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District 58 School Board approves balanced budget
Thanks to nearly $600,000 in cost-containment measures and $1.2 million in revenues slated to come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), District 58 is entering the 2009-10 school year with a balanced spending plan.
The School Board approved the balanced $58.4 million budget on Sept. 14.
Knowing revenues would be affected by a flat Consumer Price Index and extremely low interest rates on investments, this spring administrative staff came up with nearly $600,000 in cuts, none of which affect direct services to students. These budget reductions were in the areas of supplies, equipment and purchased services.
District 58 is slated to receive a total of $1.2 million from ARRA through the Americans with Disabilities Act over the next two years, $1 million of which is slated to come in this year. District 58 plans to use the ARRA funds to launch a special education instructional classroom and to purchase adaptive technology to support learning by students with special needs.
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Board approves 2009-10 strategic goals
On Sept. 14, the School Board approved the District 58 strategic goals action plan for 2009-10.
This year's goals include:
- Entering into a stakeholder-driven strategic planning process to help the district in the development of long-range planning
- Supporting the development of the district's new language arts curriculum
- Using resources from the Illinois State Board of Education to support district-wide implementation of the Response to Intervention initiative in 2010-11
- Reviewing and updating the district's music program
- Providing support for the launch of the K-6 standards-based report card district-wide
- Reviewing and developing programs that address students' social and emotional learning
- Supporting the implementation of the new physical education curriculum
- Evaluating and refining the district's mentoring/induction program to improve the level of support for new staff members
- Refining the district's communication plan, including boosting subscriptions to the Communicate 58 e-newsletter and continuing to use the district's Web site as a communications tool
- Designing and hosting a technology mini-conference for teachers and a technology workshop for administrators
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District 58 to embark on strategic planning process
District 58 will embark on a stakeholder-driven strategic planning process this year.
As
an outgrowth of that, the board has decided not to embark on a
superintendent search; instead, the plan is for Superintendent Paul
Zaander to remain in his position and guide the district through the
process.
Zaander has
spent more than 30 years in education, 20 of those in District 58,
including 5 years as a principal at Lester School, 10 years as
assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and three years
as deputy superintendent before being tapped as interim superintendent
in 2008.
The
District 58 board and administrators will discuss the next steps in the
strategic planning process during a board retreat in October. The
district's current stakeholder-driven strategic plan was developed and
adopted approximately 10 years ago, during the 1999-2000 school year. |
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District hosting seminars for Spanish-speaking parents
To help Spanish-speaking parents get involved in their childrens'
education, Downers Grove Grade School District 58 is hosting a series
of seminars entitled "Navigating the American Educational System."
The seminar series, developed by the DuPage Regional Office of Education, is conducted in Spanish. It is being funded in District 58 by a grant from the Education Foundation.
The first
session, entitled "How to Get Involved in Your Child's Education," took
place Sept. 15.
Upcoming topics and activities are as follows:
· Tuesday, Oct. 13 - How to establish a positive and productive
connection with your child's school. A free professional family
portrait will be taken, and participants will receive it at the final
seminar.
· Tuesday, Nov. 17 - Strategies that increase the academic
achievement of students. The Peoples Resource Center will give a
presentation in Spanish. The Resource Center offers computer classes,
English tutors, household goods and more. There also will be a raffle
for a Thanksgiving dinner.
· Tuesday, Dec. 15 - Reasons behind the lack of achievement of
Hispanic students. There will be a raffle for a three-month family
membership to the Indian Boundary YMCA.
Sessions are open to any interested Spanish-speaking parents in
District 58, and refreshments and
babysitting will be provided. The first meeting took place at El Sierra School. Due to a large turnout and to ensure adequate space for all interested families, future meetings most likely will take place at a new location, to be announced. |
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Spots still available in Grove Children's Preschool
Grove Children's Preschool, District 58's program for future students who turned three years old by Sept. 1 but are not yet old enough for kindergarten, h as openings remaining for tuition students at the Henry Puffer and Indian Trail school sites.
Grove Children's Preschool offers two-day and four-day program options.
