What's Up at Whittier

Only 2 weeks until Spring Break! Let's hope our weather is finally changing for the better. It was great having outdoor recess all last week. After Spring Break students may begin riding their bikes, scooters, and skateboards again to school. Remember - all these items must be locked at the bike racks. None of these items may be brought into school. Also, once on school property, including the sidewalks around the school, students need to walk and not ride these items.

This week, we begin administering the IAR (Illinois Academic Readiness) Assessment. Our hope is to complete this testing between Tuesday, March 18 through Thursday, March 27. This assessment is the required State Assessment for students in grades 3-6. Each student will take 3 assessments in the area of ELA/Reading and 3 assessments in the area of Math. These assessments are used to determine a school's status throughout the State. Last year, Whittier received the highest status - Exemplary. We know our students can maintain this exemplary status as they try their best and show what they have learned throughout this school year. Please make sure your student(s) get a good night sleep and start their day right with a healthy breakfast before heading to school. The final assessment schedule can be found in an article below We are hoping students will make every effort possible to attend school on their testing days and to try their best.

Thanks to everyone who attended Kindergarten Round-up this past week. We have a great group of Kindergarteners ready to start their educational journey in the fall.

Now we need all our current Kindergarten through 6th graders to register for next school year as well. Registration for the 2025-26 school year IS OPEN. Please see the article and graphic below for more information. It is very important for all students to be registered as soon as possible so we can begin planning for next school year. We ask that you complete student registration for the 25-26 school year no later than March 31. Thank you!

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, March 17 - Happy St. Patrick's Day; Choose Happy Orange Day (we wear orange on Mondays to support happiness) - WEAR ORANGE OR GREEN today

Tuesday, March 18 - Grade 4 Field Trip, Museum of Science & Industry; Young Rembrandts, 3:00-4:00pm; BAM Theater, 3:10-4:10pm

Wednesday, March 19- SC Spirit - Neon Day; Language Labs, 3:00-4:00pm

Thursday, March 20 - Chess Scholars, 3:00-4:00pm

Friday, March 21 - Whittier Spirit Day (wear your favorite Whittier Spirit Wear or our school colors of gold and blue or yellow and blue to show your school spirit); Yearbook Club Pictures; Fun Lunch

Monday, March 24 - Choose Happy Orange Day (we wear orange on Mondays to support happiness); PTA Fun Fair, Intermediate Playground, 2:10-2:50pm

Tuesday, March 25 - Young Rembrandts, 3:00-4:00pm; BAM Theater, 3:10-4:10pm

Wednesday, March 26- SC Spirit - Baseball Day; Language Labs, 3:00-4:00pm

Thursday, March 27 - All School Spring Fun Assembly - FUNFUN FUN Game Show; Student Council Meeting, 3:00-3:30pm; Chess Scholars, 3:00-4:00pm; Dancing with the Stars Club, 3:00-4:00pm

Friday, March 28 - Whittier Spirit Day (wear your favorite Whittier Spirit Wear or our school colors of gold and blue or yellow and blue to show your school spirit); Yearbook Club Pictures; Fun Lunch

March 31 - April 4 - Spring Break

Monday, April 7 - Classes Resume

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

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.

Do you know a District 58 employee who goes abo ve and beyond? Please consider nominating that individual for a Distinguished Service Award! The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 annually hosts the free Distinguished Service Awards program to recognize the remarkable contributions of District 58 employees. Nominations are due Friday, March 21. The DSA ceremony will be Tuesday, May 6 at 4pmat O’Neill Middle School.

English

• View DSA Frequently Asked Questions

• View the 2025 DSA Nomination Form

Spanish

• Premios al Servicio Distinguido Preguntas Frecuentes

• Premios al Servicio Distinguido Formulario de nominación

Please visit www.dg58.org/dsa for more information.

We had a great time this past Thursday evening at our One Book One School Event. The book we all read was A Boy Named BAT. It was an awesome story with a great message. If you were not able to join us for this event, I would still highly recommend that you take some time to read this story with your family and talk about it as you read.

