Pierce Downer Families:

This was an exciting week that seemed to fit five school days into four! Some of the great things that happened around the building were our third-grade students had fun with our PTA-sponsored HiTouch HiTech lesson, first-graders enjoyed learning about constellations in the StarLab, the PTA had a great turnout for the virtual general meeting, NWEA MAP testing concluded, and we ended the week with FUN LUNCH!

Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Up Opens, Thursday, January 26

District 58 invites parents and guardians to sign up for winter 2023 parent-teacher conferences using the online PowerPTC conference signup system at www.PowerPTC.net. The signup window will close on Monday, Feb. 6 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:

• Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 4:45-8 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 9 from 4:45-8 p.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.

Thank you PD PTA for gifting every student with a PD shirt! These should go out next week.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns via email at LWagner@DG58.org or call 630-719-5860.

We are PD!

L. Wagner, Principal

Will students have a snow day or an e-learning day during bad weather?
If schools cannot be open due to inclement weather, District 58 will have the option to declare an emergency day (also known as “snow day”) or an e-learning day. The Board of Education has approved an e-learning plan that allows District 58 to use e-learning days in lieu of emergency days.

​​​​​​​For the 2022-23 school year, District 58 will use an e-learning day, in lieu of an emergency day, if staff have adequate time to prepare e-learning materials to make the day meaningful. Otherwise, the District will call an emergency day (“snow day”). District 58 anticipates that most inclement weather days will be e-learning days. An e-learning day does not need to be made up in June. However, students are required to participate in e-learning from home in order to earn credit for the school day. If District 58 uses a traditional emergency day, that day will need to be made up in June.

This process is an update from last school year, when District 58 planned for most inclement weather days to be traditional emergency days.

All school closure communications will specify whether the District will use an emergency day or an e-learning day. After declaring an e-learning day, families would receive additional communication regarding how to access instruction. All elementary students (including morning preschoolers) would begin their day by logging into a Google meet virtual session with their teacher at 8:30 a.m. Middle schoolers would similarly log into their first period class at 8:30 a.m.

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.