Schools

School Bells to Ring in District 58

Classes begin Monday, Aug. 27. Teachers have already reported. Read on for information about the new school year.

Days until school begins: Seven… Six …

The countdown has begun. District 58 kicks off the 2012-13 school year Monday, Aug. 27 with new administrators including a new superintendent, new teachers and longer school days.

First Day of School

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The new school year begins Monday, Aug. 27 with a partial-day of classes.

  • A.M. Kindergarten: 8:20-9:25 a.m.
  • P.M. Kindergarten: 12:10-1:15 p.m.
  • Grades 1-6: 8:20-11:40 a.m.
  • Middle school: 8:35-11:51 a.m.

Regular School Day Hours

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Full-day classes begin Tuesday, Aug. 28. District 58 has increased the length of the school day by 20 minutes for the 2012-13 year. The addition of the 20 minutes brings District 58's school day into better alignment with the average school day in surrounding districts, according to the district. The change also supports recent enhancements to District 58's instructional program, such as the continued focus on meeting all students' needs through Response to Intervention; alignment with Common Core Standards for math; teaching Social-Emotional Learning skills; and boosting literacy through guided reading, all of which are time-intensive tasks.

The school day’s regular hours are:

  • A.M. Preschool: 8:20-11 a.m.
  • P.M. Preschool: 12:05-2:45 p.m.
  • A.M. Kindergarten: 8:20-11:05 a.m.
  • P.M. Kindergarten: 12:10-2:55 p.m.
  • Grades 1-6: 8:20 a.m.-2:55 p.m.
  • Middle school: 7:45-8:25 a.m. Early Bird; 8:35 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Eight-period day

School Supplies

Click here for school supply lists.

School Calendar

The first Curiculum Night will be for south side elementary schools at 7 p.m. Aug. 30. Get more information here. Also, go to dg58.org for the district's entire calendar.

School-by-School Information

For a list of staff by school—such as principal, clerk, secretary, teachers by grade—click here.

New Administrators

District 58 is welcoming several new administrators this school year.

Dr. Kari Cremascoli began her service as District 58’s new superintendent on July 1. She came to District 58 from DeKalb Community Unit School District 428, where she spent four years as the assistant superintendent of educational services and three years prior to that as executive director of student services. For more information on Dr. Cremascoli, visit dg58.org.

Dr. Matt Rich is the new assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. A District 58 alumnus and Downers Grove native, Dr. Rich came to District 58 from Glenview District 34, where he spent the past six years as principal of Pleasant Ridge School.

Kacey Lazzarotto was appointed Grove Children’s Preschool coordinator. She came to District 58 from the La Grange Area Department of Special Education, where she served as early childhood special education coordinator for the past seven years.

Justin Sisul is the new principal at Pierce Downer School. Sisul has worked in District 58 for more than 10 years; he taught music at Herrick Middle School for seven years, followed by four years at Lester School, first as an administrative intern and most recently as the assistant principal.

Christine Clavenna was appointed the assistant principal of O’Neill Middle School. She comes from Mokena School District 159, where she served as principal of Mokena Elementary.

Theodore Krillies was appointed the assistant principal at Lester School. Krillies has been teaching social studies at the middle school level for six years, most recently at Butler Junior High in Oak Brook.

New Teachers

Teachers have already reported to work, and new District 58 staffers also attended a weeklong orientation.

New teachers are:

  • Lindsay Marcum, first grade, El Sierra
  • Mary Loversky, LRC, El Sierra
  • Colleen Brejcha, fifth grade, Fairmount
  • Sandi Hudecek, resource, Highland
  • Alex Salansky, social worker, Highland/Pierce Downer
  • Erik Andrews, Developmental Learning Program (DLP), Hillcrest
  • Leslie Hesterman, LRC, Hillcrest
  • Matt Dennis, resource, Kingsley
  • Katie Casey, nurse, Kingsley/El Sierra
  • Nicole VanMilligen, reading specialist, Kingsley
  • Jamie Lindberg, sixth grade, Pierce Downer
  • Eric Miller, fifth/sixth grade combination class, Whittier
  • Ashley Pawlowski, first grade, Whittier
  • Jeff Berger, LRC, Herrick
  • Stephen Siemek, science, Herrick
  • Laura Isek, Developmental Learning Program (DLP), O’Neill
  • Vanessa Jeris, counselor, O’Neill
  • Megan Ryder, technology facilitator

The comprehensive five-day orientation program included sessions on a variety of topics including curriculum, technology, Social-Emotional Learning and Response to Intervention; planning sessions and meetings with mentors; and luncheons sponsored by the Downers Grove Lions Club and the District 58 Education Foundation.

For more information, go to the district's website, dg58.org.


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