District 58 congratulates its 17 employees who are retiring this school year. Together, this group has provided District 58 with 329 years of dedicated service. District 58 thanks its retirees for their numerous contributions and hard work, and wishes them the best in all their future endeavors!

District 58 employees retiring during the 2021-22 school year:

View more photos of our retirees during the 2022 Board of Education Retiree Luncheon, held May 27.

District 58 will email a special end-of-year edition of Communicate 58 on Wednesday, June 8 (the last day of school). This newsletter will feature:

* End-of-year greeting from Dr. Russell

* Helpful end-of-year reminders

* Summer learning opportunities

* Summer construction in District 58

* Curriculum and other updates for the 2022-23 year

* Back-to-school toolkit, which includes school supply lists, calendar, health requirements and more! Be sure to check it out!

District 58 students in grades K-6 will return their District-issued iPads on Monday, June 6.

Students in grade 7 who are registered for next school year may keep their Chromebooks over the summer.

Students in grade 8 (as well as 7th graders who are not registered) will return their district-issued Chromebooks Friday, June 3 during reading class (Herrick) and Monday, June 6 during homebase (O'Neill).

Please click here to read instructions on how to prepare to return your devices.

Save your family time and money with free summer meals for your kids this summer! All families can receive free meals for kids; no application or registration is needed. To find free meal sites near you, visit www.summermealsillinois.org* or text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304. You can also call the Illinois Hunger Coalition at 800-359-2163 for more information.

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 areas: guidance/counseling services, psychological services, social work services and health services.

Take the survey here now through Friday, June 10! Thank you for your time.

Reminder: District 58 will send a notification to families of students who are newly eligible for District 58's gifted program or newly eligible for math acceleration (single acceleration or double acceleration) by June 3. Notifications will be sent only to those who are newly eligible. (The vast majority of these notifications will be sent on Friday, June 3, with only a few being sent earlier this week).

District 58 summarized its updated math acceleration eligibility process in the April 20 issue of Communicate 58.

View District 58's math acceleration criteria page to learn more about eligibility. District 58 offers math acceleration to eligible students in grades 3-8.

View District 58's Gifted Program page to learn more about gifted programming. District 58 offers a gifted program to eligible students in grades 4-8.

District 58 looks forward to celebrating its eighth graders as they are promoted to high school!

The O'Neill Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony will be Tuesday, June 7 from 5-6 p.m. at Downers Grove North's Purple Gym.

The Herrick Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony will be Tuesday, June 7 from 7 -8 p.m. at Downers Grove North's Purple Gym.

Both ceremonies will be livestreamed. Learn more.

This summer, visit District 58's Facility Planning webpage for updates on the District's facility planning process. District 58 has been hard at work for the past several years creating a comprehensive Master Facility Plan that aims to:

* replace old HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems that would extend the life of District 58's schools, reduce costly repairs and improve energy efficiency (for example, the electrical panel pictured here is missing a breaker because a replacement part is no longer made; this would be addressed through the facility plan)

* create more secure entrances, where visitors can be properly screened

* add air-conditioning and associated required electrical upgrades, as well as improved ventilation

* complete important state-mandated life and safety repairs, such as adding ADA signage, and replacing outdated fire alarms, intercom systems, bleachers and more

* build additions to both middle schools to accommodate sixth graders

This school year, District 58 mailed flyers on its facility needs to residents; produced a four-part facility video series, hosted several community facility meetings/tours, and presented facility information to several District committees and community groups. A third party also conducted a mail survey and a scientific phone survey. At the June 13 Board of Education meeting, the District's facility consultant will present the mail survey and phone survey results, which will help inform the Board's final recommendation. The Board is expected to decide whether or not to pursue a referendum during the November 2022 election during their Aug. 8 Board meeting. Learn more.

For the past several weeks, we've shared highlights from various District 58 special programs. Today, we conclude our series with a spotlight on Grove Children's Preschool!

Grove is located at Henry Puffer and Indian Trail schools, and preschoolers attend school five days per week, either in the morning or afternoon. Grove offers a dynamic curriculum and is one of only three preschools in Downers Grove to earn the Illinois State Board of Education's highest rating (gold) for a preschool.

Grove Children's Preschool is full for the 2022-23 school year; however if you'd like to learn more information about this program, please visit www.dg58.org/preschool or contact Preschool Coordinator Susan Dillon at sdillon@dg58.org or 630-968-0454.

The 4Anna Foundation shares four helpful tips to keep safe around water this summer! Check out the tips below and click here for more information.