End of Week Message: Tips for a Successful Halloween and Election Day
25 October 2024
Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
Earlier this week, CPS welcomed the newest members of the Chicago Board of Education as they held their first Agenda Review Committee Meeting. This will be followed by a full Board of Education Meeting on Friday, November 1, 2024.
I thank these Board members for their willingness to serve and look forward to working with them to achieve our shared mission of providing every student from every community in Chicago with a rigorous, joyful, and equitable daily learning experience.
I want to take this opportunity to remind families that Chicago will hold our first-ever school board election this year! Early voting has already begun, and schools are closed for Election Day on November 5 to make sure all voters have an opportunity to make their voices heard. This is an opportunity for our staff, families, and community members to select those individuals who represent your views and priorities when it comes to public education in our city.
Please visit the Chicago Board of Elections website for information about how to vote, where to vote, what District you live in, and more. Visit this page for Frequently Asked Questions; visit this page for information about school board districts.
What’s Driving Our Academic Gains
This week, I had the pleasure of joining our District’s Bilingual Advisory Committees (BACs) for their fall kickoff event. These teams are critical to the success of our bilingual education programs, as they empower the parents of our English Learners to participate in their children’s education and advocate for their academic, social, and cultural development.
Meeting with our BAC members got me thinking about the positive academic data we released last week and the students who are driving that growth. Our strongest gains were seen in literacy, with CPS students in grades 3–8 increasing their proficiency levels by more than 10 percentage points in just the past two years. This growth has been driven largely by our students of color, including our Latiné/x students, who’ve raised their proficiency rate in literacy by 8.4 percentage points since 2022.
Our Latiné/x students also saw a 4.4% jump in graduates who earned Early College and Career Credentials (ECCCs), with this group making up 47% of all 2024 graduates who earned 15 or more college credits through our dual-credit, dual-enrollment courses. Also, thanks to our District’s intentional investment in dual-language programming, 13% of our 2024 graduates earned the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy, meaning that they finished high school fully proficient in two or more languages. The number of students earning this credential has nearly doubled over the past three years, going from just over 1,500 graduates in 2021, to nearly 3,000 graduates in 2024.
This is an important step toward the goal established in Success 2029: Together We Rise (our District’s five-year strategic plan), which is to reach a point where ALL students are multilingual when they graduate from high school. We will move toward this goal in phases, beginning by improving and expanding world and dual-language programs in our highest-need communities.
Our strategic plan also calls for inclusive, collaborative partnerships that provide students with support in exploring their interests and passions, and that help them chart a path for success after high school.
One example from this week is our partnership with World Business Chicago, which arranged a hands-on tour for students from Curie and Gage Park high schools who are interested in pursuing careers in manufacturing.
Also this week, CPS partnered with the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry to teach a group of future engineers about circuits and motion, and to challenge them to assemble their own Bristle Bots as part of a Girls in STEM event.
Staying Safe on Halloween
As we prepare to close out October, I know our students are getting excited about Halloween! See below for our guide to fun Halloween events for all ages throughout the city.
Below are a few tips to help everyone have a great time while staying safe. Children should:
- Travel in pairs or small groups whenever possible.
- Communicate about their location and where they are going.
- Use reflective tape on their costumes to help cars and people see them better
- Stick to well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
- Carry a cell phone for emergencies, but remember to stay alert while walking.
- Pay close attention while crossing the street and while walking in parking lots.
- Go to the nearest business or populated area if feeling uncomfortable or threatened and call for help.
Finally, I hope that everyone will also be thoughtful and respectful to others when choosing their costumes this Halloween.
Please have a safe and enjoyable Halloween!
Sincerely,
Pedro Martinez
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools
Help Us Highlight Your School
We love highlighting the amazing things that are happening day-to-day in our schools, along with the people who are making them happen! Please share your stories with us using our Good News Form so that we can share them with the District!
A Look Around the District
Schools across the District celebrated the end of Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM)! At Juarez High School in the Pilsen neighborhood, the Spanish Club hosted its annual HHM assembly with student and staff performances, displaying various Hispanic cultures and pride.
Frazier Elementary in Lawndale celebrated the month with a live performance by the Grammy-nominated Mariachi Herencia de Mexico at their HHM assembly. And at Sawyer Elementary in Gage Park, students wore traditional clothing from various Hispanic cultures and participated in a school-wide parade.
Meanwhile, at Alcott Elementary in the Park West neighborhood, students recently created a Gaga pit using the school’s Makerspace!
Celebrating National School Bus Safety Week
As we conclude National School Bus Safety Week (October 21–25), we want to thank the 852 bus drivers and 622 bus aides who are helping nearly 12,000 CPS students get safely to and from school each day. The number of eligible students on bus routes has increased by more than 31% since this time last school year, and CPS is committed to getting more students routed as the year continues.
Here are some important safety tips for students who take the bus to school:
- Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop, for the door to open, and for the driver to signal that it's safe before boarding.
- Use the handrails to avoid falling
- Fasten your seatbelt and stay in your seat while the bus is moving.
- Keep your head and arms inside the window at all times.
- Keep the aisle clear of objects.
- Wait until the bus stops completely before leaving your seat.
