What's Up at Whittier

Thank you to everyone who attended Parent/Teacher Conferences this past Tuesday and Thursday. It is always great to see our parents and teachers talking about our students. Thank you for your involvement and support!

Registration for the 2025-26 school year IS NOW 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!

Kindergarten Round-Up is just aroud the corner - Wednesday, March 12, from 6:00-7:00pm in the Whittier Gym. Please spread the news to anyone you know who may have an incoming Kindergarten student for the 25-26 school year. More information can be found in the article below.

Don't forget - this month's Whittier PTA Meeting will be held in-person at Neat Kitchen & Bar in Westmont on Tuesday, February 18. See the article below for more information. We hope to see you there!

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, February 10 - Happy Orange Day (we wear orange on Mondays to choose happy); Board of Education Regular Meeting, 7:00pm, DG Civic Center

Tuesday, February 11 - Gr 6 Field Trip - Field Museum; Young Rembrandts, 3:00-4:00pm

Wednesday, February 12 - SC Spirit - Pattern Day; Language Labs, 3:00-4:00pm

Thursday, February 13 - Chess Scholars, 3:00-4:00pm

Friday, February 14 - Happy Valentine's Day!; 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)

Monday, February 17 - Presidents' Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, February 18 - Young Rembrandts, 3:00-4:00pm; PTA Meeting, 7:00pm, Neat Kitchen & Bar, Westmont

Wednesday, February 19 - SC Spirit - College Day; Language Labs, 3:00-4:00pm

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

Friday, February 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); 2nd Trimester Ends; Fun Lunch

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.

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 sent home attendance awareness letters on Friday, January 31, 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.

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

February/March Spirit Days

Wednesday, February 12 - Pattern Day - wear lots of patterns - animal print, polka dots, stripes, plaids, etc.

Wednesday, February 19 - College Day - wear your favorite college attire

Wednesday, February 26 - Flannel Day - wear your flannel

Wednesday, March 5 - Sports/Jersey Day - wear something from your favorite sports team

Wednesday, March 12 - Backwards Day - wear your clothing and other items backwards!

March Community Service Project

Help support West Suburban Humane Society during the week of March 3-7 ! The Student Council will be collecting the items listed below:

• Paper Towels

• Antibacterial hand soap

• Dog Leashes (no retractable leashes) - 6 foot and 30 foot

• Food

• Any canned cat, dog, kitten, and puppy food

• For dry food, we use only Purina One dog and puppy formula and Purina One cat and kitten formula

• Kitten milk replacement

• Pet Safe Ice Melt/Salt

• Dog and cat toys (we especially like Kong and Nylabone brands!)

• Cat litter - Unscented, clumping and/or clay

• Postage stamps

• Six-inch paper plates

• Disinfecting Wipes

• Laundry Detergent

Whittier's One Book One School Program is back this year! Join us in reading, "A Boy Called BAT." Click on the link below for more information. We hope you are able to join us!

We are excited to share that 3 Whittier students will advance from the regional to the state level of the PTA Reflections arts recognition and achievement program. These projects will be on display at Spotlight, a state-wide Reflections celebration in May hosted by the Illinois PTA.

Through Reflections, District 58 students in Kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to submit works of art in six areas: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. The theme for the 2024-25 year is “Accepting Imperfection.” Twenty Downers Grove PTA Council projects are advancing to the state level.

Congratulations Whittier students!

Rachel Avila (grade 6) - “Magical Storms” (Photography)

Matilda Yodka (grade 4) - “Accepting Life How It Is” (Dance Choreography)

Darby Shea (grade 4) “Perfect” (Dance Choreography)

Sign Up Today!

Our school is getting ready to kick off the American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge (KHC)! You've been at the heart of our KHC program in the past and we are hoping we can count on you again. Join today to make a difference in the fight against heart disease and stroke.

Register online and complete Finn’s Mission to learn Hands- Only CPR.

1. Register today and download the AHA Schools app
2. Start Finn’s Mission to complete your challenges and change lives!

We're going to make a huge impact together!

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=gwVZDLImeT7LduoLT9ylmAcRBJls6p0mFKW83-zWRNy41ANXChgBsQ

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

Student registration for the 2025-26 school year is now open! We invite families to register their student(s) using the District PowerSchool Enrollment system. Please complete registration by Monday, March 31. We encourage families to register their student(s) in a timely manner, as early registration helps the District determine its hiring, staffing, classroom and transportation needs for the upcoming school year. Log on to your PowerSchool account. (If you are new and need to create a PowerSchool account, click here for instructions.)

See Megan Hewitt’s February 4 email for details, or visit www.dg58.org/registration.

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.

Last week's Jaguar Jackpot Raffle winner was 2nd grader Clare M. Clare was able to create a music play list of songs that were played during the her grade's lunch period all week. Everyone enjoyed the music! Jaguar Jackpot raffle tickets are earned for following our schoolwide expectations in the areas of Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. Keep up the good work Whittier Jaguars!

Will your child attend kindergarten at Whittier next school year? Or do you have a friend or neighbor whose child will? Here are four steps to prepare!

1. If we don’t already know that you have an incoming kindergartner, contact the Whittier Office at (630) 719-5865 or ccasella@dg58.org and let us know! We will add you to any school-specific kindergarten contact lists.

