The Principal's Pawprint

Dear Isaac Fox Families,

As we enter the final month of the school year, there is a unique blend of energy in the air—one that comes from both wrapping up a year of hard work and beginning to look ahead to what’s next. Our students continue to show incredible focus and perseverance, our staff remains committed to meaningful learning each and every day, and our families provide the steady support that makes it all possible. Together, it’s clear that this has been a truly special year.

A highlight of this season is one of our most anticipated PTO-sponsored events—the Isaac Fox Spring Musical! A huge congratulations to our talented students, dedicated staff, and supportive families for bringing Finding Nemo Jr. to life. We hope you’ll join us for performances at 2:00 PM this Saturday and Sunday at Middle School South. See link to purchase tickets below in the "Info from our IF PTO" section of the newsletter. It’s sure to be a wonderful celebration of creativity, collaboration, and school spirit!

As we move through these final weeks, be sure to check the important dates listed below. There is so much to look forward to, and if experience tells us anything, it will all pass in the blink of an eye. Let’s continue to make the most of every moment together.

In Partnership,

Mrs. Kelly Olivero
Principal, Isaac Fox Elementary

An ABC countdown is coming our way,

With 26 letters to brighten each day.

From A all the way to Z, you’ll see,

A simple, shared path to summer break glee.

Each letter brings something fun to do,

Easy for me and easy for you.

No need for big plans or lots of a fuss,

Just small moments of joy for all of us.

Together we’ll count as the days fly by,

With community strong and spirits high.

An A to Z journey, both meaningful and bright,

Celebrating the year as we end it just right.

As we have done in the past, we will be offering students the opportunity to complete a brief needs assessment this spring. We will additionally be combining this survey with our Portrait of a Graduate end of year exit ticket, as well as our annual student belonging/inclusion survey items, in order to streamline data collection efforts.

We are planning to collect this information on the week of Monday, April 27, 2026, and the survey should be minimally disruptive overall to your student’s schedule.

Families may access survey items using the link below:

Elementary Spring Needs Assessment (Grades 3-5; Grades K-2 will complete Portrait of a Graduate exit ticket items ONLY)

Dear Parents and/or Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well. As we did in the fall and winter, we will be administering the spring benchmark of the Panorama Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) Assessment during the upcoming assessment window.

The Panorama SEL Assessment includes two components:

• A Teacher Perception Survey, completed by staff for all students in grades K–12.
  
  

• A Student Self-Perception Survey, completed by students in grades 3–12.
  
  

Both surveys are aligned with the Illinois State Social/Emotional Learning Standards and the CASEL Social/Emotional Competencies. The Student Self-Perception Survey takes approximately 12–20 minutes to complete and will be administered during the school day. The Teacher Perception Survey will not impact students’ instructional time.

The spring administration window will take place from Tuesday, April 21st-Sunday, April 25th.

The Panorama assessment includes both a Teacher Perception Survey and a Student Self-Perception Survey for students in grades 3-12. To learn more about the topics covered in these surveys, please click HERE. For your reference, you can access the specific questions for the Student Self-Perception Survey for grades 3-5 HERE.

As with past assessments, the results will be used to help us better understand student strengths and areas for support, and information will be shared with families following the assessment. This data will be utilized to assess our progress with social-emotional instruction across the course of the school year as a building, as well as to plan for instructional needs in the fall.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Kelly Olivero

Principal

Isaac Fox Elementary

As part of our D95 Strategic Plan and in partnership with our Sustainability Committee, we’re launching a “Recycling Refresh” campaign to ensure everyone—students and staff alike—understands how to “recycle right.”

D95 partners with Waste Management (WM) for single-stream recycling, which means all recyclables go in one bin—but only if they’re clean and correct!

Let’s model the way for our students by remembering WM’s Three Golden Rules of Recycling:

Recycle bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard.

Keep food and liquid out of your recycling. (Empty first!)

No plastic bags — ever! (Don’t bag your recyclables.)

In the coming weeks, we’ll refresh signage, reteach and model expectations with students, and share quick reminders during morning announcements. Thank you for helping keep our recycling stream clean and our school green! Below are our slide decks to utilize in the classroom for reteaching.

Early Childhood - 5th grade - Recycling Hero slide deck (speaker notes)

6th - 12th and YAC - Recycling Refresh slide deck

The D95 Sustainability Committee invites all stakeholders to participate in a Reuse-A-Shoe Drive in partnership with SWALCO (Solid Waste Agency of Lake County).

Collection Dates: April 13–23, 2026

We are accepting ALL sizes, brands, and conditions—new, gently worn, used, or worn.
Accepted items include:

Athletic shoes, dress shoes, boots, Crocs, casual shoes, cleats, children’s shoes (including light-ups), work boots, hiking boots, slippers, loafers, rain boots, sandals, flip-flops, clogs, and more.

Not accepted: moldy or wet shoes, shoes without soles, ice skates, or rollerblades.