All families who read the book were invited to our culminating event. We had 3 stations set up:

Trivia and Book Talk was held in the Library with Mrs. Coleman.

Yoga was held in the Gym and led by Mrs. Carrie Grebel, Whitter community member, former Whitter parent, and former Whittier lunch/recess supervisor. Thank you for coming back and helping us with this event Carrie!

Puppy Visits were held in the Learning Lab with Mrs. Gergits. A special thank you to Mrs. Gergits and members of the Animal Rescue Foundation. Families were able to spend time playing with fun-loving puppies provided by this rescue agency. Information on the foundation, as well as information on volunteer opportunities and foster or adoption opportunities can be found on their website -

arf-il.org

Thank you to eveyone who attended!

The Whittier Student Council Spirit Days and monthly Community Service Projects for March and April are listed below. Show your Whittier Spirit as you participate in all the fun activities that our Student Council offers.

March/April Spirit Days

Wednesday, March 19 - Neon Day - wear your bright colors

Wednesday, March 26 - Baaseball Day - wear your baseball attire

April 7-11 - Color Week:

• Monday - wear red
• Tuesday - wear orange or yellow
• Wednesday - wear green
• Thursday - wear blue or purple
• Friday - wear as many colors of the rainbow

Wednesday, April 16 - Fancy Day - wear something you normally wear for a special occasion

April Community Service Project

Help support St. Jude's Research Hospital during the week of April 14-17! The Student Council will be selling Smencils at lunch for $1 each.

This year's PTA Fun Fair will take place after school on Monday, March 24, from 2:10-2:50pm on the Intermediate Blacktop (corner of Hill and Grand). Come see the Go Big BMX Air Show. It is guaranteed to be a great time! This event is FREE to all Whittier school community members - so bring the whole family. See the flyer below for more information.

Tyler J won last week's Weekly Raffle - Lunch with a Friend from McDonald's. Tyler invited Will M to join him for a fun lunch (on a Wednesday)! We had an awesome All School Assembly last week. Two of our 5th grade students were awarded the Grove Foundation Award - congrats to Reese P and Harper H. Great job! Our Monthly Raffle was held and two students were chosen to receive a Snack Cart visit to their classroom. Congratulations to Torrey P and Mrs. Roberts' Kindergarten class, and to Fritz L and Miss Karius' 3rd grade class. Snacks will be delivered one day this week. Our Fun Game this month was the Shamrock Shake! Students needed to shake all the ping pong balls out of the container that was attached to their back end. What a fun game! Congrats to Kindergartener Casey J, 1st grader Charlie N, and 4th grader Josiah J for winning the Shamrock Shake Game! Students continue to earn Jaguar Jackpot tickets and win fun prizes. Congratulations to our Weekly Raffle Winner - Emma G in Mrs. Quill's 1st grade class, who won an Extra Recess for her and her entire class. Jaguar Jackpot raffle tickets are earned for following our schoolwide expectations in the areas of Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. During the month of March, we are focusing on "Be Safe." Keep up the good work Whittier Jaguars!

We want to remind you of the health requirements for current 2nd and 6th graders. 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!

We want to remind you of the health requirements for current 1st and 5th graders (incoming 2nd and 6th graders).

All current fifth graders - as your child prepares for the transition to 6th grade, we want to remind you that a school physical and required immunizations are necessary for all incoming 6th graders in Illinois. To ensure your student is ready for the start of the school year, we encourage you to schedule their appointment as soon as possible.

We can accept completed physical and immunization records for the 2025-26 school year if they are dated after September 2, 2024. Submitting these documents early helps ensure your child meets all health requirements before the school year begins.

With our later start next school year, there will be fewer days for follow-up before Illinois' mandatory school exclusion date (10/15/25). To avoid any delays, we strongly encourage families to complete these health requirements well in advance. The form can be downloaded and printed here: School Physical Form

All current first and fifth graders will need to have a dental exam completed and turned in no later than May 15, 2026. This form can be dated anytime between November 15, 2024 - May 15, 2026. The form can be downloaded and printed here: Dental Form

The completed forms 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!

