Common Questions About Being a Northridge Knight
Here, we provide what we believe to be the most helpful information from our Student-Parent Handbook. For details on all policies and procedures, please review the full Student-Parent Handbook.
Communication
How can I get a message to my son during the school day? In an emergency situation, please call the school office to communicate with your son. Northridge personnel will contact the student and relay the message. If your son needs to make an emergency call to a parent, he should come to the Main Office and ask permission to use one of the phones. There will be several phones available for students in the Main Office.
My son just missed a day of school because he was sick. How does he get the assignments he missed? A quick phone call or email to a fellow classmate will do the trick. Or feel free to email your son’s teachers regarding missed assignments.
Where do I find contact information for various departments and individuals? Faculty phone extensions and emails are listed under the Faculty Profiles tab on our website.
How often can I meet with my son’s teacher or advisor? You will have the opportunity to first meet your son’s teachers at Back to School Night on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at 6:00 pm. Additionally, we hold Parent-Teacher Conferences twice per year. However, you never have to wait for a conference to meet or talk with your son’s teacher or advisor. We welcome any and every opportunity to discuss his progress, including intellectual, physical, moral and spiritual development.
How can I update my contact info? You can make changes by contacting Mrs. Carol Corter, Registrar, at [email protected], (847) 375-0600 ext. 101.
Northridge Traditions
What are the four Halls? The school is composed of four Halls -- Cavalier, Paladin, Riddervon, and Vytis. Each year, we assign new students to a Hall. All year long, the Halls earn points by receiving high grades, competing at Hall Fests, joining service days, and more. The competitions culminate in the Spring with the presentation of the Hall Trophy to the Hall with the most points. For more information on the Hall System please visit our website (northridgeprep.org/halls).
What are Class Overnights? Every year the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 12th grades go on an overnight field trip. In the Middle School, these overnights are for fathers and sons. Overnights serve to build camaraderie, introduce new students to the community, and in the case of the 12th graders, instill a sense of leadership and responsibility for the school. We recommend every student attend these fun and formative trips.
What is Dinner at the Ridge? Dinner at the Ridge is our school’s biggest social event and fundraiser of the year. It features live entertainment by current students and alumni, a live auction, a raffle. We host the event at the school, with current students serving the tables. Many alumni, current parents, and friends of the school attend to reconnect with old friends, and support the school’s mission.
What’s it like at the Basketball games? Our school community -- teachers, alumni, and current students -- comes together in a special way at Basketball games. We have a student cheering section, called “The Super Fans,” which leads cheers and hosts students from our sister school, Willows Academy. The Northridge Pep Band also adds excitement to the environment. After the games, many students go to a nearby Portillo’s Restaurant.
What is the Advisory Program? The Advisory Program is probably the most important way we build men of character. Advisors meet individually with their students every month, and develop a mentoring relationship with them. Advisors strive to help their students build virtues like toughness and generosity, while collaborating directly with each student’s parents.
When will my son be assigned his Advisor? Advisor assignments are completed during the first week of school. You can meet your son’s Advisor at Back to School Night in early September.
How often can I meet with my son’s teacher or Advisor? We encourage frequent communication between parents and the school. During Quarter 1 parents should meet with their son’s Advisor in person to talk about the areas of focus they believe appropriate for their son. Once per semester, Northridge hosts Parent-Teacher Conferences so you can meet with all of your son’s teachers to discuss his academic performance and character goals. Beyond these opportunities, please do not hesitate to contact your son’s teachers and Advisor whenever you believe helpful.
What is Parent University & Coffee With the Headmaster? Parent University is a resource for parents that provides practical approaches and best practices for navigating the many challenges parents face in raising children. These events include a number of public lectures, workshops, and reading groups. During our quarterly Coffee With the Headmaster, we invite parents to join Mr. Fagan for an informal gathering in the faculty lounge. These discussions are open to any current parent, and will cover a variety of topics that are important to our community.
The Annual Fund
What is the Annual Fund? The Annual Fund is Northridge’s most important annual giving campaign. The campaign begins in early September.
