No School (President's Day)
Feb. 22 - No School (Teacher Institute Day)