Highland Happenings

Good afternoon Highland families and welcome to March!

We began the month of March ready to implement new learning that gained form our county-wide institute day last Friday. I am grateful to be part of a community that values continuous learning and professional development! Today our band and orchestra students were able to take a field trip to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to hear a concert. Thank you to Ms. Bloom and Mrs. Rose for making that valuable musical experience possible for our students. Our annual Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) testing begins in a couple of weeks. More information about the IAR, including our testing schedule, can be found below. We are looking forward to seeing many of our Highland families at the Glow Dance tonight, and at Math and Science night net week! As a reminder, we ask that all families complete student registration by March 31st. If you need any assistance in completing the registration process, please reach out to Highland main office at 630-719-5835. Take care and have a great weekend!

My Best,

Zac Craft

Principal, Highland School

• 03/11/25: 5th Grade Intramurals
• 03/13/25: Math and Science Night
• 03/14/25: Pizza Lunch

• 03/18/25: 5th Grade Intramurals
• 03/19/25: Safety Patrol Meeting at Lunch
• 03/20/25: Highland Scoop Teams 3 & 4 Meeting
• 03/20/25: Kindergarten Round-Up
• 03/20/25: PTA Meeting
• 03/21/25: Treat Day

District 58 posted second trimester student report cards on the PowerSchool Parent Portal today, March 7. Printed report cards will no longer be sent home. At this time, you cannot view report cards using the mobile app; you must use a web browser and sign into PowerSchool. Report Cards can be found in the “Student Reports” section of PowerSchool.

Please use these instructions to learn how to find and view report cards.

This March, students in grades 3-8 will complete the state-mandated Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). Additionally, this spring, students in grades 5 and 8 will take the mandated Illinois Science Assessment (ISA).

Highland's testing schedule can be found below. District 58 approaches state assessments by supporting students and encouraging them to do their best, and we appreciate the partnership from our families in that encouragement. State assessment results will be available next fall.

Please click here to read a message from Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Liz Ehrhart about District 58's approach to these assessments.

Do you know a District 58 employee who goes above and beyond? Please consider nominating that individual for a Distinguished Service Award! The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 annually hosts the free Distinguished Service Awards program to recognize the remarkable contributions of District 58 employees. Nominations are due Friday, March 21. The DSA ceremony will be Tuesday, May 6 at 4 p.m. at O’Neill Middle School.

English

• View DSA Frequently Asked Questions

• View the 2025 DSA Nomination Form

Spanish

• Premios al Servicio Distinguido Preguntas Frecuentes

• Premios al Servicio Distinguido Formulario de nominación

Please visit www.dg58.org/dsa for more information.

District 58 will host a bilingual registration support event on Thursday, March 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the El Sierra School gym. District 58 will offer in-person 2025-26 student registration assistance in English and Spanish. Anyone who would like help with registration is welcome. No appointment is required. Please bring all necessary registration documents. Thank you!

Will your child attend kindergarten at Highland next school year? Or do you have a friend or neighbor whose child will? Here are four steps to prepare!

1. If we don’t already know that you have an incoming kindergartner, contact the Highland office at 630-719-5835 or zcraft@dg58.org and let us know! We will add you to any school-specific kindergarten contact lists.

2. Attend Kindergarten Roundup at Highland on March 20th, at 6:00 p.m. Kindergarten Roundup gives parents and guardians the opportunity to visit their child’s future school, meet the principal and staff, and ask questions.

3. Visit our Kindergarten Resource webpage for kindergarten resources and helpful information.

4. Attend Kindergarten Dual Language Information Night. Learn more about the Dual Language Program below!

District 58 invites students to register for its Summer School programs! Registration is now open for most Summer School programs. Leap Into Kindergarten registration is an exception and will open on Tuesday, April 8 at 9 a.m. Registration deadlines vary depending on the class. In addition, registration is also open for the District’s Extended School Year program.

District 58 Summer School classes are open to students enrolled in public, private or parochial schools who live within the District 58 attendance area. Please register for the grade level your child will enter in fall 2025.

Families who need assistance registering for Summer School may contact Summer School Secretary Alissa Drake at adrake@dg58.org or 630-719-5869. Please see details about District 58’s Summer School programming below or visit www.dg58.org/summer.

llnesses such as flu, RSV and COVID-19 are spreading in the community. District 58's Health Services website has great resources on preventing these illnesses, and steps to take if you get sick.

In addition, winter break is a great time to clean your child's coats, winterwear, book bag, lunch box and anything else your child takes to school to help fight the spread of germs!

Each week, a member of the Highland staff will be highlighted in the Highland Happenings! This is a great opportunity for our Highland community to learn more about our staff members and all of the information featured in the Happenings can be found in the staff directory on our website. This week we are highlighting Mrs. Hudecek.

Math & Science Night

Math & Science Night is Thursday night! All Highland students and their families are invited to attend. Thursday, 3/13, 6:00-8:00pm

Any questions, contact Katie Hurckes at katiehurckes@gmail.com

Library FUNdraiser

The best way to raise money is to do something FUN while making memories with your child!

For a donation of $25 to the library fundraising project, you can sign up for a slot to come in and read to your child’s class during their scheduled library time.

Grades K-3 are now open!

Visit https://evite.me/fSQsEEkk1H to view the schedule.

Please reach out to Cara Baran with any questions.

Thank you for your support of this important initiative!

PTA Board Nominations

Now is the time to nominate yourself or someone else that would be a good candidate for the PTA Executive Board! Please fill out this Google form by Friday 3/21. We will be establishing a nominating committee at the March PTA meeting and final voting will be at the May PTA meeting.

Descriptions of each board position can be found here, including responsibilities and time commitments. Please don't hesitate to reach out to any of the current board members with questions (contacts listed above).

Any questions please reach out to us at any time, or even just say hi, highlandpta58@gmail.com

Yearbook

Order Your 2024-25 Highland School Yearbook - The Deadline is Friday, April 11, 2025!

• To place your order, please visit https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1016950792033554

• If your family needs financial assistance to purchase the yearbook, please reach out to the PTA at highlandpta58@gmail.com.

• Not sure if you ordered your yearbook? Please search your email for "Treering Order Confirmation". Still not sure? Please contact Christina Zycinski at clzycinski@gmail.com or via text 312-371-8781.

Pictures Needed for the Yearbook!

• The yearbook committee is still accepting photos from Highland events - Science Fair, recess duty, class parties, Partners in Art, etc!

• Please email your pictures to Christina Zycinski clzycinski@gmail.com. Please include the teacher name/grade for class events.

The deadline for ALL yearbook photos is Friday, March 28, 2025 - this is the Friday before Spring Break.

Item's that can be found in every edition of the Highland Happenings, such as the Highland Playbook and our student attendance form can be found below. We want to ensure that these resources are always available to our families while also making each week's Happenings as reader-friendly as possible!

The Highlanad Playbook is your place to find important information about Highland including a staff directory, arrival/dismissal procedures, informaion about social-emotional learning, and much more. Click the image to the right to access the 2024-2025 Highland Playbook.

It is amazing how far technology has come over the last decade and continues to advance. We recognize the value technology has not just in education, but our world. However, we hope that we can work together to remind students that during the school day, personal electronic devices should be turned off or silenced and out of sight. This includes wearable devices if they become distracting to the learning environment. Students should not be using phones, Apple Watches, or other devices to send or receive text messages or phone calls during the school day.

Email: zcraft@dg58.org
Website: DG58.org/HG
Location: 3935 Highland Avenue, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: (630)-719-5835
Facebook: facebook.com/HGHuskies
Twitter: @HGHuskies