Why does Northridge need to raise money beyond tuition every year? As with many independent schools, tuition revenue alone does not cover all the costs of keeping the doors open. Northridge depends on the Annual Fund to support the quality of the education it provides -- responding to unexpected challenges, needs, and opportunities in a financially responsible way. The Annual Fund also directly contributes to teacher salaries, student programs, and financial aid. For more information or to make a donation, please visit northridgeprep.org/giving.
Who is asked for a yearly gift to the Annual Fund? Everyone in the Northridge community -- parents, alumni, parents of alumni, School Board members, and faculty -- is asked to contribute. A gift to the Annual Fund states: "I support the mission of Northridge." The more each Northridge family commits to the mission, the stronger the school will be. We are truly grateful for every gift.
General Information
What time does school begin and end?
- Monday-Thursday: 8:25 am - 3:15 pm
- Fridays: 8:25 am - 2:35 pm
How early can I drop my son at school in the morning, and how late can he stay? Students may arrive at school as early as 7:30 am, and should depart by 5:00 pm.
Does Northridge offer transportation assistance? Northridge currently offers a round-trip bus route for Westmont and a morning-only bus route for Libertyville. If you're interested in learning more, here is a link to our bus program. To sign up for our bus route, you can contact Mr. Hugo Chong at the email address [email protected].
If you do not reside in Westmont or Libertyville, we recommend that you organize a carpool using our Directory to get in touch with fellow Northridge families who live nearby. Use the "Class Lists" section of the Directory to find students that live in your zip code.
How can I get a message to my son during the school day? Please call the main school line (847.375.0600) and our Receptionist Mrs. Nancy Kopecky will deliver a message to your son, or arrange for him to call you back.
Are students allowed to carry a backpack from class to class? No. Students must leave their bags in their lockers before school starts at 8:25 am. Students have time to visit their lockers between each class (all classrooms are very close to the lockers).
What is the Northridge dress code? Our dress code is meant to encourage responsibility and a professional sense of work. In the Middle School, students must wear a white button-down shirt, a school tie, brown khaki pants, a belt, and leather shoes. In the High School, students wear a French Blue button-down shirt, a school tie, a navy blue coat, brown khaki pants, a belt, and leather dress shoes. Our Seniors are free to wear any coat, tie, dress pants, dress shirt, belt, or dress shoes they like. They are expected to be real leaders, and take responsibility for the professionalism of their appearance.
What is Northridge’s student cell phone policy? Students are not allowed to use their cell phones on campus before, or during school hours. Limited use (a quick call or text) is allowed after school. Students wishing to make a call before or during school hours must use the front office phones.
Does Northridge offer hot lunch? Yes, Northridge offers lunch meal plans for students and faculty 2 to 5 days a week. Food is prepared fresh daily at the nearby “Brunch Cafe,” and served in our newly-renovated cafeteria. To order lunch, or to learn more about this new program, go to the parent page of the website.
Can my son use WiFi at school? During the school day, we prohibit students from using all personal WiFi-enabled devices (Apple Watches, tablets, cell phones, iPods, etc). Students may access the Internet via a school laptop, under faculty supervision.
How can I keep track of events at Northridge on a daily basis? Northridge events are listed on our website calendar: northridgeprep.org/calendars. There, you will find a summary of important dates and athletic team schedules. Our weekly email newsletter, Knightly News, features details about upcoming events. It is important that parents review this newsletter completely each week. Knightly News will be sent every Saturday evening at 5:00 pm. If you have not been receiving Knightly News, please email us at [email protected].
Where can I find a schedule of extracurricular events at Northridge? Our website’s calendar has current information about all-school events like Hall Fests, field trips, and days off from school. However, for more detailed practice schedules for clubs and sports teams, please consult the schedule provided by your son’s coach or club leader.
Does Northridge offer academic & medical accommodations? Yes, on a limited basis. Students qualify for special academic accommodations if they have a IEP, 504 Plan, or a diagnosis by a medical professional. We attempt to accommodate students as much as possible, however we are not staffed to provide special resource assistance. Please consult with the respective Heads of School for more information.
What is OnCampus? OnCampus is Northridge’s new online school portal. Parents, students, and teachers can use it to share class information, grades, and up-to-date contact information.