Please tie shoelaces together or secure pairs with a rubber band or zip tie.

Reuse those shoes here!

This collection is sponsored and coordinated by:
Isaac Fox, May Whitney, Sarah Adams, Seth Paine, Spencer Loomis, Middle School North, Middle School South, Young Adult Center, and Lake Zurich High School.

For more information about SWALCO’s Reuse-A-Shoe program, contact Merleanne Rampale at 847-377-4950 or visit www.swalco.org.

Online registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open. All families must complete the registration process through ParentVUE as soon as possible to ensure their student is registered for the upcoming school year.

Timely registration is important for class placement, scheduling, and staffing.

• Returning Families: Log into ParentVUE, select Online Registration, and review/update your student’s information.

• New Families: Create a ParentVUE account to begin the registration process.

• New Students: Proof of residency* and birth certificate verification must be completed in person at your child’s school.

Fees & Health Forms: Once registration is accepted, fees can be paid in PushCoin, and required health forms can be uploaded in ParentVUE.

Instructions are available on the district website under Parents → Registration.

*Some exceptions apply in cases of homelessness. Families with questions should contact their school office for assistance.

• Monday, April 20th: Chess After School
• Monday, April 20th: IF Orchestra and MSS Silly Strings perform @ 2:15pm
• Monday, April 20th: IF Musical Rehearsal after school
• Tuesday, April 21th: 4th grade Orchestra (@IF) & Band Rehearsals (@ MW) before school
• Tuesday, April 21th: Green Team after school
• Tuesday, April 21th: Sticky Fingers after school
• Tuesday, April 21th: IF Musical Rehearsal after school
• Wednesday, April 22nd: Young Rembrants after school
• Wednesday, April 22nd: Announcements Club after school
• Wednesday, April 22nd: IF Musical Rehearsal after school
• Thursday, April 23rd 5th grade Orchestra before school
• Thursday, April 23rd: IF Musical Rehearsal after school
• Thursday, April 23rd: LZ95 Board Awards @ 6:15pm
• Friday, April 24th: Chorus before school
• Friday, April 24th: IF Musical Rehearsal after school (if needed)
• Saturday, April 25th: Finding Nemo Jr. Musical @ 2:00pm @ MSS
• Sunday, April 26th: Finding Nemo Jr. Musical @ 2:00pm @ MSS
• Monday, April 27th: Student Council before school
• Monday, April 27th: Chess after school
• Monday, April 27th: Last IF PTO Meeting of the School Year @ 6:30pm
• Tuesday, April 28th: 4th grade Orchestra (@IF) & Band Rehearsals (@ MW) before school
• Tuesday, April 28th: Green Team after school
• Tuesday, April 28th: Sticky Fingers after school
• Tuesday, April 28th: 4th Grade Spring Orchestra Concert @ 6:00pm @ MSS
• Wednesday, April 29th: Young Rembrants after school
• Wednesday, April 29th: Announcement Club after school
• Thursday, April 30th: 5th grade Orchestra before school
• Thursday, April 30th: 2nd Grade Measurement Olympics
• Thursday, April 30th: 5th Grade Spring Orchestra Concert @ 6:30pm @ MSS
• Friday, May 1st: Chorus before school
• Friday, May 1st: 5th Grade Candor Health Presentation
• Friday, May 1st: Kindergarten PTO Enrichment

Our April Portrait of a Graduate focus is being Future Ready. At the elementary level, this means helping students build the skills, mindsets, and habits they need to succeed in an ever-changing world. Being future ready looks like developing curiosity, problem-solving skills, adaptability, responsibility, and a willingness to try new things—even when challenges arise.

Families can support this at home by encouraging children to ask questions, explore their interests, and take on small responsibilities. Talk with your child about their goals, celebrate effort over perfection, and help them learn from mistakes. Providing opportunities for independence, teamwork, and real-world problem solving—like helping plan a family activity or managing a small task—can go a long way in building confidence and preparing them for the future.

Tickets are on sale and selling quickly for this year's musical production, Finding Nemo Jr. Come see your 4th & 5th grade friends as they become ocean animals that ride the EAC to search for P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney!

Performances are on Saturday, April 25th at 2:00PM & Sunday, April 26th at 2:00PM on the Middle School South stage. Use the link or QR code to purchase tickets.

As summer approaches, District 95 will once again be offering a variety of Summer Semester programs for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, including Extended School Year (ESY).

Summer Semester 2026 registration is open and runs through Friday, April 10, 2026 for in-district families. Families who are not residents of District 95 will be able to register for a limited number of courses at the high school level from April 27, 2026 - May 15, 2026.

Registration will be conducted exclusively through ParentVue, accessible via the district website (www.lz95.org) including for non-District 95 families

Please click the links below to access further information about the summer semester and the programs that will be offered. If you are having trouble viewing any of these resources or need translations, please contact Todd Jakowitsch at todd.jakowitsch@lz95.org or (847) 540-4929.

