Volume 13, Issue 1 | Friday, Aug. 13, 2021
Dear District 58 Community,

Welcome to Communicate 58 newsletter! District 58 publishes Communicate 58 every two weeks during the school year. While today's issue is coming out on a Friday, you can expect future issues on alternating Wednesdays. Communicate 58 shares important District news, celebrations, calendar reminders and links to recent District messages that you may have missed. You can view newsletter archives, along with other District 58 communications, by visiting www.dg58.org and hovering over the “Engagement” tab. The next Communicate 58 will be published Wednesday, Aug. 25.

In addition to Communicate 58, every principal sends a weekly school newsletter. 

Please read on to learn about an optional and free COVID testing opportunity and a voluntary proof of vaccination option that will be available to students and staff this school year. Today’s newsletter also shares helpful back-to-school information and a quick recap of recent District 58 communications. Thanks for reading, and welcome to the 2021-22 school year!
A guide to reading Communicate 58
In this publication, you will see the following color-coded dots beside each article. The dots represent which strategic goal the article addresses. Have feedback regarding Communicate 58? Click here!

• Focusing on Learning • Connecting the Community • Securing the Future
DISTRICT 58 NEWS
District 58 offers optional COVID-19 testing option
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends regular testing as an effective COVID-19 prevention strategy. Regular testing helps schools promptly identify asymptomatic individuals to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

This school year, unvaccinated District 58 students and staff can participate in optional weekly free PCR COVID-19 testing. Northshore Clinical Laboratories will facilitate this testing. Northshore is a CLIA-licensed lab that has serviced diagnostic needs for Chicagoland physicians and medical providers for nearly 30 years, and they currently provide COVID-19 testing services for several local school districts. Northshore will maintain strict confidentiality of all information, data and/or records relating to District 58 students and staff.

District 58 also is exploring a “test to stay” option. If the Health Department approves it, this option could permit unvaccinated students who are close contacts to voluntarily get COVID-19 tested on a daily basis while still attending school, in lieu of quarantining.

Families, if you would like your child to participate in District 58’s optional COVID-19 testing program, please complete this brief form by Thursday, Aug. 19. District 58 staff: you will receive more information and a staff interest form at the end of next week. Additional information and an enrollment form will be shared if sufficient community interest is received.

Families can opt to share their child's vaccination card
District 58 invites families to voluntarily share an electronic image of their child’s vaccination card with their building’s health office. Providing proof of vaccination is not required. However, current CDC guidance excuses fully vaccinated individuals from having to quarantine unless symptomatic.

By sharing a copy of your child’s card, if your child is a close contact, having the vaccination card on hand will expedite the school’s investigation process. Copies of proof of vaccination will be kept in each student’s individual health file and treated in the same way as all health records.
Welcome back! Please note these key back-to-school dates
District 58 looks forward to welcoming all students to school! Please note the following back-to-school dates. Your school principal will also be sharing school-specific back-to-school information.

Tuesday, Aug. 17 at 11 a.m.: This is when student schedules and teacher assignments will be finalized and posted on the PowerSchool parent portal. Please note, any information you view on PowerSchool prior to this date and time is not official and may change as schedules are finalized. Your school will send a message on Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. with instructions on accessing the schedules in the parent portal.

Tuesday, Aug. 24 from 2:45-3:30 p.m.: All elementary schools will host “Meet & Greet” events. Your principal will email you more information.

Tuesday, Aug. 24 from 4:30-7 p.m.: Both middle schools will hold “Locker Setup Night.” Your principal will email more information.

Thursday, Aug. 26 is the first day of school for grades K-8, and it is a full day. Grove Children’s Preschool will hold “Meet and Greet” events on Aug. 26. A.M. preschool drop-in meet and greet sessions are from 8:45-9:45 a.m. and 10-11 a.m. and P.M. preschool drop-in sessions are from 12:15-1:15 p.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Please visit the District’s Back-to-School Toolkit for helpful information, such as school supply lists, curriculum night, health requirements and more. Will your child enter kindergarten? Visit our Kindergarten Resource Guide for information specific to kindergarten!
Bookmark District 58's school hours
District 58 has returned to its regular school schedule for the 2021-22 school year!

