Fairmount Families Week END Report
02.16.2024
Happy Friday, Fairmount Families!
It was a busy week of learning at Fairmount as we hit the mid-point of February. In addition to our academic work, we have been supporting all students with our important safety review presentations. We appreciate your partnership in continuing to remind your child of the importance of kind words and actions, which truly help each and every student throughout their day at Fairmount.
It is difficult to believe that we are gearing up to welcome our 2024-2025 Kindergarten class, which kicks off with our spring Kindergarten Round-Up in March. We appreciate your help in spreading the word to any neighbors and nearby families about the information that is included below.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Lisa Niforatos, Principal
Be sure to follow me on Twitter/X @Fairmount58.
Quick Links:
Information & Reminders
Welcome Andrea Laama!
Please join me in welcoming Andrea Llama to the Fairmount Office team! We appreciate your continued patience and flexibility as we support Andrea in starting her knew role at Fairmount. Please include Andrea (alaama@dg58.org) in your communications to the front office along with Jillian DeRango (jderango@dg58.org).
We want to hear from you!
As a reminder, parents are invited to take the District 58 School Environment Survey here. The survey should take just a few minutes yet provides valuable information that guides our school improvement efforts. All responses are anonymous.
In addition, parents are also invited to take the Illinois State Board of Education’s 5Essentials Parent Survey. This survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes. Your identity and survey responses will be kept confidential and will not be connected to you or your child.
Student Survey Information:
Additionally, grade 4-8 students will be asked to participate in a 5Essentials student survey sometime between Feb. 23 and March 22. If you do not wish to have your grade 4-8 student(s) participate in the 5Essentials, please fill out this opt-out form and return it to your child’s school by Tuesday, Feb. 20.
A District 58 email was sent to all parents/guardians about the surveys and the student’s 5Essential opt-out form on Monday, Feb. 12. Learn more about the surveys here.
Give Kids a Smile - Dental Screenings
Please see below regarding an opportunity for free dental screenings.
Surface Wipes & Tissues
Many of our non-classroom spaces, such as the main office, support rooms and specialists are in need of both surface (e.g. Clorox) wipes and tissues. If you are able and willing to donate either of these items to Fairmount we would certainly appreciate it. Your child is welcome to bring any donations to the office.
Kindergarten Information for 2024-2025
Thank you for helping us spread the word to any neighbors who have a child preparing to enter Kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year. The information linked below was recently emailed to current Fairmount families with future Kindergarteners (based on siblings) as well as those that have contacted our office for information.
Grove Children’s Preschool
Grove Children’s Preschool tuition applications for the 2024-25 school year will open online at www.dg58.org/preschool on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 8 a.m. First-priority preschool applications are due Monday, March 11.
Grove Children’s Preschool is located at Henry Puffer School and Indian Trail School (6235 Stonewall Ave.) in Downers Grove. Students attend school five days per week during either a morning or an afternoon session.
School Improvement Focus
Do you know about Dreambox?
This year our school improvement goal is focused on utilizing the Bridges curriculum and tailored small group instruction. Dreambox is an app that your child can access through their Clever account to continue working on this goal at home. Please encourage your child to access this individualized math tool at home. We understand that it can be challenging not to assist your child while they are working at home, but it is important that this application is used independently in order for your child to receive the appropriate support and instruction.
Numbers & Operations
Additionally, this year at Fairmount we are targeting improvement in Numbers & Operations in mathematics at all grade levels. A key part to this focus is looking at the delivery of small group instruction to meet the needs of all students. The photos below capture Bridges Number Corner, partner collaboration in math as well as small group, tiered instruction.
Fairmount PTA
Fairmount PTA
Fairmount is lucky to have a very active PTA. We encourage all parents/guardians to join the PTA. Please see the the PTA website for detailed information related to membership, events, and to subscribe to the weekly Falcon Flyer. We also encourage you to visit the events page on the PTA website to view all upcoming and ongoing events hosted by the PTA. As always, thank you to our wonderful PTA!
March Fun Lunch Information
March will feature TWO Fun Lunches. The first will be provided by Al's on Friday, March 8th (order deadline Sunday, March 3rd). The second will be Home Run Inn on Friday, March 22nd (order deadline Sunday, March 17th). Order, as always, at https://fairmount.h1.hotlunchonline.net for these or any future lunches.
Contact Tiffany Melnyk at tiffanyjoy21@gmail.com with any questions.
Teacher Feature
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 Mr. Luciano
# of Years at Fairmount: 14 Years
Favorite Movie: Sandlot
Favorite Place to Go/Travel to: Anyplace warm with a beach or lake.
Favorite Dessert or Sweet Treat: Cannoli
A fun or unusual fact about me is... I grew up in Downers Grove and I knew I wanted to become a teacher in fourth grade.
Lens into Learning
Talk about Tuesday
Marvelous Math
Seeing Stars
1st graders had an out of this world experience this week as they participated in Star Lab this week at Fairmount.
Fairmount MVPs - Celebrating Students
Calendar & Important Dates
Early Dismissal Monday, February 26th (No School 2/19/2024)
Monday, February 26th 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.
Mark your Calendars!
02.19: No School - President's Day
02.20: 3:00-3:45 p.m. Sign Language Club for Registered Students
02.21: Chess Wizards for Registered Students
02.22: 3:00-3:45 p.m. Mindful Club for Registered Students; 3:00-3:45 p.m. Sign Language Club for Registered Students (this is make-up day from E-Learning)
02.23: Falcon Friday: Wear School Colors and Gear!
A Look Ahead...
03.01: No School Students - Teacher Institute Day
03.25-03.29: Spring Break: School and Office Closed
2023-2024 School Calendar - Updated
Spring Break: March 25-29, 2024
Last Day of School: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 (if no additional emergency days are used)
Below the Line: Repeated Information
Below the Line
Science Fair
Congratulations to all of the Fairmount Falcons who participated in the 2024 Science Fair. We are so proud of the effort and energy these scientists put into their projects.
Referral GPS
District 58 strives to create a culture of well-being for students, parents, staff and community. To further support this endeavor, the District has invested in an additional support service through ReferralGPS.
ReferralGPS is a service providing assistance to our community in finding local mental health and substance use-related treatment resources. The service compliments the District’s existing systems of support as a tool for student service teams and families to connect with treatment. Along with a searchable database of treatment options, ReferralGPS assists families in triage and appointment setting.
School district staff and families may access ReferralGPS in two ways:
Contact Student Services (social workers, psychologists, counselors) to seek out treatment options
Visit this link at https://referralgps.com/find-help/DG58 to search for treatment resources or connect with a Care Navigator anonymously
The platform has the ability to filter by mental health concern, clinician gender/specialty, location, and insurance acceptance. The service is available for all types of private and public insurance options including PPO, HMO, Medicaid, and families that are uninsured or underinsured.
ReferralGPS is available for use by district students, staff, and families at no cost. All information entered on the ReferralGPS tool is completely confidential and securely stored.
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
Andrea Laama, Secretary alaama@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