About our cover photos: Left: Fairmount kindergarteners enjoyed a visit with Superintendent Dr. Russell. Right: This spring, all intermediate students, including these Indian Trail students, took a field trip to the Morton Arboretum!
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
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End-of-year message from Dr. Russell •••
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Dear District 58 Families and Staff Members,
As the 2021-2022 school year comes to a close, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your partnership. I am very proud to be an educator in District 58 because we have such great students, an outstanding staff, and very supportive families.
To state that this year (like last year) has been challenging at times would certainly be an understatement. Despite the ups and downs and twists and turns, I am very proud of how the District 58 community stuck together for our students. Throughout the pandemic, the District has prioritized in-person instruction and parental choice. While there were certainly opposing views when critical decisions were made this school year, I cannot emphasize enough how much I appreciate that stakeholders engaged in civil discourse. There will always be disagreements, but how we treat one another and serve as role models for our students is important. I believe we have been successful at sticking together because we always place the needs of our students above all else (no matter where we fall on an issue). Moving forward, we will continue to place the students at the forefront of all decisions.
One of the most positive aspects of this school year is that we have returned to operating our schools in a manner that more closely resembles pre-pandemic times. We were thrilled to bring back field trips, fun lunches, clubs, PTA events and athletic competitions. The students did a great job making this transition but we certainly recognize additional support was needed for some in terms of academics, social relationships and emotional regulation. The District will continue to offer support to those who need assistance. Additionally, we will continue to emphasize behavioral expectations and routines as our students become reaccustomed to school in a more traditional setting. Please don’t hesitate to contact your principal if you have any questions or concerns about your child(ren).
Despite having to deal with the pandemic for another school year, I am extremely proud of the work that took place in the District. Some highlights include the following:
- Earning the State’s highest financial recognition award
- The District’s Citizen Task Force has recommended that the Board take action on a potential referendum regarding the District’s aging facilities (the Board vote will be in August)
- New Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for student achievement and growth
- Approval of a two-year contract extension with the DGEEA (the teachers’ association)
- Key curricular adoptions and/or enhancements (social studies, math acceleration, etc.)
- Recruiting and hiring new staff members while navigating a historic shortage of teachers and support staff
- Offering more services within the District to students with special needs
- Various improvements throughout the buildings (playgrounds, flooring, roofing, paved areas, etc.)
- Transitioning to a new administrative center and a long term partnership with the Village of Downers Grove
- Several community engagement sessions on various topics
As we head into the 2022-23 school year, the District is preparing to start the school year off in a manner that aligns with what took place before the pandemic. Thank you once again for your partnership, flexibility, grace and resilience. We hope that everyone enjoys the time away from school with family and friends. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our District Office if you have any questions or need anything over the summer.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin Russell
Superintendent of Schools
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Friday, June 10
7 a.m.: Financial Advisory Committee meeting at O'Neill
Monday, June 13
7 p.m.: Regular Board meeting at Downers Grove Village Hall
Last day school offices are open
Summer School Session I and Extended School Year begin
June 14-Aug. 1
School offices closed
Friday, June 17
District offices closed: Juneteenth
June 20-July 22
District 58 administrative offices are open Mondays-Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed on Fridays
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Monday, June 27
Summer School Session II begins
Monday, July 11
Regular Board meeting at location TBD
Monday, July 25
Regular District 58 administrative office schedule resumes (M-F; 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Monday, Aug. 1
Summer School Session III begins
Tuesday, Aug. 2
School offices reopen
Monday, Aug. 8
Regular Board meeting at location TBD
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First Day of School: Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022
Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 23-25, 2022
Winter Break: Dec. 19, 2022 -Jan. 2, 2023
Spring Break: March 27-31, 2023
Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (if no emergency days are used)
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Eighth graders promoted to high school •
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District 58 celebrated Herrick and O'Neill eighth graders as they were promoted to high school on Tuesday, June 7 at Downers Grove North.
The O’Neill Promotion Ceremony occurred at 5 p.m. The promotion included the Pledge of Allegiance by O’Neill Student Council Vice President Kasey Ganger, and a promotion speech, titled "Challenges for Change," by O’Neill Student Council President Taylor Ciucci.
Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell presented the Pride of O'Neill Award to Jaida Alexander and Ethan Traugott. Ed Ludwig, representing American Legion Post 80, presented this year's American Legion Awards to John Bakken and Margaret Sisul.
The Herrick Promotion Ceremony took place at 7 p.m. The promotion opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and the “Address to the Class of 2022” by Student Council Representatives Katherine Toledano Vazquez and Zain Haque.
Social Studies Teacher Jay Swanstrom presented this year's American Legion Awards to Nicholas Derbis and Finley Werner. Assistant Principal Samantha Inglima presented the Barb Blumenschein Awards to Logan Beebe, Ava Kuether, Ady Fanta and Bridget Rifenburg. This special award is named in honor of former beloved Herrick teacher Barb Blumenschein, who passed away in 2005.
Congratulations, District 58 eighth graders, and best of luck in high school and beyond!
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Bookmark these back-to-school resources ••
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Please visit these webpages as you prepare for next school year!
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District 58 tackles facility projects this summer •
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This summer, District 58 will be completing its most critical facility projects, including:
* Masonry remediation at Henry Puffer, Fairmount, El Sierra, Highland and Kingsley
* Asbestos abatement and flooring replacement at Henry Puffer
* Paving improvements at Henry Puffer and Hillcrest
* Fire alarm replacement at Henry Puffer and Highland
* Exterior door replacements at Fairmount
* Miscellaneous painting at several schools
District 58 will fund this important work primarily through proceeds of its recent Longfellow Center sale.
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What's new in fall 2022? •
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Here are just a few of District 58's areas of focus for the 2022-23 school year!
* Pilot of grade K-5 writing curriculum resources (in some classrooms)
* New two-way dual language program
* New middle school student support periods and student advisory time (see the February Curriculum Workshop Board Briefs for more information on dual language and the middle school student support periods/student advisory time). |
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Get free meals for children this summer •
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Save your family time and money with free summer meals for your kids this summer! All families can receive free meals for kids; no application or registration is needed. To find free meal sites near you, visit www.summermealsillinois.org* or text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304. You can also call the Illinois Hunger Coalition at 800-359-2163 for more information. *As of June 8, the Summer Meals Illinois site has not posted Illinois meal sites for 2022. They have informed District 58 that the page will be updated soon.
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Board news: Board extends DGEEA contract two years •
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District 58 Board of Education approved a two-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement with the Downers Grove Elementary Education Association (DGEEA) at a special meeting on Thursday, June 2, 2022. The current collective bargaining agreement will expire on Aug. 22, 2022.
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Downers Grove Grade School District 58
2300 Warrenville Road, Suite 200NE, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Community Relations Office: 630-719-5805 I mhewitt@dg58.org | www.dg58.org
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