Eclipse Viewing Permission Form (Grades 3-5)

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be visible (weather permitting) across nearly all of North America. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks any part of the Sun's bright face.  All 50 U.S. states (excluding most of Alaska) will experience at least a partial solar eclipse, with our area experiencing a maximum percent coverage of 93.6%. 

During a partial solar eclipse, such as the one on April 8th, it is ONLY safe to look directly at the Sun through special-purpose solar filters. In partnership with the District 181 Foundation and Hinsdale Public Library, we have procured compliant special-purpose solar filter “eclipse glasses'' for this event so students in grades 3-8 can safely view the partial solar eclipse. 

With safety being our number one priority, 3rd-8th grade teachers will be provided with the following safety guidelines to review with their students prior to viewing the partial solar eclipse (as outlined by the American Astronomical Society).  We ask that parents also reiterate these safety guidelines with their child(ren) prior to viewing the partial eclipse on Monday, April 8th:

• Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.

• Always supervise children using solar filters. Children will watch a safety video in class prior to viewing the eclipse and will be given explicit safety instructions for how to wear the glasses and view the eclipse.

• If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them.

• Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses BEFORE looking up at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your eclipse glasses — DO NOT remove your eclipse glasses while looking at the Sun.

• DO NOT look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.

• Similarly, do not look at the Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses in front of your eyes — the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.

ALL 3rd-8th grade parents must fill out this form to indicate if they want their child to participate in the viewing of the partial solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. We ask that you fill out this form by Thursday, April 4. If you have additional questions about the event after reviewing the website linked above, please contact your child’s principal.

IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE 3RD-8TH GRADE CHILDREN, PLEASE FILL OUT ONE FORM PER CHILD. KINDERGARTEN, FIRST, AND SECOND GRADE STUDENTS WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN THE LIVE OUTDOOR VIEWING - THEY WILL VIEW A LIVE STREAM FROM THEIR CLASSROOM

Parent Input on Class Lists

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we are looking to gather input from parents to ensure a positive classroom experience for all students. 

We believe that all teachers in our school are wonderful and that there is a right match for each child's needs; additionally, this match may be different from another sibling in your family. With your input, please consider listing qualities such as experience with differentiation, ability to create a nurturing environment, effective communication skills, and dedication to student growth as factors rather than requesting a teacher by name. By focusing on qualities rather than a specific teacher, we can create balanced and supportive classroom placements for all students.

While we make every effort to accommodate parent requests, it is important to understand that it may not always be possible to fulfill each specific preference. Please trust that our teachers care deeply about all of their students and make it a priority to get to know them well. Our shared goal is to create balanced and supportive classrooms where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

If you would like to submit feedback, the only way to do so is through the Google form found here. Please do not email classroom teachers or the principal directly. The form will be closed on Sunday, April 7, 2024. We cannot accept feedback after this date. 

Current Student Registration - Now Open 

All students currently in D181 Preschool/ECE and entering Kindergarten through 8th Grade for the 2024-25 school year must complete the District registration and fee payment process (including the payment of all past due fees from the current school year).

Steps to Complete Registration:

1. Log In to Skyward: Sign in to your Skyward Family Access Portal. Only the primary guardian will have access to D181 online registration.

2. Registration Steps: For step-by-step instructions, click here.

3. SchoolPay Fees: All D181 schools use SchoolPay for processing fees. For instructions on how to use SchoolPay, please click here.

4. PTO Registration: Are you registered with your school’s PTO? After registration and fee payment is complete, you can complete PTO tasks, including ordering supply kits, registering for the PTO directory, and signing up to volunteer.

5. D181 Foundation: Don't forget, you can also donate to the D181 Foundation during registration.

6. Final Submission: Once you have completed PTO information, return to Skyward Family Access and complete the final submission on your registration application.

Visit our registration link for more information: https://www.d181.org/parents/registration

If you have any questions about D181 registration, please email nskrip@d181.org.

Dismissal Request

As the weather warms up, we've noticed an increase in parents arriving earlier to pick up their children. While we understand the excitement of seeing your children at the end of the day, we kindly ask that you refrain from standing in front of classroom windows, waving, or holding conversations that can be distracting to the students and teachers working inside.

To ensure a smooth dismissal process and minimize disruptions, we kindly request that you stay in your cars if possible until your child is safely dismissed at 3:05.

Thank you so much for your cooperation and understanding in helping us maintain a focused learning environment for all students.

Arrival Reminders

Safety is the number one priority at Elm School. Please review the following safety reminders below:

• Use crosswalks each time you cross a street on school property. Cutting across roads in between cars is very dangerous.

• Remember to drive slowly in school parking lots- even, and especially, if there are no cars in line. 

• Remember that it is against the law to use a cell phone in a school zone. 

• The car lines are for drop-off only. No parking or exiting cars in the car line. We need to keep this line of traffic moving.

• Staff Supervision begins at 8:25 each day. Students that arrive prior to this time are not supervised by school staff and should be supervised by parents. 

IAR Assessment Schedule

This year’s IAR assessments will be administered at Elm School between April 4 - April 12, 2024. 

Our exact test dates are as follows:

• Thursday, April 4, 2024: ELA 1
• Friday, April 5, 2024: ELA 2
• Monday, April 8, 2024: Math 1
• Tuesday, April 9, 2024: Math 2
• Thursday, April 11, 2024: Math 3

While we realize that some absences are unavoidable, we ask that you make every effort to avoid scheduling appointments or other absences during these times to minimize the amount of instructional time missed for make-up assessments. 

We encourage students to do their best and complete as much of each assessment as they can.  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. 

D181 Summer Learning Program: Register Now!

In-person program at Clarendon Hills Middle School (June 10-28, 2024).

• View the course catalog

• Register by April 18th: https://www.d181.org/schools/summer-learning-program (Login required)

• Cost: $175 (1 hour) or $350 (2 hours)

Questions?

• Program: Jessica Schultz (630.861.4900 ext 5162, jschultz@d181.org)

• Registration: Nick Skrip (nskrip@d181.org)