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
|
|
Successful Harlem Wizards fundraiser supports Education Foundation
Education Foundation now accepting DSA, Select 58 apps
•
|
The Education Foundation thanks the community for attending its fourth bi-annual
Harlem Wizards game on Feb. 24! All event proceeds will support the Education Foundation's many programs, such as Distinguished Service Awards and Select 58.
Learn more about the Education Foundation.
Distinguished Service Awards
The Education Foundation invites you to nominate a special District 58 employee for a Distinguished Service Award (DSA).
Select 58
The Education Foundation invites eighth graders to apply for a Select 58 Award now through
March 11.
Select 58 annually recognizes eighth graders who exhibit outstanding service and citizenry. The Education Foundation will host a ceremony on
May 6 for award recipients.
Learn more and apply.
|
|
Board appoints Britta Waszak to Henry Puffer principal position
•
•
•
|
The Board of Education appointed Britta Waszak to the Henry Puffer School principal position during a Board meeting on Monday, Feb. 25. Waszak will begin work in July 2019 and will replace current Henry Puffer Principal Todd McDaniel, who retires in June.
“Following a very thorough interview process, we are happy to recommend Mrs. Britta Waszak to be principal at Henry Puffer School,” said Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli. “The interview teams were impressed by Mrs. Waszak’s collaborative approach to leadership and her vision for building a culture and climate that supports students’ success within school. They also appreciated her depth of knowledge and experience in teaching and learning, as well as her instructional leadership.”
|
|
Spotlight on Internet safety in District 58
•
•
•
|
District 58 students frequently access the Internet to enhance their learning. District 58 values safe student Internet use, and incorporates digital citizenship lessons to teach students how to responsibly navigate the Internet. The District also secures student devices with technology protection filters and restrictions. Finally, students may access the Internet only with teacher permission and a defined purpose.
|
|
D58 superintendent search:
What's next?
•
•
•
Last week, the District's search firm, BWP & Associates, reviewed superintendent search survey and focus group data, created a leadership profile, and screened several superintendent applicants. This week, BWP will recommend several candidates for the Board of Education to interview.
Learn more
about the leadership profile and upcoming schedule.
|
|
Teachers explore new science resources on March 1
•
•
District 58 teachers spent the March 1 Institute Day learning about the
new science curriculum resources that District 58 will roll out next school year. It was a very productive day, and teachers are excited to use these new Next Generation Science Standard-aligned resources!
|
|
Students will take Illinois Assessment of Readiness
•
This April, students in grades 3-8 will take the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, which replaced PARCC as the state-mandated assessment.
Parents will receive a letter with more information later this month.
|
|
Summer school registration is opening this week
•
District 58 Summer School registration will open later this week, which is a slight delay from when originally planned. Thank you for your patience! We will email all parents when registration opens. Classes offered include kindergarten prep, math, reading, art, band, orchestra and choir.
|
|
Students will receive
report cards on March 15
•
•
The second trimester ended on Thursday, Feb. 28. Teachers are finalizing report cards and will send them home on Friday, March 15.
Have a great third trimester!
|
|
Local school districts host annual Realtor Breakfast
•
Realtors are invited to attend the third annual Realtor Breakfast Tuesday, March 19 from 8:45-10 a.m. at DGS. Leaders from local school districts, including District 58, will update realtors on district priorities and challenges.
|
|
Kindergarten Roundup will take place this spring
•
Calling all kindergarteners for fall 2019! District 58 schools will host Kindergarten Roundup events for incoming kindergarten parents this March and April.
|
|
The Reading Games seeks volunteers
•
•
The Reading Games seeks volunteer moderators and scorekeepers to make it a success! The event will take place Saturday, March 16.
|
|
FYI: School board elections will occur April 2
•
Four School Board members will be elected during the upcoming April 2 election day. District 58 encourages community members to inform themselves on the candidates and
vote
!
|
|
Seesaw Spotlight: Indian Trail kindergarteners
•
•
|
The Seesaw app allows students and teachers to create digital student learning portfolios, which can be shared with parents in real-time. District 58 schools, including
Indian Trail School, use Seesaw to complement learning, enhance parent communication and provide formative assessment information for teachers, students and parents.
We highlighted some of the ways Indian Trail kindergarteners creatively use Seesaw.
Read the story here.
|
|
|
|
Whittier sixth graders design solutions to everyday problems
•
|
Whittier sixth graders flexed their creativity, science, technology, engineering, collaboration, problem-solving and communication skills this past month during their Design Challenge!
