Pierce Downer this Week

Pierce Downer Families,

Winter Weather Procedures

The forecast for Monday and Tuesday morning calls for very cold temperatures. While the air temperature and wind chill will be low, the current forecast for Tuesday does not meet District 58’s threshold for a cold day requiring a pivot to e-learning. For a cold day to be called, the following criteria are considered:

Air temperature: How cold is it? What is the wind chill? Can children safely walk to school? There are times when schools may need to be closed due to dangerously cold temperatures. In these situations, wind chill is also taken into account, as well as the extent to which the temperatures are sustained throughout the school day. District 58 has collaborated with District 99 and the elementary districts that feed into District 99 to develop consistent standards. We will likely close school based on extremely cold conditions when an extreme cold warning is issued by the National Weather Service during the times students are traveling to or from school. An extreme cold warning is typically issued when apparent, or "real-feel" temperatures are around -30 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.

As always, District 58 will consult with local superintendents, the bus company, and the Board President regarding the weather. While it will be cold on Tuesday, we anticipate we will be in school. If the weather forecast changes and District 58 cannot be in school on Tuesday, District 58 will use an e-learning day. In this case, we will promptly email and call all District 58 families. We will also post the update on our website (www.dg58.org) and on our social media pages. If school IS in session as usual, we will not post an update. Please see our Winter Weather Procedures webpage for more information.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Winter parent-teacher conference signups will be open from Thursday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. through Friday, Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. Families can sign up using the PowerPTC system.

Conferences will take place the evenings of Feb. 4 and Feb. 6.

View conference signup instructions here. (para Español: Registro para las reuniones de padres y maestros).

We value communication with parents and guardians, but we have received feedback that as a result of strong and ongoing communication between home and school a winter conference may not be necessary for all families. You can simply choose not to sign up. Regardless, please know that you can request a conference with your child’s teacher at any time throughout the year. Additionally, your child’s teacher(s) may contact you at any time if they feel a conference would be helpful.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach to me with any questions. You can email me at LWagner@DG58.org or call the school office at 630-719-5860.

WE are PD-

Dr. Leland Wagner

District 58 is busy planning for its 2025 Summer School and Extended School Year (ESY) programs!

While details aren't finalized, we wanted to share basic information for families who may want to start making summer plans.

More information, including registration links, will be shared next month.

Summer School: General Education & Enrichment classes will take place Monday, June 9 through Friday, June 27, 2025 at Henry Puffer School. No class will be held Thursday, June 19. This session will offer math and reading grade-level readiness courses, as well as enrichment classes; topics are still being finalized.

Summer School: Band & Orchestra classes will also take place. The schedule is still in development and will be shared soon.

Extended School Year classes will take place Friday, May 30-Friday, June 27 from 8:15-11:15 a.m. at Henry Puffer School. No class will be held on June 19. This session is open to students who qualify through their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The student’s IEP team will identify targeted goals and specific special education services for the student.

Please note, District 58 will not offer the Essential Skills Summer School program this year. This program was previously funded by federal money that is no longer available.

In case you missed it from the Communicate 58 newsletter: The District aims to provide families and staff as much detail and transparency as possible in our crisis communications. However, by law, school districts cannot release confidential information and information that could compromise an investigation.

If you receive an emergency message from your school or the District that does not provide details, it is likely because additional information cannot be shared. District 58 realizes that families and staff are on high alert when situations arise. District 58and/or your school will share as much information as possible in any given situation. Thank you for your understanding and support!

There are occasions when emergency responders may visit your child's school that do not require a communication. For example, our Police and Fire departments often visit schools to teach students lessons on safety.

If you see emergency responders at your child's school, please do not jump to conclusions or speculate. Your school or the District will contact you if there is a safety issue. If you have questions about something you've observed, please contact your child's school to get the facts and refrain from spreading rumors. Please be patient: in true emergencies it takes time to verify and coordinate information with emergency responders!

Click here to view District 58's full four-part emergency preparedness series.

