North Park Elementary School is dedicated to raising confident, self reliant individuals while instilling a sense of curiosity, a passion for learning, and a commitment to impacting the broader community in positive ways. Donating time and expertise, and making NPES a priority for your family's charitable giving, sustains our unique combination of rigorous, challenging academics within a nurturing and supportive community. The generosity celebrated in this annual report enables the school to invest vital resources to help our teachers, students, and community thrive in new ways.
Our families support North Park through special events that bring our community together, and through annual giving, which is an expression of gratitude for what the school does for our children, and of support for NPES' constant search for additional ways to help students achieve their full potential, now and in high school.
Philanthropy has enabled us to reimagine and renovate our campus with collaborative learning, STEM, critical thinking, innovation, creative self expression, adaptability, and teacher support in mind all in a safe, engaging, and inclusive community that understands and appreciates every student's strengths and areas for growth. We are proud of and celebrate our engagement, and we are grateful for your investments of all sizes and kinds as a testament to North Park Elementary School's stability, success, growth, and commitment to every student, who they are today, and who they aspire to be tomorrow. On behalf of our Board of Directors, our Head of School John Novick, and all of our teachers and staff, thank you.
NPES Board President
With the renovation of our building came a new student Innovation Lab, focused on the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) with Design Thinking:
learning about the audience for whom you are designing
brainstorming and coming up with creative solutions
returning to your original user group and testing your ideas for feedback
redefining and focusing your question based on your insights from the empathy stage
building a representation of one or more of your ideas to show to others
In the Innovation Lab, our students are mentored to be curious, creative, and develop a sense of self in the larger community and we focus on extending learning that is happening in the classroom by offering tools and guidance to make connections for a specific audience. Fourth and fifth grade STEM teacher, Nicole Allen, engaged her students with LEGO robots and LEGO Mindstorm challenges, with C2STEM to guide her students to build, test, and adapt robots while learning coding and engineering skills. These robots could potentially be used to solve problems for a specific audience!
Empathize Define Ideate Prototype Test
The 3rd grade Immigration unit is a much beloved unit of study at NPES. When Talia Blivaiss, 3rd grade teacher, started at North Park in 2011, the focus of the project was on European immigration through Ellis Island in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Students researched and took on the persona of an immigrant from Europe during that time.
Now, Ms. Blivaiss takes a much wider view - we welcome immigrants and migrants from all over the world, including those who are refugees, across countries of origin and time. She also does not shy away from the more difficult conversations about indigenous peoples who were here first and those who were forced here via the Transatlantic slave trade.
To make the unit meaningful to the students each year, family and friends come to speak about their immigration experience and students may now take on the persona of any immigrant, regardless of country of origin or point in time.
To continue building empathy, Ms. Blivaiss and her 3rd graders partner with Refugee One during their service learning project, collecting items for families newly arrived in Chicago.
Kindergarten teacher Zoe Ardito spent much of the winter and spring completing her 200 hour Breathe for Change certification. Breathe for Change is a wellness and social emotional learning facilitator (SEL*F) training, based in yoga, mindfulness, and meditation practices. The program uses wellness as a vehicle for healing and social change and seeks to dismantle inequities by offering inclusive and accessible experiences.
There are many benefits to this practice, including improved self awareness and a deepening understanding of one's own emotions, goals and values, and personal identity. She hopes to help to develop self efficacy and optimism amongst students as well as helping them foster self management skills and social awareness. Ms. Ardito’s training also includes adult yoga, mindfulness, and meditation training, allowing her to support our staff as well as our students.
The impactful engagement of NPES families, and the vital role they play in the success of our school, is humbling and inspiring. I am so grateful for your trust and generosity, expressed through charitable giving and volunteering. You make our school stronger for every child.
-John Novick, Jr., Head of SchoolOur teachers are committed to the growth of their students, students enjoy beautiful spaces that work for them, and we work together as a community to make NPES thrive. Thanks to all of you, we are able to provide students with the tools and resources they need to learn about the world around them and make a positive impact.
