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Attend PTO Meeting
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Submit Feedback/Suggestions to the PTO
Important Dates
Monday 1/19 - NO SCHOOL (MLK Jr. Day)
Monday 1/19 - last day to purchase Sons' Night Out tickets
Tuesday 1/20 - last day to register for the Science Fair
Wednesday 1/21 12pm - deadline to order Special Lunch for 1/29
Friday 1/23, 6-8pm - Elm Sons' Night Out: Bowling Night
Thursday 1/29 - Special Lunch (Potbelly)
Friday 2/6, 9-10am - PTO Meeting
Wednesday 2/11, 5-7pm - Science Fair
Friday 2/13 2:15pm - Third Grade Concert
Friday 2/13, 6-8pm - Elm Daughters' Night Out: Galentine's Day Party
Monday 2/16 - NO SCHOOL (Presidents' Day)
Friday 2/27 - NO SCHOOL (Institute Day)
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.
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.
Elm Sons' Night Out - Friday 1/23, 6-8pm - Tickets on Sale!
*** 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! 🎳
Science Fair - Wednesday 2/11, 5-7pm
Join us for a night of curiosity, critical thinking and creativity! Students are invited to explore a topic they love and share their findings. And as a special treat, Museum of Science & Industry (MSI) will be joining us for live demonstrations and special giveaways!
EVENT DETAILS
- When: Wednesday, Feb 11 (5:00–7:00 PM)
- Where: Elm Gym
- Deadline Extended: Register by Tuesday, January 20th (one form for each student). Sign-up here.
PARTICIPANT INFO Participants will receive a trifold board and a project guidance packet. Projects must be completed at home and an adult must accompany the student during the event.
LEARN MORE
- View last year’s photos and more info - Click here.
- Questions? Email scienceexpo@elmschoolpto.org
Order by Wednesday 1/21 12pm for Special Lunch on Thursday 1/29
The next Special Lunch (Potbelly) is on Thursday, January 29th. Orders must be placed by 12pm on Wednesday, January 21st. 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.
Principal's Corner
Arrival and Dismissal Reminders
Please make sure your child knows their dismissal plan each day. Students must have permission to walk home or to go home with another family or friend. If there is a change to your child’s dismissal plan during the school day, please notify the main office. Classroom teachers may not be able to check email consistently throughout the day.
For safety reasons, children should never be dropped off in the street. We have recently observed vehicles double-parking along 60th Street and allowing children to exit the car without adult supervision. In addition, parking in front of the fire hydrant near the school is illegal. To keep all students safe, please use the designated car line each day. Any time saved by unsafe drop-off practices is not worth the risk to our children.
Notification from Burr Ridge Police
Diaper Wipes Drive - Thank you for your generous support!
Thank you so much for your incredible generosity! Thanks to your support, our school community donated a total of 139 packs of wipes — YAY! We are excited to share that these donations have been delivered to HCS this week, where they will be put to great use and make a meaningful difference. Your kindness and willingness to help truly reflect the caring spirit of our school. We are so proud of our families and grateful for your continued support.
District 181 Foundation - Young Writers 2026
Chick-fil-A Night - Monday 1/12, 4-7pm
Join us on Monday 1/12, 4-7pm at Chick-fil-A (Willowbrook) for a fundraising event to support our school. Come say hi to Mrs. Guzaldo, Mrs. Smrha, and Mrs. Madden! Invite friends and family to make it extra fun and don’t forget to bring cash to spin the wheel - $1 per spin for amazing prizes! **MUST MENTION ELM SCHOOL AT COUNTER OR DRIVE THROUGH**
Upcoming Events
School/District Resources
