Spaces available for 6th-8th graders to take free art class at HPAC

Hyde Park Art Center (5020 S. Cornell) is accepting new students into Creative Crew, a free 

program for middle school students. 

The program is offered on Fridays: January 11, 18, 25, February 8, 15, 22, and March 1, 8, 15, 22, 2019.

This program follows the CPS calendar so there is no class when CPS is closed.

The class goes from 4 – 6 p.m; the actual class starts at 4:30 p.m. with ice breakers from 4 – 4:30 p.m.

All students must be here by 4:30 p.m.

Students will participate in a wide range of art activities using various mediums.

Parents are responsible for dropping off and picking up their children.

If you are interested, please contact Gregory Smith at 773-324-5520 ext 1002 or gsmth@hydeparkart.org after January 3, 2019.

Nominate a teacher for WGN's Teacher of the Month Award

You can nominate a teacher for WGN's Teacher of the Month Award!

"Candidates will be judged on their educational achievements in the classroom, community contributions and the innovativeness of their teaching techniques."

Here is the link for more information about the program and about how to submit a nomination:
https://wgntv.com/2016/08/16/wgn-tvs-teacher-of-the-month-award-nomination-application/?utm_source=wgn&utm_medium=wgnemail&utm_campaign=wgn

Next HPKCAC meeting to take place on Wednesday, November 28

The next meeting of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Action Council will take place on Wednesday, November 28 at Dyett High School from 6-8pm.

We'll hold elections, talk about goals for our daytime meeting in December, talk about getting a speaker on the topic of dyslexia, and share school updates.

School Needs

Another benefit of the Jane Averill Community Reading Day was visiting our local schools in person and finding out what kinds of supports they need.

This list will be updated, so please check back.

Kozminski -- has opened a second full-day Pre-K class and the classroom library is in need of books. You can drop books off in the main office for Room 008.

Ariel -- a classroom rug for the 3rd grade
          -- they also need some soft, vinyl-like cushions for students to sit on or lean against for comfortable reading on the floor.

Ray -- volunteers to help in the main office and during lunch
        -- tutors for middle school students
        -- tutors to work on English language with non-English speaking students
        -- sticky chart paper like this (https://www.staples.com/Post-it-Easel-Pad-White-25-x-30-Recycled-2-Pack-559RP/product_725873 ) *teachers love these!*
        -- money for field trip buses; money for staff snacks at school meetings

The HPKCAC is happy to help deliver items to schools! Contact us at hydeparkcac@gmail.com

Next HPKCAC meeting on Wednesday, October 24 at 6pm

The next HPKCAC meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 24 at 6pm. We will be meeting at Kenwood High School in Room 107.

At the meeting we will review the Jane Averill Reading Day that took place on Friday, October 12 and we will discuss next steps in supporting our local public schools.

Second Jane Averill Community Reading Day to be held on Friday, October 12

The Hyde Park-Kenwood CAC is planning to build on the momentum generated last year by hosting a second Jane Averill Community Reading Day on Friday, October 12. This time we will be using a math-related book that celebrates Chinese culture: Round is a Mooncake.

The goal of this event is to further strengthen community support for our public schools. By bringing community members into PreK and Kindergarten classrooms and having them read the book to small groups of children, we hope to forge connections of support that will extend past this one-day reading event.

After the classroom visit, volunteers are invited to a tour of the school.

We partnered with 57th Street Books and the Schools Committee of the Hyde Park Kenwood Community Conference again this year to purchase enough copies of the book for every child to receive a copy. Thanks to the generosity of the Schools Committee of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference, which donated $559 to cover the cost of 100 books, and many of you, we raised enough money to purchase 408 copies of the book! So we are no longer accepting donations to purchase books for this event as the final order will be placed today. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Update: Thank you to all the folks who bought books, those who showed up to read and distribute the books, the hard-working principals who gave tours, and the teachers who opened up their classrooms! It was a great day!

Next HPKCAC meeting to take place on August 22 at HPAC

The next meeting of the HPKCAC will take place on Wednesday, August 22 at the Hyde Park Art Center (5020 S. Cornell) from 6-8pm.

We'll be discussing the HPKCAC's response to the updates to CPS's Educational Facilities Master Plan that were presented at our June meeting.

We'll also be making plans for the second annual Jane Averill Community Reading Day, which we are planning to hold on Friday, October 12.