Fairmount Families Week END Report
08.18.2023
Happy Friday, Fairmount Families!
With less than one week away until the start of the 2023-2024 school year, I am excited to share with you the first OFFICIAL Week "End" Report for this year.
For those new to our Fairmount community, please look for this weekly communication in your inbox every week "END". We hope this weekly communication will provide your family with a "One Stop Shop" to access all things Fairmount and a lens into learning as we progress in the school year.
In preparation for the start of school next week, please find included within this week's report important information, links and upcoming dates. I recognize that this week's report contains a great deal of information, and thank you in advance for your time and attention to its contents.
On behalf of the Fairmount team, we cannot wait to welcome each and every one of our students next week. As always, please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you have any questions. Let's make it a great year!
Sincerely,
Lisa Niforatos, Principal
Be sure to follow me on Twitter @Fairmount58.
Meet our Team - 2023-2024
District 58 Handbook
District 58 annually provides students and families with the Schools of 58: A Handbook for Families. Please review this important handbook with your child, as it offers an overview of the District’s policies, procedures, resources and student expectations.
During the first full week of school, we will send home a letter and receipt with your child. This handbook receipt asks parents/guardians to acknowledge that they and their child reviewed and understood the Schools of 58: A Handbook for Families. When you receive the handbook receipt, please sign it and return it either with your child or at Curriculum Night. Handbook receipts are due by Fairmount's Curriculum Night, which is Thursday, September 7th.
This year’s handbook is only available electronically. If you need a printed copy, please contact our school office, and we can print you a copy.
Move-In & Meet the Teacher - 08.21.2023
Monday, August 21st will be our Move-In/Meet the Teacher event. All Fairmount Families are invited to come to Fairmount School between 2:45-3:30 p.m. to see their classroom, meet their teacher(s) and “move-in” their supplies. Please plan to have your child attend this event with a parent/guardian/adult.
On the day of this event, and in order to support students becoming familiar with their typical arrival door, we ask that each grade level enters through the following doors:
Door One: Kindergarten
Door Three: 1st & 2nd Grade
Door Four: 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th Grade
If you have more than one child at Fairmount, please feel free to enter through your youngest child's door, so they have that experience prior to the first day of school.
If your family cannot attend the Move-In/Meet the Teacher event, please have your child(ren) bring their supplies on the first day of school.
The Fairmount PTA will also have a table outside (front lawn area). Please consider stopping by to learn more about PTA membership and volunteer opportunities.
Additional Supply Donation
Arrival
Entry Doors for Arrival
Dismissal/After School
Following daily dismissal at Fairmount School (2:00 p.m. on Monday and 3:00 p.m. Tuesday through 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 after school hours. We want to ensure the safety of all students.
Exit Doors for Dismissal
Important Information Below...
Thank you for your patience, especially during the first weeks of school as everyone adjusts to the arrival and dismissal routine. We appreciate everyone's support to ensure our arrival and dismissal process runs smoothly and safely for all students.
Car Line
Please see the diagram below for car line details. The car line queue will form on Blodgett facing south only. Cars may not enter the car line if traveling north on Blodgett. Cars will begin entering the parking lot (in a single line) at 8:05 a.m. for arrival and 2:50 p.m. for dismissal (1:50 p.m. on Mondays).
The cars should stay within the marked yellow solid lines in the Fairmount lot; cars may not pass one another. There will be four drop zones within the parking lot, and staff will be present to assist. Drivers are asked to follow the prompts of the staff members and pull up to the furthest available drop zone. Students should only exit and enter from the passenger side of the vehicle, and drivers should not exit their vehicles. After unloading at arrival, students will walk to their assigned arrival door.
Cars accessing the car line at dismissal are asked to have the pink "Car Line Sign" visible on the passenger side window to assist with the dismissal process. This sign will be available at the Move-In/Meet the Teacher event and will also be available in the entryway vestibule.
To support the flow of the car line, families and students who are arriving or dismissing at Fairmount as walkers are asked to walk behind/around the building to avoid crowding the sidewalk in front of the building.
