Principal's Corner

Erin’s Law

House Bill 6193, or Erin’s Law, was signed into law in the State of Illinois on January 24, 2013. This law mandates that Illinois public schools extend their current mandated educational programs regarding personal safety, abuse education and prevention curriculum to students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades. 

The goal of the law is to teach children to avoid situations that may lead to abuse and to report any instances of abuse they may have endured. Providing abuse education in schools is not a new initiative. Mandates under the Health Education Act and Internet Safety Education Curriculum require instruction beginning in sixth grade. Erin’s Law simply extends this education into grades pre-kindergarten through twelve. The purpose of this curriculum extension is to proactively build competencies within our students regarding safety, abuse and prevention. 

This instruction will be provided for our students during the week of March 24, 2025. If you would like to opt your child out of this conversation, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. 

 

Spring Assessment Update

Each spring, D181 third-eighth grade students participate in various state assessments. The results of these assessments allow the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to monitor student learning throughout the state while also identifying trends and meeting federal regulations related to student assessment. Locally, we utilize the results of such assessments to evaluate student learning, refine our curriculum, update instructional pacing guides, and gauge the effectiveness of our school improvement efforts.

D181 has a Board-approved assessment calendar for each measure that is administered throughout the school year. Assessment windows provide a timeline for the administration of assessments so that students across the district participate in assessments during a similar block of days. However, students do not participate in the assessment every day of the identified window. State assessments that will be administered this spring are listed below, along with a brief description of the assessment and District-wide administration window. 

  • Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)

    • Window: March 17 - April 25 

    • Description: State assessment of science proficiency for all students enrolled in grade 5 or grade 8. Three subtests, all related to the Next Generation Science Standards.

  • Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)

    • Window: April 7 - April 18

    • Description: State assessment of reading and math proficiency (IAR). Five subtests: two English language arts and three mathematics. Madison and Elm students have been selected by the ISBE to participate in field testing and will receive a brief third unit of English language arts.

  • Dynamic Learning MAP (DLM)

    • Window: April 7 - April 18

    • Description: State assessment of academic progress in English language arts and mathematics (DLM) for all students enrolled in grades 3-8 and science for students enrolled in grade 5 or grade 8. This assessment is only administered to qualifying special education students as an alternative assessment to IAR and ISA. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s case manager. 

While we realize that some absences are unavoidable, we ask that you make every effort to avoid scheduling appointments or other absences during this time to minimize the amount of instructional time missed for make-up assessments. Please contact your building principal with any questions related to your child’s specific assessment schedule. 

 

Illinois Science Assessment - 5th Grade Students

Elm School fifth grade students will be taking the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) during the week of March 17-21, 2025.  Elm students will be taking the assessment on March 17, 18 and 20. 

The ISA is a state mandated assessment that aligns with our Illinois Learning Standards in science. The results provide us with important data to help make broad curriculum decisions at the school and district levels. Once results are made available to us we will send home a report on your child’s assessment performance.  

We encourage you to talk with your children about the importance of doing their best on the ISA, while communicating that the assessment yields only one piece of information about them and their school’s progress. 

 

IAR Assessment Schedule - Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Students

This year's Elm School Illinois Assessment of Readiness theme is Good to Grow! We have some fun surprises planned for our students each day of testing! Our theme was selected to remind students that they already possess the necessary tools to succeed on this important test. It also aligns with our school focus on strengths-based feedback and student efficacy, emphasizing that growth is just as important as simply achieving high scores. We believe that every student has the ability to perform their best! 

Additionally, Elm has been selected as a pilot school this year, which means we will be administering a third ELA assessment. We are excited for our students to showcase their knowledge and skills! Below is our schedule for the upcoming IAR assessments.

 

 

Please note that on 4/11: Hydrated and Healthy, we are planning to give the students a water bottle. Per our Food Allergy Management Policy the ingredient label is below.

 

Report Cards Now Available

Your child’s report card is now available and can be viewed electronically through your Skyward Family Access account. Please use the following steps to see your child’s report card:

  • Login to Skyward Family Access at http://skywardfamily.d181.org

  • Select the Portfolio Tab

  • Click on your child’s T2 Report Card

  • Once it processes, click “View Report”

Our schools are pleased to share your child's progress through the report card. We encourage you to contact your child's teachers with any questions or comments you might have. If you have any difficulty logging into Skyward Family Access, or difficulty accessing your child’s report card once you have logged in, please contact Nick Skrip at nskrip@d181.org.

 

D181 Registration Now Open for Current Students

D181 registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open for current D181 students. Please register your child as soon as possible. For step-by-step instructions, click here.

*All current D181 students in Preschool/ECE and those entering Kindergarten through 8th grade for the 2025-2026 school year must complete the District registration and fee payment process (including the payment of all past due fees from the current school year).

Silent Auction is LIVE - New Items Added!