AM Preschool:
8:50-11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday

PM Preschool:
12:30-3:10 p.m., Monday through Friday

Kindergarten:
8:15-11:20 a.m., Monday through Friday

Grades 1-6 and Kindergarten with OKEEP:
8:15 a.m.-2 p.m. on Monday and 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday

Grades 7-8: 8:30 a.m.- 2:10 p.m. on Monday and 8:30 a.m.-3:17 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday. Early Bird classes (band, choir and orchestra) will take place from 7:45-8:25 a.m. Monday-Friday.
Need a job? District 58 is hiring!
jobs_and_careers.jpg
Looking for a full-time, part-time or flexible job? District 58 is hiring instructional assistants, lunchroom supervisors and substitutes for the 2021-22 school year. Instructional assistants earn $14.50/hour, and lunchroom supervisors earn $13.50/hour. Substitute teachers earn $140/day.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
We realize a lot of information was shared over the past two weeks. Here is a recap of recent District messages.
District 58 will require universal indoor mask usage
District 58 will follow the Governor’s Executive Action and require all students, staff and visitors to wear a mask while inside its schools, regardless of vaccination status. In addition, District 58 will maintain 3-foot social distance when possible and continue to implement enhanced cleaning protocols.


Read a recap of Monday's Board of Education meeting
The Board of Education met Monday, Aug. 9. Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell shared a report on cultural inquiries and equity, the mask mandate, the upcoming learning plan presentation, and the District’s draft e-learning plan. The Business Report covered summer construction, recent revenues, the tentative 2021-22 budget, the Longfellow sale resolution, administrative office lease and ASC renovations. The Board also voted to amend the 2021-22 calendar, approve a resolution for the sale of the Longfellow Center, sublease administrative office space, and renovate the ASC, among other actions. View the Board Briefs.
District seeks feedback on e-learning plan
District 58's Board of Education seeks community input as they consider the benefits and drawbacks of approving an official e-learning plan that could be used in lieu of emergency days. Such a plan could be used on days when school cannot be open in person, such as after a heavy snowfall.
District 58 created a draft e-learning plan, which the Board will vote on during their special meeting on Aug. 18. To help guide their decision, District 58 families and staff are invited to take a very short survey. Learn more, review the draft plan, and access survey links here.
Please take our lunch surveys
Attention middle school families! District 58 is planning logistics for middle school lunches. Please fill out this survey at your soonest convenience to help us plan. Thank you.

In addition, this school year, all District 58 children may receive free lunch while at school, regardless of income level. Schools sent (or will be sending) families a form to opt in to this free lunch program. Please complete this form as soon as possible to help our schools prepare.
District offices will be closed Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon
District 58’s school and administrative offices will be closed on Tuesday, Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. During this time, all staff will participate in a back-to-school training.

Our school offices are regularly open M-F from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Our administrative offices are regularly open M-F from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Downers Grove Oktoberfest is Sept. 17-18
Guest Bartender Night fundraiser is tonight
Save the date: The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 will host their annual Oktoberfest on Friday, Sept. 17 from 3:30-11 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 18 from 12-6 p.m. outside the Main Street train station. More information on this fun family-friendly event will be shared soon!

Parents and guardians: The Education Foundation will host a “Guest Bartender Night” tonight (Friday, Aug. 13) from 7-11 p.m. at the Fremont Bar & Grill, 1115 Fairview Ave., Westmont. All proceeds from this event will support the Education Foundation’s programs for District 58 students and staff. This event will include raffles and giveaways, as well as the official announcement of this year’s BIG NAME Oktoberfest music headliner!

Visit www.58foundation.net to learn more.
Community e-flyers
CALENDAR
Week of Aug. 16
New Teacher Week - Welcome to District 58!

Aug. 17-18
Sneak Preview middle school orientation at Herrick and O'Neill

Tuesday, Aug. 17
7 a.m.: BOE Policy Committee Meeting at the ASC
11 a.m.: Teacher assignments posted on PowerSchool parent portal

Wednesday, Aug. 18
6 p.m.: Special BOE Meeting at Downers Grove Village Hall

Monday, Aug. 23-24
Teacher Institute Days

Tuesday, Aug. 24
9 a.m.-noon: District 58 offices closed for training
2:45-3:30 p.m.: Elementary school "Meet and Greet"
4:30-7 p.m.: Middle school "Locker Setup Night"

Thursday, Aug. 26
First day of school (K-8): Full day
Varied times: Preschool "Meet and Greet"
Downers Grove Grade School District 58, 1860 63rd St., Downers Grove, IL 60516
Community Relations Office: 630-719-5805 I mhewitt@dg58.org | www.dg58.org