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Pictured above: Left: O'Neill choir students perform during their winter concert Dec. 19. Right: A Kingsley kindergartener enjoys building structures with magnetic tiles.
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
• Building for Success • Cultivating Talent
Have feedback regarding Communicate 58? Click here!
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Jan. 6-24
Winter assessment period (MAP, aimswebPlus, ACCESS)
Wednesday, Jan. 8
3:45 p.m.: Legislative Committee Meeting at the Downers Grove Civic Center
Monday, Jan. 13
7 p.m.: Regular Board of Education Meeting at the Downers Grove Civic Center
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Sunday, Jan. 19
6-8 p.m.: Harlem Wizards Education Foundation fundraiser at Downers Grove South High School
Monday, Jan. 21
Martin Luther King Jr., Day - No School
Wednesday, Jan. 22
7 p.m.: Downers Grove Children's Choir Concert at Downers Grove North High School
Saturday, Jan. 25
8-11 a.m.: District 58 Science Fair at O'Neill
Click here to view the 2024-25 calendar.
Click here to view the 2025-26 calendar.
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2025 Science Fair has a new location: O'Neill Middle School • | |
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The District 58 Science Fair has a new location: O'Neill Middle School. The Science Fair will still take place on Saturday, Jan. 25, as scheduled.
Th Science Fair typically takes place at O'Neill. This year, District 58 originally moved the event to Kingsley because O'Neill has insufficient parking due to construction. However, there was very high interest in this year's Science Fair, and Kingsley lacks interior space to accommodate all participants and projects. The event has returned to O'Neill, which has room for all projects. Parking will be tight; the District will send Science Fair participants instructions on parking when the event gets closer.
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District 58 student library cards ready for distribution •• | |
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District 58 partnered with the Downers Grove Public Library last year to create the Student Library Card Program, which will provide library cards to District 58 students. During last year's student registration process, families could sign their children up to receive a library card.
The Downers Grove Public Library finished preparing library cards over winter break. These library cards will be distributed to students in the coming weeks. Students who signed up and already have a library card will receive an envelope with information about the program. In addition, participating students who live in Woodridge should have received their library card by mail last month. Library cards may not yet be ready for students who transferred to District 58 mid-school year.
If you did not sign up your child for a library card but would like one, please contact your school. We will partner with the library for a second issuance of library cards later this year.
Learn more about the Student Library Card Program.
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Save the date for Summer School and ESY 2025! • | |
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District 58 is busy planning for its 2025 Summer School and Extended School Year (ESY) programs!
While details aren't finalized, we wanted to share basic information for families who may want to start making summer plans.
More information, including registration links, will be shared next month.
Summer School: General Education & Enrichment classes will take place Monday, June 9 through Friday, June 27, 2025 at Henry Puffer School. No class will be held Thursday, June 19. This session will offer math and reading grade-level readiness courses, as well as enrichment classes; topics are still being finalized.
Summer School: Band & Orchestra classes will also take place. The schedule is still in development and will be shared soon.
Extended School Year classes will take place Friday, May 30-Friday, June 27 from 8:15-11:15 a.m. at Henry Puffer School. No class will be held on June 19. This session is open to students who qualify through their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The student’s IEP team will identify targeted goals and specific special education services for the student.
Please note, District 58 will not offer the Essential Skills Summer School program this year. This program was previously funded by federal money that is no longer available.
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Parent-teacher conferences signups open Jan. 23 •• | |
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Winter parent-teacher conference signups will be open from Thursday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. through Friday, Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. Families can sign up using the PowerPTC system.
Conferences will take place the evenings of Feb. 4 and Feb. 6.
View conference signup instructions here. (para Español: Registro para las reuniones de padres y maestros).
We value communication with parents and guardians, but we have received feedback that as a result of strong and ongoing communication between home and school a winter conference may not be necessary for all families. You can simply choose not to sign up. Regardless, please know that you can request a conference with your child’s teacher at any time throughout the year. Additionally, your child’s teacher(s) may contact you at any time if they feel a conference would be helpful.
