End of Week Message: Navigating Challenging Times Together
21 February 2025
Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
This week marks one month since the start of a new presidential administration in our country. A lot has happened in these first few weeks, and I know that many in our CPS community are uneasy about how changes at the federal level could impact Chicago’s schools — from targeting families based on their immigration status, to threats to withhold federal funding.
As federal policy changes, my team and I are constantly working with our partners to protect our school communities — so students and staff can stay focused on learning. We will continue to keep you informed about our response to any changes that are impacting our District. Please visit cps.edu/newadminguidance for the most up-to-date information.
I know that there is a lot of valid uncertainty among our families and staff right now. But you can be certain of this -- CPS will remain a welcoming school district where everyone is valued, and where the different cultures and communities we see in our schools are celebrated as one of our District’s greatest strengths.
We will continue to provide our students with learning environments where they feel welcome, safe, and supported.
We will continue to remove barriers to student success, and extend opportunity to all children in all communities.
We will continue to include all of our students’ cultures, history, and lived experiences in our curricula.
We will stay true to our values and our mission — to provide all students with a rigorous, joyful, and equitable daily learning experience that affirms and celebrates their identities.
There are laws and policies in place to protect our students. We will continue to rely on the protections enshrined into law, including the Illinois Human Rights Act, Illinois Trust Act, Chicago Welcoming City Ordinance, and a resolution by our own Chicago Board of Education, which serve as barriers to policies that would seek to discriminate against our students or staff based on race, immigration status, sexual orientation, and many other protected classes.
Dr. Tony Sanders, Illinois’ State Superintendent of Education, said it best in a letter to school districts this week:
“In Illinois, we strive to affirm, uplift, and support all our students and their families. Nothing in any Executive Order or Dear Colleague letter should change that.”
I am grateful for your partnership and your trust as we navigate these challenging times together. We will provide you with updates regarding any impact to our schools based on changes at the federal level, and invite you to visit cps.edu/newadminguidance for more information on the protections we have in place for our students.
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!
We are particularly interested in how your school is celebrating Black History Month in February, and how you plan to celebrate Women’s History Month in March!
Use our Good News Form to help us showcase all the ways the best are with CPS!
A Look Around the District
Check out these highlights from schools across the District!
Lincoln Park High School, located on the North side of Chicago, kicked off Black History Month with a school-wide assembly. The event, hosted by the Black Student Union, included student-led dance, poetry, and musical performances.
And at Mount Vernon Elementary in Washington Heights, staff member Ms. Pender-Bey recently won free popcorn for all teachers in the school building through Double Good’s Donate Joy program!
Class of 2025 Spotlight: Helping Students Explore Potential Career Paths
This week, CPS high school students, many from the Class of 2025, attended the first of four career exploration events meant to connect them with pathways to internships and employment in the skilled trades. Hosted by HIRE360, this first opportunity focused on renewable energy and solar jobs. Three additional events over the next month will connect students to other skilled trades, including plumbing, lead service line replacement, and carpentry. Events like these are key to our District’s goal of connecting what is happening in the classroom with a variety of real-world careers across many industries.
Complete the Annual CPS School Food Survey
Calling all CPS students, parents, and school-based staff! The District’s annual School Food Survey is open from now through March 21, 2025. Please take this opportunity to share your opinion on the food being served at your school each day. Tell us what you like, and what you think could be better. We will use your feedback to improve school meals for the remainder of this school year and beyond. As a bonus, the elementary and high school with the greatest participation in the survey will be part of a raffle for some exciting prizes. So please complete this brief survey today!
Nominate a CPS Crossing Guard for the Crossing Guard of the Year Award
Crossing Guard Appreciation Month runs from February 14 - March 14. This is a great opportunity to let our 686 active crossing guards know how much we appreciate them seeing our students safely to and from school, no matter what the conditions outside. Please take a moment in the next four weeks to thank our crossing guards for their service, and consider using this form to nominate a crossing guard who has made a difference in your life for the District’s Crossing Guard of the Year Award!
Teacher Advisory Council Partnering with District Leadership
Thank you to the members of the CPS Teacher Advisory Council, who recently met with department leads from the Central Office to better understand their work and collaborate around several key issues. These included professional learning, grading practices, student voice, and supporting students with disabilities.
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in District Athletics
Championship season continues, with the Chicago Public League crowning champions in boys and girls basketball, boys swimming, dance, and girls bowling. Check out the recaps below!
Girls Bowling: Morgan Park goes back-to-back with girls bowling city championships.
Boys Red Varsity Basketball: Kenwood makes history, secures first-ever varsity boys basketball city championship.
Girls Red Varsity Basketball: Jackson, Young complete four-peat, take down Kenwood in City Title Game.
See the results for Girls and Boys White, Blue, and Sophomore Basketball Championships at CPSAthletics.com.
Competitive Dance: Northside, Lindblom and Taft secure titles as CPS student-athletes showcase their talents at the CPL Dance Championships!
Boys Swimming: Lane secures first boys swimming city title since 2009.
Many of our CPS teams now continue their journey into the IHSA state tournament. Follow their progress at ihsa.org.
CPS SCORE! Elementary sports are in full swing! Check out the latest schedules and information for exciting athletics at the 5th to 8th-grade level at cpsathletics.com.
REMINDER: New Year… New Platform - Chicago Public Schools Athletics is excited to announce their official launch on Instagram and Facebook, highlighting the incredible accomplishments of our student-athletes and programs across the District! Make sure to follow these accounts and interact with us on these new social platforms, in addition to our existing X account.
