Field Day - Thursday 5/28, 12:45-3pm

UPDATE: We have enough parent volunteers for Field Day!

Thank you for volunteering for Elm School’s Field Day! Field Day is always a highlight for our students, filled with fun and excitement. The Elm School PE teachers have planned a variety of engaging, parent-led activity stations that students will rotate through during their scheduled time. Field Day 2026 will take place on Thursday, May 28th, and will be split into two sign up groupings based on grade levels:

• Parents will need to report to Elm School’s office no later than 12:15PM with their ID. Parents must bring their valid ID to participate. Please allow extra time to check in with our safe visitor system.
• Field Day time will run from 12:45-3:00PM.
• Please follow the links below to sign up. We will be in touch with updates and station assignments. K/1st/2nd/3rd Moen sign up HERE. 3rd Morris/4th/5th Grade sign up HERE. For parents with children in both sets of age groups: please only sign up for one child’s group; there will be time to go see other children during this day. Please do NOT sign up for both groups or your sign up will be deleted at our discretion.

We’re looking forward to another fantastic Field Day. We couldn’t do it without your support!

Trivia Night - Thank You!

Thank you for making our spring Trivia Night a success! Thank you again to Sheena Patel (Alora Dental), Kristen Chase Adhya (Tricoci) and Lindsay Ward for their fabulous donations to the prize table! Hope everyone had a fun night!

Principal's Corner

Countdown to Summer

SMS Message Update

The Community Speaker Series - April 28th

Spring NWEA MAP | Grades 1-7

The spring NWEA MAP assessment window opens on Wednesday, April 29 and will extend through Wednesday, May 13. 

The Elm School schedule will be as follows:

4/29/26: 1st Grade ELA, 2nd Grade ELA

4/30/26: 1st Grade Math, 2nd Grade Math

5/1/26: 4th Grade ELA

5/4/26: 3rd Grade ELA, 5th Grade ELA

5/5/26: 5th Grade Math

5/7/26: 3rd Grade Math

5/8/26: 4th Grade Math

Your child’s scores will be available in Skyward after administration is complete and all reports are available. We will reach out when scores are available for parents to view.

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 in D181.

Satchel Pulse - Spring Administration

Elementary students and teachers will once again participate in the Satchel Pulse Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener, a tool to help us monitor and improve the social-emotional skills of all our students. D181 first utilized this SEL screener in our elementary schools during the 2023-2024 school year after a successful pilot during the 2022-2023 school year. Teachers of students in grades KG-5th will complete the screener about their students, while students in grades 3rd-5th will complete the screener about themselves. SEL skills include developing healthy habits, managing emotions, setting and achieving goals, developing empathy for others, establishing and maintaining supportive relationships, collaborating with others, and making responsible and caring decisions. 

Satchel Pulse is a student-friendly screener with 25 simple questions, which will be administered during school during the week of May 11-15. Students and teachers will complete the screener which includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship, and responsible decision-making questions.  Information gained from this screener will provide our school teams with additional insight to best support our students’ social, emotional, and academic growth.

Dr. Hector Garcia's Retirement

Stuff the Squad

Stuff the Squad was wildly successful this year! Thank you all for participating in this important fundraiser benefitting HCS Family Services. This year, we collected an astounding 3,356 lbs of food as a District!

Library News

One School, One Book 2026

One School, One Book is a wonderful opportunity for our Elm School community to come together and share the same story, The Guardian Test, by Christina Soontornvat. 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 informational slides to learn more about our One School One Book program at Elm for 2026.
• Click here for a suggested reading guide for each chapter.
• 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 guardian project. (This is worth 5 entries for the raffle and can be completed as a family). Due May 1st.
• 4th and 5th graders can enter for a chance to write with Christina Soontornvat! Approximately 50 students will be selected. Due May 1st.

PTO Meeting - Friday 5/1, 9-10am

Please join us on Friday, May 1st at 9am in the staff lounge for our monthly PTO Meeting. You can also access the meeting via Zoom HERE if you're unable to attend in person (Meeting ID: 833 9431 6349, Passcode: 347206).

Multicultural Event - THANK YOU!

