Pierce Downer This Week
September 15, 2023
Pierce Downer Families,
This week was packed with smiles (and not just because of picture day!). This week our students wrapped the NWEA MAP and AIMSWeb assessments. These results will once again be sent digitally via email. I anticipate these being sent in the upcoming 1-2 weeks. I also want to give a SHOUTOUT to our wonderful families for our first of two "Donuts with Grown-Ups"! It was a well-attended and smoothly run event that gave our families an opportunity to connect and reinforce the home-school connection with our students.
I am excited to share we have new stencils for our playground/blacktop area! I plan to come in on a Saturday morning and a few helping hands would go a LONG way. If you have any interest in helping, please let me know!
As we approach the end of September, Pierce Downer will begin conducting the required safety drills. While we hope to never have an actual emergency, we use these drills to ensure that all students feel confident, prepared, and safe.
With that being said, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can email me at LWagner@DG58.org or call the Pierce Downer Main Office at 630-719-5860.
As always, WE are PD!
Dr. Leland (Lucky) Wagner
Mondays and Fridays
As a reminder, every MONDAY students are dismissed at 2pm. We also invite students to wear orange on Mondays to support our commitment to a positive mindset, and spirit wear or school colors (blue and white) every Friday!
Keeping the PD Promise
You might find your student coming home with a "I was caught keeping my PD Promise" ticket. These tickets are used to recognize students who are keeping their promise to BE RESPECTFUL, BE RESPONSIBLE, and BE SAFE. When you see these tickets, ask your student how they earned it and share ways they can also continue to keep the PD Promise.
Your encouragement is appreciated in supporting our common behavior expectations!
Band and Orchestra at Pierce Downer
We are so excited to launch a new year in BAND and ORCHESTRA and begin making music together again! We look forward to seeing returning students and also are thrilled to meet the more than 400 beginners who are starting their musical journey this year!
Lessons started at Pierce Downer this week. In the fall, students will also participate in weekly after school rehearsals to prepare for their concerts! Please watch for an email from your student’s orchestra or band teacher with details about lesson and rehearsal schedules. Click here to meet your band and orchestra teachers - we look forward to seeing you soon!
PD Cup Recipient
Congratulations to Mrs. Bilotta, RISE resource teacher, on being this week's PD Cup recipient. Mrs. Bilotta is in her first year at Pierce Downer School and brings with her a collaborative, supportive, and nurturing approach to her students and classrooms.
Thank you Mrs. Bilotta for everything you do!
Changes to lunch & recess schedules
This year Pierce Downer has the exciting opportunity to pilot a schedule that includes three lunch and three recess periods. Our goal is to reduce the overall number of students within each lunch and recess period in order to maximize staff supervision and increase student safety. This is also a part of our continued efforts to support positive student behavior. It is important to note that as with any pilot, if we do not find success by implementing this model, we will revert to our typical lunch and recess schedule. The pilot schedule is as follows:
- Kindergarten and First Grade will eat lunch at 11:20 am
- Second, Third, and Fourth Grade will eat lunch at 11:40 am
- Fifth and Sixth Grade will eat lunch at 12:00 pm
Raptor Visitor Management System
District 58 is pleased to continue using the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our program of campus safety for students and faculty. Part of keeping students and faculty safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times. The Raptor system will better allow us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff. Community High School District 99 currently utilizes the same platform on its campuses.
Upon entering a district building, 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 will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not entering our school campuses without our knowledge. 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 visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.
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. Thank you in advance for your understanding and your support in enhancing the school safety protocols in our district.
Enrichment Opportunities
September 20
2nd Grade Field Trip
PTA General Meeting at 7pm
September 22
Donuts with Grown-Ups (2nd Round, 7:30am)
October 12
Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 18
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Safe2Help Illinois
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.