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District 58 approves last day of school in June, calendar for 2011-12 school year
Because two emergency days were used during the 2010-11 school year, the District 58 Board of Education voted March 14 to set Thursday, June 9 as the last day of school. The board also approved the 2011-12 school calendar, which sets Wednesday, August 24, as the first day of school. Staff are scheduled to report Monday, August 22. The 2011-12 calendar also includes two half-day staff development days. To view the full 2011-12 calendar, click here. |
Community shares input during strategic plan workshop
Nearly 100 staff, parents and
community members tackled some weighty topics during District 58's day-long strategic plan workshop March 19.
Participants met at Herrick Middle School to delve more deeply into four focus areas stemming from the district's stra
tegic plan survey this past fall, in which more than 1,400 community members participated.
After hearing presentations from District 58 staff, as well as consultant and workshop facilitator Linda Hanson, workshop participants chose one of the following areas to discuss in groups of seven or eight: student learning, student well-being, technology and facilities/finance.
Click here for the full story.
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 District 58 to host third annual Family Fit Fair March 24
Lace up your sneakers! District 58 will host its third annual Family Fit Fair on Thursday, March 24, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The event at O'Neill Middle School, 635 59th St., will feature fitness- and health-related exhibits, giveaways and demonstrations by local businesses and organizations, and a variety of classes and activities for students and their families to participate in together. All families, whether or not they have students attending District 58 schools, are invited to attend. For more information, e-mail jschue@dg58.org. |
 Board approves appointment of new Whittier principal Michael Krugman has been chosen to take the helm at Whittier School. Krugman, whose 24 years of educational experience include 10 as principal at Mokena Intermediate School and six years prior to that as assistant principal at Mokena Elementary School, replaces retiring Whittier Principal Linda Welch. The board approved his appointment March 14, and he will start in his post July 1. "Michael is very passionate about education, and truly committed to students. He will be an excellent addition to our team," said District 58 Superintendent Paul Zaander. Click here for the full story. |
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Tickets still available for Second City performance to benefit D58 Foundation
Come enjoy an evening of comedy with the Second City at the Tivoli Theatre, and support the students of District 58 at the same time!
The District 58 Education Foundation's annual Entertainment for Education fundraiser, which this year will feature the famed comedy troupe, is set for Friday, April 8, at 8 p.m. at the Tivoli, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove.
Tickets for the Second City are $30 for general admission, $75 for preferred seating and $100 for VIP seating. Tickets can be purchased at Community Bank of Downers Grove, 1111 Warren Ave., or online at www.dg58ef.com. Proceeds from the event benefit the District 58 Education Foundation. For more information, call Jay Stocki at (630) 740-0060.
For more information about the District 58 Education Foundation and its programs, visit www.dg58ef.com.
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D58 to partner with park district for TV Turnoff Week
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District 58 is partnering again this year with the Downers Grove Park District in support of TV Turnoff Week.
Students attending District 58 schools will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of free and/or discounted Park District classes, programs and activities during TV Turnoff Week, which runs from April 18-23.
Pre-registration through the park district is required to participate. Check the District 58 website, www.dg58.org, and/or the Downers Grove Park District website, www.dgparks.org, for further information in early April.
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D58 summer school registration open
District 58 has set the  dates for its Learning in the Summer 2011 summer program. Regular education classes, including reading, math and kindergarten readiness, as well as summer band, orchestra and art, will take place June 13 through July 1 from 8:15 to 11:15 a.m. at Indian Trail School, 6235 Stonewall Ave., Downers Grove. The registration deadline is May 20.
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.
Click here for more information.
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Latest e-flyer postings
Parents and community members can view  District 58's e-flyers at www.dg58.org/e-flyers. E-flyers are posted twice monthly. For families without Internet access, copies are available at the
Administrative Service Center, 1860 63rd St., and at individual schools.
