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Come join us at the 2nd Annual South Side Early Childhood and Grade School Fair to be held at the Ancona School, 4770 S. Dorchester Ave., on Sunday, November 5th from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Presented by The Ancona School and Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School, this fair connects parents with area early childhood programs, grade schools and community organizations. The fair is free and open to the general public. Please RSVP here: https://forms.diamondmindinc.com/anconaschool/southsideschoolfair

Each session and exhibitor is planned with Chicago families in mind! Visit with representatives from schools and community organizations. Attend sessions to learn about the elementary school application process in CPS, Individualized Education Plans (IEP) for diverse learners, and financial options for help paying for private school. Also, your family will enjoy dance performances from Kenwood School of Ballet and story time with St. Thomas the Apostle School. Stay tuned for more! This is a family-friendly event with activities for children included. ➤ List of exhibitors Sessions 10 am to 11:00 am Paying for Private School Presented by the Big Shoulders Fund, Horizons for Youth, Empower Illinois, and Illinois Action for Children Learn how these organizations support Chicago students financially, academically, and socially, and find out how to apply to their programs. 11:15 am to 12:15 pm CPS 101 What is a magnet school? What is your tier and why does it matter? Come to the school fair to get all of these questions answered and more! In this CPS 101 information session, Grace Lee Sawin of Chicago School GPS will give a presentation that walks you through the elementary school application and admissions process. 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm Understanding IEPs In this session you will learn what an IEP is, how it is designed to help students, and the 6 principals of IDEA. You will walk away with tips on how to be the best advocate for your student during the IEP meeting and other settings. Presented by Natasha Croff--Parent Involvement Specialist, CPS Office of Diverse Learner Supports+Services, and Kimberly Johnson, Regional Cook County Coordinator, Community Residential Services Authority (CRSA) MUST-KNOW INFO When: Saturday, October 21, 10 am--2 pm Where: Kennicott Park, 4434 South Lake Park Avenue Who: FREE for everyone ($20 donation recommended) Registration is required for entry Interested in exhibiting or advertising opportunities? Find out more HERE. Questions? Email Events Manager Elizabeth Gourio at egourio@npnparents.org. By registering for this event, you agree that NPN may share your name and email address with our sponsors. NPN is a 501(c)(3) organization. We rely on the support of our members, partners, supporters, and sponsors to bring exceptional programming like this to parents. Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors

NPN's Annual Preschool and Elementary School Fair is back! Mark your calendars for September 23, 2023. Held every fall, NPN’s Annual Preschool & Elementary School Fair has been the No. 1 resource for school-searching parents for over 20 years! All attendees will have the chance to win a $50 gift card to the popular restaurant, eden, which is conveniently located right next to Kids' Work Chicago Riverview. Eden is ever-evolving, with a menu that embraces seasonal flavors that cultivate inside our on-site greenhouse or sourced locally from farmers and purveyors. With a fresh-focused culinary team, private dining options, market items & home goods, outdoor patio, and a bar with specialty crafted cocktails, eden is unlike any other restaurant in Chicago. Walk-ins are welcome! ➤ List of participating schools Sessions 9:00 - 9:45am Navigating CPS Preschool Options Presented by Dr. Camille Franklin, Network 4 Family Engagement Coordinator, from CPS Office of Early Childhood Education In this session, parents will learn about preschool options in Chicago Public Schools and how to navigate the CPS preschool application and admissions process. 11:05am - 12:05pm Private Preschool 101: Admissions, Tuition, Diversity & Community Kids Work Chicago Riverview, Bennett Day School, British International School of Chicago Lincoln Park, Lycée Français de Chicago In this session, parents will learn how to determine which schools are a good fit for their child, how to learn about a school community, and how to expertly maneuver the admissions process. Parents will leave with an understanding of the admissions process, and the questions to ask about school culture, tuition/financial aid, and diversity in order to help them find a good-fit school for their family. 12:10 - 1:10pm A Family Guide on the Early Intervention to IEP Transition Process Presented by Tareema Jean-Baptiste from Starnet Chicago In this session, we will walk through the transition from Early Intervention to Early Childhood. Using the workbook "When I'm 3, Where Will I Be?" as a guide, we will explore the importance of a parent's voice and what rights parents have during the process. Parents will learn how to prepare for the Transition Planning meeting, Evaluations, and the IEP meeting, as well as create a timeline that fits their needs. Participants will leave with tangible resources to help make the transition as smooth as possible. 10:00 am to 11:00 am: Dedicated exhibition hall time. The exhibition hall closes at 12:30 pm. MUST-KNOW INFO When: Saturday, September 23, 9am--1pm Where: Kids' Work Chicago Riverview, 3429 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 Who: FREE for NPN members ($20 donation recommended); $20 non-members Join NPN now for $20 using promo code school23 and attend the school fair for free! For new members only. Does not apply to membership renewals. Registration is required for entry This event is designed for parents however, children will not be turned away. Questions? Email Events Manager Elizabeth Gourio at egourio@npnparents.org. By registering for this event, you agree that NPN may share your name and email address with our sponsors. By registering for this event, you agree to the terms of our host venue's liability waiver. Interested in exhibiting or advertising opportunities? Find out more HERE. NPN is a 501(c)(3) organization. We thank our sponsors for their support.

