Hinsdale Central Girls Basketball Skills Clinic

Hinsdale Central Girls Basketball is hosting its 3rd Annual Skills Clinic on Sunday, October 26 from 2-3:30p. REGISTER TODAY! The Skills Clinic sells out every year.

• Location: Hinsdale Central Main Gym and Field House
• Cost: $25 (all proceeds go to support Hinsdale Central Girls Basketball program)
• Skills clinic run by Central players and coaches
• This clinic sells out each year so be sure to register today!
• Hinsdale Central Girls Basketball finished in the Top 25 in the state last season and will be a team to watch this year – so come learn from some of the state’s best!

Principal's Corner

Walk/Bike to School Day

Elm School is participating in National Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 8th. Parents and students are all invited to walk/bike to school. This movement is aimed at inspiring our school community to come together in promoting health and safer routes for students to walk and bike to school. 

D181 Foundation Community Speaker Series

Announcing the Community Speaker Series lineup for the 2025-2026 season! Please join us on Wednesday, October 8 at 7:15pm for the Community Speaker Series fall event at Hinsdale Middle School. We are thrilled to welcome Ethan Kross, PhD, two-time National Bestselling author of Shift and Chatter, and an award-­winning professor in the University of Michigan’s top-­ranked Department of Psychology and its Ross School of Business. We look forward to connecting with our parent community.

Register HERE for Ethan Kross, PhD - Shift: Managing Emotions So They Don’t Manage You. Staying Regulated and Confident - a Guide for Parents and Kids.

Tech Ambassadors

We are pleased to embark on another year of the Tech Ambassadors leadership program at Elm Elementary. This year, students in grades 2-5 are invited to apply. Students who complete the application process and are chosen as Tech Ambassadors will serve as leaders within our school and district. 

2-3 Tech Ambassadors will meet once a month on Wednesdays from 11:50 AM-12:15 PM. 

4-5 Tech Ambassadors will meet twice a month on Fridays from 7:45 to 8:30 AM. 

Goals and Mission of the Tech Ambassadors: 

• To develop leadership skills in order to help their school community

• To serve as technology integration leaders in their school

• To foster positive digital citizenship

We ask both new and returning students to indicate their interest in the program by October 1st. Please discuss this opportunity with your child prior to starting the application process.

• If your student would like to apply for the Tech Ambassadors program, please have him/her complete this Google Form by October 1st.

• We cannot accept late applications.

Thank you,

Lea Bishop, Barbara Folan, Susan Petersen, and Cassie Soofi

Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee Representatives

If you are interested in joining the PTAC, please fill out this form.

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.

Let's Refocus on School-Ready Behaviors

As we settle into the school year, we've noticed a higher-than-usual number of students making choices that fall outside our expected school behaviors. To help us create a safe, respectful, and focused environment for all learners, we’re asking for your support at home.

Please take a few minutes this week to speak with your child about the importance of school-ready behaviors—including using quiet voices, safe hands, and walking feet. This was our behavioral focus last week. These simple expectations go a long way in helping our school run smoothly and safely. It also helps us respect the learning that’s taking place in each classroom.

Our staff is actively reinforcing these expectations through morning announcements and positive incentives like Bowser Bucks, but we’re still seeing some challenges. Your partnership makes a big difference. Please remind your child that doing the right thing—whether in the classroom, hallways, cafeteria, or playground—is important, even if others around them are making different choices.

Clubs

Elm is excited to offer the following clubs:

Kindness Club: Elm School's Kindness Club is returning! The club is offered to students in grades 2-5. The group’s goals are to provide opportunities for students to promote positive social behaviors in our school and communities while also increasing leadership skills, fostering an attitude of teamwork and making meaningful connections with peers. The club will meet before school on Tuesdays from 7:45-8:30 a.m. beginning on October 7th. The club will be offered for 17 sessions, concluding on Tuesday, February 10th. Students should meet at the front entrance at 7:45a.m. on Tuesdays. To sign your child/children up, please complete this Google form. Please sign up by October 1.

Questions? Feel free to contact the club co-sponsors, Mrs. Hanson at thanson@d181.org or Mrs. Guzaldo at mguzaldo@d181.org for more information.

Destination Imagination (DI): DI challenges students to work in teams to solve open-ended problems using imagination, innovation, and collaboration. Visit the PTO website for more information. For questions, email Lisa Matta at di@elmschoolpto.org.

• Student Sign-Up – Deadline: September 28th - If you’re ready to enroll your child (and didn’t sign up at the Ice Cream Social), please use the link below to ensure we have permission and contact info: Register Here

Order by Wednesday 10/1 12pm for Special Lunch on Thursday 10/9

The next Special Lunch (Culver's) is on Thursday, October 9th. Orders must be placed by 12pm on Wednesday, October 1st. 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 10/3, 9-10am

Please join us on Friday, October 3rd 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).

Inaugural Bowser Bash Fall Festival & Fundraiser - Friday 10/3, 4:30-7:30pm

Bowser Bash is on Friday! We're looking forward to a fun evening of catching up with old friends, meeting new friends, and celebrating our wonderful school community. 

*Please note that an adult must be present throughout the event with a paid ticket. This is not a drop off event.

Looking to get involved with the PTO? Sign up to volunteer at the event!

Principal's Corner

Rotary Run 

Join us for the Rotary Run Charity Classic, Hinsdale’s Family Run! This exciting event is coming up soon, so register today!

Walk/Bike to School Day

Elm School is participating in National Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 8th. Parents and students are all invited to walk/bike to school. This movement is aimed at inspiring our school community to come together in promoting health and safer routes for students to walk and bike to school. 

D181 Foundation Community Speaker Series

Announcing the Community Speaker Series lineup for the 2025-2026 season! Please join us on Wednesday, October 8 at 7:15pm for the Community Speaker Series fall event at Hinsdale Middle School. We are thrilled to welcome Ethan Kross, PhD, two-time National Bestselling author of Shift and Chatter, and an award-­winning professor in the University of Michigan’s top-­ranked Department of Psychology and its Ross School of Business. We look forward to connecting with our parent community.

Register HERE for Ethan Kross, PhD - Shift: Managing Emotions So They Don’t Manage You. Staying Regulated and Confident - a Guide for Parents and Kids.

Elm Street Closure Update

We are pleased to share that Elm Street will reopen to two-way traffic beginning at 8:00 AM on Monday morning. While some landscaping work will continue off to the side of the road next week, and the sidewalk over the creek will remain closed until the bridge railing is installed next month, vehicles will be able to travel in both directions starting Monday and moving forward. Thank you so much for your patience and support throughout this project.

Sara Havel Brainy Game Shelf

I’m excited to share that the Sara Havel Brainy Game Shelf is now up and running — and it's located right in our library! This collection is named in honor of our wonderful retiree, Sara Havel. The shelf is filled with educational games that promote critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity — just the kind of learning experiences Sara always encouraged.

Who can check out games?

• Students – for home use or classroom learning

• Families – for meaningful and fun learning at home

• Teachers – for classroom centers, indoor recess, or small group activities

How it works:

• Games are available in the library

• Use the checkout log to sign games in and out

• Games can be borrowed for up to one week

• Please make sure all pieces are returned in good condition

Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee Representatives

If you are interested in joining the PTAC, please fill out this form.

Picture Day - Tuesday 9/23