Talk203 E-Newsletter

• At the top right of the newsletter, you will find accessibility features including an ability to translate, increase contrast and text size.

• En la parte superior del boletín, encontrará funciones de accesibilidad que incluyen la capacidad de traducir, aumentar el contrate y el tamaño del texto.

• 在newsletter的右上角，您可以找到辅助功能，包括翻译、增加对比度和文本大小的功能。

We’re excited to invite you to Session #2 of the Focus 203 Community Engagement Series! Building on the insights from Session #1, this next session will show how stakeholder feedback is coming to life.

🍏 Session #2: Shaping Innovation in Learning
This session will build on the vision established in Session #1, showcasing how community, staff, and student input has shaped a detailed plan for future innovation in Naperville 203. We will highlight how stakeholder feedback is driving the development of innovative learning experiences designed to benefit our students.

Dates & Locations:

January 14 | 7:00 p.m. - Kennedy Junior High School, 2929 Green Trails Dr, Lisle, IL

OR

January 17 | 9:00 a.m. - Location TBD

Visit www.naperville203.org/focus203 to access the Session #1 recording and additional materials.

We hope you’ll join us for this engaging and collaborative experience. Together, we’ll continue shaping a brighter future for all Naperville 203 learners.

Thank you for being a vital part of this important journey. We look forward to seeing you there!

As the holiday season approaches, we’re excited to share our GiftMart Holiday Giving Program for elementary students! This unique and empowering program brings joy and pride to children in need during the holidays. In previous years, our Holiday Giving program relied on sponsors buying gifts for individual students. While that was a wonderful tradition, GiftMart introduces a fresh way to make a child's holiday truly special.

We’re just 350 toys short of our goal to serve 500 students from District 203. Last year, we served 384 children, and we need your help to make this year even more successful!

Want to help?
You can visit GiftMart to view the toy wish list and purchase a gift. Donations can be dropped off at 1551 Hobson Rd., Door 19 (please no online orders, as they won’t arrive in time). You can also leave gifts on the front porch at 919 Douglas Ave., or drop them off at the district office, 203 W. Hillside Rd.

Let’s come together to make this a holiday season to remember for these children! Thank you for your generosity!

Help brighten the holiday season for junior high, high school, and Connections students in need by supporting Naperville School District 203’s Holiday Giving program. Your generosity can make a difference!

You can donate online at the Naperville Education Foundation’s website, www.nef203.org/donate, by selecting “Holiday Giving” as the gift designation. Alternatively, checks made payable to NEF can be mailed to Naperville 203 Holiday Giving Program, 203 W. Hillside, Naperville, IL 60540. Every dollar raised will go directly toward purchasing gift cards for students.

Thanks to our amazing donors, we’re already halfway to this year’s goal! However, we still need your help to meet the needs of all students this year. Once we reach this goal, Naperville 203 will wrap up the Holiday Giving collection for 2024. Please note that starting next year, holiday support will transition to a school-based donation system.

If you'd like to continue helping students year-round, consider donating to Kid Booster Anonymous, an NEF-funded initiative that provides immediate support for at-risk students' educational, physical, and social-emotional needs.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity—together, we can make a meaningful difference!

Looking for an active and fun way to keep busy during the winter season? Check out the exciting winter athletic camp opportunities at Naperville Central and Naperville North High Schools!

Naperville Central Winter Camps

Explore a variety of sports camps available at Naperville Central.
Register today: NCHS Winter Camps

For registration assistance, contact NCHS Athletics at 630-420-6444.

Naperville North Winter Youth Softball Camp

Naperville North will host a Winter Youth Softball Camp during the break.

Sign up here: Naperville North Winter Softball Camp Registration

Stay active, sharpen your skills, and have fun this winter!

BPAC invites families to actively participate in the educational process, access quality programs, and foster community. Our mission is to bridge parents and school district staff to meet the needs of our English Learner students and their families.

