Kindergarten
Dear Future Kindergarten Parent,
Welcome to District 58! As you prepare to enroll your child in kindergarten, we wanted to share some helpful kindergarten resources with you. Please be sure to contact your neighborhood school to be added to their future kindergartener contact list.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many District 58 schools had to cancel the in-person Kindergarten Roundup orientation events that we typically host in the spring. Instead, we invite you to view this page to learn more about the District 58 kindergarten experience. While this cannot replace visiting school in person, we hope it helps answer some of your questions.
New: District 58 has launched an online New Student Registration Portal. All new students, including incoming kindergarten students, may register online at Registration.
KINDERGARTEN GUIDE:
Please click the buttons below to learn more about kindergarten in District 58!
- School Boundary Maps.
- 2020 Kindergarten Roundup Schedule: Register your child and meet your child’s principal and teachers. Note: Kindergarten Roundups scheduled for after March 13 have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2020-21 Online Kindergarten/New Student Registration Portal: Register your incoming kindergartener online! Incoming kindergarteners who already completed registration via paper forms do not need to register online. Unsure? Contact your school secretary to find out.
- Registration Checklist: In addition to completing online registration, incoming kindergarten families will be asked to submit the following documents for their child.
- Documents to submit:
- Child’s original, certified birth certificate from the county or state (with raised seal)
- Certificate of Residence
- Three proofs of residency:
- One of the following: Your driver’s license or state ID (to prove your identity)
- One of the following: Homeownership title/deed, apartment lease, homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance or auto insurance
- One of the following: A current gas bill, current electric bill or current water bill with full name and current address
- Health Forms: View the Health Requirement Letter to learn which forms your child needs.
Families can choose to submit required documents via four methods:
- Upload and submit via the online registration portal. (Exception: You are required to submit a paper version of your child’s certified birth certificate, with raised seal.)
- Mail the documents to your child’s school.
- Bring the documents to your child’s school, once school offices reopen.
- Fairmount, Henry Puffer, Highland, Lester and Kingsley schools have secure drop boxes outside their front doors. If your child will attend one of these schools, you may drop off the forms at your school’s secure drop box at any time.
- Documents to submit:
- Registration Checklist: In addition to completing online registration, incoming kindergarten families will be asked to submit the following documents for their child.
- Incoming Kindergarten Health Information: District 58’s Health Services staff created this video highlighting important health information for incoming kindergarteners.
- Immunization Requirements
- Kindergarten Readiness Night: District 58 hosts a parent meeting every winter (usually February) to learn more about kindergarten.
- Getting Ready for Kindergarten video: Watch this 8-minute video to learn more about kindergarten in District 58. Note: the video says that half day kindergarten dismisses at 11:05 a.m. Since this video’s production, that time has changed to 11:20 a.m.
- Short on time? Watch these mini-videos on kindergarten in District 58:
- Getting Ready for Kindergarten: View this tip sheet for helpful pre-kindergarten reminders. (Spanish)
- Developmental Screenings: District 58 provides free and optional developmental screenings for children ages 0-5.
- Grove Children’s Preschool presents Transitioning to Kindergarten: This sheet provides helpful information on transitioning your child from preschool to kindergarten.
- District 58 Keys to Kindergarten Success: This checklist helps parents prepare for their child’s kindergarten experience.
- District 58 offers the traditional half-day kindergarten program in the morning that covers the entire kindergarten curriculum. In the afternoon, the District offers the fee-based Optional Kindergarten Enrichment and Enhancement Program (OKEEP), which gives students enriched learning experiences in literacy, math, social studies and science, as well as exploration in physical education, music, multimodal learning, socialization and play.
- Kindergarten schedule:
- Half-day kindergarten: 8:15 to 11:20 a.m.
- Kindergarten with OKEEP: 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Monday) 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Tuesday-Friday)
- Kindergarten curriculum information: View this brochure for information on the District’s kindergarten curriculum.
- Optional Kindergarten Enrichment and Enhancement Program information
- Virtual tour: What does a typical day of kindergarten look like in District 58? (Note: the video says that half day kindergarten dismisses at 11:05 a.m. Since this video’s production, that time has changed to 11:20 a.m.)
- Report cards: District 58 uses a standards-based report card
- Kindergarten Report Card Resource Document
- Kindergarten Report Card Sample
- District 58 curriculum: Learn general information about District 58’s curriculum, assessments and reporting methods
- District 58 special education services: Learn about special services and programs, eligibility categories, frequently asked questions and related resources
- 2019-20 School of 58 Handbook – English
- 2019-20 Un Manual para las Familias – Español
- What does remote learning look like in District 58? Find out here.
- School schedule:
- Morning Kindergarten: 8:15-11:20 a.m., Monday-Friday
- Kindergarten with OKEEP and Grades 1-6: 8:15 a.m.-2 p.m. on Monday and 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday
- Grades 7-8: 8:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Monday and 8:30 a.m.-3:17 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday. Early Bird classes (band, choir and orchestra) will take place from 7:45-8:25 a.m. Monday-Friday.
- Back-to-school toolkit
- 2019-20 bus routes (to be updated in mid-August 2020)
- 2019-20 school supply lists, (to be updated in late-spring 2020)
- 2020-21 calendar
- 2020-21 student fees
- 2020-21 fee waivers
- Food services – District 58 offers hot lunch daily at Herrick, O’Neill and Henry Puffer
- Before and after school care: District 58 contracts with Champions to provide before- and after-school care at all District 58 elementary schools.
- Family resource page
- Health services page
- E-Pay – Use E-Pay to pay for preschool tuition and summer school fees.
- PushCoin – Use Pushcoin to pay student fees and middle school lunch accounts
- View the District 58 Communication Toolkit
- Sign up to receive Communicate 58, District 58’s twice-monthly, award-winning newsletter.
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
- Read District 58’s publications.
- Learn about District 58’s Strategic Plan, which guides the District’s decision-making.
- Learn the District 58 mission, vision and points of pride.
- Join your school’s PTA.
- FY20 Milk/Bag Lunch Application – Elementary schools except Henry Puffer
- FY20 Lunch Application – Herrick, O’Neill and Henry Puffer
- If you have children in both elementary and middle school only one application is necessary for all students. The completed forms may be returned to the child’s school or mailed to: Katie Hannigan, Manager of Business Services, Downers Grove District 58, 1860 63rd Street, Downers Grove, IL 60516
- District 58 offers services to homeless students and their families according to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act. For homeless services, please contact Jessica Stewart at jstewart@dg58.org or 630-719-5824.
- All District 58 schools are staffed with social workers, psychologists, nurses and other support staff to serve student needs.
- DuPage Community Resource Information System – Access community resource information; includes housing/utility, food, transportation, legal/public safety, health and other resources
- DuPage County community resources, by topic