Middle School Updates
Shepard Middle School
Social Media Challenges....
Good Evening Spartan Families,
Happy weekend! We are capping off an exciting week with home matches in volleyball and soccer. With so many exciting things happening in our classrooms, clubs and sports, we managed to get some great pictures of our Spartans in action (see below). Our goal is 100% participation in extracurricular activities, so if your student still hasn't found a place to connect...send them our way! :)
New Opportunity
Student Council (open to all students) begins on Thursday, September 23 at 7:15am. If your child is interested in being a part of a club that makes a positive impact in and around our school, please reach out to Ms. Oliff and Ms. Zelnick.
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TikTok Challenge
I'm old enough to remember a time when the variety of social networking mediums were used to promote challenges that made a positive impact on our world...#Movember, The Ice Bucket Challenge, The No Makeup Selfie Challenge, #WithoutShoes, etc. There was even that time the community in San Francisco came together to transform the neighborhood into Gotham City to make a young boy's Batman wish come true. Unfortunately, in a relatively short time, many of the challenges issued on social media have taken a decidedly negative turn.
Exhibit A: The TikTok Bathroom Challenge
This new viral challenge on the social media giant is encouraging students to post videos of themselves vandalizing and destroying the bathrooms in their schools.....pause for your collective gasps. While we trust and believe that our Spartans care more about their school and school community, there is still a strong possibility that they are being exposed to these videos and others like them.
As a principal, I am hopeful you will support our ongoing efforts in school by taking a moment to engage your child(ren) in a conversation about character and making good choices.
As a parent, I want you to have a heads up that this junk is out there.
We appreciate our students and our Spartan families for always supporting and helping to make Shepard a wonderful place to learn and grow.
Have a great weekend!
Chris Cybulski, Principal
Marie Zlotnikov, Associate Principal
Ginger Logemann, Coordinator for Student Services
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.
CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!
The daily health certifications, bus route info, schedules, and more helpful info can be found on the new Shepard Middle School Website. Make sure to give it a look!
SHIELD Testing (Weekly Opt Out Form)
- If your student has consent to test, we will assume they will come down during their scheduled time (a reminder announcement will be made for each time slot.
- SHIELD Testing remains optional. If for any reason you do not want your child to submit a test sample on Tuesday, September 21, please click here.
If you have questions, please call our office at 847-948-0620
Lockers...(Update)
At this time we are making plans to bring back hallway lockers for our students. The current plan is to pass out locks during the week of September 20th and begin using lockers during the week of September 27th. Students will be receiving more information during their homeroom time.
- All students will be assigned a locker
- Locker use will be optional and students may continue to carry their backpacks if they choose to do so
- Locks will be issued in advance for practice
Daily Certification Process
- The Daily Certification Form will be emailed and sent via text at 6:30am on school days
- The Daily Certification Form is also accessible via the Shepard School Website
District Resources
THE LATEST ON DPS 109 & COVID
We have new information posted about our COVID case notification process, testing opportunities for symptomatic students, and a guide on what to do if your child wakes up sick in the morning (and what it may mean for other children in your home). Visit www.dps109.org/Fall2021 for the latest.
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.