Throughout this publication, you will see the following
color-coded dots accompanying each article. They represent which District strategic goal the article addresses. Learn more about District 58's Strategic Plan at
www.dg58.org/vision58.
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Focusing on Learning
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Connecting the Community
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Securing the Future
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Excellence in DG58: A glimpse into the Gifted Program
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In a recent "Excellence in DG58"
episode, Superintendent Dr. Cremascoli visited Mrs. Calcagno's gifted classroom. Mrs. Calcagno and Instructional Coach Mrs. Ryder were co-teaching a lesson on sketchnotes! While Mrs. Calcagno read a story, students illustrated it with a sketchnote. This exercise helps students learn how to visually synthesize information using shapes, connectors and text. They did a great job! Watch this 2-minute video to see the Gifted Program in action.
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District begins water testing today
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Parents, staff will receive results in mid-November
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Last school year, District 58 started a
water testing program
to comply with a new state law. The District tested all school water fixtures for lead and reported results to parents and staff. The Buildings and Grounds team remediated water fixtures that showed any level of lead by removing or shutting off the fixture, replacing parts, or adding a filter, among other strategies.
In early 2018, the District’s Buildings and Grounds Department evaluated its remediation efforts by retesting water fixtures at four schools. The team used these initial re-testing results to better understand which remediation efforts worked best, and how to plan and budget for regular water testing and potential remediation.
District 58 is committed to providing its students, staff and school visitors with safe drinking water. This year's water testing will begin today, Tuesday, Oct. 30. An outside contractor, TEM Environmental, will retest water fixtures that were serviced or replaced last school year.
This testing will occur throughout this week, and District 58 expects to receive test results in mid-November. Once received, the District will email all parents and staff with water testing results, and will post these results on the water testing webpage at
www.dg58.org/watertesting
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If necessary, the team plans to conduct remediation work during Thanksgiving break.
Click here to learn more
about water testing in District 58. Additional information on lead in water can be found from the
EPA
, the
CDC
and the
Illinois Department of Public Health
. Those with additional questions about water testing may contact District 58’s Director of Buildings and Grounds Kevin Barto at 630-719-5858 for more information.
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Learn about
District
58 facility planning
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As described within the 2018-22 Strategic Plan, District 58 is developing a focused and long-term facility improvement plan that ensures safe, modernized and effective learning environments for all students. A new Facility Planning Council has been working hard to accomplish this goal. Learn more about District 58's facility planning at
https://dg58.org/facility-planning/
. This page includes many facility planning resources, enrollment trends, past Board presentations and more!
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District 58 students selected to perform in ILMEA festivals
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Congratulations to the 28 students -- 13 from Herrick, 13 from O'Neill, one from Lester and one from El Sierra -- who will perform in the prestigious ILMEA music and jazz festivals next month!
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Illinois Report Cards
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The State will publish its 2018 Illinois Report Card for each school on Oct. 31. The report card will include a snapshot of student growth and success.
Learn more, including a parent forum schedule for each school.
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District 58 is hiring instructional assistants
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Looking for a job? District 58 seeks instructional assistants to support classroom instruction! There are open positions at several District 58 schools.
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Upcoming surveys
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Heads up: District 58 will administer its annual parent school environment survey and the State's 5Essentials survey for teachers, students (grades 4-8) and parents next month. More information will be shared soon.
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Excellence in DG58: Social-emotional learning at El Sierra
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Did you know that District 58's curriculum includes social-emotional learning at all grade levels? For example, elementary classrooms start their day with a morning meeting that welcomes everyone and sets the tone for a positive day! In a recent episode of "Excellence in DG58," Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli visited El Sierra's sixth grade classrooms to capture social-emotional learning in action! View
this 1.5 minute video
to learn more.
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Sports roundup - volleyball
: Congratulations to District 58's middle school girls' volleyball teams!! Each team persevered and played an excellent season.
O'Neill's
seventh grade girls and
Herrick's
eighth grade girls clinched the conference title! Nice work - way to dominate the conference titles, District 58! Plus, Herrick's seventh grade girls finished a fantastic season but lost in the playoff tournament. O'Neill eighth grade girls also had a great season but lost to Herrick in the semi-finals.
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Hillcrest Principal Michelle Rzepka connected with Helen Wilbur, a Hillcrest alumna whose mother also worked at the school. She shared some interesting Hillcrest history with Mrs. Rzepka, including the origins of a special painting that is displayed at the school.
