Caruso Connect - November 5th
#CarusoWay
This week marked an exciting return of our 8th grade band and orchestra students preforming with students from Deerfield High School. It was great to see so many Caruso Alumni continuing to be involved in the fine and preforming arts. Another highlight of the week was the Super Smash Brothers tournament that was hosted after school in our Learning Commons. This was an event that was created by one of our students and ran entirely by them. Events like these highlight the many ways that our students are involved with our school community. Please encourage your students to become involved in their classrooms and our larger school community.
One week down, three days to go in our 109 Gives Back Food & Supply Drive! We are accepting donations to benefit the West Deerfield Township Food Pantry. Even though each school has been given some items to focus on, we will accept all non-perishable donations! Monetary donations will also be accepted. Look for a link at www.dps109.org/109givesback.
If you have questions, please reach out directly.
Have a GREAT weekend,
Tim, Caitlin, and Heidy
Tim Brodeur - Principal - tbrodeur@dps109.org
Caitlin Lucci - Associate Principal - clucci@dps109.org
Heidy LaFleur - Interim Coordinator of Student Support - hlafleur@dps109.org
Upcoming Events
11/11 - No School
11/12 - Dress Up Day: Sunglasses Day
11/19 - Dress Up Day: Matching Day
11/22 - Parent Teacher Conferences (Evening)
11/23 - No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
11/24-11/26 - No School
12/3 - Dress Up Day: Slippers Day
12/20-12/31 - No School
Blue Jays of the Week
Elyssa’s Mission
The adolescent years are marked by a roller-coaster ride of emotions – difficult for students, their families 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, D109 Middle Schools are 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 straightforward:
- 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 students during the week of November 15, 2021. 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. Our 6th and 7th grade students will receive the full course presentation and our 8th graders will be presented with the refresher course. 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 will show SOS video clips and lead students in discussion. Students will then complete a brief depression screener as well, and indicate 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, but 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.
If you have any questions and/or do NOT want your child to participate in the SOS program, please contact me at tbrodeur@dps109.org prior to Friday, November 12th. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in this program.
Parent Teacher Conferences Information and Correction
Monday, November 22nd & Tuesday, November 23rd
On Wednesday, November 3rd at 5:30 PM you received an email with sign up information for SignUp Genius. HERE it is again. Families will have the opportunity to sign up for a 5 min time slot to meet with each teacher via zoom. Just before conferences we will be sending a website that provides access to all zoom links. In the email the wrong phone number was provided, please use the following you have any questions about conferences (847-945-8430).
Skyward Family Access
Skyward Family Access will be unavailable between now and November 19th so that grades can be entered. If you have any immediate questions, please contact Kristin Neu (kneu@dps109.org).
Permission Slips for PE
109 GIVES BACK FOOD & SUPPLY DRIVE
Monday kicks off our 2nd annual 109 Gives Back Food & Supply Drive benefiting the West Deerfield Township Food Pantry! All six schools are working together to collect 5,000 items to help ensure everyone has a great Thanksgiving and holiday season. Donations can be placed in a bin inside the front entrance of our school from November 1-5 and from November 8-10. If you have any questions, visit www.dps109.org/109givesback.
DRONE RACING CLUB
Also, see the info below about joining DRONE RACING CLUB, beginning in November. Please see Dr. Revelins with questions or submit the Drone Racing Club Sign-up - Google Form to join!
Wednesday and Friday Spirit Days
All students and staff are encouraged to join us for Wednesday and Friday Spirit Days!
Every Wednesday is Caruso Day! Wear your Caruso Wear!
11/12 - Sunglasses Day
11/19 - Matching Set Day
12/3 - Slippers Day
Deerfield Family Theater - Schoolhouse Rock Live!
Do you know how a bill becomes a law?
Do you remember Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla and his pet kangaroo?
Did you want to travel the solar system with Interplanet Janet?
Enjoy these Schoolhouse Rock! classics and many more with Deerfield Family Theater’s production of Schoolhouse Rock Live! Share these catchy lessons on grammar, science, numbers, and America with the kids in your life to show them that learning can be fun! Shows are November 12-14 and 19-21 at the Caruso Middle School Theater.
Visit www.deerfieldfamilytheater.com for more information and to order tickets
Philanthropy Club Food Drive
Online Enrollment for Class of 2026
Dear Class of 2026 Families,
On behalf of Deerfield High School, I would like to welcome you to the first portion in enrolling your student for high school. As our first step, you will begin this enrollment process by giving us your demographic and contact information through our online form. This step of collecting demographic data should take no longer than 15-20 minutes to complete.
Please complete this step by Friday, November 19, 2021. Upon collecting your contact information, we will then email you directly with further information about the upcoming course placement process, 8th grade Curriculum Nights, registration for courses and other pertinent information.
Please click the link below to begin. All of the necessary information can be found on this District 113 Online Enrollment Registration page link, including the link to begin the enrollment:
ENROLLMENT AND ONLINE REGISTRATION PAGE
Thank you, and we look forward to welcoming the Class of 2026 Warriors!
Best,
Dr. Brandt
--Lilly Brandt, Ph.D.
Assistant Principal
Deerfield High School
1959 Waukegan Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
224.632.3015
Freshman Year Information for DHS
Attention all 8th graders, Parents/Guardians of 8th graders, and 8th grade teachers...and hello to the DHS Class of 2026!
