

Henry Puffer Post
January 8, 2023
The Rundown
Below are the topics in this week's Newsletter.
- Principal's Corner
- Celebrating Students & Staff
- Weekly Preview
- Looking Ahead
- Attendance Updates
- District 58 Visioning Session
- Harlem Wizards
- January Math Puzzle
- PTA Posts
- Below the Line
Principal's Corner
Welcome back everyone! We hope you had a fantastic winter break that was filled with relaxation & time with friends and family. This week our Puffer Panthers reconnected with peers & got back into their school routines. Our students will begin taking their MAP assessments this coming week. We hope to see many Puffer families in attendance at the Harlem Wizards game next Sunday.
As always, please reach out to me at mleipart@dg58.org with any questions or feedback.
Mark Leipart
Principal
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @HenryPufferDG58.
Celebrating Students & Staff
We love celebrating our students & staff both in and out of the classroom. This section is dedicated to celebrating our students and members of our staff, as well as shining a spotlight on the learning taking place in our school!
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P.E. - Boom City
P.E. - Fitness Buddies
2nd graders working out with a fitness buddy on our brand new gym floors!
2nd Grade Math
2nd graders exploring measurement with standard and nonstandard units
Weekly Preview 1/9-1/15
1/09: Board of Education Meeting (O'Neill Middle School) 7:00 p.m.
01/12: Harlem Wizards Assembly (8:30-9:00 a.m.)
1/15: Harlem Wizards Basketball Game (5:00-8:00 p.m.) - O'Neill Middle School
1/04-1/20: NWEA MAP testing window
Looking Ahead...
1/04-1/20: NWEA MAP testing window
1/16: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
1/19: PTA Meeting (7:00 p.m)
1/21: District 58 Science Fair (8:00-12:00) - O'Neill Middle School
Attendance Updates
District 58 Visioning Session
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.
January Student Math Puzzle
PTA Posts
Minutes from PTA Meeting:October 6, 2022
Linked below are the minutes from our most recent PTA meeting.
Our next meeting: Thursday, January 19th 7:00 p.m., Puffer Library
Meeting ID
Phone Numbers
(US)+1 510-957-3210
PIN: 570 142 203#
PTA Dine Out Night
PTA Spring Fundraiser
Save the Date for the Spring Fundraiser
The annual PTA spring fundraiser is scheduled for March 11th! It is an evening adults-only event with casino games, raffles, an auction, and more! All proceeds go back to Puffer. Tickets will go on sale in February. More information is attached and will also be sent home this week. Please consider donating in one of many ways to help make this year another great success!
Below the Line
Henry Puffer Office Contact Information
Mark Leipart, Principal mleipart@dg58.org
Jennifer Srabian, Secretary jsrabian@dg58.org
(TBD), Part-Time Secretary
Attendance: hpattendance@dg58.org
Email: mleipart@dg58.org
Website: www.dg58.org/hp/
Location: 2220 Haddow Avenue, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 630.968.0294
Twitter: @HenryPufferDG58
2022-2023 Calendar Details
The Board of Education approved the 2022-23 school year calendar. Calendar highlights include:
- First Day of School: Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022
- 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)
Arrival Process Updates
Arrival Updates
In an effort to better secure our building and reduce the number of entrances our students are entering through each morning, we will be making a few alterations to our arrival process beginning on January 3rd. These changes will allow us to move students away from the moving cars in the front of the building. It'll also allow us to increase the number of staff members monitoring areas from 8:05-8:15 each day. As a reminder, students are to line up upon arrival at school. We are unable to supervise field/play areas, Gaga Pits, or playgrounds prior to the start of the school day.
What is changing:
- 1st graders will line up on the Belmont side of our building at door 8. This is the same spot they line up after recess.
- 4th graders will line up on the north side of our building at door 4. This is the same spot they line up after recess.
- 6th graders will line up on the north side of our building at door 4. This is the same spot they line up after recess.
