Next meeting of the HPKCAC to take place on 1/23 at 6pm at Dyett HS

The next meeting of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Action Council will take place on Wednesday, January 23 at Dyett High School at 6pm.

We'll have a guest speaker, Jim Dispensa, from the Business Operation Department of CPS. We'd like to hear from Mr. Dispensa about how current space utilization assessments of CPS schools, especially schools in our community, would be affected if CPS used the classroom sizes identified in Illinois' new evidence-based funding formula (so, for example, 15 children in K-2 in low-income communities). 

We'll also provide updates from our meeting with principals in December.

We'd love to hear updates from our schools about how 2019 is going so far.

Free Supplies for Teachers

This message comes from the Neighborhood Schools Program at the University of Chicago:

CCRX: Swap Circle for Teachers

Envision Frick Center - 2124 W. 82nd Place
Donation Days are January 19 - 23
Teacher Event Days are Jan 25-26

The Swap Circle is a pop-up event for Chicago teachers to get free supplies, and an opportunity for businesses to donate their surplus supplies for the teachers.  At the last Swap, 500 teachers got 10 tons of surplus!  Everything from paper, office and art supplies to fabric, science equipment and more.

This coming Swap will feature 13 skids of new Scholastic books for ages PreK - Young Adult.  It is all free for teachers who live or work in Chicago -- we just ask for a $10 donation.

Please visit the Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange (CCRx) website for more information!

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.