The curriculum provides a variety of activities and work/play centers in which a child can make choices, create and interact with peers and their environments. Materials used support real-life experiences and are adaptable to the many play levels of children. Program teachers also develop Units of Study that thematically complement the children, their cultures and the community.
For more information about the program, including hours, application information, staff, curriculum and tuition/fee costs, please visit http://www.dg58.org/preschool/preschool.htm or contact preschool coordinator James Swade at (630) 968-0454 or jswade@dg58.org. |
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Rocking out for a good cause
Ever seen the Seeley Wheelies in concert? What about More Cowbell?
Now you'll have your chance.
The Pierce Downer PTA will present a 'Battle of the Bands' event at Herrick Middle School, 4435 Middaugh Ave., from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. Entertainment will be provided by groups of musically
talented Pierce Downer parents--including the Seeley Wheelies and More Cowbell.
All Pierce Downer students at the show will be
invited to vote for their favorite bands, and Coach Josh will be the
emcee.
Donations will help offset the cost of new sound equipment for the school. The suggested donation is $3 for students, and $5 for adults. |
Herrick team building days promote unity
Outside, groups of Herrick Middle School seventh graders strapped on Downers Grove North football gear as quickly as possible, then completed a variety of tasks before passing the gear to a teammate.
Inside, other seventh gra ders worked in groups of three or four in a competition to build the tallest tower using nothing but dry spaghetti noodles and mini-marshmallows.
What were they all up to on Aug. 28? Building class unity.
It was the first of several team building days that Herrick hosts each year within the first month or so of school, and the focus is on the students having fun, getting to know one another, and working together.
"My relays always have something that makes them work as a unit," said social studies teacher Mickey Doose. "Kids that are used to taking charge often find themselves realizing the need to come together. It's also amazing at how some students are natural team players, and because they model this behavior, others feel comfortable to jump in, too."
She said staff always praises positive behavior and good efforts, which aligns with District 58's focus on supporting students socially and emotionally, as well as academically.
"This year we focused on the theme of 'the sky is the limit.' At the end of the day, we talked to the kids about how, at this age, the sky is the limit for them, and it is within their power to go after whatever they want," Doose said.
The eighth grade students will participate in team-building activities in mid- to late September. |
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KinderMorgan grant to boost technology at O'Neill
In Meg Van Dyke's science classes at O'Neill Middle School, it's all about learning to think-and act-like bona fide scientists, which means hands-on, real-world experiments and research.
"We try to get get the students outside collecting data like real scientists," she said.
Thanks to a series of grants Van Dyke has applied for and won over the past few years, that data collection is happening with some pretty neat technology.
Click here for the rest of the story! |
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 what's 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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Tickets still available for Sept. 23 Kelly Miller Circus
Have you gotten your tickets yet for this year's Kelly Miller Circus?
The District 58 Education Foundation is bringing the Kelly Miller circus back for an all-new 2009 show on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the Fairmount/O'Neill Middle School grounds at 59th Street and Blodgett Avenue.
Tickets for the 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. performances are available at Community Bank of Downers Grove, 1111 Warren Ave. and 718 Ogden Ave.; and at the District 58 Administrative Service Center, 1860 63rd St. Tickets are just $14 for adults and $7 for youth, and will also be available at the door.
Last year's nearly sold-out shows raised more than $15,000 in support of the Foundation's programs in District 58, which include middle school orientation, staff and student recognition, grants and scholarships.
Come check out the captivating magic under the big top and support the students and staff of Downers Grove District 58 at the same time! |
District 58 e-flyers
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Click here to view the latest postings on District 58's e-flyer page!
Postings include:
Night at the Firehouse
Park AveNews
Girls' Night Out to benefit the schools
FRoG Super Saturday
Indian Boundary YMCA YTeens
New World Repertory Theater fall drama classes |
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Dates to remember
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September 23--Kelly Miller Circus, Fairmount/O'Neill grounds, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
October 5--Financial Advisory Committee meeting, 7 a.m., ASC
October 12--Columbus Day--NO SCHOOL
October 13--Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m., Longfellow Center
Click here for the full 2009-10 District 58 calendar, including institute days and holidays.
Click here for the 2009-10 Board of Education calendar. |
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