District 58 has planned a comprehensive introductory workshop for families and the community regarding the district's new Math in Focus curriculum for kindergarten through fifth grade. The event will be offered three times during October. Each session is open to all District 58 parents and community members, and participants are welcome to attend whichever of the following is most convenient:

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m., Belle Aire School, 3935 Belle Aire Lane

Thursday, October 11, 7 p.m., El Sierra School, 6835 Fairmount Ave.

Tuesday, October 16, 1 p.m., Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss St.

Each event will begin with a 15-minute presentation introducing Math in Focus and analyzing the differences between Math in Focus and the district's previous math curriculum, Everyday Math. Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to visit three learning centers for 15 minutes apiece. The experiences from which parents and community members can choose are:

• Primary learning experiences including sample problems and manipulatives
• Intermediate learning experiences including sample problems and manipulatives
• Utilizing the online educational experiences
• Questions and answers with math committee members

For more information about the Math in Focus workshops, please contact Dr. Matt Rich, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, at mrich@dg58.org or (630) 719-5809.

Two District 58 teachers will visit Washington, D.C. September 20, to address lawmakers, educational advocates and national news outlets.

El Sierra sixth-grade teachers Patricia Incrocci and Lindsay Shea, selected by a national nonprofit to speak at the Capitol Hill briefing, will join U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert to promote awareness about social and emotional learning, also known as SEL.

SEL helps children develop the skills to handle themselves, their relationships and their work. Incrocci and Shea accepted an invitation to speak at the Washington event from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). CASEL contributed to the 2011 report and helps some of the largest U.S. school districts design and implement systems that support SEL.

Click here for more information! 

The Education Foundation of Downers Grove Grade School District 58 is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has given away more than $350,000 in the form of grants, gifts, and special events for the district.

Learn more about the District 58 Education Foundation--and find out how you can help the organization carry out its mission--at a 10th anniversary Open House on Thursday, Oct. 4 at Herrick Middle School, 4435 Middaugh Ave., from 6 to 8 p.m.

Visitors are welcome to stop by at any time. There will be a brief presentation on the Foundation's history, mission, activities and goals at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Foundation board president Jay Stocki at jay@stocki.com.

Tuesday was the anniversary of September 11, 2001, a significant day in our nation's history. September 11th has been designated Patriot Day by our President. In accordance with the President's request, flags throughout District 58 were flown at half-mast on Tuesday, and students were invited to observe a brief moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m.  

Although the events of September 11, 2001 are not directly taught in the K-8 school curriculum, parents were encouraged to discuss this significant event in our nation's history with their children to the extent and depth they believe is developmentally appropriate for their child(ren).

Prior to welcoming back more than 5,000 students on Aug. 27, District 58 welcomed approximately 20 new certified staffers during a comprehensive week-long orientation and brought on board six administrative team members.     

At the annual Opening Day workshop for teaching staff on Aug. 23 -- which kicked off with a performance by the District 58 Garage Band (left) -- nearly two dozen staffers were honored for reaching milestones in their service to District 58. We appreciate the dedication and commitment to making our schools such a wonderful place for our students to learn and grow.  

To see the full list of new staff members and administrators, as well as the list of those honored for their service, please click here.    

"We had a lot of mail from authors arrive over the summer and have constructed a 'Mail From Authors' bulletin board in the hallway outside the LRC," McPherrin said. "I made sure to give each student that received a reply from the author that they wrote to a copy of the letter to keep. They were very excited to receive the replies!"

Authors from whom the students received a response were Judy Blume, Ann E. Burg, Gennifer Choldenko, Andrew Clements, Tim Green, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Ron Roy, Jordan Sonnenblick, Mo Willems -- and as of early September, J.K. Rowling.

On Monday, September 10, the Chicago Bears' very own mascot, Staley, stopped by Highland School for its kick-off assembly, Bear Down on Bullies. Everyone cheered and danced with Staley as he educated students and staff on five different types of bullies by role-playing his own experiences. Highland also received a player-autographed banner to display as a reminder and encouragement to "Bear down on Bullies."

Click here to check out a photo gallery from the event!