What's Up at Whittier

Halloween is this Thursday - October 31. Our annual Halloween Parade will begin at 1:30pm through our classrooms and we should be heading out to the Intermediate Blacktop by 1:45pm Spectators may line up on the sidewalk outside the fenced in area of the blacktop. We will parade around the blacktop. Following the parade will be our annual Thriller Dance performance. Students in this after-school dance club will perform for our students and spectators. Then, it's back inside for our Halloween Room Parties. Be sure to read the Halloween 2024 Information in the article below, specifically the guidelines for costumes. There have been a few changes from past years, including no inflatable costumes. As a District, all the elementary schools will be following the same guidelines.

Don't forget to join us on Tuesday, October 29 at 7:00pm via ZOOM for our PTA Meeting. More information can be found in the PTA section below.

As always, thank you for sending your children to us each day - ready to take on new adventures and learn all they can! We appreciate all of your support!

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay strong!

Michael Krugman - Whittier Principal

Monday, October 28 - Happy Orange Day (wear orange every Monday to celebrate happiness and positive psychology)

Tuesday, October 29 - Baseball Intramurals, 3:00-4:00pm; Young Rembrandts, 3:00-4:00pm; PTA Meeting, via ZOOM,, 7:00pm

Wednesday, October 30 - SC Spirit - Spooky Day; PTA Walking Club and Store (Lunch Recess); Thriller Dance Class, 3:00-4:00pm; Language Labs, 3:00-4:00pm

Thursday, October 31 - Happy Halloween! Parade begins at 1:30pm in classes and outside by 1:45pm; Room Parties 2:00-2:45pm

Friday, November 1 - Whittier Spirit Day (wear your favorite Whittier spirit wear or our school colors - blue and gold/yellow)

Sunday, November 3 - Daylight Savings Time Ends - Don't forget to fall back and turn your clocks back one hour.

Monday, November 4 - Happy Orange Day (wear orange every Monday to celebrate happiness and positive psychology)

Tuesday, November 5 - Election Day - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, November 6 - SC Spirit - Wacky Sock Day; STEM Club, 3:00--3:45pm; Baseball Intramurals, 3:00-4:00pm; Language Labs, 3:00-4:00pm

Thursday, November 7 - Baseball Intramurals, 3:00-4:00pm; Chess Scholars, 3:00-4:00pm; BAM Theater, 3:00-4:10pm

Friday, November 8 - Whittier Spirit Day (wear your favorite Whittier spirit wear or our school colors - blue and gold/yellow); End of 1st Trimester; Fun Lunch

Here are the School Hours for the 2024-25 school year:

Kindergarten Half- Day:

8:15-11:20am (Monday-Friday)

Grades K-6:

8:15am-2:00pm (Monday)

8:15am-3:00pm (Tuesday-Friday)

Whittier Office Hours:

8:00am-4:00pm

Click the link below for the approved District 58 school calendar for 2024-25, which includes all school days off.

The Whittier Student Council Spirit Days and monthly Community Service Projects for October/November have been planned. Show your Whittier Spirit as you participate in all the fun activities that our Student Council offers.

October/November Spirit Days

Wednesday, October 30 - Spooky Day - wear some Halloween attire (not your costume though) or orange and black

Wednesday, November 6 - Wacky Sock Day - wear your craziest socks

Wednesday, November 13 - PJ Day - wear your pajamas to school

This past week, students participated in our monthly PBSS (Positive Behavior Support System) All School Assembly. At this assembly we reviewed our all school theme "Find Your Vibe" and we talked about our mood and feelings and the vibe we were feeling on Thursday. We also celebrated our Student Council, Safety Patrol, PTA Color Run, and Jaguar Jackpot News. Our spotlight this month was Grade 1 for our Primary Assembly and Grade 6 for our Intermediate Assemby. It was great hearing from our teachers and students.

Our Jaguar Jackpot Focus Areas this month are 1. The Bathroom and 2. Voice Levels. Besides earning Jaguar Jackpot raffle tickets for following our All School Expectations, staff will be focusing on these two focus areas and awarding extra tickets to students when following the expectations in these areas.

Our assemblies ended with our Fun Game Raffle and Monthly Raffle. This month's fun game was Cutie Pumpkin Stacking - how many cuties can you stack in 20 seconds. Congrats to our winners - Charlie C, Enzo S, Ollie B, and Claire M. Monthly Raffle Winners were Matthew D, Maizie B, Quinn S, and Louie J. Congrats to all our students for showing their school pride through our Jaguar Jackpot!

