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

Have feedback regarding Communicate 58? Click here!

It's been a great first two weeks of school in District 58! Check out our back-to-school photo galleries below for highlights. Visit our Back to School Toolkit for helpful 2022-23 school year information.

The Board of Education approved a resolution last month to place a proposal on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot to issue $179 million in bonds to improve District 58's facilities.

The proposal includes the following work:

• School building maintenance projects, such as replacing HVAC systems and making life safety repairs
• Health, safety and security upgrades, including adding air-conditioning, improving air quality, and building more secure entrances
• Expanding the two middle schools to accommodate sixth-grade students

To learn more, please visit District 58's new referendum information website at www.dg58.org/referendum. This website includes links to the Master Facility Plan, facility presentation, videos, frequently asked questions and much more. 

District 58 celebrated the groundbreaking of the Downers Grove Civic Center yesterday evening with the Village of Downers Grove and several community partners.

The future Downers Grove Civic Center will house District 58, the Village of Downers Grove and the Downers Grove Police Department. The center will be built where the current Village Hall’s parking lot is located. The Village will own the property, and District 58 will sign a 50-year lease. District 58 will pay the construction costs for only the additional square footage and parking required to accommodate District staff. This combined use of resources will save District 58, and the community, millions of dollars. Additionally, the new building will include sustainable measures that will result in significant energy cost savings going forward. Construction is anticipated to be complete in 2024.

Learn more about the new Downers Grove Civic Center. 

View more photos from the groundbreaking.

Curriculum Night is a time for parents and guardians to meet as a group with their children’s teachers to learn about their instructional experiences and environment. Schools will email families detailed grade-level schedules. We encourage families to watch this brief overview video prior to curriculum night, and to explore the academic resources listed on our website so that classroom teachers can spend less time talking about the general resources and more about the students’ learning experience.

District 58’s E-Learning Plan was adopted in August 2021 and remains valid through the end of next school year. We encourage families to please click here to view the E-Learning Plan and related information. The Board of Education discussed the plan at the July 2022 Board meeting and, consequently, gave District 58 greater flexibility regarding when it can use an e-learning day this school year. Ultimately, District 58 can use an e-learning day, in lieu of an emergency day (also called snow day), if staff have adequate time to prepare meaningful e-learning materials.

As always, the District would communicate when an e-learning or emergency day is needed and remind families of the e-learning process. Again, this plan is strictly for emergency day use only, when conditions make it unsafe for students to attend school onsite. Any questions about the E-Learning Plan can be directed to Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Justin Sisul at jsisul@dg58.org. 

Patriot Day is on Sunday, Sept. 11. District 58 schools will recognize this important day in the coming week by sharing an age-appropriate Patriot Day message with students and observing a moment of silence. Schools will also fly flags at half-staff. District 58 remembers the many who died on Sept. 11, 2001 and honors all first-responders and individuals who courageously rushed to help. 

In prior years, sixth-grade students attended outdoor education at Camp Edwards each fall. This did not take place the past two years due to the pandemic. Because of the amount of advance planning required, District 58 was not ready last year to commit to this trip for Fall 2022, and thus did not collect outdoor education fees from sixth-grade families. Further, with the alignment to the Illinois Learning Standards for Science and adoption of our new science curriculum, the learning experiences at Camp Edwards don’t align as well with the sixth-grade standards. 

However, District 58 believes that the outdoor education experience - both the academic hands-on learning and the opportunities for team-building - is valuable for sixth graders. An in-district group is working to pursue an outdoor education experience for sixth graders, likely in the spring. More information will be shared later this school year, and any questions (or suggestions!) can be directed to Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Justin Sisul at jsisul@dg58.org.

The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 will host Downers Grove Oktoberfest on Friday, Sept. 16 from 3-11 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 17 from 12-11 p.m. in the parking lot on Burlington Avenue between Main Street and Forest Avenue.

The event includes family-friendly activities and entertainment, including a concert by the event headliner, the Freddy Jones Band. All event proceeds will benefit District 58 students through the Education Foundation's programs. 

Sponsors and volunteers needed! The Foundation relies on support from sponsors and volunteers to make its annual Oktoberfest fundraiser a success! Click here for sponsorship information. Click here to volunteer!

Visit www.58foundation.net to learn more.

District 58 thanks the many local organizations that generously donated school supplies to our schools this year! In particular, District 58 thanks Community Christian Church, which donated more than 75 backpacks, filled with complete school supply sets for a variety of grade levels!

In addition, District 58 thanks the Downers Grove Roadrunners Soccer Club, Kim Moustis Group, Accesso Services and Lands' End, among others, for donating school supplies to District 58!

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

• Downtown Downers Grove hosts the 45th Annual Fine Arts Festival Sept. 10-11
• Healthy Kids Running Series offers September/October sessions
• Woody Hockey will hold hockey classes for beginners and intermediates this fall
• Downers Grove Junior Woman's Club announces $35,000 in grant opportunities for local non-profits
• St. Andrew's Episcopal Church will provide free community meal Sept. 10 -- all are welcome!
• Local costume sale on Oct. 1. will benefit Buddy's Place childhood grief program
• NIU hosts STEMFest on Oct. 15