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
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Community invited to School Board Curriculum Workshop on Feb. 24
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The District 58 Board of Education will host its twice-yearly
Curriculum Workshop on
Monday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at
Hillcrest School. During this interactive meeting, the School Board and community members can learn about District 58's curriculum objectives and participate in mini-workshops on relevant curriculum topics, including the new math curriculum, the new English-language arts curriculum, elementary P.E., middle school social-emotional learning and more! The meeting will also offer visitors a 30-minute opportunity to engage in a two-way dialogue with the School Board.
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Elected officials discuss capital funding, mental health at Legislative Breakfast
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District 58 warmly welcomed Sen. John Curran, Rep. Terra Costa Howard, Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, Rep. Anne Stava-Murray and Ms. Hilary Denk, District Director to Congressman Bill Foster, to the District 58 Legislative Breakfast on Friday, Feb. 7 at O’Neill Middle School. During a one-hour panel discussion, the legislators answered questions regarding school capital investment funding needs and school mental health service needs.
Learn more and view photos!
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Highlights: Feb. 10 professional learning
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District 58's Professional Learning Mondays program alternates among district-directed, school-directed and teacher-directed days. Feb. 10 was a district-directed day.
During professional learning on Feb. 10, primary teachers participated in Zones of Regulation training, intermediate teachers collaboratively explored the new Illinois Assessment of Readiness teacher prep site, and middle school teachers discussed and provided feedback on scheduling with the Middle School Scheduling Committee and worked with their departments.
Non-classroom teachers each participated in subject-specific or expertise-area professional development. For example, the English Learner (EL) team independently read "Breaking Down the Wall: Essential Shifts for English Learners' Success" and collectively discussed it and brainstormed ways they can improve EL students' outcomes!
View more photos.
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Thanks for taking the parent surveys!
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District 58 thanks the more than 1,100 parents who took the School Environment Survey in December 2019. Survey results, along with the School Board survey presentation, are available at
www.dg58.org/surveys.
In addition, District 58 thanks the staff, students and parents who completed the State's 5Essentials Survey. These survey results will be posted online this summer and will become part of the 2020 Illinois Report Card for District 58. In order to receive a parent survey report, a school had to achieve a 20% parent participate rate. All District 58 schools, except O'Neill, achieved this goal!
Learn more about 5Essentials.
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Help prevent the spread of sickness!
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As cold and flu season progresses, District 58 has noticed an increasing number of students who are ill. When considering whether to keep your student home from school, please refer to the District 58 parent handbook language, which states:
"Your child should stay home if he or she has experienced the following symptoms within the past 24 hours: vomiting, diarrhea or a fever greater than 100. Your child may return to school if he or she has been symptom-free for 24 hours
without the use of medication.
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February Board Briefs
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During their Feb. 10 regular business meeting, the School Board approved new math curriculum resources, Lester presented a school update, and District leaders provided an update on the Professional Learning Mondays program, as well as the recent School Environment Survey results.
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Nominate a staff member for a Distinguished Service Award!
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The Education Foundation invites parents, students and staff to nominate an exceptional District 58 staff member for a Distinguished Service Award, now through March 10.
Learn more.
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District 58 shares MAP growth projection data corrections
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Parent Night, Sneak Preview: Info for sixth grade parents
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Later this week, Herrick and O'Neill will email all sixth grade parents information regarding Sixth Grade Parent Night in May and Sneak Preview for students this summer. These important events help students transition to middle school!
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Learn about District 58's special programs at Building Bridges tonight!
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Building Bridges is a parent/teacher group under the Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs working to help families of children with special needs build bridges between themselves and the school community.
They will host a parent panel tonight,
Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m., at Hillcrest School.
The event will showcase family/student experiences in the District's placement programs, including full inclusion with accommodations, RISE, DLP, BEST, STARS and SASED. All interested parents are encouraged to attend.
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District 58 PTA welcomes families to Author Fest Book Sale & Signing Feb. 21
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The District 58 PTA Cou
ncil
invites students and families to the Author Fest Book Signing on Friday, Feb. 21 from 6:15-8 p.m. at the Downers Grove Public Library. The event will feature four prominent children’s authors –
Bibi Belford, Jacob Grant, Natalie Rompella and Suzanne Slade
. Bring a book to be signed and your camera to take a photo! If you purchase an Author Fest book at Anderson's Bookshop (DG) from Feb. 9-29, 20% of proceeds will be donated to the PTA Author Fest fund.
The book signing will conclude the 2020 District 58 Author Fest. The annual District 58 PTA-sponsored Author Fest event alternates each year among District 58 schools. This year, Belle Aire, Highland, Hillcrest, Lester and Pierce Downer schools will welcome the authors into their schools on Feb. 19-21. The authors will share fun, hands-on insights about the writing/illustration process with students.
Learn more.
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May the books be in your favor: The Reading Games will take place Saturday!
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The seventh annual Reading Games will take place this Saturday, Feb. 22 at O'Neill Middle School! For the past several months, teams of students have been reading 12 books and answering practice questions about each in anticipation of this weekend's Games!
List 1 teams should should arrive between 8:15-8:45 a.m., and round one will begin promptly at 8:45 a.m. The award ceremony will take place from about 10:50-11:45 a.m.
List 2 teams should arrive between 12:40-1 p.m., and round one will start promptly at 1 p.m. The awards ceremony will take place from about 3-3:45 p.m.
May the books be ever in your favor, Reading Games participants!
Learn more here.
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Thank you, Education Foundation, for hosting child cyber crime expert!
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Thank you, Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58, for hosting Detective Rich Wistocki last Wednesday! Detective Wistocki, a child cyber crime expert, presented daytime assemblies for all middle schoolers, as well as an evening program for parents. It was well attended, despite the snowstorm!
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District 58’s elementary schools, including
Belle Aire
(pictured),
Indian Trail
and
Kingsley
, had a blast celebrating the 100th day of school!
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Kingsley
third graders took some time to write a compliment to each friend in the class! Last Thursday, they distributed them and got to read all the reasons they are so loved!
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Whittier
second graders used simple materials to design houses that could withstand the Big Bad Wolf (a hairdryer in disguise!). This house was one of the “survivors.”
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Fairmount
and
Highland
fourth graders had a blast during their field trip to the Shedd Aquarium! They even had the opportunity to dissect a squid!
Check out this short video
of the Fairmount students in action, as well as
these photos
of Highland students!
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Herrick
students engaged in persuasive arguments about the merits of a mandatory draft. The students did a great job advocating for their assigned side – especially if they didn’t personally agree with it!
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O’Neill
seventh graders got in the Valentine’s Day spirit with a Valentine-themed engineering challenge! They figured out how they can help Cupid create the best bow and arrow using only certain materials!
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Lester Student Council members, along with their principal and PTA, gave the School Board an
update on their
recent achievements!
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Henry Puffer
sixth graders did a science investigation to see which reservoirs on Earth hold the most water.
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Elementary students, including
Pierce Downer
(pictured), took a short break to enjoy Valentine’s Day parties.
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Hillcrest
students wore their shirts backward for Hillcrest’s Kindness Spirit Day. Remember, kindness always comes “back”!
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El Sierra
third graders identified key details in the different texts that they were reading.
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Superintendent Dr. Russell visited and read books to
Grove Children's Preschoolers
! The students enjoyed meeting their "Mystery Reader."
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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
Feb. 17 e-flyers.
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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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