Throughout this publication, you will see the following
color-coded dots accompanying each article. They represent which
strategic goal the article addresses.
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Focusing on Learning
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Connecting the Community
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Securing the Future
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Greetings from Dr. Cremascoli: Have a happy holiday and new year!
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Dear District 58 Community,
As 2018 draws to a close, I want to thank you for contributing to another successful year of learning and growing. It’s been a busy year! From initiating our
Vision 58 Strategic Plan
to implementing
new ELA curriculum resources
; from schools earning the
State’s highest academic ratings
to collaboratively negotiating our
teacher
and
custodial
employees’ contracts; from strengthening our internal and external communications to launching our
facility planning efforts
, we’ve accomplished a lot! I would like to acknowledge and appreciate all that our staff, parents and community have done to inspire our students to reach their potential.
Here in District 58, we envision a school district that inspires children, sparks creative and innovative thinking, celebrates diversity, and builds visionaries, and our educators work hard every day to excite minds, challenge abilities and prepare our children for life. As our children grow, stretch and embrace the challenges of the future, we are proud to support them on their journey!
I hope you each enjoy a safe and enjoyable winter break. Have a very happy holiday and new year!
Sincerely,
Kari Cremascoli, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
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Vision 58 updates: Follow our Strategic Plan progress!
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View the Vision 58 dashboard
The new Vision 58 dashboard shows the District's progress toward achieving its three major goals: Focusing on Learning, Connecting the Community and Securing the Future.
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Facility planning progress
Save the date
: Community facility visioning sessions will take place Jan. 23 at Herrick and Jan. 29 at O'Neill. We will share more information after winter break.
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Get involved!
District 58 invites staff and parents to join the Instructional Model Review Council. This group will support the district in evaluating the instructional models, including consideration of grade 6-8 middle schools. This work supports the District’s Strategic Plan objective 1.2b.
Learn more.
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Fairmount first graders code
• Instructional Coach Megan Ryder partnered with Fairmount First Grade Teacher Tanya Nedic to provide students with unplugged and plugged coding activities. Mrs. Ryder created
this fun video showing the diverse ways students can learn to code (including dancing)!
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Excellence in DG58: Hillcrest students use math to solve real-life challenge
• Mrs. Howell challenged her fifth graders to figure out how to divide the money earned at a lemonade stand in an equitable way. The students teamed up to create fair solutions to this challenge. View highlights in this episode of
Excellence in DG58!
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Excellence in DG58: Pierce Downer first graders practice number bonds
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Earlier this fall, Dr. Cremascoli visited Mrs. Breault's first grade classroom, where students were practicing math! The students worked on number bonds to 10 -- or, the different ways you can add numbers that equal 10. View this episode of
Excellence in DG58
to learn more!
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Herrick science teacher digs into paleontology
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Herrick Science Teacher Jill Henry attended a four-day DIG Field School last summer, where she worked alongside paleontologists. She is integrating her experiences into her instruction this year.
“I try to teach science by having my students do science, and I feel as though this experience has allowed me to bring back to my classroom the experience of what it is really like to be a scientist in the field," Ms. Henry said.
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• Congratulations to Kate Nickell,
O'Neill English-language arts teacher, who was awarded a $300 grant from the
Meredith Williams Foundation, in recognition of Miss Nickell's commitment and enthusiasm. "Kate is an inspiration to all teachers and a role model to her students," the grant letter said.
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• Several District 58 students appeared in the Children's Theater of Western Springs' rendition of "A Christmas Carol," including: Georgia M, June M and Veronica V from
Henry Puffer; Samantha B and Olivia M from
Fairmount; Ava D from
Kingsley; Nora J from
Hillcrest; John S from
Lester; and Layla C from
Belle Aire.
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Belle Aire fifth graders collaborated in groups to construct FOSS planes for their Variables unit. They then tested their FOSS planes to see how far they'd fly on a fishing line.