The Community & Culture Committee thanks you for attending Elm's Multicultural Event! Your presence and enthusiasm made for a wonderful afternoon of learning and celebrating diversity. A special thank you to the students and families who shared performances, displays, crafts, and food. We are all so grateful for your willingness to share with the Elm community! We would love to hear from you - provide any feedback here: FEEDBACK FORM 

2026-2027 PTO Executive Board Nominees

Pursuant to the Elm School PTO Bylaws, we are required to post the slate of candidates for next year's Executive Board 30 days before the election. Thank you to all of these volunteers for their willingness to serve in these roles.

2026-2027 Elm School PTO Executive Board Nominees:

President - Haley Zaffar
Vice President - Julie Reddy
Secretary - Meredith Nabavi
Communications Chair - Judy Chan
Treasury Co-Chairs - Chris Juarez & Rick Schneider
Ways & Means Co-Chairs - Sangeeta Schroeder & Megan Mirro
Room Parent Co-Chairs - Brittany Stevens & Molly McAlinden

Principal's Corner

Countdown to Summer

Parent Input for the 2026-2027 School Year

The planning process for the 2026–2027 school year has begun. Determining the best class groupings is a complex process that we take very seriously at Elm School. We collaborate closely with your child’s current teachers and specialists (reading, differentiation, resource, and art, music, and PE staff) to thoughtfully develop class lists that support student learning.

Many factors guide this work. We strive to create balanced classes with a range of abilities, interests, learning styles, and personalities, while also considering class size, instructional support, and gender balance. Our teachers know students well and work together to design groupings that provide optimal learning opportunities for all. Each member of our staff brings unique strengths and perspectives, and our teams work collaboratively to ensure a consistent and supportive experience at every grade level.

As our partners, we welcome your perspective on your child’s needs. Providing this information is optional, and we ask that you use the designated form to share input. Please note that because there are only two sections at each grade level, it is not possible to separate students from specific peers or ensure placement with particular peers. Additionally, we are not able to honor specific teacher requests. Information you share may be reviewed with staff and your child’s future teacher to support a smooth transition.

If your child will not be attending Elm School next year, please note that on the form as well. If you would like to provide input, please complete the form by April 24, 2026.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Earth Week - April 20-24

Mrs. Soofi will visit the lunchroom throughout the week. Students who bring a waste-free lunch and/or are observed recycling will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a fun waste-free lunch kit!

The Community Speaker Series - April 28th

Spring NWEA MAP | Grades 1-7

The spring NWEA MAP assessment window opens on Wednesday, April 29 and will extend through Wednesday, May 13. 

The Elm School schedule will be as follows:

4/29/26: 1st Grade ELA, 2nd Grade ELA

4/30/26: 1st Grade Math, 2nd Grade Math

5/1/26: 4th Grade ELA

5/4/26: 3rd Grade ELA, 5th Grade ELA

5/5/26: 5th Grade Math

5/7/26: 3rd Grade Math

5/8/26: 4th Grade Math

Your child’s scores will be available in Skyward after administration is complete and all reports are available. We will reach out when scores are available for parents to view.

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 in D181.

Satchel Pulse - Spring Administration

Elementary students and teachers will once again participate in the Satchel Pulse Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener, a tool to help us monitor and improve the social-emotional skills of all our students. D181 first utilized this SEL screener in our elementary schools during the 2023-2024 school year after a successful pilot during the 2022-2023 school year. Teachers of students in grades KG-5th will complete the screener about their students, while students in grades 3rd-5th will complete the screener about themselves. SEL skills include developing healthy habits, managing emotions, setting and achieving goals, developing empathy for others, establishing and maintaining supportive relationships, collaborating with others, and making responsible and caring decisions. 

Satchel Pulse is a student-friendly screener with 25 simple questions, which will be administered during school during the week of May 11-15. Students and teachers will complete the screener which includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship, and responsible decision-making questions.  Information gained from this screener will provide our school teams with additional insight to best support our students’ social, emotional, and academic growth.

Library News

One School, One Book 2026

One School, One Book is a wonderful opportunity for our Elm School community to come together and share the same story, The Guardian Test, by Christina Soontornvat. 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 informational slides to learn more about our One School One Book program at Elm for 2026.
• Click here for a suggested reading guide for each chapter.
• 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 guardian project. (This is worth 5 entries for the raffle and can be completed as a family). Due May 1st.
• 4th and 5th graders can enter for a chance to write with Christina Soontornvat! Approximately 50 students will be selected. Due May 1st.