North Elementary School

Dear Parents and Guardians, Please join us on Thursday for Open House from 4:00-5:30. Students who attend with their parents or parents who attend will earn their student a House Point. Thank you!

Don’t forget that Early Release Wednesday is tomorrow, September 9, 2026, with dismissal at 1:03p.m.

We are tracking attendance and tardiness daily, weekly, and monthly. Check out the amazing percentages for the month of August. Daily attendance is taken at 8:25a.m. by the classroom teacher. Students who arrive after 8:20a.m.must sign in and receive a tardy pass. Let's see which students earn the attendance incentive for September.

Regular attendance is an important part of student success, and we appreciate our families' support in maintaining consistent attendance throughout the school year. As a reminder, if your child will be absent, please report the absence directly to your child’s school using its designated attendance line, rather than calling the District’s main phone number. This helps ensure the information reaches the appropriate staff as quickly as possible. Find your school’s attendance line here: https://www.wps60.org/o/wcusd/page/school-directory

Throughout September, students and staff across Waukegan Public Schools will be practicing an important part of the school year: our annual safety drills. From fire and lockdown drills to bus evacuation and severe weather procedures, these exercises help everyone know what to do in the event of an emergency. We work to keep drills calm, orderly, and as minimally as disruptive as possible. Learn more about what families can expect: https://www.wps60.org/article/3105324

Dear North Families,
Please see the message from North Elementary School's Assistant Principal. We are excited to have Dr. Roman-Melendez join our team!

Dear North Elementary Families,

It is my pleasure to introduce myself as the new Assistant Principal of North Elementary School. I am honored to join the North community and look forward to working alongside our students, families, teachers, staff, and Principal to continue making North a place where every child feels welcomed, supported, and encouraged to succeed.

I have dedicated more than 27 years of my professional life to education, serving as a teacher, school administrator, district leader, and university professor. I am also a bilingual educator and speak both English and Spanish. Working with bilingual and multilingual students and families has been an important part of my journey as an educator and has strengthened my appreciation for the different languages, cultures, stories, and experiences that enrich a school community.

On a personal note, I am originally from Puerto Rico and moved to Illinois with my family eight years ago to begin a new chapter in our lives. For us, education is truly a family commitment. My wife, Vivian, is also an educator and teaches here in Waukegan, so serving the children and families of this community is very close to both of our hearts.

Family is at the heart of who I am. I am the proud father of two children, Abdiel Hazael and Valeria Sophia, and I am incredibly blessed to be the grandfather of three beautiful grandchildren: Jared Eliel, who is three; Adriana Zoé, who is two; and our youngest, Sophia Valentina, who is five months old. I love them deeply, and they remind me every day of the hopes, dreams, and love that every family has for their children.

Our own experience of starting over in a new community also taught me the importance of feeling welcomed, supported, and connected. Those experiences continue to influence my work as an educator and the importance I place on ensuring every student and family feels they belong in our school community.

Being a husband, father, grandfather, and educator has deeply shaped the way I understand my responsibility to our students. I understand the trust families place in us each morning when their children walk through our school doors. I want for every child at North what I want for Abdiel, Valeria, Jared, Adriana, and Sophia: to be safe, cared for, respected, given opportunities to learn and grow, and surrounded by adults who genuinely believe in their potential.

As I begin my journey at North, one of my most important goals will be to get to know our students and their families. I want to listen, learn what makes North special, celebrate our strengths, and work together to address challenges and embrace the opportunities ahead.

I strongly believe that communication and a strong partnership between school and families are essential to student success. My door will always be open to listen to your ideas, concerns, and hopes for your children. I look forward to meeting you personally and building a relationship based on trust, respect, and our shared commitment to every student.

Thank you for welcoming me into the North Elementary family. I am excited to begin this new journey with you and, most importantly, to have the opportunity to serve our students.

One Team. One North. Every Student.

Dr. Rafael Román-Meléndez
Assistant Principal
North Elementary School

Dear Parents and Guardians,
Just a reminder to turn in all physicals and immunization records to Dr. Martinez. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Martinez at
Office phone (224) 303-2163
Fax (224)285-6233
Email marmartinez@wps60.org

Please don't wait until the upcoming exclusion date.

The medical paperwork your child needs depends on their grade level and whether they are new to the district. Here are the key requirements: All New Students (Any Grade): Record of School Physical and Immunizations (Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination Form) Proof of current required immunizations Kindergarten and First Grade: Physical examination Current immunizations Eye examination or Eye Examination Waiver Second Grade: Dental examination (in addition to physical examination and immunizations already on file) Sixth Grade: Certificate of Child Health Exam (dated within one year prior to the first day of school) Current required immunizations, including: 1 dose of TDAP vaccine 1 dose of Meningococcal Conjugate vaccine A second Varicella vaccine (if not previously given) Dental Exam or Dental Exam Waiver Ninth Grade and Twelfth Grade: Specific requirements apply (see the Physical and Immunizations page for details) Additional Forms Available: Dental Examination Waiver Eye Examination Waiver Medication Authorization forms (if your child needs medication at school) Asthma Action Plan (if applicable) Diabetes Management Plan (if applicable) For complete details and to access all required forms, visit the Physical and Immunizations page on the Waukegan CUSD website, or contact your school's nurse. You can also call the Department for Student Support at 224-303-3600 between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

If you didn't get a chance to purchase your child's school supplies yet, don't wait too much longer. The local stores still have their sales! Please see the necessary school supplies by grade level. Students use these items in their classroom. https://www.wps60.org/page/school-supply-lists

Reminder Parents and Guardians that school starts at 8:20a.m. If students arrive after 8:20 a.m., please walk your child to the main office to sign in and get a tardy pass to class. Tardiness is recorded, and the minutes do add up to half or full day absences. Also, students who leave early, before the end of the school day, those minutes do count as well. If your student will be absent for 3 or more days, a medical doctors note is required. Please call the main office at 224-303-2160 to report any student absence. Thank you!

Early Release and Pre-K Asynchronous days

Please remember that today is Early Release Wednesday with dismissal at 1:03 p.m.

Breakfast and Lunch Menus https://wps60.nutrislice.com/menus-eula?isRunningInMobileApp=true&fbclid=IwVERDUAT7OdVwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHpddIfEeZn29V6FYKiBoxYd-Kof0PsMPo9WeGl3V7Rz3601l6dupIhMiiSpI_aem_WJngawzcG02rbNmopnAh7A

Good Morning North Stars!!!! Are you ready for the 1st day of school?
Monday, August 17th is the first day of student attendance.
Please make sure you are on time!
8:00 a.m -8:20 a.m. breakfast for all students
8:20 is the first bell
8:30 is the tardy bell
Which classroom is going to win the attendance belt for August?
Our goal is 95% attendance each day!!!
First attendance incentive is August 31st!! (Popsicles on the Playground)

🎒 Mark your calendars!

The Waukegan Public Schools Back-to-School Resource Fair returns on Saturday, July 25, and this year will be our largest event yet!

Join us from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at our new location, McCall Elementary School and Bevier Park, for free backpacks and school supplies, community resources, food trucks, a petting zoo, kids activities, haircuts, and more.

PreK Students and their families had so much fun at the PreK Prom Celebration to end the school year! Photos, fun, and refreshments was had by all!

We extend our congratulations to our fifth-grade students and their families as they begin their next educational journey in middle school!