What is staying the same:
- Kindergarteners will continue to line up by Ms. Murphy's room. This is the same spot they line up after recess.
- 2nd graders will continue to line up at door 8.
- 3rd graders will continue to line up at door 5. This is the same spot they line up after recess.
- 5th graders will continue to line up on the north side of our building at door 4. This is the same spot they line up after recess.
Thank you for your support in making this a successful transition!
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.
WatchDOGS
If you would like to volunteer to be a WatchDOG in your child's classroom, please click on the Google Form below & we will contact you to schedule a date for you to volunteer.
If you have already signed up & would like to purchase a shirt for yourself and/or your child, simply click the link below.
Below is a short video describing the WatchDOGS program
School Safety Message from Dr. Russell
Dear Staff and Families,
District 58’s number one priority is ensuring that all our students and staff are safe. Last December, I sent this letter to all families outlining how seriously we take threats to our schools. The purpose of this letter is to be proactive in terms of safety and ask for your assistance. Preventing school violence is the responsibility of the entire community and we need your help.
Last school year, the United States once again experienced senseless acts of school violence. School shootings in Oxford, Michigan, and Uvalde, Texas, underscore the urgent need for all of us to be vigilant. I am asking all families to once again speak with their child (ren) in an age-appropriate manner regarding school safety. Please emphasize with your child(ren) the following:
If you see something, say something.
Making any kind of joke about violence toward someone else or the school is not permitted.
Making a threat against someone else or a school (in-person or online) is not permitted.
Possessing a weapon or a look-alike weapon is not permitted.
Talking about a weapon or a look-alike weapon is not permitted.
Please remind your child(ren) that if he/she makes a threatening statement or brings a weapon or lookalike weapon to school, they will immediately be referred to the Downers Grove Police Department. Police consequences may include arrest, referral to the State’s Attorney, and the Juvenile Court System. Further, your child(ren) will receive significant consequences at school, which may include expulsion (see Board Policy 7:190). We will not take any chances when it comes to the safety of our students and staff. District 58 is also here to help any student or family that is struggling with mental health issues. If we can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us right away.
I am once again asking for your assistance to help ensure the safety of our students and staff. Please speak with your children about the importance of being safe at school. As I shared last year, I view every student and staff member in our District as a part of my family. Let’s continue to be proactive and collaborate with one another, as the safety of our students and staff is the highest priority. If you see something, say something. District 58 staff are ready to assist anyone in need and we are grateful for your partnership.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin Russell
District 58 Superintendent of Schools
Lunch/Recess Supervisors
We are looking to fill 5 Lunch & Recess Supervisor positions and identify potential substitutes to fill in from time to time. Our lunch & recess block goes from 11:30-12:10 each day. Please fill out this form if you would be interested in helping out in any of those roles this year.
Thank you!
Mr. Leipart
Student Materials and Building Access
Important Note: Please know that students cannot return to the school after hours to pick up forgotten materials. Even though Champions (after care program) or park district leagues may be in the building, these groups are not able to let students in to access classrooms or cubbies. Additionally, if you are picking up your child from Champions or park district leagues, classrooms and other areas of the buildings should not be accessed after school hours.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school building safe!
District 58 Family 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 630-968-0294, and we can print you a copy.
Arrival/Dismiss Procedures
Arrival
Students may arrive at Henry Puffer 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 will be directed to enter the building beginning at 8:15 am. Anyone arriving after 8:20 a.m. should enter through Door One for an office pass.
Dismissal/After School
Following daily dismissal at Henry Puffer 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.
*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 will allow our teachers the necessary time to prepare for the day. Supervision times will remain the same and any changes will be communicated in advance.
Please Pack a Snack
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.
Phone/Wearable Technology Use
We wanted to remind everyone that while a student may 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 may wear smartwatches, but they are to be silenced during the entire school day, including lunch & recess. 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 by our school board.