Pierce Downer This Week

Pierce Downer Families-

Our students did a great job today with the scheduled fire/evacuation drill! We appreciate the Downers Grove Fire Department for all of their support and guidance.

In this week's newsletter, you will find out Panthers of the Month, Halloween information, PLAY! at Pierce updates, the Reflections program at Pierce Downer, and much more!

Today we also had our PD PROMISE Assembly. This is a chance to celebrate the PD PROMISE and review the expected behaviors at school, in addition to recognizing the great choices our students and classrooms are making!

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

The Reflections program is back for the 2022-2023 school year! Reflections is a National PTA art program where each student is encouraged to submit an entry in one or more of 6 creative categories: Dance, Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. This year the National PTA Reflections theme is ”Show Your Voice". Click here for detailed guidelines and rules per category from the Illinois PTA. Click on “Reflections” and the descriptions will be listed by category. Complete the entry form sent home or here and get your submissions in by October 28th!

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!

Email piercedownerreflections@gmail.com with any questions.

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:

Toothpaste Squirt – the point is to show kids that any unkind comments or put-downs are difficult to take back. You may squeeze out the toothpaste onto the plate, and then get one of the kids to try to put it back in. Afterward, you explain that toothpaste represents unkind words and actions. While you can try to take them back, it is often difficult!

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 #1:

Thursday, Oct. 13 from 6:30-8 p.m.

O'Neill Middle School, 635 59th St.

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.

Our first recipient of the PD Cup this year is Ms. Minardi! Ms. Minardi is a 5th grade teacher at Pierce Downer, serves as the sponsor for the Pierce Downer Student Council, and is a member of the Sunshine Committee. Ms. Minardi brings a fun approach to learning that helps students stay engaged!

Thank you Ms. Minardi 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 10

No School: Columbus Day

October 18 & 20

Parent Teacher Conferences (evening)

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