Important Dates

Wednesday 10/22 - Unity Day - wear orange to school

Wednesday 10/22, 4-8pm - Chipotle fundraiser

Thursday 10/23 - Special Lunch (Jimmy John's)

Friday 10/24 - bring a bar of soap for Kindness Club's Bar Soap Community Drive

Friday 10/24 - Library: last day to enter Book Character Pumpkin Contest

Monday 10/27 - Friday 10/31 - Spirit Week

Friday 10/31 9am - Costume parade on school blacktop (parents welcome to attend!)

Friday 10/31 - last day to order TreeRing yearbook with 10% discount

Monday 11/3 - NO SCHOOL (Institute Day)

Friday 11/7, 9-10am - PTO Meeting

Tuesday 11/11 9am - Veterans Day Assembly (parents welcome to attend!)

Saturday 11/15, 9-10:45am - volunteer at Feed My Starving Children (Aurora)

Principal's Corner

Unity Week Celebrations

We’re excited to celebrate Unity Week from October 17–24 with a series of meaningful activities that highlight kindness, empathy, and inclusion—core values of our school community. Here’s what’s happening:

🧡 Rock Garden Project | October 17–24
Throughout the week, each student will decorate a rock to contribute to a grade-level rock garden—a symbol of unity and belonging. A big thank-you to Mrs. Houston for leading this beautiful initiative!

🧡 Unity Week Kick-Off | October 20
To launch our celebration, our wonderful PTO has painted the school rock near the shed in honor of Unity Week. Stop by to take a look!

🧡 Unity Day – Wear Orange! | October 22
Let’s turn our school orange! Students are encouraged to wear orange to show their support for kindness and a bully-free world. In class, students will enjoy a read-aloud, reflect on the meaning of Unity Day, and discuss ways to build a kinder, more inclusive community.

🧡 Unity for Our Community | October 24
We’re collecting bar soap for local families in need. Collection bins will be available at both entrances during morning arrival. Thank you for helping us support our community through small acts of care.

🧡 Imagination Theater Assembly | October 30
Our PTO is sponsoring a special performance of “Someone Else’s Shoes”, a theater experience focused on empathy and understanding others. We’re looking forward to this meaningful event!

We can’t wait to celebrate Unity Week with your children!

 

Community Drive: Clean Hands, Big Hearts

As part of the celebration for Unity Day this October, the Kindness Club is organizing a one-day bar soap drive to support HCS Family Services. Please consider bringing a bar of soap to donate. Your small contribution can make a big difference for local families in need. Help us bring unity to our community!

 

Fall Party and Costume Parade Information

We’re excited to celebrate Halloween with a festive Fall Party and a Costume Parade on Friday, October 31st! The all-school outdoor parade will begin at approximately 9:00 AM, right after arrival and attendance. Families are warmly invited to join us outside to share in the fun!

Students should come to school dressed in their costumes and have any makeup applied at home. As a reminder, we kindly ask that costumes do not include excessive gore or blood, and no weapons or weapon-like accessories are permitted at school. Physical education and recess will continue as scheduled. If needed, students may bring a change of clothes to ensure they can comfortably participate in all parts of the school day.

Classroom parties will be held during the day, and we’re grateful to our generous PTO for providing SkinnyPop Brand Popcorn as a treat for all students (ingredient information is listed below). We look forward to a fun and festive day together!

 

Lunchroom Behavior Focus
For the next two weeks, we are placing a special focus on safe and respectful behavior in the lunchroom. Our goal is to create a calm, enjoyable environment where all students can eat and connect with one another peacefully.

We are reminding students to follow these key expectations:

  • Use a Level 1 voice (quiet talking) in the lunchroom

  • Keep a calm, quiet body when entering and exiting

  • Keep hands and feet to yourself

  • Only eat your own food

We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home. A quick conversation with your child can go a long way in helping us build positive habits that support safety and respect during lunch.

