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Principal's Corner
Community Speaker Series
Please join us on Wednesday, February 11th at 7pm for a Community Speaker Series webinar. We are excited to welcome child and adolescent mental health expert and psychotherapist, Katie Hurley, DSW, LCSW. Dr. Hurley, is the Senior Clinical Advisor for The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to teen and young adult mental health. She is also the author of five books at the intersection of youth, parenting, and mental health. In her new book, Breaking the Boy Code, Dr. Hurley shines a light on the urgent mental health crisis facing boys. Aimed at parents and educators of boys ages five and older, this webinar will provide actionable guidance on fostering empathy, emotional regulation, and healthy connections.
Dr. Katie Hurley
Breaking the Boy Code: The New Playbook For Raising Resilient Boys
Wednesday, February 11th from 7pm to 8:30pm (webinar)
Register here: https://wl.donorperfect.net/
The Community Speaker Series is committed to fostering a sense of community through hosting in-person and virtual events that inform and inspire. CSS is funded jointly by District 86 and District 181 and is supported by the D181 Foundation. Our events are free and open to the public. We encourage everyone to join our events, connect and learn together.
Registration
We are excited to announce that student registration for the 2026-2027 school year will officially open on Monday, February 2, 2026. This registration window applies to all current and new students. Families will receive an email from the district on Thursday, January 22 with more details about registration!
Ramadan
With the Ramadan holiday upon us, we recognize that some of our students will be fasting during the school day. Wanting to be sensitive to their needs, we will have lunch tables outside of the cafeteria during the lunch period where they may sit if they choose to do so, or, the option to NOT go to the lunchroom and instead participate in an extra recess period. Please notify your child’s classroom teacher of your wishes. Thank you!
CSCI Survey
The D181 2025-26 CSCI climate survey will be open on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Families will receive a link to complete the survey via email on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Staff will complete the survey during a staff meeting, and students (grades 4-8) will complete the survey during school. This annual survey is not only a requirement for all school districts in the state but also an opportunity to share how we're performing as a school district with audiences near and far.
Participation from parents, teachers, and students is crucial to ensure we get a valuable snapshot of D181's school climate. All survey results are anonymous, as responses are reported directly to the National School Climate Center before being made available to the District and public. For more information, visit https://www.d181.org/
Valentine’s Day
We look forward to celebrating Valentine’s Day with our students, including the sharing of valentines. If students choose to participate, they will need to send valentines for their entire class on Friday, February 13th. Please do not include any food or candy with the valentines as these items cannot be passed out and will be returned to families. Parents should not feel obligated to buy expensive gifts or elaborate cards for the students - a simple handwritten note to peers would be appreciated just as much!
The Elm School PTO will be providing Annie’s Fruit Snacks for the classroom valentines exchange. The ingredient label is found below.
Are you interested in a PTO Role in 2026/27?
Are you interested in getting more involved with the Elm PTO for the next school year? If so, please fill out this Google Form. We have quite a few vacancies coming up and would love to involve more families. If you have any questions about these roles, feel free to reach out to President@elmschoolpto.org.
Order by Wednesday 2/4 12pm for Special Lunch on Thursday 2/12
The next Special Lunch (Sarpino's) is on Thursday, February 12th. Orders must be placed by 12pm on Wednesday, February 4th. 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 2/6, 9-10am
Please join us on Friday, February 6th 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
Community Speaker Series
Please join us on Wednesday, February 11th at 7pm for a Community Speaker Series webinar. We are excited to welcome child and adolescent mental health expert and psychotherapist, Katie Hurley, DSW, LCSW. Dr. Hurley, is the Senior Clinical Advisor for The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to teen and young adult mental health. She is also the author of five books at the intersection of youth, parenting, and mental health. In her new book, Breaking the Boy Code, Dr. Hurley shines a light on the urgent mental health crisis facing boys. Aimed at parents and educators of boys ages five and older, this webinar will provide actionable guidance on fostering empathy, emotional regulation, and healthy connections.
Dr. Katie Hurley
Breaking the Boy Code: The New Playbook For Raising Resilient Boys
Wednesday, February 11th from 7pm to 8:30pm (webinar)
Register here: https://wl.donorperfect.net/
The Community Speaker Series is committed to fostering a sense of community through hosting in-person and virtual events that inform and inspire. CSS is funded jointly by District 86 and District 181 and is supported by the D181 Foundation. Our events are free and open to the public. We encourage everyone to join our events, connect and learn together.
Registration
We are excited to announce that student registration for the 2026-2027 school year will officially open on Monday, February 2, 2026. This registration window applies to all current and new students. Families will receive an email from the district on Thursday, January 22 with more details about registration!
Sons' Night Out - Thank You!
Even subzero temperatures couldn’t freeze the Elm School Bulldogs’ spirit! A total of 80 dads, sons, and bowling buddies bundled up and rolled in for Boys’ Night Out, filling the lanes with strikes, spares, and nonstop smiles. It was a night full of laughter, friendly competition, and school spirit. Thank you to everyone who braved the cold and helped make it such a fun and memorable evening for our community.
Principal's Corner
District 181 Foundation - Young Writers 2026
MAP, CogAT, and Placement Information
The winter administration of Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) for 2nd-7th grade students and MAP for Primary Grades (MPG) for 1st grade students has ended. Additionally, 2025 CogAT scores are now available for current second and fifth grade families. To access your child’s scores:
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Browse to http://skywardfamily.d181.org/
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Click on TEST SCORES in the left side menu
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Scores will be listed in a table format, with the most recent assessment scores listed at the top
MAP Score Interpretation
When viewing your child’s MAP scores, you will see two types of numbers. The first, called a RIT score, stands for Rasch UnIT. This is a measurement scale developed to simplify the interpretation of test scores. It is an equal-interval scale, like feet and inches on a ruler. The RIT scale ranges from 100–350. RIT scores make it possible to follow a student’s educational growth from year to year.
