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Ron Port

AbbVie donates $40 million for a new school in North Chicago
AbbVie Middle School Press Release 3-21-19
North Chicago Middle School Fact Sheet

PRESS RELEASE

AbbVie Donates $40 Million to Rebuild North Chicago Middle School

– Rebuilding Neal Math & Science Academy supports student success and underscores AbbVie’s ongoing commitment to North Chicago, where the company is headquartered
– Donation is part of AbbVie’s $350 million charitable contribution pledge to nonprofit partners

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., March 21, 2019 – AbbVie, a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, today announced a donation of $40 million to North Chicago Community Unit School District (CUSD) 187 to fund the rebuilding of the district’s only middle school: Neal Math & Science Academy. This donation will provide a safer, modernized learning environment to improve student success for children and aims to help improve graduation rates, reduce dropout rates and increase college and career readiness.

While the school’s name and location will not be changing, AbbVie’s support will enable the middle school to be completely rebuilt into a 21st century learning space. The school’s size will increase to 93,000 square feet from 89,000 square feet and support 625 students. This slight increase in capacity ensures that current enrollment needs are met with room to grow in coming years, if needed.

Continue reading press release

NMSA students warm the lives of over a hundred people!

Sixth grade students in Ms. Xavier’s and Ms. Welner’s EPIC (Extended, Personal, Instructional and Communal) work class, made over 160 scarves to donate to PADS of Lake County. The students took the “communal” work portion of EPIC to a new level this holiday season as they took on a project to warm the lives of other people.

Ms. Xavier and Ms. Welner, NMSA 6th grade Science teachers, helped organize the students’ idea into reality. They worked together with the students and made a connection with PADS of Lake County through the assistance of Ms. Westerberg and Ms. Jones, Long-Term Subs with NMSA and PADS volunteers, to donate the scarves.

Thank you NMSA students for making a difference in our community!

NMSA students warm the lives of over a hundred people!
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Walk a Cop to School

Students and staff from AJK Academy, Alexander Elementary, Neal Math and Science Academy and North Chicago High School met before school to walk with a cop to school.  As part of a community-engagement project, this event helps build relationships between the police department and the community.

Read more about Walk a Cop to School in the Lake County News-Sun

Neal Math & Science Academy Prepares for Earth Day Celebration

Date:
Saturday, April 22nd from 1:30-3:30pm

Location:
Neal Math & Science Academy Greenhouse

Students and staff at Neal Math & Science Academy are preparing for our Earth Day celebration. Under the guidance from Science teachers, Mrs. Welner, Mrs. Xavier and Mrs. O’Connor, students have been learning about growing 100% natural organic plants and vegetables.
On Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 1:30 – 3:30 pm we will be celebrating Earth Day with a variety of family friendly activities including; demonstrations, Upcycle/Recycle Art Gallery, craft projects and an Earth Day March.  We will also be selling seedlings.  We hope to see everyone on Saturday, April 22nd from 1:30-3:30 at the Neal Math & Science Academy Greenhouse.
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Japanese Marketplace

Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace

On Saturday November 19th, 35 students, eight teachers, and three teacher family members,  took a field trip to Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace for lunch and shopping. The students and teachers were excited to spend time with each other outside of school while experiencing authentic Japanese cuisine and literature. The students favorite shop was Kinokuniya bookstore, where many shopped the manga for the newest editions of  pokemon, naruto and others. Pusheen & Hello Kitty items were also very popular. Some students purchased special tools for drawing manga and anime style art. All students (and staff) were excited about the interesting school supplies like multi-color-pens, animal-shaped erasers, sketchbooks, and cute pencils.

Students also enjoyed learning to use (or teaching their peers to use) chopsticks while eating ramen noodle dishes, tempura meat and vegetables, and sushi. Tropical Flavor Boba tea was the big hit of the day, as were the fun-shaped pastries and green-tea ice cream.

A group of seventh grade students were excited to purchase Pocky biscuit sticks in the grocery store.  Ms. Robinson was thrilled about the fancy Oreo cookies she found and the turtle-shaped pastries she purchased for her children.

Our students and staff had a wonder-full afternoon immersed in Japanese culture and cuisine. Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace is a destination many students said they would love to visit again!

Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace
Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace
Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace
Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace
Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace

Thankfulness and Collaboration at NMSA

On Tuesday, November 29, close to 150 guests gathered for the Third Annual Thanks4Giving Dinner!  This fun and informative event was hosted by the Neal Math & Science Academy PTO and supported by North Chicago Community Partners and volunteers from Southwire.  The evening’s festivities began with a presentation by Principal Campos about student assessment data and the need for increased collaboration between parents and teachers in order to support academic achievement.  Following the presentation, families shared a pot luck dinner which featured an overabundance of tasty desserts, thanks to the seventh grade families.  Thank you to everyone who contributed food or funds for the dinner and to Ms. Lopez and Ms. Porcayo for planning and executing such a lovely evening for NMSA families and teachers!

Fall Wellness Fair

On Thursday, November 17 North Chicago Community Partners (NCCP) hosted its annual Fall Wellness Fair at North Chicago Community High School (NCCHS), open to families from both the NCCHS and Neal Math and Science Academy Communities. This year’s theme: Feeding the Mind and Body! The event came together through a collaboration between AbbVie, NCCP, Northern Illinois Food Bank, community partners and volunteers and each school community. In total, over 252 guests came out to enjoy the event and engage in fun-filled health and wellness activities, interact with and learn from community based health and wellness-related partners and shop the plentifully stocked grocery store for free.

Throughout the evening, attendees also had the opportunity to acquire fun facts about the body and mind; learn how to properly wash their hands, and brush and floss their teeth and engage in a 30-second physical activity family challenge with Navy sailors. Partners that guests had the opportunity to visit include, College of Lake County, North Chicago Community High School Health Care Career Pathways, North Chicago Fire Department, Lake County Health Department and Mano a Mano. At the end of the event, one lucky raffle winner left with a $25 Visa Gift Card.

We’re Having a Garden Party – Lettuce Turnip the Beet!

We are growing so much in our Greenhouse and garden!  We’ve had so much fun caring for and nurturing our little seedlings.  Watching them grow from seeds to plants was an amazing experience!

See the life cycle of a plant.

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Learning About the Civil War

7th Grade Learns about the Civil War

The 7th grade is learning about the Civil War.  Students had the chance to study and even dress in civil war gear from Mr. Kelly’s private collection!