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Attend PTO Meeting
Sign Up for Remind App Notifications
Submit Feedback/Suggestions to the PTO
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 10/31 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
Saturday 11/15, 9-10:45am - volunteer at Feed My Starving Children (Aurora)
Principal's Corner
Satchel Pulse Social Emotional Screener
Elementary students and teachers will once again participate in the Satchel Pulse Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener, a tool to help us monitor and improve the social-emotional skills of all our students. D181 first utilized this SEL screener in our elementary schools during the 2023-2024 school year after a successful pilot during the 2022-2023 school year. Teachers of students in grades KG-5th will complete the screener about their students, and students in grades 3rd-5th will complete the screener about themselves. SEL skills include developing healthy habits, managing emotions, setting and achieving goals, developing empathy for others, establishing and maintaining supportive relationships, collaborating with others, and making responsible and caring decisions.
Satchel Pulse is a student-friendly screener with 25 simple questions, which will be administered during October and May. Students and teachers will complete the screener which includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship, and responsible decision-making questions. Information gained from this screener will provide our school teams with additional insight to best support our students’ social, emotional, and academic growth. If you have any questions related to the Satchel Pulse screener, please contact Sara Olson at solson@d181.org.
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:
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Use a Level 1 voice (quiet talking) in the lunchroom
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Keep a calm, quiet body when entering and exiting
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Keep hands and feet to yourself
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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
Library News
Book Character Pumpkin Contest 2025
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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.
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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.
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Students are encouraged to display the matching book or cover, if possible. Please make sure names are inside any personal books.
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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.
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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.
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Please fill out the entry form when you turn in your pumpkin.
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
Order by Wednesday 10/15 12pm for Special Lunch on Thursday 10/23
The next Special Lunch (Jimmy John's) is on Thursday, October 23rd. Orders must be placed by 12pm on Wednesday, October 15th. 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.
Chipotle Fundraiser - Wednesday 10/22, 4-8pm
Dine out to support the Elm School PTO! Chipotle (Willowbrook) is donating 25% of sales on Wednesday, October 22nd, 4-8pm. Show the flyer at check out or use code VHVF63V for online orders.
Thank you for joining us at Bowser Bash last Friday!
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!
Afterschool Enrichment - Chess Club
There are still spots available in afterschool Chess Club! Register HERE.
Upcoming Events
- Thursday, October 16
- Friday, October 17
- Monday, October 20
- Tuesday, October 21