Feature Headlines

Nine students to represent District 58 at Regional Science Fair
The effect of salinity on a geyser, how car emissions affect weather, and whether preschool prefer “imagination” or electronic toys are just a few of the science fair projects that will represent District 58 at the Regional Science Fair in Cicero on March 13. (Click here)

District 58 recognizes top performers at Solo Day
On March 8, the District 58 School Board formally recognized students who received a top score in the Band and Orchestra Solo Day competitions at Herrick and O’Neill Middle Schools. (Click here)

Fit Fair a big hit in District 58
With more than 50 exhibits and demonstrations by local organizations and businesses, a half-dozen classes to sign up for, a variety of raffle prizes and a guest speaker who shared information about childrens’ nutrition and fitness, there truly was something for everyone at the second annual District 58 Family Fit Fair on Feb. 24. (Click here) (Pictures)

Lester fourth grade hosts sweet fundraiser
Thanks to the mouthwatering array of cookies, brownies and other toothsome delights sold at Lester School on Feb. 25, a child in Uganda will be able to attend school for a year.(Click here) (Pictures)

‘Angel of Death’ survivor speaks at Herrick, O’Neill
Nazi doctor Josef Mengele was known as the Angel of Death for his years spent performing medical experiments on concentration camp prisoners, especially identical twins, during WWII. Among these twins were Eva and Miriam Mozes. (Click here) (Pictures)

Lester School Science Olympiad brings science to life
On Feb. 23, the classrooms at Lester School were packed with students building marble roller coasters, investigating a “crime,” inflating balloons using bottles of soda, and building marshmallow towers. (Click here) (Pictures)

O’Neill eighth graders get lessons in dance, etiquette during special Friday classes
When it comes time to go to homecoming, prom, or a special family occasion, about 120 eighth graders at O’Neill will more than likely have the smoothest moves on the dance floor—and fantastic etiquette, to boot. (Click here) (Pictures)

Authors inspire students at annual District 58 Author Fest
District 58 students got the chance to hear about the art of storytelling from some of the best in their field during the 2010 Author Fest Feb. 17-19. (Click here) (Pictures)

District 58 Reflections projects headed to state
Congratulations to the following District 58 students, whose work will represent the Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs at the state level of Reflections, a PTA arts recognition and achievement program for students: (Click here)

Puffer presents village with calendar sale money for bike racks
February 16 was a red-letter day for the Henry Puffer School student council—and it was marked on a calendar of their own creation. (Click here) (Pictures)

O’Neill students have a heart
O’Neill Middle School students really have a heart for giving—literally. (Click here)

Second-graders celebrate Chinese New Year with help from Panda Express
Smiling, Mike Lo and Chai Loo handed a red envelope to each second grader one by one. The students used both hands to accept their envelope, as is the custom, then thanked the men using a phrase they had just learned: “xie xie.” (Photos) (Click here)

Highland sixth-graders sarcophagus project
Sixth-graders at Highland School completed their much-anticipated sarcophagus project before winter break, and the colorful, symbol-laden fruits of their labor will remain hanging in the hallway until after parent-teacher conferences are done at the end of the month. (Photos) (Click here)

O'Neill students experience Ellis Island through simulation
On Jan. 11, students in Sarah Brost's social studies classes at O'Neill Middle School experienced Ellis Island through the eyes of immigrants. (Photos) (Click here)

Young scientists show their chops at 29th annual D58 science fair
More than 750 budding young scientists participated in the 29th annual District 58 Science Fair, completing a total of 513 projects that were on display at O’Neill Middle School Jan. 23. (Click here)

Pierce Downer second-grader on his way to a million words
Pierce Downer School second-grader Kyle Johnson has set quite a goal for himself with this year's Accelerated Reader program--and it looks like he’ll make it. (Click here)

District 58 schools raising funds for Haitian earthquake victims
Countries around the world are rallying around Haiti following the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake, and students in District 58 will be using their heads to help during the next few weeks. (Click here)

O’Neill seeks community support in U.S. Cellular grant competition
Downers Grove’s O’Neill Middle School is in the running for a $100,000 grant from U.S. Cellular, and with just a few days left to vote, it seeks community support to climb to the top. (Click here)

Retired Highland custodian has quite the collection
There’s a room in Lou Gornik’s Downers Grove home that looks just like an old-fashioned apothecary shop. (Click here)

Tickets going quickly for Bacon Brothers concert at Tivoli for District 58 Education Foundation
DOWNERS GROVE—The seats are filling up quickly for the District 58 Education Foundation’s 2010 Entertainment for Education fundraiser featuring the Bacon Brothers. Tickets went on sale Dec. 18, and after just two weeks, the premium and second-tier seats are nearly sold out. (Click here)

District 58 students making the season brighter for others
For District 58 students, the holidays are a time of giving, and again this year the schools have completed a variety of service projects to make the season brighter for others. (Click here)

District 58 Education Foundation set to give away nearly $20,000 in grants to schools
The District 58 Education Foundation is giving away nearly $20,000 in grants this school year. Staff were encouraged to apply for mini-grants ($500 or less) and maxi grants of $500 or more to enhance curriculum or technology innovations, including staff development. The committee received a total of 17 requests from nine schools, including 12 maxi grant requests and five mini grant requests. (Click here)

Project brings ancient Egypt to life for Belle Aire sixth-graders
Who was the female mummy? Why was she buried with jewelry, a pet lion named Fearless, and what looked to be some kind of early electronic device? (Click here) (Pictures)

