About the cover photos: Left: After school on Halloween, District 58 staff participated in their weekly professional development. District 58 thanks families for embracing its early release Monday model to give staff this critical time! Right: Grade 7-8 dual language students created their ofrenda on Nov. 1 in honor of Dia de Los Muertos!

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

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District 58 students and staff enjoyed the option of dressing up for Halloween on Monday, Oct. 31! Elementary students also participated in costume parades and class parties. Here are some Halloween photo highlights from Henry Puffer/Grove Children's Preschool, Fairmount and Whittier!

District 58 has placed a proposal on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot to issue $179 million in bonds to improve District 58’s facilities. To learn more about the District 58 referendum, please visit www.dg58.org/referendum. 

This website contains helpful information, including the District’s Master Facility Plan, frequently asked questions, ballot language, voter information, the estimated tax impact, facility presentations, photo galleries, videos and much more. If you have any questions about the referendum not answered on the website, please don’t hesitate to contact your building principal. Please know, as a school district, we can provide factual information about a referendum, but we cannot advocate for or against it.

Early voting is currently taking place at 22 sites across DuPage County. The closest early voting sites to Downers Grove include: the Downers Grove Lincoln Center, Westmont Public Library, Yorktown Center - Former Brio Location, and the Woodridge Community Center. Depending on the location, early voting will go through Nov. 5 or Nov. 7.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Please view District 58's voter information webpage for more information.

The Illinois State Board of Education published the 2022 school report cards last week at www.illinoisreportcard.com. This report card presents metrics on every Illinois school, including student growth, school funding and demographics. It also gives each school a summative designation - a descriptor of how well the school is meeting its student needs. Due to COVID-19, this is the first year since 2019 that schools will receive a summative designation.

District 58 is proud and excited to share that Hillcrest School earned an “Exemplary” designation, the State’s highest designation, and all other District 58 schools earned a “Commendable” designation, the second highest rating.

School principals emailed families more information about the school report card on Oct. 27, along with information on School Report Card forums that will be taking place at individual schools throughout November. Please click here to learn more, or see the calendar above for the schedule of School Report Card forums (please note: Pierce Downer's forum took place Nov. 1).

The Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) selected 38 District 58 students to participate in its annual District 1 Music Festival at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox on Saturday, Nov. 5 and in its District 1 Jazz Festival at York High School in Elmhurst on Saturday, Nov. 12.

The festivals will involve students selected from more than 60 schools throughout the southwestern metropolitan Chicago area. Congratulations to all students selected for this honor! Learn more.

In 2018, District 58 set three ambitious goals as part of its Strategic Plan: Focusing on Learning, Connecting the Community, and Securing the Future. On a quarterly basis, the District Leadership Team, a Board committee, reviews the District's progress toward each goal.

View our Strategic Plan dashboard for the latest updates!

Fifty-three community members recently signed up to join a District 58 Strategic Plan council or Board of Education committee. Thank you for your willingness to get involved! District 58 annually recruits new members for its councils and committees, as it gives the District an opportunity to add new voices with diverse perspectives to enrich discussions and inform decisions.

District 58 schools will be in session on Veterans Day (Friday, Nov. 11), and students will commemorate Veterans Day through a variety of activities and discussions. On behalf of District 58, we thank all of our veterans for their service and sacrifices.

Please click this video link to view highlights from Fairmount School's Veterans Day celebration last year!

The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 has once again teamed up with two local nonprofits -- the Downers Grove Rotary Club and the Downers Grove Roadrunners Soccer Club -- to host the Grove Express 5K on Thursday, Nov. 24 at 8:30 a.m. in downtown Downers Grove. The Grove Express 5K is Downers Grove’s annual Thanksgiving family run/walk, and a portion of the proceeds will directly benefit District 58 students through the Education Foundation’s programs. 

Register by Nov. 6 to get the early bird rate of $35 (registration increases to $40 Nov. 7-18 and $45 from Nov. 19-24). Learn more.

The Reading Games will return for its ninth year on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 at O'Neill Middle School. The Reading Games is a fun and friendly reading competition open to District 58 students in grades 3-8.

Start forming teams now! Team and individual registration is open now through Nov. 5. Please click here for general Reading Games information, including team and individual registration links. Visit www.readinggamesdg58.com for detailed information.

The Reading Games also seeks question writer volunteers! Click here to learn more information and to sign up to volunteer.

District 58 includes relevant e-flyers in the Communicate 58 newsletter and online. Learn more.

• Sign up for the Grove Express 5K (early bird pricing extended to 11/6)
• West Suburban Community Pantry will hold "pack the pantry" Harvest Week Nov. 3-10
• New Hope Church welcomes Downers Grove residents to free Thanksgiving dinner
• Ghostlight Educational Theatre Collective holds open house Nov. 19 and six-week caroling program
• Glenbard Parent Series announces upcoming virtual events