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Henry Puffer sixth graders worked with their teachers and instructional coach Jenny Lehotsky to solve Sphero coding challenges.
Click here to view a four-second video!
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Highland second graders explored unplugged coding basics through games and pen-and-paper activities with Librarian Mrs. Vahle and Teacher Mrs. Walters.
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Indian Trail kindergarteners collaborated as they problem-solved through new coding challenges on their iPads!
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• The
El Sierra PTA recently hosted Breakfast with Santa. Families had tons of fun getting into the holiday spirit and meeting Santa!
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Kingsley sixth graders teamed up with their kindergarten little buddies to create holiday cards. They are great role models to their little friends!
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• Bravo!
Lester first graders in Ms. Cunnigham's class performed reader's theater for their classmates. We have some talented actors in here!
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Fairmount fifth graders made glue, tested its strength, and then tweaked their glue recipes to improve their product. Way to go, students!
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Whittier kindergarteners get creative with their "
Not a Box" projects!
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Pierce Downer sixth graders researched and designed their Celebrations Around the World project. They will present their projects later this week to their school!
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Parent-teacher conferences
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• Sign up for a winter parent-teacher conference now through Jan. 9 on SQUIRREL.
Info.
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Take the parent survey
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District 58 reminds parents to take the annual parent school environment survey now through Dec. 21.
Learn more
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Survey link.
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Calendar update
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District 58 rescheduled the canceled Nov. 26 Teacher Inservice Day to Friday, Feb. 15 and used an emergency day on June 6 to make up the school attendance day.
Learn more.
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Prevent the spread of germs!
• It's officially flu season. Winter break is a great time to clean your child's coats, winterwear, book bag, lunch box and anything else your child takes to school to help fight the spread of flu! Learn more
flu safety tips.
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Register for Science Fair
• Register for the Science Fair now though Dec. 21! The Science Fair is Feb. 2.
Learn more.
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New ways to connect with Board meetings!
For several years, District 58 has posted Board meeting audio on its
website. To provide the community with more convenient options to hear what happened at Board meetings, we now offer Board meeting audio on
YouTube, on
Apple podcasts and on
Google Play music! Starting in January, District 58 will begin video recording Board meetings on a trial basis as well.
December Board meeting
The Board of Education held a regular business meeting on Monday, Dec. 10. View the
Board Briefs here.
The full agenda and supporting documents are
available here, and an audio recording of the meeting is
here.
Board will visit PTA meetings
The Board of Education is attending six PTA meetings this school year to better engage with parents in a more casual setting.
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Thank you, Roadrunners!
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The Downers Grove Roadrunners Soccer Club recently donated holiday gifts to help more than 100 District 58 children in need!
The Roadrunners annually provide holiday gifts to District 58. This donation is truly appreciated; thank you, Roadrunners!
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Save the date: The Harlem Wizards are coming!
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Save the date--the District 58 Education Foundation will host an evening with the Harlem Wizards, an exhibition basketball team, at 6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 24
, at Downers Grove South High School. Proceeds will benefit the Education Foundation. We will share details after winter break!
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Meredith Williams Foundation supports District 58
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The Meredith Williams Foundation, founded by retired District 58 teachers Jim and Pam Williams, annually gives back to District 58 through a variety of
programs and grants. They raise money through proceeds from Jim's photography book, "Wisdom from the Wilderness." Pick up a copy at Anderson's Bookshop or
here!
Learn more.
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Community e-flyers
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District 58 emails parents relevant e-flyers on the
first and third Monday of the month.
Learn more about e-flyers. Here are the Dec. 17 e-flyers.
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Thursday, Dec. 20:
7 p.m.: O'Neill Band, Choir and Orchestra Concert at O'Neill
Friday, Dec. 21:
Last Day of School Before Winter Break
Parent Survey Closes
Science Fair Registration Closes
Dec. 24-Jan. 4:
Winter Break
Monday, Jan. 7:
School Resumes
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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
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