Flyer postings for March include:
Champions spring break class
Downers Grove North girls' and boys' basketball camps
Junior Sabres spring program
Downers Grove Newcomers Diveheart benefit (event April 9)
Downers Grove Park District April Park AveNews
Swim and Racquet Club facility tour (event April 9)
Junior Woman's Club membership drive
Girl Scouts spring break Fun N Fit Day Camp
Maple Hill Pool swim lessons, swim team
Benedictine University Summer Fun Day Camp
Downers Grove Panther Football and Cheerleading registration
Midwestern University Easter Egg Fest/Egg Hunt (April 16)
Sharing Connections Open House (April 9)
YMCA March Happenings
Yomechas Guides and Princesses
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Accomplishments and achievements
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Herrick, O'Neill students represent District 58 at Regional Science Fair
Four student projects--two from O'Neill Middle School and two from Herrick Middle School--recently represented District 58 at the Regional Science Fair. Their projects earned top scores at the 30th annual District 58 Science Fair in January.
More than 550 young scientists participated in this year's District 58 Science Fair, which is co- sponsored by Friends of the Gifted of Downers Grove.
Click here to see the students and projects who earned top scores from the judges at the District 58 Science Fair and advanced to regionals.
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District 58 Reflections projects earn recognition at regional, state level
Three District 58 students earned statewide awards at this year's Reflections, a PTA arts recognition and achievement program for students, and one student will be advancing to nationals.
Whittier School sixth-grader Esther Farley is advancing to nationals for her Dance Choreography entry entitled "Together we can be a Fierce Alliance." Her entry will be recognized across the country for one year with the National PTA Reflections traveling exhibit.
Click here for the full story on Esther's accomplishment.
In addition, Whittier third-grader Isabella A. Giuliano earned an honorable mention for her entry in the Photography category, entitled "Together we can Repurpose Old Stuff," while Lester School first-grader Lincoln E. Peckenpaugh earned an honorable mention for his Music Composition entry, "Talking."
Click here to see the list of District 58 students whose projects were selected at the regional level to represent the Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs at the state level of Reflections.
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District 58 students chosen as winners in library's annual bookmark contest
A number of bookmarks designed by District 58 students were chosen as winners in the Downers Grove Public Library Junior Room 2011 annual bookmark contest.
Grade-level winners received 35 copies of their bookmark and a prize; honorable mention winners received Certificates of Honorable Mention and a prize. Winners were selected based on originality, artwork and theme.
Click here for the full list of winners from District 58! |
 Herrick eighth-grader captures second at county spelling bee Herrick Middle School eighth-grader Emma McDonnell is no stranger to the DuPage County Spelling Bee, having competed at that level of wordsmithery three times in the past-but on Feb. 24, she notched her best finish ever as first runner-up. Click here for the full story! |
Grant to fund solar panel installation at Hillcrest, 'Solar- bration' planned
Sunshine will soon do more than just brighten the days of students and staff at Hillcrest School; it also will provide the building with power. Hillcrest will soon become the first school in Downers Grove to boast solar panels on its roof, thanks to a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF).
An array of six panels with southern-facing exposure will be installed during District 58's spring break at the end of March, and Hillcrest will commemorate the installation with a school-wide Solar-bration on Wednesday, April 15.
For the full story, including details about the Solar-bration, click here.