The IAR (Illinois Assessment for Readiness), the Illinois State Assessment, testing window begins this week - on Tuesday, March 18. Please see the schedule below. We ask that all students be in school on their testing days, as 100% of students need to take this state mandated assessment. The IAR measures student achievement in ELA and Math (and 5th grade will take the Science assessment after Spring Break) and compares our school to all other public schools throughout the State of Illinois. We ask that students take this assessment seriously and try their best. The IAR assessment is included in our school's designation from the state. We appreciate everyone's support!

Tuesday, March 18

8:30-10:00am Grade 3 - ELA - Unit 1

12:30-1:45pm Grade 6 - Math - Unit 1

1:30-2:45pm Grade 5 - Math - Unit 1

Wednesday, March 19

8:30-10:15am Grade 4 - ELA - Unit 1

10:00-11:45am Grade 6 - ELA - Unit

12:30-1:45pm Grade 4 - Math - Unit 1

1:30-2:45 pm Grade 3 - Math - Unit 1

Thursday, March 20

8:30-10:15am Grade 5 - ELA - Unit 1

10:00-11:45am Grade 4 - ELA - Unit 2

1:30-2:45pm Grade 3 - Math - Unit 2

Friday, March 21

8:30-10:00am Grade 6 - Math - Unit 2

10:15-11:45am Grade 3 - ELA - Unit 2

12:30-1:45pm Grade 5 - Math - Unit 2

1:30-2:45pm Grade 4 - Math - Unit 2

Tuesday, March 25

8:30-10:15am Grade 4 - ELA - Unit 3

10:00-11:45am Grade 6 - ELA - Unit 2

12:45-2:00pm Grade 5 - Math - Unit 3
1:30-2:45pm Grade 3 - Math - Unit 3

Wednesday, March 26

8:30-10:15am Grade 5 - ELA - Unit 2

10:15-11:45am Grade 3 - ELA - Unit 3

12:30-1:45pm Grade 4 - Math - Unit 3

1:30-2:45pm Grade 6 - Math - Unit 3

Thursday, March 27

8:30-10:15am Grade 5 - ELA - Unit

10:00-11:45am Grade 6 - ELA - Unit 3

Spring is on the way, and so is the deadline for Whittier Young Authors entries. All stories are due by Friday, March 28th. Of course, they may be turned in earlier as well.

Please remember that all entries should be turned in as hard copies--no digital submissions. All stories should have a cover page with the title and author's name. If you have any other questions, please contact Mrs. Coleman at kcoleman@dg58.org.

newsletter

Attention 6th & 7th Grade Parents -

Does your student plan to participate in a fall sport in middle school? A completed sports physical is required for all middle school athletes—even for practice before tryouts.

Since fall sports practices begin before the school year starts, we strongly encourage you to schedule your child’s sports physical as soon as possible to ensure they are eligible to participate. Sports physicals are valid for 13 months from the exam date, so be sure your child’s physical is up to date. Our health offices are currently accepting physicals dated after September 2nd, 2024.

Please submit completed sports physicals to the Herrick Middle School Health Office - HEMedicalRecords@dg58.org before the first practice. If you have any questions about requirements, feel free to reach out to the school nurse.

Thank you for your attention to this important step in preparing for a great season!

Registration for the PTA 2025 Spring Experiences continues to take place. There are still a few openings for some of the Experiences. To register for any of the Experiences, click on this link: https://app.givebacks.gives/spring-experiences-2025/Campaign/Details?ReturnUrl=%2FCampaigns%2FSetup%2F5ebd2f%2FOptions

More information on the Spring Experiences, including activity descriptions and pricing can be found in the attachment below. Thanks for your support and have fun!

District 58 invites students to register for its Summer School programs! Registration is now open for most Summer School programs. Leap Into Kindergarten registration is an exception and will open on Tuesday, April 8 at 9am. Registration deadlines vary depending on the class. In addition, registration is also open for the District’s Extended School Year program.

