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 Welcome to the 2010-11 school year!
The first day of school is always such an exciting time for our students--from our brand-new kindergartners with their fresh new supplies, all the way up to our eighth-graders with years of wonderful school memories.
Our staff, which this year includes 26 new faces, welcomed students for the 2010-11 year on August 25th. Every day our staff renews its commitment to helping each student excel to the best of their ability. Each staff member is dedicated to the District 58 mission, which is, in partnership with parents and community, to challenge each child by providing quality educational programs and support services in safe, nurturing environments in order to prepare all students to be lifelong learners and contributing members of society.
While our students continue to be very successful academically, last year
recording the highest-ever percentage of students meeting or exceeding
standards in math and reading on the ISAT tests, we continue to work to
improve our education program. The District is implementing a revised Language Arts curriculum this year, has reviewed its vocal music program and is focusing on meeting the needs of all learners through Response to Intervention.
Our staff cares deeply not only about our students' academic development, but also about the well-being of each child as a whole person. The School Board has adopted a goal to develop and implement strategies that support the social-emotional development of each student as a vital component of the educational program.
The strong involvement of our parents and our community partners in education enables us to succeed in providing the best possible educational experience for each and every child. We will seek input from those partners this year as we work together to create a new strategic plan--a stakeholder-driven road map that will focus our mission going forward.
District 58's last strategic plan was adopted about 10 years ago, and outlines goals that have guided us in our decision-making. Please watch our Web site, www.dg58.org, for a survey invitation and link to be posted sometime in late September. We encourage everyone in the community to participate and offer their feedback.
We strive to demonstrate our dedication and commitment to a world-class
education for each and every student with all we do, and thank you for your interest in and support of Downers Grove School District 58.
Here's to a great 2010-11 school year!
Paul C. Zaander
Superintendent of Schools
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District 58 welcomes new staff for 2010-11
District 58 welcomed more than two dozen new staff for 2010-11.
New staff spent five days in a comprehensive orientation program August 16-20. The orientation included an overview of District 58, including curriculum, technology, philosophy, standards-based reporting and communications; classroom and curriculum pl anning; positive classroom
strategies; and planning and collaboration with mentors. The welcome week also included luncheons hosted by the Downers Grove Noon Lions Club and the District 58 Education Foundation.
For the full list of new staff, click here! |
 Board continues to follow plan to address capital needs at schools
Planning is the hallmark of any well-run organization. As one component of its facilities and operations plan, District 58 maintains a comprehensive, ongoing list of capital projects needs at our 13 schools. These range from roof replacements to plumbing work, from playground resurfacing to window replacement.
A number of these projects have been delayed for years because of a lack of funds. In 2007 we estimated nearly $16 million was needed to complete all projects on the list. Our citizen-driven Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) spent two years discussing potential funding mechanisms before recommending the Board of Education issue $10 million in Life Safety bonds to begin addressing the $16 million in needs. After studying
and working on this issue for more than two years, the Board of Education issued these bonds in January 2010.
The plan always was to use the bond proceeds to take care of the items identified as the most immediately pressing--then, should those projects come in under budget and a balance remained, staff could recommend the board discuss using the savings to address other previously identified life safety projects. This plan was spelled out in the Roof FAQs at www.dg58.org earlier this year.
For the full letter from Superintendent Paul Zaander, posted at www.dg58.org, regarding the Life Safety bonds and capital projects, please click here. |
 District 58 will seek community's input on strategic plan
District 58 will seek the community's input as it embarks on a strategic planning process this school year. Strategic planning is an opportunity for the community to provide input into District 58's future, and gain an understanding of where the district is headed.
The process will involve engaging the community with a public workshop and surveys; creating a vision; and implementing that vision. The process will unfold over the next school year, with the district reaching out to a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including community members, staff, students and former students.
