May  2019

Hello Naper Families,

Wow! This school year flew by and we accomplished so much! Thank you for your partnership! What an amazing Teacher Appreciation Week it was for the Naper Teachers! The door decorations, snack baskets, taco truck, flowers, notes of appreciation, lunches and more were so very appreciated and made our teachers feel so very loved.  THANK YOU!  

We have so much to celebrate this year at Naper school:

• We embraced a new motto “Better Together” that brought us all closer together.
• An increased emphasis on proactive SEL structures for students such as our Buddy Bench, Calming Castle and Calming Corners.
• A focus on building a strong positive school community!
• NEW and improved communications to ensure all stakeholders can engage in the school community!
• Amazing teachers who care so much about students and their growth!
• Over 220 students who care about one another, work hard, give back and make us proud every day!
• Over 20 NEW Naper families who joined our community!
• Fun Fair, Science Fair, Binder Bash, Fine Arts Night, Kindergarten Crash Course, Sweetheart Dance, Mother/Son Sports Night, Band & Orchestra Concerts, Chorus Concerts, Ice Cream Social and Book Exchange, MAD Club, Drama Club, Run Club, After School Sports, Intramural Sports, Class Parties, Screen Free Week and many other amazing activities! WOW!
• Over 70 Watch DOGS who volunteered their time in our school!
• An active and inspiring Home & School who partner with us to create an outstanding school community!

I am humbled and proud to a part of the Naper community.  Thank you so much for the warm welcome this year to this outstanding school community. Thank you to our amazing and dedicated teachers and parents who make Naper such a great place to learn and grow each day.

This May we will celebrate the outstanding careers of four staff members at Naper.  Carole Bibby, Pam Kelly, Bruce Randolph and Lynn Vieni will retire at the conclusion of this school year.  These staff members have truly made a difference at Naper School and will be missed.  We wish them the best in retirement! Thank you for all you have given the students at Naper School!

We are very excited to welcome three new staff members next year to the Naper family!

Nina Stephanides will join the kindergarten team in the fall!  She actually attended Naper School and is coming from Berwyn where she is currently a kindergarten teacher. She attended the University of Illinois.  She impressed us with her curriculum knowledge and genuine, warm personality!

Kendall Willis will join the first grade team in the fall.  She is currently teaching 2^nd at Kingsley in District 203.  She attended Eastern Illinois University and was able to student teach in Ireland!

Ryan Carrizales will be teaching third grade in the fall. Ryan is currently teaching in Chicago Public Schools.  He moving to the suburbs and getting married this summer. He describes himself as relentlessly positive! I am thrilled to have these educators join our staff. I know they will make a positive contribution.

Enjoy your summer and the slower pace that this season brings.  I hope you are able to spend time with family and friends and enjoy time doing what you love to do. I look forward to seeing you in the fall and our continued work together!  Watch for a welcome back letter early in August and you will receive your district summer mailing in July.  You will be able to access class placements on August 8 at 3pm and you can access you child’s report card for this year on June 7 at 12pm. 

We are better together,

Tracy Dvorchak

Principal, Naper Elementary

December 2018

Naper Families,

We have had such an amazing start to the 2018-2019 school year at Naper this year! I truly feel so very lucky to be part of such a positive school community. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms and being willing to try new ideas and ways to do things. I have had so much fun getting to know your students! They are kind, smart and love their school! They are the reason I love to come to work every day. The teachers at Naper are truly top notch. The instruction happening in the classrooms here is outstanding. In every classroom I see teachers who have created strong relationships with students, engaging lessons, differentiation, co- teaching and SEL in action. Naper parents… you are simply the best! Thank you for supporting all that we do! Thanks for many supplies for our classrooms, special lunches, extra snacks for our students, volunteering in classrooms and for parties! You truly partner with us and we are BETTER TOGETHER!

This year we have focused on creating a positive and collaborative climate and culture, improving communication as well as improving teaching and learning in all classrooms. Thank you for embracing our BETTER TOGETHER mindset! Each day when we finish announcements we ALL start our day by saying, “Remember…we are better together!” This simple reminder each day that we all are better when we support one another is powerful. Many students have begun to use this language and notice times this is true in their classroom or life.

In January we will continue to find ways to embrace positivity and we look forward to Open House at the end of the month. Mark your calendars and plan to join us to celebrate all the wonderful things happening at Naper on January 31 from 6:00-7:30.

Enjoy winter break and the holiday season with family and friends. Find time to relax and spend time with people you enjoy. We will see you back at Naper on January 8, 2019.

With Gratitude,

Tracy Dvorchak Principal, Naper Elementary

Welcome Back! 

In this letter you will find some basic information to ensure everyone has a positive start to a new year!

I am honored and excited to be the new principal of Naper Elementary School.  I look forward to meeting our students and their families at our upcoming Family Fun Fair as well as Curriculum Night. 

We are so excited that another school year is upon us!  Our teachers and staff have been very busy preparing Naper School for your arrival.  If you are new to our community, WELCOME!  Naper School is a special community with amazing students, teachers and parents!  We are so glad you are here.

We have some fabulous new staff members joining us this fall!  Please join us in welcoming the following new staff to the Naper community:

• Mike Madzinski will serve as our new Learning Commons Director.
• Lynn Vieni will serve as our new school nurse.
• Christa Valkanos will serve as our OT.

You will be able to access your child’s classroom placement on August 9 at 3:00pm through Infinite Campus.  Our staff worked diligently to ensure all classrooms are well balanced and will meet student needs.   

Our Health Office will be open on August 13 from 1:00-2:30 for parents to drop off medication, access medication forms or discuss care plans with Mrs. Vieni and Mrs. Cabrera. 

Kindergarten Crash Course for parents will take place on August 15 at 6:30pm.  If you are a new kindergarten parent please plan to attend to have all your questions answered!  Please plan to meet in the Learning Commons.

Curriculum Night is Thursday, August 30!  Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.  This night is for parents only.  We look forward to meeting with you and creating strong partnerships!

The first day of classes for students in grades 1-5 is August 16.  Please plan to meet your teacher on the blacktop near the gym.  All teachers will be wearing staff t-shirts and will have signs to assist you in getting your child to the correct line.  

On August 17, all students can enter the building through assigned doors beginning at 8:00am.  The bell will ring at 8:15 and we will have announcements and instruction will begin. 

Students in 4^th Grade will exit out of the south front door.  Students in 2^nd and 3^rd grade will exit from north front door.  This year all Kindergarten and 1^st Grade students will exit from Door 7 (located off the gym).  Teachers will ensure all students get on the correct bus, assist walkers in locating parents and help our youngest students to find parents in the carpool lane.

Kindergarten students will have Sneak Peek on August 16 and will not attend a full day of school.  See below for times:

On Friday, August 17, kindergartners will have a full day of school. They will meet their teachers outside Door 1.  Kindergartners should always enter the school through Door 1.  Parents will pick up kindergartners outside Door 7 (located outside of gym) after school or we will ensure they get on the correct bus and get home safely to you!  Staff will stay with kindergartners and first graders while they wait for parents in the car pool lane in a waiting area. 

If you have questions, do not hesitate to call the school office at 630-420-6345.  Julie Strang and Suzy Olson will be happy to assist you! 

Remember we are BETTER TOGETHER,

Tracy Dvorchak,

Principal, Naper Elementary School

1. Design and implement effective practices that promote learning experiences for all.
2. Foster a high-performance culture focused on student learning.
3. Steward resources effectively to promote student learning.
4. Effective communication and community relations.