District 58 will host a variety of summer learning opportunities to help students progress academically during their summer vacations.

To register for regular education summer school and/or band/orchestra classes, please visit  https://www.dg58.info/summerschool/index.php.

Summer school is open to students enrolled in public, private or parochial schools. However, to participate, students must live within the District 58 attendance area and be entering kindergarten through eighth grade.

Please register early, as space is limited. The registration deadline is May 22, 2015. Transportation is not provided. 

Learn more information about District 58's summer learning opportunities!

The Herrick Robotics Team competed in the 4-H Robotics Team Competition/Showcase on Saturday, April 11 at Abbott Middle School in Elgin. Five different teams represented Herrick. The team of Jeremy Blumka, Nina Ghanayem, Julia McGuire and Josh Woods earned the Reserve Grand Champion Award (second place out of 29 teams). The team of Shea Casey, Grace Chalberg, Sophie Marro and Reilly Mitchell earned the Teamwork Award.

The Herrick Robotics Team comprises 23 seventh and eighth graders who have met weekly since December through a grant sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension Office and Altria. They work on engineering and programming Lego EV3 robots as well as building teamwork and collaboration skills.

Story and photos contributed by Herrick Science Department Head Jill Henry.

Attorney Cynthia Pietrucha shares insights about  law careers with Whittier sixth graders on Law Day.

Want to work in law? Whittier sixth graders are gaining unique, real-life glimpses into such a career this month.

For example, the class recently celebrated "Law Day" with a visit from Cynthia Pietrucha, a local attorney. Pietrucha explained the significance of Law Day and told students what she does on a day-to-day basis. She encouraged aspiring lawyers to work hard and pursue their dreams, and she described the different types of work that lawyers can do.

The visit was part of the DuPage County Bar Association's Lawyer Outreach Program.

"We were especially interested in participating in this program because the sixth graders learn about the development in government and law systems in Social Studies, and this is an awesome vehicle for them to connect/compare the ancient systems to our modern U.S. system," said Whittier sixth grade teacher Ericka Zagorski.

Next week, Whittier sixth graders will visit the DuPage County Judicial Center to participate in a mock trial in an actual courtroom, supported by real attorneys and judges. The sixth graders will act as attorneys, jurors, defendants and witnesses in a fictional case called "Social Media and Student Rights: Students' Rights, Wrongs and Responsibilities/Randy Cullen v. Principal Mary Skinner."

Recently, 29 Belle Aire sixth graders visited Downers Grove North High School, where they dissected fetal pigs with the assistance of teachers and older DGN students. The students learned a lot about biology and the inner workings of fetal pigs!

When asked what motivated him to help facilitate this event, DGN Science Chair Mr. Heinz responded, "Learning by doing is one of the most powerful types of learning that can take place. Learning through teaching others is even more powerful. It was great that we had both of these ideas happening simultaneously at this event, as the North students were able to engage and encourage the young students from Belle Aire, whom I suspect even taught some things to the teenagers!"

Belle Aire Parent/Volunteer Kristi Kattapong wrote a great story on this learning experience. Read it at http://dg58.org/Page/10075.

The April 13 Board of Education meeting featured the following: 

Retiring Board Member Dr. Liz Davis hugs PTA President Kim Costello, who presented her with the PTA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Download the Board Briefs here.