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58 CONNECTS
A monthly District 58 employee newsletter
March 2016
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- Honor a co-worker with a Distinguished Service Award
- Best of luck to our DG58 Costume Contest participants!
- District 58 committees share progress: A look at the Math Committee, ELA
Committee, Special Services Committee and Report Card Committee
- Curriculum Workshop explores special programs
Highlights
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Learn what District 58's committees have achieved this year. See "Features" section.
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- 3 things to know about the 2016 School Surveys
- District 58 hosts successful first instructional coaches
network
- Employee Spotlight- Ann Brinkman & Sue Donahue:
A day in the life of a District 58 school nurse
- Ken Young named director of buildings and grounds
- Cathy Seiden receives Outstanding Teacher Award
Question of the Month
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What's it like to be a District 58 nurse? Ann Brinkman & Sue Donahue share in "Employee News"! |
- What's your favorite '80s movie? See what your colleagues thought!
- In the media
- From dg58.org
- Staff flyer: First time homebuyer seminar
Gmail may auto-clip this newsletter. If any Table of Contents links do not work, please scroll to the bottom and select "View entire message."
Cover photo (above): BEST Program teachers Marla Gilbert and Kathryn Morgan share the program's positive impact on students with Board members, fellow teachers and community members at the Feb. 22 Curriculum Workshop.
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It's simple and free, yet extremely meaningful: Please consider nominating a co-worker for a Distinguished Service Award. This annual Education Foundation program recognizes staff who truly go above and beyond during an awards ceremony in early May. All nominees and nominators will be invited! During the ceremony, the Education Foundation will announce the two Distinguished Service Award recipients: one classroom teacher and one non-classroom employee.
View a video honoring last year's DSA nominees.
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Tonight, 12 mighty tubular District 58 staff will dress up in their '80s finest and participate in the '80s Night Staff Costume Contest at the Tivoli before the Education Foundation's Sixteen Candles concert fundraiser. The Education Foundation will award the top three schools with the most votes with $500, $250 and $100, respectively.
Let's give a shout out to our Costume Contest participants! Good luck! Support these teachers and your District 58 school by coming to the concert tonight. Doors open/contest starts at 6 p.m. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Buy District 58 staff BOGO tickets here using the promo code D58BOGO16candles. All proceeds will benefit District 58.
| Jen Conyac & Don McClelland, Lester |
Carrie Redpath & Meghan Macdonald, Hillcrest |
| Kate Nickell, O'Neill |
Kate Blackburn, Hayley O'Reilly & Deanna Jacobs, Kingsley |
| Julie Janowitz, El Sierra |
Julie Walters, Highland |
| Collin Konny, Herrick |
Megan Finnegan, Pierce Downer |
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English-Language Arts Committee
The
ELA Committee is off to a good start this year. The group has had meaningful and collaborative dialogues regarding deepening their shared understanding of curriculum, as well as scope and sequence. The committee has defined these as follows:
Curriculum: Curriculum is a common framework that informs instruction to meet educational standards.
Scope and Sequence: Specific skills and learning strategies aligned with grade level standards in an established order which build in depth and complexity and allow for differentiation.
The committee will continue to focus on grade-level expectations/standards as a baseline with freedoms for differentiation in April.
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Math Committee
The
Math Committee collaborated together and defined curriculum as a common guide or path that is horizontally sequential and provides vertical depth to meet the standards.
Additionally, the committee determined that the Common Core State Standards will drive the district's scope and sequence. As a committee, members have reviewed a variety of scope and sequences, identifying the best model.
The committee will work to refine this and begin to develop their scope and sequence in April.
Through this dialogue, the committee has recognized that this process may take time to develop the product District 58's schools, teachers and students are seeking.
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Report Card Committee
Both the PreK-6 and Middle School Report Card Committees have held two meetings and are off to a great start.