This week's schoolwide Jaguar Jackpot Raffle was for Lunch at the VIP Table. Congrats to Penny R as her ticket was drawn during the raffle, and won this prize for her and 5 of her friends. The VIP Table was decorated with Halloween fun! Students earn Jaguar Jackpot raffle tickets for following our schoolwide expectations in the areas of Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. Keep up the good work Whittier Jaguars!

Students had lots of fun making SLIME in Science Club!

Our Whittier Spooktacular Halloween Experience is just around the corner on Thursday, October 31. Students may wear their costumes to school or bring them to change into after lunch. Our Halloween Parade will begin in the building at 1:30pm, and make its way outside around 1:45pm. Halloween Room Parties will follow at 2:00pm, and end by 2:45pm, in order to dismiss students at 3:00pm. Please review the information below and help us maintain a safe Halloween experience at school.

Costumes

- Costumes will be allowed, and can be worn to school or changed into after lunch.

- Costumes should allow for safe classroom navigation and participation in all regular activities during the day.

- Costume should not impair vision or ability to walk (costume masks will only be allowed during the outdoor parade).

- Inflatable costumes are not permitted this year.

- Costume/Look Alike Weapons of any kind are NOT allowed.

- Costume should not glorify violence and/or be offensive to any culture/group.

- Costume should allow child to be comfortable in the weather/temperature, as students will go outside for recess, as well as the Halloween Parade.

- Students do not need to wear a costume to school; it is optional.

- If you need help obtaining a costume, please contact the office.

Halloween Parade

- The Whittier Halloween Parade will be held outdoors (weather depending), beginning at 1:45pm, with spectators allowed to view along the outer sidewalk surrounding the East Blacktop.

- Visitors will not be permitted if the parade is held indoors.

Halloween Room Parties

- Halloween Room Parties will begin, following the Halloween Parade, at approximately 2:00pm. Only approved room parents will be allowed to enter the building.

- Room Party activities may include a healthy snack (fruit and vegetable creations, along with bottled water or 100% fruit juice), crafts, story/read aloud, and appropriate games. No candy treat bags are allowed.

- Students will be dismissed at the regular 3:00pm dismissal time.

PTA Room Parents

- PTA Room Parents will assist with the following activities - Healthy Snack, Craft, Story/Read Aloud, Game(s), and Photographer.

- There shall be no more than 5 room parents per classroom for the Halloween Party.

- Room Parents must check-in at the main entrance, receive a visitor badge, and proceed to their classroom. Please do not arrive earlier than 1:45pm. Students will return to the classroom around 2:00pm for the start of the Halloween Room Party. All activities need to end by 2:45pm to prepare for dismissal.

- Room Parents should communicate with the classroom teacher to ensure all activities can be accommodated with their space at least ONE WEEK prior to the party.

District 58 has a rich and diverse population in our learning community. We recognize that many families have different beliefs; and because of religious, cultural, or personal reasons, some families may choose to not be involved in Halloween activities. If you would not like your child(ren) to participate in Halloween activities, please communicate this with your classroom teacher and school principal. We will then find an alternative location and activity for your child during the Halloween activities.

Bricks for the new Intermediate Playground are still available. Please help us close the gap on the cost of our new playground by purchasing a personalized brick that will be displayed in the playground seating area. See the image below for more information. Deadline to purchase bricks is November 30. Thank you for your support!

Scan the QR Code below or click this link to purchase your brick(s).

https://whittierdg.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true&category=Bricks

Students from all grades are invited to participate in this year's Reflections program by sharing their art that relates to the theme “Accepting Imperfection". The art can be from any of the 6 categories - visual arts, dance choreography, film production, music composition, photography, and literature - due by November 1st in the main office or emailed to reflectionswhittier@gmail.com along with the entry form. Please visit whittierschoolpta.org/activities/reflections for more info. You can also click on the attachment below for more information.

Form your Reading Games teams and save the date!

Our favorite reading competition is coming on Saturday, February 22, 2025! The Reading Games is a free and fun reading competition for students in grades 3-8. The mission of the Reading Games is to encourage reading in Grades 3-8, expose kids to different genres, series, authors, and topics, as well as to foster teamwork and responsibility. All this occurs as teams of 5 - 8 students, led by a parent or other volunteer community member prepare for a fun competitive day of book trivia!

