Spartan Weekly
Shepard Middle School 1/28/2022
New Ways to Get Involved...
Happy Weekend Spartan Families!
Another great week is in the books at Shepard Middle School and we are all looking forward to a restful and rejuvenating couple of days. As we get ready to jump into a new month, we are proud to share a few upcoming ways for students to get involved and connected.
The Rubik's Cube Club is the newest creation by a group of students who share a passion for the frustrating and iconic puzzle. The club meets on Tuesday mornings at 7:15am to get their brain power revved up in a fun and slightly competitive environment. The group is about to embark on a creative challenge as they look to combine over 200 Rubik's Cubes into a mural. For more information, please reach out to Mr. Kelzer.
Boys Volleyball tryouts begin next week for our 7th and 8th grade boys. Tryouts are will take place after school over 2 days (February 3/4). For more information, please reach out to Coach Fakhouri, Coach McDonough, or Coach Anderson.
The First Fridays Open Mic Showcase will take place on Friday, February 4 and again on Friday, March 4. The showcase encourages all students to sign up to share their unique talents and abilities with their friends and peers. Sign up is open to everyone and the grade level showcases take place at lunch. There is also an opportunity to send in a video taped performance. For more information, reach out to Mrs. Trudeau. To add a performance to the Padlet, Click Here.
Coming soon...Track and Field, Ping Pong Club, Improv Club, Young Authors and much more.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mr.C, Mrs. Zlotnikov and Mrs. Logemann
Master Spellers
All About That Bass
Mascot Battle
5ESSENTIALS SURVEY NOW OPEN - LEND YOUR VOICE TO HELP OUR SCHOOL!
Again this year, parents across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, it allows you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness. Your responses also help guide district improvement.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
· Effective Leaders
· Collaborative Teachers
· Involved Families
· Supportive Environments
· Ambitious Instruction
To take the Parent Survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. Your identity and responses will be kept completely confidential and will not be connected to you or your child. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete.
In addition to parents, 4th through 8th grade students will also be responding to this survey. Per school board policy 7:15, you may opt your child out of any survey. If you would not like your child to participate in the 5Essentials Survey, please contact your building principal.
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, February 1, please click here.
If you have questions, please call our office at 847-948-0620
Important D109 Information
GET YOUR CONSENT ON FILE FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
A reminder, to participate in any before/after school clubs, sports, and activities, all students must have a signed consent form and be signed up for SHIELD testing in order to take part. Please click below to find the consent form.
REVISED QUARANTINE GUIDANCE
The CDC has put out clarifying guidance specifically for K-12 schools reducing the recommended time for isolation and quarantine periods to five days. IDPH & ISBE have since endorsed this new guidance.We are working to adjust our quarantine and isolation periods based on these new regulations and will contact affected individuals directly. The question of who is supposed to quarantine comes up often. Please check out this helpful explainer from the CDC.
OPTIONAL VACCINE DISCLOSURE FOR STUDENTS AGES 5+
Remember, you can complete an optional form in Family Access to let DPS 109 know that your child is vaccinated. This is the same form that was made available to students ages 12 and older earlier this year.
A major benefit of completing the form is that if your child is deemed to be a close contact to a positive case, either in school or outside of it, our contact tracing team will quickly be able to potentially rule out quarantine for those that have voluntarily disclosed their child’s vaccination status or minimize the number of additional tests required to participate in the test to stay program.
2022-2023 D109 Calendar
The official 2022 - 2023 School Year Calendar was approved by the Board of Education on November 19th, 2021. Please see the calendar on the DPS109 website.