District 58 Summer School classes are open to students enrolled in public, private or parochial schools who live within the District 58 attendance area. Please register for the grade level your child will enter in fall 2025.

Families who need assistance registering for Summer School may contact Summer School Secretary Alissa Drake at adrake@dg58.org or 630-719-5869. Please see details about District 58’s Summer School programming below or visit www.dg58.org/summer.

Summer School: General Education and Enrichment

• Registration: Summer School registration is open Feb. 27 through April 11. Click here to register. A confirmation email with payment directions will be sent within three school days of your registration.

• Schedule: Weekdays, Monday, June 9-Friday, June 27 (excluding June 19) from 8-11am

• Location: Henry Puffer School 2220 Haddow Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515

• Cost: $109

• Bus Transportation: Not provided - Families are responsible for their student’s transportation.

• Description: District 58 will offer math and reading grade-level readiness courses, as well as two art classes. Art classes are limited to the first 30 students who register for each class. Once a class reaches capacity, a waiting list will form. Classes are:
  
  

  • Reading and Math (Incoming Grades 1-8): 8-11am
    District 58 will offer individual Reading and Math classes for every grade level, from grades 1-8. The class will focus on grade-level readiness in both reading and math.
    
    

  • Art Exploration I (Incoming Grades 2-3): 8-11am
    Students will use a variety of media to express their creativity while exploring classic and modern styles of art. This class will use various artistic mediums including, paint, oil pastel, colored pencil and mixed media such as ceramics and textiles. Students will be encouraged to improve their technique and comfort level through a wide range of different projects.
    
    

  • Art Exploration II (Incoming Grades 4-6): 8-11am
    Students will use a variety of media to express their creativity while exploring classic and modern styles of art. This class will utilize various artistic mediums including, paint, oil pastel, colored pencil and mixed media such as ceramics and textiles. Students will be encouraged to improve their technique and comfort level through a wide range of different projects.

Summer School: Leap Into Kindergarten

• Registration: Leap Into Kindergarten registration opens Tuesday, April 8 at 9am and will close when capacity is hit. Starting April 8, click here to register. A confirmation email with payment directions will be sent within three school days of your registration.

• Schedule: Weekdays, Monday, June 9-Friday, June 27 (excluding June 19) from 8-11am.

• Location: Henry Puffer School 2220 Haddow Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515

• Cost: $109

• Bus Transportation: Not provided - Families are responsible for their student’s transportation.

• Description: This program is intended for students entering kindergarten in the fall of 2025 and will focus on reading and math readiness. Some of the topics covered include: letter and number recognition, letter sounds, and fine motor activities, including cutting, coloring, pasting, and writing.

Extended School Year

• Schedule: Weekdays, Friday, May 30 - Friday, June 27, 8:15-11:15am (excluding June 19)

• Location: Henry Puffer School 2220 Haddow Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515

• Cost: Extended School Year: $65; Speech-only Services: Free

• Bus Transportation: Provided for Extended School Year

• Registration: By invitation only. District 58 will offer Extended School Year programming for students who qualify through their individualized education plan, or IEP. Families of students who qualify for Extended School Year will receive a direct email invitation from the student’s IEP team with program details. Please direct registration questions to the Special Services Department at 630-719-5824.

• Description: The student’s IEP team will identify targeted goals and specific special education services for the student. This often includes resource, speech and language, occupational and/or physical therapy services. Extended School Year also includes speech-only itinerant services for students who require intensive speech/language support, but who may not be eligible for the full Extended School Year program. Service delivery is based upon the student’s IEP goals and generally is for between 25 and 50 minutes per week during the weeks ESY is in session. There is no fee for itinerant speech services, and transportation is not provided.

Please contact Summer School Secretary Alissa Drake at adrake@dg58.org or 630-719-5869 with questions.

We have kicked off our Kids Heart Challenge! Get ready to change and save lives by registering, sending messages, and completing Finn's Mission.

Here’s what to do to register:

1. Join our team and download the AHA Schools app on the Apple Store app or Google Play
   
2. Personalize your student’s page – Upload a photo and message about why they are supporting the American Heart Association.
3. Lead by example – Make a personal donation to kick off your student’s fundraising efforts.
4. Ask for support – Send emails/texts and copy and paste your fundraising link into social media. Messages are already written for you in the AHA Schools app and your online headquarters!

