Cougar Courier
ELM MIDDLE SCHOOL’S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
September 16, 2022
Principal's Message
Greetings Elm Families,
We hope everyone had a wonderful week. Thank you to all of our families for coming to Curriculum Night; it was so nice to be able to connect with so many members of our school community.
We had a busy week at Elm as we began our Aimsweb Assessments, and students are doing absolutely amazing. I would encourage all of our families to check in with their child about how classes are going; also, PowerSchool is a great resource to check in on academic progress. Starting September 26th, we will be implementing a new program called Cougar Connections (please read below for more details).
Please take a few minutes and read through this week’s Cougar Courier. As always, should you need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly. Stay safe! #TeamElmStrong
Most Sincerely,
Ms. Ashley Groeneveld
Assistant Principal's Corner
Hello parents and guardians,
As we begin our testing process, I wanted to share some insight regarding our "why's" for testing and share some important upcoming dates.
We are currently in the Fall portion of the Aimsweb testing process; students will take this testing three times this year (Winter and Spring). These assessments provide critical information regarding the your student's level of preparedness. From these measures, we can provide appropriate academic supports for each student. The sequence of Aimsweb allows our academic team to have a measurable resource to determine areas of concern for students; this leads to appropriate curriculum decisions as well as timely interventions.
Upcoming Testing Dates: 9-28-22: 8th Graders - PSAT
David Parolin - Assistant Principal
Dean's Den
In regards to Cell Phones, I wanted to share with all of you the same information that we provided to our students:
1. Cell Phones are allowed to be on a student's person in class, but they are not allowed to use them.
2. Cell Phones are not allowed in the hallways.
3. At this moment, cell phones are not allowed to be used during lunch, but we will revisit this in October.
Also, if your child comes to you with concerns of bullying or harassment, there are a few options on how to share this with us so that we can promptly support. Students can always reach out to me (or another trusted staff member) directly through email or by stopping by my office. There is also a District Reporting Form available on the Elmwood Park District website.
Mr. Goodman- Dean of Students
Cougar Connections
Teachers will invite 6-8 students to remain at school from 2:09pm-3:15pm to receive focused grade-level support for any subject area offered at Elm Middle School. Parent/Guardians will receive notification if their student has been invited to Cougar Connections along with their students. We are excited to offer this as an additional academic opportunity for our students.
Clubs and Extra-Curricular Activities
Elm Middle School Band Open House
Greetings Band Families,
Our school year is off to a great start, and the enthusiasm of our soon to be members is beyond measure! 6th Grade Band members and parents are invited to attend our band open house on Monday, September 19th. We will open the gym doors at 4:00 pm and stay until 7:00 pm. For more information regarding the event, take a moment and read the attached letter from Mr. Hawk.
Cougar Athletics
This Week:
Tuesday- Softball (B) (G)
Tuesday- Cross Country Meet
Wednesday -Softball (B) (G)
Thursday-Softball (B) (G)
Book Fair
Box Tops for Education
Join Elm in earning cash for our school by using the Box Tops app. It’s an easy way to make a difference. All you have to do is buy Box Tops participating products (like Cheerios!) and scan your grocery receipt. Box Tops are worth 10 cents each and they add up fast. Twice a year, our school receives a check to help pay for whatever we need - equipment, supplies, or experiences the kids love!
Use this referral code K7Y8751D when you sign up, and you will get 25 Bonus Box Tops when you scan your first receipt now through 05/31/2023, while supplies last! Download the Box Tops for Education app here: https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=K7Y8751D
Attendance Reminders
If a student is going to be absent from class, a parent or guardian should call our Attendance Clerk at (708) 583-6600 or email elmattendance@epcusd401.org.
When calling, please spell your child’s last name and give their student ID number.
Upcoming Events
September 23rd: Snowflake
September 26th-29th: Elm Middle School Book Fair
September 28th: PSAT 8/9
October 10th: No School Columbus Day
October 12th: Elm PAT Meeting 6pm!
October 14th: PAT Treat Sale
October 17th: Picture Day
October 25th: 6th Grade & Choir to Chicago Wolves Game
October 27th: 7th and 8th Grade to EPHS for Fall Play Performance
October 28th: Halloween Dance
Need Help? Contact Us!
Ms. Ashley Groeneveld, Principal: 708-583-6227, groenevelda@epcusd401.org
Mr. Dave Parolin, Assistant Principal: 708-583-6228, parolind@epcusd401.org
Mr. Michael Goodman, Dean of Students:
708-583-6238, goodmanm@epcusd401.orgMain Office: 708-452-3550, elminfo@epcusd401.org
Website: https://www.epcusd401.org/elm
Location: 7607 W Cortland St, Elmwood Park, IL 60707, USA
Phone: 708-452-3550