| A Note From CPS Leadership
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Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
In 2019, CPS unveiled the Curriculum Equity Initiative, a groundbreaking effort to ensure that for the first time, every CPS teacher and student has access to a modern, standards-aligned, and culturally-responsive curriculum.
For the past two years, we have been engaging teachers and staff in the development of this curriculum, and we are eager to share the impact it will have on our district.
On Thursday, June 17, CPS will host a virtual kickoff celebration to introduce Skyline, the district’s first-ever universal curriculum. Skyline will officially launch later this summer, but we will provide a preview of this transformative resource that will help ensure every student in every school has access to a high-quality education that engages their interests and celebrates their diversity.
Attendees will see firsthand how the curriculum works and hear from CPS stakeholders and nationally-recognized education experts about what it will mean for the students of Chicago. The event will be livestreamed on the CPS YouTube beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 17, and we look forward to you joining us for this momentous occasion. If you are unable to participate, a recording will be posted after the event on our YouTube page.
The release of Skyline is another step CPS is taking to ensure that all students, no matter their race, zip code, or country of origin, can emerge successful from these challenging times and start the new school year ready to soar.
Sincerely,
Janice K. Jackson, EdD LaTanya D. McDade, EdD
Chief Executive Officer Chief Education Officer
Chicago Public Schools Chicago Public Schools
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Maintaining Health and Safety Protocols as City Reopens
As of today (June 11), Chicago is reopening fully, meaning that most mandatory COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted. This is great news for our city, however there are certain congregate settings, including schools, where health and safety protocols must remain in place. To ensure that all of our staff and students stay safe, CPS will continue to require cloth face coverings, social distancing, rigorous hand hygiene, and a daily health screener. We will continue working with our public health experts and will update these protocols based on their guidance.
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Health Screener Update
On June 14 and 15, you will see a new question asking for your vaccination status on the daily health screener. This question will display for all employees, even if vaccination status was previously disclosed. This question will help guide the district as we work to provide additional vaccination opportunities. We appreciate your support.
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Two Critical Surveys for the 2021-22 School Year
The deadline to complete the CEO Search survey (Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Polish) is today - Friday, June 11, 2021. This is a chance for CPS stakeholders to share what qualities and experience they feel the district should be looking for in a new leader. We are also asking CPS families to complete the Fall 2021 Survey by Friday, June 18. We are eager to welcome students back to school five days a week next fall and need feedback from our families to help shape what the new school year will look like. Please make your voice heard by completing both of these anonymous surveys today.
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CPS Celebrates Pride Month
Happy Pride Month! Our district is so excited to uplift our students and staff who are members of the LGBTQ+ community—both during June and throughout the entire year. Check out the video above to hear from CEO Jackson, CEdO McDade, and other CPS leaders about what Pride Month means to them and the importance of creating welcoming school environments for all members of our CPS family.
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Rediscover Summer with My CHI. My Future.
As Chicago begins moving past the pandemic, connecting and uplifting our youth will be more important than ever. My CHI. My Future. is the perfect place for students to reconnect to opportunities and Rediscover Summer. The MCMF website provides access to thousands of engaging programs, events, and resources being held both in-person and virtually. Youth and families can search for these programs using a map, keyword, or interest area. The My CHI. My Future. website is updated daily with new quality opportunities, and is the perfect place for our youth to reconnect and rediscover their passions.
We are especially interested in engaging our teens, so we are urging all high school students to complete this brief survey to let us know what kinds of activities they would like to see offered this summer.
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Register Now for CPS Summer Sports Camps
We are excited to announce the launch of the CPS 2021 Summer Sports Skills Camps! This is a no-cost opportunity for elementary and high school students to have fun with friends while developing their athletic skills. These CPS-sponsored camps will run from June 28 through August 6 at 17 sites around the city, including schools and parks. To ensure a safe and fun experience for all, the camps will adhere to all health and safety protocols established by the ‘Summer Contact Days’ Guidelines.
The deadline to register for camps is Wednesday, June 23. For all sports other than wrestling, follow this registration link. Students interested in the wrestling skills camp being hosted by Beat the Streets can register here.
Note: The registration process will ask families to “Complete Payment”. There is no cost for the district’s sports skills camps, but this link must be clicked to complete registration.
Please reach out to the Office of Sports Administration at sportsad@cps.edu with any questions or concerns.
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Chicago’s Fastest... The Race To Gately!
Does your child have what it takes to be crowned ‘Chicago’s Fastest’ kid?
We are proud to announce the ‘Chicago’s Fastest… The Race To Gately’ initiative in partnership with Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., and the Chicago Park District! This exciting event features a city-wide 60-meter qualifying competition with the finals taking place at Gately Indoor Track Facility for 5th-12th graders! For more information please review this program overview letter and register your child today!
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| A Look Inside Our Schools
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High schools across the city are preparing to say see you later to some fantastic members of the Class of 2021 who have made lasting impacts on their communities. At Hubbard High School, soon-to-be graduate Leslie explored extracurriculars from volleyball to belly dancing to knitting to help her discover her true passions. Her time in cinema club is just one reason you’ll find her majoring in cinema studies at DePaul University in the fall.
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At Al Raby High School, seniors Robert, Taliyah, Dushawn, and Jasari have all excelled academically and are graduating among the top 10 students in their class. Their advice for other students is to ask questions and know how to balance working hard and taking breaks. They would also encourage them to be confident and step outside of their comfort zones.
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Tilden High School senior Roberto is one step closer to his goal of earning a PhD and his dream career of being a psychologist.
In high school, he developed his passion for helping others through participating in the school’s partnership program with Embarc Chicago.
He also was involved with track and basketball and was named a Posse scholarship finalist.
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At Collins Academy High School, seniors Ceara, Brianna, Canisha, and Ronisha developed close bonds with each other through participating in the school’s all-female robotics team—the Robo Chicks. Even though they knew nothing about robotics when they started, their continued collaboration and hard work helped them develop their confidence in STEM and even encouraged them to want to inspire female elementary school students to follow in their footsteps.
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And don’t forget about our elementary schools! We have so many incredible eighth-grade students who also make up the Class of 2021. Hurley Elementary student Guadalupe is headed to Jones College Prep in the fall. As a lover of the small businesses in her community, she hopes to pursue a career in marketing to help those businesses grow.
And Colemon Academy eighth-grader Terron is the valedictorian of his class! In his speech, he will compare his passion for music with the support he has received from his family, peers, and teachers.
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View the parent and student guide for the 2021-2022 School Year with additional important dates and deadlines!
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