District 58's last strategic plan was adopted about 10 years ago. The plan encompasses a mission statement, strategic goals, a vision statement, quality standards and an action plan. To view District 58's current strategic plan, visit http://www.dg58.org/boe/plan.htm.
Please watch our Web site, www.dg58.org, for a survey invitation and link to be posted sometime in September. We encourage everyone to participate and offer their feedback. |
 Kelly Miller Circus coming to Downers Grove September 27
Save the date! The Kelly Miller Circus will bring its animal menagerie and performing troupe to Downers Grove on Monday, Sept. 27 on the Fairmount/O'Neill grounds at 59th Street and Blodgett Avenue for the District 58 Education Foundation's annual fundraiser.
The traditional old-fashioned circus will present two performances, one at 4:30 p.m. and one at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.dg58ef.com, at the District 58 Administrative Service Center, 1860 63rd St. and at Community Bank of Downers Grove, 1111 Warren Ave. |
 District 58 makes the move to e-flyers
As part of continuing efforts to make communications conveniently
available online and to "go green" by using less paper, District 58 has
changed the way its community partners in education distribute
information to students and families.
Previously, community
organizations whose flyer met the district's criteria provided paper
copies for distribution via backpack. District 58 distributed more than
425,000 pieces of paper on behalf of community groups annually. With
our new e-flyer system, now in effect for this 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.
As of this school year, flyers are only
available for viewing online. Parents and community members can view flyer postings at www.dg58.org/community_relations/flyer.htm. For
families without Internet access, copies of flyers will be available at
the Administrative Service Center, 1860 63rd Street, as well as at
individual schools.
Flyer postings for September 1-15 include:
Downers Grove Noon Lions Club Labor of Love 5K (event Sept. 6)
Cub Scout Pack 227 open house (event Sept. 9)
Taste of Downers Grove (event Sept. 16)
Downers Grove Passport to Safety Day (event Sept. 18)
Lester PTA clothing resale (event Sept. 24-25)
DuPage County Sheriff's Office Safety Saturday (event Sept. 25)
Indian Trail fall and winter clothing resale (event Oct. 1-2)
Yomechas Guides and Princesses
Indian Boundary YMCA fall programs
Downers Grove Park District September Park AveNews
Downers Grove Wolfpack Basketball
Sokol classes 2010-11 |
 District 58 preschool screening dates set
District 58 offers free preschool screenings designed to identify all children ages two years and 10 months to five years old who might benefit from special education prior to beginning kindergarten.
Parents or guardians of children who are residents of the district but not yet in kindergarten are eligible to register their children for the screening. For the full list of dates, please click here. To register your child for a screening, please call (630) 719-5800. |
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Volunteers sought for OAK program
Are you 55 and older? Do you have a skill to share? Do you enjoy reading with children and helping them
grasp the joy of the written word? What about offering homework
help, and seeing the look on a child's face as you find just the way to explain a concept they've been struggling with?
District 58 children can learn so much from our community members who
are 55 and older, and participating in our Older Adults and Kids
volunteer program doesn't require any specific time commitment. It's
whatever works in your schedule, and whatever you feel you can give.
Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact Jennifer Waldorf at (630) 719-5805 or jwaldorf@dg58.org to request an informational brochure, or fill out and mail our OAK Volunteer Interest Form (available by clicking here) to Jennifer Waldorf, 1860 63rd St., Downers Grove, IL, 60516. An informational brochure also is posted on our Web site (click here to view brochure). |
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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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Dates to remember
| September 6--Labor Day--NO SCHOOL
September 7--Financial Advisory Committee meeting, 7 a.m., ASC
September 13--School Board meeting, Longfellow, 7 p.m.
September 22--Legislative Committee Meeting, 3:45 p.m., ASC
September 28--Policy Committee meeting, 7 a.m., ASC
September 28--Half day, school improvement
Click here for the full 2010-11 District 58 calendar, including institute days and holidays.
Click here for the 2010-11 Board of Education calendar.
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