About the cover photos: Left: At left, Fairmount students created affirmation posters to thank Jack and the Helping Hand Center for a great presentation on Autism Awareness. At right, Hillcrest students make “tornadoes” as part of a visit from Science Made Fun.

Throughout this publication, you will see the following color-coded dots beside each article. The dots represent which strategic goal the article addresses:

• Focusing on Learning • Connecting the Community • Securing the Future

Have feedback regarding Communicate 58? Click here!

Please take this 9-minute survey

Dear Families and Community Partners,

As we begin Strategic Planning, we would like your assistance to help shape/set the direction of Downers Grove Grade School District 58 for the next five years. One of the ways we are asking for feedback from the community is through an online survey. The results of the survey will assist us in setting goals that will guide us from 2023-2028.

The Strategic Plan is a long-range plan and framework through which the district ensures the academic success of each student. Your collaboration and input into this framework are extremely important to the successful outcome of this plan. 

The last Strategic Plan was very successful thanks to strong staff and community input. The District’s focus on the next plan is to build on the many achievements of the 2017-23 Plan. 

The survey has six categories: General questions plus the five Key Focus Areas for the next strategic plan, as denoted with an asterisk. They are as follows:

• General questions
• Background information
• Vision, Mission, and Core Values
• Focusing on Learning (Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment) *
• Connecting the Community (Relationships and Communications) *
• Securing the Future (Finance and Facilities) *
• Building for Success (Implement new K-5, 6-8 models) * 
• Cultivating Talent (Personnel, Stakeholders, Students) *

The survey should take approximately nine minutes to complete. 

Please take the survey here.

Please complete the survey by Monday, May 3. The survey data will be summarized and forwarded to the Strategic Planning Committee, a diverse group of 50-75 individuals, comprised of parents, teachers, staff, administrators, business and civic leaders and community members. 

The Planning Committee will meet over two evenings, from 6-9:30 p.m. Monday, May 15 and Tuesday, May 16 at O’Neill Middle School, to discuss results and develop strategic goals. If you are interested in serving on the Planning Committee, please complete this Interest Form here. We hope to have a diverse cross-section of the community and will notify you of your involvement by May 1. 

Your voice is essential in helping create goals and action steps for the Strategic Plan. Thank you for completing the survey and your help in ensuring that we continue to build a culture of “continuous improvement.”

Sincerely,

Dr. Kevin Russell

Superintendent of Schools

Please join us in congratulating 23 staff members who were nominated for a Distinguished Service Award (DSA) this year! The District 58 Education Foundation sponsors the award and will honor the nominees and announce two winners at a ceremony after school on Thursday, May 15. The 23 were nominated by community members who wrote an essay documenting what makes the nominees deserving of the honor. 

• Emily Anzelmo, Speech Language Pathologist, Indian Trail
• Jon Belonio, Art teacher, Fairmount/Hillcrest
• Jennifer Blair, Instructional Assistant, Pierce Downer
• Shor Costello, 4th grade teacher, Highland
• Monica Eilers, 5th grade teacher, Pierce Downer
• Kimberly Fisher, 1st grade teacher, Lester
• Joan Gard, Instructional Assistant, O’Neill
• Lauren Gryczewski, DLP Teacher, Hillcrest
• Cori Holtze, Resource teacher, Highland
• Ashley Honn, Library Intervention, Henry Puffer
• Kristina Hopkins, Kindergarten teacher, Indian Trail
• Karen Kroll, 1st grade teacher, Fairmount
• Alicia Micele, Kindergarten Teacher, Fairmount
• Heather O'Donnell, Secretary, Pierce Downer
• Alecia Probst, PreK teacher, Indian Trail
• Marissa Remus, Kindergarten teacher
• Carrie Redpath, 2nd grade teacher, Hillcrest
• Michelle Rzepka, Principal, Hillcrest
• Kate Salsbury, 6th grade teacher, Lester
• Colleen Sullivan, 2nd grade teacher, Whittier
• Julie Walters, 2nd grade teacher, Highland
• Mindy Werner, Speech Language Pathologist, Henry Puffer
• Lauren Wilson, Preschool teacher, Henry Puffer

Kingsley School’s 5th grade students in Mr. Dennis's class made their TV debut as part of a series by ABC7 Chicago Meteorologist Tracy Butler on severe weather. The visit was taped in February and aired on Saturday. The class was featured on a segment on increasingly severe weather.

The students were thrilled to learn, listen and ask questions about meteorology, weather patterns, climate change and what to do when you're caught in severe weather. Take a peek. Kingsley students are featured at minute 9:45. 

As we continue planning for major construction in all of our buildings over the next four years, we will provide you with regular updates via the Board Briefs, this newsletter and our website. Since the passage of the referendum in November 2022, substantial planning work needs to be done before construction begins in the spring/summer of 2024. Work in 2023 has been and will continue to focus on developing conceptual designs, conducting traffic studies, submitting necessary permits and developing schematic designs. Phase I construction will begin in the summer of 2024 in six schools, as noted in the April 10 Board Briefs.

The Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs welcomes families and community members to the Author Fest Book Signing and Photo Opportunity on Friday, April 28. The event will be held 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 5112 Main St., Downers Grove. 

The event will feature four children's authors – Dusti Bowling, Liesl Shurtliff, David Biedrzycki and Troy Cummings. 

Earlier in the week, all District 58 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders met one of these authors to hear insights about the writing/illustration process. Small groups of students were also able to have lunch with an author for informal discussions. 

Author Fest is an annual event sponsored by the Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs with support from the District 58 Education Foundation. 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. Read more.

