Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
Happy Assistant Principal Appreciation Week to all of our amazing APs!
While often working behind the scenes, APs are critical to the success of our schools. They are invaluable partners to our principals, anticipating their needs and helping them shoulder the awesome responsibility of leading a school community. And they are a constant support to their colleagues, giving them the coaching they need and connecting them with resources to help our students thrive.
For our families, APs are trusted leaders they know they can come to with questions or concerns. And to our students, they are a friendly face who motivates and encourages them, and who they know will believe in them no matter what.
I thank our assistant principals for doing so much for so many, and hope they felt much love from our District this week!
Two CPS High Schools Crowned National Champions for Debate
Not one but TWO south side high schools are in the national spotlight this week for their exemplary debate skills!
The debate teams from both Kenwood Career Academy and Back of the Yards College Prep (BOTYCP) high schools traveled to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia last week to compete at the 2025 Urban Debate National Championship. Hosted by the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, this three-day tournament is the capstone event of the competition season for debate teams from Los Angeles to Boston, and everywhere in between.
The policy topic being debated this year was intellectual property rights. And for the second year in a row, Kenwood captured the coveted Zarefsky Trophy, with debaters Kate'Lynn S. and Amanti W. being crowned this year’s Urban Debate National Champions!
Our District also sent a team from BOTYCP to compete in this year’s Debate en Espanol (DEE) competition. And despite it being just their second year competing, this team too walked away with a national championship! We are particularly proud of BOTYCP for launching Chicago’s first-ever high school Spanish language debate team, which provides equitable opportunities for multilingual students to engage in debate in their native language.
Kudos also go out to the staff and students of Ray Graham Training Center, who recently received the 2025 Keith Magnuson Spirit Award from Special Children’s Charities. This distinguished award honors Special Olympics teams that have exemplified the spirit of dreaming big, overcoming obstacles, and achieving goals. Ray Graham has demonstrated this through its unwavering commitment to self-improvement, and by always giving their best effort in the Chicago Park District programs.
I commend Head Coaches Katie Jones and Tyanna Sanders, along with the entire coaching staff at Ray Graham, for shaping student athletes who are a shining example for others. Their sportsmanship, determination, and enthusiasm are truly inspiring.
Ray Graham Training Center will be honored during the opening ceremonies of the 57th Annual Special Olympics Spring Games, which will be held at Soldier Field on May 1. The school’s student athletes will have the honor of carrying the torch and lighting the cauldron, officially kicking off the 2025 Special Olympic Spring Games.
Congratulations to the entire Ray Graham community on this well-deserved recognition of their hard work, dedication, and incredible spirit!
Finally today, a reminder that pre-k applications are now open for the 2025-26 school year. There are proven benefits to jump-starting a high quality education as early as possible, which is why our District has been expanding early childhood education programs across the city for several years, beginning with Chicago’s most under-resourced communities.
I’m proud that every four-year-old in Chicago’s 77 communities now has access to free, full-day preschool programming. In addition, some half-day programs are also available for our city’s three-year-olds. These programs are designed to boost academic skills, fuel intellectual curiosity, foster independence, and instill a lifelong love of learning in our youngest students.
I urge all families with preschool-aged children to explore their options for next school year at chicagoearlylearning.com.
Sincerely,
Pedro Martinez
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools
Help Us Highlight Your School
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A Look Around the District
Check out these highlights from schools across our District!
At DePriest Elementary in South Austin, students read Alice in Wonderland and brought the book to life with a themed tea party, which blended imagination with intentional learning. At the event, students learned foundational table manners and etiquette while engaging in social-emotional learning through building relationships.
At Albany Park Elementary, four student teams are participating in the 2025 Plant Mars Challenge. Students conducted experimental investigations to grow mint, cilantro, and spinach on Mars using “Martian soil regolith” (simulant) over an 8-week period.
And at Lake View High School, students recently took part in a 10-day cultural exchange trip to Hamburg, Germany, where they stayed with German students and host families. The group of eight students immersed themselves in German culture, built lasting friendships, and experienced life as part of a host family while also sharing insights about their lives in the USA, fostering cross-cultural understanding and exchange.
Complete the CPS Spring 2025 Survey
CPS often uses surveys to ensure our families and staff have a voice in the District’s decision making. To simplify this process, we have now combined several of those tools into one SY25 Spring Survey. This survey covers several important topics, including capital planning, school culture and climate, and parent engagement. Each section will take five to ten minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous. The survey is open through May 17, 2025, and is available in Chinese (simplified), English, Polish, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Attend the 2025 RE•VER•BER•ATE Festival
All are invited to attend the 2025 RE·VER·BER·ATE Festival at the historic Chicago Cultural Center from April 22–25. The Festival celebrates the creative expression and student voice found throughout our District, bringing together young artists from all over the city for an unforgettable week of creativity, performances, and community building. By coming out to support them, you will be amplifying our emerging student artists and making sure their talents reverberate throughout Chicago. Click here for complete festival details!
Calling All Student Artists and Writers: Your Creativity Could Mean the Field Trip of a Lifetime!
Introducing America’s Field Trip - a nationwide contest designed to engage students around America’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026. Students in grades 3 - 12 are invited to submit an essay or piece of artwork that answers the question: What does America Mean to You? Twenty-five 1st Place winners will get the chance to go behind-the-scenes at some of America’s most well-known historical landmarks, including the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio, the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and several more. Second-place awardees will also earn cash prizes. The submission deadline is Wednesday, April 16 at 4 p.m. CST. Get all the details and enter here.
