Thursday, April 18

Northside 5th and 6th Grade Band Concert

7 p.m. Herrick Middle School

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Thursday, April 18

Southside 4th and 6th Grade Orchestra

7 p.m. O’Neill Middle School 

Tuesday, April 23

Open House: Belle Aire, Henry Puffer, Highland, Lester, Pierce Downer, Whittier

6-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 24

Herrick Chamber Ensembles Concert

7 p.m. Herrick Middle School

Wednesday, April 24

O’Neill Chamber Ensembles Concert

7 p.m. O’Neill Middle School

Thursday, April 25

Open House: El Sierra, Fairmount, Hillcrest, Kingsley, Indian Trail

6-7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 26

Author Fest Book Signing

5-7 p.m. Anderson’s Bookshop

Monday, April 29

Select 58 Awards Ceremony

6:30 p.m. Herrick Middle School

Thursday, May 2

Beginning Band/Orchestra Parent Meeting

6:30 p.m. (Band – 4th grade) Herrick

7:30 p.m. (Orchestra – 3rd grade) Herrick

Tuesday, May 7

Incoming 7th Grade Parent Night

6:30-7:30 p.m. Herrick, O’Neill 

Wednesday, May 8

DGCC Choir Concert

7 p.m. O’Neill

Click here to view the 2023-24 calendar.

Click here to view the 2024-25 calendar

Click here to view the 2025-26 calendar

Superintendent’s Message •••••

Dear District 58 Families,

I hope this message finds you well. I am thankful the weather has started to get nicer so we can get outside to enjoy spring. It’s hard to believe that May and the end of the school year are right around the corner.

State Assessments

Every spring, all school districts across Illinois take mandatory state assessments. State assessments have concluded (except make-ups). We truly appreciate your flexibility and efforts to ensure your child(ren) was prepared. The State of Illinois will publish the results of these tests in late October or early November. As always, we will share the results with all stakeholders. Additionally, we will present the results at the November Board meeting. These results will help drive our school improvement process and we will continue to replicate areas of success and focus on areas of growth.

Construction is Underway

The last few weeks have been very busy across the District and especially at the two middle schools. Construction has officially begun and there is a great deal of work taking place. Bulley & Andrews, the District’s construction management firm, has set up dashboards with webcams at both middle schools so the public and staff can monitor the construction progress. Additionally, you will find a wealth of information on the District’s website under the “Building for Success” tab. Below are the live links to the webcams at the middle school.

• Herrick Dashboard
• O’Neill Dashboard

Elementary Lunch Update

In addition to the various construction projects called for in the referendum, the District also seeks to upgrade the elementary schools so we can offer hot lunch. Meals would be prepared at the new middle school kitchens and then served via a satellite system to the elementary schools. Since constructing elementary school warming kitchens was not in original referendum plans, the funds for this would come from “referendum contingencies.” Also, since the District will be completing its first of three phases of major work this summer, it is too early to dip into contingencies.  (As with any construction project, we need to ensure that there are no unforeseen construction-related events this summer and believed that a delay was the most fiscally prudent action). While the District was hoping to provide this service in the fall of 2025, it is likely that we will be unable to finalize everything until the fall of 2026. This will coincide with the completion of all schools. The District will begin designing the new kitchen spaces for the elementary schools in line with the final group of schools. This will ensure we do not spend contingency funds too early in the construction process. In the interim, the District will continue to work with its vendors to provide a grab-and-go lunch option for elementary students. 

Support the Education Foundation of District 58!

We are very fortunate to have the support of the Education Foundation of District 58. This Foundation helps our students and staff thrive through its generous support. Over the past 20 years, the Foundation has given back over $2 million to our 13 schools. The Foundation supports many wonderful programs including, but not limited to teacher grants, Sneak Preview, the District 58 Distinguished Service Awards, Select 58 and family education opportunities. It does this by hosting robust fundraising events like Oktoberfest, the Grove Express, the Harlem Wizards games and the Green Apple Awards. Additionally, the Education Foundation continues to organize new fundraising events to ensure that students and staff benefit from new curricular enhancements and experiences. 

