First PTO Meeting of the Year - Friday 9/5, 9-10am

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

Join Your Child's Classroom WhatsApp Group!

Join your child's classroom WhatsApp group to stay connected, receive updates, and communicate about classroom assignments/events.

K - Fuller / K - Vaisman
1 - Bass / 1 - Mulroe
2 - DeBolt / 2 - Smith
3 - Moen / 3 - Morris
4 - Burch / 4 - Barcus
5 - Madden / 5 - Recktenwall / 5 - Smrha

PTO Volunteer Sign-up

Are you interested in volunteering at Elm this year? We have created a Sign-Up Genius for various volunteer opportunities during the school year. We have also included a general volunteer category for those who cannot commit to a certain event but would like to be included on an "on-call" list when we are looking to fill volunteer roles. Any questions, please reach out to Laura Barrett at President@elmschoolpto.org.

Principal's Corner

Curriculum Night Information

Please mark your calendars for Curriculum Night, taking place on September 4th from 6:00pm-7:30pm. Kindergarten-Second grade classroom sessions will take place from 6:00-6:30. There will be a short Principal presentation in the gym from 6:30-7:00, followed by Third-Fifth grade classroom sessions from 7:00-7:30. 

 

 

Purchasing Milk

Families will be able to pre-pay via Skyward for milk to be available for your child daily. Please use the directions linked here to complete this process. 

NOTE: We will not collect cash/coins for milk purchases during lunches. This is a one-time fee at the beginning of the year, and families are encouraged to sign up through SchoolPay via Skyward during the month of August. If you miss this sign-up, you will need to send your child with their own drink.

 

Dismissal Note

A quick reminder as we head into the new school year: we kindly ask that you do not wait near the classroom windows at the front of the school during pick-up time. Our students are engaged in learning right up until the final bell rings, and when people peek inside the windows, it can be distracting for them.

Thank you for helping us maintain a focused and productive learning environment for all students!

 

NWEA MAP Assessment - Fall

 

Use of MAP Results

District 181 uses the data from this assessment in a variety of ways. In the classroom, it provides teachers with a means for monitoring student growth in reading and mathematics over time. At the District and building levels, MAP data help us set goals and evaluate initiatives. Finally, in conjunction with other criteria, MAP scores have historically been used in placement decisions. MAP continues to be one of several indicators used to monitor student academic achievement and growth. 

 

Course Placement for 2026-2027

At this time, specific recommendations for math placement at grades 3-8 as well as middle school English language arts (ELA) and social studies placement for 2026-2027 have not yet been defined. Historically, MAP scores have been included as one of the requirements for students to move into advanced courses.  The expectation is that the fall data point will continue to be utilized for 2026-2027 placement decisions.  Placement criteria from previous years can be referenced for informational purposes on the District 181 website.

 

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.

• Be sure your child fully charges their device and brings it to school each day. 

• 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 MAP Results

Your child’s scores will be available in Skyward after administration is complete and all reports are available. 

 

Elm NWEA MAP Assessment Schedule

Grade 1: August 27, August 29

Grade 2: August 25, August 27

Grade 3: August 28, September 2

Grade 4: August 26, August 29

Grade 5: August 25, August 26

Thank You for Attending the Ice Cream Social!

Thank you to all those who attended the Ice Cream Social on Friday night. The event was amazing, and it was great to see so many children enjoying ice cream, dancing to fun music, and exploring their creativity with their Legacy Tile designs. Those tiles will be seen for years to come and is such a unique and gorgeous way to decorate the lobby and gym. Thank you to the Family Fun Committee for organizing this much loved event. Also, a big thank you to our parent and staff volunteers.

Principal's Corner

Elm Street Closure - Important Information

Due to delays in the Elm Street improvement project, South Elm Street will remain closed to through traffic during this time. While this may affect your usual route, please note that our Prairie Garden car line loop will remain open for all student drop-off and pick-up.

Important Traffic Update:

• All vehicles using the Prairie Garden car line must exit northbound due to the closure.

• Please refer to the attached image for specific traffic patterns and detour routes. The light blue arrows indicate the direction of the Prairie Garden car line.

We understand this may require some adjustments to your routine, and we truly appreciate your patience and flexibility as we continue to work closely with the Village during this project. As always, student safety is our top priority. We encourage all families to plan ahead and allow for additional time during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.

 

Grades 3-5 Arrival and Dismissal Door Remains the Same

We will continue using the same entrance/exit door by the Prairie Garden car line for students in grades 3–5, just as we did last year. This area provides ample space for students to wait safely and comfortably during arrival and dismissal.