2. Attend Kindergarten Roundup at Whittier on Wednesday, March 12 at 6:00pm. Kindergarten Roundup gives parents and guardians the opportunity to visit their child’s future school, meet the principal and staff, and ask questions.

3. Visit our Kindergarten Resource webpage for kindergarten resources and helpful information.

4. Attend Kindergarten Dual Language Information Night. Learn more about the Dual Language Program below!

Incoming kindergarten families are invited to an informational meeting regarding District 58’s Dual Language Program on Wednesday, February 26 from 6:30-7:30pm at El Sierra School, 6835 Fairmount Drive. The meeting will be in both English and Spanish. It is intended specifically for parents and guardians of incoming kindergarteners for the 2025-26 school year.

Learn about:

• Understand the benefits of dual language learning.

• Learn more about District 58’s bilingual learning model and how to participate.

• Meet some of the dual language teachers and staff. Get answers to your questions.

• Learn how to enroll.

District 58’s Dual Language Program opens up a world of opportunities for young learners. We welcome your child to join this journey! To learn more, visit our Dual Language Program webpage.

Grove Children’s Preschool will hold an open house on Wednesday, February 12 from 5:00-6:30pm at Henry Puffer School, 2220 Haddow Ave. Parents and guardians may tour the preschool, meet some of the staff, hear an overview of the program, and ask questions throughout the open house.

Grove Children’s Preschool tuition applications for the 2025-26 school year will open online at www.dg58.org/preschool on Wednesday, February 19 at 8:00am. First priority applications are due Wednesday, March 19.

Learn here more.

In conjunction with the Spring Fundraiser it's time for SPRING EXPERIENCES!

For those still wondering what Experiences entail, basically someone or a group of people (parents or teachers) sign up to host an event. The hosts pay for everything and then charge a fee to those that want to attend. 100% of fees go to the PTA.

Hosts do not recover any of their costs. Events vary from year to year, but we historically offer a variety of experiences geared towards families, adults or students. Past experiences have included a kickball tournament, mom's night out, bags tournament, movie night, end of year grade celebrations, train bar crawl, bowling night, dance parties, BINGO night, craft parties, or anything fun you can think of!

If you are interested in hosting an event, please let me know. All final events details are due February 21st. Experiences will go live on February 27th. Experiences should take place between March 10th and the end of the school year.

Email brittawaszak@gmail.com with questions or ideas!!!

SAVE THE DATE: Whittier Winter Family Fun Event

Ice skating at Rocket Ice Arena in Bolingbrook

Sunday, February 16, 3:30-5pm

Complimentary ice skating and refreshments for all Whittier students and their families. Skate rental $4.

For more information click on the attachment below.

The 2025 Young Authors Contest is coming! Please click on this link for more information.

newsletter

Entry deadline is Friday, March 28, 2025.

Exciting news! Join us for our first in-person PTA meeting in a while!

Date: February 18th

Location: Neat Kitchen + Bar

6:30 PM: Arrive for light appetizers & socializing

7:00 PM: Meeting begins

Let’s connect, catch up, and make things happen together! Can’t wait to see all of you there!

Click this link to RSVP:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DA9AB2DA1FAC43-54540750-whittier#/

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.

★OPEN POSITION: 2025-2026 Executive Board Co-Vice President★

**UPDATE** We have one volunteer!! We need one more volunteer to complete the role.

Interested? Contact Catherine and Jenny at president@whittierschoolpta.org.

More info on Board positions HERE.

★PTA Meeting★

Exciting news! Join us for our first in-person PTA meeting in a while!

Date: February 18th

Location: Neat Kitchen + Bar

6:30 PM: Arrive for light appetizers & socializing

7:00 PM: Meeting begins

Let’s connect, catch up, and make things happen together!

Can’t wait to see all of you there! Click this link to RSVP.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DA9AB2DA1FAC43-54540750-whittier#/

★Masterpiece of the Month★

As an update, there are still volunteer slot(s) available for the following classes: Hedman, Quill, Swade, Modine, Miller, Hodkowski, and Lyons. All of the artist’s books and a large print of one of their famous masterpieces will be waiting for you at Whittier, all you’ll have to do is come up with a coordinating project! If interested, reach out to Liz Berger - esolnerberger@gmail.com..

★Whittier Scholarship★

**Update** We’ve received our SECOND application!

Please keep spreading the word! The Whittier PTA is offering a one-time, $1,000 scholarship award to two (2) graduating seniors from Illinois High Schools who attended Whittier. The Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications. Click HERE to access the 2025 Whittier School Scholarship Application. Applications are due by March 1, 2025. Good Luck to all of our applicants! Additional information is available on the PTA website.

★BAM theatre★

Are you ready for it? Get ready to join BAMtheatre at Whittier this spring, where we're bringing the magic of theatre to your after-school routine! This term, unleash your inner star in “In my BAM Era: Taylor’s Greatest Hits," featuring all your favorite songs from the world renowned pop star! Save the date - classes kick off on Tuesdays starting March 11. BAM's comprehensive structure features a blend of captivating activities, games, and rehearsals, all culminating in a showcase on the final day for friends and family to enjoy. Secure your spot pronto—availability is limited, and this class is known to fill up fast! Click HERE to register. Flyer.

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!

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.

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