Tuesday, December 30, 2014

CPS releases RFP for current Dyett High School Site

On December 19, CPS issued a request for proposals for a new, open enrollment, neighborhood high school at the current site of Dyett High School to be operated by the District or as a contract school, but not a charter operator, in School Year 2016-17.

Any interested parties will be able to submit proposals, and CPS will evaluate all proposals that meet the established criteria. This RFP is open to those submitting a concept for a District-operated school and new or existing partners who wish to open and manage a high-quality contract school in the facility. To be considered in this selection process, respondents are encouraged to file a notification of intent by January 28, 2015 and all materials must be submitted by the proposals' deadline of April 6, 2015.

The announcement and additional information can be found here.


On December 18, Catalyst reported that supporters of the Coalition to Revitalize Dyett advocated for the plan which they developed. If this plan were adopted, the school could open in Fall, 2015. For the Catalyst article, click here.

State of Schools address by Janice Jackson, Chief of Network 9

At the December 19 CAC meeting, Network 9 Chief, Janice Jackson, gave a presentation on the state of Hyde Park-Kenwood schools. That presentation can be found here.

Aldemanic Forum on Saturday, January 10

The Coalition for Equitable Community Development (CECD) is sponsoring a forum of all candidates on the ballot for Alderman of the 4th and 5th Wards on January 10th, from 10 a.m.-noon, at Augustana Lutheran Church (55th & Woodlawn Avenue). 

Come and hear from your choices in the February election. 

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Donors Choose project supports Bret Harte 8th graders' trip to Washington, DC

The Donors Choose project to raise money to support Bret Harte 8th graders' trip to Washington, DC this spring was successful! Thank you to everyone who supported them!




Wednesday, December 10, 2014

CPS Admissions Process Meeting at Blackstone Library, December 10

Let's Talk CPS Ins & Outs of the Admissions Process "FINAL HUDDLE"

Wednesday, December 10th, 6 to 8pm
Blackstone Library, 4904 South Lake Park Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60615

"The Hyde Park Area Parents Leadership team is presenting a 2nd informational panel series. It is getting parents together to talk about the CPS Options for Knowledge application process before the final deadline on Friday, December 12, 2014.
If you haven't already go to: https://apply.cps.edu.
This is more of an informal talk that we all can share our experiences in enrolling our child in the Chicago Public School system. Please bring and share notes."
OR 
"By this point- you've got your PIN, you've done a number of school tours, and you're narrowing down the list of schools to apply. Want some last minute input from other parents?
The CPS applications are due on Dec. 12th, so this falls right before the deadline. Come out and talk with parents who have been in the trenches and weathered the storm of the CPS application process. We will discuss our own experiences with the process, talk differences in school types and share perspectives of the schools. 
Also, a representative from CPS will be in attendance to go over the application process and answer questions. This event is sponsored by Hyde Park Area Parents Group."

Citywide Education Assembly: December 10

Citywide Education Assembly (CEA)
Conveners’ Kick-off Mtg Agenda, Dec 10, 2014, 6pm – 8pm
Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, NEIU, 700 E. Oakwood

 
6:15: Background Context: How Did We Get to Where We’re at Today?
  • Brief background on the recent “meet and greet” session
  • Brief acknowledgement of numerous educational struggles over the years – and the challenges we face both externally and within the public education movement 
  • tity takes about one minute for their intro, major issue(s), reason for coming
6:25: Present the Purpose and Vision of a Citywide Education Assembly (CEA)
  • Review draft proposal
  • Agree upon 6 major “action areas” – see notes from earlier  
  • Discussion
6:50: Review the Platform by LSCs United for Power as a Starting Point for the CEA’s Guiding Principles
  • What works?
  • What might we change?
  • What process will we establish to change these?
7:25: Introductions: Include Major Issue(s) Working Towards or of Most Concern:
  • Set up emerging visual taking notes on major themes / issues (begin to categorize)
  • Consider 3 major issues currently being worked on as CEAs starting point: Which ones?
7:45: Next Steps
  • Each entity expresses interest, possible interest, or rejection to be a “convener” of CEAs
  • Set up sub-committee for drafting assembly processes
  • Set up sub-committee for organizing CEA Launch event
  • Set next Conveners Team mtg and make invitation list
  • Other?   

Monday, December 8, 2014

Support Bret Harte students by bringing your presents to be wrapped

MAC Properties is partnering with Bret Harte to organize a bake sale/gift wrapping fundraiser on Sunday, December 14 and Saturday, December 20 to help the 8th graders raise money for their trip to Washington DC in the spring. See the details below and the attached flyer. 

UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS FOR OUR 8TH GRADERS’ 
WASHINGTON, DC TRIP

WHAT
WHEN
WHERE
INFO
World’s Finest Chocolate Bar Sales
Dec 15Jan 7
From an 8th grader
Chocolate bars are $1!  Find an 8th grader to buy from!
Bake Sale/Gift Wrapping
Sunday, Dec 14
9a-11a
Windermere Apartments
1642 E. 56th Street
Buy a sweet and/or get your gifts wrapped!
$5/package, paper/bow included
Bake Sale/Gift Wrapping
Saturday, Dec 20
10a-noon
Del Prado Apartments
5307 S. Hyde Park Blvd.
Buy a sweet and/or get your gifts wrapped!
$5/package, paper/bow included




Click here for the flyer

Metra Safety-Around-Train-Tracks Poster Contest

Metra has announced its Ninth Annual Metra Safety Poster Contest. This year's theme is "Unplug for Safety: Look, Listen and Live."

The Safety Contest is a key part of Metra's ongoing effort to increase public awareness, especially amongst our region’s school children, of lifesaving railroad safety practices.

Judges will select one first, second and third place safety poster contest winner from each grade, K-12. Winners will receive the following prizes:
First Place: iPad
Second Place: $250 Gift Card
Third Place: $100 Gift Card
The deadline is Friday, January 30, 2015. For more information see:
http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/utility_landing/riding_metra/rail_safety_security/MetraContest.html

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

US Dept of Education training program on how to fully utilize federal funds for education

On Thursday, December 11, 2014, the U.S. Department of Education will provide an exclusive training program on how to take full advantage of federally funded educational programs. This training benefits all American citizens, from youth to senior citizens seeking to enhance their education. The presentation will take place at the Chicago Urban League 4510 S. Michigan Ave., and will start promptly at 10am and end at 12pm.  

The training and presentation will generally cover the most efficient ways to obtain financing for education and career training through the U.S. Dept. of Education. The U.S. Dept. of Education funds and facilitates 9 programs: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and the Direct PLUS Loan.

Pre-registration is required. Register by Tuesday, December 9th by contacting Romell Breckenridge via email rbreckenridgebey@thechicagourbanleague.org or phone: 773-624-8828.


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Growing Pains: A discussion on public schools and neighborhood revitalization programs -- December 9


Growing Pains considers the complexities of change and explores the contention that exists just below the surface, sometimes erupting publicly, when neighborhood revitalization projects take shape in historically under-resourced areas. A discussion focused on public schools will be held at 6pm on December 9 at the Arts Incubator (301 E. Garfield Boulevard, which is Garfield and Prairie Avenue). For more information, click here