Fairmount Families Week END Report
01.13.2023
Happy Friday, Fairmount Families!
We had a wonderful week of learning with the completion of our winter MAP testing and an exciting assembly featuring the Harlem Wizards. The assembly was a true highlight of the week for our students, and I am grateful to the Grove Foundation for the fun opportunity. I hope to see many Fairmount families at the Harlem Wizards game this Sunday at 6:00 p.m.! It promises to be an exciting evening.
Please help us spread the word to any friends, family and neighbors (in the Fairmount school boundaries) that have children entering kindergarten in the 2023-2024 school year. We are requesting that incoming kindergarten families contact our school office at 630-719-5830 so that we can update records and ensure everyone receives kindergarten information prior to Kindergarten Roundup this spring. More information will be shared in future Week "End" Reports.
Our Lost and Found is growing and will be donated to charity at the end of this month. If your child is missing an item, please ask them to visit the office so that we can assist at the Lost and Found.
Please note, there is no school on Monday, January 16th due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observance. We look forward to seeing our Falcons on Tuesday!
Wishing all of our families a wonderful 3-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.
Harlem Wizards Fundraising Event is THIS Sunday!
The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 invites the community to its fifth Harlem Wizards fundraiser game on Sunday, Jan. 15 from 6-8 p.m. at Downers Grove South High School.
The Harlem Wizards will take on District 58 teachers and staff, including Fairmount's own P.E. Teacher, Rick Zieman, Art Teacher, Jon Belonio, and 4th Grade Teacher, Alyssa Reinholz, during a thrilling and unpredictable basketball game. We hope to see you there!
Online tickets start at $14 (plus a $1.50 service fee) and can be purchased at www.58foundation.org. If tickets are still available, tickets will cost $16 at the door. All event proceeds will be donated to the Education Foundation, a non-profit that raises money to support District 58 students.
RSVP by 1/17: District 58 Community Visioning Session (previously shared from Dr. Russell)
Please consider attending the District’s Facility Visioning Session on Monday, Jan. 30 from 6:30-8 p.m. at O’Neill. You will have an opportunity to learn more about District 58’s post-referendum draft facility plans and provide direct feedback, which the District will use to inform the final plans. If you would like to attend, please complete this RSVP form by Tuesday, Jan. 17. Learn more here.
Cougars' Reading Club
PTA Fun Lunch - Orders due by January 15th!
Fairmount Donates More Than 200 Winter Items to DuPage Pads!
The Fairmount Giving Tree collection was a huge success. This initiative, led by the Student Council, collected 210 hats, gloves, scarves and other winter gear to benefit DuPage Pads. Thank you to all our Fairmount Families for your generosity.
Board Approves 2023-2024 School Calendar (from Communicate 58)
The Board of Education approved the District 58 2023-24 school year calendar. To maximize the summer 2024 construction window, the calendar eliminates some single days off, while maintaining typical break periods in alignment with District 99. Highlights include:
First Day of School: Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023
Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 22-24, 2023
Winter Break: Dec. 25, 2023-Jan. 5, 2024
Spring Break: March 25-29, 2024
Last Day of School: Friday, May 24 (if no emergency days are used)
Bricks 4 Kidz Winter Session Sign-Up
Bricks 4 Kidz has now opened registration for the 5-week winter session beginning in January. Please see the attached flyer and link below for more details.
Attendance and Arrival Reminders
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.
Out Student Focus Committee will be wrapping up "Being in Control" and preparing to kick-off our next Falcon Focus the first week of February, "Being Kind".
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 weekly Teacher Feature.
Teacher Feature - Ms. Spring
Role at Fairmount: Orchestra Teacher
# of Years at Fairmount School: 6 Years
Favorite Food or Restaurant: Starbucks!!
If she is not at school, you can catch Ms. Spring enjoying Starbucks with my son!
Favorite Quote: "If you're always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be." - Maya Angelou
The best thing about working with children every day is... there is always a new way to look at a solution.
Lens into Learning
Handy Helpers
Awesome Announcers
Wonderful Wizards
Celebrating Students
Early Dismissal Monday
Mark your Calendars!
Sunday, January 15th
6:00-8:00 p.m. Harlem Wizards Fundraising Event at Downers Grove South High School (see details above)
01.16: No School: MLK, Jr. Day
01.17: School Resumes
01.18: 3:00-3:45 p.m. Sign Language Club for Registered Students; 3:00-4:00 p.m. Bricks for Kids for Registered Students
01.19: Happy Thursday!
01.20: Falcon Friday: Wear School Colors or Spiritwear; PTA Fun Lunch (please send a snack and drink as this is not included in the Fun Lunch)
Saturday, January 21st
58 Science Fair at O'Neill Middle School
A Look Ahead...
01.30: 6:30 p.m. Community Facility Visioning Session at O'Neill Middle School (see above for details)
02.20: No School: President's Day
02.28: (Tuesday): No School Students - Teacher Institute Day!
Calendar Highlights:
Spring Break: March 27-31, 2023
Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (if no emergency days are used)
Below the Line
Flu Season
As communicated via email previously, flu incidents continue to rise within our community and our school. The flu is different from the common cold and it can cause fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and vomiting. Please see the attached informational fact sheet from the IDPH regarding influenza.
We appreciate your support in keeping your child home from school if they have a fever, are vomiting, and/or exhibiting other signs of influenza. Students are encouraged to hand wash and/or utilize hand sanitizer at school and additional surface cleaning will be conducted as well.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or our health office should you have any questions.
Reminder: Cold Weather/Snow Gear
If your child would like to play in the snow/be on the field (assuming conditions are safe to do so), they must have both snow pants and snow boots. We also appreciate your support in making sure your child(ren) comes prepared for the weather/elements each day as we will typically go outside for recess if the conditions permit and the feels like temperature is above 0 degrees.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to Lisa Niforatos (Principal) or Jen Glynn (Social Worker) if you do not have access to the resources to secure cold-weather gear for your child(ren).
The Reading Games
The Reading Games will return for its ninth year on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 at O'Neill Middle School. The Reading Games is a fun and friendly reading competition open to District 58 students in grades 3-8. Visit www.readinggamesdg58.com for detailed information. The Reading Games also seeks question writer volunteers! Click here to learn more information and to sign up to volunteer.
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.
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.
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