Register Here! Free admission. Even in normal times, the transition from preschool to Kindergarten is fraught with questions and concerns. In a post-Covid world, parents face additional challenges, including the isolation their children faced during their earliest years. Join us for a roundtable conversation with a first-grade parent, a curriculum specialist and a speech language pathologist to discuss your concerns and meet other families. Kids are welcome to enjoy a fun activity with CFS kindergarten teacher Isabella Suárez and art teacher Christina Jeskey while you learn. About the Presenters: Katie Tengel, a Speech Language Pathologist, who sees clients all over the Chicago area, will be there to discuss some of the developmental changes and challenges that 4-5 year olds face and how our multi-age approach to schooling might serve your child. Alyssa Vejendla is Chicago Friends School's Curriculum coordinator and will discuss how she has worked with our team of teachers to develop age appropriate yet rigorous curriculum that links across the grades, as well as ways to make Kindergarten more flexible and welcoming for diverse learning needs. Lela Beem is a parent of two kids at CFS and has had her kids in private preschool as well as public elementary school. She will share her experience of helping her daughter transition from preschool to Kindergarten last year and why the smaller class sizes and mixed age approach works for their family.

Get the support and resources your child needs and enjoy family activities with The Red Kite Project at Chicago Children's Theatre If your child has a physical, developmental, or intellectual challenge, NPN's 12th Annual Developmental Differences Resource Fair can help. Our free fair, designed for the whole family, puts you in touch with school options, therapy providers, and more resources that will encourage your child to reach his or her highest potential. Your child does not need to have a diagnosis for you to benefit from the resources offered at this fair. Parents with concerns about their child's development due to COVID regression will find help here. Children are welcome! Your whole family can: - Chat with speech, occupational, physical, and ABA therapy providers; schools; fun extracurricular options; and more at the exhibitor booths. List of exhibitors (updated weekly!) - Learn at our session: Decoding CPS: Tips for Special Needs Parents and Advocates from Early Childhood through Middle School - Act out during activities with The Red Kite Project at Chicago Children's Theatre - Rest in the staffed Calm Room provided by Twenty-One Senses. A Calm Room is available to help anyone reset from the possible overload of the crowds, sounds, and smells, allowing you and your kids to continue to enjoy the event - Pose for professional family photos from 2:30 - 4:00! Families can take selfies in front of the backdrop before our photographer arrives! - Win: Enter our FREE raffle to win the Altitude Trampoline Park's Private Table 10 Jumper Package - valued at $450 - Pick up free snacks for kids - Enjoy this child-friendly space Event Schedule 12:00 - 12:30 Event opens with Chicago Children's Theatre's Red Kite Program activities in the 1st-floor lobby 12:30 Exhibit hall opens on the 2nd floor (elevator access) 1:30 - 2:30 Decoding CPS: Tips for Special Needs Parents and Advocates from Early Childhood through Middle School (more info below) 3:30 - 4:00 Event closes with Chicago Children's Theatre's Red Kite Program activities in the 1st-floor lobby (Exhibit hall closes at 3:30) MUST-KNOW INFO When: Saturday, February 11, 12 pm–4 pm Where: Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S. Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60607 Who: Open to the public! Registration required. Children welcome! Parking: Free parking on a first-come, first-serve basis. Free parking is available at Chicago Children's Theatre, Blue Bird Day, Intercultural Language Montessori School, and Soul City Church. Click here for a map. Cost: $25 donation is recommended. Donate here. NPN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We rely on your financial support to bring free resources like this to Chicago families. Session Information 1:30 - 2:30 pm Decoding CPS: Tips for Special Needs Parents and Advocates from Early Childhood through Middle School In this session, participants will learn how to decipher the differences within the cluster and blended classroom levels, the school assignment process, when and why to contact case managers and district representatives, and the overall breakdown of the intake process for students with disabilities entering the system. This session will cover early childhood through middle school. There will be time for Q & A at the end. Our presenters can answer general questions about support in high school and point parents in the right direction to get more details. Our esteemed presenters are Kimberly Johnson and Carrie Comer-Yates. Kimberly Johnson is the proud mother of a young adult who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at age six. Through advocacy, she has gained knowledge and skill sets as an advocate, due process, and IEP liaison for families, and is well versed in the Department of Human Services Waiver program, as it relates to options and consent decrees. For the past four years, she was a Ligas Family Advocate with The Arc of Illinois, a nonprofit organization supporting all persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities. She has been involved in the Chicagoland Autism Connection Parent Support Group for over 18 years and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors. Chicagoland Autism Connection Family and Professional Support Group is one of the largest family support groups in the state of Illinois. Kimberly received her formal education at Indiana Wesleyan University. Prior to her advocacy outreach, Kimberly worked for two large nonprofits as the membership marketing manager for a combined 20 years of service. Carrie Comer-Yates is a native Chicagoan and proud product of Chicago Public Schools! She received a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and M.S. in Early Childhood Special Education from Southern IL University Carbondale. Additionally, she holds a C.A.S. in ESL and Curriculum Development. As an Educator with over 15 yrs. of experience in Early Childhood Special Education, in both Public and Private settings, it is imperative to continue assisting families to gain the foundational support they need in order for their children to be successful. In her current role as Sr. Manager, Carrie oversees the Programming for Early Childhood Special Education classrooms throughout Chicago Public Schools. Carrie, although an educator, personally experienced the struggles many parents face when their child is identified as having delays. Her son required multiple therapies from the age of six months-three years and received this through the State of Illinois Early Intervention Services. Consistency and building relationships with Service Providers provided him the skills necessary to transition into General Education PreK, as well as now being identified as Gifted. Her ultimate mission is to assure that all families have positive success stories navigating the Special Education process while having access to everything they need. Questions? Email Events Manager Elizabeth Gourio at egourio@npnparents.org. By registering for this event, you agree that NPN may share your name and email address with our presenting sponsors. Interested in exhibiting or advertising opportunities? Find out more HERE. Thank you to our presenting sponsor

