Pierce Downer This Week
Week of January 10-January 14
Pierce Downer Families-
Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate updates in guidance, including requirements for quarantines and returning to school. This was an eventful week that included fun lunch, Panthers of the Month, and some warmer temperatures!
REMINDER: There is no school on Monday, January 17th.
We have modified the notification procedures for communicating COVID-19 cases in Downers Grove 58. Please see the information below regarding the new process:
District 58 remains committed to providing families and the community with up-to-date information about COVID-19 in our school district. Until now, principals have sent daily emails to families informing them of positive staff and student cases, including student grade. While we have received positive feedback around this level of communication, we have also heard from families that the volume of emails is high, and that parsing this information in paragraph form may not be the most efficient way for families to be kept informed.
To that end, starting Thursday, Jan. 12, 2022, the District will no longer send daily COVID-19 notification letters to staff and families. Instead, the District will update its COVID-19 Dashboard with this same information by 4 p.m. each school day. The dashboard will continue to have weekly totals, but we will add a new page that includes daily counts for staff and students by building. You can navigate the multiple pages of the dashboard by clicking page numbers at the top left of the dashboard. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
District 58 invites families to voluntarily share an electronic image of their child’s vaccination card with their building’s health office. Providing proof of vaccination is not required. However, current CDC guidance excuses fully vaccinated individuals from having to quarantine unless symptomatic.
By sharing a copy of your child’s card, if your child is a close contact, having the vaccination card on hand will expedite the school’s investigation process. Copies of proof of vaccination will be kept in each student’s individual health file and treated in the same way as all health records. Please feel free to send a picture of your child's COVID vaccination card to your school nurse!
Please remember the doors open each morning at 8:10 and class begins at 8:15.
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
Drop-Off Procedures
December Panthers of the Month
Don't forget your masks!
Pierce Downer Cup Recipient
We are thankful to have Mr. Urie at Pierce Downer School!
DG58 Reading Games
Team Registration
Completing this form reserves a spot for your team to compete on Saturday, April 23, 2022. You do not need to identify the students who will be on your team for this registration, so there is time to finalize the team members. In February or March 2022, you will be asked to provide a team name and the contact information for a team volunteer (16 years or older) to participate in one of many roles to run the event.
2022 Reading Games: Team Registration Form
Individual Registration
If you have a child who would like to participate but does not have a team, you may request a spot using the individual registration form. Individual student registration closes on Jan. 14, 2022. Although we cannot guarantee a spot on a team, we will do our very best to match children to existing teams, or to assist you in creating a new team, by Feb. 1, 2022.
2022 Reading Games: Individual Student Registration Form
For more information, visit The Reading Games website readinggamesdg58.com. If you have any questions, please email us at readinggamesdg58@gmail.com. We are happy to answer questions!
Good luck to our readers as they uncover the magic within these books!
District 58 Inclement Weather Procedures
How does District 58 communicate emergency closure information?
When a decision is made to close school due to inclement weather, the District will send an automated voice and email message to all parents and staff via the SchoolMessenger notification system. The system will also send a text message to parents and staff who have registered to receive texts. Sign up to receive District 58 text messages by texting YES to 68453 using a phone number that is on file with District 58. Opt out at any time by texting STOP to the same number.
District 58 also posts school closure information on its website, Facebook page, Twitter page and on the District’s answering machine at 630-719-5800. The District notifies major news radio and network television stations about closures and posts closure information at www.emergencyclosings.com.
How does District 58 decide whether to cancel school?
District 58’s superintendent consults with a variety of resources — weather forecasts, neighboring superintendents, the bus company and the District’s buildings and grounds teams — to make an informed decision. The decision is based on many factors.
Building conditions: Do the buildings have power, light and heat?
Site conditions: Is the parking lot plowed? Can buses get in and turn around? Can parents drop off students? Are the exit doors free of snow?
Bus operations: Can the bus drivers get to the bus company? Do the buses start? Do the drivers feel comfortable driving?
Road conditions: Are the roads continually plowed and is traffic moving?
Air temperature: How cold is it? What is the wind chill? Can children safely walk to school? District 58 will likely close school during conditions when frostbite may occur after approximately 20 minutes of exposure. Please refer to the District’s Wind Chill Chart and the NOAA Wind Chill Chart.
If the answer is yes to the first four questions, and if the forecast temperature/wind speed is above the threshold in the wind chill chart, District 58 will most likely keep schools open.
Student safety is District 58’s top priority, but the District also understands that canceling school is inconvenient for students, teachers and parents. The superintendent will make the decision as soon as safely possible. Learn more about inclement weather closings here.
Mark your calendars
January 17
No School: Martin Luther King Day
January 20
Student Council Spirit Day: Cozy Winter Day
February 2
Student Council Spirit Day: Pajama Day
Leland Wagner, Principal
Email: LWagner@dg58.org
Website: www.DG58.org
Location: 1436 Grant Street, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 630-719-5860
Twitter: @LWagnerDG58