H1N1 flu update
A student at Herrick Middle School has tested positive for influenza
Type A, and District 58 is awaiting lab results as to whether the student tests positive for H1N1.
A case of H1N1 is considered confirmed when it is verified by
DuPage County Health Department officials; District 58 administration
and the DuPage County Health Department agreed that, although this case
is not confirmed, it is important to notify parents and the community.
The federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention no longer
advises closing a school unless there is a magnitude of faculty or
student absenteeism that interferes with the school's ability to
function; therefore, Herrick and all other District 58 schools will
remain open.
For more information, please click here.
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New Lester principal, Herrick assistant principal chosen
Carin Novak will take the helm at Lester School come July 1.
Novak, whose 18 years of educational experience includes four as a principal in Alsip School District 126, replaces Jayne Yudzentis, who has been named Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Staff Development.
The Board of Education also approved Brent Borchelt as assistant principal at Herrick Middle School. He will fill the position vacated by Jason Lynde, who has been named principal at Herrick. Lynde replaces Dr. Mark Manzi, who is retiring.
Borchelt has worked since 2001 as a language arts/reading teacher at Herrick, where he also coaches cross country and serves as the English department chair; new teacher mentor; and member of several committees.
For the full story, visit www.dg58.org. |
District 58 honors 25 retirees
District 58 bids a fond farewell to 25 retirees this year, with a combined 556 years of service to the district.
The retirees were honored during a luncheon May 28.
We thank each of them for their years of service and dedication to children!
For the full list of this year's retirees, click here. |
District 58 staffers honored for going above and beyond
Lester fourth grade teacher Laurie Brennan was chosen as the 2009 Teacher of the Year by the Downers Grove Elementary Education Association; she was honored May 18.
Indian Trail sixth grade teacher Jennifer Barriball was honored with this year's Distinguished Service Award from the District 58 Education Foundation.
Other nominees for the 2009 Distinguished Service Award, given for going above and beyond in the service of students, were Pierce Downer first grade teacher Beth Taylor, Whittier long-term substitute Cheryl Prescott, Whittier aide Lois Sterba, Lester aide Allison Sowa and Herrick principal Dr. Mark Manzi. All were honored during a ceremony May 13.
For the full story, including quotes from the winners and nominators, click here.
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Whittier, Longfellow named Historic Sites
On September 3, 1929, Whittier and Longfellow schools opened their doors.
In honor of their 80 years of service to Downers Grove, the village's Historical Society recognized both as Historic Sites, marking the first time the organization has honored two buildings in one year.
The Historical Society presented a plaque to Whittier during an all-school assembly in May, and to the School Board in honor of Longfellow during the May 11 School Board meeting.
Longfellow currently serves as the district's technology, maintenance and media center/bookstore. Whittier marked its anniversary with numerous events, including a time capsule dedication this past spring. |
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Team from Whittier takes first in Destination Imagination
Teams of students from Whittier and Hillcrest recently competed against 140 teams from around the globe in the final round of this year's Destination ImagiNation competition.
The team from Whittier--Annie DeCero, Anna Furstenau, Natalie Raden, Erin DeCero, Hannah Krusenoski, Abby Murphy and Beth Jensen--took first place.
The team from Hillcrest--Rachel Leucuta, Adeline Lang, Maggie Nevrly, Parker Connolly, Beatrice Bierne and Kelly Doro--took 15th.
Both teams earned the chance to compete at the Global Finals in Tennessee by taking first place honors at regional and state.
In Destination ImagiNation, two- to seven-member teams focus on finding solutions to team and instant challenges, then present their solutions to appraisers in tournament-style settings. Teams spend several months working on the Team Challenge of their choice. At tournaments, teams receive an Instant Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. They must apply skills to produce a solution in a period of five to eight minutes. |
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Communicate
58 is a periodic, subscriber-based e-newsletter published by the
Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Office of Community Relations.
It is designed to offer our district community a convenient way to stay
informed about the important news and positive events happening in the
district.
Please send questions, comments and feedback to Jennifer
Waldorf, Coordinator of Communications, at jwaldorf@dg58.org.
Do you know someone who would like to receive Communicate 58? Please encourage them to visit www.dg58.org to sign up.
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PD teacher Golden Apple semifinalist
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Congratulations to Pierce Downer first grade teacher Beth Taylor, who was one of 60 semifinalists in this year's Golden Apple Award competition for excellence in teaching!
Taylor, whose classroom was observed by Golden Apple committee members this winter, said her favorite part of the job is seeing a student's face light up when they finally make the connection and understand a concept.
This year marks Taylor's 30th in education, and her 17th in District 58.
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District earns financial recognition
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District 58's 2009 Financial Profile, which is based on the 2008 school year financial data, places the district within the Financial Recognition range, the highest category obtainable.
The Illinois State Board of Education, which notified District 58 of the designation, said that "given the economic difficulties school districts are facing, the state board realizes this is a significant accomplishment."
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| End of the year...
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The last day of school in District 58 will be Monday, June 8. Students will attend for about an hour in the morning.
Eighth grade promotion ceremonies will take place Friday, June 5.
O'Neill: 5 p.m.
Herrick: 7 p.m.
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