Pierce Downer This Week

Pierce Downer Families-

This week started strong with our Meet and Greet/Supply Drop-Off and PD PTA Back to School Bash! Thank you Pierce Downer families for your continued dedication to the success of not just your students but our school. We also saw the opening of our new paved basketball court and the kids are already taking full advantage of that space. I have received several questions regarding the slope that are currently being reviewed.

While we started our first day with some rain, is was all sunshine inside the building! We are working each day to review the common space expectations to help maintain a safe, fun, engaging, and educational environment for all students.

Next week, students in grades K-6 will begin the Fall NWEA MAP assessments.

Phone/Wearable Technology Use

While a student can bring their electronic device (including cell phones and AirPods) to school, all non-district-issued technologies are to be silenced and out of sight throughout the school day. Students are allowed to wear smartwatches, but they are to be silenced during the school day. The district-provided technology will be utilized for students to participate in lessons and complete assignments. Please be sure to go over the expectations with your student as the policy was recently amended.

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 Tuesday night, the PD PTA hosted our Back to School Bash in the front parking lot of Pierce Downer School. This event had fun activities including a DJ, sports games, temporary tattoos, and a dunk tank. Thank you to all of the staff the attending the event including Mrs. Sanders, Coach Filus, Ms. Jo, Ms. Eilers, and Ms. Harland for volunteering to take a turn in the dunk tank.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the PD parents who volunteered for all of these different events!!

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.

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.

August 30

Dine Out

September 2

Be the Nice Kid Assembly

September 13

Curriculum Night

6-7:30pm

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