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Elm's Inaugural Teachers v. Students Kickball Game was a great success!
Thank you to everyone who participated and/or came to cheer on the teams.
And a special thank you to D181 Superintendent Dr. Garcia!

Headlines for the Week of October 3, 2022:

(To use the links below rather than scrolling, use the option at the top to "View this email in your browser")

PTO: Stuff to Do!

  • PTO MEMBERSHIPS - Get Yours at Schoolpay.com. We have extended the deadline for ONE MORE WEEK to get your family PTO Membership so you continue to receive this  E-Blast and access to the digital Elm School Directory. 

  • Order Your Student their 2022-23 Yearbook
    T​reeRing​ is a web-based yearbook builder that allows our school community to add, share, comment, and create the yearbook. The 2022-2023 school year will be our 9th year using this platform.  All orders include 2 free pages you can customize. To Purchase & Customize Your Yearbook, Visit the TreeRing website: https://tr5.treering.com/validate 
  • Enter passcode 1014149644632589   

  • Check out the flyers below regarding the new Box Tops for Education Program and Mobile App to see how your every day shopping can help support the Elm School PTO.  Watch the video here too!

  • CHARLESTON WRAP: Charleston Wrap gift ordering is back! The sale will run until 10/25/22 (in order to receive items and wrapping paper in time for the holidays) and the sale will be all virtual. See flyer below for instructions on how to order. Please note: this can be sent to outside family members also. Spread the word!!
To SHOP the online catalog, CLICK HERE
To Register your child for the fundraiser to share shopping links and more, Click here for www.registercw.com 
Our Organization ID is: 17172


 


The Principal's Page

Field Trips

We are excited to once again be able to extend learning opportunities for students with field trips. In the past, a field trip fee was included for all students in their registration fees. This year, fees for individual field trips will be charged to your child’s Skyward account. As field trips are scheduled, you will receive information regarding the field trip as well as the cost. 


 

Reporting an Absence

If your child will be absent from school for any reason, please complete the appropriate absence form, which can also be found on the Elm School website. 

Reporting your student absent for a Illness-related reason

Reporting your student absent for a NON-Illness-related reason


 

IAR Parent Letter

During the spring of 2022, your child participated in the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). We are excited to notify you that your child’s IAR results will be sent home today. While every attempt was made to provide each eligible student with the opportunity to complete both the reading and math sections of the assessment, there are students who were absent during the administration of an IAR subject area. In these instances, a student will only have results for the subject in which the assessment was completed. 

The IAR is designed to measure students' current performance in relation to the Illinois Learning Standards for mathematics and English language arts. The standards set high expectations focused on critical thinking and real-world application of knowledge. The results from state-wide testing can be a helpful tool in measuring your student’s success in school, but are just one of the many ways readiness for the next grade is tracked. Student performance on the IAR is described on the individual student report in three ways: 

  1. A scale score is a numerical score that summarizes a student’s overall performance. IAR scale scores range from 650 to 850 for all tests; a score of 750 or higher is considered proficient for all grade levels and subjects. 

  2. Performance levels are categories used to report overall student performance by describing how well students met grade-level expectations. There are five performance levels for the IAR:

    1. Level 5: Exceeded expectations 

    2. Level 4: Met expectations 

    3. Level 3: Approached expectations 

    4. Level 2: Partially met expectations 

    5. Level 1: Did not yet meet expectations 

  3. Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) describe the knowledge, skills, and practices that students should know and be able to demonstrate at each level.

    1. Subclaim performance indicators show a student’s performance on a subset of the standard, reported using categories rather than scale scores or performance levels:

      1. Higher level readiness is represented by the letter H. 

      2. Middle level readiness is represented by the letter M. 

      3. Lower level readiness is represented by the letter L. 

During the fall of 2021, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) launched the Illinois Assessment of Readiness Parent Portal. The portal contains information on how to create an account, login, and add claim codes to access student score reports and videos of Individual Student Reports (ISRs). The portal will also allow parents/guardians to track their student’s scores from year to year, beginning with the spring 2021 results. Directions for logging into the portal can be found here with specific instructions regarding how to find the claim code on your child’s paper IAR report included on page 4 of the document. Finally, a copy of the Score Report Interpretation Guide for Parents is linked to this email to assist parents in understanding the 2022 student score reports

 

Please Note: This is not meant to be a comprehensive list - just the key highlights from the school and district for events over the next 7 days.    
 
  • 10/7 - Elm PTO Meeting 9-10 am at Elm School Staff Lounge
  • 10/7 - FALL PUMPKIN SALE/FUNDRAISER at Elm (3;30-6:30)
  • Pumpkins, treats, and spiritwear will be for sale starting at 3:30pm! 
  • We will also have a photographer on site for family photo mini-sessions with a fall themed backdrop from 4-6pm. Walk-ups are welcomed, but sign-ups will be prioritized. Price is $25 for a 5 minute session. Payments to be made upon arrival on 10/7 by cash, check or via Square.
  • You must sign up HERE for your 5 minute mini-shoot spot!
 

 Save the Dates!
  • 10/10 - Holiday, NO student attendance
  • 10/12 - Bike and Walk to School Day
  • 10/12 - Chipotle Fundraiser Day
  • 10/18, 10/19 - D181 Speaker Series - See Flyer Below for more Details:  Event is FREE and open to all. Flyer below has more information.  Please Register on the link below.
AM Program:   http://weblink.donorperfect.com/CSSStixrudAM
PM Program:   http://weblink.donorperfect.com/CSSStixrudPM
  • 11/7 - Institute Day, NO Student Attendance
  • 11/8 - Election Day, NO Student Attendance
  • 11/14 - Student Photo Retake Day
  • 11/21-11/22: Parent/Teacher Conferences, NO Student Attendance
  • 11/23 - 11/25 - Thanksgiving Break, NO Student Attendance    
 


Elm School and District News

Evereve Fundraiser Results: Thank you to all who shopped our Evereve Mom’s Night Out! It was a huge success and we earned over $900 back for our school! 
 


Volunteer Opportunities

** We need Volunteers to help at the October 7 Fall Pumpkin Sale 7 Fundraiser. 
If you’d like to volunteer to help at this event, please sign up here. We’ll need lots of helpers!  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0844aeaf22abfc1-fall

** There are a few spots left to help in your students classrooms!
Room Parent Sign-Up!
Please find HERE the Sign-Up Genius for 2022/23 Room Parents and Class Helpers.  Each classroom will have 1 Head Room Parent, 4 Class Helpers and a Photographer for each grade. Contact Lauren Vula HERE with any questions and don’t forget to join the PTO in SchoolPay! 
             

Sign-Ups for School Activities


 Battle of the Books:  
If your 4th or 5th grade student is interested in participating in Battle of the Books this year, please return the permission slip by Friday, October 14th. Please note that meetings will be held on Monday mornings from 7:50-8:30 AM in the library, beginning October 17th. Battle dates are attached to the permission form. The list of 2023 Battle Books can be found here.
Any questions, please email spetersen@d181.org.


 

Join The Do Good Movement for an afterschool program October 27 - December 15 from 3:05 - 4:05 at Elm School. This program runs for 7 weeks educating children on self-awareness, self-regulation, philanthropic stewardship, and social-emotional learning through a yoga foundation

Register here: https://forms.gle/SgV1eWnWjKST2pPL9

FLYERS and MORE DETAILS
PTO Website
PTO Website
Email Us
Email Us
PTO Facebook
PTO Facebook
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