The 15th Annual PTA Fun Run was a great time and we loved seeing so many of our students involved. Thank you to all who came out to support our PTA and Lester School!

As was shared in advance, students participated in the Fire Drill with the Downers Grove Fire Department on Monday. The DGFD reported that our students and staff did a great job of following expectations and getting out of the building quickly. Way to go, leopards! Please also be aware that next Wednesday, we will participate in a school wide ALICE drill with the Downers Grove Police Department. Your students will be reminded about this drill prior to the day of and the day of.

On Tuesday, we held our monthly lunchroom celebrations and we were excited to have a fun time dancing and celebrating all of the positive behaviors we are seeing at Lester School. We also reminded students of our safety expectations. We discussed with them that we are never allowed to joke about weapons or play pretend games with pretend weapons or anything of that nature. We discussed the importance of using safe words at all times and that we never make threats of any kind to others. We are proud of our students for making great choices and we know they will continue to do so. We appreciate you reminding them of these expectations at home as well.

District 58 is focused on improving student attendance, and as a part of this effort, each child will be coming home today with their 30 day attendance letter.

As of today, parent/teacher conference sign up is now closed. We look forward to welcoming our families next week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for conferences. We truly appreciate your partnership.

Enjoy your weekend :)

Katie Novosel

Principal

knovosel@dg58.org

Lauri Smith

Assistant Principal

lsmith@dg58.org

Each week during announcements, we will review a different location of expectations. Next week, we will review how to be respectful, responsible, and safe at recess!

As a reminder, only assigned volunteers will be able to enter the building. All volunteers will need to bring an ID to go through our Raptor system. If you are able to check in with your ID prior to the party date, this will save our secretaries time the day of. They can then have your ID printed and ready for you to wear as you come that day. Thank you!

Wednesday, October 9: ALICE Drill with DGPD

Tuesday, October 8 & Thursday, October 10: Parent/Teacher Conferences 5:00-8:00 pm

Friday, October 11: Fun Lunch

Monday, October 14: NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, October 16: SCHOOL PHOTOS

Wednesday, October 23: PTA MEETING at Lester 6:30 pm & 6th Grade Field Trip

Friday, October 25: Fun Lunch

Thursday, October 31: Halloween Parade 1:30 & Halloween Parties 2:00 Gr. K-6

*more info to come

Tuesday, November 5: NO SCHOOL- elections

Thursday, November 7: World Fair at Lester

Friday, November 8: Fun Lunch & End of 1st Trimester

Friday, November 22: Fun Lunch

Wednesday, November 27-Friday, November 29: NO SCHOOL -Thanksgiving break

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 …”