Downers Grove Grade School District 58

Reminder: There will be no school on Tuesday, Nov. 5, for Election Day. District 58 schools and offices will be closed. Please visit https://www.dupagecounty.gov/election/ for a list of polling locations.

Here are some highlights from Indian Trail's classroom Halloween parties today!

Check out highlights from Hillcrest's Halloween parade and classroom parties! There were many clever costumes and fun games!

The District 58 Board of Education held a Curriculum Workshop and Special Meeting on Monday, Oct. 28 at Henry Puffer School.

The meeting featured a Strategic Plan update, 2023-24 year-end assessment data, school improvement plans, the Illinois Report Card, a review of the District's special programs, and curriculum committee updates. View the Board Briefs to learn more: https://www.dg58.org/news/1798365/board-briefs-fall-2024-curriculum-workshop-and-special-meeting.

Reminder: Tomorrow is the deadline to submit an artwork to the PTA Reflections art program! Details are at: https://www.dg58.org/news/1796121/reflections-art-program-entries-due-nov-1. Good luck, student artists!

Happy Halloween, District 58! We visited Henry Puffer this morning during fourth grade's indoor recess and preschool's snack time. There were so many great costumes!

Congratulations to the Herrick boys' cross country team for taking 13th place in the Illinois Elementary School Association's (IESA) State Cross Country Meet, Class 4A. In addition, congratulations to the 11 Herrick athletes who qualified for the state cross country meet: Ian B., Forrest C., Brendan E., Anthony H., Westin I., Charlie M., Cole N., AJ P., Bear S., Kaleb S. and Asprey C.

Herrick and O'Neill joined the Southeast DuPage Elementary Athletic Association this school year. The SDEAA offers our middle schoolers more athletic opportunities, and it includes schools closer in distance to Downers Grove, decreasing the teams' travel time to away meets. Both Herrick and O'Neill did a great job during their first season in the league!

Read the full story in last week's Communicate 58 at https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Communicate-58--Oct--23--2024.html?soid=1102452079783&aid=1y0M87xN5uw.

The District 58 Board of Education will hold a Curriculum Workshop/Special Meeting on Monday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Henry Puffer School. Read the Board Preview to learn more at https://www.dg58.org/news/1798023/board-preview-oct-28-curriculum-workshop-special-meeting.

The DuPage County Health Department and the CDC encourage families to get their flu shots! Please see the CDC's "Parents: Help Children Fight Flu" webpage for more information and resources. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/parents.htm

Lester recently created a "Guess Who?" wall, with photos of Lester teachers and staff as children. Lester students, staff and visitors have been enjoying looking at the pictures and guessing who's who! This activity has helped build community, and create fun and positive interactions.

Halloween is coming soon!

Principals will email families guidelines specific for their school's Halloween celebrations and costumes this month. In general, District 58 schools will allow costumes, and the elementary schools will hold outdoor costume parades (weather permitting) during the school day, followed by a classroom party.

When selecting a Halloween costume, please make sure it is appropriate for school. Please avoid costumes that show or imply violence, and costumes that include props that could resemble a weapon. Thank you.

District 58 has a rich and diverse population in our learning community, and knows that some families may not celebrate Halloween. If you would like your child to not participate in Halloween activities, please let your child's teacher and principal know. They will find an alternative location and activity for your child during the Halloween activities.

The Oct. 23 issue of Communicate 58 newsletter features ILMEA, Halloween guidelines, school news and more. Read it at https://conta.cc/3YelP25.

District 58's referendum construction is on schedule and making great progress! Here are a few recent construction photos of Herrick and O'Neill middle schools.

Middle school construction is 40% complete, and work will continue to take place throughout the school year and next summer. All middle school additions are on track to be completed during summer 2025, with middle school renovations to existing spaces scheduled to take place during the 2025-26 school year.

Learn more at https://www.dg58.org/building-for-success/index.

Rich Samonte is well known around District 58. He is a retired O’Neill teacher and Herrick administrator, as well as a former Board of Education member. He is also a published author of two books! Today, Mr. Samonte visited O'Neill to donate autographed copies of his most recent book, "My Other Car is a Greyhound Bus," which shares memories of his 12 years moonlighting as a Greyhound bus driver.

Thank you, Mr. Samonte, for visiting O'Neill and sharing your stories with us!