Laura McCammack Director of Development & Communications
Faith Nielsen was a determined and persistent woman who believed that every child deserved and needed a fine arts education. Through the generosity of her family, in her memory and in regard for Faith's role as a founding mother, we have continued to expand and add materials to the visual arts and music classrooms, including our new kiln and related supplies. Without the Nielsen family's generosity, we would not have appropriate band chairs or a class set of ukeleles. Without Faith's determination, we would not have North Park Elementary School as it is today. We are proud to carry on Faith's legacy by offering an exemplary fine arts education to all students.
As an NPES parent and Development Committee Chair, I am inspired by our volunteers. Our room parents, lunch and recess monitors, basketball coaches, drama support team, gala chairs, committee members, and other volunteers generously give of their time for the benefit of our children's daily lives and the impact is huge.
-Ted Moore Board of Directors, Development Committee Chair
North Park Elementary School has always relied on the generosity of the community parents, grandparents, relatives, friends, and employers to give of their time, talent, and treasure. We are grateful for all of you and quite literally would not be able to offer the educational experience that we do without your financial support above and beyond tuition. Whether you contributed through a special event or made a gift directly to the NPES Fund, your gift made a difference in the lives of our students and faculty Thank you
$20,000-$40,000
The Nielsen Family in honor of Faith Nielsen
$10,000-$20,000
Susan Tsai & Ravi Kalhan Jill & Josh Samis
$5,000-$9,999
Anita Pancholi & Nevin Boparai Paul & Rosemarie Dinan Eowyn & Matt Ford Marrianne & James Gruverº Harisha & James Haigh Brian & Elizabeth Harper Lauri Frankowski & Logan LaHive Claire Thomas & Alan Littlechild Jorie & Daniel Lombard Vince & Renee Meneesº Jennifer & Jonathan Miller Neepa & Manish Patel David & Shannon Poe Mark & Jennifer Sampias Michael & Susan Schuetz Garrett & Brenna Sheridan Alexis & William Valasek Robert & Cara Veriganº
$2,500-$4,999
Daniel & Rachel Aaronson Bianca Da costa & Kevin Ahn Cheryl & Brian Atwood Katherine Balson
$2,500-$4,999 (cont.) Gregory & Claire Barnes Robert Bennett & Jerusha Bennett Samantha & Daniel Carroll Crystal & Andrew Crestodina Melody & Bill Cross William & Amy Daly Megan Campbell & Gregory Durkin Tara Todd Farris & Daniel Farris Greg & Kristina Gawor Rachel & Lou Glaser Hilary & Matthew Goldfineº Meredith & Brian Hannah Carolyn Braff & Andrew Hermanº Grey Tanzi & Erik Hogstrom Erin & Scott Holcomb
Daniel & Julie Jacobson Leslie Crea Kammerer & Christopher Kammerer
Laura Coy & Brian Krumm Bryan & Julie Lamb Jeffrey & Andrea Levoff Darren & Elizabeth Lubotsky Deena & Eric McCauley Andrew & Molly McSweenº Anita Denes-Meador & Matthew Meador
Ted & Kelly Moore Rosemary Feit & Matthew Moren Rebecca & Derek Norman Jennifer & Davin Peelle Lauren & Ryan Perry David & Stephanie Petti
$2,500-$4,999 (cont.)
Alicia Gonzalez & Gerald Saltarelli
Steve Schneider & James Schroeder
Jennifer & Herb Seitz
Julia Singh & Davor Sicel
Marci & Jeff Sieracki
Sharon Wise & Nicholas Sinnott
Patrick Simoniello & Jeffrey Stanfield
Rebecca & Jeffrey Tatom
Alicia Valencia Unterbrunner & Adam Unterbrunner
Kristen & David Van Dyke Shannon & Andrew Weber Courtney Welton
Jessica & Bryan Westhoff William & Melissa Zaikos
Anonymous
Sarah & Jonathan Adelstein
Jennifer Chang-Adiga & Shekar Adiga Maria Logli Allison & James Allison Anoop & Priti Anekalº Alison & Gareth Anthonisz John Arnold
Jonathan & Lori Arnold Meg Ogishi & Ryan Bowersock Dennis & Taylor Boyerº Olivia & Timothy Brennan Amanda & Stuart Brody Leslie Patterson & Todd Brown Patty Brummet
Jillian Inserra & Brian Burcham David & Valentina Burciaga
Kathryn Fitzgerald & Howard Chang Tracey Sanders & Michael Check
January Jarecki & Abigail Claiborne Beth Cummings & Regan Davis Rebecca & Cliff Deutsch
Julie Michaelson & Bill Faude Dawn Zarembski & Mark Frankeº Carla Suffi Greenstein & Justin Greenstein
Cindy Sobel & Matthew Greiner Emily Morgan & Timothy Grimes Emily Hall & Peter Gwinn Kristine & Robert Hall Michael & Angela Heitz
$1,000-$2,499 (cont.)