Students form teams and collaborate to read nine books from one of two book lists.

• List 1 is geared for readers in third and fourth grade.

• List 2 is geared for readers in fifth and sixth grade.

• Students in seventh and eighth grade who want to participate should read from List 2.

Like prior years, The Reading Games hopes to accommodate every team that wants to participate and register during the registration period. Each team will need an adult team leader to register the team for the event, act as a point person for all communications, and help their team prepare for The Games competition day.

In addition, each team will be asked to send a volunteer (aged 16 years or older) to The Games to help run the day.

To see the book lists, get more information about the games, and to register (starting in mid-October), go to the Reading Games Website.

Please check out our website and Facebook page for more information.

https://www.readinggamesdg58.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1011975142231082

Pre-orders for this year's Whittier Yearbook can now be made. Click on the flier below for more information, including a 10% DISCOUNT CODE if you order early - deadline is September 30 for the 10% discount!

The GPS Parent Series - Navigating Healthy Families has launched their current event schedule. This is a worthwhile free resource! Keep in mind they are offered virtually both at noon and 7pm, so hopefully everyone can attend one of the options. By participating in the year-long learning opportunities, it's like we are building a virtual parenting manual. Anyone who is a parent knows, we can use all the help we can get. Click on the attachment below to view the current events calendar.

★Volunteer Opportunities - Committee Chairs Needed★

Volunteers are needed to chair the Fun Fair Committee and separately, Math & Science Night Committee.

Grab a friend and co-chair a committee together! The Fun Fair and Math & Science Night are PTA sponsored events for all Whittier students and their families. Do you think these events should take on a new look? As Committee Chair, you get to choose! The PTA website has all the resources you need to plan an event. Sign up to chair a committee so these wonderful events can continue and feel great knowing you are supporting our students. Email: president@whittierschoolpta.org with questions.

★ Fall Experiences★

There are still opportunities for both kids and adults to participate in Fall Experiences!

Please consider signing up for anything that is still open! https://bit.ly/4dh3zL1

Enhance a Pumpkin Pail (Grade K), Sun, Oct. 27

Blind Draw Volleyball Tournament (Adults), Sat, Nov 2

Barre and Bubbles (Adults), Thurs, Nov 7

Zen and Bloom (Adults), Sun, Nov 10

Disney Trivia (Grade 4), Fri, Nov 15

Holiday Gift Wrapping (Adults), Tues, Dec 17

★Next PTA Meeting is on Tuesday, October 29 at 7pm★

Click HERE for the Zoom meeting link and agenda.

★ PTA Bricks - Playground Fundraiser ★

Help us close the gap on the cost of our new playground by purchasing a personalized brick that will be displayed in the playground seating area. Order by 11/30.

To order, visit https://shorturl.at/DnDDF.

**Ask your employer to match your brick purchase.**

★ Rejoin the PTA. Click HERE. ★

See the Whittier Weekly newsletter for additional PTA related information. The newsletter is emailed to PTA members every Monday.

Student safety is always at the forefront of our mind when planning at school. It is extremely important for all individuals who are driving students to and from school to follow all the rules of the road, along with our Whittier procedures. Please share this information with anyone transporting students.

Arrival

Students may arrive at Whittier beginning at 8:05am each day when adult supervision begins. In order to assist with a timely and safe arrival process, the school playground will be closed before school. Upon arrival, students should line up by their assigned door. Students will be directed to enter the building beginning at 8:15am. Anyone arriving after 8:15am should enter through Door One for an office tardy pass.

Dismissal/After School

Following daily dismissal at Whittier (2:00 pm on Monday and 3:00 pm Tuesday through Friday), all students who are not scheduled to remain in the building must leave the school grounds and check in at their destination as there is no supervision on school grounds. We want to ensure the safety of all students.

Students may return to the playground after school hours and/or on the weekends. This will be done at family discretion, as our district playgrounds also function as community parks outside of school hours.

Driving and Walking Procedures

Hill Street traffic - travels WEST ONLY from 8:00am-4:00pm (One Way Street)

- Hill Street will be used as a Student DROP OFF ONLY during school hours.

- Hill Street will be used as a Student PICK UP ONLY during school hours.

- Car drivers will need to travel west down Hill Street entering the Drop-off/Pick-up Lane.

