Talk203 E-Newsletter
Decisions regarding shifts to eLearning or school closings are never easy, as they require careful consideration of multiple factors to ensure the safety of our students and staff. These factors include weather conditions, road and transportation safety, the ability of students and staff to travel safely, and guidance from the National Weather Service. While we prioritize safety of students and staff above all else, we also make every effort to maintain in-person learning whenever possible, recognizing its importance to our students and families.
🔗Click here to learn more about our Inclement Weather Procedures
Naperville 203 is enhancing school safety with the new CrisisAlert™ system, providing every staff member with a wearable badge to quickly request assistance from anywhere on campus.
The badge activates two types of alerts:
- Staff Alert: Notifies school responders of a staff member's exact location for medical, behavioral, or other safety incidents.
- Campus-wide Alert: Signals a potential threat, prompting immediate safety measures with flashing lights, intercom announcements, and computer messages.
To prevent false alarms, all staff are undergoing required training, set to be completed before Spring Break. In the event of a Campus-wide Alert, the school will notify parents/guardians as soon as possible.
This system enhances a safe and responsive environment for our students, staff, and community. To learn more about CrisisAlert, we invite you to visit https://www.centegix.com/crisisalert/ and/or watch this informational video which is also located on our School Safety & Security website.
As a parent or guardian of one or more students attending Naperville Community Unit School District 203, your feedback is requested via participation in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. The purpose of this anonymous online survey is to understand parent/guardian perceptions in the areas of connectedness, satisfaction, interaction, involvement, and quality.
Your participation and ratings on this survey are confidential; the district will only receive school level results if at least 20% of parents/guardians participate. The results of this survey will be used to understand areas of strength and challenge at the district and school level based on your input and feedback.
Families with students attending more than one school are asked to complete the survey for each school individually. To access the survey, please click here https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/ and select “Dupage” as the county. In addition, you will type the school name of your student(s).
Lastly, please complete this survey by Friday, March 28, 2025 and thank you for your participation.
Patrick W. Nolten, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent for Assessment and Accountability
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Beginning Monday, March 3 through Friday, March 28, Naperville Community Unit School District 203 students enrolled in third through eighth grade will be completing the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). In addition, between Monday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 23, students in fifth and eighth grade will be administered the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA). Your student’s school will contact you with their specific schedule of testing. Both the IAR and ISA will be administered at your student’s school.
The IAR assessment is an online group-administered achievement test designed to measure student proficiency relative to the Illinois Learning Standards in the areas of English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics.
The ISA is also an online group-administered achievement test designed to assess the Next Generation Science Standards and includes the areas of life, physical, earth and space sciences with engineering and technological design features imbedded in the other science domains.
As mandated by the United States Department of Education, public school districts in the State of Illinois are required to assess all students in the above grade levels and subjects for the purpose of educational accountability.
Given the critical importance of optimal student performance on these assessments, please encourage your child to demonstrate his or her academic knowledge and skills through these tests. Thank you for your positive support of our district during the administration of these assessments. If you have additional questions concerning the IAR or ISA assessments, please contact your school’s principal.
Regards,
Patrick W. Nolten, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent for Assessment and Accountability
February 20: Virtual Black History Month Event: Exploring the Underground Railroad
Join Naperville 203 and Naper Settlement for a free virtual workshop on Thursday, February 20, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM.
Discover Naperville’s connection to the Underground Railroad with expert historians, live storytelling, and interactive exhibits.
📅 When: Thursday, Feb. 20 | 6:30 – 8:00 PM
📍 Where: Online via Google Meet
🔗 Join here: https://tinyurl.com/NaperHistoryFeb2025
Presented by Dr. Andrea Field & Jeanne Schultz Angel.
Questions? Contact rbrodeur@naperville203.org. Don’t miss this powerful Black History Month event!
February 22: SUCCESS Family Movie Night
On Behalf of SUCCESS Parent Group, SUCCESS invites our District 203 families, staff, and administrators to celebrate Black History Month with "A Family Night Out". Please join us on Friday, February 28, 2025 at Naperville North High School for dinner & a movie. Our age-appropriate feature presentations will be Cool Runnings and Remember the Titans. Dinner will be provided. Please RSVP here by February 22nd.
SUCCESS (School Using Coordinated Community Efforts to Strengthen Students) is a family-led organization, with the support of District 203 leadership, committed to empowering African-American/Black students and other students of color and their families to enhance academic performance, foster family-school connectedness, and ensure that everyone is welcomed, valued, and respected. We welcome anyone who supports our mission.
Summer Learning Registration opens online March 5th.
We’re making it easy for you to register for Summer Learning 2025 in person!