Eric & Kelly Hoberman
Nan Li & Yuheng Huº Melissa Lewis & Scott Huegerich Vivian Lee & Matthew James Sarah & Robert Jamiesonº Laura & Erik Joss Kim Sabo & Robert Kaplan Libby & Alan Keribar Peter & Lisa Knight Cassidy & Theodore Lasser Lisa Key & Kevin Lint Lynne Mann Mark & Kelley Masino Maria & Erick Matos Maurine & Trey McAdams Laura & Brian McCammack Lynn Anderson & Jerry McEntee Art & Jo Moore Kim & Michael Moran Mark Pascaris & Jennifer Morris Dana & John Novick Tracy & Bryan Paullº Lauren & Ross Rocklin Dinakar Vinnakota & Susan Russell Christy & Chris Sears Leah Rimkus & Nishant Shah Goran & Emer Simic Sandra Soellner Sneha Soni & Marcus Turnboº Marzia & Taher Valika Carey Schueler & Kate Varde Rob & Carrie von der Sitt Keith Walker Denise Burch & Eric Weinstein Lisa & Randy Weinstein Irena & Bryan Weiss Taylor & Christopher Wood
Up to $999
Beth & Michael Aaronson Jason & Lahnna Addington David & Devra Adelstein Sridhar Adiga Dale Anderson Jill Anderson Wendy Andrews
Zoe Ardito
Up to $999 (cont.)
Steven Axler
Ariel Barbick Tim & Eloise Barron Jennifer Barton & Jonathan Calfee Emily Beck Robb Bennett
Catherine Chapin & Chetan Bhupali Joseph Bingen Talia Blivaiss Steven & Alana Block Jon Boley Julia Boncher Przemyslaw Bosak Jamie Boyer Kelsey Boyer Roger Boyer Jim & Julie Bradford Mike & Margaret Brennan Cam Brown Paul Bulgajewski Julia Burciaga Robert Burciaga Lauren & Zach Carusona Nai Chang Joanne Chittick Lawrence Christensen David Claiborne Eileen Claiborne Karry Clarke Jacque Nelson Cogan & Dan Cogan Morgan Collier Rachel Costello John & Cynthia Coy Helen Daley Mary Daley Pablo Denes Mary Jenner & George Dengler Giselle & Joseph Donado Katharine Dryden Janet & Larry Eaton Justin Eaton Bev Eisenberg Shanti & Siva Elangovan Kyrsten & Marcus Emanuel Stephanie Hlywak & J. Gabe Estill Rosanne Farris
Up to $999 (cont.)
Andrea Bingen & John Forbeck
Emily Friend
Andrew Sokol & Tim Gallagher Jarek Gawor Kay Gingerich Deborah Ginsberg Daniel & Rachelle Golden Joshua Grossman Mike Harper John Hartley Shelby Heator John Heidloff Shannon Heidloff Kurt & Rebecca Hirsch Rob Hirsch Diane Hoberman Rebecca Holbrook-Erhart John Holcomb Ashley Holmes Ginny Hotaling Jessie & Rhodi Hotaling Deb Hughes Caron Jacobson Nancy & Mark Jacobson Dana James Fran Jones Jayne James Matt James Shelby Klingberg Krishen Kotecha Irina Vodonos & Chris Kupcho Mary Kupcho
Margaret & John LaMarche Lynn Lawrence Nikki Lawrence
Elisabeth Lindsay Ryan Amy Lint Margaret Lint Adam Litt Kelly Lombard Madelyn Lombard Richard Lombard Dale Lubotsky Megean Lundberg Kerry Maman Falguni Mangat
Up to $999 (cont.)
