News

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

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

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.

IMG_0569 (1)

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!

NMSA – Working on becoming an Earth Flag school!

RecycleThroughout the 2016 school year NMSA students have collected the school’s paper, metal, plastic, and cardboard to be taken to be recycled.  Student efforts have led to an average of 150 pounds of garbage kept out of the landfill every week.  Partnering with SWALCO, NMSA is working on becoming an Earth Flag school dedicated to practicing responsible environmental behaviors.  A handful of students took initiative and got the program running.  Alex Arteaga, DeAndre  Anderson, Alannie Bolorin, Jakaria Coston, Sonia Dubose, Carlos Gomez, Linda Pitts, and Iyunniey Reed found resources, developed a plan to collect the school’s recyclable materials, made presentations to different  classes, and currently run the program.

When asked  about the experience Carlos said, “Even though at times it was difficult to empty out the recycling boxes because of testing and other things we still managed to fit some time to help with emptying out the boxes.  Recycling is very adequate and fun overall.  Many people helped with this program and you make new friends within the grade levels as well.” According to Steven Uribe “I like the program because I get to help out and it helps us recycle things so we can reuse them. The main thing I liked was getting to recycle and meeting new kids from different grade levels and helping other teachers from 6th and 7th grade.”

rsz_aaaa rsz_bbbbb

Team NMSA Keep Their Heads Above Water

On Saturday, March 14th, the Great Lakes Naval Base hosted the Regional SeaPerch qualifying competition. Team NMSA joined other teams from Illinois and several Midwestern states, to put their ROV (Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle) models to the test at one of several base swimming pools.

Sea Perch is sponsored by The Office of Naval Research and managed by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Foundation.

NMSA received 5th place!  Congratulations Team NMSA!

Historical Fact: SeaPerch is named after World War II submarine the USS Perch.

Congratulations to Roberto Rivera!

Congratulations to Roberto Rivera, 6 grade student, at Neal Math Science Academy, for winning the Champion of Character award, this past Saturday at Trinity International University’s (TIU) youth soccer camp. Roberto was selected out of a total of 105 participants from 13 different soccer clubs and schools, for his display of sportsmanship, respect and character towards all participants and coaches throughout the event.

In addition to inviting close to 40 NMSA students to participate in this soccer camp at TIU, the TIU volleyball team came and joined the North Chicago Community Partners (NCCP) Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP) a few weeks back to run character-ed / volleyball skill development drills for interested participants.

Check out North Chicago Community Partners on Facebook

 

  • 1
  • 2