North Shore 112 Monthly

• Key September dates
• Facility updates
• Dual language planning
• Food service updates
• Transportation news & FirstView pilot
• SmartSocial resources
• Community programs & support tools

• 9/16: Regular Board Meeting
• 9/19: Early Release (No Early Childhood)
• 9/23: Rosh Hashanah (No School)
• 9/27: 112 Education Foundation FUNd Run
• 9/27: Ravinia Community Open House
• 9/30: Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting

• Full 2025-2026 school calendar
• Month-by-month overview of 2025-2026
• 2025-2026 Calendar Highlights Graphic (English)
• 2025-2026 Calendar Highlights Graphic (Spanish)
• District website calendar page

What has brought your child or family the most joy in the new school year so far? Share a highlight or moment that made you smile in our ThoughtExchange and see the joyful moments others are celebrating too.

Share the joyful moments that have started your 2025-2026 school year on a bright note.

In June, the Board of Education approved the consolidation of the K-5 dual language program at Oak Terrace Elementary, with full implementation set for the 2027-2028 school year. As part of this plan, Red Oak Elementary will close at the end of the 2026-2027 school year. This decision followed extensive discussion and community input. Read more about the decision on our website.

Our district is beginning the important work of planning for the future of the K-5 dual language program, which will be located at Oak Terrace starting in August 2027. To make sure this transition reflects the perspectives and needs of our school communities, district leadership is forming a Superintendent’s Task Force for Dual Language Program Consolidation with subcommittees focused on student success, family engagement, and facilities/operations.

Families and staff from both Red Oak and Oak Terrace are encouraged to apply to serve on one of these groups. Applications are due by September 19, 2025, at www.nssd112.org/DLTaskForce for the English form, and www.nssd112.org/DLTaskForceSp for the Spanish form. Childcare will be available at evening meetings, and Spanish translation will be provided.

On August 13, students, families, staff and community members came together to celebrate the re-opening of the modernized Ravinia Elementary School. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked an important milestone in our district’s ongoing Long-Range Facilities Plan. You can watch the full ceremony in the video above.

Work continues to move forward at Sherwood Elementary, where construction began earlier this year. The project will deliver modernized classrooms, stronger safety features, and greater accessibility. Throughout the 2025-2026 school year, students and staff will remain at Elm Place while Sherwood undergoes its transformation, with the reopening planned for the 2026-2027 school year.

Preparation is underway at Braeside Elementary, the fourth elementary school and sixth school overall to be modernized. Construction fencing has been installed, and we’ll mark the official start of the project with a groundbreaking ceremony later this month. During the work, students and staff will be at the Green Bay building for the 2025-2026 school year and part of 2026-2027 until the renovated Braeside is ready.

Wayne Thomas is set to be the last school modernized in Phase 2 of the district’s facility upgrades. The project remains in the design phase, with construction scheduled to start in 2026. Once work begins, students and staff will move to Elm Place at the start of the 2026-2027 school year while the building is renovated.

Front row: Jenny Butler (secretary), Art Kessler (president), Melissa Itkin (vice president)

Back row: Dr. Mike Lubelfeld (Superintendent), Bennett Lasko, Lisa Hirsh, Jaret Fishman, Lori Fink, Dr. Monica Schroeder (Deputy Superintendent)

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOARD

The next regular Board of Education meeting will be on Tuesday, September 16 at Northwood Middle School. It will begin at 7 p.m. You can find an agenda and livestream link on our website.

At the regular meeting in August, the Board welcomed everyone back for the 2025-2026 school year, approved the 2025-2026 budget, and received updates on food service from Dr. Lubelfeld. Read the full recap to find out more.

The district's food service program serves students at Edgewood, Northwood, Oak Terrace, Ravinia and Red Oak.

Beginning this month, families can explore new interactive menus provided by OrganicLife. These online menus, available in English and Spanish, make it easy to view breakfast and lunch options, check nutritional information, see allergen details, and even filter or print menus.

You can find a link to the interactive online menus, as well as printable menus, at www.nssd112.org/menus. Families can find step-by-step instructions for OrganicLife’s interactive menus on our website, as well.

If you have any questions related to food service, please contact our district’s food service manager, Ms. Georgette Franco, at gfranco@nssd112.org.

Families can now use a new online form to report food service issues so they can be addressed quickly. The form will be monitored throughout the year. Urgent needs should still be directed to your school. Access the form at www.nssd112.org/food-concern.

As with every new school year, some transportation challenges arise as students, families and drivers adjust to new routes. We are working closely with our providers, First Student and FirstAlt, to address concerns quickly.

This month, we will begin piloting the FirstView app at Sherwood. The app allows families to track their child’s bus in real time and receive notifications about delays. If the pilot goes well, we plan to roll it out across the district later this year.

For non-urgent but still important concerns, families can use our new transportation concern form to notify the district. This form helps ensure we follow up on all issues and maintain a clear chain of communication. It is monitored regularly.

BPAC brings together parents, guardians, staff and community members to support English Learner students by sharing resources, giving input on programs, and building connections across our schools.