🗓 Date: Thursday, March 6
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: PSAC, Conference Rooms A & B (Naperville 203 Administration Center)
Don't miss this opportunity to secure a spot in our engaging summer programs!
📅 Saturday, March 8, 2025
🕣 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Metea Valley High School (1801 North Eola Road, Aurora)
Students, don’t miss out—get a FREE T-SHIRT when you attend the Mental Health & Wellness Symposium! 🧠💚
Indian Prairie School District 204 invites you to a day dedicated to learning, growth, and self-care. This year’s symposium will feature:
✅ Breakout sessions for students and adults
✅ A community resource fair
✅ A book fair
✅ Childcare services for children ages 3-10
✅ New interactive experience sessions for all attendees
✅ A complimentary boxed lunch
For more details and to register, visit the Mental Health Symposium webpage. We look forward to seeing you there!
Join us in celebrating the artistic talents of our K-12 students at the annual Naperville District 203 Art Open House Show! This event showcases a diverse collection of student artwork, highlighting creativity and innovation across all grade levels.
📅 Opening Reception:
🗓 March 24, 2025
📍 Naperville Municipal Center (400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville, IL)
⏳ Viewing Times:
- Elementary (K-5): 5:30 p.m. - 6:10 p.m.
- Junior High & High School (6-12): 6:20 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
🌟 Special Features:
- Digital artwork will be showcased exclusively on opening night during the high school time slot in the Chambers.
- Little Friends Artwork will also be on display.
To ensure a comfortable experience, viewing times are staggered. Families with students in multiple grade levels should choose the best time slot that works for them.
🖼 Exhibit Dates:
Artwork will be on display during business hours from March 20 to April 8, 2024.
SPRING 2025
World-renowned authors and clinicians present relevant, research-based information to support positive youth development. Our free programs empower and strengthen families, individuals and communities by sharing practical strategies to help humans of every age thrive.
Explore upcoming events here: https://gpsparentseries.org/upcoming-events/
📅 February 25 – Community Wellness Resource Fair & Speaker (Hybrid)
📍 Glenbard West High School
⏰ Resource & Health Fair at 6:15 p.m. | Speaker at 7:00 p.m.
Join us for free giveaways, health assessments, and inspiration for the whole family!
📅 February 27 – Ward & Minahan: Executive Functioning & Anxiety (Hybrid)
📍 Glenbard South High School
An extended workshop featuring two experts discussing executive functioning, organizational strategies, anxiety, time management, and challenging behaviors.
📅 March 6 – Dr. Vinson: Navigating Teen Mental Health Post-COVID (Virtual)
A session with a Triple Board Certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist addressing teen mental health challenges in a post-pandemic world.
📅 March 12 – Dr. Solomon: Building Strong & Connected Relationships (Hybrid)
📍 College of DuPage | Noon Session
Develop essential skills for safe, vibrant, and quality relationships.
✨ Don't miss these valuable sessions! Stay connected and informed—visit our website for more details.
Empowering Yourself from the Inside Out
Join the KidsMatter High School Board for an evening of relaxation, creativity, and community service!
📅 Sunday, February 23
🕠 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
📍 DuPage Children's Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville
Enjoy activities like yoga, rock painting, and creating compliment jars, while also earning service hours through meaningful projects. Connect with friends, enjoy great food, and have fun!
Register at the link below or simply stop by and join the experience.
Free Tutoring Every Wed & Thu at Alive Naperville!
Need homework help? Join us for free tutoring every Wednesday and Thursday from 4–6 PM at Alive Naperville Teen Center. Open to all K–12 students, every subject! Get the support you need in a welcoming space. No registration required—just drop in!
Exciting Alive Center Teen-Led Clubs Launch Next Week!
Alive Center’s free Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ clubs start next week! Clubs like Bio Blast and Alive with Pride are open to teens (5th-12th grade) with a $25 registration fee. Scholarships are available—email info@alivecenter.org.
For Grades 6-8! Build Confidence & Skills for Success
This month, empower your 6th-8th grader with essential soft skills! Join our fun, interactive workshops—Making a Difference, What’s a Business Anyways, and Success with a Purpose. Limited spots available. Sign up today and set them up for success!
High School Retreat
The Spring 3-day student retreat is next month!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tCgeyvBA45StE54u7
Bus seats and cabin bunks are filling up for the iconic high school overnight retreat known as Snowball. The upcoming weekend retreat is March 21-23 at Camp Henry Horner. This teen-led/adult-guided retreat offers students the opportunity to discover something about themselves, make friends, relax and have some fun. Each Operation Snowball event is unique, and this weekend’s theme “Count On Me” focuses on how we create a community and be someone that can be counted on! Registration closes Monday, March 3rd, so don’t wait!