After winter break, District 58's elementary schools will join the National School Lunch Program and partner with a new elementary food service provider, Open Kitchens.

To help with the transition, District 58 will automatically provide meals to all students who currently receive boxed lunches during the week of Jan. 6. Families do not need to pre-order meals for this week.

Starting with the week of Jan. 13, all families who would like their child to receive a boxed lunch will be required to pre-order it online through the MyMealOrder system. Lunch orders for the week of Jan. 13 are due on Monday, Jan. 6 at the end of the day.

Click here to learn more information about ordering elementary boxed lunches.

The District 58 Education Foundation invites families to buy tickets for the Harlem Wizards fundraiser event on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at Downers Grove South. This event brings together the District 58 community, as District 58 teachers and staff compete against the Harlem Wizards in a fun and high-energy basketball game!

Dr. Wagner and Ms. Jo from Pierce Downer will be part of the Downers Grovetrotters, the District 58 staff team that will be playing the Harlem Wizards! Come cheer on your teachers and staff!

Event proceeds will benefit the Education Foundation. The Harlem Wizards are no stranger to Downers Grove; this is their sixth District 58 fundraiser event!

Click here to learn more.

Click here to buy tickets.

We are excited to announce that our One School, One Book title is a Roald Dahl classic, BFG. One School, One Book is a novel program in that children of all grade levels will all be listening to the same book. A book and information packet were sent home with the oldest child in each family. Digital copies of the materials can also be referenced here: (Parent Letter, Reading Schedule) . Students will have the opportunity to listen to Chapter 1 during their LRC classes this week. The family reading schedule begins on Tuesday January 21st. This is an optional program however we do hope you will read together as a family!

Reading Schedule

Please refer to the attached reading schedule. We will be reading one-two Chapter(s) each night (Monday - Thursday) for 20 nights.

Bingo Card

We hope your family will try some of the activities on the BFG Bingo card HERE - One Book, One School - The BFG - Google Drive. Students playing bingo can be entered into a prize raffle for each bingo row completed by completing the BFG Bingo form in this drive. Prize winners will be announced weekly.

If your family has moved in the past year, or if your student’s address information has changed in any way, please contact Angela Suggs or Heather O'Donnell in the Pierce Downer Office by calling 630-719-5860 and provide your updated information prior to winter break. In addition, if you rent a property, please make sure that your school has a copy of your most recent lease. You may email a copy of your lease to HODonnell@DG58.org or drop off a copy at our school office.

District 58 will open 2025-26 student registration in February 2025. As part of the student registration process, District 58 works with a third-party vendor to verify that all students live within the District’s boundaries. After winter break, District 58 will begin the student address verification process. By starting this process earlier, we hope student registration will go more smoothly and more efficiently.

If our third-party vendor, Thomson Reuters CLEAR, cannot confirm that a student lives at their registered address, they will flag that student. District 58 will contact the student’s family and request additional documentation to confirm their address. A family will not be able to register their student for the 2025-26 school year until their residency is confirmed.

Keeping your child’s address information up-to-date will help make the registration process go more smoothly and ensure your child’s registration is completed without delay. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter! District 58 will share more information about 2025-26 student registration after winter break.

If winter weather requires schools to close, District 58 will promptly email and call all families and staff. The District will also post school closure information on the website, www.dg58.org, and social media channels.

District 58 has the option to use an e-learning day or an emergency day (also called snow day) during bad weather.

This year, District 58 will likely use e-learning days. E-learning days do not need to be made up at the end of the school year. District 58 needs to maximize the summer for referendum construction, so e-learning days would allow District 58 to keep on its construction schedule.

Learn more about District 58's winter weather procedures.

Read District 58's e-learning plan.

At our school, we use the Bridges Math Curriculum for grades K-5 to help students develop strong number sense—a critical foundation for future success in mathematics. Number sense is more than just knowing numbers; it’s the ability to understand relationships between numbers, recognize patterns, and solve problems flexibly and creatively. The Bridges program engages students through hands-on activities, visual models, and real-world problem-solving scenarios that make math meaningful and accessible to all learners.

