Pierce Downer This Week

Pierce Downer Families-

We have completed our first full week of the 2022-23 school year! As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, September 5th for Labor Day. We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday, September 6th.

Coming up, the Pierce Downer Curriculum Night is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13th from 6-7:30. The times for grade level presentations will be:

6-6:25: K-3

6:30-6:55: All grade levels

7:00-7:25: 4-6

As a reminder, This evening is intended for parent(s)/guardian(s) only and is an opportunity to have a lens into your student's learning this school year. Please note, the evening is not intended for discussions about individual students, as that opportunity will take place in October during scheduled Parent-Teacher Conferences.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns via email LWagner@DG58.org or call 630-719-5860.

We are PD!

L. Wagner, Principal

On Friday morning, Pierce Downer students had a visit from Bryan Skavnak! Bryan does a great job of using storytelling to help students realize that we all have something that makes us special, and we all have the power to BE THE NICE KID! The PD PTA supports great assemblies like this to provide an engaging, entertaining and educational experience for all of our students.

All Pierce Downer students have the option to receive white milk at school each day. The cost for milk (for the year, per child) is $23. If you would like your child to receive milk each day, please complete the form linked below by next Friday. If you do not want your child(ren) to receive milk, you do not need to complete the form.

Pierce Downer Milk Form

If you have questions, please contact the school office.

It is exciting to recognize that Ms. Jennifer Blair is celebrating 25 years in DG58! Thank you Ms. Blair for all of the love and support you give to the students you work with. You make Pierce Downer a special place to be and we appreciate all the years of hard work you have dedicated to us!

Arrival

Students may arrive at Pierce Downer School beginning at 8:05 a.m. 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 8:10 am*. Anyone arriving after 8:15 a.m. should enter through Door One for an office pass.

*Please note that entrance times may change as students build routines. We have not used our normal entrance procedures in several years, and we recognize that it may take students longer at the start of the school year to be ready to start the school day. The District also recognizes that bus arrival times vary during the first few weeks of school as drivers learn new routes. As students build routines and bus arrival times become more consistent, student entry times may get pushed back. This time will assist our team we prepare for the school day. Supervision times will remain the same and any changes will be communicated in advance.

Dismissal/After School

Following daily dismissal at Pierce Downer School (2:00 p.m. on Monday/3:00 p.m. Tuesday-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.

District 58 has partnered with Safe2Help to give students a safe and confidential way to report potential threats or crises. Safe2Help was launched by the State of Illinois in December 2020 and aims to help prevent suicide, bullying, school violence and other threats to school safety.

With Safe2Help, students can connect with a trained crisis professional during their own crisis, or to report a potential threat. Students can submit a Safe2Help alert via the following ways:

• Website: https://app.safe22helpil.com
• Text: SAFE2 (72332)
• Phone: 844-4-SAFEIL (844-472-3345)
• App: "Safe2Help Illinois" app available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
• Email: HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com

All alerts are responded to by a trained Safe2Help crisis professional. Safe2Help is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

District 58 staff are not the initial responders to the alert and will receive each alert after the Safe2Help professional provides support. District 58 staff will review alerts sent by Safe2Help during regular school hours, unless the nature of the alert necessitates immediate school action.

September 5

NO SCHOOL: Labor Day

September 13

Curriculum Night

6-7:30pm

PTA Dine-Out: Chipotle

4-8pm

Email: LWagner@dg58.org
Website: www.DG58.org
Location: 1436 Grant Street, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 630-719-5860
Twitter: @LWagnerDG58