One of the new fundraising events is Bougie Bingo. Please consider supporting the Foundation by participating in this year’s Bougie Bingo event on Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m. This fun event will take place at the Moose Lodge and will be filled with community members throughout District 58. Click here for more information.

At last week’s Board meeting, I had the privilege of recognizing the good work of the Education Foundation, including the DSA recognition program, January’s Teacher Grant Award winners and fundraisers. I would like to thank you for your continued involvement in the Foundation and also thank the Foundation for its unwavering support of our schools. We are very fortunate to have such caring school and community members supporting our work on behalf of our students.

Distinguished Service Awards Nominees

I'm thrilled to announce that this year, 35 staff members from District 58 have been nominated for the Distinguished Service Award (DSA)! Congratulations to all of you! These 35 individuals were nominated by members of the District 58 community who shared compelling essays outlining why they believe the nominees are deserving of this honor. The Education Foundation sponsors the award and the winners will be celebrated at a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on May 15 at O’Neill Middle School. During the ceremony, the two winners will be publicly announced. Congratulations to the nominees: 

Teachers

• Carly Alfieri, Kingsley, BEST Teacher
• Valerie McKinley, Indian Trail, RISE Teacher
• Taylor Carroll, Indian Trail, 4th grade teacher
• Megan Gilbert, Indian Trail, Kindergarten teacher
• Colleen Brejcha, Fairmount, 6th grade teacher
• Katie Main, Fairmount, 1st grade teacher
• Laura Novotny, Lester, 1st grade teacher
• Jon Vidovic, Herrick, Resource teacher
• Rachel Bush, Kingsley, 1st grade teacher
• Ashley Quill, Whittier, 1st grade teacher
• Jenna Smitley, Whittier, 4th grade teacher
• Katie Hurckes, Indian Trail, Interventionist
• Matthew D'Angelo, Hillcrest, 4th grade teacher
• Katherine Falk, Fairmount, 5th grade teacher
• Matthew Leiser, Lester, 2nd grade teacher
• Katie Porter, Whittier, Resource teacher
• Toni Belken, Henry Puffer, Preschool teacher
• Barb Manley, O’Neill, Family/Consumer Science teacher

Teachers (continued)

• Andrew Schmidt, Herrick, Math teacher
• Tracy Rasmussen, Kingsley, Resource teacher
• Katharine Gaudio, Highland, 3rd grade teacher
• Kimberly Musial, Highland, 2nd grade teacher
• Kimberly Fisher, Lester,1st grade teacher
• Lisa Rose, Belle Aire, Highland, Pierce Downer, Whittier, Orchestra teacher

Staff

• Jennifer Mejdrech, Fairmount, Social Worker
• Amy D'Amico and Marybeth Giuffre, Belle Aire, Secretaries
• Maria Ramirez, Whittier, Head Custodian
• Lauren Prosser, El Sierra, Fairmount, Whittier, Puffer, Instructional Coach
• Christine Priester, District Office, Curriculum Coordinator
• Sara Felker, Whittier, Social Worker
• Ann Brinkman, Erin Blank, Addie Pampalone; Hillcrest, Nursing staff
• Marie McMaster, Indian Trail, Nurse

Thank you

On a personal note, I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support you've shown my family during my wife’s pancreatic cancer battle. Your kindness, love and encouragement have been a beacon of strength for us during this challenging time. 

Whether it was a comforting word, a thoughtful gesture, or simply being there to listen, your support has meant more to us than words can express. Your presence has made a world of difference, reminding us that we are never alone.

As my family continues to navigate through these difficult days, please know that your support continues to uplift us and give us hope. We are eternally grateful for each and every one of you.

With sincere appreciation,



Dr. Kevin B. Russell

PHOTO GALLERY: Northside Elementary Musical •••

Third and Fourth rocked the stage in the Northside Musical April 11! Shoutout to Mr. Kirby, Ms. Patton, Ms. Sheldon and Mr. Williams for their guidance and support. Check out more photos from the magical evening and a glimpse behind the scenes during rehearsals!