 

Lunch Information

Please send your child to school with a packed lunch every day. We request that parents do not consistently drop off lunches to school every day. However, if your child forgets their lunch, you may place it in the "forgotten lunch" box located outside near the main entrance. If you are dropping off lunch for your child during the school day please try to be ahead of the start of their lunch time. We want to be sure that students have enough time to eat and they do feel stress when their lunch is not present at the start of the period. The lunches begin at the following times:

Grades K-3: 11:25

Grades 4-5: 11:50

Please note that we do not allow orders to be delivered from outside delivery companies such as Doordash or Grubhub. Food from restaurants must be dropped off by a parent or guardian. In addition, we do not allow students to share food with others. If you are bringing food, please be sure that you are only bringing food for your child. Additionally, please do not place drinks with lids in the outdoor lunch cooler. 

 

Class Placement

As of Friday, 8/15, you are able to log into the Skyward Family Access, skywardfamily.d181.org, to view your child’s homeroom teacher. You may navigate to the schedule tile found on the log-in homescreen. Your Login ID is your first name last name (all one word and lowercase), i.e. “minniemouse.”  If you cannot login, use the Forgot Login/Password? link on the login page and follow the prompts to reset your password. If you receive an error message, contact Nick Skrip at nskrip@d181.org.

Please know that placements are finalized at this time. Our grade level teams and specialists (reading specialist, differentiation specialists, resource teachers, and art, music, and PE staff) work together to share input and create class composites conducive to learning. We take into account your child’s academic, social, and emotional needs. Our goal is to create equitable classes in terms of size, instructional support, gender, etc. and allow for groups of students who can benefit from learning together. 

 

Grade level homeroom teachers:

Kindergarten: Ms. Vaisman, Mrs. Fuller

First Grade: Mrs. Bass, Mrs. Mulroe

Second Grade: Mrs. DeBolt, Ms. Smith

Third Grade: Ms. Moen, Mrs. Morris

Fourth Grade: Ms. Barcus, Mrs. Burch

Fifth Grade: Ms. Recktenwall, Mrs. Smrha, Mrs. Madden

 

Food Allergy Management Policy

The D181 Food Allergy Management Plan was adopted by the District 181 Board of Education on May 21, 2018. You can find a copy of the plan in full on our District website here: D181 Food Allergy Management Plan

The Plan is aligned with Board policy 7.285, and provides a comprehensive, districtwide plan to prevent or reduce allergen exposure, educate staff, and respond to food allergy emergencies. Following is a summary of action items for District students and parents. 

The Plan is communicated to all staff, students and parents prior to the first day of student attendance and includes information on: allergies and anaphylaxis, federal nondiscrimination & disability law, classroom food guidelines and resources for parents and staff. The plan will be reviewed annually by a Food Allergy Committee organized by the Superintendent. Parents play a critical role in ensuring a safe school environment. Please help protect the health and safety of all students by following and encouraging students to follow all established guidelines below: 

Classroom Snack 

● Fruits or vegetables only (including dried fruits such as raisins and applesauce). 

● No additions, toppings or mix-ins (such as dips or spreads). 

Lunch

● For any classroom lunch or field trip lunch, the building principal will send an email stating that lunches should contain no peanuts or tree nuts. Please ensure that student lunches do not contain any peanuts or tree nuts on those days. 

Elementary Classroom Parties 

Classroom parties shall be food free or, at teacher discretion, may include Outshine Fruit Bars (lemon, grape, and/or tangerine), Annie’s fruit snacks, and/or Original Skinny Pop brand popcorn. Students shall not bring food to give as gifts or share with other students (such as with Valentine’s cards, on Halloween, or as holiday gifts). 

 

Curriculum Night Information

Please mark your calendars for Curriculum Night, taking place on September 4th from 6:00pm-7:30pm. Kindergarten-Second grade classroom sessions will take place from 6:00-6:30. There will be a short Principal presentation in the gym from 6:30-7:00, followed by Third-Fifth grade classroom sessions from 7:00-7:30. All School Presentation is at 6:30 pm in the MPR.

 

 

First Day of School Arrival Plan

We use only the front door (near the cow) and the fifth grade door (near the prairie garden) to enter and exit school each day. Students are welcome to use either door; whichever is more convenient for your family. On the first day of school, we will meet on the back blacktop, in lines by grade level and classroom teacher. This will give parents the opportunity to briefly see the classroom teacher and to say an extended good-bye to their child.  