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Join us for our Open House on Saturday November 5! (in person) This event will give you an opportunity to tour our school and ask key questions to our team. Registration is open! Hours: 10:00-12:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm: Pre-K (3 year old by 12/31/2022) through 5th grade 11:00am-12:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm: Middle, High school & IB program (taught in English, starting in 9th grade) Register Here

Thursday, December 1 12:00 p.m. – Virtual Open House RSVP Here

Tuesday, November 15 9:30 a.m. – Virtual Open House RSVP Here

Sunday, January 8 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Family-Friendly In-Person Open House RSVP Here

Saturday, November 5 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Family-Friendly In-Person Open House RSVP Here

The Upper School Open House takes place on Saturday, November 12th and is an event for parents/guardians and students. The program will include an opening from school and student leaders and information about college counseling, financial assistance, athletics and extracurricular activities. You will also have the opportunity to learn more about our curriculum and student life while meeting Upper School faculty and current Parker students and parents. As a reminder, the event starts promptly at 10:00 am CT and will conclude at 12:30 pm CT. You will receive further instructions in the registration confirmation email. Visitors to the school must attest that they are free of symptoms of COVID-19 and comply with current campus protocols. We look forward to seeing you and your student on November 12th! Register Here

The Middle School Open House takes place on Saturday, October 22nd and is an event for parents and students. Our Middle School consists of Grades 6, 7 and 8. As a reminder, the Open House starts promptly at 10:00 am CT. You will have the opportunity to explore the Middle School, learn more about our dynamic curriculum, and hear directly from Parker's Middle School students. You will receive further instructions in the registration confirmation email. Visitors to the school must attest that they are free of symptoms of COVID-19 and comply with current campus protocols. We look forward to meeting your family! Register Here

The Lower School Open House takes place on Saturday, October 15th at 10:00 am CT and is an event for parents/guardians. Please note that due to the length and format, the Open House is intended for adults only. You will have the opportunity to explore the Lower School, learn more about our dynamic curriculum, and hear directly from Parker's Lower School students. You will receive further instructions in the registration confirmation email. Visitors to the school must attest that they are free of symptoms of COVID-19 and comply with current campus protocols. We look forward to meeting you! Register Here