Neubert Elementary School

Dear Neubert Families,

We are thrilled to begin another week of amazing teaching and learning here at Neubert!

I have an exciting staffing update to share; Mrs. Evangelin Chapa has been selected as our new Registrar Secretary! Evangelin has worked in the building as our Bilingual General Education Paraeducator. We are thrilled for her and look forward to welcoming her into this new role starting on March 2. Christine Lopriore will continue to support our building during the transition and will work closely with Evangelin to ensure a smooth and seamless handoff. Please join me in congratulating Evangelin on her new position and this exciting next chapter at Neubert!

The 5Essentials Family Survey is open and will remain open through March 10 (linked below). This survey gives our families an important opportunity to share feedback about our school and helps guide our continuous school improvement efforts. Our district goal for parent participation is 20%, but I know our Neubert community can go well beyond that! Our building goal is 45-50% participation, and we can only reach that with your help. We are currently at 51 surveys completed with an overall 12% response rate.

Thank you to everyone who came to PTO's BINGO night and helped make it a huge success! As a reminder, there will be no school on Friday, February 27, as it is a Teacher Institute day.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support at home.

Your Partner in Education,

Ms. Nicole Bryan, Principal
Neubert Elementary School

5Essentials Survey Window Now Open – We Value Your Voice!

Our annual 5Essentials Survey window is now open, and we invite all Neubert families to participate. This statewide survey provides important feedback about our school’s learning conditions and overall effectiveness. It gathers input about areas such as school climate, communication, family engagement, and instructional support.

Your responses are confidential and help guide our school improvement planning, goal setting, and decision-making. We carefully review the results each year and use them to strengthen our programs, supports, and partnerships with families.

The survey does not take long to complete, and your voice truly makes a difference.

👉 Family Survey Link (select "Kane" for the county)

Opened February 9, Closes on March 10

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our Neubert Knights!

At Neubert, we are so lucky to have such a dedicated and caring staff! We invite you to take a moment to recognize a staff member who has made a difference for your child(ren) or family. Your personal messages will be sent directly to the receiving staff member. Your kind words mean so much and help us celebrate the amazing work happening every day!

Neubert Staff Shoutout Form

Arrival

• Drop-off (when bus duty personnel are outside) does not begin until 7:45 AM. Please wait until someone is outside monitoring your students before dropping them off.
• Unless specifically directed by bus duty personnel, a parent is not allowed to drive around another car in front of them after dropping off their student in the parent drop-off lane. This is a safety precaution as students can exit either side of a car.

Attendance

Daily student attendance is fundamental to student academic progress. Additionally, increased Average Daily Attendance [ADA] in all schools positively impacts the quality of education.

To report a student absence, late arrival, or early release, please do one of the following:

• Call 847-532-6820
• Email Attendance.Neubert@d300.org
  
  

• Parents are responsible for reporting a student’s absence to the Attendance Office by 7:00 a.m. the date of the absence. A student will be considered truant if a phone call explaining the absence is not made to the attendance office. Recorded messages may be left on the Attendance Office Voice mail between 4 p.m. and 7 a.m. preceding the absence.

• When calling in an absence, please provide your student’s name, grade, ID number, and reason for the absence.

Excused Absence Information

Valid Causes for Excused Absences include:

• Student illness
  
• Family emergency
  
• Death in the immediate family
  
• Attendance at religious instruction or observance of a religious holiday
  
• Documented attendance in court
  
• Documented medical and dental appointments
  
• Authorized college visits, maximum 6 across junior and senior years (e.g., 4 junior yr., 2 senior yr.)
  
• Circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student
  
• Administrative placement out-of-school or administrative authorization
  
  

A medical excuse may be required if the student’s illness exceeds three consecutive days or if the student’s absences due to illness occur for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days.

Unexcused Absence Information

Unexcused Absences = Absent without Valid Cause

The following will apply for a student’s absence to be reported as unexcused:

1. The parent/guardian fails to provide a valid cause for the student’s absence; or
   
2. The parent/guardian fails to contact the school prior to the student’s absence or within the first two hours on the day of the absence.
   
   

If special circumstances prevented parents/guardians from being able to contact the school, the building administrator will determine the outcome of the absence.

