Sunday, May 12, 2013
Response to Patch poll seeking opinion on District 109’s decision to eliminate French next is light but clear.
When Deerfield Public Schools District 109 chose to suspend French as one of the two foreign languages offered to students at Shepard and Caruso Middle Schools in the coming term, more than 40 people came to the April 29 Board of Education meeting to protest. Spanish will be taught to all incoming sixth graders. Earlier: Should District 109 Restore French to Curriculum In the stories Patch published on the issue, at least 64 reader comments were written expressing reasons to retain the program or agreeing with the Board’s decision to suspend it and study the outcome in the coming school year. Of the 16 people who responded to the unscientific survey, 14 wanted French offered to incoming sixth graders and two do not. One reason the District…
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Suspension of French from world language program has caused stir with some families.
A decision that will not give incoming sixth graders at Caruso and Shepard Middle Schools the option of learning French or Spanish in the coming school year as they have in the past has stirred debate in the community and on Patch. Patch wants to know what the community thinks and we are taking an unscientific poll to find out what our readers would have Deerfield Public Schools District 109 do. Earlier: Why Did 109 Suspend French Program From their comments to previous articles, Patch readers have had no shortage of opinions on the subject with views coming from all sides of the discussion. One reader, Patricia Reese, feels the suspension will hurt not only middle school students but those at Deerfield High School as well. “Suspending the…
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Amid community protest, Deerfield District 109 suspends French program because of sagging interest and scheduling.
When the community embraced a block scheduling program for Caruso and Shepard Middle Schools in November as a way to create a more intimate relationship between students and teachers, no one realized incoming sixth graders would not be offered French. The block scheduling program along with sagging interest in the subject and an added burden on teachers were given at the Deerfield Public Schools District Board of Education meeting Monday as reasons to suspend and study how best to teach foreign language. Earlier: 109 Restructures Middle School Program A diminished interest in learning French was not obvious at the meeting are between 30 and 40 parents, students, former students and community members came to let the Board know their …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to eighth-graders in District 109 who exemplify outstanding community service efforts. Nominate yourself or a student by May 15.
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Thursday, March 21
Each year, the Deerfield Education Foundation for District 109 seeks to award two $1,000 scholarships to an eighth-grade student or group of students—one each from Shepard Middle School and Caruso Middle School. The awards are given to students for their outstanding, self-motivated community service. That service could include reading to the elderly, helping younger students learn, or volunteering at an animal shelter or a nursing home—anything that helps to promote a better community. The students must demonstrate a strong desire to serve beyond the standards of their peers. School, required religious, or scout activities may serve as the catalyst for one or more project(s), but will not form the sole basis for determination. In short, …
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Dylan Utterback becomes a state champion. Shepard finishes 20th out of 100 teams.
Behind state champion Dylan Utterback and three other medal winning performances, the Caruso Middle School wrestling team finished third in the State Meet Friday and Saturday in DeKalb while Shepard Middle School was 20th among the 100 teams. Joining Utterback, the 85-pound champion, on the medal stand from Deerfield were teammates Holden Heller (85), Reece Heller (75), Ken Kerstein (100) along with Shepard’s Marco Perovic (185) and Kyle Klough (95). The Blue Jays improved from 14th last year. Earlier: Caruso, Shepard Wrestlers Head to State Meet Utterback was dominant yielding only one point in his four matches. After pinning his first round opponent, he won 9-1 in the quarterfinals, 4-0 in the semifinals and 5-0 in the title bout. Holden…
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Students from Village’s elementary and middle schools test their mettle against area’s best.
Students representing six Deerfield schools took part in the Regional Spelling Feb. 27 at South Park Elementary School. Earlier: Kyla Guru Repeats as Spelling Bee Champ Competitors were Kyla Guru of South Park Elementary School, Sofia Li, Caruso Middle School; Brett Toban, Kipling Elementary School; Matthew Seltzer, Wilmot Elementary School; and Halle Mangurten, Walden Elementary School. None of the participants advanced to the Lake County Finals. Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Superintendent Renee Goier was the master of ceremonies while judges were District 109 Board member Steve Schwartz, West Deerfield Township Supervisor Alyson Feiger and Deerfield Library Board Marla Dembitz. Get local news in a daily email from Patch. It's …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Seven District 109 grapplers win Sectional titles, 15 qualify for State Finals
With 15 local wrestlers from Caruso and Shepard Middle Schools qualifying for the State Meet, both teams dominated the Illinois Elementary School Association Sectional Meet Saturday at Caruso. The Blue Jays finished second in the team competition with 162 points behind Hadley Middle School of Glen Ellyn with 179. The Spartans were fourth out of 16 teams with 136.5 points. Last year, 15 local athletes also went to the finals. Earlier: Mehrholz, Heller Wear State Wrestling Crowns Of the 15 qualifiers, eight come from Shepard and seven from Caruso including seven Sectional champions. One was Blue Jay Holden Heller. He took the 2012 state championship at 80 pounds and will try for the 85-pound crown this year. Other Caruso title winners are …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Four Blue Jays and three Spartans earn individual championships in Deerfield middle school wrestling tournament.
Jan. 19 The Final Score: 1. Lake Zurich South 397, 2. Marlow 396, 3. Macarthur 359, 4. Caruso Middle School 345, 5. Hadley 317, 6. Shepard Middle School 295, 7. Antioch 200, 8. Big Hollow 197, 9. Gurrie 193, 10. Hawthorn North 176, 11. Hawthorn South 140, 12. Wilmette 139, 14. Maple 116, 15. Aptakisic 28, 16. Brookwood 17. Blue Jays Star Performers: Matt Templeton (75), Reece Heller (80), Dylan Utterback (85) and Holden Heller (90) won individual championships. Spartan Star Performers: Jonny Bloom (65), Kyle Clough (100) and Marko Perovik (185) took titles. Other Notable Blue Jay Performances: Max Pomerantz (70) and Erin Karp (155) earned second place honors while Aaron Brailov (95) was third. Other Notable Spartan …
Monday, November 19, 2012
District 109's new "Middle School Model" offers big changes for the 2013-2104 school year.
As a parent with children in eighth, sixth and first grade I felt oddly knowledgeable about the experiences my daughters have had thus far in middle school. So, as I walked into the "Middle School Model" meeting at Caruso Middle School Thursday night, I was ready for a fight. The rumors had been flying among the students and parents: All false. Kudos to Principals Michael Shapiro (Shepard Middle School) and Brian Bullis (Caruso) as well as the teachers for addressing not only the primary concerns of the parent, but also for clearly identifying how this change began and how this evolution of change has taken shape. In essence, this "Middle School Model" is a teacher-principal driven change. A group of teachers and the principals met twice a…
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Administrators, teachers give Board a progress report on changes comment to Caruso and Shepard Middle Schools.
A more intimate relationship between teachers and students at Shepard and Caruso Middle Schools is a primary goal of the new scheduling format sixth, seventh and eighth grade students in Deerfield Public Schools District 109. Children will be divided into teams at each school with four teachers giving instruction in core subjects, according to a report given by administrators and teachers at Monday’s Board of Education meeting. Earlier: 109 Board Hikes Tax Levy “We will have the same academic rigor but more student focus,” Shepard Principal Michael Shapiro said. “The same team (of teachers) will focus on the same group of kids.” The team of four teachers will be able to meet regularly to exchange ideas about each student’s needs. Monday’s …
Bringin' Down Briarwood
11:48 am on Monday, May 13, 2013
As someone who has no dog in this race, it does seem odd that one language that has a more than twice as many students as two other languages is the one that is cut. more ›