Neubert Elementary School

Dear Neubert Families,

We finally made it to March! 🌷 After a long stretch of winter weather, we are looking forward to brighter days, a little more sunshine, and (hopefully!) some warmer temperatures ahead. This time of year always brings a renewed sense of energy and excitement to our building. As the days grow longer, our Knights continue to shine in their learning and leadership. Here’s to a month filled with growth, positivity, and plenty of sunshine!

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%, and we can only reach that with your help. We are currently at 64 surveys completed with an overall 15% response rate.

In order for our school to receive a Parent Report, we must meet both requirements set by the state:

• A minimum response rate of 20%

• At least 8 parents submitting survey responses
  

At this time, the minimum number of respondents has been met; however, we still need to reach the 20% participation threshold to receive our official Parent Report. Your voice truly matters, and every survey completed helps us better understand how to support our students, families, and school community.

To ensure the safety and well-being of all Neubert Knights, it is essential that we maintain accurate and up-to-date contact information for every family. Phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, and emergency contacts can change throughout the year, and sometimes schools are not notified right away. Please remember to inform our school registrar as soon as any of your contact information changes. Keeping this information current allows us to reach you quickly in the event of an emergency and ensures you continue receiving important school updates and communications. Thank you for your partnership in helping us keep our records accurate and our students safe!

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

Our 3rd-5th grade Neubert Knights will soon participate in the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). The IAR measures student progress toward the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) learning standards in:

• English Language Arts (ELA) - reading comprehension, vocabulary, written expression, and critical thinking

• Mathematics - problem-solving, reasoning, modeling, and conceptual understanding

These assessments provide valuable information about how well students are mastering grade-level standards and help guide our continuous school improvement efforts.

📅 Testing Dates

IAR - English Language Arts (Grades 3-5)

• March 10

• March 11

IAR - Mathematics (Grades 3-5)

• March 12

• March 13

• March 17

Illinois Science Assessment (ISA - Grade 5 Only)

• April 8

• April 9

• April 10
  
  

The Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) measures 5th graders’ understanding of the Illinois Learning Standards for Science, including life science, physical science, earth and space science, and scientific practices.

How Families Can Help Their Knight Prepare

You can support your child by:

• Ensuring they get a good night’s sleep before each testing day

• Providing a healthy breakfast (or encouraging them to eat breakfast at school)

• Making sure they arrive on time and attend school on testing days

• Encouraging a positive mindset - remind them to take their time and try their best

• Limiting late-night screen time during the testing window

• Reassuring them that this is simply an opportunity to show what they know

• Send them to school with a charged chromebook and a pair of headphones
  
  

We are proud of the hard work our students demonstrate every day. Thank you for partnering with us to support their success! Let’s help our Knights rise to the occasion and show what they know!

MCDH Health Alert: Increase in Stomach Illness in Our Community

The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) has notified schools that there has been an increase in cases of acute gastroenteritis (commonly referred to as a “stomach bug”) in our community.

Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, low-grade fever, and body aches. To help prevent the spread of illness, we encourage frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the restroom. Regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces at home can also help reduce the spread of germs.

Please review and follow District 300’s Sick Day Guidelines and keep your child home if they are experiencing symptoms. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school nurse, Kathy Frank.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our Neubert Knights healthy and safe!

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.

Our Neubert Knights showed so much heart during this year’s American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge! 💙❤️ Fundraising has officially come to a close, and we want to extend a HUGE thank you to all of our students and families who participated and helped make a difference. Because of your generosity and effort, we were able to raise funds that will support the purchase of new P.E. equipment and materials right here at Neubert, directly benefiting all of our students!

Ms. Adams will be working on distributing prizes to students who earned them. Thank you for your patience as those are organized. And get ready… 👀✨ 18 students earned the privilege of silly stringing Ms. Bryan and the admin team! More details coming soon on this exciting (and messy!) celebration!

Thank you again for partnering with us to support heart health, kindness, and our Neubert community.

March is Irish American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions Irish Americans have made to our country’s history, culture, arts, education, public service, and community life. Throughout history, Irish immigrants and their descendants have helped shape the United States through leadership, perseverance, creativity, and a deep commitment to family and community values.

Ways Families Can Celebrate at Home

• Read a book together about Irish or Irish American history, folktales, or biographies.

• Explore family heritage by talking about your own family’s traditions, immigration stories, or cultural roots.

• Listen to traditional Irish music and learn about instruments like the fiddle or tin whistle.

• Cook a traditional Irish recipe together such as soda bread or colcannon.

• Learn about important Irish American figures, such as:

  • John F. Kennedy

  • Grace Kelly

  • Nellie Bly

• Create Celtic-inspired art using knot designs and traditional patterns.

• Research the history of St. Patrick’s Day and how it became a celebration in the United States.

• Discuss the importance of inclusion and belonging, and how learning about different cultures helps us build understanding and respect.
  
  

Celebrating heritage months helps our students grow in empathy, curiosity, and appreciation for the many cultures that contribute to our shared community. Let’s continue learning and celebrating together!

March is National Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate and honor the vital contributions women have made to our nation’s history, culture, science, education, government, and community life. From leaders and innovators to artists, activists, educators, and caregivers, women have shaped our world in powerful and lasting ways.

Ways Families Can Celebrate at Home

• Read a biography together about an influential woman in history.

• Watch a documentary or short video highlighting women’s contributions to science, sports, the arts, or public service.

• Have a family discussion about strong women role models in your own life—past or present.

• Research a “Woman of the Day” throughout the month and share one interesting fact at dinner.

• Create artwork or a poster celebrating a woman who inspires you.

• Explore STEM together by learning about scientists such as:

  • Marie Curie

  • Katherine Johnson

• Learn about women in leadership, such as:

  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg

  • Rosa Parks

• Encourage goal-setting conversations about dreams, leadership, and how children can make a positive impact in their communities.
  
  

By celebrating National Women’s History Month, we help our students grow in appreciation, respect, and understanding of the many women whose courage and contributions continue to shape our world.

Congratulations to Mrs. Bartlett's Class!

They are the winners of our Royal Broom Award for keeping the cleanest classroom the entire week of February 16th! 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 March will earn a free kids meal at Chick-Fil-A! 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

• 3/2/26-3/6/26 - Read Across America Week (5-day Spirit Week - see schedule above)
• 3/3/26 - Spring Portrait Day
• 3/4/26 - Late Start Day (school hours are 10:00-2:15)
• 3/6/36 - 4th Grade Field Trip to DCHS
• 3/9/26 - Severe Weather Drill
• 3/10/26 - First Day of IAR Testing (Grades 3-5)
• 3/10/26 - 5Essentials Survey Closes
• 3/13/26 - End of Quarter 3

• February 23, 2026
• 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. Evangelin Chapa - evangelin.chapa@d300.org
• Certified School Nurse - Mrs. Kathy Frank - katherine.frank@d300.org

School Phone Number: 847-532-6800

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