At 8:40, teachers will lead their classrooms into the building and assist students in navigating their way through the school. For parents that wish to drop their child(ren) off in the car lines, there will be school staff to assist them in finding their homeroom teachers on the blacktop starting at 8:25. 

On Day 2, students are asked to use only the proper entrance door, per our usual routine.

 

School Day

School Day - 8:40 a.m. - 3:05 p.m.

• Student Arrival will begin daily at 8:25 a.m. Please do not drop your child(ren) off before this time as we do not have adult supervision prior to these times.

• Student Dismissal will begin at 3:05 p.m.

• We recognize the need for appointments and understand that situations may arise that require you to pick your child up early from school. We ask that you please try your best to schedule appointments OUTSIDE of the school day and not pick your child up early from school, so as to not disrupt the learning process. If students must be picked up early, please ring the bell in the vestibule to let the office know who you are picking up. Students can be signed out on the sheet on the cart in the vestibule.

• To report a child's absence, please access the district website at https://www.d181.org/families/report-an-absence

 

Bicycle Rules
Many students walk to school each day. Students in grades 3–5 may also ride their bicycles to school, provided helmets are worn and they have participated in the Bike Rodeo. Bicycles must be walked while on school grounds and should be locked in the bike racks. For safety, students must cross at the crosswalks with the crossing guard and should not cross in the middle of the street for any reason.

Please note: Per the Burr Ridge Police Department, E-bikes and E-scooters are not permitted to be ridden to school by any students. 

Bike Rodeo Information
This year’s Bike Rodeo will take place after school on September 10. Participation is required for students who plan to ride their bikes to school and more information will be forthcoming. 

 

iPad Exchange for 3rd Grade Students – What to Bring on the First Day

As we prepare for the new school year, we want to remind you that your child will need to bring their 2nd grade iPad back to school to exchange it for their new 3rd grade device.

Please make sure your child brings the following items on the first day of school:

• Their 2nd grade iPad
  

• The 20w iPad USB-C charger
  
  

• The USB-C to lightning charging cable

All three items are needed to complete the exchange. Missing or damaged equipment may result in a fee, so please check that everything is in good condition before sending it to school. Thank you for your support in helping us start the school year smoothly! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

 

New Elm School Social Worker

As we begin this new year together, I’m excited to introduce Mrs. Tara Hanson, our new school social worker. Mrs. Hanson brings with her a wealth of experience supporting students in school settings, along with a strong commitment to helping every child thrive.

With many years of experience, Mrs. Hanson specializes in supporting students' social, emotional, and behavioral development. She will be working closely with staff, students, and families to provide individual and group support, as well as connecting families with valuable resources in our community. She is passionate about creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where all students can feel seen, heard, and valued.

We are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Hanson to the Elm School family, and we are confident that she will be a tremendous asset to our students, staff, and families. Should you need to get in touch with her prior to, or during the school year, her email is thanson@d181.org. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are looking forward to a fantastic school year ahead!

 

Purchasing Milk

Families will be able to pre-pay via Skyward for milk to be available for your child daily. Please use the directions linked here to complete this process. 

NOTE: We will not collect cash/coins for milk purchases during lunches. This is a one-time fee at the beginning of the year, and families are encouraged to sign up through SchoolPay via Skyward during the month of August. If you miss this sign-up, you will need to send your child with their own drink.

 

NWEA Assessment Dates

Students will be taking the Fall NWEA MAP Assessment between August 25 and September 5. Each grade level will test on specific dates, which are listed below. We’ll be sharing more detailed information soon, but we wanted to give families these dates in advance for planning purposes.

Grade 1: August 27, August 29

Grade 2: August 25, August 27

Grade 3: August 28, September 2

Grade 4: August 26, August 29

Grade 5: August 25, August 26

Back to School Coffee - Tuesday 8/19, 8:40-10am

Parents, please join the Elm School PTO at our annual Back to School Coffee immediately after drop-off on the first day of school, August 19th. Please RSVP so we have an accurate count for coffee and sweet treats. Hope to see you there as we kick off the school year!

Ice Cream Social - Friday 8/22, 4-6pm

Save the date for the annual Elm School PTO Ice Cream Social on Friday, August 22nd. Please RSVP so we have an accurate count for ice cream. 

Purchase Legacy Tiles that you and your family will decorate at the Ice Cream Social. Each tile is $22. You can select quantity of tiles to add to your cart. Tile supplies will be limited. Pre-order today before they are sold-out! Legacy tiles are hand-decorated tiles that Elm families have created over the years. They are installed in the gym and entry to the school. They're a wonderful way to ensure you and your family have an impact on Elm for many years to come.