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

Treat our Teachers - Friday 9/26 Drop-off

Calling all 4th and 5th grade families! Let's Treat our Teachers by stocking up the teacher's lounge. Sign up HERE. Drop off will be at Elm on September 26th from 8:15-9am. 

Join the PTO!

Have you joined the PTO yet? Your annual $40 membership fee is vital to support fun activities, family events, school and classroom enhancements, staff appreciation efforts, and much more. In addition, you will need to be a paid member of the PTO in order to access the school directory, be a room parent, and volunteer in the lunch room during Special Lunch days. BONUS PERK: for each purchased Bowser Bash ticket, paid members will get a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes. Become a member TODAY! 

Principal's Corner

Law Enforcement 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 9/19/2025, 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 8:00 AM the morning of the drill.

Rotary Run - Save the Date!

Please save the date for the annual Rotary Run - Hinsdale's Family Race! Sign up using this QR code.

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! We are thrilled to welcome these top experts to our community this school year. 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. 

Our first event is on Wednesday, October 8 at 7:15pm at Hinsdale Middle School: Ethan Kross, PhD - Shift: Managing Emotions So They Don’t Manage You. Register here.