District celebrates Patti Cepeda, 2018 Teacher of the Year
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Patti Cepeda, center, poses with Assistant Superintendent for Special Services Jessica Stewart, Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli, DGEEA Rep/Kingsley Teacher Marla Gilbert and Kingsley Acting Principal Elynn Cunningham.
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What's best for kids? Patti Cepeda reflects on this question often. As District 58's behavior specialist, she works with teachers to address individual and class-wide student behavioral issues. Every situation is different. Every student is different. But Mrs. Cepeda loves the challenge and always gives her best.
And this dedication led Mrs. Cepeda to be named the 2018 Teacher of the Year by the Downers Grove Elementary Education Association (DGEEA) teachers union. Congratulations, Mrs. Cepeda!
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Register for the 2018-19 school year
District 58 opened online registration for the 2018-19 school year on Monday, April 16. Online registration is available for returning students entering grades 1-8. New families, kindergarten parents and preschool parents should still register in person at their home school.
The District sent parents registration information with third quarter report cards, as well as in an email last Monday.
These messages included each child's personalized "snapcode," a password that lets parents log onto their child's unique registration page.
Parents who prefer to register their child using paper forms may visit their child's school to register, or download the forms on their school's website.
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Local legislators discuss education issues at Board committee meeting
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L-R: Chris Jordan (from U.S. Rep. Roskam's office), Board Member John Miller, Rep. David Olsen, Board Member Beth Taylor, Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli, Sen. John Curran and Hilary Denk (from U.S. Rep. Foster's office)
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The Board's Legislative Committee welcomed local dignitaries to a special "Coffee with the Legislators" meeting on April 6.
This meeting replaced the Board's annual Legislative Breakfast, which was canceled due to the snow day.
Sen. John Curran, Rep. David Olsen, Hillary Denk (a representative from U.S. Rep. Bill Foster's office) and Chris Jordan (a representative from U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam's office) attended and engaged in a respectful conversation regarding educational issues affecting District 58.
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Herrick and O'Neill will host summer sports camps for 5th-8th graders
This summer, have fun, make friends and learn new skills at Herrick and O'Neill's summer sports camps!
Both schools will offer co-ed Running, Basketball and Volleyball camps for incoming fifth-through-eighth graders. Registration will open online on
Tuesday, May 1 at 8 a.m.
at the below links. All campers will gain
extensive skill work and game play and receive a camp T-shirt.
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Author Fest returns to District 58
District 58 welcomed five prominent children's authors and illustrators -Troy Cummings, Brianna DuMont, Kate Hannigan, Michelle Schaub and Allan Woodrow - to several of its schools for Author Fest last week.
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Six Herrick and O'Neill students receive art contest awards
The Downers Grove Junior Woman's Club recently recognized five Herrick Middle School students and one O'Neill Middle School student during its annual Junior High
Art Contest
award ceremony.
Congratulations to:
First Place: Ana, Herrick eighth grader, and Michaela, Herrick seventh grader
Second Place: Jasmine, O'Neill eighth grader
Honorable Mentions: Julia, Herrick seventh grader; Lores, Herrick seventh grader; and Charlie, Herrick seventh grader
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Herrick students publish online literary journal, The Chameleon
 Herrick students in Jennifer Tartaglione's gifted ELA classroom combined creativity, teamwork and a lot of hard work to create The Chameleon, an online literary jou
rnal that features written, visual and audio works created by Herrick and O'Neill students.
"The Chameleon will be posting a variety of content that fits within our new theme each month," said seventh grader Ceci. "Not only will students have a chance to publish their writing pieces, but they will also get a chance to publish artwork and other forms of multimedia like podcasts."
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O'Neill eighth grade boys volleyball wins conference championship
Congratulations to the O'Neill eighth grade boys volleyball team for winning the conference championship!
Coach Elle Reitsma contributed a guest column celebrating the boys and offering an inside glance at the team.
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Indian Trail kindergarteners achieve challenging writing goal
Indian Trail kindergarten teacher Kristy Hopkins set an ambitious goal for her students last fall. She aimed to get
all her students to independently write four sentences on one subject by the end of the school year.
"When kids enter kindergarten, their writing skills vary widely," Mrs. Hopkins said. "Some students can write words. Other students have never written a single letter and need to learn the basics. My goal set a high bar for all students, but my students love learning and worked hard to achieve it!"
Mrs. Hopkins used District 58's rigorous new English-Language Arts curriculum resource, Benchmark Advance, to guide her writing instruction. Finally, last week, she felt her students were ready and challenged them to write a four-sentence story about their favorite season.
Every kindergartener in her classroom achieved this goal!
"I am so thrilled and proud of my students!" Mrs. Hopkins said. "It's amazing to see the progress they made."
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Lester fifth graders host Mix-It-Up Day to build school community
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Ms. Arlow's fifth graders after a successful Mix-It-Up Day event!
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Ms. Doreen Arlow's fifth graders are
mixing things up! These Lester students joined Our American Voice, a national educational program that teaches civics and empowers students to organize an action project that improves their school or community.
For their action project, Ms. Arlow's students chose to hold a
Mix-It-Up Day at lunchtime. This project encourages students to sit with someone new at lunch and strike up a conversation. Its goal is to get students to move outside their comfort zones and befriend someone who might not have as many friends.
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El Sierra Watch DOGS invites
dads into the classroom
Now in its second year, El Sierra's Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) Program has established its place as a favorite school program.