They are working to refine and/or develop a District 58 report card that:
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reports progress in relation to Illinois Learning Standards/CCSS
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accurately and clearly reflects student achievement
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communicates information that is easily understandable by students and parents
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reports information on a quarterly basis
The committees have spent time reviewing best practices in grading principles and procedures and report cards from other districts. They are beginning to take a deeper look at Illinois Learning Standards for all content areas. In addition, the committees have assisted with drafting questions for the parent survey that will be administered to parents this month.
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Special Services Committees
The Special Services Committees continue to refine the BEST, DLP and RISE programs. They also are refining math instructional strategies, IEP writing considerations and transitional supports for Resource.
The groups will meet to create tools that help school teams better understand the variety of growing options to meet student needs within the district, as well as to support inclusion opportunities.
For example, the Assistive Technology Committee has moved forward to support increasing quality low tech tool availability for students at the building level. Find your building AT rep to learn more!
Related service staff are working to support all of these initiatives through reflection on special education protocols as well as job-specific considerations.
Special Services staff have recently tackled a significant transition to a new IEP reporting system, Power IEP, and continue to learn how it can better support their practice.
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The District 58 Board of Education enjoyed a first-hand look at some of the District's special programs during a Curriculum Workshop on Monday, Feb. 22 at the Longfellow Center. The workshop also contained Math and English-Language Arts committee updates, the Optional Kindergarten Enrichment and Enhancement Program review, and winter assessment results.
The Board of Education will host its next regular meeting on Monday, March 14 at 7 p.m. at the Longfellow Center.
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3 things to know about the 2016 School Environment Survey
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1. The state's 5Essentials Survey for staff and sixth-through-eighth graders is
not required
this year, so District 58 will
not
administer it.
2. The
Parent School Environment & Reporting Systems Survey
will be open
March 14-31
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Parents will receive an email on Monday, March 14 with a link to the Parent Survey, information about the parent and student surveys, and a consent form, in case they do not want their child to take the Student School Environment Survey.
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New this year, the parent survey will include questions on the District's Reporting Systems. These questions were compiled by the District's Report Card Committee. The School Environment portion of the survey was also reviewed and updated by the District's Survey Committee this year.
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3. The
Student School Environment Survey
will be open from
April 4-15
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District 58 will administer a Student School Environment Survey to students in grades 3-8. There are two student surveys: One for students in grades 3-6, and one for students in grades 7-8.
The District's Survey Committee carefully reviewed and updated this year's Student Survey.
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Secretaries and/or principals will email teachers links to the Student Survey, as well as the names of any students whose parents opted them out, on Monday, April 4.
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Teachers may administer this survey to their
third through eighth grade students
anytime during this two-week timeframe.
Questions about surveys? Please contact your school's principal or email [email protected].
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District 58 hosts successful first instructional coaches network
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District 58's Kristen Ward opens the morning-long networking event.
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More than 85 instructional coaches from across DuPage County and northern Illinois gathered at the Longfellow Center on March 1 for the county's first ever Instructional Coaches Network.
Coordinated by District 58 and the ROE, the morning event included group-guided break-out sessions on a variety of topics ranging from math/literacy coaching to building relationships.
"It's important that every one of our teachers has the opportunity to refine their craft, and finding other professionals who work in this specific segment of teaching can be difficult," said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Matt Rich. "So it's neat to have this opportunity to bring them together in Downers Grove."
The event offered instructional coaches many opportunities to hone their craft and better connect with their colleagues in similar positions. Here's some of the feedback:
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"It's interesting to see how other districts structure the instructional coaching role, manage their schedules and connect with other teachers to support student growth."
Megan Ryder, District 58
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"There's many different models of instructional coaching, but we still share the same goal of helping and supporting classroom teachers. So, it's good to see what other coaches are doing so we can learn from each other."
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Kelly Lynn, District 7 (Wood Dale)
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"We are learning some of the best research-based strategies on how to be an effective instructional coach."
