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Pictured above: Left: Henry Puffer's Fourth Market was an incredible success! Fourth graders created products and sold them to classmates using play money. Teacher Librarian Ashley Honn created this program; she got the idea from her own experience as a seventh grader in then-Teacher Kevin Russell's social studies classroom at O'Neill! Right: District 58's Band and Orchestra programs had a very successful 2025-26 registration event last weekend. We're excited to welcome our new musicians to the program!
Throughout this publication, you will see the following color-coded dots beside each story. 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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May 5-9
Staff Appreciation Week
Wednesday, May 7
Outdoor Education for Belle Aire, Henry Puffer and Lester Sixth Graders
6-8 p.m.: Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee Presents Kermes Night at El Sierra
7 p.m.: Board of Education Reorganization Meeting at the Downers Grove Civic Center
Thursday, May 8
7-8 p.m.: Downers Grove Children's Choir Spring Concert at O'Neill
Monday, May 12
7 p.m.: Regular Board of Education Business Meeting at the Downers Grove Civic Center
Monday, May 19
4-5:30 p.m.: Board District Leadership Team Meeting at O'Neill
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Tuesday, May 20
7-8 a.m.: Board Policy Committee Meeting at the Downers Grove Civic Center
7 p.m.: O'Neill Band, Choir and Orchestra Spring Concert at O'Neill
Wednesday, May 21
7 p.m.: Herrick Band, Choir and Orchestra Concert at Herrick
Thursday, May 22:
Last day of school for eighth graders
5 p.m.: O'Neill Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony at Downers Grove North High School
7 p.m.: Herrick Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony at Downers Grove North High School
Friday, May 23:
Last day of school for grades preschool through 7
11:30 a.m. dismissal for grades K-6
11:45 a.m. dismissal for grade 7
Preschool will run a modified morning schedule.
Click here to view the 2024-25 calendar.
Click here to view the 2025-26 calendar.
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Happy Staff Appreciation Week, District 58! •••
Tara Fulton and Lety Von Kerens win 2025 Distinguished Service Awards
Mandy Waughop wins 2025 DGEEA Educator of the Year
| | Pictured: L-R: Belle Aire Third Grade Teacher Tara Fulton and Fairmount School Instructional Assistant Lety Von Kerens, the District 58 2025 Distinguished Service Award winners. | | Pictured: 2025 DGEEA Educator of the Year Pierce Downer Resource Teacher Mandy Waughop, center (with flowers), surrounded by Pierce Downer staff and the DGEEA Educator of the Year Committee | | |
Congratulations to our District 58 all stars!
Want to thank a special teacher or staff member?
| | Congratulations to the 2025 Select 58 Award recipients! •• | | |
District 58 celebrated this year's Select 58 Award recipients at a ceremony at Herrick Middle School on Wednesday, April 30. Select 58 is an Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 program that honors eighth graders who provide outstanding service to their school and community.
“Congratulations to our 2025 Select 58 Award recipients,” said Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell. “These 58 eighth graders earned this recognition by demonstrating both exceptional service to their community, as well as involvement with their school. We are very proud of you, and wish you the best in high school and beyond!”
| | View District-issued devices return information • | | |
District 58 will begin its District-issued device return process soon.
Students in grades K-6 will return their District-issued iPads and iPad accessories to school on Tuesday, May 20.
Students in grade 7 who are already registered for next school year may keep their District-issued Chromebooks over the summer.
O'Neill eighth graders will return their Chromebooks during eighth period on Tuesday, May 20. Herrick eighth graders will return their Chromebooks during the Student Support Period on Wednesday, May 21.
Please click here for directions on how to prepare your child's device(s) for return.
| | Proactive alert: Social media trend -- damaging school devices | | |
There has been a recent social media trend where students intentionally damage their school-issued devices by forcing a metal object into a port on the device. Not only can this destroy the device, but it also has the potential to create a fire and smoke hazard. While we are proud of our students and believe that they will rise above this trend, we want to be proactive and alert our community. We ask families to partner with us to ensure our students make responsible choices and to properly care for their school devices. Any student who engages in this activity will face disciplinary consequences, and the family will be charged the full cost of a replacement device.
| | Health exam and immunization requirements for 2025-26 • | | District 58 students participate in ILMEA Elementary Festival • | | |
Twenty-two District 58 fourth- and fifth-grade choir and general music students participated in the Ililnois Music Association's (ILMEA) Elementary Music Festival on April 26 at Argo Community High School. The students joined intermediate grade students from ILMEA District 1 school districts for a morning of music making and music learning! The event culminated in a concert.
Congratulations to the 22 students chosen for this experience! View more photos.
| | District 58 sixth graders explore nature at Outdoor Education • | | |
Over the past two weeks, District 58's sixth graders have enjoyed participating in Outdoor Education, a full-day class trip to Covenant Harbor in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
The students enjoyed rock climbing, fishing, archery, team building activities, making new friends and more.
View more photos.
Pictured: Fairmount sixth graders pose after going fishing at Outdoor Ed!
| | District 58 hosts successful spring open houses •• | | |
District 58 thanks the students, staff and families who participated in the recent elementary spring open houses!
The open houses gave families the opportunity to visit their child's classroom and learning spaces and learn more about what's happening at school. We appreciate the strong partnerships we have with our families!
| | News from the Board of Education ••••• | | |
The Board of Education will hold a Reorganization Meeting on Wednesday, May 7 at 7 p.m. at the Downers Grove Civic Center. During the April 1 election, four community members ran unopposed for the District 58 Board of Education. These four individuals -- which include two incumbents and two newcomers -- will officially be sworn in and begin their terms during this meeting.
The Board will hold their May Regular Meeting on Monday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Downers Grove Civic Center. The meeting agenda will be posted on BoardDocs on May 9.
| | Dr. Russell invites the community to join the Education Foundation • | | |
The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 seeks applicants to join its Board of Directors.
The Education Foundation comprises dedicated parents, community members, local business owners, administrators and a Board of Education member. They work together to raise money to fund programs that support District 58 students and staff.
Please read this letter from Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell inviting the community to join the Education Foundation.
If you are interested in serving on the Education Foundation, or if you'd like to learn information, please contact Education Foundation Nomination Committee Chair David Olsen at dsolsen2@gmail.com.
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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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