Communicate 58 for March 25, 2010

Latest news from Downers Grove District 58

March 25, 2010

District 58 striving for balanced budget despite grim state financial outlook

As you have no doubt heard, school districts all across Illinois have been affected by the state legislature's financial crisis and the economic downturn, and we are no exception. The next few months will be challenging for us, as we work to find ways to trim $1.5 to $2 million in expenditures to balance our $55.5 million budget for 2010-11.

Conservative budgeting, careful monitoring of--and proactive responses to--economic conditions, and continued maintenance of fund balances has put us in a better financial position than some of our surrounding and benchmark school districts. Still, the same financial challenges facing districts across Illinois have hit District 58. The School Board and administration are well aware of these challenges, and continue to monitor the situation closely with the latest information available.

Click here for the full story.

District 58 hires Cathie Pezanoski as new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction

Cathie Pezanoski will be joining Downers Grove Grade School District 58 as its new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, effective July 1. Pezanoski comes to District 58 from Plainfield District 202, where she has served as Elementary Director of Curriculum and Instruction since 2006.

Pezanoski replaces Dr. MaryBeth Webeler, who is retiring after 23 years in District 58-18 years as principal of Highland School, and 5 in her current position. Pezanoski has more than two decades of experience in elementary education, including a variety of building administrative experience and 12 years as a classroom teacher at the kindergarten, first and third grade levels.

Click here for the full story.

District 58 approves calendar for 2010-11 school year

The District 58 School Board approved the proposed calendar for the 2010-11 school year on March 8.

The calendar calls for the school year to begin on Wednesday, August 25, with teacher institute days set for Monday, August 23 and Tuesday, August 24. The last day of school, if no emergency days are used, is set for Tuesday, June 7.

The calendar also includes three half-days for staff development. These days have been set for Monday, Sept. 28, 2010; Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011; and Thursday, May 12, 2011.

For the full 2010-11 calendar, click here.

Seven D58 schools honored with Academic Excellence Awards

Seven District 58 schools have been honored with Academic Excellence awards from the state. These awards are given to schools in which at least 90 percent of students met or exceeded state standards in reading and math for three consecutive years.

Across the state, only 438 schools earned Academic Excellence Awards for 2009. Receiving the designation this year in District 58 were Belle Aire, Highland, Hillcrest, Lester, Pierce Downer, Whittier and Herrick Middle School. Academic Excellence is one category of award in the Illinois Honor Roll program. More information is available at www.ilhonorroll.niu.edu.

Junior Achievement helps students at all District 58 schools succeed

As students in District 58 prepare to become productive members of a global society, Junior Achievement's presence and participation in 189 classrooms helps to give them the tools and knowledge that they need.

All kindergarten through fifth grade and eighth grade classes in District 58 participate in Junior Achievement programs during either the fall or spring semester. At each grade level, representatives from local businesses, including DeVry University, State Farm, Crowe and McDonald's, as well as parents and community volunteers, teach five lessons and work on projects that teach the concepts of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

Junior Achievement supplements and supports District 58's concept-based, inquiry approach to teaching social studies, and has been in every District 58 school for the past two years.

Three fifth-grade students from Highland School shared their Junior Achievement experiences during JA DuPage County's third annual fundraiser on March 9, which brings in money for the more than 50,000 students participating in Junior Achievement throughout DuPage.

Click here for the full story.

Click here for some Junior Achievement photos.

Finances a focus of District 58 Legislative Breakfast

Finances and unfunded mandates were among the topics addressed by local legislators during District 58's annual Legislative Breakfast last month.

Each year, the Legislative Breakfast gives District 58 staff, parents, community members and representatives from other local governments an opportunity to hear from local legislators about issues facing the state and its school districts, and to share with the lawmakers their questions and concerns. Attending this year's breakfast at O'Neill Middle School Feb. 19 were Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-24th District; Sen. Dan Cronin, R-21st District; Rep. Sandra Pihos, R-42nd District; and Rep. Patricia Bellock, R-47th District.

The legislators said they all fight on behalf of school districts and against unfunded mandates. They spent time addressing the state's budget crisis, which is resulting in cuts to public education funding and delays in payments to school districts.

Superintendent Paul Zaander thanked all of the legislators for attending. Everyone in the room was there for the same reason--to ensure the best possible future for students, he said.

District 58 to host kindergarten roundups for incoming parents

Parents of incoming District 58 kindergartners will have the opportunity to visit their school, meet the principal and staff, and get their questions answered during the upcoming annual Kindergarten Roundups in March and April.

The Roundup is one of two meetings held prior to the first day of school to help prepare children for kindergarten. Parents whose children will be five years old on or before September 1, 2010, are encouraged to call their neighborhood elementary school for information about registration.

For the full list of dates and times for this year's Roundups, click here.

Nine represent District 58 at Regional Science Fair

Projects completed by nine students from Herrick and O'Neill middle schools represented District 58 at the Regional Science Fair in Cicero on March 13. A total of 770 young scientists participated in the district's 29th annual Science Fair Jan. 23. The students who earned top scores from the judges and advanced to regionals are:

   Herrick Middle School
·   Katelyn Edel, The effect of salinity on a geyser
·   Anthony Iacovetti, Temperature's effect on the tuning of a trombone
·   Sarah Speechly, How do car emissions affect the world/weather?
·   Eric Wisz, Ways to increase the voltage of a solar panel

   O'Neill Middle School
·   Ago LoBello, Which insulator provides the most soundproofing ability?
·   Jeremy Rosko, What will happen to the freezing time of water when maple syrup is added?
·   Apoorva Sooranahalli, How does a crossbeam affect the amount of mass a weight-bearing structure can hold?
·   Emily Alves/Abby Kargol, Do preschool children prefer "imagination" or electronic toys?