Lori Riley, District 201 (Westmont)
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"I think the biggest thing is making sure we understand the role and how it looks in other districts and how to best support the teachers."
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Kristen Ward, District 58
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A day in the life of a District 58 school nurse
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When winter comes, so do colds, the flu and other sicknesses. And when children (and grown ups!) get sick at school, many visit the school nurse for help. District 58 has five school nurses who work hard to help every student and staff member in need.
But what is a typical day truly like for a school nurse? We chatted with nurses Ann Brinkman (Henry Puffer and Hillcrest) and Sue Donahue (O'Neill and Fairmount) to learn more about being a school nurse. You may be surprised to learn all the ways they help keep their schools healthy!
District 58's other nurses include Kathleen Casey, Sheri Lopez and Karen Sims.
1. What is a typical day like for a school nurse?
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HP/HL Nurse Ann Brinkman
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It's like working in a mini-ER - some days are busier than others! In a typical day, I am taking care of kids with diabetes and asthma and students with other chronic health issues needing care, such as G-tube feedings and ostomy care. I see numerous kids who do not feel well or are injured.
- Ann Brinkman
A typical day for the school nurse involves being part of a multi-disciplinary team who meets weekly to discuss any students who have special health or academic needs in school. The school nurse's role is to assure that there are no issues impeding the student's academics throughout the day. We speak with the classroom teacher and sometimes the parents of the students about how we can make the school day better for the student.
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FA/ON Nurse Sue Donahue
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We also assist students who have injured themselves or become sick during the school day. On average, the school nurse may see approximately 100 students each week. The nurse has 2-3 schools to cover and may be called to another school for emergencies. Some students are ill and need to go home; others may need to hydrate or rest during the school day. Other students may become injured requiring medical attention, while others may need basic first aid.
(We also administer) medications throughout the school day. Some students require insulin during the school day, others may take medicine to help them focus or medicine to prevent migraine headaches. In all cases, the medicine is given to help make the school day as positive as possible.
The school nurse also reviews the immunizations and health records for all students entering the school. This measure helps to protect the students from any communicable diseases. We want to make sure these immunizations are given in the appropriate sequence so the students do not contract a disease they have been immunized for.
- Sue Donahue
2. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is watching the students flourish in the school environment. Students who are newly diagnosed with diabetes learn to become independent. Students with asthma learn to control the disease and are involved in sports.
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Sue Donahue
No doubt the most rewarding part of my job is caring for kids. I have always been a pediatric nurse - out of nursing school I worked at Pediatric Intensive Care and Mother/Baby and just love taking care of kids! I have a daughter with Down syndrome and love caring for kids with special needs.
- Ann Brinkman
3. What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is making sure that I can be there where and when the care is needed.
- Ann Brinkman
The most challenging part of my job is staying up to date with the medical literature. Maintaining up to date practices are challenging because it requires that you change the way you practice. The end result is beneficial to the student.
4. What advice do you have for staff looking to avoid a late-winter or spring cold?
Advice I give to staff and students to avoid getting sick during the school year is to wash your hands frequently, but especially before eating. Keep your immune system elevated by eating meals rich in vegetables and fruits, staying hydrated, exercising and getting plenty of sleep.
- Sue Donahue
Good hand washing is the most important thing we can do! I wash my hands constantly throughout the day!
- Ann Brinkman
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Ken Young named director of buildings and grounds
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 The Board of Education appointed
Ken Young to the director of buildings and grounds position, effective July 1, 2016. He will replace
Rick Bubula, who retires at the end of June.
"We are very pleased to announce Mr. Kenneth Young as our next director of buildings and grounds," said Superintendent
Dr. Kari Cremascoli. "Young plays an integral role in the District 58 community, having served our District's Buildings and Grounds Department for more than 30 years. He brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and leadership to this new role, and we are confident this rich experience will help him continue to contribute substantially to District 58 within this new position."