- As you enter the Drop-off/Pick-up Lane, please pull all the way up to the white street

markings and drop-off or pick-up. The car does not need to be at the ramp to drop-off

or pick-up students. Driver stays in the car. Students should exit the vehicle from the

passenger side.

- If car drivers want to park and walk their child(ren) to their designated area, they may do so after parking in a designated parking space at the west end of Hill, or on Blodgett or Grand. Parents may walk students to the sidewalk.

Grand Crosswalk at the Intermediate Playground

- Students should cross the street at the Grand crosswalk at the Intermediate Playground.

- Car drivers who travel south on Grand, may drop off intermediate-level students on Grand.

- If car drivers want to park and walk their child(ren) to their designated area, they may do

so after parking in a designated parking space at the west end of Hill, or on Blodgett or

Grand. Parents may walk students to the sidewalk.

Hill & Blodgett Crosswalk

- A crossing guard will be stationed at Hill & Blodgett to assist students in crossing to

school.

Blodgett Street

- We continue to ask parents NOT to drop off students on Blodgett.

- There is no parking on the west side of Blodgett, south of Randall from 2:30-3:30pm. Please follow these parking regulations.

Staff Parking Lot

- Please do NOT use the Staff Parking Lot as a drop-off or pick-up location.

- Students should NOT walk through the parking lot, they should only use the sidewalks.

Student Entrance and Exit

- Each class has been assigned to a specific door for entrance and exit to the building. (See the article below for specifics for each class).

- Please follow these guidelines to assist us in maintaining safety for all.

You may also review this information in the attachment below.

A couple of additional reminders about dropping off and picking up students at Whittier.

When entering the Drop-Off/Pick-Up Lane, please notice that there is NO PARKING along Hill Street in this area. This lane is strictly drop off and pick up. All drivers need to remain in their vehicles and exit the lane once students have exited or entered the vehicle. Again, please do not allow children to exit the vehicle on the driver's side and into traffic.

Please DO NOT double park on Hill, Grand, or Blodgett in order to avoid traffic and either drop off or pick up students. This is very dangerous.

Together, we can all assist in providing the safest environment for our children. Thank you!

Student Arrival

Parents may not escort their students to entry doors. Parents may walk students to the sidewalk, at which time students will join the line to enter the building.

Students may arrive at Whittier beginning at 8:05am each day when adult supervision begins. In order to assist with a timely and safe arrival process, the school playground will be closed before school. Upon arrival, students should line up by their assigned door. Students will be directed to enter the building beginning at 8:15am. Teachers will direct students to their cubby area. Anyone arriving after 8:15am should enter through Door One for an office tardy pass.

Upon arrival to school, students in these classes will line up at the Main Entrance (Door 1):

KH - Mrs. Hedman

KR - Mrs. Roberts

1Q - Mrs. Quill

1R - Mrs. Richards

Upon arrival to school, students in these classes will line up at the West Entrance (Door 2), off the Staff Parking Lot:

2Su - Ms. Sullivan

2Sw - Mr. Swade

6M - Mrs. Miller

6Z - Mrs. Zagorski

Upon arrival to school, students in these classes will line up at the East Entrance (Door 4), off the Intermediate Playground:

3K - Miss Karius

3M - Mrs. Modine

4M - Mr. Miller

4S - Mrs. Smitley

5H - Mrs. Hodkowski

5L - Mrs. Lyons

Student Dismissal

Following daily dismissal at Whittier (2:00 pm on Monday and 3:00 pm Tuesday through Friday), all students who are not scheduled to remain in the building must leave the school grounds and check in at their dismissal destination as there is no supervision on school grounds. We want to ensure the safety of all students.

Students may return to the playground after school hours and/or on the weekends. This will be done at family discretion, as our district playgrounds also function as community parks outside of school hours.

Students in grades K, 1, 2, and 6 will dismiss from Door 2 (west end of the building near the Staff Parking Lot).

Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will dismiss from Door 4 (east end of the building off the Intermediate Playground).

Student Arrival Reminders

Please remember to follow these helpful procedures:

As our 2nd and 6th graders arrive at the West Entrance, we ask that parents allow students to line up on the blacktop, and then move to the grass area or sidewalk to wait for the bell to ring. Parents are welcome to drop students off and then head home, as well. Staff supervision and student safety patrols begin at 8:05am and remain with students until they enter the building at 8:15am.