PHOTO GALLERY: Outdoor Education at Lorado Taft ••

Hands-On Learning, exploration and team building

The Outdoor Education day-long trip to Lorado Taft offered sixth graders a blend of hands-on learning, outdoor exploration and teamwork. The field trip focuses on three areas:

Geology - Students study the life cycle of rocks through activities and games in the deep gully where ancient glaciers melted. They are encouraged to hunt for fossils and investigate the forces of weathering and erosion.

Forest Ecology - Students hike through the diverse habitats of trails, including pine and hardwood forests, meadow, prairie and gully while learning about trees, soils, wildlife and water that interact to make the forest community.

Team Building - Through games and activities, students learn the importance of working in a group and using skills such as trust, communication, cooperation and problem-solving. Students go through activities and games designed to facilitate teamwork.

Elementary schools are teamed up with other District 58 elementary schools that will feed into the same middle school. The last two schools – El Sierra and Kingsley – are scheduled to attend Lorado Taft today (Wednesday, April 17). Lorado Taft is a field campus of Northern Illinois University and is located in Oregon, Illinois.

Check out more photos in the District 58 Photo Gallery.

Six students advance to national level in PTA Reflections contest ••

Congratulations to the record six District 58 students who advanced to the National Level for their entries in the PTA Reflections competition. They were among 27 entries that advanced to the national level.

Advanced to National Level

• Sydney M. (5th grade, Highland) – Dance Choreography, “finding strength”
• Zachary Y. (8th grade, Herrick) – Dance Choreography, “Friends”
• Anneliese M. (Kindergarten, Pierce Downer) – Film Production, “Snow”
• Mitchell O. (2nd grade Lester) – Literature, “Hope on a Boat”
• Lissette A. (2nd grade, Henry Puffer) – Visual Arts, “Our Home,” which is pictured above
• Sadie S. (7th grade, Herrick) – Visual Arts, “clear skies”

Additionally, congratulations to State Honorable Mention Lydia O. (Kindergarten, Lester) for her entry “A Little Hand Full of Hope. ”

The National PTA will review each student's work and announce national-level awards after May 1. Students whose projects advanced to the state level (announced in the Feb. 7 issue of Communicate) have been invited to the PTA’s state-wide Reflections celebration, on May 18 at Champaign High School in Champaign. 

The theme for the 2024-25 Reflections program is "Accepting Imperfection." Students are encouraged to look for inspiration over the summer and start thinking about their next entry, which will be due in late October 2024. Chairing the Downers Grove PTA Reflections are Johanna Lewandowski and Jacque Morgan.

Open House benefits parent/school/child connection; Join us! •

Open House is a chance to visit your child’s school, connect with teachers and staff and tour your child’s classroom. It is also a great opportunity to view and discuss your child’s work together with your student and let your child guide you around the building and tell you about his/her school experience. Open House is also an opportunity to meet other parents and form a stronger school-home connection.

Open Houses are held at every elementary school. See the schedule below:

Tuesday, April 23

6-7:30 p.m.

Belle Aire, Henry Puffer, Highland, Lester, Pierce Downer, Whittier

Thursday, April 25

6-7:30 p.m.

Fairmount, Hillcrest, El Sierra, Kingsley, Indian Trail

Are your 3rd and 4th grade students interested in playing a band/orchestsra instrument next year? •••

Parents of 3rd and 4th graders are invited to an band/orchestra informational meeting on Thursday, May 2 to learn about selecting an instrument, how to register for band or orchestra, and arranging to rent an instrument for your child. The beginning band meeting (for 4th grade parents) will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the beginning orchestra meeting (for 3rd grade parents) will begin at 7:30 p.m. Both will last about one hour and be held at Herrick Middle School.

Instrumental music teachers will be meeting with all 3rd and 4th grade students to demonstrate and talk about the different instruments offered in the band and orchestra program. Students will be encouraged to think about the instruments they like the most and why they like them. Please read the letter sent to parents about the District 58 Instrumental Music Program.

Calling all incoming 7th grade parents •••

Herrick and O’Neill Middle Schools look forward to meeting incoming 7th grade families for the 2024-25 school year! As a first step, parents have been invited to "Incoming Seventh Grade Parent Night" at your child’s respective middle school, Herrick or O’Neill, on Tuesday, May 7 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. An email was sent to families earlier this year outlining transition activities and middle school information. Please check your emails for future updates from principals Dr. David Norman (Herrick) and Ms. Lauryn Humphris (O’Neill) on additional PTA and school activities. You can also register now for Sneak Preview, a summer transition program for incoming 7th grade Herrick and O’Neill students.  

