Fairmount Families Week END Report
10.06.2023
Happy Friday, Fairmount Families!
Happy Friday, Fairmount Families!
We welcomed the month of October with a true celebration at our Monthly Matters Assembly on Monday. We met our school-wide goal of demonstrating respectful, responsible and safe behaviors and almost doubled our "Star Jar." As a result, students enjoyed a video viewing during both Thursday and Friday lunch.
Our first Parent-Teacher Conference will be held on Thursday, October 12th. As the online appointment window has now closed, please contact the school office if you have not yet scheduled a conference and would like to do so.
Wishing everyone a fantastic fall weekend!
Sincerely,
Lisa Niforatos, Principal
Be sure to follow me on Twitter/X @Fairmount58.
Quick Links:
Dropping off Supplies
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).
To minimize classroom disruptions, any item or note from home will be dropped off during lunch time. This will help create a stable learning environment for the students in the classroom. Thank you!
Student Council Elections
Congratulations to our elected officers:
Co-Presidents: Molly Aitken & Oscar Larsen
Vice-President: Jake DeGraff
Co-Secretaries: JJ Nagy
Treasurer: Hailey Epperly & Hannah Stapleton
Accessing Past Newsletters
Conference Sign-Up Now Open
The online sign-up window closed today (Friday) at 11:00 a.m. If you still need to schedule a conference with your child's teacher, please contact the school office for assistance.
Elementary School Conferences will take place:
- Thursday, Oct. 12 from 4:45-8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 4:45-8 p.m.
We look forward to partnering with you at our fall conferences.
Halloween Celebrations
We are looking forward to celebrating Halloween at school on Tuesday, October 31st. In an effort to support your planning, I wanted to share a few important details ahead of time.
Costumes
All students are invited to wear a costume to school on Tuesday, October 31st. As you prepare your child for this day, please take note of the following costume guidelines:
Costume Guidelines Kindergarten-6th Grade:
Costumes should allow for safe classroom navigation and participation as students will be in their costumes for the whole school day
Costume/Look Alike Weapons of any kind are NOT allowed at school
Costumes should not glorify violence and/or be offensive to any culture/group
Costumes should not impair vision or ability to walk (costume masks will only be allowed during the outdoor parade)
Costumes should allow children to be comfortable in the weather/temperature as students will go outside for recess, as well as the Halloween parade
Parade and Classroom Celebrations
Parents/guardians are welcome to view our outdoor Halloween parade (weather permitting), which will take place at 1:40 p.m. for all students. Parents are welcome to view the parade by standing along the parade route, which will be sent out prior to October 31st. Classroom parties will take place immediately after the parade. In the event of inclement weather, the outdoor parade may be canceled and parade spectators will not be allowed in the building for a modified student parade.
Additional information
There will be no food or drink provided or distributed to students during the celebration. This includes any goody bag that students may bring to school to distribute to classmates. If your child would like to bring a “favor” to share with his/her classmates, this must be a non-edible item such as a pencil, stickers, or another small token, and have one for each member of the class. This is, of course, completely optional.
The PTA has coordinated 3-4 parent volunteers for our Halloween classroom celebrations. Specific guidelines related to volunteering have been shared with confirmed volunteers. Please note that parents/guardians who are not confirmed volunteers will not be permitted in the building for the classroom celebrations. All confirmed volunteers will need to check-in outside Door 1 with our office staff and the PTA Room Rep Chair to receive a volunteer/visitor badge.
Thank you for your attention to the above guidelines and details, which will support a safe and eventful Halloween celebration for our students. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
Safety Drills
Please know that all of the drills above will be announced to students and staff ahead of time, so everyone will be aware of the drill/practice. Additionally, teachers and staff will provide grade-level appropriate follow-up with their classes and ensure students are supported before, during, and after each safety drill.
Our next drill will be held:
Thursday, October 12th - Active Threat Drill
Fairmount PTA
Save the Date: PTA Book Fair 10/12 & 10/18
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The annual Anderson's Book Fair will be at Fairmount Elementary on 10/12 and 10/18 during parent teacher conferences from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Students will preview the book fair during school hours, and parents will have an opportunity to purchase books during parent teacher conferences. Also, on Tuesday, October 17th, students who bring money to school will be able to purchase books if they so choose. As you add books to your home, please consider bringing in your used books and donate them to Andrea's Angels. We will have a bin for collection at the book fair. Thank you for supporting our local bookstore and the Fairmount Elementary PTA.
We need volunteers! Please visit sign up genius site at
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F094BAEAD28AAFF2-44269334-book/131317559#/
For more information about Andrea's Angels visit: https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/andersons-gives-back
PTA Art Appreciation Volunteers Needed!