The Silent Auction, part of our upcoming Spring Fundraiser, is officially open, and new items have been added! Don’t miss your chance to bid on exclusive experiences and exciting prizes. Click HERE to start bidding on:

  • Ride to School in a Fire Truck – Treat your child and a few friends to an unforgettable ride to school in style!
  • VIP Seating for the End of Year Pool Party – Enjoy front-row access to this fun and festive celebration.
  • Salon, Spa, and Dental Packages – Indulge in luxury pampering for the parents with a selection of top-tier services.
  • Family Photography Packages – Capture timeless family memories with a local photographer and create a core memory experience!
  • Principal, Librarian, or PE Teacher for a Half Day – Give your child the chance to take over the role of Principal, Librarian, or PE Teacher for a half-day – a fun and memorable school experience!

And that’s just the beginning – there are also sports tickets, restaurant gift cards, after-school activities, and more! Happy bidding!

Elm School March Madness Bracket Challenge - Selection Sunday is here!

We are organizing a schoolwide March Madness Bracket to: (1) foster community, (2) raise funds for our school, and (3) have a bit of fun! 

 

BACKGROUND: 

  • What is March Madness? March Madness refers to the annual National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's and women's college basketball championship tournaments. It's a single-elimination tournament that takes place in March and April.
  • What is a Bracket? Each year, millions of people (fans and NON-fans alike) complete March Madness brackets to track the winners of each round of games. These brackets are tracked online, with rankings in your team pool (here: Elm Community) displayed daily.
  • The Kids Follow the Games at School! The P.E. Teachers have each class randomly select a few teams to be their "class teams" to root for and follow their progress. We encourage you to follow along at home with your own brackets!

DETAILS:

  • Entry Fee: $20 donation per entry (includes both Men's and Women's).
  • Bracket: Complete your bracket(s) between Sunday, March 16th 5pm (“Selection Sunday”) and Thursday, March 20th (“Tip-Off”).
    • Click HERE for Men's and HERE for Women's. 
  • Track Your Standing: Follow your bracket to see where you stand among your peers as the games continue through April 7th (the “Championship”)!
  • Winner: Receives a class party for their child! (+ schoolwide bragging rights)
    • There will be one winner for the Men's bracket and one for the Women's bracket.
    • If you have multiple children at Elm, you can register multiple entry fees if you would like a chance to win a class party for each. 

ABSOLUTELY NO love of basketball/sports is required - this is just an excuse for fun, fundraising, and a bit of healthy competition! 

 

Questions? Email waysandmeans@elmschoolpto.org.

Order by Wednesday 3/19 12pm for Special Lunch on Thursday 3/27

The next Special Lunch (Sarpino's) is on Thursday, March 27th. Orders must be placed by 12pm on Wednesday, March 19th. See ordering instructions HERE. 

Principal's Corner

Lockdown Drill Notification

Per the School Safety Drill Act covered under Illinois Statute (105 ILCS 12/20), this notification is being provided to parents and guardians of students attending Elm School. On 3/10/25, Elm School will conduct a lockdown drill that will include school staff, students, and Burr Ridge law enforcement agency representative(s). During this drill, teachers will utilize the linked Google Slides to instruct students. 

We understand that some parents/guardians may want to opt out of this type of drill for their child. As the parent/guardian of a student attending Elm School, you have the option to exempt your child, for any reason, from the drill. If you choose to exempt your child from the drill, please notify Mrs. Miscimarra at 630-861-4001 or mmiscimarra@d181.org no later than the morning of the drill.

Thank you for your continued support.

 

Report Cards Now Available

Your child’s report card is now available and can be viewed electronically through your Skyward Family Access account. Please use the following steps to see your child’s report card:

  • Login to Skyward Family Access at http://skywardfamily.d181.org

  • Select the Portfolio Tab

  • Click on your child’s T2 Report Card

  • Once it processes, click “View Report”

Our schools are pleased to share your child's progress through the report card. We encourage you to contact your child's teachers with any questions or comments you might have. If you have any difficulty logging into Skyward Family Access, or difficulty accessing your child’s report card once you have logged in, please contact Nick Skrip at nskrip@d181.org.

 

D181 Registration Now Open for Current Students

D181 registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open for current D181 students. Please register your child as soon as possible. For step-by-step instructions, click here.

*All current D181 students in Preschool/ECE and those entering Kindergarten through 8th grade for the 2025-2026 school year must complete the District registration and fee payment process (including the payment of all past due fees from the current school year).

Library News

Spring Fundraiser / Parents' Night Out!

DON'T MISS YOUR SHOT to attend this year's Spring Event to support our school. Ticket sales end this Wednesday 3/12 - click HERE to purchase! 
 
TWO tables are still available - buy now before they sell out! *If you and your friends have already purchased tickets, you can upgrade to a 6-person table decorated for your team of choice for an additional $100.00; email waysandmeans@elmschoolpto.org to upgrade*
 

Remind Text Update

The Remind platform has recently changed its policy around sending text messages. If you're subscribed, you will no longer receive messages via text. Remind messages will only be delivered via email or app, so you will need to either enable email notifications in your account settings or download the Remind app to keep receiving messages. 

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