Pierce Downer This Week

Pierce Downer Families-

What a fun week we had this week, ending with some crazy socks and shoes (thank you to all the PD students and staff for a fun surprise!).

In this weeks edition of Pierce Downer This Week, you will find information on our upcoming book fair, picture retakes, Red Ribbon Week, reading games, PTA Reflections, and more. There is also a form to be completed if you are interested in participating in the Pierce Downer Watch D.O.G.S. program.

Fun Lunch Update: Please log into your Boonli account and update your student's teacher to make sure it has the correct teacher for this year.

REMINDER: THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21.

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

Reflections is a nationally acclaimed PTA sponsored student recognition program to encourage artistic creativity. The National PTA Reflections Arts Program invites all Pierce Downer students (grades K–6) to create an original creative work in response to this year’s theme: Show Your Voice! Students choose from one or all of the below categories and create an original artwork based on this year's theme.

Categories:

• Dance choreography

• Film production

• Literature

• Music composition

• Photography

• Visual arts

• Special artist (student who receives IDEA or ADA services)

  
  

How to Submit:

1. Students choose a category, read the guidelines carefully, and create their piece!

2. Complete the entry form sent home with your child or here and get your submissions in by Friday, October 28th!

3. Put the creative work (physical art or file saved on a USB drive) and attached submission form in the Reflections box in the main office.

   
   

NOTE: STUDENTS CANNOT PUT THEIR NAME ON THEIR WORK — only on the submission form. (Signed paintings will not be accepted.)

Entries will be professionally judged using these criteria: interpretation of the theme, creativity, and technique. School winners will advance to the district competition, followed by regional, state, and national levels. National awards range from recognition to scholarships! Everyone who enters will be recognized!!

We visited the classrooms this week to gain excitement for this amazing program. Please ask your students about our visit and see what they brought home! All participants will be recognized at a pizza party AND will earn a coupon for a small ice cream at Every Day’s a Sundae!

Questions? Email Kara Morrissey at piercedownerreflections@gmail.com

Brick sales for the playground’s Legacy Path are a great way to support our efforts and a memorable way to honor your time at PD. The decorative brick path will be next to the new play equipment. If you are hoping to recognize your students (past, present or future) with this unique opportunity, it is TIME to place your order!

To date we have sold 38 bricks. We have set a goal to reach 100 bricks sold by the end of October!!

Personalize with your family name or a message, and complete your donation – it is that easy! Pick from two sizes: 4x8 for $250 and $8x8 for $500. If you have any questions, please contact Francesca Rabchuk at franesca.rabchuk@gmail.com.

** Thank you to Pierce Downer former parent and playground Silver Sponsor, Joanna Matthies, for including our brick push in her local mailing. We appreciate your continued support for our community! **

The PD PROMISE monthly focus continues in October with an emphasis on being RESPECTFUL. Here is an activity you could try at home:

Every day this week give a sincere compliment to someone. Create a weekly planner that will help you track your behavior. Each day you must write who you gave the compliment to and describe their reaction.

District 58 invites parents and guardians to sign up for fall 2022 parent-teacher conferences using the online PowerPTC conference signup system at www.PowerPTC.net.

The signup window will close on Monday, Oct. 17 at 11 a.m.

Parent-teacher conferences will be held in person. However, families who require a remote option should schedule their conference in PowerPTC and then change the meeting type from “in person” to “video conference.”

Conferences will take place:

Kindergarten through sixth grade conferences:

• Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 4:40-8 p.m.
  
• Thursday, Oct. 20 from 4:40-8 p.m.
  
• Friday, Oct. 21 from 8-11:20 a.m.
  

Please view the parent-teacher conference signup guide to learn how to sign up for a conference using the new system, along with other helpful information.

Please consider attending District 58's upcoming Informational Referendum Open Houses to learn more about the District 58 referendum.

Open House #2:

Monday, Oct. 17 from 6:30-8 p.m.

Herrick Middle School, 4435 Middaugh Ave.

The open houses will include a brief presentation, tour and a question-and-answer opportunity. To learn more, please visit District 58's referendum information website at www.dg58.org/referendum. This website includes links to the Master Facility Plan, facility presentation, videos, frequently asked questions and much more.

Pictured: Herrick’s boiler room (see it in person if you attend the Oct. 17 open house!)

The Reading Games will return for its ninth year on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 at O'Neill Middle School. The Reading Games is a fun and friendly reading competition open to District 58 students in grades 3-8.

Start forming teams now! Team and individual registration is open now through Nov. 2. Please click here for general Reading Games information, including team and individual registration links. Visit www.readinggamesdg58.com for detailed information.

The Reading Games also seeks question writer volunteers! Click here to learn more information and to sign up to volunteer.

We are excited to continue our Watch D.O.G.S. program at Pierce Downer School. This program invites "Dads of Great Students" (D.O.G.S.) to spend time in our building supporting our staff and students. To better understand the interest of our families, please fill out this FORM. This is not limited to only dads so please complete this form if you are interested in learning more about the program. Participants might have a chance to support our arrival or dismissal process, work in classrooms, support special area classes, and help around the building.

Our latest recipient of the PD Cup is Mrs. Waughop. Mrs. Waughop goes above and beyond to support students. She is a great person to collaborate with to support all of the students at Pierce Downer. Staff and students enjoy getting to know Mrs. Waughop and partnering with her to find success.

Thank you Mrs. Waughop for all that you do!

District 58 will place a proposal on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot to issue $179 million in bonds to improve District 58’s facilities. To learn more about the District 58 referendum, please visit www.dg58.org/referendum.

This website contains helpful information, including the District’s Master Facility Plan, frequently asked questions, ballot language, voter information, tax impact, facility presentation and videos and much more. If you have any questions about the referendum not answered on the website, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Please know, as a school district, we can provide factual information about a referendum, but we cannot advocate for or against it.

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.

October 18 & 20

Parent Teacher Conferences (evening)

October 21

Parent Teacher Conferences (morning)

October 24-28

Red Ribbon Week (spirit days listed above)

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