Elmwood Express
May 5, 2023
From the Principal's Desk...
This next week is teacher appreciation week! While we are thankful for our teachers all year long, this allows us the time to truly recognize them and their work with our families, students, and community. They work hard before and after school trying to prep, grade, and explore lessons for our students. As a principal and parent, I see first hand all the hard work that goes into our students. We want to say thank you to our teachers for all that they do. We would like to recognize by name all our outstanding teachers:
Kindergarten: Mrs. Ferrusquia, Mrs. Hudson, Ms. Katsantones, Mrs. Marzillo
1st grade: Mrs. Bieterman, Mrs. Feldmann, Ms. Delgado, Ms. Guidice, Mrs. Lester
2nd grade: Ms. Horvath, Mrs. Mangiamele, Mrs. Predovich, Ms. Ramos
3rd grade: Mrs. Daniels, Mr. Falk, Mrs. Romano
4th grade: Mr. Bolin, Ms. Breitzman, Mrs. Vravosinos
5th grade: Ms. Anderson, Mrs. Campbell, Ms. Novak, Mrs. Ricchio
Reading Specialists: Mrs. DiSilvio, Mrs. Maoine, Mrs. Sullivan
Math Specialists: Mrs. Diviacchi, Mrs. Anichini
Specialist: Mr. Dziadosz, Mrs. Guenther, Mrs. Meacham, Mrs. Dabbs, Ms. Scimeca, Ms. Windisch
Special Educators: Mrs. Sanchez, Mrs. Mckinney, Mrs. Carin, Ms. Accettura, Ms. Sloan, Mrs. Thomas, Ms. Alexander, Ms. Byrd, Mrs. Caputo, Mrs. Dizonno, Mrs. Kause, Ms. Ortman, Mrs. Parren
English Language Teachers: Mrs. Bozek, Mrs. Loffredo, Mrs. Runge
Permanent Subs: Mrs. Butera, Mrs. Pogorzelski
Thank You,
Mr. Lerner
School Lunch Hero Day
Today we celebrated School Lunch Hero Day! We would like to thank all of the people who help make lunch a success each day at Elmwood School. A huge thank you to Kara Jenkins, Megan Monahan, Yolanda Rangel & Catalina Salgado-Bahena who our lunch monitors. As well as Ms. Adelaide, Ms. Cheryl & Ms. Anita who are our food service staff! Thank you for all that you do!
Upcoming Important Dates
🌍Monday, May 8th- Early Release- Students dismissed at 2pm
🌍Monday, May 8th- Teacher Appreciation Week Begins- Wear your teacher's favorite color day!
🌍 Tuesday, May 9th- Tell your teacher a joke day!, PATT Meeting @ 6:30pm
🌍Wednesday, May 10th- School Nurse Appreciation Day- Bring your teacher a flower day!
🌍Thursday, May 11th- Carnaval Celebration @EMS- Dress like a teacher day
🌍 Friday, May 12th- School spirit day- wear black and gold or school spirit wear-DARE Graduation @ 2 PM
Registration Update
All Returning students must be registered by June 15 for next school year to ensure your spot at Elmwood Elementary. A flyer went home with information on how to register. Didn't get it or need help visit: https://www.epcusd401.org/enrollment-and-registration/returning-students
Teacher Appreciation Spirit Week
Next week is teacher appreciation week. Help us celebrate by joining in on our spirit week!
2023 Multicultural Night
Join us for our Multicultural Night! Elmwood Park's Carnaval themed celebration will be May 11th at Elm Middle School. Elm Middle School is located at 7607 W. Cortland. The celebration starts at 5:00 PM. There will be a "Sounds of Brazil" Percussion Performance and a Book Give-Away. starting at 6:00 there will be crafts, activities and foods from around the world!
2023-2024 School Supplies
The school supply list for the 2023-2024 school year will be available online soon. For your convenience, we have partnered with First Day Supplies to create supply kids for students. If you wish to save time by purchasing a kit, it will be sent directly to your home. Click below to learn more or to purchase.
May Lunch Menu
**Please note that all menus are subject to change without notice. **
For our 5th Grade Families...
Daddy Daughter Dance
Dress Code Reminder
Parents, as the weather gets warmer, please take time to review our dress code which can be found in our student handbook:
Students are expected to wear clothing in a neat, clean, and well fitting manner while on school property and/or in attendance at school sponsored activities. Students are to use discretion in their dress and are not permitted to wear apparel that causes a substantial disruption in the school environment.
Student dress (including accessories) may not advertise, promote, or picture alcoholic beverages, illegal or legalized drugs, drug paraphernalia, violent behavior, or other inappropriate images.
Student dress (including accessories) may not display lewd, vulgar, obscene, or offensive language or symbols, including gang symbols.
Hats, sunglasses may not be worn in the building during the school day unless there is a spirit day or medical need which has been communicated to building administration.
Dress, and accessories that pose a safety hazard are not permitted.
Clothing showing skin and/or undergarments may not be worn at school.
The length of shirts, shorts or skirts must be appropriate for the school environment.
Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. Please do not wear shoes or boots with heels. Please consider putting a spare pair of gym shoes in your child’s locker for gym days or if their shoes become uncomfortable.
If there is any doubt about dress and appearance, the building principal will make the final decision.
Students whose dress or hair causes a substantial disruption of the orderly process of school functions or endangers the health or safety of the student, other students, staff or others may be subject to discipline.
Apple Watches/ Smart Watches that have cellular services or phone connectivity are not permitted to be worn during the school day.
Safe2Help
Dear Elmwood Park District 401 families,
Last school year the nation witnessed two national tragedies in Ulvade, Texas and Oxford, Michigan. Student safety remains our priority at D401. We want to continue to provide a safe learning environment and resources to help our parents, teachers, students, and staff be successful.
This school year our school district will begin participating in a new statewide school safety program called Safe2Help Illinois. This program will offer students a safe and confidential way to share information that may help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence, and other threats to student safety. The program also includes an educational curriculum aimed at fostering a culture of kindness and resources for educators and parents to reinforce the program concepts with their students.
Safe2Help Illinois features a 24/7 helpline (1-844-4-SAFEIL), free mobile app, and dedicated website (www.Safe2Helpil.com). In the absence of a trusted adult, students can use Safe2Help Illinois to share concerns about themselves or others in a confidential environment. Once vetted, the information will be immediately shared with local school officials, 911 call centers/Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) depending on the nature of the tip. It is important to note that this program is not intended to punish, suspend or expel students. Rather, the intent is to encourage students to “seek help before harm,” with the goal of intervening and helping students before they harm themselves or others.
The most common reports received by Safe2Help Illinois in the 2021-2022 school year have been bullying and threats of suicide. This sobering information underscores the importance of making sure our students have the resources they need in a time of need. We also believe Safe2Help Illinois has the potential to be effective in preventing acts of school violence. Over the last 15 years, in almost every case of a mass school shooting in the U.S. committed by a student, after action reports indicate at least one other student knew something might happen but did not come forward for a variety of reasons.
Long-term goals of Safe2Help Illinois are to remove the stigma associated with mental health issues, promote a culture of kindness, and instill important lessons such as the difference between telling and tattling, internet safety, and suicide prevention.
You can find more information on our website under “School Safety.” epcusd401.org/school-safety
Sincerely,