Unexcused Absences = Truancy Violations

Students subject to compulsory school attendance who are absent without valid cause (unexcused) for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days – which may include prior school year semesters of attendance – are considered “chronic or habitual truants.”

Tardiness

Students who arrive to school after the instructional day has begun (8:00 a.m. sharp) and/or students who arrive to their assigned classroom after the class period has begun are considered “tardy.” Excused tardiness to school must meet the same general criteria as an excused absence. The status of tardiness due to circumstances beyond students’ and/or parent/guardians’ control, such as a late bus or poor road conditions, will be determined by school administration.

Circumstances defining excused vs. unexcused tardiness:

• Will be issued an unexcused tardy if they arrive within the first 45 minutes after the start of the school day.
  
• Arriving to school after the first 45 minutes with valid cause will result in Excused Absence (EA) for all or part of the school day.
  
• Arriving to school after the first 45 minutes without valid cause will result in Unexcused Absence (UA) for all or part of the school day.

CLICK HERE for more information from the NES Attendance Office.

Big congratulations to our Neubert Knights, Maddie and Eryk, fifth graders selected as our IPA Student Leaders! They were nominated by their teachers for consistently demonstrating outstanding leadership both inside and outside the classroom. We are so proud of them and can’t wait to celebrate them at the IPA Student Leadership Breakfast this spring! Way to go, Maddie and Eryk! 👏

Another big congratulations to one of our LEAP special education teachers, Lana Meltzer, for being selected as Neubert’s nominee for the D300 Foundation Distinguished Educator Award! 🎉

Chosen by her colleagues, Lana creates a responsive, student-centered classroom where every learner is seen, supported, and empowered to succeed. Through innovative, multisensory instruction and individualized supports, she ensures students with complex needs can actively participate and grow. Her balance of high expectations, compassion, and strong relationships makes a lasting impact on our Knights.

Way to go, Lana! We are so proud of the impactful work that you do here at Neubert.

Our district has launched District 300: Together for Tomorrow, a community-led process to plan the next steps for improving our schools, and we invite you to join the second community workshop to learn more and share your ideas about what matters most for our students and community.

Specifically, the second community workshop will explore district facilities and how they impact student education.

Please join us:

Wednesday, February 25
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Dundee-Crown High School – 1500 Kings Road in Carpentersville

Learn more and RSVP: www.d300.org/TogetherForTomorrow

Communication Explorers!

This month, students are learning that communication is so much more than just talking. We’re exploring the many ways people share ideas, feelings, and needs—through words, writing, gestures, facial expressions, body language, vocal tone, and tools like AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). By noticing and practicing different forms of communication, we can build empathy, listening skills, and an understanding that everyone communicates in their own unique way.

As of 2/20/26:

👏 Way to go, Knights! 👏

Neubert is participating in the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge! Families can support by joining online at http://www2.heart.org/goto/neubert, downloading the Kids Heart Challenge app, or scanning the QR code. Students can complete “Finn’s Mission” to learn about heart health and kindness while raising funds for the AHA. As fun incentives, any student who raises $50 or more or completes Finn’s Mission will get to silly string Ms. Bryan and the admin team! Classes can also compete for a mystery prize, and students who meet fundraising levels may earn chances to win sports tickets and other exciting rewards. Let’s work together to help save lives and have some fun along the way!

Erin's Law presentations will take place the week of February 23rd at Neubert.

Erin's Law is a movement, originating with survivor Erin Merryn, that educates children about personal body safety and empowers them to recognize, report, and prevent child sexual abuse. The core message to families is to have ongoing, open conversations with their children about safe and unsafe touches, the right to say "no" to any unwanted touch, to identify trusted adults, and to understand that the responsibility for abuse always lies with the perpetrator, not the child.

Click here to read more about Erin's Law presentations at Neubert.

Click here to learn more about Erin's Law.

February is Black History Month, a time for our school community to honor and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of African Americans. Throughout history, leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and many others have shown courage, perseverance, and a commitment to justice that continue to inspire us today. This month, students will learn about these important figures and the impact they have had in shaping our nation, while also reflecting on the values of respect, kindness, and standing up for what is right.