Curiosity Classroom Unveiled at McCormick Elementary
Students, parents, and community members at McCormick Elementary School in Little Village celebrated the unveiling of a lively new Curiosity Classroom this week, complete with a wildlife section, a cozy reading nook, and an arts area. Funded by our partners at the Chicago Children’s Museum, this area is a place where students can learn, study, and relax in an interactive setting.
Fun Fall Festivities for Students
Chicago Fall Fest 2024
Enjoy Chicago Fall Fest, a two week celebration of Fall holidays and events across the city from October 18 to November 3. Visit chicagofallfest.org for more information on community events, parades, and more.
Halloween in the Parks
Enjoy the Upside Down Halloween Parade at Washington Park on October 26. This festive parade is one of the dozens of Halloween and fall themed events taking place in the parks this month. Enjoy Fall Harvest Fests, pumpkin patches, haunted houses, parties, and more. Come celebrate this spooktacular time of year in the parks. Explore events at chicagoparkdistrict.com/halloween/cps.
Fall Youth Events from the Chicago Public Library
Join the Chicago Public Library for events at every library branch all fall! There are events for all ages. Visit the CPL website to learn more.
Safe Events for Teens this Fall
Local community events for teens and families are being planned throughout the month of October. Check out My CHI. My Future. website and app in October and search “MCMFKickbacks” to get up-to-date event information.
CPS Safe Haven Sites
Safe Haven sites offer out-of-school time programming for all CPS students throughout the school year. Healthy meals are provided at all locations. Hours of operation vary by site. Call (773) 553-2500, email faithbased@cps.edu, or click here to learn more.
Apply Now to be a Chicago Park District Lifeguard in Summer 2025
Be a lifeguard next summer and make $19.75 an hour. Complete four steps to be hired: (1) Apply (2) Test (3) Get certified (4) Complete paperwork. You must be a Chicago resident age 16 or older by July 1, 2025. The first lifeguard test takes place November 16, 2024 at 9 a.m. — sign up for this test when completing your application online. Enjoy your perfect summer job in the parks! Learn more and apply at chicagoparkdistrict.com/lifeguards/CPS.
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in CPS Athletics
In the inaugural IHSA State Flag Football Series, CPS was proud to have three schools (Lane, Perspectives and Whitney Young) advance to the state quarterfinals with Whtiney Young securing an overall third place finish in state out of over 150+ schools across Illinois! Congratulations to the Dolphins and all of our teams on an incredible flag football season.
Our CPS SCORE! elementary student-athletes got a special opportunity this past week, as they were able to meet Lindblom alum and Olympian Shamier Little as she visited Washington Park during the elementary cross country meets. Students were able to talk with Shamier about her experience and take photos with the international track star as she made a visit home to Chicago! Full photo gallery can be found here.
The Chicago Public League is continuing to award city championships this fall at the high school level. Congratulations to the schools below on securing the titles!
- Girls Flag Football: Taft
- Girls Tennis: Whitney Young
- 16 Inch Softball: Walter Payton
- Boys Golf: Lane Tech
- Girls Golf: Whitney Young
- Boys Soccer: Lane Tech
- Boys Cross Country: Walter Payton
- Girls Cross Country: Lane Tech
- Girls Volleyball: Jones
More stories, program information and schedules can always be found at CPSAthletics.com!
Discounted Tickets for CPS Staff and Students
CPS staff are invited to cheer on the Chicago Bulls with an exclusive ticket offer for the below games. Get your tickets here!
- Bulls vs. Magic: Wednesday, October 30
- Bulls vs. Jazz: Monday, November 4
- Bulls vs. Rockets: Sunday, November 17
- Bulls vs. Hawks: Friday, November 22
Step aboard Titanic: The Exhibition at Westfield Old Orchard and bring history to life for your students with an immersive journey through the legendary ship's stories, artifacts, and unforgettable experiences. Free tickets for groups from Title IX schools are available during "Free Field Trip Days" on November 14th and 15th. Click to Apply for Tickets and Download Educator’s Guide.
Also, CPS staff members receive a 25% discount on single tickets using code 25TITANIC at checkout through October 30. Visit www.thetitanicexhibition.com, now through Oct 30 only.
DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL is a hilarious, heartfelt family adventure based on the bestselling book series! Don't miss the SUPA awesome production beginning Nov 8 at The Studebaker Theater. Teachers can Download Educational Resources here. CPS staff members receive 20% OFF tickets with code DM20CPS at checkout (good through November 24, P1 and P2 price levels only, based on availability). Click for Dog Man tickets!
Experience one of the greatest operas ever written with Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro at Lyric Opera of Chicago, "a joyous celebration of life and love" (Chicago Tribune). Use promo code CPS25 to save 25% on tickets for any performance of The Marriage of Figaro. Click HERE to purchase.
Also, a limited number of $29 tickets are also available for select performances on November 13, 19, and 21 through Lyric's DEAL program for educators and administrators. Offers are subject to availability and restrictions apply.
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Friday, October 25: End of quarter 1.
- Friday, November 1: Rescheduled Board of Education meeting. Learn more on the Board website.
- Monday, November 4: Parent-teacher conferences; no classes for CPS students
- Tuesday, November 5: CPS schools and offices are closed in observance of Election Day; no classes for CPS students.
- Monday, November 25–Friday, November 29: In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, no students or teachers will be in school from November 25–29 and all CPS buildings will be closed on November 28 and 29.