Watch DOGS is a national program that encourages dads and other male role models to volunteer in their child's classroom and school. At El Sierra, Watch DOGS enjoy welcoming children into school, helping with announcements and working with students in small groups. The Watch DOG can also eat lunch with his child and play outside at recess time.
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Highland donates $5,500 to Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation
 The Highland Student Council hoped to raise $3,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation during their Pennies for Patients fundraiser. Instead, they smashed their goal, raising an incredible $5,490.84!
Every student who donated $1 to the fundraiser earned the opportunity to duct tape PE Teacher Mr. Kyle Winter to the wall. That was a LOT of duct tape! To celebrate exceeding their goal, the students celebrated by silly stringing their principal, Mrs. Bridget Moore.
Thanks for being great sports, Mr. Winter and Mrs. Moore, and thanks for your generosity, Highland community!
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District 58 emailed new community e-flyers to all parents on
April 16. E-flyers are also posted on the District 58 e-flyer page at
dg58.org/e-flyers/ and listed below.
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District 58 on social media
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News from the Board of Education
The Board of Education held a regular meeting on Monday, April 9.
The meeting featured a Strategic Plan presentation and a 1:1 device refresh discussion
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Upcoming Board meetings
Monday, April 23
7 p.m.
Budget Workshop at the Longfellow Center
Monday, May 14
7 p.m.
Regular Board Meeting at the DG Village Hall
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Jobs at District 58
 District 58 is hiring several teaching and staff positions for the 2018-19 school year! We seek dedicated, passionate and hard-working staff to serve our students. Does this sound like you?
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Sixth Grade
Parent Night
Sixth grade parents are invited to their child's future middle school to meet the principal and teachers, learn more about the curriculum and tour the school.
Herrick's Sixth Grade Parent Night is Tuesday, April 24 from 7-8:30 p.m.
O'Neill's Sixth Grade Parent Night at Tuesday, May 1 from 7-8:30 p.m.
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Honor an employee with a Green Apple
Do you know a District 58 employee who exceeds expectations? Thank them for their service with a Green Apple Award!
Green Apple Awards are delivered to the recipient by Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli or the principal and a photo of the honored staff member is shared on District 58's Facebook page. Contributors can also write a personalized message with their Green Apple.
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Families invited to Founders Day Family Bike Ride
The Downers Grove Historical Society invites families to explore Downers Grove during the annual Founders Day Family Bike Ride on Saturday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to noon, starting at Fishel Park. The free eight-mile guided ride will take families on a historical journey, past 11 Downers Grove landmarks, including Pierce Downer's house, the Maple Grove Forest Preserve, the Downers Grove Golf Club and more.
Bike trailers are welcome, and helmets are required. Registration is free and takes place at Fishel Park, immediately before the ride.
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DG Craft Fair benefits schools
Shop local and support your schools! The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 and the Downers Grove Junior Woman's Club will host the Downers Grove Handmade Market Craft Fair on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at O'Neill Middle School.
Guests can browse handmade masterpieces from more than 80 artisans! The $2 entry fee will benefit both organizations' programs. See you there!
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District Calendar
Monday, April 23
7-8 p.m.
North Side 5th and 6th Grade Band Concert at Herrick
Tuesday, April 24
7-8:30 p.m.
Sixth Grade Parent Night at Herrick
Tuesday, April 24
7-8 p.m.
South Side 4th Grade Orchestra and Chamber Strings Concert at O'Neill
Wednesday, April 25
7-8:30 p.m.
Downers Grove Children's Chorus Concert at Herrick
Thursday, April 26
8-10:30 a.m.
Realtor-School District Breakfast at Downers Grove South
Thursday, April 26
9 a.m.
Kindergarten Roundup at Hillcrest School
Thursday, April 26
Varied evening times
Spring Open House at Belle Aire, Fairmount, Highland, Indian Trail, Lester, Pierce Downer and Whittier
Thursday, April 26
7-8:30 p.m.
Herrick Chamber Ensembles Concert at Herrick
Friday, April 27
School Improvement Day: Half day of school for students (a.m. only)
Friday, April 27
9:30 a.m.
Kindergarten Roundup at Kingsley School
Tuesday, May 1
7-8:30 p.m.
Sixth Grade Parent Night at O'Neill
Thursday, May 3
Varied evening times
Spring Open House at El Sierra, Hillcrest, Henry Puffer and Kingsley
Thursday, May 3
7-8:30 p.m.
Vocal Recital Night at Herrick
May 7-11
Teacher Appreciation Week
Wednesday, May 9
6-8 p.m.
Select 58 Recognition Banquet at
Herrick
Thursday, May 10
5:30-7 p.m.
Extend Program Open House at Pierce Downer
Tuesday, May 15
3:45-5:30 p.m.
Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony at Ashyana Banquets
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Mission
The mission of District 58, in partnership with parents and community, is to challenge and engage each child by providing quality educational programs and support services in a safe, nurturing, and child-centered environment in order to prepare all students to be lifelong learners and contributing members of a global society.
Communicate 58 shares timely, relevant information about District 58 with parents, community members and others who are interested in how we are living out our mission. If you have any questions/comments regarding Communicate 58, or have an article/photo idea for the publication, please contact Community Relations Coordinator Megan Hewitt at mhewitt@dg58.org or 630-719-5805.
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