Parents of dual language students at Northwood, Red Oak, Oak Terrace and children receiving English Language services at any of our schools are automatically members of BPAC. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming meetings:

• Tuesday, September 30, 2025

• Tuesday, November 4, 2025

• Tuesday, February 24, 2026

• Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Additional details, including topics, will be shared as each meeting approaches. To learn more, visit www.nssd112.org/BPAC.

Cartwheel is a national mental health provider for students/adolescents. It provides rapid access to care for students by providing them access to a licensed clinician within seven days of referral (virtually). Clinicians are available during school hours, after school, nights, weekends, and breaks. Additionally, Cartwheel offers the ability for psychiatric evaluations and medication management.

To learn more about Cartwheel, please reach out to your child's school or to Dr. Holly Colin, assistant superintendent for student services, at hcolin@nssd112.org.

ReferralGPS is a web-based service focused on assisting our students, staff and community in finding local mental-health and substance use related treatment. The service complements the district's existing systems of support as a tool for student service teams and families to connect with treatment. Along with a searchable database of treatment options, ReferralGPS provides Care Navigation to assist families in triage, appointment setting, and follow up care.

Families may access ReferralGPS in two ways:

• Contact a member of your school's student services team (social workers, psychologists) or your school principal
• Visit https://referralgps.com/find-help/NSSD112 to search for treatment resources

Safe2Help offers students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. It is available 24/7 and offers students a safe outlet to share information on school safety issues in a confidential environment. It can be accessed via a free app, text/phone, and website (Safe2HelpIllinois.com).

• Call: 844-4-SAFEIL
• Text: SAFE2 (72332)
• Email: help@safe2helpil.com

We’re excited to announce that North Shore School District 112 is partnering with SmartSocial for the 2025-2026 school year, giving your family free access to resources that help keep kids safe and successful online.

This is a go-to hub for staying informed about AI, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, video games, and online challenges, while also helping you build stronger connections with your child.

With SmartSocial, you’ll have access to:

• 54+ live parent events: Ask questions and learn directly from online safety experts.

• 450+ on-demand resources: Quickly search apps, trends, and topics your family is navigating. Watch short videos, explore expert-backed guides, and use conversation starters to talk with your kids.

Coming up this month are live parent Q+A events (that are also kid-friendly):

• Sneaky Ways Video Apps Keep Teens Watching (Sept. 9, Sept. 16, Sept. 23)
• (In Spanish) Sneaky Ways Video Apps Keep Teens Watching (Sept. 24)
• Register to access past live events, including the recent session "AI for Student Success: Being Productive & Learning Future Skills." In this event, Dr. Lubelfeld joined a conversation on how AI can be used safely and responsibly, just as we do in District 112.

Register with our district’s SmartSocial account to unlock these valuable resources.

The 2025 FUNd Run is almost here! Join us on Saturday, September 27 at Ravinia Festival for a 5K run and Family Walk that brings our community together to support District 112 students. Proceeds benefit needs-based scholarships for families and other important Foundation initiatives.

There’s still time to sign up. Learn more or register at 112foundation.org/fund-run.

Founded in 1995, the 112 Foundation is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to enriching and enhancing educational opportunities for all students in North Shore School District 112. Since it operates separately from the district and doesn’t receive tax revenue, the Foundation relies on community support and fundraising to bring innovative programs to D112 schools.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 112 FOUNDATION OR DONATE

Nominations for the 2026 Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) Golden Apple Award are now open! This annual award honors and recognizes teachers who exemplify excellence in their profession as well as those who leave a lasting positive impact on their students. The HPCF Golden Apple Award will be presented in the spring of 2026 to a teacher in grades pre-K-5 who demonstrates these qualities:

• Strong content knowledge in their subject area

• Effective and engaging instruction

• Positive and supportive interaction with staff and students

• Meaningful contribution to the school and community

• Dedication to making a difference in students’ lives through academic guidance and encouragement

Nominations for the HPCF Golden Apple Award will be accepted for full-time teachers currently working in North Shore School District 112 in grades pre-K-5. Community members, students, parents, colleagues, and administrators may submit nominations; however, nominations by family members and self-nominations will not be accepted.

• Please visit the Highland Park Community Foundation’s website to find a nomination form.
• You can find a Spanish version of the form on our website.

Families are invited to HP Community Early Learning Center’s annual Fall Fest on Sunday, September 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This outdoor, family-friendly celebration will feature pony rides, a petting zoo, bounce house, face painting, games from Hi-Five Sports Zone, glitter tattoos, a live DJ, food trucks, a Touch-a-Truck experience, and more.

All proceeds support the center’s Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition assistance for two-thirds of its students, helping ensure access to high-quality early childhood education for children in Highland Park, Highwood, and surrounding communities.

Learn more about the HP Community Fall Fest.

The Highwood Library and Community Center offers free programs, resources and services for all ages. From literacy support to cultural events, it’s a welcoming space for learning and connection. Explore upcoming programs at highwoodlibrary.org/events.

