Lester Living
Friday, November 4, 2022
It's been a wonderful week at Lester! We started the week with our fantastic Halloween parties. Thank you, PTA! Many photos are included below for you to check out. In addition, November is here! Along with the new month, we have our new focus which is being responsible. This month, we will focus on students making responsible choices and being responsible students. Please take a look below at what our students shared as what being responsible means to them.
As the weather gets colder, more families are choosing to drive to and from school. As we have more traffic, we are asking that all families please review our pick-up/drop-off zones map below. On Indianapolis, there is a large white box painted where we ask that people do not park/stand in vehicles. It is helpful to pull up, pick up your child and then continue to move. On Lincoln, we ask that we continue with moving traffic as well. These areas are for families to drop off/pick up and keep moving. If you would like to park and walk to pick up your child, please park farther down Indianapolis, on the East Blacktop for pick-up or on a side street so that we can keep the drop-off/pick-up areas moving. We truly appreciate your help with this. Student safety is a top priority and we want to ensure we are keeping students safe.
As a reminder, there will be no school on Tuesday, November 8th. Students will have early dismissal at 2:00 on Monday. We will then have school on Wednesday.
Enjoy your weekend :)
Katie Novosel
Principal
Lauri Smith
Assistant Principal
DROP OFF/ PICK UP MAP
GRATEFUL FORM
Would you like to thank a staff member? We have had some families reach out to ask best ways to show their appreciation for staff. We have created a form as an avenue for you! Please feel free to fill out this form and we will share your gratitude with them. I will include this form weekly as an opportunity for you throughout the year. We are grateful for you and all you do! :)
LESTER STUDENT COUNCIL FUNDRAISER COMING SOON!
PTA FUNDRAISERS TO CHECK OUT
Grove Express
The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 invites the community to participate in the Grove Express 5K on Thanksgiving Day. A portion of the proceeds will benefit District 58 students! Early bird registration has been extended through Nov. 6. Learn more here. Sign up here.
District 58 Referendum
District 58 has placed a proposal on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot to issue $179 million in bonds to improve District 58’s facilities. To learn more about the District 58 referendum, please visit www.dg58.org/referendum.
This website contains helpful information, including the District’s Master Facility Plan, frequently asked questions, ballot language, voter information, the estimated tax impact, facility presentations, photo galleries, videos and much more. If you have any questions about the referendum not answered on the website, please don’t hesitate to contact your building principal. Please know, as a school district, we can provide factual information about a referendum, but we cannot advocate for or against it.
Voter Information
Early voting is currently taking place at 22 sites across DuPage County. The closest early voting sites to Downers Grove include: the Downers Grove Lincoln Center, Westmont Public Library, Yorktown Center - Former Brio Location, and the Woodridge Community Center. Depending on the location, early voting will go through Nov. 5 or Nov. 7.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Please view District 58's voter information webpage for more information.
Sneak Peak into Lester Life
HALLOWEEN FUN!
Dates to Remember:
- Monday, November 9: Early Dismissal 2:00 pm and "Orange" you glad it's Monday- wear orange to promote positivity!
- Tuesday, November 8: No School- Election Day
- Monday, November 14: ESSA Designation Forum at 5:30 pm in gym & PTA Meeting at 6:30 pm in Lester gym
- Friday, November 18: End of Trimester 1 & PTA Fun Lunch & Lester Spirit Day
- Monday, November 21: Early Dismissal 2:00 pm and "Orange" you glad it's Monday- wear orange to promote positivity!
- Wednesday, November 23- Friday, November 25: NO SCHOOL- Thanksgiving break
REPEATED INFORMATION BELOW:
Fall is here and cold and flu season is upon us and we are seeing students with cold and flu symptoms. To prevent the spread of these common viruses in the close confines of the classroom, we are cleaning daily and encouraging handwashing in the class. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines.
Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:
· Very stuffy or runny nose and/or a cough
· Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
· Headache
Definitely keep your child at home and consider seeking medical attention if he or she has any of these symptoms:
· Fever (greater than 100 degrees by mouth. Your child may return to school only after his or her temperature has been consistently below 100 degrees, by mouth, for a minimum of 24 hours without medication)
· Vomiting (even once)
· Diarrhea
· Chills
· General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches
· Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough
· Shortness of breath
· Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose
To help prevent the flu and other colds, encourage good hygiene habits:
· Wash hands frequently
· Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth
· Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands
· Avoid close contact with people who are sick
The flu shot is one of the best ways to prevent illness from the seasonal influenza virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults and children receive the flu vaccine each year. Yearly flu vaccination is needed because immunity against the flu wears off over time. In addition, the flu virus strains often change, so the vaccine also changes from year-to-year in order to match the flu viruses expected to be circulating in the community.
Arrival/Dismissal
Students may arrive at Lester School beginning at 8:05 a.m. each day when adult supervision begins. In order to assist with a timely and safe arrival process, the school playground will be closed before school. Upon arrival, students should line up by their assigned door. Students lined up with their classes will be directed to enter the building at 8:15 am. Anyone arriving after 8:15 a.m. should enter through Door One for an office pass.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL INFORMATION
LARGER PDF VERSION LINKED BELOW
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.
Fruit/Snack Break
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.
2022-2023 SCHOOL CALENDAR
2022-2023 CALENDAR DETAILS
The Board of Education approved the 2022-23 school year calendar. Calendar highlights include:
- 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)