Volume 15, Issue 8 | Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022

About the cover photos: Left: District 58 students, including these Hillcrest first graders, enjoyed the first snow of the season. Right: Kingsley sixth graders wrote and delivered positive notes to peers and staff in honor of World Kindness Day (Nov. 13)!


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

Wednesday, Nov. 16

7-8 p.m.: School Report Card Forum at Indian Trail


Thursday, Nov. 17

5:30-6:30 p.m.: School Report Card Forum at Highland

6-7 p.m.: Potential Board Candidate Forum at O'Neill


Friday, Nov. 18

End of first trimester

Monday, Nov. 21

3:45-5:15 p.m.: Board District Leadership Team Meeting at O'Neill

7 p.m.: Board Curriculum Workshop at Downers Grove Village Hall (please note updated location)


Wednesday, Nov. 23-Friday, Nov. 25

Thanksgiving break: No school; District and school offices are closed


Wednesday, Nov. 30

7 p.m.: Southside Orchestra and Chamber String Winter Concert


Click here to view the 2022-23 calendar.

Greetings from Dr. Russell: Facility planning next steps and gratitude 

Dear District 58 Community,


Last week, District 58 voters approved the District's $179 million bond referendum to improve our 13 school buildings, with over 67% of voters supporting the measure. As I shared in last week's post-election message, I want to thank everyone who participated in the facility planning and facility engagement process over the last five years and beyond. The referendum is truly the result of several years of hard work, and I appreciate all of the community feedback you provided.


District 58 is already making progress on next steps. At Monday's Board of Education meeting, the Board approved a construction management contract, as well as resolutions that outlined parameters for our upcoming bond sale. Yesterday, my team presented to Standard & Poor's and Moody's rating agencies, and we anticipate receiving credit ratings at the end of the month, which will help price the bonds. We plan to complete the initial bond sale in the next month. We will share more information on the above in the Board Briefs, which will be published later this week.


Next month, we plan to host public meetings to gain community feedback on our draft middle school renovation designs. We will share more information with the community on this opportunity after Thanksgiving break.


As Thanksgiving approaches, and in recognition of American Education Week this week, I want to sincerely thank our families, staff and community members for their support and partnership. The past three years in particular have presented many unique challenges worldwide, including here in District 58. We've continued to prioritize students throughout the global pandemic while making progress toward our strategic goals, including our facility plans. This work could only have been achieved with your partnership. I am very grateful to serve this community, and I wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!


Sincerely,

Dr. Kevin Russell

District 58 Superintendent of Schools

Recognize an exceptional D58 staff member with a Green Apple Award

In honor of American Education Week this week, the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 invites families to thank a special teacher or staff member with a donation to its Green Apple Teacher/Staff Recognition Program.


With each Green Apple donation received, the Education Foundation will send a specially-designed Green Apple Award card to the teacher or staff member the donation is honoring, with a custom message from the donor. Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell and/or the building principal will hand deliver the awards.


All donations will support the Education Foundation’s programs, which include the Teacher Grants Program, Distinguished Service Awards, Select 58, Sneak Preview, New Teacher Luncheon, The Reading Games and more. 


Please note: the Education Foundation has a new process for Green Apple Award submissions! Please follow these steps:


  1. Visit the Education Foundation’s new website at www.58foundation.org
  2. Please click “Send a Green Apple.” It’s on a banner at the top of the screen!
  3. Fill out the Green Apple form and click “submit.”
  4. You will receive an email and text message with information on completing your Green Apple donation. You can securely make a donation via credit/debit card, checking account, Apple Pay or Google Pay.


While the Green Apple Program is open year-round, if you would like your Green Apple Award to be delivered before winter break, please submit your donation by Friday, Dec. 9. Thank you for supporting the District 58 Education Foundation! Learn more here.

Happy National Education Support Professionals Day!

Happy National Education Support Professionals Day to District 58's phenomenal support staff!


Our support staff, which includes our school secretaries, instructional assistants and central office support staff, work closely with students, staff and families to ensure our students' needs are met.


District 58 truly appreciates your dedicated service and commitment!

Winter weather series part 1: Will students have a snow day or e-learning day during inclement weather?

District 58 emailed families and staff its annual winter weather procedures yesterday. Over the next several issues of Communicate 58, we will highlight various FAQs from this document. First up: Will students have a snow day or e-learning day during inclement weather?


If schools cannot be open due to inclement weather, District 58 will have the option to declare an emergency day (also known as “snow day”) or an e-learning day. The Board of Education has approved an e-learning plan that allows District 58 to use e-learning days in lieu of emergency days. Please note: the official e-learning plan was approved in 2021; since then, District 58 has moved from using Zoom to Google Meet. We have edited the e-learning plan to reflect this change. No other changes have been made.


