Volume 15, Issue 13 | Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023

About the cover photos: Left: Indian Trail preschoolers completed their clothing unit by hosting a Preschool Fashion Show last week! View this short video for highlights. Right: Highland's Mindfulness Club supports student mental health through breathing, affirmations, yoga, meditation and general mindfulness strategies. Learn more.


Throughout this publication, you will see the following color-coded dots beside each article. The dots represent which strategic goal the article addresses:


• Focusing on Learning • Connecting the Community • Securing the Future


Have feedback regarding Communicate 58? Click here!

District 58 calendar

Thursday, Feb. 9

4:45-8 p.m.: Parent-teacher conferences


Monday, Feb. 13

7 p.m.: Board of Education Meeting at Downers Grove Village Hall


Wednesday, Feb. 15

5-6:30 p.m.: Grove Children's Preschool Open House at Henry Puffer


Monday, Feb. 20

Presidents Day: No school; District and school offices are closed


Tuesday, Feb. 21

7-8 a.m.: Board Policy Committee Meeting at O'Neill

Wednesday, Feb. 22

8 a.m.: Grove Children's Preschool applications open at www.dg58.org/preschool

3:45-4:45 p.m.: Board Legislative Committee Meeting at O'Neill

6-7 p.m.: Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee Meeting at El Sierra

7-8 p.m.: District 58 Grade 3-4 Musical Performance (northside cast) at O'Neill


Thursday, Feb. 22

7-8 p.m.: District 58 Grade 3-4 Musical Performance (southside cast) at O'Neill


Click here to view the 2022-23 calendar.

Click here to view the 2023-24 calendar.

Take District 58's Facility Visioning Follow-up Survey

District 58 thanks the many staff and community members who participated in last week's Facility Visioning Sessions!


During the meetings, Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell and the District's architect and construction management team gave a presentation that shared an overview of work planned, the targeted work timeline, and visual ideas for seven different topics.


Guests participated in three 15-minute rotational feedback sessions led by District 58 administrators on the seven topics from the initial presentation. At the end, administrators shared small group conversation highlights with the full group.


Want to provide feedback on District 58's facility ideas? Please take our Facility Visioning Follow-up Survey through Wednesday, Feb. 15. Visit District 58's Facility Planning webpage to learn more. Click here to view the photo gallery.

District 58's Legislative Breakfast discusses youth mental health, safety

District 58 welcomed seven local and federal legislators, along with nearly 100 school and community leaders, to O'Neill Middle School for the annual Legislative Breakfast on Friday, Feb. 3.


The legislators answered full panel questions on the youth mental health crisis, school safety, and opportunities for school districts and elected officials to partner on solutions. Then, the elected officials and audience members participated in two small group breakout sessions. 


Participating legislators included: U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, Sen. John Curran, Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, Rep. Terra Costa Howard, Rep. Jenn Ladisch Douglass and Rep. Anne Stava-Murray. The event's guests included the boards of education from District 58 and surrounding communities; District 58 staff and PTA leaders; District 58 Board committee members; leaders from surrounding school districts; and local community leaders. Click here to learn more and view a photo gallery.

Twenty-two District 58 students advance to state PTA Reflections level

District 58 is pleased to announce that 22 students will advance from the regional to the state level of the PTA Reflections arts recognition and achievement program.


Through Reflections, District 58 students in kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to submit works of art in six areas: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. The theme for the 2022-23 program is “Show Your Voice!”


Congratulations!


Learn more, including a list of advancing students.

Winter weather series part 6:

How does District 58 communicate emergency closure information?

This cold-weather season, Communicate 58 will highlight different FAQs from its winter weather procedures guide. Today's FAQ: How does District 58 communicate emergency closure information?


When a decision is made to close school due to inclement weather, the District will send an automated voice and email message to all parents and staff via the SchoolMessenger notification system. The communication will include whether District 58 will hold an e-learning day or a traditional emergency/snow day.The system will also send a text message to families and staff who have registered to receive texts. Sign up to receive District 58 text messages by texting YES to 68453 using a phone number that is on file with District 58. Opt out at any time by texting STOP to the same number.


District 58 also posts school closure information at www.dg58.org, on Facebook, Twitter and on the District’s answering machine at 630-719-5800. The District also notifies major news radio and network televisions stations.


After declaring an e-learning day, families would receive additional communication regarding how to access instruction from their child's school. All elementary students (including morning preschoolers) would begin their day by logging into a Google meet virtual session with their teacher at 8:30 a.m. Middle schoolers would similarly log into their first period class at 8:30 a.m.

Community Relations Office update

District 58 community members may be accustomed to receiving emails, including this newsletter, from Community Relations Coordinator Megan Hewitt.


