Important Dates

Thursday 9/3 - Special Lunch (Jimmy John's)

Friday 9/4, 9-10am - PTO meeting

Monday 9/7 - NO SCHOOL (Holiday - Labor Day)

Thursday 9/10 - Special Lunch (Culver's)

Thursday 9/10, 6-7:15pm - Curriculum Night

Friday 9/25, 4-7:30pm - Bowser Bash

Principal's Corner

NWEA MAP Assessment - Fall

Use of MAP Results

District 181 uses the data from this assessment in a variety of ways. In the classroom, it provides teachers with a means for monitoring student growth in reading and mathematics over time.  At the District and building levels, MAP data help us set goals and evaluate initiatives.  Finally, in conjunction with other criteria, MAP scores have historically been used in placement decisions. MAP continues to be one of several indicators used to monitor student academic achievement and growth. 

 

Preparing for MAP

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. 

 

Communication of MAP Results

Your child’s scores will be available in Skyward after administration is complete and all reports are available. 

 

Elm NWEA MAP Assessment Schedule

Grade 1: September 2 and September 3

Grade 2: August 31 and September 1

Grade 3: September 4 and September 8

Grade 4: September 2 and September 3

Grade 5: August 31 and September 1

 

Parent Square

Starting this summer, ParentSquare will serve as your primary source for all district and building-level correspondence, ensuring you receive essential information in an accessible and timely manner. This includes:

  • Board of Education meeting previews and summaries every month

  • Monthly District and Superintendent Newsletters

  • Weekly school-specific newsletters, school announcements

  • Critical emergency notifications and safety alerts

 

Because ParentSquare syncs directly with Skyward, you are already integrated into the system. To optimize your experience, please take these steps:

 

  1. Activate Your Account: Follow the link in your invitation email to verify your contact information.

  2. Download the Free App: Get the mobile app for iOS or Android to receive push notifications on the go.

  3. Customize Your Preferences: Choose to receive posts instantly or as a daily "Digest" at 6:00 PM. Please note that emergency notifications will always be sent instantly, regardless of your settings.

 

We look forward to the enhanced engagement and efficiency this platform will bring to our community.

 

Directions for Purchasing Milk

  • Log in to Skyward Family Access: http://skywardfamily.d181.org

  • Click on the Fees & Fee Payments under an individual student

  • Scroll down to Available Optional Fees

  • Next to the specific Milk you would like to order, click Add to Fees

  • Click Make a Payment within the Fees tab to pay for the Milk in RevTrak

Safety Week Drills

As we begin the week of August 31, we will be conducting our annual Safety Week to ensure that all staff and students are prepared to respond appropriately in the event of an emergency. 

 

Please review the schedule below:

  • Monday, August 31 at 10:00 a.m. — Fire Drill #1

  • Tuesday, September 1 at 1:30 p.m. — Severe Weather Drill

  • Wednesday, September 2 at 9:30 a.m. — Lockdown Drill

  • Thursday, September 3 at 1:30 p.m. — Fire Drill #2

September at Elm School

A busy month is ahead! Save the flyer for important dates and reminders.

🎟️ Bowser Bash
Buy tickets by 9/11 for early bird pricing and sign up to volunteer!

❤️ 2026-2027 PTO Registration
Help support Elm students, teachers and school programs. Join the PTO!

📸 Follow us on Instagram!
Stay up to date at @elmschoolpto with all you need to know!

Elm_Flyer_September_UPDATED_HIGH_RES

Library News

Library Volunteers Wanted!
We are so excited to welcome volunteers to the Elm School Library for the 26-27 school year! Please complete this form to indicate your interest and to help us schedule your time.  There will be opportunities to volunteer weekly, every other week, or once a month (depending on the number of interested volunteers).  The full library/iLab schedule can be found on the Google Form.  We will have a volunteer training (for new and old volunteers) on Friday, September 18th from 9 AM - 10 AM.  If you can't come to the meeting, I can go over the information with you at a different time.  If you have any questions, please contact Susan Petersen, teacher-librarian, at spetersen@d181.org.
 