How can I update my contact information? Using OnCampus, parents can update their contact information whenever they want. Log in to your parent portal, go to “Profile,” and update your information. Questions? Ask our Registrar, Mrs. Carol Corter ([email protected]).
Academics
How will my son find his classes on the first day of school? On first day of school, students will have an envelope with their name on it taped to their locker. That envelope will contain a copy of their class schedule, their locker combination, laptop login credentials, and OnCampus profile login information. Faculty and staff will available to help direct students if they get lost (and provide print-outs of the information in each student’s envelopes, in the likely event that they lose it).
My student is sick today. How can I get his homework? Every Northridge teacher expects their students to write all assignments in their Assignment Notebook. This Notebook should contain a few day’s worth of homework assignments. If it doesn’t, please contact your son’s teacher.
How can I access my student’s grades? Northridge mails Report Cards home once a quarter. In addition, we will mail a progress report if a student is in danger of failing one or more classes. Parents are encouraged to view their son’s grades using the OnCampus Parent Portal. In the High School, grades are updated online every other week. In the Middle School, grades are updated online every week.
How are my son’s classes for next year scheduled? A student's’ schedule is built around their performance on the Math and Language Placement Exams (for new students), or by their performance in their math and language course tracks (for returning students). By early August, the Heads of High School and Middle School will have scheduled your son’s classes, and parents should receive an electronic copy of this via On Campus. Questions about your son’s schedule should go to the respective Heads of School.
Whom to Contact
- Middle School Academics: Contact Mr. Joe Rhee, Head of Middle School, at [email protected].
- High School Academics: Contact Mr. Peter Fletcher, Head of High School, at [email protected].
- Faith Formation: Contact Fr. Leo Agustina, School Chaplain, at [email protected] or (847) 375-0600 ext. 451.
- Reporting an Absence or Tardy: Call our Receptionist Mrs. Nancy Kopecky at (847) 375-0600.
- My Son’s Grades: Call or email your son’s teacher directly. For an overall sense of your son’s academic performance, call his Advisor.
- School Policies: Please refer to the Student Handbook on our website or call Reception at (847) 375-0600.
- Tuition, Financial Aid, or Billing Management: Contact Mr. Hugo Chong, Director of Business Operations, at [email protected] or (847) 375-0600 ext. 432.
- Athletics: Contact Coach Will Rey, Athletic Director, at [email protected] or (847) 375-0600 ext. 117, or touch base with your son’s coach directly.
- Athletic Schedules: Call your son’s coach directly.
- Extracurriculars: Please contact your son’s coach or moderator directly.
- College Counseling and Applications: Contact Mr. Bob Barder, College Counselor, at [email protected] or (847) 375-0600 ext. 427.
- The Advisory Program: Contact Mr. Emmett McGovern, Dean of Students, at [email protected] or (847) 375-0600 ext. 459.
- Carpooling: Please refer to the Student Directory provided to your son on the first day of school for the contact information of other students living in your area, or call Reception at (847) 375-0600.
- Lunch Program: Please contact the receptionist, Mrs. Nancy Kopecky, at (847) 375-0600 or [email protected].
- Summer Programs: Contact Mr. Pat Harrington at [email protected]
Faith Formation
At what time is daily Mass? Can I attend? Yes, parents are welcome to attend. Daily Mass is celebrated at 9:50 am in our chapel.
My son is interested in spiritual direction. How can he find a suitable spiritual director? To foster each student’s freedom in these matters, parents should encourage their sons to consult our chaplain, Fr. Leo Agustina, directly about spiritual direction. Fr. Leo is available for spiritual direction every day. You can help your son set up a preliminary meeting with Fr. Leo by sending him a message at: [email protected] Together, they will discuss your son’s schedule, interests, and faith life to find a good spiritual director.
Is my son required to take religion classes at Northridge? Religion classes are required for all Baptized Catholic students. Non-Catholic students are welcome to take religion, but not required to.
Is my son required to attend Mass at Northridge? We foster freedom at Northridge, and don’t require Daily Mass attendance. Study Hall is available as an alternative.