D58 board reviews first draft of 2010-11 spending plan
The Downers  Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education got its first look April 26 at the district's proposed spending plan for the 2010-11 school year, which includes nearly $2 million in cost-containment measures in response to the state's fiscal crisis and the current economic situation.
Conservative budgeting, careful monitoring of-and proactive responses to-economic conditions, and continued maintenance of fund balances has put District 58 in a better financial position than many surrounding and benchmark districts. District 58 balanced its 2009-10 budget through approximately $600,000 in cuts in the areas of supplies, equipment and purchased services.
No massive layoffs or major budget adjustments were required to bring the $55.5 million budget in balance for 2010-11; however, some changes were necessary, said Controller James Popernik.
Click here for the full story.
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District 58 students advance to state science fair
Three D58 students are advancing to the state science fair at the
University of Illinois May 7-8, having earned top scores at the
regional science fair in Cicero last month. Emily Alves and Abby Kargol from O'Neill Middle School will
represent the district with their project, "Do Preschool Children
Prefer 'Imagination' or Electronic Toys?" Kate Edel from Herrick Middle School will represent D58 with her project, "The Effects of Salinity on a Geyser." Alves, Kargol and Edel also earned top scores at the 29th annual
District 58 Science Fair held in January, in which nearly 800 students
from first through eighth grade participated. |
 District 58 staff members honored with Distinguished Service Awards
Ten District 58 staff members with a variety of job titles and responsibilities were honored April 8 at the annual Distinguished Service Awards ceremony sponsored by the District 58 Education Foundation. This year's DSA nominees were:
--Pierce Downer resource teacher Megan Finnegan
--O'Neill Middle School eighth grade science teacher Sarah Pinkus
--Hillcrest first grade teacher Leslie Walker
--Pierce Downer second grade teacher Beth Taylor
--Indian Trail reading specialist Julie Bianchin
--Lester School third grade teacher Amy Brown
--El Sierra third grade teacher Diane Claver
--Hillcrest/El Sierra social worker Nancy Herkes
--Herrick/Indian Trail/Belle Aire school nurse Carol Christofano
--Hillcrest kindergarten teacher Katie Modine
All were honored for going above and beyond in their service to students; caring about the whole child; and having a positive impact on students. The winner, Katie Modine, also received $500 to use for her school and/or department, a $100 gift card donated by Community Bank of Downers Grove, a large winner's plaque, and an Education Foundation blazer.
For a photo gallery from the awards ceremony, click here. |
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District 58 earns financial recognition from state board
District 58's 2010 Financial Profile, which is based on the 2008-09 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 this month, said that "given the economic difficulties school districts are facing, the State Board realizes this is a significant accomplishment."
All Illinois school districts receive an annual rating from the ISBE, which takes into account financial indicators including fund balance to revenue ratio; expenditure to revenue ratio; days of cash on hand; percent of short-term borrowing ability remaining; and percentage of long-term debt margin remaining. |
 District 58 focusing on Social-Emotional Learning
What is Social-Emotional Learning, and how is it being practiced in District 58?
Members of the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Committee presented to the School Board last month an update on its work.
Social-Emotional Learning as defined by CASEL, a not-for-profit organization that provides resources and training in SEL, is ''the process whereby children and adults develop essential social and emotional skills, knowledge and attitudes'' related to: Recognizing one's emotions and values as well as one's strengths and limitations; making ethical, constructive choices about personal and social behavior; forming positive relationships, working in teams and dealing effectively with conflict; showing understanding and empathy for others; and managing emotions and behaviors to achieve one's goals.
Research shows that SEL provides the foundation for improved social, health, behavioral and academic outcomes.The vision for SEL in District 58 is to develop a community where educators, students, families and community members work together to support the healthy development of all students. Board members echoed the importance of SEL to student instruction, growth and achievement.
Click here to read more in this month's Board Briefs.
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 Board adopts new music curriculum for 2010-11
District 58 will use the Silver-Burdett Making Music program for first through sixth grade vocal music instruction. The board approved this curriculum April 12.
The Music Curriculum Committee spent this year reviewing the first through sixth grade vocal music curriculum and aligning it with best practice research and the Illinois Learning Music Standards. The Illinois Learning Standards related to music call for students to: 1) Know the language of the arts; 2) Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced; and 3) Understand the role of the arts in civilizations, past and present.
As part of the process, the committee surveyed students, parents and staff regarding the music curriculum. As a result of the surveys, the committee would like to increase opportunities for curriculum integration; increase communication about musical activities occurring at school; and increase opportunities to showcase the school choirs and the Downers Grove Children's Choir.
School Board members voiced their support for the music program, and its positive effects on student learning and achievement. |
 Eighth-graders honored for service at annual banquet
April 21 marked a very special night for 58 eighth-graders in Downers
Grove Grade School District 58, along with their proud families, as they were
honored at the annual Select 58 banquet for their citizenship and contributions to school and community.
The attendees at the banquet at Herrick Middle School, which is sponsored by the Education Foundation of District 58, were treated to a musical performance by the Freshmen Select Ensemble from Downers Grove South, as well as inspiring speeches about leadership by former Select 58 winners Jack O'Sullivan (O'Neill alumnus) and Allison Williams (Herrick alumnus).
Select 58 contributors were Carlucci's, which provided dinner; Holy Cow
Sports, which donated sweatshirts; Miles Boone, who donated photography services; Scot Press, which donated printing services; Starbucks, which donated coffee; and Nancy Zschau, who created the
Select 58 cake.
For the full list of winners, click here.
For photos of the winners and the cake, click here.