Summer Book Bags
If your child still has a summer book bag at home with library books they checked out last May, please have them return these to school.  Reminder notices went home in Friday Folders this week.
 
September Library Bookmarks (4th and 5th grades only)
Each month two grade levels will be able to create and design bookmarks for the library. For the month of September, any 4th or 5th grade student that would like to create a bookmark for the library can participate. The entry form and directions can be found here.  Be creative and have fun! Bookmarks are due by Friday, September 4th. 

Special Lunch Ordering & Volunteering

Special Lunch is every Thursday this year, so be sure to order by Wednesday at noon every week for the following week. For a full list of dates, restaurants, and allergen information, along with ordering instructions, please visit the PTO website.
 
Special Lunch Volunteering: Come volunteer on Special Lunch days! This opportunity is open to PTO members only. Please sign up for only one slot for the school year and make sure to arrive a few minutes early to sign in at the front office with your ID. Sign up HERE. 

Curriculum Night - Thursday 9/10, 6-7:15pm

Join us on Thursday, September 10 for Elm’s Curriculum Night. Meet the teachers, visit classrooms, and learn more about the curriculum, routines, and school year ahead!

8-6-26 BN - Curriculum Night 2

Bowser Bash - Friday 9/25, 4-7:30pm

BUY YOUR TICKETS to our 2nd Annual Bowser Bash Fall Festival! This year we are fundraising to enhance our outdoor spaces. Tickets on sale now! Purchase raffle tickets or make a donation to help support this fundraising effort!
Bowser Bash Flyer v2- Bowser Notes 8-9-26
 
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Help to make Bowser Bash a success by signing up to volunteer HERE!
Bowser-Bash-Volunteer-Flyer

Principal's Corner

NWEA MAP Assessment - Fall

Use of MAP Results

District 181 uses the data from this assessment in a variety of ways. In the classroom, it provides teachers with a means for monitoring student growth in reading and mathematics over time.  At the District and building levels, MAP data help us set goals and evaluate initiatives.  Finally, in conjunction with other criteria, MAP scores have historically been used in placement decisions. MAP continues to be one of several indicators used to monitor student academic achievement and growth. 

 

Preparing for MAP

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. 

 

Communication of MAP Results

Your child’s scores will be available in Skyward after administration is complete and all reports are available. 

 

Elm NWEA MAP Assessment Schedule

Grade 1: September 2 and September 3

Grade 2: August 31 and September 1

Grade 3: September 4 and September 8

Grade 4: September 2 and September 3

Grade 5: August 31 and September 1

 

Parent Square

Starting this summer, ParentSquare will serve as your primary source for all district and building-level correspondence, ensuring you receive essential information in an accessible and timely manner. This includes:

  • Board of Education meeting previews and summaries every month

  • Monthly District and Superintendent Newsletters

  • Weekly school-specific newsletters, school announcements

  • Critical emergency notifications and safety alerts

 

Because ParentSquare syncs directly with Skyward, you are already integrated into the system. To optimize your experience, please take these steps:

 

  1. Activate Your Account: Follow the link in your invitation email to verify your contact information.

  2. Download the Free App: Get the mobile app for iOS or Android to receive push notifications on the go.

  3. Customize Your Preferences: Choose to receive posts instantly or as a daily "Digest" at 6:00 PM. Please note that emergency notifications will always be sent instantly, regardless of your settings.

 

We look forward to the enhanced engagement and efficiency this platform will bring to our community.

 

Directions for Purchasing Milk

  • Log in to Skyward Family Access: http://skywardfamily.d181.org

  • Click on the Fees & Fee Payments under an individual student

  • Scroll down to Available Optional Fees

  • Next to the specific Milk you would like to order, click Add to Fees

  • Click Make a Payment within the Fees tab to pay for the Milk in RevTrak

Library News

Summer Book Bags
If your child still has a summer book bag at home with library books they checked out last May, please have them return these to school as soon as possible. We will begin sending reminder notices next week.

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