Strong number sense is essential because it empowers children to think critically, reason logically, and confidently approach complex math concepts as they advance. By focusing on building these skills early, Bridges helps ensure your child is not only prepared for higher-level math but also equipped with the confidence to apply mathematical thinking in everyday life.

To help parents and guardians understand the new curriculum and better support their child's learning at home, District 58 created three parent education videos.

• Video 1: Introduction to Bridges in Mathematics
• Video 2: Grade K-2 Bridges in Mathematics: Mathematical Models & Strategies
• Video 3: Grade 3-5 Bridges in Mathematics: Mathematical Models & Strategies
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Learn more about the concepts, models, and strategies in your child’s grade level by visiting Bridge’s Family Support Page.

Looking to engage in more practice and problem solving activities with your child? Visit Bridge’s Math at Home website for unit aligned games and activities.

Benchmark Advance 2022 offers a robust English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum designed to enhance students' skills in reading, writing, and comprehension. With a structured, research-based approach, it provides students with engaging, grade-level texts that build their literacy skills step-by-step. The program emphasizes a balance of phonics, vocabulary development, and critical thinking, ensuring students not only learn to read but also to analyze and interpret various forms of text. This fosters deeper comprehension, laying a strong foundation for academic success across all subjects.

Benchmark Advance 2022 is a powerful tool that supports your children in becoming confident and skilled readers and writers. The curriculum encourages active participation, collaborative learning, and independent practice, enabling students to express their thoughts clearly and effectively.

Do you have young children at home? Do you have friends or neighbors with little ones? Please share this information!

District 58 offers free preschool and developmental screenings designed to identify young children, ages 0-5, who might have developmental delays and who would benefit from special education prior to beginning kindergarten.

Please make sure your child has a snack each day. Snack breaks should consist of nutritious food choices such as fruits, vegetables, and other portable snacks. This aligns with Policy 6:50. The health and safety of our students are our highest priorities. Therefore, certain snacks or foods may be prohibited in your child's classroom due to food allergies. A daily snack can be provided for students who qualify for free/reduced lunch.

While a student can bring their electronic device to school, all non-district-issued technologies are to be silenced and out of sight throughout the school day. Students are allowed to wear smartwatches, but they are to be silenced during the school day. The district-approved technology will be utilized for students to participate in lessons and complete assignments. Please be sure to go over the expectations with your students.

No School: Monday, January 20th

Thursday, January 23: Match a Friend Spirit Day (Twin Day)

Monday, January 27: 100th Day of School!

Friday, January 31: VIP Day (1st and 5th Grade)

District 58 has partnered with Safe2Help to give students a safe and confidential way to report potential threats or crises. Safe2Help was launched by the State of Illinois in December 2020 and aims to help prevent suicide, bullying, school violence and other threats to school safety.

With Safe2Help, students can connect with a trained crisis professional during their own crisis, or to report a potential threat. Students can submit a Safe2Help alert via the following ways:

• Website: https://app.safe22helpil.com
• Text: SAFE2 (72332)
• Phone: 844-4-SAFEIL (844-472-3345)
• App: "Safe2Help Illinois" app available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
• Email: HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com

All alerts are responded to by a trained Safe2Help crisis professional. Safe2Help is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

District 58 staff are not the initial responders to the alert and will receive each alert after the Safe2Help professional provides support. District 58 staff will review alerts sent by Safe2Help during regular school hours, unless the nature of the alert necessitates immediate school action.

District 58 is pleased to continue using the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our program of campus safety for students and faculty. Part of keeping students and faculty safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times. The Raptor system will better allow us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff. Community High School District 99 currently utilizes the same platform on its campuses.

Upon entering a district building, visitors will be asked to present photo identification, such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not entering our school campuses without our knowledge. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.

The safety of our students is our highest priority and the Raptor visitor management system allows us to quickly identify those that may present a danger to our students. Thank you in advance for your understanding and your support in enhancing the school safety protocols in our district.