As our Kindergarten and 1st graders arrive at the Main Entrance, we ask that parents line up a step or 2 in front of the sidewalk along Hill Street. Please do not stand and wait on the sidewalk as this blocks students from walking to their assigned line-up spot and blocks students from getting out of a vehicle if they are being dropped off. Please do not wait in the street or too close to the street, as this is our Drop-off Lane. Parents are welcome to drop students off and then head home, as well. Staff supervision and student safety patrols begin at 8:05am and remain with students until they enter the building at 8:15am.

As our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders arrive at the East Entrance, we ask that parents wait on the other side of the fence. Parents are welcome to drop students off and then head home, as well. Staff supervision and student safety patrols begin at 8:05am and remain with students until they enter the building at 8:15am.

While we all love our furry four-legged friends, and many of them are so cute, we do ask that you keep all pets off of school property and any adjacent sidewalks. Some of our students may be allergic or scared of dogs and other pets. You are welcome to walk to school with them, but then please stay on the sidewalks across the road on Hill, Blodgett, and Grand.

Thank you for your cooperation, and for assisting us in maintaining the safety of our students.

We ask that parents report their child(ren)'s absence to the school office.

There are a variety of ways you can now report your child(ren)'s absence from school:

1. Call the school office at (630) 719-5865 (24 hours a day), and leave a message regarding your child's absence from school.

2. Email the Whittier secretaries (ccasella@dg58.org and kpeters@dg58.org) indicating the reason for your child's absence.

3. Report absences electronically. Just click on the link below, complete the information, and submit the form. This form can also be found on the Whittier webpage.

https://forms.gle/1Q3gXFonR3by2ppR9

While many parents contact the classroom teacher with absence information, the school office MUST also be notified. Please report student absences using one of the 3 methods above. Thank you for your assistance!

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.

As the school year begins, we want to remind you about wearing appropriate and safe footwear to school. Please review the article below.

It is important for students to be prepared for PE class. In order to participate safely in PE class, we ask that ALL students wear closed-toe gym shoes during each PE class. This allows for maximum safety during PE activities, and does not mark up the gym floor. Students can keep a pair of gym shoes at school to change into, or wear gym shoes on PE days. If a student arrives to PE class without the appropriate shoes, he/she will be given an alternate activity to complete. He/she will not be able to participate in the regular class activity that day, due to safety concerns. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe during PE class.

In addition, we want to maintain safety at recess, too; and having students wear the proper shoes to play outside is very important. Please make sure that your child wears closed-toe shoes for outdoor recess. While sandals and flip-flops are cute and comfortable, they are not always safe for kids when they are playing. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in keeping kids safe!

While a student can bring their electronic device (including cell phones and AirPods) 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. Parents - PLEASE DO NOT text or call your child using their personal device while at school. ALL communication needs to go through our main office at (630) 719-5865. The district-provided technology will be utilized for students to participate in lessons and complete assignments. Please be sure to go over the expectations with your student.

We want to remind you of the health requirements for your incoming second or sixth-grader. All second and sixth graders will need to have a dental exam completed and turned in no later than May 15, 2025. This form can be dated anytime between November 15, 2023 - May 15, 2025. The form can be downloaded and printed here: Dental Form

The completed form can be dropped off to the school office, mailed, or emailed to the school nurse. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Each year, we place the safety and security of our students and staff as a top priority. We are constantly reflecting on practices and discussing any ways that this area can be improved. Please know that ALL exterior entrance doors to Whittier are securely closed and locked during the school day. This includes the doors at the Main Entrance. With our new secure entrance, visitors are required to ring the bell on the outside column. You will be greeted by an office staff member over the intercom, admitted to the building, if necessary, and then check-in at the entry window.

The District will continue to use the RAPTOR security system as part of our safe school program, which requires ALL visitors to show a state-issued ID, have it scanned, and then the visitor receives a name badge to wear during their entire stay in the building. Please be prepared to show your ID upon arrival at Whittier.

The District and School Emergency Management Plans are reviewed with all staff at the start of the school year, as well as re-visited throughout the school year.

Safety Drills are held throughout the school year.

- Intruder/ALICE Drills are practiced in coordination with the DG Police Department.

- Fire Drills are practiced in coordination with the DG Fire Department.

- Tornado/Take Cover Drills are practiced.