Melinda Swank & Fletcher Martin Carrie McBreen Joseph McBreen
James & Marilyn McCammack Kem McClelland Timothy McGlinchy Lisa Mekelburg Nancy Melin Carla Melnyk Marsha Meuser
Jason Miller
Steven & Jacqueline Miller Kim & Tom Miniscalco Larissa & Brian Modesitt Nancy Morris Sarah Morris Anna Nardulli Katie Newell
Jonathan & Laura Novy Melissa Oglesby John & Susan O'Connell Donna & Tom Pascaris Justin Past
Mark & Tara Patek Chloe & Andrew Patton Linda Patton Linda Paull Melissa Payne Diana & Paul Peelle Kathleen Pereles Bella & Anatoly Polyachenko Jennifer Quay Emily Reitmeier Rustin Rethemeyer Brad Riggs Cathy Rimkus Edmund Rimkus
Allie Robbins Harriette Robbins Julie Robbins Katie Rovani Lauren Russell Melliney & Gerry Saltarelli Lisa & Michael Samis Mark Schab Aimee Schnabel Gloria Schneider
Up to $999 (cont.)
Christine Schroeder
James & Patricia Schroeder Ronald Schueler
Elizabeth Schug Elizabeth Seagle
Erin & Rick Sedlak Rita & Sam Shah Jill Sickle
Nicole Smart
Kim & Sean Smith
Elizabeth Vadas & Paulos Strike Heather & Joseph Summers Mary Anne Talotta Lawrence Tanzi Morgan Tate Cathy Taylor Julie Thomas Juliana Tiryaki Levi Todd Rachelle Todd Pete Tortorici Michelle Villarreal & Vladimir Uman Pamela Valenta John Varde Judith Verigan Leonid Vodonos Valery Vodonos Jessica Wacker Kelly & Nathan Walker Michelle & David Weber Susan Weber
Dana & Michael Weed Katherine Weil Adrienne Weinstein
Jan Nguyen & Sam Weller Mary Wells Deborah & Thomas Williams Elizabeth & Scott Wolff Penni Wolfmark Anne Wong Reed Woodson Naomi Skolnick & Mike Yazzie Jeff Yosowitz
Anne Zagotta Abizer & Fatema Zanzi Michael Zlotnik Stephen Zuckerman
Albany Bank*
Allstate
AmazonSmile
Arbonne International Bank of America
BDT Boeing
Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Cardinal Health
Cobalt Energy Services, Inc.* CustomInk
Deconstruct Architecture* Fitch Ratings
Genevieve LLC Google, Inc.
Healthier Tomorrows* Intercontinental Exchange Macon Construction*
Marsh & McLennan Companies
Melissa Lewis Interiors* Morningstar Motorola Solutions Foundation
North Point Lending Services - Rob von der Sitt*
NPES Board of Directors
NPES Dads' Club
NPES Moms' Club
Options Clearing Corporation PepsiCo
Prudential Insurance
Quinn Emanuel Trial Lawyers Daniel R. Lombard* Soul Daddy Speciality Store Services*
Tara Todd Farris, MHS CCC SLP/L* Team Sears* The Loop SLL*
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
William Blair & Company*
Hoellen Family Foundation
Kalhan Foundation
MacArthur Foundation
John & Kathleen Schreiber Foundation
ºA special thank you to these donors, who generously secured a matching gift from their employer.
We have made every effort to accurately list all donors If we have made a mistake, please accept our sincerest apologies and contact the development office so that we may update the online posting
Several years ago, NPES set out to renovate our building and expand into what was a garage to create a school that worked for students natural light in classrooms, a student innovation lab, a new science lab, and a more secure entrance are all a reality now. Thank you to our generous donors who made it all possible. You have left your mark on NPES and we are excited and equipped for the future.