Through Finn’s Mission, you’ll learn the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR and the warning signs of a stroke! Thank you for supporting our team, our school, our community, and children like Finn!

Register Today!

P.S. Check to see if your employer has a matching gift program—it could double your donation! Follow the steps and forward the confirmation to MatchingGifts@heart.org.

Click here to register for Whittier Elementary School.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www2.heart.org/site/TR?company=Whittier+Elementary+School+-+Downers+Grove+IL&company_id=499285&pg=company&fr_id=11261&et=Hd3r2IfUE2Gx2whgI8ctaVFCtUmlQ8c6bbZ6db3x_cN5KLtcSF4njw

If you no longer wish to receive email messages sent from your friends on behalf of this organization, please click here or paste this URL into your browser: http://www2.heart.org/site/TellFriendOpt?action=optout&toe=353e530300bfd40e1e7fec0872670bb11e3c78ea6e7c8ef7

District 58 asks families to complete 2025-26 student registration by Monday, March 31 on the PowerSchool Enrollment platform. We ask the following groups to register online:

• All returning District 58 students

• All new District 58 students

• All current District 58 students (in grades preschool through 7) who will not attend District 58 next year. You will only need to answer two questions confirming your withdrawal.

• All outplaced District 58 students (these are students who attend a special education school/program not located at a District 58 school)

• All Grove Children’s Preschool students, after receiving admittance into the preschool program

Click here to learn more, including registration links.

Our PushCoin fee system recently sent 2025-26 fee invoices to most returning students entering grades 1-8 for next school year, regardless of registration status. Please note: all students must complete registration in PowerSchool for the 2025-26 school year. Receiving a fee invoice does not indicate that registration is complete. If you are uncertain whether you completed your child's registration, please log on to your PowerSchool Enrollment account and click on "Returning Student Registration" in the left hand navigation menu to check your registration status. Thank you.

If your family has moved in the past year, or if your student’s address information has changed in any way, please contact Carrie Casella at ccasella@dg58.org or call (630) 719-7865 and provide your updated information prior to winter break. In addition, if you rent a property, please make sure that our school has a copy of your most recent lease. You may email a copy of your lease to ccasella@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.

District 58's elementary schools have joined the National School Lunch Program and have partnered with a new elementary food service provider, Open Kitchens.

All families who would like their child to receive a boxed lunch will be required to pre-order it online through the MyMealOrder system.

Click here to learn more information about ordering elementary boxed lunches.

The information below comes directly from the District 58 Family Handbook, which was distributed electronically at the start of the school year. After Winter Break, many students have been bringing personal cell phones, Smart Watches, and other personal electronic devices to school. We just wanted to remind everyone of the District procedure that all DG58 schools follow.

Students may possess cellular phones and other personal electronic devices in school or on school property, only in accordance with the following requirements:

District 58 prohibits students from using an electronic device in a manner that disrupts the educational environment or violates the rights of others, including using the device to record (video or audio) others without permission, take photographs or recordings (video or audio) in locker rooms or bathrooms, cheat, or otherwise violate student conduct rules. Electronic devices include, but are not limited to, a cellular phone, wearable technology, computer/laptop, tablet, earbuds, personal technology, etc.

Prohibited conduct specifically includes, without limitation, creating, sending, sharing, viewing, receiving or possessing an indecent visual depiction of oneself or another person through the use of an electronic device. Electronic devices may be used when:

1. there is a documented need in a formal student support plan (medical plan, 504 plan, MTSS plan, or Individualized Education Plan);

2. it is needed in an emergency that threatens the safety of students, staff, or other individuals;

3. the supervising teacher grants permission; or

4. before or after school hours.

