Fairmount Families Week END Report
01.06.2022
Happy Friday and 2023, Fairmount Families!
Happy New Year! We had a fabulous first week back. Our students jumped right back into routines and learning expectations, and I am proud of their hard work this week. As always, please continue to support your student(s) in being on time and prepared each day. Additionally, please remember to report absences, late arrivals, and changes in dismissals to front office staff. We look forward to a successful, exciting January!
Wishing all of our families a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Lisa Niforatos, Principal
Be sure to follow me on Twitter @Fairmount58.
Please be sure to check out the "Lens into Learning" and "Celebration" sections later in the newsletter for photo highlights from the week.
Harlem Wizards Fundraising Event 1.15.2023
The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 invites the community to its fifth Harlem Wizards fundraiser game on Sunday, Jan. 15 from 6-8 p.m. at Downers Grove South High School.
The Harlem Wizards will take on District 58 teachers and staff, including Fairmount's own P.E. Teacher, Rick Zieman, Art Teacher, Jon Belonio, and 4th Grade Teacher, Alyssa Reinholz, during a thrilling and unpredictable basketball game. We hope to see you there!
Online tickets start at $14 (plus a $1.50 service fee) and can be purchased at www.58foundation.org. If tickets are still available, tickets will cost $16 at the door. All event proceeds will be donated to the Education Foundation, a non-profit that raises money to support District 58 students.
RSVP by 1/17: District 58 Community Visioning Session (previously shared from Dr. Russell)
District 58 Facility Visioning Session
Please consider attending the District’s Facility Visioning Session on Monday, Jan. 30 from 6:30-8 p.m. at O’Neill. You will have an opportunity to learn more about District 58’s post-referendum draft facility plans and provide direct feedback, which the District will use to inform the final plans.
If you would like to attend, please complete this RSVP form by Tuesday, Jan. 17. Learn more here.
Cougars' Reading Club
PTA Fun Lunch
PTA Dine-Out Fundraiser
Bricks 4 Kidz Winter Session Sign-Up
Bricks 4 Kidz has now opened registration for the 5-week winter session beginning in January. Please see the attached flyer and link below for more details.
Attendance and Arrival Reminders
Building Bricks - Being our Best!
We will be continuously supporting students (both in and out of the classroom) to Be Ready, In Control, Kind and Safe.
Out Student Focus Committee will be wrapping up "Being in Control" and preparing to kick-off our next Falcon Focus during the month of January, "Being Kind".
Teacher Feature
We are so glad you are part of our school community! Whether this is your child's first or seventh year at Fairmount, we wanted to provide a fun way to get to know the many members of our teaching and school staff.
We hope you enjoy learning a little more about each of our staff members in the weekly Teacher Feature.
Teacher Feature - Mrs. Ginger Sallas
Role at Fairmount: Instructional Assistant
# of Years at Fairmount School: 21 Years
Favorite Food or Restaurant: Greek Islands
If she is not at school, you can catch Mrs. Sallas spending time with family at the lake.
Favorite Quote: "Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else." Margaret Mead
The best thing about working with children every day is... Watching them grow and learn.
Lens into Learning
Fabulous Focus
Happy Hoops!
Hand-in-Hand
Celebrating Students
Early Dismissal Monday
Mark your Calendars!
MAP Testing Continues this Week
01.09: Happy Monday! Wear orange! 1st and 5th Grade MAP Testing; 2:00 p.m. Early Dismissal
01.10: Make-Up MAP Testing will continue throughout the week.
01.11: 3:00-3:45 p.m. Yearbook Club for Registered Students
01.12: Happy Thursday!
01.13: Falcon Friday: Wear School Colors or Spiritwear
Sunday, January 15th - 6:00-8:00 p.m. Harlem Wizards Fundraising Event at Downers Grove South High School
Monday, January 16th - No School: MLK, Jr. Day
A Look Ahead...
01.20 - PTA Fun Lunch
01.21 - District 58 Science Fair at O'Neill Middle School
01.30: 6:30 p.m. Community Facility Visioning Session at O'Neill Middle School (see above for details)
02.20: No School: President's Day
02.28: (Tuesday): No School Students - Teacher Institute Day!
Calendar Highlights:
Spring Break: March 27-31, 2023
Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (if no emergency days are used)
Below the Line
Flu Season
As communicated via email previously, flu incidents continue to rise within our community and our school. The flu is different from the common cold and it can cause fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and vomiting. Please see the attached informational fact sheet from the IDPH regarding influenza.
We appreciate your support in keeping your child home from school if they have a fever, are vomiting, and/or exhibiting other signs of influenza. Students are encouraged to hand wash and/or utilize hand sanitizer at school and additional surface cleaning will be conducted as well.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or our health office should you have any questions.
Reminder: Cold Weather/Snow Gear
If your child would like to play in the snow/be on the field (assuming conditions are safe to do so), they must have both snow pants and snow boots. We also appreciate your support in making sure your child(ren) comes prepared for the weather/elements each day as we will typically go outside for recess if the conditions permit and the feels like temperature is above 0 degrees.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to Lisa Niforatos (Principal) or Jen Glynn (Social Worker) if you do not have access to the resources to secure cold-weather gear for your child(ren).
The Reading Games
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. 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.
Attendance & Change of Dismissal
If your child's dismissal plan will be different (e.g. not taking the bus), please communicate this to both the school secretaries and classroom teacher as promptly as possible. This is especially important for our younger students, so we can support their dismissal process. In the event of a last-minute change, we ask that you please call the school office (630-719.5830) as staff members may not check their emails prior to daily dismissal.
Safe 2 Help
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.
Learn more about Safe2Help and District 58's crisis resources.
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