For the 2022-23 school year, District 58 will use an e-learning day, in lieu of an emergency day, if staff have adequate time to prepare e-learning materials to make the day meaningful. Otherwise, the District will call an emergency day (“snow day”). District 58 anticipates that most inclement weather days will be e-learning days. An e-learning day does not need to be made up in June. However, students are required to participate in e-learning from home in order to earn credit for the school day. If District 58 uses a traditional emergency day, that day will need to be made up in June.


This process is an update from last school year, when District 58 planned for most inclement weather days to be traditional emergency days.


All school closure communications will specify whether the District will use an emergency day or an e-learning day. After declaring an e-learning day, families would receive additional communication regarding how to access instruction. 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.

Save the date: Science Fair registration will open Dec. 2 

District 58 looks forward to bringing back the Science Fair on Saturday, Jan. 21 at O'Neill Middle School. This event showcases the science projects of District 58 students in grades 1-6. Science Fair registration will open on Friday, Dec. 2. The registration link will be emailed to families and posted to the District 58 Science Fair webpage on Dec. 2.


If you have a science background and would like to be a Science Fair judge, please fill out this form.


Click here to learn more about the Science Fair.

District 58 schools celebrate Veterans Day

District 58 schools celebrated Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11 with educational activities and celebrations.


On behalf of our entire District 58 community, we thank all of our veterans for their service! Liberty comes at a price, and the brave individuals who serve our country are willing to pay that price for our freedom and for peace.


Click here to view a photo album capturing just a few of the many Veterans Day activities that took place at our schools.


Pictured above: El Sierra held an outdoor all-school Veterans Day ceremony.

Looking for a job? District 58 is hiring 

jobs_and_careers.jpg

Are you or someone you know seeking a job? Please consider District 58! District 58 is hiring for several positions, including:

  • Assistant superintendent for personnel (starting 7/2023) (District Office)
  • Part-time art teacher (El Sierra)
  • English Learner teacher (multiple schools)
  • Night custodian (Herrick)
  • Business Office secretary (District Office)
  • Speech and language pathologist (multiple schools)
  • Elementary classroom teacher temporary leave of absence positions (multiple schools)
  • Speech-language pathologist temporary leave of absence positions (multiple schools)
  • Instructional assistants (multiple schools)
  • Substitute teachers and custodians


Learn more and apply at www.dg58.org/employment.

SCHOOL BOARD 

Nov. 14 Board Business Meeting

The Board of Education's Nov. 14 Business Meeting featured an Indian Trail presentation, a spotlight on the 2022 Illinois School Report Card, approval of resolutions to issue school bonds, and approval of a construction management contract. The Board Briefs will be published later this week with more information. View the meeting agenda here.

Nov. 17 Potential Board Candidate Forum


District 58 will host a forum for potential Board candidates on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 6-7 p.m. at O'Neill. The forum will explain the role of a Board member and answer any questions prospective candidates might have about this service position. Learn more.

Nov. 21 Board Curriculum Workshop


The Board will hold a Curriculum Workshop on Monday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. at Downers Grove Village Hall (please note this is an updated location). The Board agenda will be posted on BoardDocs this Friday afternoon.

IN THE COMMUNITY

St. Joseph Knights of Columbus donates 70 coats for D58 students,

EM5 Foundation donates boots, snowpants to Fairmount 

Just in time for the first snowfall, the Knights of Columbus Council 14649, associated with St. Joseph Catholic Church in Downers Grove, donated approximately 70 winter coats to District 58 students in need. The Knights worked with District 58 in advance to arrange individual students' size and school information, while keeping their identities confidential. District 58 thanks the Knights and the St. Joseph community for their very generous donation.


In addition, the EM5 Foundation donated several pairs of boots and snowpants to support Fairmount students in need this month. Thank you for your generosity! The EM5 Foundation is a charity formed in honor of Evan Melau, a former District 58 student who died in a tragic bicycle accident in 2020.

Last chance! Sign up for the Grove Express 5K 

The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 has once again teamed up with two local nonprofits -- the Downers Grove Rotary Club and the Downers Grove Roadrunners Soccer Club -- to host the Grove Express 5K on Thursday, Nov. 24 at 8:30 a.m. in downtown Downers Grove. The Grove Express 5K is Downers Grove’s annual Thanksgiving family run/walk, and a portion of the proceeds will directly benefit District 58 students through the Education Foundation’s programs. 


Please consider participating or volunteering at this community event! Learn more.

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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