From the desk of Principal Kathryn Anderson
Issue 26, March 1, 2021
School News You Can Use
Three things you need to know:

  1. Monday, March 8, is a NO SCHOOL day.
  2. Tuesday, March 9 - Friday, March 12, Group A (designated as red) will attend AM classes, and Group B (designated as gray) will attend PM classes.
  3. Class of 2021 students and parents/guardians: Please review information about prom and graduation. Seniors, look for a survey this week!
Message from the Principal
Dear DHS Staff, Students, and Families,

Thank you to those who have completed their mandatory COVID testing if attending on-campus classes or extracurriculars. If you have not yet done so, we look forward to seeing you on Friday during the next testing session. If you submitted a testing change request, please know that we are working diligently to review and address each request. We appreciate your patience as we work through a high volume of change requests.

Moreover, I would like to thank our students and staff for following COVID-19 safety guidelines at home and on-campus. It is imperative that we work together as a school community to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With that in mind, even when we try our best to follow such precautions, there is the possibility that we could still be exposed. As such, I hope we can come from a place of care and kindness when we learn of such cases so that we can support one another through a difficult time. Of course, if you are aware of unsafe behavior/gatherings, let us remind one another of the 3Ws so that we can work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Thank you for your efforts!

Sincerely,
Principal Kathryn Anderson
Happening Next Week
Week of Monday, March 8 - Friday, March 12
Monday is a NO SCHOOL day.
Tuesday - Friday: Group A (red) will attend AM classes and Group B (gray) will attend PM classes.
Class of 2021 News
Graduation and Prom
Dear DHS Seniors and Parents/Guardians, 

There are so many questions surrounding what the end of the year will look like but there are few things we can tell you now. The most important thing to know is we are going to do everything in our power to create meaningful experiences for our seniors. Of course, in creating these experiences, please know that we will continue to be bound by guidance and restrictions established by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), as well as the state, county, and local community. Currently, we are planning for scenarios in which we will be wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and keeping indoor gatherings to 50 or fewer individuals. With that being said, we want to share some of the details of two major events we typically host for our seniors. 

Graduation will take place on Thursday, May 27th (the specific time is TBD). Our goal is to host an in-person graduation, while also providing a live-streamed, remote option for students and family who are unable to attend. Unfortunately, Ravinia will not be available in time for our graduation. As such, our new graduation location will be at the Deerfield High School campus on Adams field. Additional logistical details such as the number of guests per graduate are still being determined based on the restrictions we face during this time. 

Prom will occur on a yet-to-be-determined date and location. Our goal is to maximize the number of students that we will be able to have together at one time. The event will most likely be outdoors and on campus. Look for more information to come as we get closer to spring and restrictions become more clear. In the meantime, a survey is going out to the senior class shortly.  

Seniors, we know that this has not been the senior year you wanted or hoped for throughout your high school experience. While graduation and prom may still not be completely “normal,” we are hopeful that we can still provide an experience that allows you to be with your class, in some way, so that you can celebrate together. We are going to do our best to make this possible.  

Sincerely,
Principal Anderson
Counseling
What is an Eating Disorder and When to Worry
All teenagers worry about their appearance. Self-esteem can be precarious during adolescence, and body consciousness comes with the territory. But if you’ve noticed that your child is fixated on weight, you’re probably worried. So what is the difference between normal behavior and behavior that might indicate an eating disorder? Click here to read more.
Student Life
Warrior Dance Team to Compete at State
Congratulations to the Warrior Dance Team who earned a spot to compete in the IHSA State Championship competition. The team virtually submits their dance to be judged and scored alongside all other teams. Best of luck to WDT!
Student Council Hosted Mental Health Awareness Week
Coming up from March 8-12 is the third annual Mental Health Awareness Week sponsored by Student Council. Mental health is always an extremely important topic, but it is especially crucial to bring awareness to this topic this year given the many difficulties presented by the pandemic. The goal of this week is to provide resources and activities for students as well as working to end the stigma surrounding mental health. Here is a brief outline of the schedule for the week:

Monday: (NO SCHOOL)
  • Participate in the social media campaign to break the stigma surrounding mental health
Tuesday:
  • Wear green!
  • Pick up your own DIY stress ball making kit at the front entrance
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
  • Watch the Mental Health Advisory Board present about important mental health topics (link still to come)
  • Add to the post-it note wall at the front of the school with your favorite self-care activity
Warrior Words Week Summary
Monday, March 1
  • Choraliers Auditions
  • Performers & Activists - Be Part of Jam for Justice!
  • Join former Human Rights Club beneficiary Balance Boxes on March 20th at 6pm central to celebrate their one year anniversary.
  • Troubadour now accepting submissions for this year's issue!
Wednesday, March 3 (not including repeats from March 1)
  • Library If you need to check out a book, please email pfarrell@dist113.org with the title of the book you need
  • Enjoy the Earthworks newsletter for Wednesday March 3rd, 2021.
  • Spring Musical BRIGHT STAR tickets on sale.
  • Interested in Air Force ROTC? Upcoming information sessions
District News
Notifications for Missed SHIELD Testing Appointments
Like attendance notifications, these notices are auto-generated based on the selection for Hybrid Learning for your student or your student's participation in on-campus activities or athletics. If your student did not undergo testing due to quarantine, active COVID-19 case or other absence and you have notified the school, you can disregard the message.  These notices fall under the "General" category in Infinite Campus. If you wish to modify how you are notified for General notices, can modify your settings in the IC Portal.