Fairmount Families Week END Report
09.01.2023
Happy Friday, Fairmount Families!
It was certainly a full week at Fairmount and I could not be more proud of the fantastic work done by both students and staff.
We had our beginning of the year Expectations Assembly and the students were truly phenomenal. We will be working towards a school-wide goal each month at Fairmount, while we focus on the importance of being Respectful, Responsible, and Safe.
While a majority of our Fall benchmarking is complete, we will continue to work towards assessment completion and make-up testing during the upcoming week. Like the last newsletter, this week's newsletter contains a great deal of information, so I appreciate your attention and time in advance.
Wishing each of you a wonderful Labor Day weekend!
Sincerely,
Lisa Niforatos, Principal
Be sure to follow me on Twitter/X @Fairmount58.
Fairmount Curriculum Night
Fairmount School's Curriculum Night will be held on Thursday, September 7th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Each grade level will have two presentation times to support parents/guardians with children in multiple grade levels.
Please see below for the presentation times offered at each grade level:
6:00-6:25 p.m. - 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Presentations
6:30-6:55 p.m. - Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Presentations
7:00-7:25 p.m. - Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Presentations
This evening is intended for parent(s)/guardian(s) only and is an opportunity to have a lens into your student's learning this school year. Please note, the evening is not intended for discussions about individual students, as that opportunity will take place in October during scheduled Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Arrival/Dismissal/Carline Reminders
We appreciate everyone's support during the first full week of school and wanted to take a moment to provide a few reminders about arrival/dismissal as well as our Carline. We know it takes time for everyone to get into a routine and will continue to support our students as we move into next week.
A few important reminders:
There are no dogs or other animals allowed on school grounds during arrival, dismissal and/or when on campus during the school day.
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.
If you are accessing our Carline, please note the following:
-There is no parking in the carline and we ask that all parents/drivers remain in their vehicle.
-Please do not enter the lot until 8:00 a.m. (Arrival) and 2:55 p.m. (Dismissal).
-All students should exit out the passenger side/curbside of the vehicle. Staff are available to assist with the opening and closing of doors, but cannot assist with safety seats/seatbelts.
-Please see "Below the Line" for additional information regarding the Fairmount Carline.
Attendance Form
We are excited to share that you may now utilize our attendance form to report your child(ren)'s absence(s). This is an alternative option to calling the school office either the day of or in advance of the child's absence. This form allows for daily attendance reporting as well as for future/multi-day absence reporting.
Picture Day: September 14th
Fairmount Picture Day will be on Thursday, September 14th. Please visit the Van Gogh website below to access additional information related to our upcoming picture day. The school code and company contact information have been provided as well.
Picture Day Link - CLICK HERE
School Code: 20059301
Van Gogh Customer Service: 847-382-2282 X7
Library Volunteers Needed
Can we reach you via text in an emergency?
If you have not yet opted into the District’s text messaging service, please text “Y” or “yes” to 67587 to ensure that you will receive text messages from District 58 or scan the QR code. Text messages will only be sent rarely and only for critical information such as a school closing.
Safe to Help
- Click here to connect with Safe2Help Illinois. Students can contact Safe2Help Illinois to safely and confidentially report a crisis or threat involving themselves or someone they know. Safe2Help is monitored 24/7 by trained crisis professionals. District 58 staff will receive an alert after the Safe2Help professional provides support. Through Safe2Help, students can report a crisis or threat through 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
- Call or text "988" and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will provide 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
- Text “ACT” to 741741: The National Crisis Text line will connect you with free, confidential assistance.
PTA Spiritwear Sale
The Fairmount spiritwear sale is going on now through Friday September 15th! Visit the online shop to place your order:
https://fairmount2023spiritwear.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Please reach out to Vicki Epperly (vepperly@gmail.com) if you have any questions. Orders should be delivered the week of October 16th.
Early Dismissal Monday, September 11th
Due to the Labor Day holiday, there is no school on Monday, September 4th.
Up-to-Date Contact Information
Show your ORANGE!
Fall Benchmarking
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 (anytime after 11:30 a.m.), we ask that you please call the school office (630-719.5830) as staff members may not check their emails prior to daily dismissal.
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 started this section last school year and look forward to continuing it during the 2023-2024 school year. Our teachers and staff have been asked new questions, so you can learn even more about them.
Meet Ms. Steinberg
# of Years at Fairmount: 1st Year
Favorite Movie: Sound of Music
Favorite Place to Go/Travel to: I love to travel, it's hard to pick just one place! The top 3 are Napa, Sedona, and Paris.
Favorite Dessert or Sweet Treat: Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
A fun or unusual fact about me is... I have a pet bunny who is litter box trained and hops freely around my house.
Here is a little bit more about Ms. Steinberg who is joining Fairmount for her first year:
Katie is originally from Downers Grove and is a graduate of both District 58 and District 99. She earned her master’s degree in speech-language pathology at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL and completed her Bachelor’s degree at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. Katie currently lives in Glen Ellyn, IL with her husband, two children, and pet bunny. In her free time, Katie enjoys traveling, running, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to be joining the Fairmount team and is looking forward to getting to know the students and their families.
Lens into Learning
Kinders CAN!
Class Meeting
Recess Ready
Math...
Math...
& More Math!
Tasty Treat
2nd Grade - Sunshine & Smiles
Lunchtime...
Fairmount's MVPs - Celebrating Students
Grade 6 Student Ambassadors
Mark your Calendars!
09.04: No School - Labor Day
09.06: Fairmount PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
09.07: Curriculum Night 6:00-7:30 p.m.
09.08: Falcon Friday! Wear spirit wear or school colors (blue, yellow or white)
Fall Benchmarking completion and make-up assessments will continue this week.
A Look Ahead...
09.14: School Picture Day (Details above)
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
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.
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.
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