 

Pumpkin Smash

 

Veteran’s Day Assembly

Please join us on November 11th at 9:00 am for our Veterans Assembly featuring the Elm School Choir. We would love for you to share photos of family and friends who are veterans. You can email them to Jaime Sciaccotta at jsciaccotta@d181.org by October 31.

 

Picture Retake Day is Monday, November 10th

If your child was absent on picture day, their name is already on the retake list. If you are unhappy with your original photo, please email Mary Lynn Miscimarra at mmiscimarra@d181.org or call Elm's office at 630-861-4000 to add your child's name to the retake list. If a picture package was purchased, please return the package to the photographer. Be aware that the retake photo replaces the original photo.

 

District 181 Foundation - Chris Singleton

Library News

Book Character Pumpkin Contest 2025

Unleash your Maker Mindset to transform a pumpkin into any book character! Harry Potter, Pete the Cat, Fancy Nancy, Wild Robot, Dog Man...the sky’s the limit!

  • Real pumpkins will NOT be accepted due to our district allergy policy. Foam pumpkins can be found at stores like Target, Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

  • Participation is voluntary. Students choosing to participate must provide their own pumpkins and decorating materials. Yarn, construction paper, pipe cleaners, permanent markers, felt, paint, tacky glue or hot glue work well.

  • Students are encouraged to display the matching book or cover, if possible. Please make sure names are inside any personal books.

  • Students may enter as a family with siblings. The pumpkin will be judged with the grade level of the oldest sibling in the group.

Entries may be brought to the Elm Library from Wednesday, October 15th through Friday, October 24th. No late entries will be accepted. Voting will be the week of October 27th during library classes.

  • There will be one winner from each grade level. Winners will be announced on the morning announcements on November 4th and will receive a free book at our November book fair. Pumpkins must be taken home by Friday, November 7th.

  • Please fill out the entry form when you turn in your pumpkin.

Any questions, please email Mrs. Petersen at spetersen@d181.org.

Fall Party Volunteers Needed!

The fall party will take place on Friday, October 31st!

The party times are as follows:
Kindergarten: 10:45-11:15
1st grade: 10:25-11:25
2nd grade: 1:30-2:30
3rd grade: 10:15-11:15
4th grade: 9:45-10:45
5th grade: 10:15-11:25

Volunteers will help run the activities and provide in classroom support. All materials are provided with instructions. These parties are short, therefore, it is important that you arrive early to sign in and make your way to your room.

If you are interested, please complete the Google form by Wednesday, October 22nd. Any questions? Ask us at: roomparents@elmschoolpto.org

Chipotle Fundraiser - Wednesday 10/22, 4-8pm

Support Elm by ordering your lunch, dinner, or weekend meal prep at Chipotle in Willowbrook (online or in person!) THIS WEDNESDAY! Did you know you can now order Build-Your-Own meal kits that feed 4-6? A great idea for a family dinner night or to ensure you have leftovers for days! Show the flyer at check out or use code VHVF63V for online orders and 25% of sales will support our school. DO GOOD WITH CHIPOTLE!

Fall Spirit Week

Join in on the fun of Fall Spirit Week!

 

Volunteer at Feed My Starving Children - Saturday 11/15, 9-10:45am

Join Elm and Oak School families for a volunteer opportunity at Feed My Starving Children (Aurora) on Saturday, November 15th, 9:00-10:45am. Sign up as a whole family if you’d like! Please include first and last name of every family member attending. Children must be at least 5 years old. See volunteer policies HERE, including adult to child ratios (for example, one adult is required per K-2nd grade child). Sign-up will close on Tuesday, November 4th. We are looking forward to making a difference together! Email community@elmschoolpto.org with any questions.

Thank you for joining us at Bowser Bash!

It was rewarding to see our kids laughing, smiling, connecting with their classmates, and making unforgettable memories — that’s the real success of events like these! We would be grateful if you could please provide your honest feedback HERE so we can make next year's event even better!

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