Cash Assistance for CPS Families Experiencing Homelessness
Thanks to a partnership between the Illinois Department of Human Services, GiveDirectly, and the University of Chicago’s Inclusive Economy Lab, CPS families who are experiencing housing instability are now eligible to receive up to $6500 in cash assistance.
To be eligible for this financial assistance, families must:
- Currently be experiencing housing instability or homelessness
- Have a child who is 17 or younger and enrolled in Chicago Public Schools
- Have a member of the family receiving SNAP, TANF, or VTTC benefits.
After being selected by lottery, 750 families will receive a $6500 payment, and 750 families will receive $500. Applications are open now, and the deadline to apply is March 9, 2025.
This pilot program aims to understand the impact of this one-time cash assistance pilot on families’ housing stability, as well as its impact on other measures of well-being for the entire family. For more information or to apply, click here, or speak with the STLS liaison at your school.
Upcoming Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification Opportunities
The CPS Office of Student Health and Wellness is pleased to offer additional free Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) certification opportunities (held virtually) for CPS staff during the remainder of SY24–25. Click here for more information on how to sign up. Please reach out to the mental health team at mentalhealth@cps.edu with any questions or specific requests.
2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Now Available!
It’s time for all CPS 12th-graders to complete their FAFSA! This is a graduation requirement for all CPS seniors. Students who complete the FAFSA are eligible for up to $7,395 in Pell Grant funding to subsidize the cost of college at virtually all postsecondary institutions across the country. Additionally, students who attend college in the state of Illinois may be eligible for up to $8,400 in additional MAP Grant funding. Students may also be eligible for between $5,500 and $9,500 in federal student loans.
For more information and assistance with the FAFSA, students should reach out to their school counselor, or visit cps.edu/LearnPlanSucceed.
Opportunities from the Chicago Park District
Register for Girls Day of P.L.A.Y – February 25 (day off school). Girls ages 6-12 can participate in the Chicago Park District Girls Day of P.L.A.Y. program when off school on Tuesday, February 25. Offered at more than 20 parks across the city, this free day-long program includes sports, arts & crafts and more! Girls Day of P.L.A.Y. programming focuses on Positivity, Leadership, Ambition and being You! Ages and times can vary by park. Learn more & register: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/girls-play/cps
Teens: Get your summer plans set at an upcoming Teen Opportunity Fair. Join the Chicago Park District on March 1, March 8, or March 15, to learn about summer opportunities in the parks for Chicago youth ages 13-19. Teens age 16+, apply for a summer job in the parks. Youth age 13-15, learn about RIT (Rec Leader in Training) & CIT (Counselor in Training) paid stipend-based programs, teen camps and other opportunities. New Deaf & Hard of Hearing Fair takes place on March 22. Learn more & register: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/teen-opportunity-fairs/cps
Be a lifeguard this summer - take the March 1st test. If you’re interested in being a lifeguard this summer, apply now and pick the March 1 test date. This test takes place at Whitney Young High School, 211 S. Laflin St, beginning at 9 am. Must be a Chicago resident age 16 or older by July 1, 2025 to be a summer lifeguard. Enjoy your perfect summer job in the parks! Learn more & apply at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/lifeguards/CPS.
Get a FREE heart health screening in the parks! In celebration of Heart Health Month, the Chicago Park District, in collaboration with the Chicago Department of Public Health and other health partners, is hosting heart health screenings every Thursday in February. These events will provide health assessments and education, while offering nutrition and physical activity tips to reduce chronic disease. See dates and locations and learn more here: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/heart-health-month/cps
Celebrate Black History Month in the parks. Various events are offered in parks throughout February in commemoration of Black History Month. See the event listing and learn about Chicago parks named in honor of African Americans here: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/black-history-month/cps
Enjoy all the wonders of nature at Polar Adventure Day. This free, family fun event takes place Saturday, February 22 at Big Marsh Park, 11559 S. Stony Island Ave. Learn more: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/polar-adventure-day/cps
For questions on these events, please email play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Discounted Tickets for CPS Staff and Families
Chicago Fire FC
Attention soccer fans! There’s less than two weeks left to take advantage of 60% off tickets for the Chicago Fire FC home opener on Saturday, March 1. CPS staff, teachers and students can click here to purchase discounted tickets for their family and friends.
Chicago Bulls
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. Clippers: Wednesday, February 26
- Bulls vs. Raptors: Friday, February 28
- Bulls vs. Pacers: Monday, March 10
- Bulls vs. Nets: Thursday, March 13
CSO Civic Impact Concert
Be inspired by the musicians who are learning, growing, and serving Chicago through the programs produced by the Negaunee Music Institute at Impact — a showcase of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s education and community engagement programs. On March 17, enjoy performances by the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, musicians from the CSO, Percussion Scholarship Program students, Young Artist Competition winner Jaden Teague-Núñez, and more. Use promo code IMPACT to get $12 tickets.
Enter the promo code before selecting your seats and the pricing will be adjusted after you have added the seats to your order. Not valid on previously purchased tickets or in combination with other offers. Eligible for adult tickets only; additional restrictions may apply.
Purchase tickets here: https://cso.org/performances/24-25/civic-orchestra/impact/
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Tuesday, February 25: Professional development day for staff; no classes for CPS students.
- Thursday, February 27: Board of Education meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Wednesday, March 5: Board Agenda Review Committee meetings. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Friday, March 21: End of the third quarter.
- Monday, March 24–Friday, March 28: Spring break for all CPS students and teachers.