We want your input! Watch for the survey this week ••

Parents and staff will be invited to take two short surveys to help Downers Grove Grade School District 58 improve its efforts regarding communications and its extra curricular offerings for students. Both surveys grew out of the Strategic Plan and will help us with future decision-making. 

Watch for an upcoming email that will be sent to all families this week. As with all surveys, once results are analyzed and reported to the Board of Education, they will be posted on the District’s survey page.

We're here to support you in registering your child •

April 8 was the deadline in which we asked families to register for the coming year. If you haven’t registered, please do so as soon as possible by clicking here. If you are having trouble registering, we are happy to help you. Please call your child’s school or plan to attend Registration Support Night (español), which is being offered to assist all District 58 families who have not yet registered. It will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 29 at El Sierra School. No appointment is necessary. There will be assistance in Spanish. Please make sure you have the necessary documents. See the registration page for details. 

Education Foundation of District 58 invites you to Bougie Bingo •

Grab a friend and come on down to the “Moose” for a fun evening of laughter, prizes and the spirit of giving back! The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 is holding Bougie Bingo, a fundraiser to benefit District 58. Join us at the first annual Bougie event to raise money to enhance educational opportunities for the students of District 58.

Date: Friday, May 3

Venue: Loyal Order of Moose, 1030 Warren Avenue, Downers Grove

Time: 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Students to meet authors and illustrators at schools •••

Author Fest is back!

The District 58 Author Fest Book Signing and Photo Opportunity is back again this year on Friday, April 26. The favorite annual event is sponsored by the Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs with support from the Education Foundation of District 58 and the Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club. The event is open to the community and will be held 5-7 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 5112 Main St., Downers Grove. 

The event will feature three children's authors – Greg Pizzoli, Jasmine Warga and Kate Hannigan. 

Earlier in the week, all District 58 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders will meet with one of the three authors to hear insights about the writing/illustration process. Small groups of students will also meet the author during a special lunch/discussion as part of Author Fest.

Twenty percent of every book purchased for the book signing at Anderson's will come back to the PTA Council to be used for future district-wide programming, including Author Fest. 

Please take our Special Services Survey ••

District 58 invites families to complete its Student Services survey.

This optional short survey will help District 58 better understand the scope of its needs in the following service areas: guidance and school counseling services, psychological services, social work and health. Take the one-minute survey here. 

Dual Language Information Night for Kindergarten families••

If you would like to learn more about the District’s Dual Language program, plan to attend the April 29 Information Night for incoming Kindergarten students. Students in District 58’s Dual Language Program receive instruction in both English and Spanish and experience the same classes and content as students in general education.

The information night will be held at El Sierra School from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and will be conducted in both English and Spanish.

English Flyer

Spanish Flyer

Parent workshops by Glenbard Parent Series ••

6-7 p.m. Thursday, April 18: “Estrategias para ser la madre/el padre que quieres ser” / “Strategies to be the mother/father you want to be.” Presented in Spanish only, in-person at the Glenbard North High School Library.

Noon, Tuesday, April 23: “How to Talk to Kids About Anything and Make Tough Talks Easier” by Dr. Robyn Silverman. Zoom link at gps.org

Programs are free and open to the public. No registration is required. Click here to see the 2023-24 schedule. 

Founder’s Fest

The Downers Grove Historical Society in partnership with the Downers Grove Museum has planned a week’s worth of entertainment and family-friendly educational events during this year’s 2023 Founders Fest. Whether you enjoy local history, golf, biking or walking, there is something for everyone. The event series takes place April 27 – May 4 and most events are free. More information is at https://dghistory.org/foundersfest-2024-news/

Downers Grove Grade School District 58

2300 Warrenville Road, Suite 200NE, Downers Grove, IL 60515

Community Relations Office: 630-719-5805 I fbehr@dg58.org | www.dg58.org

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