En español

Update on gifted and accelerated placement communications•

Accelerated communications grades 3-7

On Wednesday, April 26, we will send communication to the families of all newly single- or double-accelerated students currently in grades 3-7, as well as the families of students who were invited to take an additional assessment but were not successful in that assessment. Any families of students in grades 3-7 who do not receive a communication on April 26 should generally assume that their student will progress to the next sequential year of math instruction.

Gifted communications

On Wednesday, May 10, we will send communication to the families of all newly eligible students for gifted programming. This will include students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade for next year's elementary program, and students in 6th and 7th grade for next year's middle school program. Students in grades 4, 5 and 7 who are currently in the program remain eligible for next year and will not receive a separate communication.  

Accelerated communications grade 2

On Wednesday, May 31, we will send communication to the families of all newly accelerated students in 2nd grade. We wait for the spring MAP scores for 2nd grade students to determine eligibility, which is why this timeline is delayed.  

Please don't hesitate to reach out to Justin Sisul at [email protected] in the Curriculum Department with any questions.

April is the time for incoming 3rd and 4th-grade students to consider whether to select an instrument to play for next year. Parents were recently sent an email with details about the music program in District 58, including Frequently Asked Questions and the steps to sign up. 

Parents are invited to an informational meeting on Thursday, May 4 in the Herrick Middle School cafeteria:

• Beginning orchestra meeting (for 3rd grade parents) will begin at 6:30 p.m.
• Beginning band meeting (for 4th grade parents) will begin at 7:30 p.m. 

Each meeting will last approximately one hour. There, you will learn about selecting an instrument, how to register for band or orchestra, and arranging to rent an instrument for your child. 

Later this month, band and orchestra teachers will be meeting with all 3rd and 4th-grade students to demonstrate and talk about the different instruments offered in the program. Students will be encouraged to think about the instruments they like the most and why they like them. Learn more.

The Herrick Chamber Strings is used to performing popular, classical, world music and other genres but has never before performed one of their peers’ compositions. On April 13, the group performed an original composition by 8th grader Alice Klibanov. Alice composed “Complicated Cubular Canter” along with her brother Dean. The piece was composed specifically for the Chamber Strings to perform for the community. The composition is a rendition of the fiddle tune “Simple Square Dance” and includes challenging rhythms and motifs. Here’s a link to that special segment of their performance. Pictured above at left is Alice Klibanov and at right is the Chamber performing.

With the start of Spring, we hope that the inclement weather is behind us and do not expect to use any emergency days for the remainder of this school year. As such, the last day of school will be Wednesday, June 7, 2023. As in past years, the last day for students in grades K-8 will be a half day. The elementary schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m. and the middle schools will dismiss at 11:45 a.m. The last day for the Grove Preschool programs will also be Wednesday, June 7. 

Downers Grove Village Manager Dave Fieldman was honored by the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), DuPage County region, for his contribution to the success of School District 58. “Dave Fieldman embodies the term public servant,” said Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell, who nominated him for the honor. “In addition to his role at the village, he is also a tremendous partner to the students, staff and families of District 58.” Dr. Russell highlighted his responsiveness to District 58 and noted his collaborative efforts in building a shared Civic Center, which will house the village administration, police department as well as District 58 administrative center. Currently, District 58 rents space in an office complex. “Without Dave’s forward thinking and creativity, this new facility would not have been possible,” said Dr. Russell.

"Keeping Our Kids Cyber Safe" is the subject of a presentation sponsored by the Downers Grove PTA Council. The program will be held 6:30-8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17 at O’Neill Middle School, 635 59th St, Downers Grove.

High Technology Cyber Crimes Specialist Richard Wistocki will present proactive strategies, expert insight, and invaluable resources designed to empower you to combat cyberbullying and sexting. He will discuss gaming platforms, social media and rules for your household. All parents, guardians, teachers and grandparents are welcome to attend. RSVPs are requested but aren’t required. Learn more.

Sixth graders traveled to Camp Manitoqua in Frankfort, IL., for a day-long Outdoor Education experience this week after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The days were spent in team building activities and hands-on science, including a hike observing animal tracks and trees and learning about the food chain and decomposition. Students also learned orienteering, how to use a compass and read a map in addition to fun, team activities such as a slingshot paintball biathlon, a crate stacking competition, and a team balance challenge, among others. While this year’s trip was not overnight, it meets most of the goals of the district’s traditional 2 ½ day Outdoor Education experience. Due to the continued uncertainty of COVID, planning for this year’s trip didn’t begin until fall. This year's trip will be evaluated along with a number of other options in order to plan next year’s Outdoor Ed. Thursday's outing was rescheduled due to expected thunderstorms.

Check out the gallery of photos.

• Congratulations to board members Emily Hanus, Kirat Doshi and Steve Olczyk on being elected to the Board for another four-year term during the April 4 election. The three will be sworn in at the Board’s reorganization meeting in May. 

• The Board of Education held a Regular Meeting on Monday, April 10. The meeting featured a Belle Aire presentation, an update on the District Equity Leadership Team and facilities planning update. View the Board Briefs.

Looking Ahead: The Board will hold a Financial Workshop on Monday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at O'Neill Middle School. The Board will hold its Financial Advisory Committee at 7 a.m. on Friday, April 28 at O’Neill Middle School. The next regular business meeting will be held on Monday, May 8 at Downers Grove Village Hall.

District 58 includes relevant e-flyers in the Communicate 58 newsletter and online. Learn more.

• Author Fest and April 28 Book Signing
• Keeping Our Kids Safe Presentation May 17
• 2023 Founder Day Events
• DGS Dance Team tryouts May 8-11
• Summer 23 Scavenger Hunt