Communicate 58
News from Downers Grove Grade School District 58
Vol. 7 Issue 6
Friday, Nov. 20, 2015
"A Glance at our Grants" shows classroom innovation in action

"A Glance at our Grants " is a new District 58 series that highlights the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58's teacher grant projects through short videos, photos and/or written stories. Its purpose is to feature the creative and inspiring work District 58 teachers and students are achieving with their grants!

The series' first episode, "3D Printing at El Sierra," demonstrates how El Sierra fifth graders are learning engineering, coding, creativity and problem-solving skills using the 3D printer that their teachers, Maura Vivona and Meg Rohlfing, received through an Education Foundation grant this year. 
 
Celebrate American Education Week with the gift of a Green Apple Award

In honor of American Education Week (Nov. 16-20) and the Thanksgiving season, the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 invites families to give thanks to a special teacher or staff member with a donation to its Green Apple Teacher/Staff Recognition Program
 
With each donation you make, the Education Foundation will send a
specially-designed Green Apple Award card to the teacher or staff member you are honoring, with a custom message from you. Your donation will directly support District 58's students and staff through the Foundation's annual teacher grant program, which funds innovative programs in the classroom. 
Donations may be sent by check using  this form  or with a credit card online at  www.58foundation.org/greenapple .

Register for Science Fair by Dec. 18

District 58 invites students to register for the 35th Annual Science Fair by Friday, Dec. 18! Sign up online at www.dg58.info/sciencefair. The password is "science".

The Science Fair will take place Saturday, Jan. 23 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at O'Neill It is open to all District 58 students in grades 1-8, as well as non-District 58 students in grades 1-8 who reside within District 58 boundaries and  participate in the Downers Grove Friends of the Gifted and Talented program. 

Check out the helpful links below to register and learn more information:


Register for the 35th Annual Science Fair.

Learn more about Science Fair.

View a Science Fair flyer.

View a photo gallery from the 2015 Science Fair.

Families invited to Crosstown Classic 

Proceeds from the Feb. 27 game will support Bloom's Angels.
District 58 is proud to present the very first Crosstown Classic between Herrick and O'Neill middle schools. The Crosstown Classic will feature family games, band performances, an auction, concessions, and, of course exciting O'Neill vs. Herrick basketball games! 

The first event will feature the boys' basketball teams playing at Downers Grove South on Sunday, Dec. 6. The eighth grade game starts at 1 p.m., followed by the seventh grade game at 2:15 p.m. All proceeds will support O'Neill's Paula Sorgatz Fitness Room.

The Crosstown Classic will return with the girls' basketball teams playing on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Downers Grove North. Seventh grade plays at 6:30 p.m., and eighth grade will tip off at 7:45 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Bloom's Angels, an organization that supports Herrick families in need. 

Admission is $5/person or $15 family. Purchase tickets at parent-teacher conferences or at the door. Thanks for the support! 

58 Doing Good
Thank you, Knights of Columbus and PTAs for coat donations!

District 58 sincerely thanks the Knights of Columbus Bishop James E. Fitzgerald Council 14649 as well as the Lester, Pierce Downer and Whittier PTAs for their generous coat and winter wear donations.

The Knights of Columbus donated 46 new winter coats, and the PTAs donated a variety of winter coats and winter wear (hats, gloves, snowsuits, etc.) Thanks to their generosity, families struggling to make ends meet can ensure their children are dressed warmly for the approaching winter weather. 

Is your child's school, PTA, scouts troop, etc., holding a holiday-themed charitable event this November or December? Send information to mhewitt@dg58.org for possible inclusion on the District's "58 Doing Good" Web page.

Want to help District 58 families in need this holiday season? District 58 will again partner with the Downers Grove Roadrunners Soccer Club this holiday season for an "Adopt a Student" program. Anyone is welcome to "adopt" a District 58 student or family, and purchase holiday gifts for that student. More information is posted on the Downers Grove Roadrunners Soccer Club website. Thank you!
District 58 schools donate more than 1,100 pounds of candy to U.S. troops
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Herrick, O'Neill, Pierce Downer, Henry Puffer and Whittier collected leftover Halloween candy to donate to U.S. troops overseas. Together, the schools collected and shipped more than 1,100 pounds of candy! Thanks for your donation!
School Spotlight
District 58 honors Veterans Day

District 58 schools celebrated our U.S. veterans and active military on Veterans Day Nov. 11. The video above captures El Sierra's performance of the classic military tribute, "Step in Time," with photos from other schools' Veterans Day commemorations interspersed throughout. 