Families play an important role in helping children understand and appreciate history, culture, and the values of respect and inclusion. Here are a few simple ways to engage in meaningful conversations and learning at home during Black History Month:

• Read Together
  Visit the library or use online resources to read books by and about African American leaders, inventors, artists, and everyday heroes.

• Watch and Discuss
  Enjoy age-appropriate videos or documentaries about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, or other historical figures, and talk about what your child learned.

• Family Conversations
  Ask your child what they are learning at school about Black History Month and discuss why courage, fairness, and standing up for others are important.

• Explore Music and Art
  Listen to music by African American musicians or look at artwork by African American artists, then talk about how culture and creativity tell important stories.

• Create a “Hero” Spotlight
  Have your child choose a historical figure to research and create a short poster, drawing, or slideshow to share with your family.

• Acts of Kindness & Service
  Talk about how leaders like Dr. King made a difference through service and kindness, and look for ways your family can help others in your community.

• Visit Virtual Museums
  Take a virtual tour of museums such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture and explore exhibits together.

These at-home activities help reinforce what students are learning in school and support meaningful conversations about history, leadership, and respect for all.

Family Engagement Activity: District-Wide Celebration

We invite you to join us for a special district-wide event to celebrate our community and history taking place on Saturday, February 21, from 12:00- 3:00 p.m. at Dundee Crown High School in the Multipurpose Room. Please click here to learn more.

This year’s event will feature:

• Community Breakfast: A morning meal for all attendees to enjoy together.

• Line Dancing: An energetic session specifically for our students.

• Crafts & Vendors: Interactive craft stations and local business displays.

Congratulations to Mrs. Ferrante's Class, again!

They are the winners of our Royal Broom Award for keeping the cleanest classroom the entire week of February 9th! Our night custodians crowned them champions, and their room sparkled the brightest. ✨The Royal Broom competition runs all year long, so who will sweep up the honor next week? 🧹

🎉 We’re excited to share this month’s Perfect Attendance Reward! Students who have perfect attendance in February will earn a free pass to skate at Xtreme Wheels Roller Skating Center! Let’s keep up the great attendance and enjoy some fun rewards!

Our Lost & Found is officially living up to its name and it’s bursting at the seams with hats and gloves! 🧤🧢 If your child’s winter gear mysteriously vanished, there’s a very good chance it’s hanging out here, waiting to be reunited with its owner. Please take a moment to check the Lost & Found pictures below.

To help lost items make a quicker reunion in the future, we encourage families to write students’ names on their belongings. A name goes a long way in helping us return items faster. Thank you for helping keep our Lost & Found from growing! 😊

Our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a team of passionate parents and staff who work together to make Neubert an even better place to learn and grow. From planning fun family events to supporting teachers and students, the PTO helps build the strong, connected community our kids deserve. Stay tuned for ways to get involved!

• Neubert PTO Facebook Group
• Neubert PTO PTBoard Page
• D300 Volunteer Application

Late Start Hours for Kindergarten through 5th Grade

10:00 am - 2:15 pm

Remaining Late Start Dates for the 2025-26 School Year

• Wednesday, March 4, 2026
• Wednesday, May 13, 2026

• 2/23/26-2/26/26 - Erin's Law Presentations
• 2/23/26-2/24/26 - February ROYAL Raffles
• 2/26/26 - Spirit Wear; Favorite Color Day
• 2/27/26 - Teacher Institute Day; No School
• 3/2/26-3/6/26 - Read Across America Week (5-day Spirit Week - see schedule above)
• 3/4/26 - Late Start Day

• February 16, 2026
• February 9, 2026
• February 2, 2026

• Principal - Ms. Nicole Bryan - nicole.bryan@d300.org
• Assistant Principal - Mrs. Christina Nowak - christina.nowak@d300.org
• Student Services Specialist - Mrs. Kim Almodovar - kimberly.almodovar@d300.org
• Principal's Secretary - Mrs. Christine Stofan - christine.stofan@d300.org
• Registrar Secretary - Mrs. Christine Lopriore (interim) - christine.lopriore@d300.org
• Certified School Nurse - Mrs. Kathy Frank - katherine.frank@d300.org

School Phone Number: 847-532-6800

Neubert Elementary Facebook Page

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