The Highland Park Public Library offers books, digital resources, events and programs for all ages. Highland Park residents enjoy full borrowing privileges, and the library is a welcoming place for reading, learning and community connection. Explore upcoming programs at hplibrary.org/events.

Highland Park AND Highwood residents are all welcome at The Art Center Highland Park, with no extra fees for living outside Highland Park. Several classes and workshops begin September 8, with options for beginners and experienced artists alike. Short sessions, some just 1 to 4 weeks, make it easy to try something new. Discover the joy of creating in a supportive, inspiring environment. Explore upcoming programs at theartcenterhp.org/classesworkshops.

Take a look at the Lake County Health Department’s September newsletter, which highlights the issue of underage drinking and offers practical ways parents can support their teens in making healthy choices.

September 2025 Newsletter

On August 27, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) convened a roundtable at Ravinia Elementary, bringing together Lake County educators and administrators to address teacher recruitment and retention. Participants explored solutions such as pairing new teachers with experienced mentors, enhancing principal-led classroom observations, and expanding access to professional development. These are centerpieces of Schneider’s newly reintroduced Teachers Are Leaders Act, which aims to bolster teacher leadership and reduce turnover nationwide.

Teachers and school leaders at the roundtable, including D112 Deputy Superintendent Dr. Monica Schroeder, praised the bill’s focus on recognizing teachers as valued leaders in their schools. Schneider emphasized the bipartisan nature of the effort and encouraged everyone to reach out to their representatives in support of the bill, describing it as "not about red versus blue, but about ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn from experienced, supported educators."

School is back in session, which means more traffic and activity around our schools. To help keep students, families, and the community safe, our School Resource Officer, Teresa Stadler, shares reminders about safe driving, drop-off and pick-up procedures, and being alert around school zones. Watch her video above for important safety tips from the Highland Park Police Department.

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. District 112 follows the “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which provides a clear, common language for responding to any emergency. The SRP is based on five simple actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.

Staff are trained in these actions, carry quick-reference cards, and reinforce the protocol through posters in every school. Learn more on our Safety and Security page or by watching the video below from our director of safety and security, Solvei Jurmu.

This year, Dr. Lubelfeld is forming a Superintendent’s Policy Review Committee to revisit and improve our district’s guidelines related to artificial intelligence. The committee will include teachers, staff, parents/guardians and students, ensuring diverse perspectives guide our process. You can still express your interest in joining the committee by filling out a quick form.

The district is now using generative artificial intelligence tools to support learning, teaching and productivity in a safe and secure way. Magic School AI and School AI are available districtwide for staff and students to explore and use responsibly. You can access both platforms using the links below:

• Magic School AI
• School AI

You can also explore Google Gemini AI, now available to staff and students in District 112.

Infinite Campus is the district’s secure online portal where parents/guardians can access their child’s grades, attendance, schedules, school fees and more.

• Access your Infinite Campus account
• Learn how to reset your Infinite Campus password

ParentSquare is North Shore School District 112's primary communication tool. It is used by the district office and schools to send emails, text messages and phone calls to parents/guardians, staff members and the community.

Every parent/guardian who is in the district's database already has a ParentSquare account and is set to receive notifications via email, phone call and text message. However, by accessing your ParentSquare account, you will have more control over how you receive notifications.

Access your ParentSquare account at parentsquare.com/signin.

If you are accessing your account for the first time:

• Visit parentsquare.com/signin, use the email address that we have on file for you, then click on "Forgot password." After completing the process of resetting your password, you will be able to access your account.
• Or you can access your account with the "Sign in with Google" option, if your Gmail account is the email we have on file for you.

Having an issue with your student's device? Need assistance with district software, such as Infinite Campus? Submit a support ticket and a member of our tech team will reach out as soon as possible.

Contact the NSSD112 Tech Department

We’re excited to share the next chapter for North Shore School District 112! In March, the Board of Education approved a new Strategic Change Agenda, a plan shaped by the voices of more than 200 parents, staff, students and community members. The agenda sets a clear path for our future, focused on student success, well-being and strong relationships.

Learn more at www.nssd112.org/strategic-agenda.

Our staff works hard to create schools where students want to learn and teachers want to teach. High-quality materials and technology give our staff and students the tools needed to be innovative and highly engaged. As a member of District 112, you’ll be working to advance yourself as well as fulfill a long legacy of District 112 being the home of pioneering educators, dedicated staff, and innovative instructional practices. Visit careers.nssd112.org to learn more!

Do you want to choose your own hours and make a difference in our students' lives? Consider becoming a guest teacher (substitute) for North Shore School District 112. Please feel free to reach out to Valerie Kilen (vlariviere@nssd112.org) with any questions or apply to be a guest teacher today!

VIEW OUR OPEN POSITIONS

Address: 445 Sheridan Road, Highwood, IL 60040

Phone: 224-765-3000

Website: nssd112.org

Facebook: facebook.com/nssd112

Instagram: instagram.com/nssd112

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nssd112

Contact Us: nssd112.org/contact

If you have any questions about the newsletter, please contact Ben Finfer at bfinfer@nssd112.org.