Communicate 58
Latest news from Downers Grove Grade School District 58
Vol. 5, Issue 1
August 30, 2013

Welcome to the 2013-14 school year!

  

On Monday, more than 5,000 preschool through eighth  grade students walked through the doors of our 13 amazing schools. Students were greeted by staff and administrators who have  eagerly prepared for a wonderful journey of learning and growth. Our students were excited to get the school year started, and so were we!

 

Click here for a video glimpse into the excitement of our students' first-day fun! 

 
A welcome back message from Superintendent Kari Cremascoli

I am very excited to welcome you to the 2013-2014 school year and to offer you a glimpse into some of our areas of focus this year. We are pleased to welcome more than two dozen new staff, including four new administrators, who each embark on their positions with a sense of passion, purpose, and dedication to our students and community.  

 

This past summer, we completed a variety of capital improvement projects, including flooring and asphalt replacements, security and fire alarm upgrades, painting and a three-classroom addition. Each of these projects will continue to ensure safe, nurturing, child-centered environments for all students. Click here to check out a short video spotlighting these projects!  


The safety and welfare of our students continues to be a top priority. The security enhancements accomplished at each of our schools focus on student safety while maintaining a warm, welcoming school environment for our students, parents and staff.  Click here to check out a short video introducing our security enhancements and welcoming parents!

 

We continue to raise the bar for student success. This year we will be working to refine our implementation of the Common Core Standards along with our new math materials, balanced literacy, integrated classroom technology, and assessments for learning. We also are excited to be advancing the opportunities and innovations that are possible with instructional technology. Every classroom will continue to facilitate student-directed learning through a blending of traditional and technology-integrated materials, and at least two grade levels at each of our elementary buildings will be participating in a full-year 1:1 pilot program. Click here for more information about the 1:1 program. 

 

Click here to read the full letter from Dr. Cremascoli!  

District staff partnering with library to host Digital Learning Workshops for parents, community members

Technology is transforming how students learn, explore, and make connections, and District 58 wants to help parents find ways to maximize these opportunities at home. In partnership with the Downers Grove Public Library, the district will once again host a series of parent education sessions. All interested community members are welcome to attend.

Three-year contract with support personnel ratified 
Collaborative process praised by both teams   

 

The Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education ratified a three-year contract with the Downers Grove Educational Support Personnel August 12. The contract approval follows the ratification of the contract by the DGESP and concludes the bargaining process, which began this past spring. The contract between District 58 and the DGESP applies to full-time and part-time secretaries, clerks and instructional assistants.  

Preschool screening dates set

Each year, Downers Grove Grade School District 58 offers free preschool screenings designed to identify three- to five-year-old children who might have developmental delays and who would benefit from special education prior to beginning kindergarten, as well as identify children who might be at risk due to environmental, cultural or socio-economic factors. Preschool screenings are available free of charge to District 58 residents, and are designed to evaluate development in children ages two years and 10 months to five years old. The screening will examine development in the following areas: speech/language, vision, hearing, cognitive/pre-academic, self-help/independent living, fine motor, gross motor and social/emotional/behavior skills.

 

Click here for the 2013-14 screening dates and locations. 


Special Services Parent Group meetings offer support, learning opportunities for parents

District 58's Special Services Parent Group, facilitated by the District 58 Office of Special Services, offers an opportunity to meet in an informal setting and hear from speakers, share special education information and learn about new resources. 

 

Meetings for the 2013-14 year are on the following dates/times:
  • September 17, 2013--Topic will be ADD/ADHD
  • December 10, 2013--Topic will be Social-Emotional Learning programs in District 58
  • February 11, 2014--Topic will be mental illness in children
  • May 6, 2014--Topic to be determined
The meetings take place at Indian Trail School from 5:15 to 6:30. Pizza and soda are served. Please RSVP to Cindy Gilbert by e-mailing cgilbert@dg58.org or calling (630) 719-5824.

Community partner corner
 
District 58's community partners continue to make a difference in the lives of our students!

Foundation donates annual building grants

 

During the opening day workshop August 23 at the Tivoli, the Education Foundation presented its annual check to District 58 in the amount of $6,500--$500 for each school to use as it sees fit! Visit www.58foundation.org for more information about the Education Foundation and how you can support the organization that is enhancing education in our schools. 

 
Roadrunners Soccer Club, Rexnord collect school supplies and backpacks for students

The Roadrunners Soccer Club and Rexnord Industries, Inc. in Downers Grove both donated backpacks and sets of school supplies for our homeless and very needy students. Between the two groups, District 58 received more than 50 backpacks and sets of supplies!


Record number participate in Summer Math Club  

   

Nearly 1,100 students took part in the Summer Math Club sponsored by the PTAs of participating District 58 schools, in which students can turn in worksheets to earn prizes. Nearly 2,500 worksheets had been turned in by the first day of school, which comes out to more than 45,000 problems solved! The worksheets were changed this year to reflect the District's new math curriculum. 

Latest community e-flyer postings
 District 58 logo
The mission of District 58, in partnership with parents and community, is to challenge and engage each child by providing quality educational programs and support services in a safe, nurturing, and child-centered environment in order to prepare all students to be lifelong learners and contributing members of a global society.  
 
Communicate 58 is designed to share timely, relevant information about District 58 with parents, community members, and others who are interested in how we are living out our mission. If you have any questions/comments regarding Communicate 58, or have an article/photo idea for the publication, please contact Communications Coordinator Jennifer Waldorf at jwaldorf@dg58.org or (630) 719-5805. 
In this issue
Superintendent's welcome back message
Digital learning workshop dates set
Three-year contract with support personnel ratified
Preschool screening dates set
Special Services Parent Group meetings
Community Partner Corner
E-flyers
Upcoming events
Find us on social media
Quick links

 Writing
Upcoming events
September 2

Labor day, no school

September 3

Financial Advisory Committee Meeting, 7 a.m., ASC

Curriculum Night, south side elementary schools, various times

Herrick Middle School seventh grade curriculum night, 7 p.m.

September 4

District 58 1:1 parent launch meeting, option 3, 6 p.m.

September 5

District 58 1:1 parent launch meeting, option 4, 6 p.m.

September 9

District 58 Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m., Longfellow

September 10

Parent Assessment Orientation, option 1, 7 p.m., Henry Puffer

September 12

Beginning band/orchestra parent meeting, north side elementary schools, 7 p.m., Herrick Middle School

September 13

Herrick band plays Downers Grove North football game, 7 p.m.

Board Briefs

At its August 12 meeting, the Board of Education: 

--Heard from Controller James Popernik that the District had recently received the $700,000 it was due from the State of Illinois for the Transportation Fund and Education Fund.

--Reviewed the District's current policies on busing and paid ridership, as well as policies and fees in other nearby districts. Staff recommended not changing the District's transportation policy or fees for the 2013-14 year, and also recommended directing the District's Policy Committee to review and recommend possible revisions to Policy 5153 for the 2013-14 school year regarding fees for transportation of eligible students and options and restrictions to add/adjust stops for paid ridership.

--Adopted the 2013-14 Strategic Goals Action Plan

--Adopted the 1:1 Student Use Agreement for the District's 1:1 device pilot program

District 58 posts news reports from its monthly Board of Education meetings on its website. Click here to visit our Board Briefs page and read the full Board Briefs report from the August 12 meeting, as well as past reports dating back to January 2012. 


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