A Parent Guide, developed in conjunction with MAVinS (Mothers Against Violence in Schools), on talking to children about safety drills is sent home in early fall.

We do our best each and every day to maintain the safety of all who are in our school.

As everyone knows, safety is always at the forefront of our mind, especially when students are in the building. Many safety protocols have been established and are followed on a daily basis by both staff and students.

One of these safety measures is that no staff member or student should allow a visitor into the building at any time. Even if the visitor is recognized, they still need to enter the building at the main entrance and be buzzed in after identifying themselves to an office staff member.

We would ask that parents and other visitors to our building during the school day, be aware of this procedure and follow this protocol when already authorized to be in the building. Please do not allow entry to anyone - even if you know them. This is the responsibility of our office staff. If you are waiting or walking in the hallway and you see someone at the door, please allow them to be recognized and acknowledged by our office staff. This is the only way we can maintain who is in the building at any given time. We appreciate your assistance and follow through with this very important safety protocol.

Understandably, sometimes there may be an item or two that gets left behind at home that is discovered after the start of the school day. We are more than happy to deliver those items to your child(ren) once dropped off. If you need to drop something off to get to your child, please do so by ringing the bell on the main entrance column, sharing with the office staff what you are dropping off, and then, after being admitted to the building, leaving your item in one of the cubbies in our new office entryway. There are post-its and pens so you can leave your child's name on the item(s). We will do our best to get any items to students in a quick and efficient manner. Our delivery may not be immediate, depending on the number of items we receive, but we will get the item(s) to your child as soon as we can.

We wanted to share with you how we handle homework and classwork when a student is absent. If you have any specific questions, please contact your child's teacher; otherwise, we ask that parents honor the homework request process that is followed by teachers at Whittier.

If a student is absent 3 or more days, on the third day, homework can be requested if they are feeling well enough to complete it. Otherwise, the teacher will touch base with the student upon his/her return to school and work on what needs to be made up.

If a student is going to be absent due to a vacation or other out-of-town obligation, daily homework will not be provided. Upon return to school, the teacher and student will touch base to discuss what was missed and what needs to be made up. During their time out of school, we recommend that students read, keep a journal of experiences on the trip, and practice math facts or current concepts.

In case you still need to purchase any of the school supplies for your child(ren), you can find the grade-level supply lists in the attachment below.

If you have not yet opted into the District’s text messaging service, please text “Y” or “yes” to 67587 to ensure that you will receive text messages from District 58. Text messages will only be sent rarely and only for critical information such as a school closing.

Now that the school year has begun, there are many more school buses out on the road. School bus safety is a huge challenge, as sometimes vehicle drivers do not understand when they need to stop for a school bus.

This article supports the reason for the rule and the image below can be used to help guide drivers. Please take the time to review when and how to stop for a school bus. Thank you for helping keep all school bus riders and drivers safe!

Mental Health Resources Info -

District 58 strives to create a culture of well-being for students, parents, staff and community. To further support this endeavor, the District has invested in an additional support service through ReferralGPS.

ReferralGPS is a service providing assistance to our community in finding local mental health and substance use-related treatment resources. The service compliments the District’s existing systems of support as a tool for student service teams and families to connect with treatment. Along with a searchable database of treatment options, ReferralGPS assists families in triage and appointment setting.

School district staff and families may access ReferralGPS in two ways:

1. Contact Student Services (social workers, psychologists, counselors) to seek out treatment options

2. Visit this link at https://referralgps.com/find-help/DG58 to search for treatment resources or connect with a Care Navigator anonymously

The platform has the ability to filter by mental health concern, clinician gender/specialty, location, and insurance acceptance. The service is available for all types of private and public insurance options including PPO, HMO, Medicaid, and families that are uninsured or underinsured.

ReferralGPS is available for use by district students, staff, and families at no cost. All information entered on the ReferralGPS tool is completely confidential and securely stored.

Whittier strives to develop lifelong learners within a caring, safe, and healthy learning environment. Our staff will be responsive to each student and collaborate with families and community. Our students will solve problems with perseverance, and develop a social conscience which enables them to contribute to their school, family, and community. Together we will be respectful of diversity and inclusivity, and we will positively impact the world.

Michael J. Krugman, Principal

Email: mkrugman@dg58.org
Website: www.dg58.org/wh
Location: 536 Hill Street, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 6307195865
Twitter: @MKrugmanDG58