Important Dates

*** NO SCHOOL 11/24 - 11/28 ***

Monday 11/24 - Tuesday 11/25 - NO SCHOOL (Parent-Teacher Conferences, Book Fair)

Wednesday 11/26 - Friday 11/28 - NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Holiday)

Friday 12/5, 9-10am - PTO Meeting

Wednesday 12/3 12pm - deadline to order Special Lunch for 12/11

Wednesday 12/10 12pm - deadline to order Special Lunch for 12/18

Thursday 12/11 - Special Lunch (Jersey Mike's)

Thursday 12/18 - Special Lunch (Home Run Inn)

Monday 12/22 - Friday 1/2 - NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)

Principal's Corner

Parent Placement Night

This year’s D181 Parent Placement Night will be held on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2025 in the HINSDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAFETORIUM as follows:

  • 5:45-6:45pm - Current 2nd-4th Grade Families

  • 7:00-8:00pm - Current 5th-7th Grade Families

This event provides our families with the opportunity to learn more about the 2026-2027 placement process for 3rd-8th grade math and 6th-8th grade A-ELA and ACE courses. A question and answer session will be held after the presentation related to placement requirements and the summer math bridge program. 

A copy of the presentation and frequently asked questions will be available after the event at https://www.d181.org/departments/learning/placement
 

Questions?

Contact Kristin Reingruber

Director of Assessment, Instruction, and Evaluation

kreingruber@d181.org

 

Spelling Bee Information

Throughout the month of December, students in third, fourth, and fifth grades will participate in their classroom Spelling Bee assessments, given in a paper format. To help your child prepare, you can use the study list linked here. Participation in the Spelling Bee is optional. If you prefer that your child not participate, please contact your child’s classroom teacher to let them know.

 

Winter NWEA MAP Assessment Information and Schedule

12/8/25: 2nd Grade ELA, 5th Grade ELA

12/9/25: 4th Grade ELA, 5th Grade Math

12/10/25: 1st Grade ELA, 2nd Grade Math

12/11/25: 3rd Grade ELA

12/12/25: 4th Grade Math, 1st Grade Math

12/15/25: 3rd Grade Math

 

Preparing for MAP

A student who is well-rested, well-fed, and has a positive attitude about assessment is best prepared for testing. You can help your child do his or her best by considering these tips:

  • Make sure that your child is in school and on time on test days.

  • Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast before each day of testing.

  • Remind your child that this assessment is only one measure. Emphasize that you have confidence in his or her ability to do the best job possible.

  • Remind your child to listen to the directions and read each question carefully during testing.

Communication of Student Scores

We will continue the use of Skyward to communicate your child’s scores on MAP. This will allow families to receive their student’s results more quickly. An email will be sent alerting families when scores are visible. Directions for viewing results will be included in this follow-up email. Should a paper copy of the report be preferential, please contact your child’s principal.

 

Head Lice Notification

We are sending this letter to all parents/guardians to increase head lice awareness. Direct, physical, head-to-head contact is the usual method of transmission. Lice do NOT jump or fly. Head lice die within two days when not on the head. Eggs not attached to the head will not hatch. Indirect transmission may occur through sharing of bedding and other personal items such as brushes, hair accessories, or hats of an infected person. Remember, head lice do NOT transmit disease.

                                
HELP KEEP HEAD LICE OFF YOUR CHILD 

• Check your child’s head weekly for signs of head lice 

• Teach your child not to share or trade personal items 

• Contain long hair in braids or ponytails 

• Teach children to avoid head-to-head contact

  • Even though they do not jump or fly, they can spread from one student to another by sharing combs, brushes, clothing, hats and in bedding. To reduce your child’s risk of getting head lice, make sure that long hair is tied up. Head lice can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of poor health habits or being dirty. Remember - Anyone can get head lice – they have no preferences for cleanliness, hair color, hair type, ethnicity or age.

  • Please reach out to our building nurse, Kim Pavich If you have any questions or concerns KPavich@d181.org or 630.861.4008

Library News

The Bookfair is Open During Conference Days!