Learn more!
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Belle Aire second and sixth graders paired up to practice their coding and math skills using their iPads. The second graders enjoyed getting to know their "big buddies," and the sixth graders loved serving as role models to their little pals!
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El Sierra
first graders celebrated International Sloth Day by studying sloths and adopting a sloth from the Brookfield Zoo! Teacher Mrs. O'Connor wore a sloth T-shirt and Principal Mr. Lynde wore a sloth tie.
View a short video from their celebration
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Grove Children's Preschoolers recently visited The Farm in Westmont, where they hunted for fall colors during a refreshing nature hike!
View more photos.
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Mr. Leiser's second graders at
Lester elevated a science lesson on granary weevils by using augmented reality on the Quiver app!
View more photos.
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Pierce Downer first graders enjoyed reading to therapy dogs! New readers are sometimes more comfortable reading to dogs, since they can act as a non-judgmental reading buddy.
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Kingsley kindergarteners conducted exciting science experiments - such as making slime - with Downers Grove South biology students during a "Morning of Science" on Oct. 26!
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The
Fairmount
Student Council hosted a pumpkin weight estimation contest! Students had fun guessing the weight of a massive pumpkin (147 pounds!), and their guesses raised more than $287 to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
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Highland second graders strategize how to solve "19+6=?" by completing a number talk that focused on addition with regrouping. This photo highlights some of their problem-solving. Nice work!
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Whittier
hosted a Lacrosse Experience earlier this month. The event was the third in the past two years hosted by PE teacher Taylor Sopron and Whittier parent Jeffrey Paul.
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Way to go,
Indian Trail PTA! Their recent pie sale raised $2,300 for the PTA; plus they are donating 60 pies to the West Suburban Food Pantry.
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Henry Puffer (pictured) and
El Sierra's Watch DOGS program invites dads into the school to volunteer and serve as a positive role model each week.
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October Curriculum Workshop
The Board of Education held a Curriculum Workshop on Oct. 22, which included a curriculum committee update, a tentative look at school designations and more.
View the Board Briefs.
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Board Meeting - Looking Ahead:
The Board of Education will hold a regular business meeting on Monday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at Downers Grove Village Hall. The meeting agenda will be posted
here on Friday, Nov. 9.
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Community e-flyers
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District 58 emails parents relevant e-flyers on the
first and third Monday of the month.
Learn more about e-flyers. The next e-flyer distribution will be emailed to parents on Monday, Nov. 5 and featured in the Nov. 14 issue of Communicate 58.
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Please mark your calendar:
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Tuesday, Oct. 30
6-7 p.m.: Belle Aire Parent Forum
7:30-8:30 p.m.: Henry Puffer Parent Forum
Wednesday, Oct. 31
Happy Halloween! Please refer to your principal for Halloween celebration guidelines.
Thursday, Nov. 1
6-7 p.m.: O'Neill Parent Forum
7:30-8:30 p.m.: Pierce Downer Parent Forum
Saturday, Nov. 3
ILMEA District Festival for selected students at Lincoln-Way Central High School
Sunday, Nov. 4
Daylight savings time ends
Monday, Nov. 5
7-8 p.m. Herrick Parent Forum
Tuesday, Nov. 6
Election Day
6-7 p.m.: Kingsley Parent Forum
7:30-8:30 p.m.: Indian Trail Parent Forum
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Wednesday, Nov. 7
7:30-8:30 p.m.: Whittier Parent Forum
Thursday, Nov. 8
7:30-8:30 p.m.: Highland Parent Forum
7:30-9:30 p.m.: Herrick Musical
Friday, Nov. 9
7 a.m.: Board Financial Advisory Committee at the ASC
7:30-9:30 p.m.: Herrick Musical
Saturday, Nov. 10
ILMEA Jazz Festival for selected students at Hinsdale Central High School.
Sunday, Nov. 11
Veterans Day
2:30-4:30 p.m.: Herrick Musical
Monday, Nov. 12
Veterans Day Observed (School
is in session)
7 p.m.: Regular Board Meeting at DG Village Hall
Tuesday, Nov 13
7 a.m.: Board Policy Committee at the ASC
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Downers Grove Grade School District 58, 1860 63rd St., Downers Grove, IL 60516
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