Important Dates

Sunday 3/9 - Saturday 3/22 - Silent Auction is live

Wednesday 3/19 12pm - deadline to order Special Lunch for 3/27

Saturday 3/22, 6-10pm - Spring Fundraiser Parent Event

Thursday 3/27 - Special Lunch (Sarpino's)

Monday 3/31 - Friday 4/4 - NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)

Tuesday 4/8 - Stuff the Squad (donation collection for HCS)

Thursday 4/17, 6-7:30pm - Fine Arts Night

Friday 5/2 - Elm School Daughter's Night Out (rescheduled from 3/7)

Monday 5/26 - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)

Wednesday 5/28 - Field Day

Thursday 5/29 - 5th Grade Graduation Celebration (students only) & End of the Year Pool Party

Friday 5/30 - last day of school (half day attendance) & 5th Grade Graduation Ceremony (parents welcome to attend)

Principal's Corner

Erin’s Law

House Bill 6193, or Erin’s Law, was signed into law in the State of Illinois on January 24, 2013. This law mandates that Illinois public schools extend their current mandated educational programs regarding personal safety, abuse education and prevention curriculum to students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades. 

The goal of the law is to teach children to avoid situations that may lead to abuse and to report any instances of abuse they may have endured. Providing abuse education in schools is not a new initiative. Mandates under the Health Education Act and Internet Safety Education Curriculum require instruction beginning in sixth grade. Erin’s Law simply extends this education into grades pre-kindergarten through twelve. The purpose of this curriculum extension is to proactively build competencies within our students regarding safety, abuse and prevention. 

This instruction will be provided for our students during the week of March 24, 2025. If you would like to opt your child out of this conversation, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. 

Spring Assessment Update

Each spring, D181 third-eighth grade students participate in various state assessments. The results of these assessments allow the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to monitor student learning throughout the state while also identifying trends and meeting federal regulations related to student assessment. Locally, we utilize the results of such assessments to evaluate student learning, refine our curriculum, update instructional pacing guides, and gauge the effectiveness of our school improvement efforts.

D181 has a Board-approved assessment calendar for each measure that is administered throughout the school year. Assessment windows provide a timeline for the administration of assessments so that students across the district participate in assessments during a similar block of days. However, students do not participate in the assessment every day of the identified window. State assessments that will be administered this spring are listed below, along with a brief description of the assessment and District-wide administration window. 

• Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)

• Window: March 17 - April 25 

• Description: State assessment of science proficiency for all students enrolled in grade 5 or grade 8. Three subtests, all related to the Next Generation Science Standards.

• Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)

• Window: April 7 - April 18

• Description: State assessment of reading and math proficiency (IAR). Five subtests: two English language arts and three mathematics. Madison and Elm students have been selected by the ISBE to participate in field testing and will receive a brief third unit of English language arts.

• Dynamic Learning MAP (DLM)

• Window: April 7 - April 18

• Description: State assessment of academic progress in English language arts and mathematics (DLM) for all students enrolled in grades 3-8 and science for students enrolled in grade 5 or grade 8. This assessment is only administered to qualifying special education students as an alternative assessment to IAR and ISA. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s case manager. 

While we realize that some absences are unavoidable, we ask that you make every effort to avoid scheduling appointments or other absences during this time to minimize the amount of instructional time missed for make-up assessments. Please contact your building principal with any questions related to your child’s specific assessment schedule. 

Illinois Science Assessment - 5th Grade Students

Elm School fifth grade students will be taking the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) during the week of March 17-21, 2025.  Elm students will be taking the assessment on March 17, 18 and 20. 

The ISA is a state mandated assessment that aligns with our Illinois Learning Standards in science. The results provide us with important data to help make broad curriculum decisions at the school and district levels. Once results are made available to us we will send home a report on your child’s assessment performance.  

We encourage you to talk with your children about the importance of doing their best on the ISA, while communicating that the assessment yields only one piece of information about them and their school’s progress. 

IAR Assessment Schedule - Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Students

This year's Elm School Illinois Assessment of Readiness theme is Good to Grow! We have some fun surprises planned for our students each day of testing! Our theme was selected to remind students that they already possess the necessary tools to succeed on this important test. It also aligns with our school focus on strengths-based feedback and student efficacy, emphasizing that growth is just as important as simply achieving high scores. We believe that every student has the ability to perform their best! 

Additionally, Elm has been selected as a pilot school this year, which means we will be administering a third ELA assessment. We are excited for our students to showcase their knowledge and skills! Below is our schedule for the upcoming IAR assessments.