Still plenty of openings throughout the year! You may sign up for more than 1 month if you like!
No art experience needed! No teaching experience needed! The presentations are already prepared and the supplies are on site! Your child will be so excited when you come to class. If you can help out, fill in our name on this document. You and the teacher will work together to schedule an agreed upon date for you to come present. Thank you in advance!
Sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MR9GAMf2WrA18APT2_jC13pMbgamgG9r4HosrCyUKNA/edit?usp=sharing.
More info here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fi4sN6C_PNILhKeEKl1S0Cx2_sGDZPajK6ZVgKpcnt0/edit?usp=sharing
Save the Date: Trunk or Treat 10/23
Fairmount Families are invited to join us for our annual Trunk or Treat!
Volunteers are still needed. We need additional volunteers to decorate their trunk and hand out candy. Please use this signup genius link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848A8AD29A6FACE9-44343813-trunk
WHEN: Monday, October 23rd, 2023
LOCATION: Fairmount Parking Lot
TIME: 6-7pm
Please start at the south side of the parking lot. Look for the starting line table. At 6:15pm, the Trunk or Treating line will begin.
Please remember: This event is for Fairmount Families and hosted on school property. Costume/look alike weapons of any kind are not allowed at this event. Costumes and trunks should not glorify violence and/or be offensive to any culture/group.
Please contact Greg & Kelli at programs.fairmount.pta@gmail.com with any questions.
PTA Fun Lunch: Orders due 10/15
The next PTA Fun Lunch is Friday, October 20th. Food will be provided by Cozzi Corner, and orders are due by Sunday, October 15th. The ordering platform is now open at https://fairmount.h1.hotlunchonline.net/. All meals are still $5.00 each, and you can order for the entire year at once if you choose.
Contact Tiffany Melnyk at tiffanyjoy21@gmail.com with any questions about ordering, forgotten login information, or setting up an account.
PTA Reflections
Calling all Artists! This year's theme for Reflections is "I am Hopeful Because...." Students may enter in one or more of the following categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts, or Special Artist Division. Students will then compete in their age division: Primary (Pre-K - Grade 2), Intermediate (Grades 3- 5), and Middle School (Grades 6-8).
Entries are due to your PTA by Friday, October 27. For more information, visit the Local Council site at https://sites.google.com/view/dupageeastcouncilsite/home or the Illinois PTA Reflections site at https://illinoispta.org/reflections/.
Any questions? Please email us at reflectionsfairmount@gmail.com
Early Dismissal Monday, October 9th
Monday, October 9th is our next Professional Learning Monday. All students are dismissed at 2:00 p.m. according to their regular dismissal plan. Please be sure you have made arrangements for your child to be picked up from Fairmount at 2:00 p.m. each Monday.
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 Mrs. Christine Kaminski
# of Years at Fairmount: 7 Years
Favorite Movie: Interstellar
Favorite Place to Go/Travel to: A new national park!
Favorite Dessert or Sweet Treat: Tiramisu
A fun or unusual fact about me is... My younger sister teaches orchestra at Fairmount!
Lens into Learning
Learning from Student Mentors
Readers & Writers
Talk about Tuesday
Positive Pumpkins
Welcome Joanna Ho!
Lights-Camera-Action
Fill it Friday
Fairmount's MVPs - Celebrating Students
Mark your Calendars!
10.09: Wear Orange! 2nd Grade Field Trip; 2:00 p.m. Early Dismissal
10.10: 3:00-3:45 p.m. Run Club (for registered students); 3:00-4:00 p.m. Bricks for Kids (for registered students)
10.12: Intruder/Active Threat Drill; Parent Teacher Conferences; PTA Book Fair open during conferences
10.13: Falcon Friday! Wear spirit wear or school colors
A Look Ahead...
10.18: Parent-Teacher Conferences
10.26: Picture Retake Day
11.11: PTA Trivia Night
11.22-11.24: Thanksgiving Break
2023-2024 School Calendar - Updated
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
Picture Retakes
Please note that retakes will be held at Fairmount on October 26, 2023 for anyone wishing to retake their photo and/or for any absent students.
Picture Day Link - CLICK HERE
School Code: 20059301
Van Gogh Customer Service: 847-382-2282 X7
Arrival/Dismissal/Carline Reminders
A few important reminders:
If you are choosing to drop off your student (via car), please utilize the car line and do not drop them off on Blodgett.
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 8:05 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.
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.
Fairmount Office Contact Information
Lisa Niforatos, Principal lniforatos@dg58.org
Jill 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