During the school day, personal electronic devices should be turned off or silenced and out of sight, including those that are able to connect wirelessly to other devices (e.g. Bluetooth Airplay), unless a supervising staff member directs otherwise. Students may use personal electronic devices before or after school in a manner that is consistent with Board Policy 7:190: Student Discipline and does not disrupt the educational process. District-issued devices may be used during the school day in a manner that is consistent with this policy and does not disrupt the educational process.

Any student found to be in violation of this policy shall be disciplined consistent with the Board’s written disciplinary standards for such a violation as set forth in Board Policy 7:190: Student Discipline, including suspension and/or expulsion.

As the school year continues and the winter weather arrrives, 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!

We will be clearing out and donating our Lost & Found on a monthly basis. We will be donating any remaining Lost & Found items on the last Friday of the month. Lost & Found items are kept in the Lost & Found bin in the main foyer area. The week they will be donated, we will hang them on the clothes rack in the main hallway for students to have a better view. If you notice your son/daughter is missing something, have them check the Lost & Found. Thank you!

Pre-orders for this year's Whittier Yearbook can now be made. Click on the flier below for more information. While the early bird ordering discount has ended, you can still order a yearbook at regular price.

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.

★Whittier Fun Fair★

MONDAY, MARCH 24

2:10 pm - 2:50 pm

Whittier's Intermediate Playground

BMX stunts + inspiring messages. This show will leave a mark.

FREE show for all Whittier students, teachers, staff and their families.

Pick up your kids after school and head over to the intermediate playground. Click HERE for the flyer.

★Gia Mia Dining Fundraiser★

Support Whittier by grabbing a meal from Gia Mia (994 Warren Ave., Downers Grove) on Thursday, March 20. You must mention Whittier PTA when ordering. Enter code: WPTA20 when ordering online for curbside pick up. Third-party delivery services are excluded. 20% of the net sales from your order will come back to support your PTA. Click HERE for the flyer.

★Win the Night with Whittier!★

2025 Whittier Spring Fundraiser

Join us for trivia, dancing, and fun—all while supporting Whittier!

When: Friday, April 11, 2025 | Doors open at 7:00 PM | Trivia starts at 7:30 PM

Where: Downers Grove Moose Lodge

Click HERE to purchase tickets. Flyer.

★Spring Experiences★

We have some great opportunities for students and adults. Check out the offerings.

https://app.givebacks.gives/spring-experiences-2025/Campaign/Details?ReturnUrl=%2FCampaigns%2FSetup%2F5ebd2f%2FOptions

★Recess Equipment★

Do you have any sports gear collecting dust in your garage that you would like to part with that kids would use during recess on the playground? Think basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, playground balls, jump ropes, frisbees, or other similar types of things. If you have anything you would like to contribute, please feel free to drop these items off in the office!

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.

Regular school attendance is crucial for students' academic and social development. Since the pandemic, student absences have increased in schools nationwide, including in District 58.

District 58 is focused on improving student attendance and raising family awareness regarding their child's attendance. As part of this effort, all District 58 schools sends home attendance awareness letters at 30-Day and 100-Day of school, noting the number of days students have been at school.

While ensuring your child attends school is important, we want to clarify that students should stay home when they are sick.

When determining if your child should remain home from school due to an illness, the District asks that you follow the recommendations of our local public health agencies and reference District 58's health guide. For example, your child should stay home if he or she has experienced the following symptoms within the past 24 hours: vomiting, diarrhea or a fever greater than 100. Your child may return to school if he or she has been symptom-free for 24 hours without the use of medication.

The Attendance section of District 58's Family Handbook provides additional information.

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!

For security reasons, District 58 removed its staff email addresses from the school directory web pages. The District replaced it with buttons next to every staff member’s name that say, “Email [Staff Member’s Name]”. When you click this button, a web form will appear. Type your message in that form, and it will immediately be delivered to the staff member’s inbox.

District 58 made this change because we’ve seen an increase in phishing (scam) messages sent to staff. Scammers were previously able to send bulk phishing emails to staff by accessing the email addresses listed in our staff directory. We want our staff to be accessible to our community, while also keeping our staff email accounts secure. We hope this solution will accomplish this goal. Please reach out if you have any questions.

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.

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