District 58 teachers honored by Downers Grove Junior Woman's Club

The Downers Grove Junior Woman's Club honored three District 58 staff members with Outstanding Teacher awards March 23.

This year's winners were Pierce Downer third grade teacher Karyn Langdon; Sean Rhoads, who supervises the District 58 Developmental Learning Program at O'Neill Middle School; and Pierce Downer second grade teacher Mary Eagan.

Eagan was nominated by Pierce Downer student Danny Adams. She has been teaching in Downers Grove for 20 years, the last 16 at Pierce Downer. Langdon was nominated by Pierce Downer students Peyton Ferris and Mitch Rapach. She has been teaching for 10 years, two at Pierce Downer and eight at Belle Aire. Rhoads was nominated by O'Neill Middle School student Megan Murray, who said Rhoads is always encouraging his students, and pushing them to do more than they thought they could.

Each Outstanding Teacher award winner was presented with a plaque, and the winners and nominators received a book donated by Anderson's Bookshop.

District 58 Reflections projects chosen for state

The following District 58 students' work represented the Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs at the state level of Reflections, a PTA arts recognition and achievement program for students:

Belle Aire PTA: Sophia Fotos, photography
El Sierra PTA: Bona Sileikaite, dance
Herrick PTA: Kevin Kulat, music
Highland PTA: Akshi Mistry, literature
O'Neill PTA: Elizabeth Kaczmierczak, dance; Yuliya Statyuk, film; Merlyn Thomas, visual arts; Jade Tolentino, photography
Pierce Downer PTA: Mitchell Rapach, visual arts; Nate Rapach, music; Barbara Vitti, photography
Whittier PTA: David Atwater, music; Gillian Piencak, photography; Madison Venchus, film

The theme for this year's contest was "Beauty Is..." The students' work was on display at the Illinois State PTA Convention earlier this month.

Tickets selling out quickly for Bacon Brothers concert

The District 58 Education Foundation's annual Entertainment for Education fundraiser has been rescheduled to Friday, May 14.

The Bacon Brothers, a folk and blues band featuring Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael, a professional musician, will take the stage at the Tivoli Theater at 8 p.m. 100 days of school writing

Friday, May 14. Lobby doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and theater doors will open at 7.

All $100 VIP tickets and second-tier $75 tickets are sold out, but $50 seats are still available on the Foundation's Web site, www.dg58ef.com; at the District 58 Administrative Service Center, 1860 63rd St.; at Community Bank of Downers Grove, 1111 Warren Ave. and 718 Ogden Ave.; or by calling (630) 886-5641.

For more information about the upcoming Entertainment for Education fundraiser featuring the Bacon Brothers, call (630) 960-0427. To check out the Bacon Brothers' music, visit www.baconbros.com.

The Tobias Music Guitar Lessons program in Downers Grove is sponsoring a raffle for an electric guitar, and ticket-holders also will receive 20 percent off any food purchase at participating downtown Downers Grove restaurants. More information is available by calling (630) 960-0427 or visiting the Foundation's Web site, www.dg58ef.com.

Grove Children's Preschool registration now open for all District 58 families

Applications for tuition-based enrollment in District 58's Grove Children's Preschool program, with its established, research-based educational curriculum, are now available at all District 58 schools. Enrollment is open to all District 58 children who will be 3 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2010.

For more information on Grove Children's Preschool, including registration information and tuition costs, call (630) 968-0454. An informational brochure and DVD about Grove Children's Preschool are available at the Administrative Service Center, 1860 63rd Street, or online at www.dg58.org/preschool/preschool.htm.

District 58 will host its remaining preschool screening for the 2009-10 school year on April 19 at Indian Trail School, 6235 Stonewall Ave.

Screenings are intended to evaluate development in children ages 2 years 10 months old to 5 years old. Screenings take place between 8:30 and 11 a.m., and are free to District 58 residents. Concerned parents who have not had their child screened for speech, vision, hearing, learning or behavioral needs are encouraged to call (630) 719-5800 to schedule an appointment.

Summer school registration open

District 58 has set the dates for its Learning in the Summer 2010 summer program. Classes will take place June 7-25 from 8:15 to 11:15 a.m. at Hillcrest School, 1435 Jefferson Ave., Downers Grove. The registration deadline is May 14, 2010.

The program is open to all students enrolled in public, private or parochial school that will be entering kindergarten through eighth grade and reside in the District 58 attendance area. Grade level will be for the 2010-11 school year. Transportation is not provided.

Classes include kindergarten readiness, reading for the emergent reader (first grade), reading and math for second through eighth grade and art workshop (grades 2-3 and grades 4-6).

Early registration is encouraged. Enrollment will be handled on a first-come first-served basis, and space is limited. Class may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment. Registration forms are available at each District 58 school.

For more information, contact Linda Jennings at (630) 719-5820.

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.

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In this issue

D58 striving for balanced budget

D58 hires new curriculum coordinator

District 58 approves 2010-11 calendar

Seven D58 schools honored

Junior Achievement helps students succeed

Kindergarten roundups

Nine represent D58 at Regional Science Fair

Bacon Brothers concert rescheduled

Summer school registration

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