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One note at a time: Belle Aire buddies send cards to soldiers
Guest article by Carley Neary, sixth grade Right now, there are more than two million American soldiers fighting in the war. Each and every day they must struggle though many different challenges just to survive and protect our country. Many of their lives have been endangered, and millions of solders, both men and women, have had to leave their families behind. They have headed out to Iraq and Afghanistan to protect all of us. To give those soldiers the full appreciation that they deserve, 6-M decided to do something for them. In January we decided to write the soldiers kind, supportive Valentine notes to show our appreciation to them. Giving them and showing them how great they are, "one note at a time." For the full story, please click here. |
 El Sierra Career Day gives students peek at variety of vocations Artist, pharmacist, disc jockey, architect and personal trainer were just a few of the careers students at El Sierra School had the chance to learn about recently. El Sierra welcomed a variety of professionals from the community to speak with students during its annual Career Day March 16; each class got to hear from four visitors. Visiting the school this year to discuss their vocations with the students were Kevin Beilfuss, master artist; Michael Cipra with the Downers Grove Fire Department; Nancy Cipra, pharmacist; Leslie Harris, disc jockey at 95.9 FM; Cinda Lester, architect; Sallie Lupescu, attorney; Maurice McBryde, personal trainer; Michelle Quillan, physical therapist; Oscar Ramirez with Language Stars; Dave Savini, investigative reporter with CBS 2 News; and Gina Vaci with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. Allison Pike conducted a mock interviewing session with students. Click here for a photo gallery from the day! |
 Herrick waffle breakfast raises funds for charity The halls at Herrick Middle School were filled with the delicious scent of waffles cooking every morning the first week in March -- for a good cause. Herrick's new H.O.P.E. club--which stands for Helping Ordinary People Everyday--will visit Feed my Starving Children's Aurora location March 24 to assemble meals in cooperation with the O'Neill Middle School student council, and members wanted to present a donation check to the organization at that time. H.O.P.E. members decided to host a waffle breakfast every morning before the ISAT tests the first week in March and donate the proceeds to Feed my Starving Children. Students could purchase two waffles for $1.50, or $2 with a drink. Granola bars and drinks also were for sale individually for 50 cents apiece. H.O.P.E.'s efforts led to Herrick students enjoying a delicious, filling breakfast before their ISATs, and brought in more than $250 for Feed my Starving Children. |
Lester second-grader shaves head to show support for friend
Guest article by Ann Cummins, Lester School
It can be tough to get teenagers to answer a question--much less move a couple thousand of them to tears. But that's just what 8-year-olds Mikalya Sweeney and Nate Pautsch did at the St. Baldrick's cancer fundraising event at Downers Grove South High School.
Pautsch, a second-grader at Lester Elementary, was there along with 55 other students, teachers and family members to raise funds for kids' cancer research by collecting pledges to shave their head. Namely, Pautsch was there because his "first friend," Sweeney, was diagnosed with a Wilms' tumor three years ago and he wanted to do something to help.
Click here for the full story!
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 Chemistry comes alive for O'Neill seventh-graders
Seventh-grade students at O'Neill Middle School got up close and personal with chemistry concepts and experiments during their annual Chemistry Day in early March. Students from Bloom Trail High School, under the direction of chemistry teacher Chris Clausing, brought a wealth of spectacular, memorable chemistry demonstrations to educate the O'Neill seventh-graders. |
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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 note
| Thursday, March 24--District 58 Fit Fair, 6-8:30 p.m., O'Neill Middle School
Friday, March 25--End of third reporting period (K-8)
March 28-April 1--Spring Break--NO SCHOOL
Monday, April 4--Classes resume
Friday, April 8--Entertainment for Education, Tivoli Theatre, 8 p.m.
Monday, April 11--Regular Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Longfellow Center
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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MUSICAL NOTES
Tuesday, April 12: Elementary band spring concert (south side), 7 p.m., O'Neill
Tuesday, April 12: Elementary orchestra (north side) and Herrick chamber strings spring concert, 7 p.m., Herrick
Thursday, April 14--Elementary band spring concert (north side), 7 p.m., Herrick
Thursday, April 14--Elementary orchestra (south side) spring concert, 7 p.m., O'Neill
Monday, April 25--Downers Grove Children's Choir spring concert, Herrick, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 26---Herrick chamber ensemble/jazz concert, 7 p.m., Herrick
Tuesday, May 3--Herrick Vocal Recital Night, 7 p.m., Herrick
Tuesday, May 17--O'Neill choir and orchestra spring concert, 7 p.m., O'Neill
Tuesday, May 17--Herrick orchestra spring concert, 7 p.m., Herrick
Monday, May 23--O'Neill band spring concert, 7 p.m., O'Neill
Tuesday, May 24--Herrick band spring concert, 7 p.m., Herrick
Thursday, May 26--Herrick choir spring concert, 7 p.m., Herrick
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