The Principal's Pawprint

Welcome back, Isaac Fox Families,

We hope your Thanksgiving break was restful and full of connection. As we head into the next three weeks before winter break, our classrooms are buzzing with learning, joy, and plenty of seasonal fun.

With snow now on the ground and temperatures dropping, this is a reminder that students need to come dressed for outdoor recess. We play in the snow! Students will go outside as long as the wind chill is above 13 degrees, so please be sure your child is prepared for the weather each day. Winter coats, snow pants, boots, and gloves are required for playing in the snow. Hats and scarves are also encouraged— and please label all items with your child’s name to help keep belongings out of the lost and found.

We are excited for a wonderful few weeks ahead!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kelly Olivero
Principal, Isaac Fox Elementary

As part of our district’s commitment to supporting the social-emotional development of all students, we will be administering the winter 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 winter administration window will take place from December 7th-December 14th.

If you do not wish for your student to complete/take part in the survey (even if you've contacted us prior), please contact either Kelly Olivero or Tina Nowicki directly by Friday, December 5th via phone or email.

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, and for grades 6-12 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.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have. We are happy to help!

We are now hiring for lunch and recess supervisors at Isaac Fox!

There are many benefits to joining our team:

• Work with great kids!
• Collaborate with wonderful teammates!
• Flexible hours

Reach out to Kelly Olivero @ kelly.olivero@lz95.org or 847.540.2785 if interested!

At Isaac Fox, we know students thrive when families and schools work together. We are exploring ways to offer parent education sessions based on topics of interest to our Isaac Fox community. If there’s a topic you’d like to learn more about that would benefit a broad audience, please email Kelly Olivero at kelly.olivero@lz95.org.

• Monday, December 1st: Winter MAP Assessment Window Opens
• Monday, December 1st: Chess Scholars & Sticky Fingers after school
• Tuesday, December 2nd: 4th grade Orchestra (@IF) & Band Rehearsals (@ MW) before school
• Tuesday, December 2nd: PTO Holiday Treasures Gift Shop Opens
• Tuesday, December 2nd: Sticky Fingers after school
• Wednesday, December 3rd: Amigos Club & Announcments Club after school
• Thursday, December 4th: 5th grade Orchestra before school
• Thursday, December 4th: Last Day for the PTO Holiday Treasures Gift Shop
• Friday, December 5th: PTO Dance 6:00-7:30pm
• Monday, December 8th: Chess Scholars & Sticky Fingers after school
• Monday, December 8th: PTO Meeting 6:30-7:30pm
• Tuesday, December 9th: 4th grade Orchestra (@IF) & Band Rehearsals (@ MW) before school
• Tuesday, December 9th: Sticky Fingers after school
• Wednesday, December 10th: PTO Talent Show Auditions, Amigos Club & Announcments Club after school
• Thursday, December 11th: 5th grade Orchestra before school
• Friday, December 12th: All-district 5th grade Orchestra concert @ LZHS

Please stop by the lost and found area and claim your student's items! Our bin starts to overflow this time of year. Items that are not claimed by winter break will be donated. Don't forget to stop by!

The Isaac Fox Talent Show is coming up on January 30th! All interested 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders must sign-up to participate by December 8th. More details here: https://forms.gle/6uvqQ2yzbeEbFqtE8

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.

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!

Our new Raptor system is now installed and available in our vesituble for visitor check in and check out. You will need to bring your license or ID in with you each time you enter the school for use with the new system. Please have patience while all visitors learn how to use this new system! The office staff is 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.