The RISE Report

We are pleased to report that Tuesday, March 19 will now be an in-person/regular school day, instead of an e-Learning Day. The school day was originally scheduled as an e-Learning Day because several District 58 schools were scheduled to be used as polling places. District 58 closes its buildings when its schools are designated as polling places to provide for the safety and security of its students and staff. After numerous conversations with the DuPage County Election Board, the District was notified that none of its schools will be used as a polling site for the Primary Election on March 19, 2024. Therefore, students will be in school on that day instead of having an e-Learning Day. The District has no control over when its schools are designated as polling places but will continue to advocate that locations other than District 58 schools be utilized.

The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 is calling for nominations for its annual Distinguished Service Awards program. The award honors exceptional District 58 staff and teachers who have positively impacted the lives of students and the community.

The nomination process seeks individuals who consistently go above and beyond in their roles, positively influence children, demonstrate sustained dedication to education, care for the “whole child,” earn respect from peers and superiors, and serve as role models for fellow employees. To nominate an staff member or teacher, please review the Frequently Asked Questions and complete the Nomination Form by March 29.

Completed forms can be emailed to District58DSA@gmail.com or mailed to DSA Chair Mia Churma at the District 58 Office, 2300 Warrenville Road, Suite 200NE, Downers Grove, IL 60515

The Education Foundation will host the award ceremony at 4 p.m. May 15 at O’Neill Middle School.

As a reminder, parents are invited to take the District 58 School Environment Survey here. The survey should take just a few minutes yet provides valuable information that guides our school improvement efforts. All responses are anonymous.

In addition, parents are also invited to take the Illinois State Board of Education’s 5Essentials Parent Survey. This survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes. Your identity and survey responses will be kept confidential and will not be connected to you or your child.

ABLEnow provides eligible individuals with disabilities a better way to save money for today's needs or invest for tomorrow. ABLEnow accounts:

• Do not jeopardize eligibility for most benefit programs, such as Medicaid and SSI.
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January is an ideal time to review your finances, evaluate your budget and make changes for the year ahead. With ABLEnow, meeting your goals may be easier than you think.

Who is Eligible?

Individuals who developed qualifying disabilities before the age of 26 may be eligible to open an ABLEnow account. Take the online eligibility quiz.

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District 58 opened its online registration for returning students for the 2024-25 school year. Parents are asked to please submit their child’s registration by Monday, April 8. To begin, go to https://www.dg58.org/family-resources/registration and click on “Returning Student Application” and follow the prompts in the step-by-step instructions.

District 58 encourages families to register their student(s) promptly, as early registration helps the District determine its hiring, staffing, classroom, and transportation needs for the upcoming school year. While registration is occurring in February, March and April, an invoice won’t be sent until after May 1. Thank you for your help in supporting a smooth transition to the next school year!

If you have technical questions during the registration process, please contact District 58’s Technology Help Desk by filling out a Technology Help Ticket or calling 630-719-2768. For general registration questions, please contact your school office.

New this year, all registration will be conducted online. If families cannot complete the process online, they can call or visit their child’s school and the process can be completed there. District 58’s preschool registration is also open and is accepting applications at www.dg58.org/preschool.

Fall is here and cold and flu season is upon us and we are seeing students with cold and flu symptoms. To prevent the spread of these common viruses in the close confines of the classroom, we are cleaning daily and encouraging handwashing in the class. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines.

Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:

· Very stuffy or runny nose and/or a cough

· Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)

· Headache

Definitely keep your child at home and consider seeking medical attention if he or she has any of these symptoms:

· Fever (greater than 100 degrees by mouth. Your child may return to school only after his or her temperature has been consistently below 100 degrees, by mouth, for a minimum of 24 hours without medication)

· Vomiting (even once)

· Diarrhea

· Chills

· General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches

· Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough

· Shortness of breath

· Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose

To help prevent the flu and other colds, encourage good hygiene habits:

· Wash hands frequently

· Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth

· Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands

· Avoid close contact with people who are sick

The flu shot is one of the best ways to prevent illness from the seasonal influenza virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults and children receive the flu vaccine each year. Yearly flu vaccination is needed because immunity against the flu wears off over time. In addition, the flu virus strains often change, so the vaccine also changes from year-to-year in order to match the flu viruses expected to be circulating in the community.

Monday, March 11: Board of Education Regular Meeting

Monday, March 25-29th: No School Spring Break

Monday, April 1: School Resumes

Monday, April 1: Board of Education Regular Meeting

Monday, May 13: Board of Education Regular Meeting

Wednesday, May 29: Last Day of School

This webinar will introduce a variety of evidence-based practices that can support communication and language in real-world settings like school and day care with specific examples of how to use the evidence-based practices in every day activities.

March 6, 2024 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Presenter: Jessica Steinbrenner

Link for more information and registration

Addison Early Learning Center 650 S Ardmore, Addison

March 13, 2024 - 6:00 - 7:30 PM

It’s easy to get overwhelmed, frustrated and even angry when your child is having a meltdown. This experience is hard for both the person having the meltdown, as well as for anyone present at the time. In this workshop, we will begin with a brief review of the stress response system and an introduction to sensory processing. Building on this information, participants will learn what happens to the body when feeling overwhelmed, under attack, hijacked and helpless. By understanding the anatomy of a meltdown everyone who cares for and/or works with children with these types of challenges will be better equipped to offer help and support during these difficult times.

Presenter: Jennifer Rosinia

Link for more information and registration

The Find Food IL Community Food Map is an excellent tool for individuals to find places offering free food or meals; school and Summer Meal programs; and grocery stores and farmers markets accepting SNAP/Link, WIC, and senior vouchers. ISBE partnered with the University of Illinois Extension to help families identify what is available in their community more easily.

Many students rely on school for access to meals. Especially as we enter the summer months, you can help by sharing the Find Food IL Community Food Map with your students and families. Those interested in linking to this resource can download hosting guidelines on the Illinois Nutrition Education Programs website. Contact Caitlin Kownacki or read the press release for more information.

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.

Building Bridges is a parent group under the Downers Grove D58 Area PTA Counil. Building Bridges works on building relationships between families with children who have special needs and our school community.

Whether you are a parent/guardian of a child with an IEP or 504, sibling, caregiver, teacher, librarian, or community member... Building Bridges would love to see your participation in our event for the 2023-2024 school year!

Please join our Facebook Page (Building Bridges Parent/Teacher Group)

https://www.facebook.com/pg/buildingbridgesDG58/

RISE Special Programs Coordinator

Email: jcadard@dg58.org
Website: www.dg58.org
Location: 1435 Jefferson Avenue, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 630-719-9478