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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District 58 seeks community input on facility planning
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District 58's Facility Planning Council is creating a long-term master facility plan that will provide safe, modernized and effective learning environments for all students. The Council invites the community to provide input on this process during a Facility Planning Visioning Session. These sessions will take place:
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Facility Planning Visioning Session 1:
Wednesday, Jan. 23 from 7-8:30 p.m.
Herrick Middle School, 4435 Middaugh Ave.
Facility Planning Visioning Session 2:
Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 7-8:30 p.m.
O’Neill Middle School, 635 59th St.
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Both meetings will include a hands-on presentation and an opportunity for community members to ask questions and provide feedback. No RSVP is required; please join us!
Learn more.
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As International Day of Acceptance approaches, District 58 celebrates inclusivity and community partnerships
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International Day of Acceptance is Sunday, Jan. 20. This annual day celebrates and promotes the social acceptance of disability. District 58 is proudly committed to providing an inclusive learning environment for all students. The District offers a wide variety of
special services
and hires highly-qualified certified staff and specialists to meet all learner needs.
“We are exceptionally proud of our special programs and services offered in District 58, and of the growth and learning of all of our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli.
An inclusive learning environment goes beyond the classroom. District 58’s budget funds necessary safety and routine playground maintenance at all elementary schools. Several PTAs, local organizations and individual donors have partnered with the District to raise money to fund either more significant renovations or to rebuild school playgrounds to enhance their accessibility for children of all abilities.
“District 58 is very proud of our partnerships and appreciative of our community support,” said Assistant Superintendent for Special Services Jessica Stewart. “We are fortunate to live in a community that values inclusivity and the importance of active play!”
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Board of Education starts superintendent search
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Last month, Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli
announced
that she has accepted a superintendent position with Wilmette District 39 and will resign from District 58 on June 30, 2019. The District 58 Board of Education is pursuing a thorough search to identify the next superintendent of District 58.
The Board met Wednesday, Jan. 16 at the Longfellow Center to interview four potential superintendent search firms. Afterward, Board members held an open discussion regarding each firm's approach and which would be the best fit for District 58. They unanimously selected
BWP & Associates' search proposal, subject to attorney review. Once reviewed, the Board will plan a more detailed timeline and schedule with the search firm. View the Board Briefs later in this publication for more information.
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Learn about Grove Children's Preschool at open houses
Preschool registration for 2019-20 opens Feb. 1
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District 58 invites parents to attend an open house to learn more about its gold-rated
Grove Children’s Preschool
program. The open houses will take place
Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 6-7 p.m. at Henry Puffer School, and on Thursday, Jan. 31 from 6-7 p.m. at Indian Trail School
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The preschool invites prospective preschool families to attend from 6-6:30 p.m. and current preschool families to attend from 6:30-7 p.m. All parents may tour the preschool, meet the staff and ask questions.
Preschool registration for the 2019-20 school year will open online at
www.dg58.org/preschool
on
Friday, Feb. 1 at 8 a.m.
New for next school year, all preschool classrooms will offer five days of programming per week.
Learn more.
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Provide input on parent partnerships now through Jan. 25
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District 58 is working to enhance clear communication and meaningful partnerships between home and school to support student learning. Improvement efforts have focused on a review of report cards, progress reporting, conferences, online tools and other formal and informal communication opportunities.
District 58 seeks feedback to support its ongoing improvement efforts related to developing strong parent partnerships. Parents, please take
this short survey
now through
Friday, Jan. 25
. Thank you for your time!
Take the survey here
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Take the 5Essentials Survey
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District 58 thanks all parents who completed the annual parent school environment survey last month! Next month, the District will share an overview of the survey results with the Board of Education and post the results
online
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Want to provide additional feedback? If you haven't already, please take the
State's 5Essentials Survey
now through Feb. 15!
5Essentials gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains.
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Reminder: No school on Jan. 18 and Jan. 21
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District 58 reminds families that there will be no school on Friday, Jan. 18 for a Teacher Workday/School Improvement Day and no school Monday, Jan. 21 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
While agendas will vary by grade level, teaching specialty and school, in general, Friday's Teacher Workday/School Improvement Day will offer teachers and administrators a valuable opportunity to analyze student assessment data, set student goals, collaborate with colleagues, enrich understanding of the new ELA resources and much more.
