The Principal's Pawprint

Dear Isaac Fox Families,

As I write this, I’m reminded of the uplifting chorus from Finding Nemo Jr.—“We Swim Together.” It feels especially fitting as we navigate this busy season, not only in our hallways and classrooms, but at home as well. For our students, staff, and Isaac Fox families, the importance of “swimming together” toward shared goals continues to resonate.

With just 17 days of school remaining (yes, the ABC countdown is keeping us all on track!), this is a meaningful time to stay connected as a community. By leaning into our shared values and maintaining a common understanding, we strengthen the work we do together each day. Our Portrait of a Graduate focus on being growth-oriented is front and center this month—highlighting resilience, perseverance, and a goal-oriented mindset. These are qualities we see our students and community members demonstrate in so many ways.

Let’s continue to model and teach our children what it means to come together with purpose, to support one another, and to keep moving forward—even when things feel busy or challenging. After all…We Are Isaac Fox!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kelly Olivero
Principal, Isaac Fox Elementary

Thank a Teacher this week during National Teacher Appreciation Week! Our teachers work tirelessly to help our students grow academically, socially and emotionally each day! At Isaac Fox, we certainly have the "Best in the West"! PTO has many wonderful days of gratitutde planned for this week. Please see below in the "Info from our PTO" section on ways to take a moment to get involved and show your appreciation for the dedication and committment that our teachers bring to our school community each day! THANK YOU TEACHERS!

Over 50 of our talented 4th and 5th graders recently came together to bring Finding Nemo Jr. to life—and what an incredible performance it was! This heartwarming, “against the odds” story perfectly reflected the journey of our students, whose hard work and perseverance truly paid off on stage.

From the moment the curtain rose, it was clear just how much time, dedication, and passion had gone into the production. Our student performers showcased not only their impressive talent, but also their courage, teamwork, and commitment to something bigger than themselves.

We are deeply grateful not only for our fabulous actors, but also for the many individuals behind the scenes who made this show possible. Thank you to our stage crew, set designers, teacher lisason, Mrs. Pappadopoli, and our parent volunteers who contributed countless hours to ensure every detail came together seamlessly.

This production was a true example of what can happen when a community works together—proof that with determination, collaboration, and heart, amazing things are possible. Bravo to all involved!

As we approach the end of the school year and are spending more time outdoors as a learning community, I wanted to share some important health information - as we have observed ticks in our area this spring, and are receiving more reports regarding ticks in our Health Offices district-wide. Please see the article HERE for more information on ticks and Health Office Support.

Please note that the district Facilities Department will be applying Ortho Insect Killer granules to all campuses of District 95 schools from Saturday, April 25 through Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 (weather permitting). These insecticides are being applied due to an increase in ticks in the local area.

The SDS information is available upon request through the Facilities dept. Please contact lyle.erstad@lz95.org for the SDS information.

Isaac Fox will host a book drive from May 4–15, 2026, to support Bernie’s Book Bank in its mission to provide children with free, high-quality books to read, love, and call their own. We can accept donations of new and gently used children’s books for children from birth through sixth grade including: fiction, non-fiction, picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, mysteries, science fiction, sports, art, science, technology, and more. Books with excessively yellowed pages, books for adults, outdated non-fiction books, activity books, cookbooks, dictionaries/reference, partially used sticker books, and religious books are not accepted. Book bins for donation will be placed in the vestibule at the front of the school for parent drop-off. Students will also be able to place donated books inside the school at designated locations. Thank you for considering making a donation to help support readers in our community.

This month, we're going to be learning about something super important for learning and growing: being Growth Oriented! This means believing that you can get smarter and better at anything with practice and effort. It's like a plant that keeps growing bigger and stronger every day. Even if something feels hard right now, your brain is like a muscle – the more you use it, the stronger it gets! So, let’s get ready to grow our brains and our abilities together.

Please remind students that if they need to reach you, they should always ask an adult in the building for assistance. This includes lunch and recess times and especially, when they're not feeling well. A visit to the nurse is warrented prior to the student making contact with home to arrange their own pick up. Take a moment to talk with your child about what to do if they need to contact you during the school day and do your best to model appropriate communication practices.

Reversely, if you need to communicate with your child during the school day, please contact the school office. Our office staff will make sure your message is delivered or will connect you with your child if it’s necessary in the moment.

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!

• Monday, May 4th: Bernie's Book Drive Begins
• Monday, May 4th: Chess After School
• Monday, May 4th: IF Choir Rehearsal After School
• Tuesday,May 5th: 4th grade Orchestra (@IF) & Band Rehearsals (@ MW) before school
• Tuesday, May 5th: Green Team after school
• Tuesday, May 5th: Sticky Fingers after school
• Tuesday, May 5th: Chorus Performs for IF at 2:00pm
• Tuesday, May 5th: Chorus Concert @ 6:30pm
• Wednesday, May 6th: Young Rembrants after school
• Wednesday, May 6th: Announcements Club after school
• Thursday,May 7th: 5th grade Orchestra before school
• Thursday, May 7th: Band Concert at MSS @ 7:00pm
• Friday, May 8th: Chorus before school
• Friday, May 8th: Piper visits IF
• Monday, May 11th: Student Council before school
• Monday, May 11th: Chess after school
• Tuesday, May 12th: Band Rehearsals (@ MW) before school
• Tuesday, May 12th: 1st Grade Field Trip
• Tuesday, May 12th: Green Team after school
• Wednesday, May 13th: Kindergarten Olympics
• Wednesday, May 13th: Young Rembrandts after school
• Thursday, May 14th: Field Day
• Friday, May 15th Early Release @ 12:50pm

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.

As we discussed at our PTO meeting on Monday evening, April 27th, we’re excited to refresh our approach to committee sign-ups in a way that opens the door for even more involvement across our community. Rather than pre-selecting returning committee members, we’ll be giving all interested PTO members an equal opportunity to participate and bring new ideas to our events and committees.

To make sure both current and incoming families have a chance to get involved, we’ll be offering half of the available committee spots in our first round of sign-ups for current PTO members. Then, in July, we’ll open a second round of sign-ups to welcome new families as they officially join our Isaac Fox community.

Please take a look at the attached document for a breakdown of each committee, including how many spots will be available in May and how many will be reserved for July.

We’re also introducing a new liaison position for each committee. This role is a great opportunity for someone with prior experience on the committee to help guide the group—serving as a point of contact with PTO board members and helping coordinate and delegate tasks within the committee.

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

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.

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.