'Best day' at Whittier Variety Show

Whittier students really did have the 'best day of their lives' at their annual PTA-sponsored Variety Show last weekend! The majority of the Whittier community took part in the show - 184 students as part of an act, 14 students as emcees and 11 students as stage crew - all coming together to perform on the historic Tivoli stage. 

Thank you to all that participated. And thank you to the community for supporting such a great event! 

Improv comes to Pierce Downer

What do you get when you cross improv entertainment and giddy school kids? Happy, loud, giddy school kids of course! At a recent Pierce Downer assembly, students received a brief introduction to improv comedy by the Chicago Improv Festival Productions. 


Photo by Amy Goray Photography; story by LaVonne Czech.
Find great deals for holiday gifts at Henry Puffer, Lester and Kingsley
All three events open to the general public!
 
Puffer Toy Swap - Dec. 4 (drop-off), Dec. 5 (sale)
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The
Henry Puffer Earth Club will host its fifth annual Toy Swap this December. Families may donate new or gently used toys to the Toy Swap on Friday Dec. 4 from 2:30-3:30 and 6-7 p.m. Families will receive one ticket for each toy donated. The Toy Swap will open for ticketholders only on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9-10 a.m. Ticketholders may exchange each ticket for one 'new' toy. The Toy Swap will open to the general public from 10-11 a.m. Toys will then be available for purchase, and all proceeds will benefit the Henry Puffer Earth Club. Learn more here.

Lester Holly Days - Dec. 4 from 3-8 p.m.
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The Lester PTA will hold its annual "Holly Days" shopping event on Friday, Dec. 4 from 3-8 p.m. at the Lester gymnasium. The event will feature more than 30 local small businesses, crafters and vendors. Families can also enjoy a visit with Santa; raffles; mini manicures and chair massages; a kids' shopping and craft area; free gift-wrapping; a bake sale; and more! The first 50 visitors will receive a free "swag bag." Gifts start at 50 cents. 
Learn more here.

Kingsley Vendor Fair - Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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The Kingsley PTA will host its annual Vendor Fair and Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Many local artists and small businesses will sell artisan crafts; affordable handbags; jewelry; gourmet foods and more! Many vendors will have cash and carry items on-hand to sell. Enjoy a raffle and pancake breakfast for a small donation as well. A percentage of all items sold will be donated to the Kingsley PTA.  Would you like to be a vendor at Kingsley's Vendor Fair? Kingsley will accept vendor signups until Nov. 21.  Contact Angela Suggs at  amsuggs@msn.com to sign up or learn more information.
Board News
The Board of Education held a Regular Meeting on Monday, Nov. 9. Read the Board Briefs here.

Meeting topics included:
  • Flag salute and presentation by O'Neill Middle School
  • Spotlight on social-emotional learning at the middle school level
  • Superintendent's Report
  • Business Report
  • Legislative Committee Report
  • 2015 Proposed Levy hearing
  • Presentation of the District's 2015 Report Card
  • Presentation of the District's 2015 Audit Report
The Board will hold a Financial Workshop on Monday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Longfellow Center, 1435 Prairie Ave. The Board will hold its next Regular Meeting on Monday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m., also at the Longfellow Center.
Community e-flyers
E-flyer logo
Mission
  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 Community Relations Coordinator Megan Hewitt at mhewitt@dg58.org or 630-719-5805. 
In this issue
"A Glance at our Grants" shows classroom innovation in action
Celebrate American Education Week with the gift of a Green Apple Award
Register for Science Fair by Dec. 18
Families invited to Crosstown Classic basketball games
Thank you, Knights of Columbus and PTAs for coat donations!
District 58 schools donate more than 1,100 pounds of candy to U.S. troops
District 58 honors Veterans Day
'Best day' at Whittier Variety Show
Improv comes to Pierce Downer
Find great deals for holiday gifts at Henry Puffer, Lester and Kingsley
Board news
Community e-flyers
Don't forget! Parent-teacher conferences continue Nov. 23
District continues parent education series

Don't forget! Parent-teacher conferences continue Nov. 23

Fall parent-teacher conferences will continue Monday, Nov. 23 from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. 

District 58 teachers and staff look forward to meeting with you!

District continues parent education series

Want to learn more about SQUIRREL, 1:1 learning, standards-based reporting and longitudinal reporting?Come to  a Parent Learning, Assessment and Reporting Mechanism meeting!

All meetings take place at the Longfellow Center, 1435 Prairie Ave.

- Monday, Nov. 30 from 1-2:30 p.m.

- Tuesday, Dec. 1 from 6:30-8 p.m.

- Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 6:30-8 p.m.
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