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Pierce Downer students, PTA spotlight academic gains and student leadership at District 58 meeting
Summary
Principal and student leaders from Pierce Downer Elementary presented PB Promise behavior expectations, recent NWEA/IAR achievement and growth data, and student-run activities; PTA co-presidents described fundraising and new library furniture purchases.
Principal remarks, student presentations and PTA leaders’ updates at Downers Grove Grade School District 58’s April board meeting highlighted classroom culture, academic assessment results and family-supported programs at Pierce Downer Elementary.
Principal A. Wagner told the board the school uses a daily “PD Promise” (to be respectful, responsible and safe) across classrooms and common areas, and described recognition systems used to reward students. Student council leaders described recent service and school activities including a winter festival, toy drive and a May 4 fun run. PTA co-presidents Liz Rossi and Francesca Ravchuk summarized fundraising priorities — assemblies, field trips (recently increased to $25 per student), teacher grants, library volunteers and new library furniture installed over spring break.
The presentation also included summary assessment results District staff package as school-reported NWEA MAP and ECRA trend data. The principal said Pierce Downer’s NWEA math median achievement moved from the 80th percentile (fall) to roughly the 81st percentile (winter) and that 51% of students were in the “high” achievement range; reading medians were described in the low-to-mid 70th percentile with a reduction in the share of students in the lowest bands (from about 20% in fall to about 14% in winter). The presentation credited the school’s instructional leadership team and targeted classroom systems for the gains.
Student council officers described volunteer-run activities (hot cocoa station, photo booth, cookie decorating), a toy drive that raised more than $1,800 and collected over 100 toys for a local charity, and plans for a fun run on May 4 with a Star Wars theme. PTA leaders said the group funds about six assemblies per year, supports field trips, pays teacher allowances and underwrites classroom enrichment; they also noted the PTA recently purchased new furniture for the school library.
The board thanked the presenters and invited teachers and grant recipients to pose for a short photo before the meeting moved on to other agenda items.
