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What's Up at Whittier
Week of May 27
Mr. Krugman's Weekly Message
Although we had a little rain in the afternoon on Friday, our Field Day was a huge success! The students had a blast! Thank you to the Whittier PTA, parent volunteers, Whittier Staff, and especially Mr. Smigaj (PE teacher) and Andi Wiklund (Field Day PTA Chair) for all the work put into Field Day to make it a success!
We have a fun day and a half scheduled this week as we close out this school year. The Cereal Box Project Domino Challenge will take place on Tuesday afternoon. We reached our goal and collected over 400 boxes of cereal, which will be donated to the Downers Grove Area FISH Pantry and West Suburban Community Pantry, after the Domino Challenge. Thank you for your support! Our last day of school is Wednesday, May 29 with student dismissal at 11:30am. We will celebrate our 6th graders as they move on to the middle school with a Recognition Breakfast at 8:30am and our annual Clap Out at 11:15am. Good luck to our 6th grade class!
The Whittier Office and Building will physically close at 12noon on Friday, May 31. Our office staff will be relocated to Lester School during construction. You can reach us via email or by calling the Whittier Office number, (630) 719-5865. Our office will officially close for the summer at 4:00pm on Thursday, June 6. School Offices will reopen to the community on Tuesday, July 30, at which time we will still be physically located at Lester School.
Please remind your child(ren) to stay off of the storage containers located on school property throughout the summer. Thank you for helping us maintain safety at Whittier!
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
Calendar of Events
Monday, May 27 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day Holiday
Tuesday, May 28 - SC ABC Spirit - Y - Yellow Day (wear yellow); Last FULL DAY of School; Cereal Box Challenge
Wednesday, May 29 - SC ABC Spirit - Z - Zip up your Backpack and Head Home; Last Day of School; 6th Grade Recognition Breakfast, 8:30-9:30am; 6th Grade Clap Out at 11:15am; Student Dismissal at 11:30am; End of Year PTA Celebration, 11:30am-1:00pm, Intermediate Playground
Friday, May 31 - Whittier Office Closes at 12:00noon
Monday, June 3 - Thursday, June 6 - Whittier Office is relocated to Lester School
Making Kindness the Norm
See below for the May Make Kindness the Norm Calendar. There are fun things you can do each day to spread kindness and make it the norm.
Thanks for helping us "make kindness the norm" all year long!
School Hours for 2023-24
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 2023-24, which includes all school days off.
You can still Order your 2023-2024 Whittier Yearbook!
The 2023-2024 Yearbook is still available for order. Please see the attached flier. Even though the 10% discount is no longer available, you can still order yours today! Custom pages are no longer available and shipping may need to be made directly to your home as we are running out of time. The company will let you know when you place your order.
Please direct any questions to Mrs. Zagorski (ezagorski@dg58.org)
6th Grade Recognition Breakfast
An email has gone out to all 6th grade families regarding the 6th Grade Recognition Breakfast. If you have not RSVP'd yet, please do so by clicking the link below.
This year's 6th Grade Recognition Breakfast, will take place on Wednesday, May 29 from 8:30-9:30am. Students will be recognized and then a casual social time will take place for students and parents while they enjoy breakfast treats. Room parents sent a separate request for food donations.
Please click on the link below for more information and to RSVP if you will be able to attend. We hope you can join us in celebrating our 6th grade students.
Blodgett Ave Drainage Improvements
We received the following information from the Village of Downers Grove Public Works:
Construction will be taking place on Blodgett Avenue this summer between late May or early June and September. Proposed improvements include the installation of new storm sewer, roadway resurfacing, sidewalk removal and replacement, and water service line replacement at select residences. For more information, please visit the Village of Downers Grove website and/or contact the Village of Downers Grove Public Works.
Order your 2024-25 School Supplies
Don't forget about school supplies for the 24/25 school year!
Don't get stuck spending the last weeks of your summer on a mad dash for supplies.
See below for easy school supply ordering.
Any questions, contact Shannon David at hippiemama@outlook.com
Construction Updates in District 58
Construction began at many District 58 schools over spring break, including work at our school. To keep parents apprised of construction progress, updates will be provided on the District website, including progress dashboards of our middle schools.
In addition to the middle schools, over spring break, the District began preliminary construction work at the Phase I Elementary Schools (Henry Puffer, Highland, Hillcrest, and Whittier). In small areas at each of these four schools, asbestos was abated using a licensed and trained Asbestos Abatement Contractor utilizing workers trained, accredited, and licensed to perform asbestos abatement in Illinois public school buildings. In addition, the project was monitored at all times by TEM Environmental, Inc.
Attention 6th Graders & Parents
Don't forget about the 7th-grade transition events. You can view all the details here. If you have any questions please reach out to the middle school principals.