• K - 8 Summer Semester Course Guide

• LZHS Summer Semester Course Guide

Discover something truly unique while supporting local businesses! Join us at the Lake County Spring Transition Market on April 24, 2026, and explore a variety of products and experiences created by talented transition entrepreneurs in our community.

Be sure to stop by the Young Adult Center booth, where you can enjoy delicious taste tests and purchase a selection of flavorful dried dips and marinades—perfect for adding something special to your next meal or gifting to someone you love.

Shop local, connect with the community, and celebrate the creativity and entrepreneurship of Lake County’s transition businesses. We can’t wait to see you there!

When dropping off or picking up your student, parents are able to park in the lot near the soccer fields located along Deerpath Road. During these time, we ask families to please cross only within the designated crosswalk area from the soccer field parking lot to the school grounds. Guardians, staff, and buses all use this route, and it can become quite busy during these times. By following crosswalk procedures and traffic expectations, you help ensure the safety of all members of our community while also modeling positive habits for our children. Thank you for doing your part to keep Isaac Fox a safe and caring place for everyone.

There have been an increase in the number of cars that have been avoiding the car drop off line and turning left to drop off directly in front of the main entrance. It is vital that our bus line remains open during this time. As you enter through the front entrance off Cuba Rd., please turn right and follow the drop off line. Our supervisors ensure that the line moves with efficiecy and also remains safe. Your cooperation is appreciated!

When dropping off or picking up your student in the car lane near MSS, it is important that you remain in your car at all times. Students need to be exiting the vehicle on the side nearest the sidewalk and schools. If students need help unbuckling, buckling, gathering and carrying items, then it is best to park in a spot in front of MSS or alternatively use the back lot near the soccer field and walk your child into school. Following this procedure helps maintain safety and efficiency as we get our students from home to school and back again each day. Thank you for your cooperation!

During the colder weather months, we often see an increase in the number of students being driven to school and dropped off in the morning. As a result, it is important that our drop-off procedures remain both efficient and—most importantly—safe. There is no need to pull all the way up to the stop sign before your child exits the vehicle. The designated drop-off zone, marked by two large orange cones, begins at the Middle School South entrance and extends up to the stop sign. Once you have come to a complete stop within this zone, it is safe for your student to exit the vehicle on the sidewalk side. Please take a moment to review the standing reminders included later in this newsletter, and thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and smooth arrival process for everyone.

If you need to communicate with your child during the school day, please contact the school office. This includes times such as lunch and recess. Our office staff will make sure your message is delivered or will connect you with your child if it’s necessary in the moment.

We also remind students that if they need to reach you, they should always ask an adult in the building for assistance. Please take a moment to talk with your child about what to do if they need to contact you during the school day and model appropriate communication practices.

By following this process, students can stay focused on learning, and our staff can best support them if a need arises. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership!

Parent Student Handbook: 6.80 Student Use of Electronic Devices

Parent Communication Guidelines

School staff work diligently to create environments that foster learning with minimal distractions. A personal electronic device (i.e., cell phone, smart watch) can be a distraction for a student during the school day. District 95 seeks to partner with parents/guardians so that we can minimize distractions during class time. To this end, parents are discouraged from communicating to their student's personal electronic device during school hours – apart from exceptional/emergency situations.

When visiting Isaac Fox, you will need to bring your license or ID in with you each time you enter the school for use with our Raptor system located in our vestibule. Please have patience while all visitors to our community check in and out. The office staff is always available to help if needed. Thank you for doing your part to help keep our school and safe and inviting environment for all!

We strongly discourage students from being dismissed between 2:30-2:50 pm due to the dismissal lines and buses at that time. If you need to pick your child up early, please arrange for a time prior to 2:30pm.

Understand that no changes in student transportation will be made without a written or verbal request from a parent or guardian.

Once we have established your designated travel, you must notify your child’s teacher and the office in writing or via phone call each time a change is made from that routine. If a change in transportation is necessary please adhere to the following guidelines: Notify the office of the dismissal change via note or phone call prior to 2pm.

If you'd like to volunteer this year at any time as Isaac Fox you must do the following:

1. Complete a volunteer form and return a paper copy with signature to the front office.
2. Watch the volunteer video.
3. Complete this form that serves as your verification that you've complete steps 1 & 2.
4. Look for opportunities throughout the year to volunteer at Isaac Fox and sign up!

To find more information about Free and Reduced Lunch Waivers and CUSD95 Fee Waivers, please visit our Business and Operations section of the LZ95 website: https://www.lz95.org/departments/business-operations.

There are two separate applications for 1)Free and Reduced Lunch Waivers and 2) CUSD 95 Fee Waivers. The School Board of Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 requires a separate application for a waiver of school fees (click here for board policy 4:130 on waiver of student fees) and free and reduced lunch.

Links to the forms, and information can be found under the section: Free & Reduced Lunch and Fee Waivers.