Happy Friday Kipling Families!

And just like that we have completed two full weeks of school and now we get to enjoy a long, Labor Day weekend. For me that means 7 soccer games across 2.5 days. I hope there is more relaxation built into your plans for the weekend! I really want to thank our incredibly engaging PTO for all of the staff appreciation events and for our fun-filled Sweets and Treats events last night. We are so lucky to have your support and I truly value our partnership.

I know how hard it is for our kids (and us) to get back into our school year routines. Please give them and yourselves some extra grace as we all work to adjust to balancing our school/work, activities, and life balance. I can say, here at school, it seems as though the kids never left for the summer. Our students have quickly settled into their routines and rituals and there is Movement, Music, and Magic already happening in classrooms and learning spaces across our building. Our school year is off to an amazing start. Thank you to all of our students, our dedicated staff, and to all of you for our strong partnership in this work together.

All my best to you and your families over the long weekend!

Respectfully,

-Matthew

Mr. Matthew O. Lombardo, NBCT

Principal

Kipling Elementary School

Welcome back from the PTO! We are so ready for a fun and exciting year. Please visit https://kiplingpto.membershiptoolkit.com/home for all things PTO. Please also note these important upcoming dates:

9/20: Portillo’s Fundraiser!

10/6: PTO Meeting, 9:30am in the Teachers' Lounge

10/14: Pumpkinfest!

Please feel free to email ptokipling@gmail.com for any questions!

We are looking for daily parent volunteers from 11:25-11:50 am to help Kindergarten and second grade students as they learn our new routine. Parents can sign up for a once a week, once every other week, or monthly slot. If you aren't familiar with composting, we promise it's easy. We will provide training and the kids will catch on quickly. This is a great chance to help the planet and see your Kipling kids in action. Please email Sandra Merrill at SandraKMerrill@gmail.com or Jessica Lorber at Jzindell@gmail.com or Jessica Cohen at jessicabrody12@gmail.com for more information about volunteering. Sign up to volunteer here.

There will be a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, 9/6 at 7:00 PM for parents with 4th and 5th grade students who are interested in participating in Destination Imagination this year. D.I. is a project-based STEAM learning program where students work in teams to complete both long-range and fast-paced challenges. Join us at this link for the meeting. A recording will be made available for anyone unable to attend. Contact Kelly Jahng kjahng@dps109.org with any questions.

Larry Letwat, President of the DHS Athletic Booster Club, in collaboration with DHS Athletics, has launched as part of our membership suite of products, the Future Warrior Fast Pass. This membership is for middle and elementary school students ONLY. For only $10, it provides FREE Admission to ALL HOME Football games, ALL HOME Basketball games (girls & boys) & ALL HOME Wrestling matches (IHSA events, playoffs and tournaments not included). Register at www.d113boosters.org and include your student’s name. A digital download fast pass will be emailed to you after registration.

Photo/Video & Directory Opt Out Form - due Sept. 12!

DPS 109 uses photos and videos of students and staff to tell the district’s story! The district also maintains directory information and shares it with our parent-teacher organizations and other District-connected organizations so that they can keep parents in the loop with important information (such as school lunch ordering, after-school enrichment, and other events, volunteer opportunities, and educational trips for middle school students). We use an opt out system to maintain these permissions.

If you are granting permission for photos and/or directory information, log in to Family Access and complete the opt out form without checking any boxes.

If you wish to opt out of photos/videos or directory information (or both), please check the applicable box and hit submit. *Please note that opting out of publications includes the yearbook. If you have any questions, please contact Eric Steckling at esteckling@dps109.org.

Still Missing Texts or Emails from The District?

Login to Family Access to check if we have the right number on file for you. If it’s wrong, please change it. If it’s right and you’re still not hearing from us, reach out to communications@dps109.org and we will get back to you!

Park District Before and After Care

The Deerfield Park District runs all of our before and after school care programs. Please contact the Park District, 847-945-0650, if you have questions.

Park District After School Enrichment Information

Sharing on behalf of the Deerfield Park District: registration is open for fall enrichment programs. To see a brochure of programs and get more information, visit https://www.deerfieldparks.org/programs/youths-teens/.

If you have any questions, please contact the park district directly as they run the programs.

-Mon 9/4: No School, Happy Labor Day!

-Wed 9/20: Portillo's PTO Fundraiser!

-Mon 9/25: No School

-Thurs 10/5: Picture Day

-Fri 10/6: PTO Meeting in the Staff Lounge, 9:30-10:30

-Mon 10/9: No School, Indigenous People’s Day

-Sat 10/14: Pumpkinfest @ Kipling, 3-5pm

-Thurs 10/26: ½ Day of School Student Dismissal at 11:40am

-Thurs 10/26: Parent Teacher Conferences, 1-4pm and 5-8pm

-Fri 10/27: Parent Teacher Conferences, 8:30-11:30am

-Tues 10/31: Halloween Parade! More info coming soon…