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

• January 24, 2025
• March 21, 2025

Key Topics:

• Supporting learning at home
• Technology as a tool for education
• Strengthening the parent-school partnership
• Empowering both parents and students

Contact Information:

• Director of Language Acquisition: Dr. Maribel Guerrero
  Email: mguerrero@naperville203.org | Phone: 630-848-3957
• BPAC President: Gloria Rodriguez
  Email: gloriarodriguez@gmail.com
• BPAC Co-Vice President: Lane Melchor
  Email: lanehaugen@gmail.com

Connect with Us Online:

• Email: contact.bpac203@gmail.com
• Instagram: @d203bpac
• Facebook Group: @Naperville203BPAC

Together, let’s ensure a brighter future for our students! For more information, visit our BPAC Website.

(Note: Dates and contact details are based on the most recent updates. Please refer to the website for any changes.)

FUSE / B-PAC – First a Dream: Find Your Future at College Night

Speakers: Susanna Melón, Timothy Fields, and Distinguished Panel
Date: Thursday, December 5
Time: 7 p.m.
Presented in Spanish and English.

A Blueprint/Skills for Better Grades and Less Stress

Speaker: Ana Homayoun
Date: Tuesday, December 10
Times: Noon and 7 p.m.

Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities

Speaker: Elizabeth Hamblet
Date: Wednesday, December 11
Times: Noon–1:30 p.m. and 7–8:30 p.m.

Strengthening T(w)een Socialization Skills for Better Interpersonal Relationships
Speaker: Dr. Timothy Wahlberg
Date: Tuesday, December 17
Times: Noon and 7 p.m.

Bright Kids Who Couldn't Care Less: Tools for Tackling Motivation

Speaker: Dr. Ellen Braaten

Date: Thursday, January 9, 2025
Times: Noon and 7 p.m.

Hybrid Noon Event – Autonomy/Balanced Parenting: Reduce Parent Burnout and Raise Competent Kids

Speaker: Dr. Emily Edlynn
Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Times: Noon (in-person at the Silverleaf Room in the Culinary and Hospitality Center, College of DuPage)
Noon and 7 p.m. (on Zoom)

What Happened to You? A Shift from "What is Wrong with You?"
Speaker: Bruce Perry, MD
Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Times: Noon and 7 p.m.

Purchase a Cocoa & Kindness gift box for teachers, staff, coworkers… It’s win-win-win: your donation helps kids learn and practice empathy, kindness & acceptance; the recipient receives a kind surprise; and, it just feels good to give to others!

Learn More: http://www.insideoutclub.org/cocoa-kindness

Support Teens at Alive Teen Centers!

Join our End of Year Appeal to sustain Alive Teen Centers! Your gift funds FREE after-school drop-in, tutoring, mentorship, and leadership programs for 5th-12th graders. Together, we can empower youth to thrive. Donate today and make a difference!

Donate Now: https://alivecenter.org/donate-now/

Alive Teen Center Winterfest Dinner & Awards!

Join us on Friday, December 13th, 5–6:30 pm for a free dinner, festive games, and spirited awards as we celebrate our teens! Families are welcome. Register by 12/10 for a chance to win a 60-piece storage set in our raffle!

Alive Winterfest: https://bit.ly/AliveWinterfest

Paramount Theatre in Aurora is excited to offer accessible performances of Disney's Frozen: The Broadway Musical, which may be of interest to you, your students, groups, and families. Here are the upcoming accessible dates:

• Audio Described - January 4, 2025, at 2 p.m. (please call the Box Office at 630-896-6666 to purchase tickets and reserve a headset)
• Open Captioned - January 8, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
• ASL Interpreted - January 10, 2025, at 7 p.m. (please use code ASLPARAMOUNT when buying tickets)
• Sensory Friendly - January 15, 2025, at 7 p.m. (please use code SENSORY when buying tickets)

This week's Virtual Backpack has been updated with new information on community programs. Click the image below to learn more!