Fairmount Families Week END Report
10.20.2023
Happy Friday, Fairmount Families!
We wrapped up our parent-teacher conferences on Wednesday evening, and continue to be grateful for our families' partnership in ensuring a successful school year. Thank you, as well, for all of those who supported our PTA Book Fair. I would also like to send a shout-out to our Book Fair chairs and all of the volunteers.
Our students and staff have done a wonderful job with the safety drills completed this fall. We do not have additional required drills until the spring and will be sure to communicate any future drills as we have been doing this school year.
Have a fantastic fall weekend!
Sincerely,
Lisa Niforatos, Principal
Be sure to follow me on Twitter/X @Fairmount58.
Quick Links:
Dressing for the Weather
Lost and Found
Lunch Program begins Oct. 30th
Parents should have received an email on Thursday, Oct. 19 inviting them to sign up to purchase lunch for their elementary-age student (K-6) if they choose. Parents can sign up and begin ordering lunch now, but the program begins the week of Monday, Oct. 30.
The lunches can be ordered through MyMealOrder (www.MyMealOrder.com) and are made by District 58’s food service provider Quest. The online program gives you the ability to manage and pay for your student’s meal purchases, and they will be delivered to your child’s school. To sign up, visit: https://MyMealOrder.com and click the login button, then click on “Register for a Free Account.”
Health Guidance for Schools
Red Ribbon Week 10.23-10.27
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.
Fairmount PTA
Reading Games 2024
The 2024 Reading Games Registration is now open thru Wednesday, November 15th! Please see the linked video, created by Fairmount librarian, Liz Stroud: Reading Games Video
Reading Games will be February 24, 2024
The Reading Games is a fun reading competition for District 58 students in grades 3-8. Students read books from the book lists, then face other teams to answer questions about the books they've read. It is a great opportunity for kids to read new books and discuss them with friends. Teams are made up of 5-8 students, and may include students from different grades and schools. However, due to space limitations, participation in the Reading Games is limited only to DG58 students.
Teams will read books and be asked questions from:
Book List 1 (3rd-4th grades): https://www.readinggamesdg58.com/list-1-books
or Book List 2 (5th-8th grades): https://www.readinggamesdg58.com/list-2-books
Team Registration
Completing the team registration form below reserves your spot as a team to compete on Saturday, February 24, 2024. You do not need to identify the students that will be on your team for this registration, so there is time to finalize the team members. Before Winter Break, you will be asked to provide more information about your team, including team name. Each team should plan to have the following overall adult participation:
1 Team Contact – This person would be a contact point for the Reading Games committee over the next several months until the event, and would work with the team to coordinate practices and reading. (This person can fill one of the three volunteer roles on the day of the event, if they wish, but that’s not required.)
1 Adult Team Volunteer - This person will fill a role separate from the team on the day of the event, as a moderator, scorekeeper or other needed role. (This can be the Team Contact or another parent)
2 Adult Team Chaperones – These people will stay with the team on the day of the event to supervise the team. (The Team Contact can fill one of these roles, or both can be filled by other team parents. This is in addition to the separate Team Volunteer listed above and would not be the same person)
Team Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3D1QniMms5cq6T_mmvy9M-eNd8-iFv7MY6-DJm_YLBwca0w/viewform
Individual Registration
If you have a child who would like to participate but does not have a team, you may request a spot using the individual registration form. Although we cannot guarantee a spot on a team, we will do our very best to match children to existing teams, or to assist you in creating a new team.
Individual Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSek6i4z-f00mBt3J4iGdeJcRRwG7GVVrMx5AiFqIbXyevta0A/viewform
Question Writers Needed
Calling all book lovers - we need your help! We are in need of volunteers to write questions for the 2024 Reading Games. As a question writer, you will work in pairs to develop a set of 15 questions for a book. You can grab a friend or pick a book and be paired with a partner. Questions are due January 7, 2024.
Link to the 2024 Reading Games Question Writers sign up genius can be found here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F49AFAC2AA4FB6-44339595-2024#/
Any questions related to question writing can be directed to rgquestionwriters@gmail.com
For more information, visit the Reading Games website www.readinggamesdg58.com.
All of this information will also be on our PTA website. https://sites.google.com/view/fairmount58pta/events/reading-games
Volunteer for the PTA for Reading Games
We are still in need of a Reading Games Chair for the Fairmount PTA: https://sites.google.com/view/fairmount58pta/volunteer
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
Trunk or Treat 10/23
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. Additional information can also be found on the PTA website.
PTA Fun Lunch: Orders due 11/5
The next PTA Fun Lunch is Friday, November 10th. Food will be provided by Al's, and orders are due by Sunday, November 5th. The ordering platform is now open. 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 23rd
Monday, October 23rd 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. Ali Glennon
# of Years at Fairmount: 7 Years
Favorite Movie: The Sandlot
Favorite Place to Go/Travel to: Costa Rica
Favorite Dessert or Sweet Treat: Oreos
A fun or unusual fact about me is... I played tennis in high school.
Lens into Learning
Art Appreciation
Talk about Tuesday
Marvelous Math
Sunshine and Smiles
Garage Band
3rd Grade Picks!
Ready for Red Ribbon Week
Fantastic Four
Fun @ FUN Lunch
Fill it Friday
We love "Fill it Fridays!" It is a wonderful time for students to come together to our school-wide accomplishments. During the month of October we are working together to earn a school-wide BINGO game. We are so proud of our students for showing Respectful, Responsible and Safe behaviors.
Fairmount's MVPs - Celebrating Students
Mark your Calendars!
10.23: Wear Orange! 2:00 p.m. Early Dismissal; 6:00 p.m. PTA Trunk or Treat
10.24: 3:00-4:00 p.m. Bricks for Kids (for registered students)
10.26: Picture Retake Day
10:27: Falcon Friday! Wear spirit wear or school colors
A Look Ahead...
11.11: PTA Trivia Night
11.22-11.24: Thanksgiving Break
2023-2024 School Calendar - Updated
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
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!
Accessing Past Newsletters
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