Important Notes:
- The car line should only be used for student drop-off and pick-up. If you would like to walk your child to and from their arrival/dismissal door, please do not use the car line, as parking is not allowed in the school parking lot during arrival or dismissal.
- Parking will not be allowed during the posted times on Blodgett to support our car line as well as student bussing (7:00-9:00 a.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.).
Visiting Fairmount School
There are many times throughout the year parents and guests may visit Fairmount during school hours. Please know that all visitors (even when we recognize you) will be asked to do the following prior to entering our school:
Press button to alert office staff
Identify yourself by name and provide the reason for your visit
Upon entry, proceed directly to the office for further direction
District 58 utilizes the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools. This system allows us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and know who is in our building at all times.
Upon entering Fairmount, visitors will be asked to present photo identification, such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who drop off an item in the office/entry vestibule.
The safety of our students is our highest priority and the Raptor visitor management system allows us to quickly identify those that may present a danger to our students. We appreciate your understanding and support in enhancing school safety protocols in our district.
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 (or on school mode) 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.
We appreciate your support in not texting or calling your child during the school day. The office staff will support any needed communication between you and your child throughout the day if/when needed.
Bus Routing
The District 58 Bus Route webpage will be updated for the 2023-24 school year during the week of Aug. 21, 2023. Please visit this site if your student is eligible and registered for bus service.
Snack Break Information
Please make sure your child has a snack each day. Snack breaks should consist of nutritious food choices such as fruits, vegetables, and other portable snacks. This aligns with Policy 6:50. The health and safety of our students are our highest priorities. Therefore certain snacks or foods may be prohibited in your child’s classroom due to food allergies.
Dropping off Items
We recognize that students may forget items at home from time to time. We appreciate your support in only dropping off items that are essential for your child to navigate their school day (e.g. forgotten lunch, iPad).
For your convenience and to ensure the safety of all in the building, any items needing to be dropped off throughout the school day can be left on the table in the entryway vestibule. Please write your child's name and teacher on the item and a staff member will deliver this as soon as possible. Please note: medication of any kind should not be left in the vestibule.
Mark your Calendars!
08.21: Move-In/Meet the Teacher at Fairmount 2:45-3:30 p.m.
08.23: 1st Day of School (Full Day)
08.28: Student Dismissal at 2:00 p.m. (Professional Learning Monday)
A Look Ahead...
09.04: No School - Labor Day
09.07: Curriculum Night 6:00-7:30 p.m.
09.14: School Picture Day (Details coming soon!)
09.15-09.16: Education Foundation Oktoberfest (Click HERE for more information)
Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 22-24, 2023
Winter Break: Dec. 25, 2023 -Jan. 5, 2024
Spring Break: March 25-329, 2024
Last Day of School: Friday, May 24, 2024 (if no emergency days are used)
Below the Line
Class Assignments (previously shared)
Student teacher assignments were finalized and posted in PowerSchool on Monday, August 14 at 9:30 a.m. In order to view your child’s schedule, you will need to be able to log into your secure PowerSchool Parent Portal Account. Families can navigate the portal by visiting dg58.powerschool.com and signing in with their username and password. Information about creating a portal account can be found here. If you need assistance, please contact our school office (630-719-5830) for assistance with your PowerSchool account.
School Supplies
Please review the 2023-2024 school supply lists as you prepare for the start of school.
If you ordered school supplies through Fairmount's PTA, please know that these supply bags will be at your child's classroom when you arrive for our Move-In/Meet the Teacher event. In the event you are not able to attend this event, your child's supply bag will be in their classroom for the first day of school.
Fairmount Office Hours
Our school office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fairmount Office Team:
Jillian DeRango, Secretary jderango@dg58.org
Jill Darrah, Secretary, jdarrah@dg58.org
Lisa Niforatos, Principal, lniforatos@dg58.org
Main Office Number: 630.719.5830
Fairmount Office Contact Information
Lisa Niforatos, Principal lniforatos@dg58.org
Jillian DeRango, Secretary jderango@dg58.org
Jill Darrah, Secretary jdarrah@dg58.org
Email: lniforatos@dg58.org
Website: www.dg58.org/fa/
Location: 6036 Blodgett Avenue, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 630.719.5830
Twitter: @Fairmount58