Bobcat Bulletin
May 13, 2022
El Sierra School provides all students with a challenging and differentiated education in a safe, nurturing, respectful, diverse, and collaborative school environment.
Principal's Corner
El Sierra Families,
I am not sure about you, but it seems like we went from winter to summer rather quickly. We are very grateful to have air conditioning at El Sierra! Please continue to send your child to school with a water bottle, especially on these hot days because we still go outside for both recess and PE. Look ahead at the weather, it does look like next week will be more "spring-like" temperature wise!
Now that the middle of May is almost here, we start to look to the end of the year activities. Your child's teacher will be communicating the date of their class picnic. Additionally, we will have our Field Day on June 7th. Both of those dates are ones where hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are highly encouraged.
Thank you,
Jason Lynde, El Sierra Principal
Sharing MAP Scores With Students
In prior MAP administrations, students' scores were displayed on the screen immediately after they completed the assessment. While we believe it is important for students to understand their performance on assessments as it relates to their achievement and growth, we also want to ensure that the information they view is provided with context and support from their teachers and families.
Beginning this spring, students will no longer see their scores after completing the MAP tests; the scores will be sent home to families with report cards in June. In some cases, teachers may discuss scores with students as part of goal-setting or reflecting on the school year. If this does occur it will be part of a contextualized activity rather than simply displaying the student's score for them. This slight shift is a district-level change for this spring based upon feedback we have received from several past MAP administrations. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Justin Sisul, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction.
Downers Grove Public Library Summer Reading Program!
Field Day Volunteers Needed!
The day is split into two sessions. The morning session will have our Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Students, and the afternoon session will have our 3rd - 6th grade students. If you are interested in volunteering for the entire day, or the morning/afternoon only, please email Mrs. Abraham jennifercabraham@gmail.com.
Kindergarten Reading!
Outdoor PE!
2nd Grade Word Puzzles
Looking Ahead...
5/18 - Spirit Day: Backwards Day
5/19 - Dual Language Information Night for Kindergarten 2022-23 (6:30pm - 7pm in Spanish, 7:15pm - 7:45pm in English)
5/20 - Spirit Day: Bobcat Friday
5/24 - Spirit Day: Beach Day
- PTA Meeting at 6:30pm in the El Sierra Library
5/30 - No School (Memorial Day)
6/3 - Spirit Day: Ultimate Bobcat Friday
6/7 - Field Day (K-2 in AM; 3rd - 6th in PM)
6/8 - 6th Grade Clap Out Ceremony at 11:20am
6/8 - Last Day of School (11:30am Dismissal)
MAP Testing
Recess Fun!
Morning Meetings!
Education Foundation invites District 58 to Ukrainian aid fundraiser
Looking for a direct and safe way to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine? A local Downers Grove (Ukrainian-owned) company has direct ties to Ukraine through a network of family and is partnering with several Downers Grove nonprofits and businesses, including the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58, to collect humanitarian aid for Ukraine!
The Education Foundation invites District 58 families and staff to participate in the Ukrainian Aid Medical Supplies and Medicine Drop-off Event on Saturday, May 14 from 5-7 p.m. in the parking spots of 5122-5128 Main St., Downers Grove (adjacent to Wasabi) where a tent and truck will accept your medical supply and medicine donations. Can’t make it? Several Downers Grove nonprofits and businesses are placing donation boxes in their storefronts, and will deliver the donations to this effort.
Please click here to learn which items are being donated, where the satellite donation boxes are located, and more information about this effort. Thank you for your help!
Pizza Hut "Book-It" Program Information
Free COVID-19 Tests (Repeated Information)
Did you know that the U.S. government has made free at-home COVID tests available to every family in the United States?
The process for securing these is simple: Just visit this website and complete the request form!
Tests will be mailed, free of charge, directly to your address.
With the most recent updates in joint guidance from the ISBE and IDPH, rapid at-home antigen tests are permissible to allow a student to return to school, assuming the student is COVID-free and symptoms are improving. Having these tests readily available at home returns students to school even faster than participating in the District’s at-school testing program (via NorthShore Clinical Laboratories), as this program only uses PCR tests, which require a lab to process the results.
If you need any assistance completing the form to secure at home free antigen tests, please contact your student’s school health office for support.
New PTA Partnership
The El Sierra PTA is partnering with Fresh Midwest, a convenient and delicious way to shop! From easy dinner kits to tasty produce, Fresh Midwest has it all with easy home delivery! Plus you’ll get $25 off your first order and the PTA gets $25 too. For May only all repeat customers earn 6% of your purchase for the PTA. This week for teacher appreciation week, Fresh Midwest generously donated a bag of apples to each teacher at El Sierra.
Substitute Lunch/Recess Supervisors Needed! (Repeated Information)
El Sierra is in need of parents or community members to help with lunch/recess supervision when our full-time supervisors are not able to work. If you are interested in being a paid substitute lunch/recess supervisor, please contact Debbie or Michelle in the El Sierra office (dscarlati@dg58.org or mjunkas@dg58.org) or 630-719-5825. Thank you!
El Sierra Yard Signs (Repeated Information)
No Dogs Allowed On School Grounds (Repeated Information)
Student Arrival After 8:15am (Repeated Information)
Food Deliveries For Students (Repeated Information)
Early Release Mondays Reminder (Repeated Information)
Birthday Treats (Repeated Information)
2021-22 District 58 School Calendar (See Below)
Contact Information
Email: jlynde@dg58.org
Website: www.dg58.org/es
Location: 6835 Fairmount Avenue, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: (630) 719-5825
Twitter: @PrincipalLynde