Registration for high school is coming up soon! In preparation for this, we invite all 8th grade families and teachers to join our brand new Fine and Applied Arts Department Facebook group. This group will introduce you to all the wonderful Fine and Applied Arts teachers at Deerfield High School, as well as answer any questions about registration for their classes. The arts are a critical part of a holistic education, and we are so excited to invite your students to discover, nurture, and grow their artistic abilities through the wonderful programs at DHS. Even if your child has not been involved in the arts in middle school, we invite you to join the Facebook group.
Here is the group link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/258970622746387
Questions? Please reach out to:
Anastasia Cameron Balmer, Middle School Liaison for Fine and Applied Arts at DHS abalmer@dist113.org 224-305-2108
Dee Bolos-Hartman, DHS Fine and Applied Arts Department Chair dboloshartman@dist113.org 224-632-3161
Reminder for School Volunteers
A quick reminder, that all volunteers or individuals spending prolonged time in one of our buildings are required to be vaccinated or provide proof of a negative COVID test.
If you are coming to our building to volunteer, please remember these things:
-Wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status
-Bring a photo ID to check in at the front office
-Bring your proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test (not self-administered) from within the last week
-Complete a Covid self-certification prior to coming to school
Thank you for your cooperation and please contact Eric Steckling (esteckling@dps109.org) if you have any questions.
What is Test To Stay?
This year, fewer students are needing to be quarantined if they are a close contact to a COVID-19 case, thanks to the Lake County Health Department's "Test To Stay" protocol. Click here to read more from the district about it.
Student Health Requirements 21-22
We recognize and are mindful of the fact that many families may have had difficulty getting children in for physical, dental, and eye exams as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges to routine medical care; however, at this time, all child-health related requirements for school attendance, remain in effect for children in public, private, or parochial schools, as per 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1.
Health-related examinations and immunization requirements are due no later than October 15. Please click here to be directed to our website for detailed information regarding specific requirements by grade level.
You will soon be receiving communication from our building nurse if your child is missing any of the required documentation. Students not in compliance with the health examination and immunization requirements will be excluded from school beginning Friday, October 15, 2021. Please reach out with any questions regarding these requirements as we want to partner with you to ensure compliance with these requirements. Thank you.
This week students met in their ExSEL groups!
ExSEL (Executive Functioning + Social-Emotional Learning) is a new addition to our Wednesday early release schedule. This is designated school-wide time each week for students to build relationships with teachers and peers. During this time, students will have the space and opportunity to check in with teachers while focusing on social-emotional learning, executive functioning, relationship building, coping strategies, and self-awareness.
SHIELD Testing
Students will begin SHIELD testing at 8:30 AM. Please ensure that students do not have food, gum, or drinks an hour prior to testing. Students will be called out of class for SHIELD testing according to the schedule below. Please communicate with your student if you would like them to test or not. We make reminder calls for all students for testing, and if students have your consent they can test even if they do not have a QR code/lanyard yet. (We are working with district office to ensure everyone has one soon!)
8th Grade 8:30-8:50 from Encore 1
6th Grade 8:50-9:10 from Core 1
7th Grade 9:20-9:40 from Core 2
CARUSO - 8:30 AM - 10:45 AM
- Wednesday, November 10
- Wednesday, November 17
-Wednesday, December 1
- Wednesday, December 8
- Wednesday, December 15
Testing is not mandatory. By consenting to the testing, your child’s name is put on a roster and the expectation is that they will be testing weekly unless a parent/guardian notifies us otherwise.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO FILL OUT THE SHIELD CONSENT FORM…
Log in to Skyward/Family Access and it should appear as a green box next to your child’s name. Contact Kristen Neu (kneu@dps109.org) with any Family Access questions.
IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO OPT OUT OF A WEEK OF TESTING…
Fill out this Google Form prior to 7 AM on the day that our school tests: Wednesday
109 GIVES BACK FOOD & SUPPLY DRIVE!
Student Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
Arrival will take place from 7:45-8:00. All late arrivals should come to the front office.
Entry Locations/Doors
6th Grade: Main Entrance
8th Grade: West Entrance (side of building)
7th Grade: Corner of West/North Side (drop off students at end of sidewalk before bus area)
Walkers/Bussers: Activities Entrance (back of building)
Dismissal is at 3:00 on M/T/TH/F , and 2:00 on Wednesdays.
**Wednesday, August 25 will NOT be an early release day.**
If you are picking up your student during the school day, please contact the main office by calling or buzzing the front door. If you need to drop something off for your student you will be buzzed into the building and be able to leave it in the lobby. Please make sure to label the item with your student's first and last name.
COVID Information
TESTING FOR SYMPTOMATIC STUDENTS
DPS 109 will be offering testing for symptomatic students Monday through Friday afternoons during the school year. The BinaxNOW test will be administered outside of the District Office in the beige testing building (please look for sign on door). Testing is free of charge to families. Click here to read more about testing.
WHAT DO I DO IF MY CHILD WAKES UP SICK? DO OTHER SIBLINGS HAVE TO STAY HOME?
It’s always a tough situation when this happens in the morning! Be sure to read this section in our COVID information hub, especially if you have multiple children enrolled in DPS 109. Our school exclusion guidance comes from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Who to Contact?
Mrs. Lucci, Associate Principal
Mr. Brodeur, Principal
Mrs. LaFleur, Interim Coordinator of Student Support
Caruso Middle School
Email: cmsoffice@dps109.org
Website: https://www.dps109.org/Page/9
Location: 1801 Montgomery Road, Deerfield, IL, USA
Twitter: @109Caruso