Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Next CAC meeting to be held on Tuesday, September 22 at Robinson Elementary

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 22 at 6pm at Robinson Elementary (4225 S. Lake Park Avenue). We'll be holding a working meeting to set up our speaker topics for the year. Come with ideas!



Friday, August 21, 2015

Back to School on Tuesday, September 8: How you can help

The first day of school for all CPS students is Tuesday, September 8, and CPS needs your help to get the word out!

For a list of all upcoming back-to-school festivals and community events in which CPS will be represented, please go to this link: http://www.cps.edu/pages/backtoschool.aspx

There are a few ways to participate in CPS's Back-to-School campaign. One way to support their Back-to-School efforts is to volunteer with their phone bank (i.e., calling CPS families to make sure they know when school begins). If you are interested in helping in this way, please email face@cps.edu and we will follow-up to provide you with the details.  

Another way you can support CPS students is by providing them with the classroom supplies they need to start the school year. Many children, especially those in temporary living situations, will arrive at school on September 8 without adequate supplies. To purchase school supply kits for these students, or to find out how you can donate money to purchase supplies, visit cps.edu/supplythefuture.

Finally, also as part of the "Supply the Future" campaign, there is also the option to donate actual school supplies. To make a contribution of school supplies, please call 773.553-1540 or e-mail partnerships@cps.edu


Thank you for supporting CPS students as they prepare to return to school on September 8. If you have any questions regarding volunteer opportunities, email face@cps.edu.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

NPN South Side Preschool and Elementary School Fair at Hyde Park Neighborhood Club on September 19

NPN will host its annual South Side Preschool and Elementary School Fair at HPNC (5480 S. Kenwood Avenue) on Saturday, September 19, 2015, from 10am-1pm. 

This expo-style event features 60+ local schools and enrichment programs from around the city. Attendees can talk with representatives from public and private preschools, elementary schools, non-profits, and businesses with activities and services that cater to families with small children.

Click here to register your school. Note that if you reserve a table, someone from the school needs to be there that morning by 9:30.

For more information, see: http://www.npnparents.org/events/2090

End to the Hunger Strike to support the Dyett Global Leadership and Green Technology proposal

Supporters of the proposal for the Dyett Global Leadership and Green Technology High School went on a hunger strike for 34 days in order to draw attention to the lack of response to their proposal from CPS and the mayor.

You can read it about in the news:
http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/7/71/888584/jesse-jackson-joins-hunger-strike-parents-seeking-new-dyett-school

http://progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2015/08/17/education-activists-go-hunger-strike-over-dyett-high-schools-future

http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/7/71/904014/dyett-parents-8th-day-hunger-strike-save-school

On Thursday, September 3, CPS made the following announcement:
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) today announced that a new open enrollment, arts-focused neighborhood high school and community innovation lab will open in Walter H. Dyett High School for the 2016-17 school year.

The hunger strike continued, however. You can read about the hunger strikers' reasons for continuing the strike here: 
http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/09/dyett-to-reopen-as-neighborhood-arts-school/


On Saturday, September 19, after 34 days, the hunger strikers ended their strike. 

From the Dyett Global Leadership and Green Technology Facebook page, they cite the following:

Victories:
1. Dyett will re-open as an open enrollment neighborhood school
2. Dyett will not be privatized as a contract school
3. Demonstration that when the game is rigged, organized and passionate parents and grassroots groups can change the rules of school "reform."
Still Fighting For:
1. Community control through an LSC from day 1
2. Green Technology curriculum
3. Integration with neighborhood feeder schools to create sustainable community school village
4. Preservation of the legacy of Walter Dyett in the school's name

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Dyett RFP Process has been extended; Rally to support the proposal for the Walter H. Dyett Global Leadership and Green Technology High School set for Monday, August 10

On August 7, 2015, CPS announced that the request for proposal process to identify a new open enrollment, neighborhood high school at the current site of Dyett High School is being extended. The reason they give is to provide adequate time to review community feedback and proposals.

CPS is also moving the public hearing on the proposals to 6 p.m. on September 15, 2015 inside the Board of Education Chambers at 42 West Madison.

Forrest Claypool, the new CEO of CPS, stated: “Chicago Public Schools is committed to a community driven process that will identify a high-quality education option for the former Dyett site. We continue to review the applications by the 2014 RFP, but with the budget and financial crisis dominating the focus of the new CPS administration, more time is necessary to make an informed recommendation to the Board of Education. We look forward to receiving further feedback at the upcoming community hearing.”

There will be a rally to support the proposal for the Walter H. Dyett Global Leadership and Green Technology High School on Monday, August 10, at 4pm at CPS Headquarters (42 W. Madison Street).