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O'Neill eighth-grader scores big on SAT
In between playing principal cello with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) Concert Orchestra, captaining his varsity Scholastic Bowl team, serving on his school's student council and earning straight As, Andrew Molina found time to take the SAT this spring-and to earn an
extremely high score.
Normally the realm of high school students vying for spots in colleges, Molina, an eighth-grader at O'Neill Middle School, decided to take the SAT College Board Test through Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search because a high enough score-which he earned--would enable him to participate in online Latin classes through Northwestern University's Gifted Learning Links Program. His mother, Sharon, taught him some Latin last summer, having taken five years of the language herself, and it piqued his interest enough that he signed up for summer classes at Dominican University and wants to continue his Latin education, he said.
Molina, who is taking advanced algebra and trigonometry honors at Downers Grove South this year, was more than ready for the mathematics portion of the exam, on which he netted a nearly-perfect
score of 770. He also earned a 670 in English and writing, placing him in the 93rd percentile of all testtakers nationwide, and a 610 on reading.
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Teachers focus on technology at D58 mini-conference
Podcasting, I-Movies, BrainPop and Earobics were just a
few of the technology-related topics being taught in District 58 on
April 30--only it was the teachers who were learning.
That teacher institute day, which the Technology
Leadership Team began planning in December, was structured as a Tech
Mini-Conference. All teachers signed up to take four classes over the
course of the day; earlier in the year, the technology department
surveyed staff about the potential offerings to ensure they were
offering topics of interest. Sixteen classes were offered during each
time slot, and the vast majority were taught by D58
teachers and technology staffers.
Among the class offerings were Music and Technology; Differentiating
Instruction with Technology; Social
Studies and Technology; Podcasting Across the Curriculum; iPod in Reading; Earobics, the Literacy Challenge;
The Collaborative Classroom; Read, Write, Think; Creating iMovies;
Skype; and SmartBoard overview. Attendees were provided with handouts,
and a wealth of information on the topic.
"Our goal was to not take teachers out of the classroom any more
than we had to for technology training, and to provide them with a
variety of topics and integration ideas," said Connie Hodson, District
58's Director of Technology. "I knew we had lots of technology
integration taking place in the classrooms, and this gave teachers a
chance to share." |
District 58 going green with e-flyer program in 2010-11
As part of continuing efforts to make communications conveniently available online and to "go green" by using less paper, District 58 is changing the way our community partners in education distribute information to our students and families.
Currently, community organizations whose flyer meets our criteria (available on our Web site) provide paper copies for distribution via backpack. In 2008-09, District 58 distributed more than 425,000 pieces of paper on behalf of community groups.
With our new e-flyer system, scheduled to go into effect for the 2010-11 school year, we are introducing an eco-friendly distribution system that saves resources, and also the time required for parents and staff to sort and handle materials.
To view an informational flyer about D58's new e-flyer program, click here.
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One week remains to get Bacon Brothers tickets
Time is running out to get your tickets for the District 58 Education Foundation's annual Entertainment for Education fundraiser featuring The Bacon Brothers!
The Bacon Brothers, a band featuring Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael, a professional musician, will take the stage at the Tivoli Theater at 8 p.m. 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. |
 Registration ongoing for Grove Children's Preschool program
Applications for tuition-based enrollment in District 58's Grove Children's Preschool program, with its established, research-based educational curriculum, are 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. |
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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 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--and please pass this e-mail along to anyone who might be interested in the information.
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Board sets last day of school for 2009-10 year
Because no emergency days were used, the District 58 School Board voted April 12 to set Thursday, June 3, as the last day of school for the 2009-10 school year.
For the full calendar for the rest of the 2009-10 school year, click here.
For the full 2010-11 calendar, click here.
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| What's on District 58's Web site?
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On District 58's Web site, parents and the community can find important news and documents, as well as get a glimpse into our schools and classrooms through feature stories and photo galleries.
Here are just a few of the items you can find online at www.dg58.org.
Board briefs
Tax levy 101
Standards-based report card information
Roof work plan FAQ
Photo galleries
Featured headlines
Education Foundation information
Technology integration plan
Strategic plan
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District 58 e-flyers
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Click here to view the latest postings on District 58's e-flyer page!
District 99 sports camps
Swim and Racquet Club Red Cross swim lessons
Downers Grove Roadrunners garage sale
Downers Grove North Language Fair for Kids
Good Samaritan Hospital asthma screenings, lecture
Maple Hill Pool Red Cross swim lessons
Park District specialty baseball camp
PediaProgress summer classes
DG Public Works open house
Rep. Patti Bellock summer reading program
Downers Grove North summer boys baseball camp
May Park AveNews
PACES West barndance fundraiser
Camp Naper (posting only) |
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Dates to remember
| May 10--Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m., Longfellow
May 18--HALF DAY
May 25--Policy Committee meeting, 7 a.m., ASC
May 26--Legislative Committee meeting, 3:45 p.m., ASC
May 31--NO SCHOOL
June 3--Last day of school
June 7--Financial Advisory Committee meeting, 7 a.m., ASC
June 14--Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m., Longfellow
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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District 58 on Twitter
Keep up with the latest news from District 58, its schools and the Education Foundation by going to www.twitter.com/DGDistrict58, or by signing up for your own account and requesting to follow DGDistrict58. You can also click on the link below.
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 | Musical notes
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Tuesday, May 18--O'Neill choir and orchestra concert, 7 p.m., O'Neill
Thursday, May 20--Herrick choir concert, 7 p.m., Herrick
Tuesday, May 25--Herrick band concert, 7 p.m., Herrick
Thursday, May 27--O'Neill band concert, 7 p.m., O'Neill
Thursday, May 27--Herrick orchestra concert, 7 p.m., Herrick
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