The second score you will see is a percentile rank. A percentile rank tells you how your child’s score compares to other students of his/her age and grade. For example, a percentile rank of 50 indicates that a student performed the same as or better than 50% of his/her same-age peers. Both scores help families and educators track student learning over time.
If you would like more information about NWEA MAP, please visit the family toolkit at https://www.nwea.org/parent-
CogAT Score Interpretation
Current D181 second grade students participated in the CogAT during the month of November. CogAT scores uploaded to Skyward reflect your child’s standard age score and age percentile rank in the areas of both quantitative and non-verbal reasoning. You will also see a composite QN score, which combines the results from the quantitative and non-verbal batteries.
Current D181 fifth grade students participated in the CogAT during the month of November. CogAT scores uploaded to Skyward reflect your child’s standard age score and age percentile rank in the areas of verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal reasoning. You will also see a composite QN score, which combines the results from the quantitative and non-verbal batteries.
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Standard Age Score (SAS): The standard age score has a mean of 100. It allows educators to compare the rate and level of cognitive development to other same-aged students. For example, students with an SAS of 100 have a rate and level of development that is typical of their age group. A student with an SAS of 132 has a faster rate and higher level of development than a typical student in the same age group.
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Age Percentile Rank (APR): A percentile rank indicates the percentage of same aged students whose scores fall below the score obtained by a particular student. For example, a percentile rank of 60 means that 60 percent of students in that age group scored below a particular student. Performance is shown as a percentile.
A student’s MOST RECENT CogAT Standard Age Score (SAS) may be used to inform their placement in mathematics (QN SAS), ELA (V SAS), and/or social studies (V SAS). Students take the CogAT in second and fifth grades, so you may need to scroll back to a previous year to view the correlating data in Skyward.
Course Placement for 2026-2027
Specific recommendations for math placement at grades 3-8 as well as middle school language arts and social studies placement for 2026-2027 were approved at the Board of Education meeting in November. MAP and CogAT scores are included, in conjunction with other data, in the requirements for students to qualify for advanced/accelerated courses in all three subject areas. Course placement requirements can be found on our website at: https://www.d181.org/
Placement Pre-Qualification
Fifth Grade PWA qualification emails will be sent in mid January to fifth grade students who currently meet MAP placement criteria. These students will be invited to participate in the PWA after school in early March. Fifth grade students who do not qualify for the PWA in March will have the opportunity to qualify for the PWA with their Spring MAP score.
Spring qualifying fifth grade students and qualifying sixth and seventh grade students will be invited to participate in the PWA during early May after school. Any student who requires a PWA as a part of an appeal will participate in the assessment prior to the end of the school year.
Math Bridge pre-assessment qualification emails will be sent to second-seventh grade students who qualify based on MAP and current common assessment averages. These students will be invited to participate in the Math Bridge pre-assessment during the school day in mid-March. Students who do not qualify for the pre-assessment in March will have the opportunity to qualify for the pre-assessment with their Spring MAP score and/or end of year common assessment average. Another Math Bridge pre-assessment will be offered during the school day in early May. Bridge is required for students who successfully appeal their math placement.
Remaining MAP Windows for 2025-2026
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Spring MAP for grades 1-7: April 29 - May 13, 2026
Community Speaker Series
Please join us on Wednesday, February 11th at 7pm for a Community Speaker Series webinar. We are excited to welcome child and adolescent mental health expert and psychotherapist, Katie Hurley, DSW, LCSW. Dr. Hurley, is the Senior Clinical Advisor for The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to teen and young adult mental health. She is also the author of five books at the intersection of youth, parenting, and mental health. In her new book, Breaking the Boy Code, Dr. Hurley shines a light on the urgent mental health crisis facing boys. Aimed at parents and educators of boys ages five and older, this webinar will provide actionable guidance on fostering empathy, emotional regulation, and healthy connections.
Dr. Katie Hurley
Breaking the Boy Code: The New Playbook For Raising Resilient Boys
Wednesday, February 11th from 7pm to 8:30pm (webinar)
Register here: https://wl.donorperfect.net/
The Community Speaker Series is committed to fostering a sense of community through hosting in-person and virtual events that inform and inspire. CSS is funded jointly by District 86 and District 181 and is supported by the D181 Foundation. Our events are free and open to the public. We encourage everyone to join our events, connect and learn together.
Elm Sons' Night Out - Friday 1/23, 6-8pm - Buy Tickets by 1/19
*** Monday, January 19th is the last day to purchase tickets!!! ***
The Family Fun Committee is thrilled to invite you to our annual Sons' Night Out - a fun-filled evening of bowling, food, and quality time together!
Date & Time: Friday, January 23, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Location: Suburbanite Bowl, 201 W. Ogden Ave, Westmont, IL
Tickets: $20 per son + father (or favorite bowling buddy), $10 for each additional child or adult
What’s Included: Two hours of bowling, Shoe rental, Pizza and refreshments
Purchase tickets HERE. Prepayment is strongly encouraged and is the only way to guarantee a spot. Day-of pricing will be $30 per pair, pending availability. We can’t wait to see you there for a night of strikes, spares, and great memories! 🎳
Upcoming Events
- Wednesday, March 18
- Thursday, March 19
- Friday, March 20
- Monday, March 23
- Tuesday, March 24
School/District Resources