The annual bookfair is returning to conference week! I am so excited to be able to offer teacher wish lists again so teachers can select books that they would like to have purchased for their classrooms, along with great books for your own family. The bookfair will be open during conferences for shopping on Monday, November 24th from 2-8 PM and Tuesday, November 25th from 8 AM-12 PM. Please note the bookfair will close at 12 PM on Tuesday, so it can be packed away. Students are welcome to shop at the bookfair while parents are in conferences. If you are interested in volunteering at the bookfair, please sign up here. 

 

Shop the Bookfair online!
If families are unable to attend the bookfair in person, the QR code on the back of the Anderson's flyer can be scanned to order from the Bookfair website. All purchases benefit the Elm Library and orders will be sent directly to Elm in early December! 
 
December Library Bookmarks
Each month two grade levels will be able to create and design bookmarks for the library. For the month of December, any Kindergarten or 1st grade student that would like to create a bookmark for the library can participate. The entry form can be found here. Be creative and have fun! Bookmarks are due by Friday, December 5th. 

Holiday Market - Thank You!

THANK YOU to all the parents, teachers, staff, and volunteers for supporting the inaugural Holiday Market! The children were so excited to shop for their loved ones. Due to overwhelming interest, we unfortunately sold out of certain items, but your child was able to pre-order and pay on Friday. Once the order comes in, we'll wrap the items and send them home with your child. 

Holiday Cards that GIVE BACK!

Ordering holiday cards this season? Order through Minted and you will not only get 20% off your order, but Minted will donate 10% back to our school. USE CODE: FUNDRAISEELMPTO to save and give. This code is not limited to holiday cards only - browse Minted's incredible selection of art, gifts, and stationary! Code is valid STARTING NOW!

Principal's Corner

Parent Placement Night

This year’s D181 Parent Placement Night will be held on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2025 in the HINSDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAFETORIUM as follows:

  • 5:45-6:45pm - Current 2nd-4th Grade Families

  • 7:00-8:00pm - Current 5th-7th Grade Families

This event provides our families with the opportunity to learn more about the 2026-2027 placement process for 3rd-8th grade math and 6th-8th grade A-ELA and ACE courses. A question and answer session will be held after the presentation related to placement requirements and the summer math bridge program. 

A copy of the presentation and frequently asked questions will be available after the event at https://www.d181.org/departments/learning/placement
 

Questions?

Contact Kristin Reingruber

Director of Assessment, Instruction, and Evaluation

kreingruber@d181.org

 

Spelling Bee Information

Throughout the month of December, students in third, fourth, and fifth grades will participate in their classroom Spelling Bee assessments, given in a paper format. To help your child prepare, you can use the study list linked here. Participation in the Spelling Bee is optional. If you prefer that your child not participate, please contact your child’s classroom teacher to let them know.

Library News

The Bookfair is Coming!

The annual bookfair is returning to conference week! I am so excited to be able to offer teacher wish lists again so teachers can select books that they would like to have purchased for their classrooms, along with great books for your own family.

Students will preview the bookfair on Thursday, November 20th and can bring money for purchases on Friday, November 21st. The bookfair will also be open during conferences for shopping on Monday, November 24th from 2-8 PM and Tuesday, November 25th from 8 AM-12 PM. Please note the bookfair will close at 12 PM on Tuesday, so it can be packed away.

If you are interested in volunteering at the bookfair, please sign up here. 

 

Schedule Change - Monday/Tuesday in the Library
Please note that due to the book fair beginning next week, Monday and Tuesday will be library checkout days instead of iLab. That means that Kindergarten, 2nd and 5th grade students will have checkout on Monday. Students in 1st, 3rd and 4th grade will have checkout on Tuesday. Please return any books to school on Monday or Tuesday so students can check out new books for Thanksgiving break. Thanks!

Chick-fil-A Night - Monday 11/17, 4-7pm

Join us again on Monday 11/17, 4-7pm at Chick-fil-A (Willowbrook) for a fundraising event to support our school! We had an excellent turn out at the last event, with hours full of fun! Invite friends and family to make it extra special and don’t forget to bring cash to spin the wheel - $1 per spin for amazing prizes! **MUST MENTION ELM SCHOOL AT COUNTER OR DRIVE THROUGH**

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