Pictured above: Left: Kingsley recently added a sensory piece and signs with positive messages to its walls. Right: Fairmount fifth graders are learning about the U.S. election process using their new Scholastic Election magazines.

• Focusing on Learning • Connecting the Community • Securing the Future • Building for Success • Cultivating Talent

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The Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) selected 26 District 58 students to participate in its annual District 1 Junior Music Festival at Unity Junior High School in Cicero, Illinois, on Saturday, Nov. 23.

The festivals will involve students selected from more than 60 schools throughout the southwestern metropolitan Chicago area.

Congratulations to the 26 students selected for the District 1 Junior Music Festival!

View a list of selected students and learn more.

District 58 thanks its families and staff for a successful round of fall parent-teacher conferences. A strong home and school connection helps students grow and achieve. While conferences take place twice a school year, District 58 staff is always there for families if a question or concern arises. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

In addition, District 58 thanks the 38 community members who signed up to join a committee. All applicants were offered a spot in a group, with most assigned to the committee of their choosing.

District 58 still has openings on the Superintendent's Community Advisory Council for parents and guardians representing the following schools: El Sierra, Fairmount, Highland, Whittier, O'Neill and Grove Children's Preschool. Learn more about this group here. If interested in participating, please email Megan Hewitt at mhewitt@dg58.org.

Principals will email families guidelines specific for their school's Halloween celebrations and costumes this month. In general, District 58 schools will allow costumes, and the elementary schools will hold outdoor costume parades (weather permitting) during the school day, followed by a classroom party.

When selecting a Halloween costume, please make sure it is appropriate for school. Please avoid costumes that show or imply violence, and costumes that include props that could resemble a weapon. Thank you.

District 58 has a rich and diverse population in our learning community, and knows that some families may not celebrate Halloween. If you would like your child to not participate in Halloween activities, please let your child's teacher and principal know. They will find an alternative location and activity for your child during the Halloween activities.

The Illinois State Board of Education will publish the 2024 school report cards on Wednesday, Oct. 30 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.

District 58 will share more information on the Illinois School Report Card at the Nov. 11 Board of Education regular meeting.

In the Sept. 11 issue of Communicate 58, we shared links to our full four-part Emergency Preparedness series. Throughout the school year, we will also highlight parts of this series within this newsletter.

Today, we will highlight the first part of topic 2:

Topic 2, Part 1: How can families prepare for school emergencies and promote a safe school environment?

• Keep your child’s information up-to-date. This ensures that the District can contact you during an emergency, and it lets your school know who has permission to pick up your child. Please also provide multiple emergency contacts. If you need to update your contact information, please call your school office.

• Opt in to receive text messages. The District will sometimes use text messaging in addition to email and phone calls when communicating emergency information. To receive text messages, text YES to 67587. You can always opt out by texting STOP to 67587.

Check back next issue to see part 2 of this topic. Click here to view District 58's full four-part emergency preparedness series.

The Grove Express Foundation invites the District 58 community to join the annual Grove Express 5K family run/walk event on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 28, in downtown Downers Grove.

This annual event is led by the Education Foundation of Downers Grove 58, the Rotary Club of Downers Grove, and the Roadrunners Soccer Club. All event proceeds will support local education and youth programs, including those at District 58.

Learn more and sign up.

District 58 thanks Stitches to Share, a local knitting organization, for generously donating several beautiful hand-knit hats and scarves for District 58 students in need. This group annually donates these one-of-a-kind items, and the District sincerely appreciates their support and kindness!

Reminder: District 58 invites students to register for The Reading Games, now through Friday, Nov. 15. The Reading Games is a fun annual reading competition for District 58 and District 61 students in grades 3-8. It will take place Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 at O'Neill Middle School.

Learn more about The Reading Games registration process. Visit The Reading Games website.

The Downers Grove Area PTA Council invites all students to participate in the PTA Reflections program! Artwork submissions are due Friday, Nov. 1.

Reflections is an art program/contest. Each year through Reflections, more than 300,000 students around the country in preschool through high school create original works of art inspired by a student-selected theme. This year's theme is "Accepting Imperfection" and categories for entry include visual art (painting, drawing, sculpture, textile art), photography, film-making, music composition, dance choreography and literature.

Click here to learn more.

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

• Spooktacular Fun in Downtown Downers Grove: Halloween Activities Oct. 26-27
• Downers Grove Public Library October Events
• Trunk or Treat at Belmont Bible Church, Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m.
• Halloween Fest at Midwestern University, Oct 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Halloween Fest with the Downers Grove Lions Club on Oct. 27 from 12-1 p.m.
• Fall Festivities with the Girl Scouts
• Village of Downers Grove: Create Handmade Ornaments for Downtown Holiday Tree
• Join Blessings in a Backpack in DIY 5K: Proceeds Support District 58/99 Students
• GPS Parent Series: Upcoming Parent Education Events
• DGJWC's Downers Grove Handmade Market is Nov. 22 from 4-10 p.m.