Reporting Student Absence from School - Now an Electronic Option is Available
As a reminder - 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!
2024-25 Health Requirements
It is never too early to consider an appointment for your child's school physical.
As you begin to think about the 2024-2025 school year, we wanted 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
All sixth graders are required to have a physical and two additional vaccinations; Meningococcal and Tdap, which are required at the age of 11. If your child is not 11 years old at the start of the year, they still should have their physical completed with a note from their physician stating when they are scheduled to return for their required vaccinations. This physical can be dated as early as August 16, 2023, and must be turned in by October 15, 2024. Prior to turning it in, be sure to complete and sign the top of the backside! The form can be downloaded and printed here: Physical 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!
Varsity Tutors
Did you know that the Downers Grove Grade School District has partnered with the DuPage County ROE to offer all students free homework assistance? This support is already available on your child's device. Simply navigate to Clever and select the Varsity Tutor app. It's that simple!
See the attachment below for more information.
ReferralGPS
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:
Contact Student Services (social workers, psychologists, counselors) to seek out treatment options
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 PTA Mission: To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
Our mission requires that diversity, equity, and inclusion be central to our work and used in our day-to-day decisions and actions. Learn more HERE.
★ IMPORTANT DATES! ★
Mon, May 27th - No School
Wed, May 29th - Last Day of School!
11:30am-1:00pm End of Year Bash
★ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ★
Playground Fundraising
Details: Interested in helping fundraise for the new intermediate playground?
For more info contact: president@whittierschoolpta.org
Afterschool/Outside Programs Liaison
We are in need of a volunteer to act as a liaison between the school and program coordinators. Duties include: Securing the parent volunteers for class supervision and communicating with the host organization (Young Rembrandts, Chess Scholars, etc.). Interested? Contact president@whittierschoolpta.org
Summer Math Club Chair
We have a fun committee, now we just need someone to lead the charge!
Date: Flexible (late spring, summer)
Commitment: Low (a few hours)
Details: Help assemble student folders for teachers to pass out prior to summer; volunteer for one summer program check-in shift to distribute prizes to students. MORE INFO.
Interested? Contact treasurer@whittierschoolpta.org
★ END OF YEAR BASH★
The end of the year is near! All Whittier students and their families are invited to an End of Year Bash beginning at dismissal on Wednesday, May 29th from 11:30am to 1:00pm. This is a free event that will include a reptile show, face paint and glitter tattoos, an obstacle course, popsicles, and more! Feel free to bring your own picnic lunch. Parent supervision is required. FLYER HERE.
A few parent volunteers are needed! Thank you in advance for supporting this event. SIGN UP HERE
WHITTIER GENERAL INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND RESOURCES
Reporting Student Absence from School
As a reminder - 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!
Phone/Wearable Technology Use
School Supply Lists for 2023-24
Can We Reach You in an Emergency?
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.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedure 2023-24
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 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.
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.
Student Entrance and Exit from the Building
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 pass.
Upon arrival to school, students in these classes will line up at the Main Entrance (Door 1):
1Q - Mrs. Quill
1R - Mrs. Richards
2Su - Ms. Sullivan
2Sw - Mr. Swade
Upon arrival to school, students in these classes will line up at the Primary Entrance at the west end of the building off the Staff Parking Lot (Door 2):
KB - Miss Boehm
KL - Mrs. Hedman
3K - Miss Karius
3M - Mrs. Modine
Upon arrival to school, students in these classes will line up at the Intermediate Entrance off the Intermediate Playground (Door 4):
4M - Mr. Miller
4S - Mrs. Smitley
5H - Mrs. Hodkowski
5L - Mrs. Lyons
6M - Mrs. Miller
6Z - Mrs. Zagorski
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 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.
Primary Students will dismiss from Door 2 (west end of the building near the Staff Parking Lot).
Intermediate Students will dismiss from Door 4 off the Intermediate Playground.
Student Arrival Reminders
As we continue to observe and live through Student Arrival, please remember to follow these helpful procedures:
1. As our Kindergarten and 3rd graders arrive at the Primary Wing 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.
2. As our 1st and 2nd graders arrive at the Main Entrance, we ask that parents line up along the sidewalk. 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.
3. As our 4th, 5th, and 6th graders arrive at the Intermediate Entrance, as 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. 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.
Additional Drop-Off and Pick-up Information
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!
Safety and Security at School
The District has instituted the RAPTOR security system this school year, 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.
When Visiting Whittier
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.
Fruit/Snack Break
Gym Shoes for PE Class & Shoes at Recess
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!
Delivering or Dropping Off Items for your Child(ren)
Homework Requests
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.
Whittier Vision Statement
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.
Whittier School
Email: mkrugman@dg58.org
Website: www.dg58.org/wh
Location: 536 Hill Street, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 6307195865
Twitter: @MKrugmanDG58