Teacher Librarian Kelly Coleman and Instructional Coach Megan Ryder challenged the students to identify an everyday classroom problem and to create a solution for it. One sixth grade classroom chose to invent a tool that would prevent pencils from rolling off their desks; the other class decided to create a device that would prevent charging cords from tangling.
The students formed small groups to imagine a solution and design a prototype, which they then modeled in Tinkercad, an open source CAD program. They printed their models using a 3D printer, and then they evaluated their product and made adjustments as needed. Finally, students created a slideshow and/or video, which they presented to a panel of judges. Good work!
|
|
|
|
•
•
O'Neill
students performed 826 acts of kindness and raised $16,518 during their
recent Raise Craze fundraiser. Way to go! To celebrate exceeding their fundraising goal, students duct taped their principal and assistant principal to the wall!
Learn more.
|
|
•
•
Each District 58 first grade classroom (including this
Belle Aire
classroom, pictured) adopts a firefighter, who teaches students about fire safety, 911, burn prevention, firefighters and more. We love our fire department partnership!
|
|
•
Hillcrest celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read Across America week by dressing up, participating in literacy activities, and, most importantly, reading!
|
|
• Mr. Bobby Mueller, a
Herrick science teacher, led an
explosive experiment! Students created hydrogen and captured it in balloons. They then discovered what happens when a match and hydrogen meet!
|
|
•
Kingsley fourth graders used the iPad FlipGrid app, which is a video discussion platform that can be used for formative assessment purposes. It's a great way for students to show off their learning!
|
|
•
Lester second graders are practicing cursive! When the students scan the QR codes on their handwriting book, a short demo video appears on their iPads. These videos help students learn how to properly form their letters.
View a video.
|
|
 |
Board Curriculum Workshop
•
•
•
The Board of Education held a Curriculum Workshop on
Monday, Feb. 25. The meeting included the following topics:
- Curriculum committee updates, which included a recommendation to provide weekly elementary art classes and offer new middle school exploratories in 2019-20
- MAP assessment data overview
- The proposed 2019-20 professional learning plan, which includes a 2 p.m. student dismissal each Monday
- Henry Puffer principal appointment for the 2019-20 school year
- A 30-minute extended reception of visitors.
|
|
|
|
March Board Meeting Preview
•
•
•
The Board of Education will hold a regular Business Meeting
on
Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at Downers Grove Village Hall.
The meeting will feature a strategic plan update and a Hillcrest presentation. The Board will also vote on many items, including the final 2018-19 school calendar and the proposed 2019-20 school calendar, which includes a weekly Monday 2 p.m. early dismissal to provide teachers with needed professional development time. View the
Curriculum Workshop Board Briefs to learn more about this professional learning plan.
The Board agenda will be posted on
BoardDocs on Friday, March 8 in the afternoon.
|
|
|
|
Community e-flyers
•
District 58 emails parents relevant e-flyers on the
first and third Monday of the month.
Learn more about e-flyers. Here are the
March 4 e-flyers.
|
|
Friday, March 8
7-8 a.m.: Financial Advisory Committee Meeting at the ASC
Sunday, March 10
Daylight Savings Time starts
Monday, March 11
6:15-7 p.m.: Evening Coffee with the Board of Education at Downers Grove Village Hall
7 p.m.: Regular Board Meeting at Downers Grove Village Hall
Wednesday, March 13
9 a.m.: Kindergarten Roundup at Highland
2 p.m.: Kindergarten Roundup at Lester
7-9 p.m.: District 58 Festival of Music at Downers Grove North
Friday, March 15
Report cards sent home
7:30-9 a.m.: Legislative Breakfast at O'Neill
Saturday, March 16
8 a.m.-4 p.m.: The Reading Games at O'Neill
|
|
Monday, March 18
7-9 p.m.: Annie Jr. Musical at O'Neill
Tuesday, March 19
7 a.m.: Policy Committee Meeting at the ASC
8:45-10 a.m.: Realtor Breakfast at Downers Grove South
9 a.m.: Kindergarten Roundup at El Sierra
7-9 p.m.: Annie Jr. Musical at O'Neill
Wednesday, March 20
12:45 p.m.: Kindergarten Roundup at Belle Aire
Thursday, March 21
9 a.m.: Kindergarten Roundup at Fairmount
Friday, March 22
1:30 p.m.: Kindergarten Roundup at Pierce Downer
Spring break begins!
March 25-29: Spring break. District 58 schools are closed.
Monday, April 1: School resumes
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