Education at Henry Puffer has changed a lot since 1970. But, some things never change. Like the old, familiar smell of the hallways. Or the building's brick exterior. Or, the portraits of Agnes Hefty and Henry Puffer, prominently on display.

After school last Friday, several members of the Puffer-Hefty Class of 1970 (along with a few friends from the classes of 1969, 1971 and 1982) visited their old school for a tour and a walk down memory lane. The old classmates shared memories and marveled at the differences and similarities to the school of their childhood. To learn more about their visit, visit https://www.dg58.org/community-engagement/gallery/1616811/henry-puffer-takes-the-class-of-1970-on-a-walk-down-memory-lane.

Special thanks to alumna Alice (Aszman) Angelini for coordinating the reunion tour and sharing the photo archives!

Nearly 100 Fairmount students gather after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the Fairmount Run Club. The students enjoy the fresh air, exercise and socializing time. New this year, many students are rocking blue "Run Strong Fairmount" t-shirts.

These t-shirts were donated to every Run Club participant by the Meredith Williams Foundation.

The Meredith Williams Foundation is a local nonprofit that raises and donates money to support community projects, with much of their financial support benefiting District 58 students. It was started by retired District 58 teachers Jim and Pam Williams, in honor of their daughter, Meredith, who passed away in 2010.

Thank you, Meredith Williams Foundation, for your generous donation!

Learn more about the Fairmount Run Club -- including short interviews with Fairmount student runners Noah, Axel, Will and Hannah -- at https://www.dg58.org/community-engagement/gallery/1616810/fairmount-run-club-enjoys-successful-fall-season.

This week's Board of Education meeting featured a Henry Puffer report, a fall data snapshot, a referendum construction discussion, IASBO recognition of Todd Drafall and more. Read the Board Briefs at https://www.dg58.org/news/1797657/board-briefs-october-2024.

The Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) presented District 58 Assistant Superintendent for Business Todd Drafall with the Director Scholarship during District 58’s Board of Education meeting on Wednesday. Drafall received this award due to his three years of dedicated service on IASBO’s Board of Directors.

“Todd has always been a pleasure to work with,” said Kristopher Monn, IASBO executive director. “This gentleman has impacted Illinois school operations in an incredibly positive way.”

Congratulations, Todd! Thank you for your dedication and support of not only District 58 students, but also students across Illinois through his work with IASBO.

Learn more at https://www.dg58.org/news/1797598/district-58-s-todd-drafall-receives-iasbo-director-scholarship-for-dedicated-service.

Stitches to Share is a local knitting organization. Each year, they donate beautiful hand-knit hats and scarves to District 58 students in need. Here are just some of the lovely items they donated this year. Thank you very much, Vicki, Loreen and the entire Stitches to Share organization for donating these beautiful hats and scarves!

The 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year, Dr. Rachael Mahmood, visited District 58 today! As Teacher of the Year, Dr. Mahmood is traveling the state, visiting schools and meeting with students and educators.

However, today's visit was extra special for Dr. Mahmood. That's because she is a District 58 alumna, and attended Highland School and Herrick Middle School! She stopped by both of these schools, as well as Pierce Downer. She visited with several educators, including Highland Teacher Mrs. Varys and Herrick Counselor Mr. Gross, both of whom educated Dr. Mahmood when she attended District 58!

During all her visits, she shared her personal experiences with students and asked them to share positive qualities of their teachers. Students proudly raised their hands, sharing thoughtful remarks, such as, "my teacher is respectful," and "my teacher is preparing me for success in high school and beyond."

Here are some photo highlights from the visit. Thank you, Dr. Rachael Batchu Mahmood, for your time today!

Reminder: The District 58 Board of Education will hold a Regular Business Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at O’Neill Middle School. View the Board Preview to learn more at https://www.dg58.org/news/1797226/board-preview-oct-16-regular-meeting.

Reminder: Today (October 15) is the deadline for students in grades K, 2 and 6, and any new students, to submit required examination and/or immunization forms. Please visit the "Health Form Information" section of District 58's Registration webpage to access the forms: https://www.dg58.org/family-resources/registration.

The District 58 Board of Education will hold a Regular Business Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at O’Neill Middle School. View the Board Preview to learn more at https://www.dg58.org/news/1797226/board-preview-oct-16-regular-meeting.

Reminder: District and school offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 14 for the Columbus Day holiday. Have a great three-day weekend, students and families!