Mrs. Hewitt is expecting a baby and will be taking an extended parental leave starting later this month. In her absence, Faith Behr will be serving as the interim community relations coordinator. Ms. Behr served this role during Mrs. Hewitt's previous maternity leaves and has significant school communications and public relations experience. In Mrs. Hewitt's absence, please direct any communications or community relations questions to Faith Behr at fbehr@dg58.org or 630-719-5805. You will also see her name appear in your inbox, as she takes the lead on District communications!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Take the School Environment Survey by Feb. 17

District 58 thanks the more than 800 parents/guardians who have taken this year's School Environment Survey. Your feedback will inform our school improvement plans! This survey is open through Friday, Feb. 17.


If you haven't completed it yet, please click here to take the Parent/Guardian School Environment Survey. (Haga clic aquí para realizar la Encuesta de entorno escolar en español). Thank you for your time.

Grove Children's Preschool holds open house Feb. 15

Grove Children’s Preschool will hold an open house on Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Henry Puffer School. Parents and guardians may tour the preschool, meet the staff, hear an overview of the program, and ask questions.


Preschool tuition applications for the 2023-24 school year will open at www.dg58.org/preschool on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 8 a.m.

Learn more.

Calling future kindergarteners!

Will your child attend kindergarten in District 58 next fall? Here are three steps to prepare!


1. Call your child's future school to let them know your child will be attending kindergarten next year. They can add you to any school-specific kindergarten contact lists.


2. Attend Kindergarten Roundup in March or April.


3. Visit our Kindergarten Resource webpage for helpful kindergarten information.

SCHOOL BOARD 

Board of Education news

The Board of Education will hold a regular business meeting on Monday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at Downers Grove Village Hall and a curriculum workshop on Monday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at O'Neill.


The Board agendas will be published on the Friday preceding each meeting on BoardDocs.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Education Foundation's Green Apple Award program honors staff

Congratulations to the 36 District 58 staff members who earned 42 Green Apple Awards this past holiday season! These awards raised approximately $1,500 in donations for the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58.


The Education Foundation invites community members to make a Green Apple donation to the Foundation in honor of an exceptional staff member. Every Green Apple Award recipient received a Green Apple certificate personally delivered by Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell, with a personal message from the donor, and they are celebrated on the District’s social media pages.


Congratulations to our Holiday 2022 Green Apple Award recipients! View our Green Apple photo gallery.

  • Ashley Honn, Henry Puffer
  • Colleen Sullivan, Whittier
  • Jennifer Schulte, Henry Puffer
  • Sara Felker, Whittier
  • Julie Batkiewicz, Henry Puffer
  • Sabrina Breault, Pierce Downer
  • Sarah Brost, O’Neill
  • Emily Weist, Belle Aire
  • Gina Desimone, Herrick
  • Gianna Smith, El Sierra
  • Louise Modine, Whittier
  • Marissa Remus, Fairmount
  • Elizabeth Zawadzki, Hillcrest (2 Green Apples!)
  • Valerie McKinley, Indian Trail
  • Katie Main, Fairmount
  • Kathleen Mahay, Herrick
  • Jennifer Conyac, Lester
  • Tara Fulton, Belle Aire (2 Green Apples!)
  • Heidi Carlson, Henry Puffer
  • Carrie Edwards, Henry Puffer
  • Jon Belonio, Fairmount/Hillcrest/Whittier (5 Green Apples!)
  • Rachel Bush, Kingsley
  • Karen Kroll, Fairmount
  • Theresa Farrell, Belle Aire/ Henry Puffer/ Herrick/ Pierce Downer
  • Taylor Carroll, Indian Trail
  • Shelby Vandermeulen, Indian Trail
  • Dana Howell, El Sierra
  • Michele Doose, Pierce Downer
  • Ann Brinkman, Henry Puffer/ Highland/ Hillcrest/ Kingsley
  • Dana (Mazian) Hietpas, El Sierra
  • David Zambrano, Hillcrest
  • Tracy deBuhr, Pierce Downer
  • Jessica Atkins, Herrick
  • Jill Henry, Herrick
  • Jennifer Hodkowski, Whittier
  • Jennifer Tartaglione, Herrick

Congratulations! Plus, so far in 2023, community members have made six additional Green Apple Award donations in honor of five staff members. Our winter 2023 Green Apple Awards will be delivered and celebrated on the District's Facebook page and in a future issue of Communicate 58!


The Foundation's Green Apple program is open year-round. Click here to honor a special District 58 staff member with a Green Apple Award!

Thank you, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, for donations!  

District 58 partners with many local organizations and individuals to help its families in need. We appreciate and thank all of our partners for their generosity, time and support!


For example, District 58 thanks Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for donating $1,600 in gas and grocery gift cards for District 58 families facing extreme hardship. District 58 worked with its social workers to place the gift cards with the highest need families. Thank you, Good Shepherd, for your kindness!


For other examples of community generosity, please view the "In the Community" section of past (and future) Communicate 58 issues!

Community e-flyers

District 58 includes relevant e-flyers in the Communicate 58 newsletter and online. Learn more.


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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