Please note that on 4/11: Hydrated and Healthy, we are planning to give the students a water bottle. Per our Food Allergy Management Policy the ingredient label is below.

Report Cards Now Available

Your child’s report card is now available and can be viewed electronically through your Skyward Family Access account. Please use the following steps to see your child’s report card:

• Login to Skyward Family Access at http://skywardfamily.d181.org

• Select the Portfolio Tab

• Click on your child’s T2 Report Card

• Once it processes, click “View Report”

Our schools are pleased to share your child's progress through the report card. We encourage you to contact your child's teachers with any questions or comments you might have. If you have any difficulty logging into Skyward Family Access, or difficulty accessing your child’s report card once you have logged in, please contact Nick Skrip at nskrip@d181.org.

D181 Registration Now Open for Current Students

D181 registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open for current D181 students. Please register your child as soon as possible. For step-by-step instructions, click here.

*All current D181 students in Preschool/ECE and those entering Kindergarten through 8th grade for the 2025-2026 school year must complete the District registration and fee payment process (including the payment of all past due fees from the current school year).

Library News

One School, One Book 2025

One School, One Book is a wonderful opportunity for our Elm School community to come together and share the same story, Frindle, by Andrew Clements.  Thank you to PTO for purchasing a book for every Elm family! Each family should have received a copy of the book, reading schedule and QR code for teacher read-aloud videos. We are so excited to spend these next few weeks celebrating reading with your families. Let the reading adventure begin!

• Click here for an informational video to learn more about our One School One Book program at Elm for 2025.
• Click here for a suggested reading guide for each chapter.
• Click here for a slideshow of pictures of Frindle fun at Elm!
• Click here to listen to Elm Staff read the book!
• Email a picture of your child or family reading the book to Mrs. Petersen.
• Information about the optional create a word and book cover projects.

• Friday, March 28th - Drop Everything and Read in your cozy pajamas!
• Thursday, April 17th, 6-7:30pm - Fine Arts Night for families     
  • 6:00-6:45 Activities in the Library, art displayed in hallways
  • 6:15-6:45 Activities in the Gym
  • 7:00 Choir Performance

Silent Auction is LIVE!

Order by Wednesday 3/19 12pm for Special Lunch on Thursday 3/27

The next Special Lunch (Sarpino's) is on Thursday, March 27th. Orders must be placed by 12pm on Wednesday, March 19th. See ordering instructions HERE. 

Stuff the Squad - Tuesday 4/8

Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, and Hinsdale Police Departments will be collecting donations for HCS Family Services at Elm School on Tuesday, April 8th. 

HMS PTO Parent Night - Tuesday 4/8

Join us for a casual meet and greet, with special guest Dr. Garcia, Superintendent of D181 and Hinsdale Middle School Leadership, along with fellow parents.

This is a free event! There will be fun raffle baskets you can enter to win that evening, you do not have to be present to win! Baskets include Taste of Hinsdale with Nabuki, Fuller House and Brasi's gift cards; a salon basket; and a middle school themed basket. Tickets are 1 for $25 or 5 for $100, Zelle treasurer@hmspto.org with your name, phone number, and "raffle tickets" in the description to preorder raffle tickets. Tickets will also be sold that night for cash. Sign up here if you plan to attend, to ensure the restaurant is properly staffed. We look forward to seeing you there!

Principal's Corner

Lockdown 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 3/10/25, 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 the morning of the drill.

Thank you for your continued support.

Report Cards Now Available

Your child’s report card is now available and can be viewed electronically through your Skyward Family Access account. Please use the following steps to see your child’s report card:

• Login to Skyward Family Access at http://skywardfamily.d181.org

• Select the Portfolio Tab

• Click on your child’s T2 Report Card

• Once it processes, click “View Report”

Our schools are pleased to share your child's progress through the report card. We encourage you to contact your child's teachers with any questions or comments you might have. If you have any difficulty logging into Skyward Family Access, or difficulty accessing your child’s report card once you have logged in, please contact Nick Skrip at nskrip@d181.org.

D181 Registration Now Open for Current Students

D181 registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open for current D181 students. Please register your child as soon as possible. For step-by-step instructions, click here.

*All current D181 students in Preschool/ECE and those entering Kindergarten through 8th grade for the 2025-2026 school year must complete the District registration and fee payment process (including the payment of all past due fees from the current school year).