Young joined District 58's Buildings and Grounds Department in 1985, working in the warehouse. He was promoted to maintenance mechanic in 1989 and maintenance supervisor in 1999, a position he holds today. In this role, Young manages daily facility operations, supervises mechanics and custodians, and assists the director of buildings and grounds with building operations. Outside of District 58, Young enjoys golf and travel.
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Cathy Seiden receives Outstanding Teacher Award
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The Downers Grove Junior Woman's Club recently
awarded Cathy Seiden, a first grade teacher at Kingsley School, with an Outstanding Teacher Award.
This award recognizes area teachers who demonstrate excellence in education. Seiden was nominated by Hannah Venzon, a former student.
Congratulations, Cathy!
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What is your favorite '80s movie?
In honor of the Education Foundation's '80s Night concert fundraiser, we asked District 58 to share their favorite '80s movie. You might want to host your own '80s movie night after reading these picks -- there are some great films listed here!! Thanks everyone who contributed!
"Better Off Dead with John Cusack"
- Kim Musial, Highland
"The Breakfast Club"
When it first came out it made me remember my high school days, how accurately the characters are portrayed. Now when I watch it with my kids or by myself it brings back great, crazy younger day memories! My kids love it and crack up all the time, they talk and relate to their high school days too!
- Lety VonKerens, Fairmount
(Other staff who picked "The Breakfast Club":
Amy Gray (Herrick), Brianna Sopcak (O'Neill), Alicia Micele (Fairmount), Deb Krygeris (Whittier))
"Raiders of the Lost Ark. Action Adventure humor."
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Gary Roach, O'Neill
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
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Mark A. Stange (Kingsley) and Christine Balagtas (Pierce Downer)
"Pee Wee's Big Adventure."
"I know you are, but what am I?"
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Julie Quinlan, Herrick
"Sixteen Candles. I love Jack Ryan!!!"
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Kate Nickell, O'Neill
(Other staff who picked "Sixteen Candles":
Alicia Micele (Fairmount), Leslie Hesterman, (Hillcrest)
"Goonies"
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Genevieve Hahn, Herrick
The best '80s movies are all about Molly Ringwald - Pretty in Pink, 16 Candles, and The Breakfast Club! My favorite '80s movie is Say Anything!
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Bernice Homel, O'Neill
"Dirty Dancing! It came out the year I was born, so I was pretty little, and my mom would just play the cassette tape of the soundtrack over and over again, and soon enough I'd memorized the words...Hungry Eyes.... My cousin and I were always doing the lift, too!"
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Georgann Grecco, Herrick
"Oh there's so many to choose from!! My two top favorites are The Princess Bride and Goonies. (You're lucky I only just named two!! This was such a hard question!!)"
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Stephanie Quigley, Fairmount
"Back to the Future would have to be one of my favorite 80's movies. I love the idea of going back in time to change the future!"
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JoAnn Swanson, Henry Puffer
"Pretty in Pink"
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Karina DeLeon, Kingsley
"Die Hard, Dirty Dancing and Flash Dance"
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Michele Doose, Pierce Downer
"Anything by John Hughes. Also, Can't Buy Me Love with Patrick Dempsey"
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Megan Hewitt, ASC
"Top Gun was my very favorite movie of the 80's. The movie was full of adventure, drama and even a love story! All which I like in a movie. It was about United States Navy fighter pilots competing to be best in their class and overcoming obstacles along the way. The visual and sound effects were awesome! Our nephew loved to watch this movie with us and actually became a US Navy fighter pilot! He says it is because of all the times he watched it with my husband, his Uncle Dale. Which makes the movie more special to us. To this day when my husband watches it, he loves to blast the stereo to get the full effect of the sound on his surround sound speakers!"
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Sheri Kluga, Whittier
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Administrative Service Center
1860 63rd St. Downers Grove, IL 60516
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