Throughout this publication, you will see the following
color-coded dots
accompanying each article. They represent which
strategic goal
the article addresses.
• Focusing on Learning
• Connecting the Community
• Securing the Future
In this issue:
- Thank you for your support at Downers Grove Oktoberfest!
- District earns six state-level communication awards
- Register for The Reading Games
- Professional learning in District 58: What are teachers learning?
- Sign up for parent-teacher conferences
- Plus, more District news and reminders, school snapshots and calendar items!
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Thank you for your support at Downers Grove Oktoberfest!
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The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 thanks the community for its support during Downers Grove Oktoberfest on Sept. 13-14. This family-friendly festival annually raises money to support District 58 students through the Education Foundation's programs.
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District 58 earns six state-level communication awards
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The Illinois chapter of the National School Public Relations Association, or INSPRA, presented District 58 with six communication awards for excellence in communications during the 2018-19 school year. Of the six awards, District 58 earned two "Awards of Excellence," which represent this year's very best in Illinois school communications.
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Register for The Reading Games
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Students may now form teams and
register
for the seventh annual The Reading Games! The Reading Games is a free and fun district-wide reading competition for District 58 students in grades 3-8. It will take place Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 at O’Neill Middle School.
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District 58, District 99 orchestras will perform with PROJECT Trio
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District 58 invites the community to a unique opportunity to watch Herrick, O'Neill and District 99 student musicians perform with PROJECT Trio, a well-regarded professional musical trio from New York. The show will take place Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Clarence Johnson Auditorium at Downers Grove North High School.
Learn more.
Buy tickets.
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Professional learning in District 58: What are teachers learning?
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According to exit surveys, District 58's new professional learning program for staff continues to be tremendously valuable!
On Monday, Sept. 16, half of District 58 schools participated in district-directed learning, and the other half participated in teacher-directed learning. On Monday, Sept. 23, schools participated in whichever learning experience they didn't the previous week.
During the
district-directed professional learning session, teachers and administrators deepened their understanding of the District's new science curriculum, focusing on science instruction and assessments. Teachers who do not teach science worked with fellow colleagues and admins on subject-specific learning initiatives.
During the
teacher-directed professional learning session, teachers considered their instructional needs, professional growth goals, and school improvement goals to design their own professional learning time. They were encouraged to complete activities that will help them grow as an educator, and they each submitted a teacher-directed professional learning form with their planned activity in advance.
District 58 continues to survey teachers after each professional learning session to ensure each session provides staff with excellent professional learning experiences.
Learn more.
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DISTRICT REMINDERS & NEWS
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District 58 recognizes Preparedness Month
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In honor of Preparedness Month, District 58 launched an emergency preparedness communication series this week.
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Parent-teacher conference signup opens Sept. 30
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Parents may sign up for a fall parent-teacher conference from Monday, Sept. 30 at 9 a.m. through Friday, Oct. 11 at noon.
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Get involved with D58!
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Happy National Custodial Worker's Recognition Day!
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National Custodial Worker's Recognition Day is Wednesday, Oct. 2. On behalf of District 58, thank you, custodial staff, for keeping District 58 schools clean, functional and safe!
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Fire safety: Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12
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Did you know
?: In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Plan ahead - make a
family fire home escape plan
!
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District 58 is hiring custodians, instructional assistants
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District 58 is hiring a full-time head custodian, a full-time night custodian, substitute custodians and instructional assistants.
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Fairmount
Principal Lisa Niforatos recognizes students who go above and beyond with a “Positive Office Referral.” Here, she invited a student who received a Positive Office Referral to call home and tell his parents about it!
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Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell visited classrooms at several schools this past week in an effort to personally get to know District 58 students. Here, he joined
Grove Children’s Preschool
students as they identified shapes!
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SCARCE, an environmental education nonprofit, visited
Belle Aire
to teach fifth graders about watersheds. District 58 appreciates the many educational partnerships it has with community groups!
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Kindness abounds at
Indian Trail!
Sixth graders are aiming to achieve 100 Acts of Good. As part of this goal, the students recently wrote letters to local firefighters, thanking them for their service.
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• Seesaw is such a powerful student-to-parent communication tool! Here, this
El Sierra third grader felt very proud of his science experiment. He could immediately share his good work with family via Seesaw!
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• Instructional Coach Megan Ryder helped
Whittier sixth graders integrate the Clips video app into their science project. The students loved getting creative with science!
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O’Neill seventh graders identified unknown substances in liquid through careful observations. They also carefully recorded the qualitative and quantitative data they produced.
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Instructional Coach Tim Frederickson spent time teaching
Kingsley
second graders how to code using LightBox! The students felt very inspired and are eager to learn more!
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Students who take
Herrick’s
Connections class created Pinwheels for Peace in honor of International Peace Day on Sept. 21!
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Highland third graders get cozy with their animals and books during a special Highland Read-in on Friday! It was a great way to wrap up the week.
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During library time,
Hillcrest
second graders researched hurricanes and organized their learning through collaborative, hands-on charts.
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These
Henry Puffer
fourth graders used water colors to produce beautiful and unique flower paintings! Nice work!
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A book club in the making?
Pierce Downer
kindergarteners work in groups to discuss a story they’re reading.
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Lester
first graders visited their kindergarten pals and helped them read a story. Thank you, first graders!
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Board of Education: A look back
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The Board held its September business meeting on Monday, Sept. 9. The meeting featured a 1:1 learning update, a facilities community engagement discussion, a Whittier School presentation and more.
Read the Board Briefs.
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Board of Education: Looking ahead
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The Board will hold its October meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at Downers Grove Village Hall. This meeting is being held on a Wednesday because its usual Monday meeting date conflicts with Columbus Day, a school holiday. The Board agenda will be posted on
BoardDocs at least 48 hours before the meeting.
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Dr. Russell featured in new Downers Grove Magazine
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The premiere issue of Downers Grove Magazine featured a profile on District 58's new superintendent, Dr. Kevin Russell!
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District 58 emails parents relevant e-flyers on the
first and third Monday of the month during the school year.
Learn more about e-flyers.
Here are the
Sept. 16 e-flyers.
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Sept. 23-25
Camp Edwards for Belle Aire, Henry Puffer and Whittier
Sept. 30-Oct. 2
Camp Edwards for Kingsley and Indian Trail
Wednesday, Oct. 2
National Custodial Workers' Day
Walk to School Day
Oct. 2-4
Camp Edwards for El Sierra and Fairmount
Oct. 6-10
Fire Prevention Week
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Oct. 7-9
Camp Edwards for Hillcrest and Pierce Downer
Monday, Oct. 7
7 p.m. Special Board of Education Meeting at Longfellow
Oct. 9-11
Camp Edwards for Lester and Highland
Wednesday, Oct. 9
3:45 p.m.: Rescheduled Legislative Committee Meeting at the ASC
Friday, Oct. 11
Noon: Deadline to sign up for fall parent-teacher conferences.
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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
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