Lester students get ‘Movin’ in the Morning’
The school day hasn’t yet begun at Lester, but a group of about a dozen first-, second- and third-graders are already hard at work. (Click here) (Pictures)

Fairmount sixth-graders help pilot Fossil Finders project
Sixth-graders in Deanna Bloom’s classroom at Fairmount School got some very hands-on science lessons earlier this month. (Click here) (Pictures)

Pie throwing provides fundraising incentive at Puffer
Henry Puffer Principal Todd McDaniel isn’t afraid to take a pie in the face—not when it’s for a good cause. (Click here) (Pictures)

Puffer sixth-grader spearheads Patriots Park cleanup
Henry Puffer sixth-grader Kelsey Gadomski was fishing at Patriot’s Park on 55th Street this past summer when she became concerned about the litter there, and the potential hazard it poses to the wildlife that lives in the park. (Click here) (Pictures)

Therapy dogs boost reading skills at Belle Aire
Lying calmly on a mat, her head cocked attentively, Bella listened intently to the story being read aloud. When the book was finished, Bella got not just a thank-you, but also a pat on the head. (Click here) (Pictures)

O’Neill student council pays a personal visit to Ronald McDonald House
Each year, the O’Neill Middle School student council collects pop tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House near Loyola Medical Center. This year, the group got to see exactly where their donation goes—in more ways than one. (Click here) (Pictures)

Veteran visits O’Neill social studies classes
Students in Sarah Brost’s social studies classes at O’Neill Middle School got a very personal Veteran’s Day experience on Nov. 10. (Click here)

Bug project fires up Indian Trail second graders’ imaginations
What do a skittlebug, a pinkanator, a pointytail dragon and a thumpleberry have in common? (Click here) (Pictures)

Special discovery brings science lesson to life at Highland School
During the first quarter of this year, second-graders at Highland School had some very crawly visitors. (Click here) (Pictures)

Belle Aire hosts week-long birthday celebration
Belle Aire School celebrated its 40th anniversary the week of Nov. 9 with a wide variety of birthday-themed activities. (Click here) (Pictures)

District 58 schools make good use of Reaching New Heights grants
Each year, the District 58 Education Foundation provides a $500 grant to each of the 13 schools in District 58 for the principals to use as they see fit. Here is what each of the buildings plan to do with the money this year. (Click here)

District 58 students selected to participate in IMEA district festival
Nearly three dozen students from Downers Grove Grade School District 58 have been selected to participate in the Illinois Music Educators Association’s District 1 Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Lincoln-Way North High School in Frankfort. (Click here)

Herrick workshop highlights National Day of Writing
At one table, students busily wrote descriptions of a troll doll, a rubber hamburger, a stuffed animal and a ceramic peace sign. At another, students collaborated on a newspaper page highlighting the antics of a skiing squirrel. (Click here)

O’Neill students pay a visit to the Moving Wall
O’Neill Middle School students got a unique opportunity to learn about the Vietnam War in an up close and personal way earlier this month, when the Moving Wall visited Downers Grove. (Click here)

Firefighters visit with Kingsley students
When Isa, a Kingsley School student, entered the building late last month saying that she was a fire truck, teacher Marla Gilbert –who was serving as principal on that day--called her husband, a Downers Grove Fire Department lieutenant. (Click here)

WeatherBug finds a home at Whittier
  When WGN News reports on the weather in Downers Grove, it’s now getting data from the rooftop of Whittier School.
  A WeatherBug station was installed at Whittier this summer, thanks to a series of generous donations and the efforts of the Whittier PTA Math and Science Committee. (Click here)

Herrick team building days promote unity
Outside, groups of Herrick Middle School seventh graders were strapping on Downers Grove North football gear as quickly as possible, then completing a variety of tasks before passing the gear off to a teammate to try to win a relay. (Click here) (Pictures)

District 58 teachers bring instruments to life for potential band students
The French horn jauntily worked its way through the “Raiders of the Lost Ark” theme. The flute danced its way over the lilting melody of the “Harry Potter” opening credits. (Click here)

KinderMorgan grant to boost technology in O’Neill science classes
In Meg Van Dyke’s science classes at O’Neill Middle School, it’s all about learning to think—and act—like bona fide scientists, which means hands-on, real-world experiments and research.(Click here)

District 58 welcomes new staff members..
District 58 welcomed approximately three dozen new staff members for the 2009-10 school year. (Click here)

Former Herrick teachers fire up kids’ imaginations..
First they were firefighters, battling a blaze. Then they were doctors, carefully tending to patients’ injuries. Then they were manning a lemonade stand, making sure the mix had just the right amount of lemons and sugar. (Click here)

What’s the buzz? Indian Trail reading specialist makes own honey in summer...
Julie Bianchin’s work as a reading specialist at Indian Trail may be her bread and butter, but in the summer, Bianchin’s thoughts turn to honey. (Click here)

Herrick teacher participates in Bahamas fellowship
Herrick Middle School eighth grade teacher Jill Henry recently spent two weeks in the Bahamas—but this was no vacation getaway. (Click here)

Sneak Preview gives incoming seventh graders a taste of middle school
For the sixth year in a row, incoming seventh grade students will have their jitters eased and their questions answered during Sneak Preview, a comprehensive three-day orientation program hosted by Herrick and O’Neill middle schools and sponsored by the District 58 Education Foundation. (Read more)