Important Dates

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

Friday 12/5, 9-10am - PTO Meeting

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

Order by Wednesday 12/3 12pm for Special Lunch on Thursday 12/11

The next Special Lunch (Jersey Mike's) is on Thursday, December 11th. Orders must be placed by 12pm on Wednesday, December 3rd. See ordering instructions HERE. 

VOLUNTEER AT LUNCH TIME! Join your child during their lunch hour on Special Lunch days! You will be monitoring your child's class while they are enjoying their lunch. This special time is only for PTO members so if you are not a paid member, you will be taken off the schedule. Sign up HERE. Only sign up for ONE date as any additional dates will be deleted. 
*As always, be sure to bring your photo ID for entry into the school.

PTO Meeting - Friday 12/5, 9-10am

Please join us on Friday, December 5th at 9am in the staff lounge for our monthly PTO Meeting. You can also access the meeting via Zoom HERE if you're unable to attend in person (Meeting ID: 833 9431 6349, Passcode: 347206).

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

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!