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Grove Children's Preschool will hold open house Feb. 12
Preschool applications for 2025-26 will open Feb. 19 ••
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Grove Children’s Preschool will hold an open house on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Henry Puffer School, 2220 Haddow Ave., for prospective and current families. Parents and guardians may tour the preschool, meet the staff, hear an overview of the program, and ask questions.
Grove Children’s Preschool tuition applications for the 2025-26 school year will open online at www.dg58.org/preschool on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
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Reminder: District 58 elementary schools join the NSLP, partner with new food service provider • | |
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District 58's elementary schools joined the National School Lunch Program this month. As part of this transition, District 58 partnered with a new elementary food vendor, Open Kitchens, to provide pre-ordered boxed meals for elementary students who sign up.
Families who would like their elementary students to receive boxed lunches delivered directly to school may pre-order them through the MyMealOrder system. Orders are due on Mondays for boxed lunches delivered the following week. The price for lunch is $4.60. Reduced price meals are $0.40. There is no cost for students eligible for free meals. Families will pay for their meals through the MyMealOrder system; the system will automatically waive or reduce fees for qualifying families.
The January menu can be found here. Instructions on creating a MyMealOrder account can be found here.
Please note: fun lunch will not be affected by this transition. No food service changes have been made at the middle school level.
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Preparedness in District 58 Topic 3: How does District 58 communicate emergency information? •• | |
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In the Sept. 11 issue of Communicate 58, we shared links to our full four-part Emergency Preparedness series. Throughout the school year, we will also highlight parts of this series within this newsletter. Today, we highlight the second part of Topic 3: How does District 58 communicate emergency information?
The District aims to provide families and staff as much detail and transparency as possible in our crisis communications. However, by law, school districts cannot release confidential information and information that could compromise an investigation.
If you receive an emergency message from your school or the District that does not provide details, it is likely because additional information cannot be shared. District 58 realizes that families and staff are on high alert when situations arise. District 58 and/or your school will share as much information as possible in any given situation. Thank you for your understanding and support!
There are occasions when emergency responders may visit your child's school that do not require a communication. For example, our Police and Fire departments often visit schools to teach students lessons on safety.
If you see emergency responders at your child's school, please do not jump to conclusions or speculate. Your school or the District will contact you if there is a safety issue. If you have questions about something you've observed, please contact your child's school to get the facts and refrain from spreading rumors. Please be patient: in true emergencies it takes time to verify and coordinate information with emergency responders!
Click here to view District 58's full four-part emergency preparedness series.
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The Board will hold its January business meeting on Monday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Downers Grove Civic Center. The Board meeting agenda will be posted on BoardDocs on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 10.
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Buy tickets for the Jan. 19 Harlem Wizards fundraiser •
Proceeds support the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58
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The world-famous Harlem Wizards will return for a family-friendly District 58 event on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at Downers Grove South High School. This Education Foundation event brings together the District 58 community, as District 58 teachers and staff compete against the Harlem Wizards in a fun and high-energy basketball game!
Event proceeds will benefit the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58. The Harlem Wizards are no stranger to District 58, most recently visiting in 2023.
Buy tickets at www.58foundation.org/events/Wizards. Learn more information here!
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District 58 thanks DG Roadrunners and St. Joe's for gift donations • | |
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District 58 is part of a very giving community, and we occasionally share some of the incredible donations we receive in this newsletter!
Recently, the Downers Grove Roadrunners Soccer Club donated holiday gifts for approximately 130 low-income District 58 students.
In addition, St. Joseph Catholic Church donated gifts for 20 students in need.
Thank you, Roadrunners and St. Joe's, for your continued generosity and support. We appreciate you!
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District 58 includes relevant e-flyers in the Communicate 58 newsletter and online. Learn more.
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Downers Grove Grade School District 58
850 Curtiss Street, Suite 200, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Community Relations Office: 630-719-5805 I mhewitt@dg58.org | www.dg58.org
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