$100,000+ Anonymous
$70,000-$99,999
The Nielsen Family in honor of Faith Nielsen
$40,000 $69,999
The Balson/Stein Family Vince & Renee Menees Joanna Williams
$30,000 $39,999
Jorie & Daniel Lombard Ted & Kelly Moore Jill & Josh Samis Rob & Cara Verigan
$20,000 $29,999
Anonymous Samantha & Daniel Carroll Melody & Bill Cross Will & Amy Daly Shanti & Siva Elangovan Eowyn & Matt Ford Hilary & Matthew Goldfine Harisha & James Haigh Eric & Kelly Hoberman Danny & Julie Jacobson Susan Tsai & Ravi Kalhan Bryan & Julie Lamb Maurine & Trey McAdams Jennie & Jonathan Miller
$20,000-$29,999 (cont.)
Kim & Michael Moran
Neepa & Manish Patel David & Shannon Poe Mark & Jennifer Sampias Steve Schneider & James Schroeder Michael & Susan Schuetz Jennifer & Herb Seitz Heather & Joseph Summers Courtney Welton & Tyler Vanlonkhuyzen Dana & Michael Weed Denise Burch & Eric Weinstein
$10,000 $19,999
Anonymous Anonymous
Alison & Gareth Anthonisz
Anita Pancholi & Nevin Boparai Jillian Inserra & Brian Burcham Megan Campbell & Gregory Durkin Andrea Bingen & John Forbeck Brian & Liz Harper Grey Tanzi & Erik Hogstrom Liz Siegel & Greg Jacobs Laura Coy & Brian Krumm Cassidy & Theo Lasser
The Logli/Allison Family Darren & Beth Lubotsky Andrew & Molly McSween Dan Cogan & Jacque Nelson Cogan, Doug Nelson David & Stephanie Petti
$10,000-$19,999 (cont.)
Lauren & Ross Rocklin Sandra Soellner
Irina Logovinsky & Mohan Subramanian Heather & Zach Wasilew Jessica & Bryan Westhoff
Up to $9,999
Daniel & Rachel Aaronson Jennifer Chang Adiga & Shekar Adiga Hannah Anthony Lori & Jonathan Arnold Steven & Alana Block Jon Boley
Meg Ogishi & Ryan Bowersock Amanda & Stuart Brody Leslie Patterson & Todd Brown Kathryn Fitzgerad & Howard Chang Rebecca & Cliff Deutsch Giselle & Joseph Donado Randi Ellias Dawn Zarembski & Mark Franke Greg & Kristina Gawor Rachel & Corey Glasson Alicia Gonzalez Carla Suffi Greenstein & Justin Greenstein Cindy Sobel & Matt Greiner Mike Harper Shannon Heidloff Mike & Angela Heitz Carolyn Braff & Andrew Herman Erin & Scott Holcomb Nan Li & Yuheng Hu Paul & Maria Jackson Sarah & Robert Jamieson Ian Jipp Laura & Erik Joss Eric & Nelly Kamenetsky Leslie Crea Kammerer & Chris Kammerer Peter & Lisa Knight Irina Vodonos & Chris Kupcho Barbara LaPiana Chris & Lara Lerner Lisa Key & Kevin Lint
Up to $9,999 (cont.)
Diana Majerczyk
Deena & Eric McCauley Anita Dense Meador & Matt Meador Rosemary Feit & Matt Moren Swetha & Arvind Movva Lindsey Jukes & Stephen Murphy Randy Needlman Rebecca & Derek Norman Dana & John Novick
Jennifer Morris & Mark Pascaris Chloe & Andrew Patton Sara Perz-Hintz Emily Friedman & Dan Protess Jennifer Quay Rachel Kaplan & Bob Riesman Brad Rose Gerald Saltarelli James & Patricia Schroeder Chris & Christy Sears Garrett & Brenna Sheridan Goran & Emer Simic Sharon Wise & Nick Sinnott Staci Woodrum & William Stephens Lisa & Erik Timbo Michelle Villarreal & Vlad Uman Susan Russell & Dinakar Vinnakota Rob & Carrie von der Sitt Nathan & Kelly Walker, Keith Walker Shannon & Andrew Weber Irena & Bryan Weiss Jan Nguyen & Sam Weller Lisa & Scott Wolff Anne & Bob Zagotta Bill & Melissa Zaikos
Cobalt Energy Services
Fitch Ratings
Google, Inc.
Interactive Business Systems, Inc. & Dan Williams Kirkland & Ellis LLP
John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Takeda Pharmaceuticals William Blair & Company