Pierce Downer this Week

Pierce Downer Families,

I want to take a moment to share how incredibly proud I am of our students, staff, and families for their flexibility and dedication during our e-learning day this week! Your support in making the day a success is so appreciated.

This week was also filled with fun and excitement as our students celebrated Valentine’s Day with their classmates. Thank you to our amazing classroom volunteers who helped make these celebrations extra special. The smiles and love in our classrooms were wonderful to see!

To close out the week, we had a valuable and engaging assembly on Friday morning reinforcing our PD Promise to be respectful, responsible, and safe. This month, we added a special focus on kindness—highlighting how even the smallest acts can make a big impact and spread throughout our school and community. It was inspiring to see students so engaged in the message, and we look forward to continuing to foster a culture of kindness at Pierce Downer.

Reminder, there is no school on Monday, February 17th. We hope everyone enjoys the extended weekend and comes back refreshed and ready for another great week of learning.

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

Student registration for the 2025-26 school year is now open! We invite families to register their student(s) using the District PowerSchool Enrollment system. Please complete registration by Monday, March 31. We encourage families to register their student(s) in a timely manner, as early registration helps the District determine its hiring, staffing, classroom and transportation needs for the upcoming school year. Log on to your PowerSchool account. (If you are new and need to create a PowerSchool account, click here for instructions.)

See Megan Hewitt’s Feb. 4 email for details, or visit www.dg58.org/registration.

Emily H. had an incredible adventure at the state choir conference in Peoria. After a three-hour clinic, she performed alongside students from all over Downers Grove and the entire state. We are so proud of her and her performance!

Mad Science Fire & Ice Show

Mad Science is bringing their spectacular science show Fire & Ice to Pierce Downer Thursday, February 27 at 6:00 pm. The event includes foggy dry ice storms and mind-boggling vanishing paper. Families will be amazed by a sizzling spoon, shivering quarter, and special bubbly showers! Sign up today!

This is NOT a drop off event and all students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Please contact Ami Johanson at adp664@gmail.com, or Allison Deusenberry at akdeusenberry@gmail.com with any questions.

Register HERE

Will your child attend kindergarten at Pierce Downer School 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 Pierce Downer office at 630-719-5860 or HODonnell@dg58.org and let us know! We will add you to any school-specific kindergarten contact lists.

2. Attend Kindergarten Roundup at Pierce Downer School on March 12 at 6pm. 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 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.

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 began 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
• 
  

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.

Chicago Wolves tickets are a great idea and also a fun way to socialize with other Pierce Downer Parents! Use the link below to purchase tickets and all PD families will be sitting in the same section.

This event is not a fundraiser and is only a social event for Pierce Downer families.

https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/piercedownerfamilyday

District 58 invites families to Kindergarten Dual Language Information Night

Incoming kindergarten families are invited to an informational meeting regarding District 58’s Dual Language Program on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at El Sierra School, 6835 Fairmount Drive. The meeting will be in both English and Spanish. It is intended specifically for parents and guardians of incoming kindergarteners for the 2025-26 school year.

Learn about:

• Understand the benefits of dual language learning.

• Learn more about District 58’s bilingual learning model and how to participate.

• Meet some of the dual language teachers and staff. Get answers to your questions.

• Learn how to enroll.

District 58’s Dual Language Program opens up a world of opportunities for young learners. We welcome your child to join this journey! To learn more, visit our Dual Language Program webpage.

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 and not used for messaging purposes. 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.

Monday, February 17: NO SCHOOL

Thursday, February 20: Culture Shock Assembly, Sweetheart Dance

Thursday, February 27: Science Olympiad Evening Assembly

Friday, February 28: Institute Day NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE

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.