Lester Living
Friday, October 11, 2024
It’s time to form your teams and start reading, because The Reading Games competition is returning! The Reading Games is an annual trivia-style reading competition for District 58 and District 61 students in grades 3-8. It will take place Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 at O'Neill Middle School. Registration is open now through Friday, Nov. 15.
To participate, complete the following:
1. Form a team and complete the team registration OR complete an individual registration and The Reading Games will do their best to find a team for your child. Teams must have between five and eight students. They can represent a mix of grade levels and schools, but must attend District 58 or District 61.
2. Collaborate with your team 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. To prepare, students can meet to discuss the books and quiz each other.
3. Participate in The Reading Games on Feb. 22, 2025! During The Reading Games, students will face other teams to answer questions about the books they've read. Teams are encouraged to dress up and have fun, and prizes are awarded.
The Reading Games is sponsored by the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 and the Grove Express Foundation.
Learn more about The Reading Games registration process. Visit The Reading Games website.
Dear District 58 Community,
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the fall weather that is finally upon us. In the Aug. 28 issue of Communicate 58, I shared important safety information with the community, and asked families to discuss school safety at home with their children. In light of the recent school shooting in Georgia, as well as the ongoing trend of school threats occurring nationwide, I wanted to ask you to once again discuss safety with your child in an age-appropriate manner. Please take this matter very seriously, and approach the conversation in a way that you would discuss airport safety with your child. For instance, travelers know that it is not okay to say certain words at the airport or risk arrest. It is very similar for schools.
Please emphasize the following with your child:
- Students may not make any type of threat, in person or online.
- Students may not jokingly make any type of threat, in person or online.
- Students may not talk or joke about guns, bombs, knives or other weapons, or use words that threaten harm on another person or place, in a threatening or joking manner, in person or online.
- Students may not bring any weapon, lookalike weapon or toy weapon to school. This includes on the bus, field trips and extracurricular activities. This also includes weapons/lookalike weapons/toy weapons that are concealed.
- If a student makes a threatening statement or brings a weapon or lookalike weapon to school or a school activity, the student will be referred to the Downers Grove Police Department.
- Police will investigate and consequences can include arrest, referral to the State’s Attorney and/or referral to the Juvenile Court System. The police may also require parent/guardian interviews, a psychiatric evaluation of the student, a police search of the home, etc.
- School consequences will be significant and in line with Board Policy 7:190, and may include suspension or expulsion.
Please also:
- Monitor your child’s social media usage. Report any threats or potential threats to the police or the school. Call 911 for emergencies.
- Talk to your child about the importance of “If you see something, say something.” The school can only investigate what it knows.
- Share Safe2Help and the District’s other crisis resources with your intermediate or middle school child. Students can contact Safe2Help Illinois to safely and confidentially report a crisis, threat or bullying involving themselves or someone they know. Safe2Help is monitored 24/7 by trained crisis professionals. District 58 staff will receive an alert after the Safe2Help professional provides support.
Together, District 58 and families can work together to help keep our schools safe. Thank you again for your partnership and support.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin Russell
District 58 Superintendent of Schools
Is your student interested in visual or performing arts? Please consider participating in PTA Reflections!
Each year through Reflections, more than 300,000 students around the country in preschool through high school create original works of art inspired by a student-selected theme. This year's theme is "Accepting Imperfection" and categories for entry include visual art (painting, drawing, sculpture, textile art), photography, film-making, music composition, dance choreography and literature. Visit our local Reflections website to learn more about the program, read the guidelines and download an entry form. All entries are due to your local school by Friday, Nov. 1.
Projects are judged and have the opportunity to advance through Council, Region, State and National levels of competition. Our Council level is called the Downers Grove Area Council and includes all District 58 schools as well as Darien School District 61. All District 58 students whose projects advance to the Council level are invited to attend a recognition ceremony on Dec. 3 at O’Neill Middle School, where they will receive a ribbon and see their work on display.
All students whose projects advance to the State level are invited to Spotlight, a state-wide Reflections celebration in May. Students with projects advancing to the National level are eligible for bronze, silver and gold medals and scholarships ranging from $200-$800.
Looking for inspiration? Browse the virtual gallery of projects that made it to Nationals in last year’s Reflections program inspired by the theme “I am Hopeful Because …”