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Kingsley PTA Reflections participants
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District 58 celebrates PTA Reflections participants
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District 58 celebrated all students who participated in this year’s PTA Reflections competition during a ceremony last month at Herrick Middle School. The District also announced the 39 students whose 41 project submissions will advance to the regional level of the competition.
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58 Doing Good: Pierce Downer fifth graders hold holiday auction
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Pierce Downer fifth graders raised $189.58 to benefit Hope for Paws, an animal rescue nonprofit, during their annual holiday auction fundraiser Dec. 21.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for students to actively participate in the season of giving,” said Kelly DeMarco and Lauren Lawlor, Pierce Downer fifth grade teachers.
For more than 20 years, Pierce Downer has hosted a fifth grade holiday auction. Students bring in items that are new or like new from home. On the day before winter break begins, they hold an auction, with help from parent volunteers. Students can browse the items and place “bids” on them. The highest bidder wins the item. This year’s offerings included board games, stuffed animals, dolls and other toys that would make perfect holiday gifts for a sibling or friend!
“Students have some fun and get to do some shopping,” Mrs. DeMarco said.
The fifth graders collaboratively selected Hope for Paws as this year’s charity. In the past, the holiday auction has supported Feed My Starving Children, the West Suburban Humane Society, Alex’s Lemonade Stand and Noah’s Hope, among others.
View more photos.
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What's happening in your school?
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Communicate 58 aims to share relevant stories about all of our District 58 schools! If you know about an interesting event, activity, accomplishment or initiative occurring in your community school, please let us know! Likewise, if you take photos at a school event, please share them with us for possible publication in Communicate 58, on the
District 58 School Stories page
, and/or on the District's social media sites. Please email mhewitt@dg58.org with your ideas.
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Special Meeting Board Briefs
The Board of Education held a special open meeting Wednesday, Jan. 16 to interview four superintendent search firms: BWP & Associates; Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates; Illinois Association of School Boards; and School Exec Connect.
After the interviews, Board members held an open discussion regarding each firm's approach and which would be the best fit for District 58. They unanimously selected
BWP & Associates' search proposal, subject to attorney review. Once reviewed, the Board will plan a more detailed timeline and schedule with the search firm.
The Board received two comments during the reception of visitors regarding search firm records, board candidate community engagement, and search process transparency and flexibility.
January Board Briefs
The Board of Education held a regular business meeting on Monday, Jan. 14. View the complete
Board Briefs here. The full agenda and supporting documents are
available here, and an audio recording of the meeting is posted
here. New this month, District 58 is video recording Board meetings. The video recording is posted on the
District's YouTube page.
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. The Board will attend the Highland PTA meeting on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m.
View the complete schedule here.
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The Harlem Wizards are coming!
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The District 58 Education Foundation will host an evening with the Harlem Wizards, an exhibition basketball team, on
Sunday, Feb. 24 from 6-8 p.m. at Downers Grove South High School. Proceeds will benefit the Education Foundation.
Thank you for your support!
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Enter the Junior High Art Contest
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The Downers Grove Junior Woman's Club invites District 58 middle school students to enter its annual Junior High Art Contest now through Thursday, Jan. 31! Students may submit an artwork in any medium; submissions need not be a special piece created for the contest. Submissions are due to the school office.
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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
Jan. 7 e-flyers.
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Thursday, Jan. 17:
4:45-8 p.m.: Parent-Teacher Conferences
Friday, Jan. 18:
School Improvement Day/Teacher Work Day -
No School
Monday, Jan. 21:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School
Wednesday, Jan. 23:
3:45-4:45 p.m.: Legislative Committee Meeting at the ASC
7-8:30 p.m.: Facility Planning Visioning Session at Herrick
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Thursday, Jan. 24:
5:30-7 p.m.: Board Tour and PTA Visit at Highland
Tuesday, Jan. 29:
6-7 p.m.: Grove Children's Preschool Open House at Henry Puffer
7-8:30 p.m.: Facility Planning Visioning Session at O'Neill
Thursday, Jan. 31:
6-7 p.m.: Grove Children's Preschool Open House at Indian Trail
Friday, Feb. 1:
8 a.m.: 2019-20 Grove Children's Preschool registration opens
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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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