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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Monday, Oct. 28
7 p.m.: Curriculum workshop/special meeting at Henry Puffer
Wednesday, Oct. 30
3:45 p.m.: Legislative Committee meeting at O'Neill
Thursday, Oct. 31
Halloween: see your school's newsletter for school-specific Halloween information
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Sunday, Nov. 3
Daylight savings time ends
Tuesday, Nov. 5
No school - Election Day (District and school offices are closed)
Friday, Nov. 8
End of first trimester
Click here to view the 2024-25 calendar.
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Congratulations, District 58 students selected for ILMEA • | |
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.
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Thank you, District 58 families and staff •••••
District 58 still seeks Superintendent's Community Advisory Council members
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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.
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Reminder: Halloween in District 58 | |
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.
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State will publish school report cards Oct. 30 • | |
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.
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Preparedness in District 58 Topic 2: How can families prepare for school emergencies and promote a safe school environment? •• | |
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?
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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.
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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.
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Board of Education news and upcoming meetings ••••• | |
The Board of Education held a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Topics included a Henry Puffer report, fall assessment data snapshot, referendum construction discussion and more. View the Board Briefs to learn more.
Looking ahead: The Board will hold a Curriculum Workshop on Monday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Henry Puffer. The Board will hold a Regular Meeting on Monday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Downers Grove Civic Center. Meeting agendas will be posted on BoardDocs.
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Herrick's boys' cross country places 13th in the state ••
Herrick and O'Neill finish strong inaugural seasons in new conference
Congratulations to the Herrick boys' cross country team for taking 13th place in the Illinois Elementary School Association's (IESA) State Cross Country Meet, Class 4A. In addition, congratulations to the 11 Herrick athletes (10 boys and one girl) who qualified for the state cross country meet: Ian B., Forrest C., Brendan E., Anthony H., Westin I., Charlie M., Cole N., AJ P., Bear S., Kaleb S. and Asprey C.
Both Herrick and O'Neill joined the Southeast DuPage Elementary Athletic Association this school year. The SDEAA offers our middle schoolers more athletic opportunities, and it includes schools closer in distance to Downers Grove, decreasing the teams' travel time to away meets. Both teams finished strong seasons!
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Cross Country Results
State Meet (Class 4A)
Sectional Meet (Class 4A, Sectional C)
- Herrick Boys: 3rd place
- O'Neill Boys: 8th place
- Herrick Girls: 6th place
- O'Neill Girls: 8th place
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Conference Meet
- Herrick Varsity Boys: 3rd place
- O'Neill Varsity Boys: 6th place
- Herrick Varsity Girls: 4th place
- O'Neill Varsity Girls: 6th place
- Herrick JV/Open Boys: 2nd place
- O'Neill JV/Open Boys: 5th place
- Herrick JV/Open Girls: 1st place
- O'Neill JV/Open Girls: 4th place
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Illinois Teacher of the Year
Illinois 2024 Teacher of the Year Dr. Rachael Mahmood, a District 58 alumna, visited Highland, Herrick and Pierce Downer last week. She met with teachers and students and toured the schools. Learn more and view photos.
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Fairmount Run Club
The Meredith Williams Foundation donated "Fairmount Run Strong" t-shirts to the Fairmount Run Club, a group of nearly 100 students. Thank you, Meredith Williams Foundation, for your generosity! Learn more and view photos.
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Henry Puffer Reunion
Henry Puffer welcomed alumni from the classes of 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1982 back to the school and a walk down memory lane. The alumni shared what changed and what's still the same. See what they said and view photos.
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Participate in the Grove Express 5K Thanksgiving tradition • | |
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.
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Stitches to Share donates hand-knit hats and scarves • | |
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!
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Reminder: Reading Games registration open through Nov. 15 • | |
Reminder: PTA Reflections registration open through Nov. 1 • | |
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.
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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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