Fairmount Families Week END Report
09.02.2022
Happy Friday, Fairmount Families!
It was a busy, but successful, first FULL week of learning at Fairmount. In addition to becoming even more familiar with classroom routines, all students took part in our school-wide Expectations Assembly. This assembly centered around our school-wide focus of "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.
Thank you for your continued attention to the information and items below. A friendly reminder that there is no school on Monday, 9/5, due to the Labor Day holiday. I hope everyone has an enjoyable three-day 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.
Picture Day - 09.15.2022
Building Visitors
Throughout the school year, there will be various reasons you may visit Fairmount. In welcoming you to the school, please know that safety and security are a top priority. The office staff will ask all visitors, including parents/guardians, to identify themselves prior to entering the building or picking up a child early. While Jillian and Jill get to know our families very quickly, this is our standard procedure. We thank you in advance for your understanding.
Upcoming 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.
This week students and staff will engage in the following:
Tuesday, September 6th - Fire Drill
Please check the "Look Ahead Section" for additional drill/practice days.
Lost and Found
Please note iPads, eyeglasses and other valuables will not be placed in the Lost and Found. If your child ever misplaces these items, please have them check with the office.
Staff members will support students that need to check the Lost and Found during the school day as needed. Unclaimed items will be donated on a bi-monthly basis.
Save the Date - Fairmount School Curriculum Night
Please see below for the presentation times offered at each grade level:
6:00-6:25 p.m. - Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Presentations
6:30-6:55 p.m. - Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Presentations
7:00-7:25 p.m. - 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th 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.
NWEA MAP Testing
The data gathered from these and other benchmark assessments are accessed and reviewed by our teachers and staff to further support differentiated instruction and tiered supports.
Birthdays, Celebrations & Additional Information
Please note, no food or edible treats may be brought in on/around your child's birthday, however, you are welcome to send a small token (pencil, sticker, etc.) on/around their birthday if you choose to do so. If you choose to do this, please make sure there is one for each child in their classroom.
Along with the above, teachers cannot support your student in distributing birthday invitations unless one is provided for each member of the class. If you would like your child's teacher to distribute an invitation for each member of their class, we kindly ask you not to put names on the invitations as this supports the distribution process.
A friendly reminder that teachers and office staff cannot provide contact information, student names, etc. if requested by individual parents. The best way to gain access to this information is by joining the PTA as you will then be able to access any families who have opted into PTA communications.
If you do not want your child celebrated on their birthday, please contact the school office. We will not post/include birthday photos for anyone who has opted into our Do Not Photo list.
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.
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 NEW weekly Teacher Feature.
Teacher Feature - Ms. Remus
Role at Fairmount: Kindergarten Teacher
# of Years at Fairmount School: This is Year 6!
Favorite Restaurant: Cooper's Hawk
If she is not at school, you can catch Ms. Remus cooking, reading or crafting.
Favorite Quote: "Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day."
The best thing about working with children every day is... Hearing all of their funny stories and making memories/jokes together!
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.
Lens into Learning
Morning Meeting
Shared Reading - Student Leading
Question That...
APPAPALOOZA
Lunch Smiles...
... and Student Leaders
Celebrating Students
Early Dismissal Monday
Monday, September 5th is Labor Day and there is no school for students and staff. Next Monday, September 12th, is a 2:00 p.m. dismissal for students. 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.
Mark your Calendars!
MAP Make-Up Testing this Week
09.05: No School - Labor Day
09.06: Fire Drill
09.09: Falcon Friday! Wear School Colors or Spiritwear
A Look Ahead...
09.13: Active Threat/Intruder Drill
09.14: Curriculum Night 6:00-7:30 p.m.
09.15: School Picture Day
09.16-09.17: Education Foundation Oktoberfest (Click HERE for more information)
09.20: Active Threat/Intruder Drill with the Downers Grove Police Department
Calendar Highlights:
Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 23-25, 2022
Winter Break: Dec. 19, 2022 -Jan. 2, 2023
Spring Break: March 27-31, 2023
Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (if no emergency days are used)
Below the Line
Up-to-Date Contact Information
As the school year progresses, we kindly ask all families to keep the office staff informed of any changes to contact information (phone, email, home address, etc.) as well as ensure that the office has access to emergency contact information for your child(ren). Please call the office with any changes to your child's contact information.
Arrival
*Please note that entrance times may change as students build routines. We have not used our normal entrance procedures in several years, and we recognize that it may take students longer at the start of the school year to be ready to start the school day. The District also recognizes that bus arrival times vary during the first few weeks of school as drivers learn new routes. As students build routines and bus arrival times become more consistent, student entry times may get pushed back. This time will assist our team as we prepare for the school day. Supervision times will remain the same and any changes will be communicated in advance.
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. We want to ensure the safety of all students. Students may return to the playground after school hours and/or on the weekends. This will be done at family discretion, as our district playgrounds also function as community parks outside of school hours.
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.).
Bus Routing
Thank you for your patience as we navigate the beginning of the school year and bus routing. Please check your PowerSchool account as the District Office and First Student have been working closely to adjust student routing when and where needed.
Updated Milk Information
The District recently received notice from the State of Illinois of its additional funding to reduce the costs of milk for students for this year. The annual cost will be $23 a year, down from the initial $70. All previous requests will only be charged the $23 rate. No one has been or will be charged the $70. If someone chooses not to buy milk due to the initial price and now would like to purchase it, they may still do so. Any new requests for milk will start effective September 6th.
Please contact the school office if you would like your child to receive milk and did not previously complete the milk form.
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 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.
District 58 Handbook
District 58 has published the 2022-23 Schools of 58: A Handbook for Families. Please take time to 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, all families will receive a handbook receipt to sign, acknowledging that they and their child reviewed and understood the handbook. Please sign and return the handbook receipt at Curriculum Night or sooner. Here are the links to this year’s family handbook. If you need a print copy, please contact the school office at 630-719-5830, and we can print you a copy.
Snack/Fruit 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. A daily snack can be provided for students who qualify for free/ reduced lunch.
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