Applications Now Open for the Next Honorary Student Board Member
The Chicago Board of Education is looking for a student leader to serve as its Honorary Student Board Member (HSBM) for the 2025–26 school year. Selected annually, the HSBM represents the interests and perspectives of all CPS students by attending the Board’s monthly meetings, which are generally held on the fourth Thursday of each month at the CPS Loop Office (42 W. Madison St. in Chicago). The HSBM is also an active participant in the Student Voice Roundtable initiative, which provides a platform for students from across the District to engage with CPS leadership and Board members on topics that are important to Chicago’s youth. The HSBM will also be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to be used to support enrollment in a two or four-year college or university.
To be eligible for this opportunity, students must be a rising junior or senior (current 10th or 11th-grader), hold a 3.0 G.P.A. or higher, and demonstrate proven leadership experience.
Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 25, 2025 at 5 p.m. Students can visit cpsboe.org for more information and to apply.
Options for Getting the Measles Vaccine
Cases of measles are currently on the rise around the country. While none have been reported in Chicago this year, we want to make sure our CPS community is protected from this very contagious disease. The best way to do this is by making sure you and your children are up to date on the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which provides lifelong protection against measles.
Most people will have gotten the MMR vaccine during childhood. But for those who have not, there are many opportunities to get the vaccine. CPS offers school-required vaccinations like MMR, and other recommended vaccines at our school-based health clinics, and through our elementary, high school, and charter mobile clinics. Please use these links to schedule an appointment for a vaccine. Vaccines through CPS are free for those who are uninsured, underinsured, or who have health insurance through Medicaid or Medicare. For those with private insurance, please contact the clinic for details on which insurance carriers they accept.
The Chicago Department of Public Health also offers no-cost vaccines for those who are uninsured or under-insured at four immunization clinics in the city. Click here for details on these clinics. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is highly encouraged. Create an account and register for an appointment at https://getvaxchi.chicago.gov or by calling the clinic.
Individuals with private insurance or Medicaid/Medicare can also receive vaccines at health care providers or local in-network pharmacies throughout the city. Visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccine provider. Anyone unsure about which providers are in-network should call their health insurance company before getting vaccinated to avoid out-of-network charges.
Supporting Families Amidst Federal Policy Changes
With the transition to a new presidential administration, many in our school communities are experiencing anxiety, especially regarding immigration issues. CPS is committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming educational environments that embrace and celebrate everyone in our diverse communities. CPS has strong protections in place for our students and staff; you can read about them here.
We have also created a website with many resources on immigration services, as well as details on “Know Your Rights” trainings and workshops that are being held throughout Chicago. Some of these sessions are being conducted by our District’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Team, while others are being presented by our community partners. Families can find complete details at cps.edu/newadminguidance. This website will be updated frequently to reflect new training opportunities and any changes to federal law, so we encourage everyone to visit regularly. Mental health supports are also available to students through their schools. Parents who feel their children could benefit from these supports should contact their child’s teacher, principal, or school counselor directly.
Explore Student Job Opportunities for the Summer
Online applications are now open for One Summer Chicago—the youth employment program that partners with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and city agencies to provide paid work experience, work-based learning, and skill development opportunities for young people ages 14–24 over six weeks during the summer. Students should visit onesummerchicago.org for more information and to apply.
Opportunities from the Chicago Park District
Register for Chicago Park District Summer Camps: Summer is around the corner! View summer camps and other summer programs online, and create your wish list. Online registration begins Monday, April 14 at 9 am (for programs at parks located West of California Ave.) and Tuesday, April 15 at 9 am (for programs at parks located East of California Ave.). Day camp runs June 23 – August 1. Dates vary for other camps. Most other summer programs (besides camps) run June 16 - August 10. Learn more about day camps,including a checklist to help you be best prepared for registration day, at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/day-camp.
Be a lifeguard this summer: If you’re interested in being a Chicago Park District lifeguard this summer, apply now and choose the April 12 test date. This test takes place at Welles Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave., beginning at 9 am. Must be a Chicago resident aged 16 or older by July 1, 2025, to be a summer lifeguard. Learn more & apply at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/lifeguards/CPS. Additional summer positions for ages 18+ are available. Learn more & apply at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/jobs
Enjoy a Bunny Event in the Parks: Hop on into the parks to celebrate spring! Enjoy Egg Hunts, Bunny Bonanzas and other fun events taking place now through April 19. Learn more at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/bunny-events/cps
Spring has Sprung at the Conservatories: Don’t miss the explosion of colors and floral fragrances at the annual Spring Flower Shows at Garfield & Lincoln Park Conservatories, running through May 11. Registration is required. Learn more at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/conservatory-flower-shows/cps
Celebrate Earth Day in the Parks on April 26: Join thousands of volunteers in parks across Chicago on Saturday, April 26 at 9am to participate in the citywide Earth Day Parks Clean Up. Bring friends and family, and invite neighbors to join in. Activities include picking up litter and putting down mulch to give our precious green spaces a fresh start for the season. Hosted by the Chicago Park District in partnership with Friends of the Parks. See a list of park locations, learn more & sign up here: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/earth-day/cps
For questions on the above, please email play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Discounted Tickets for CPS Staff and Families
Chicago Bulls
Special ticket offers are available now for potential home games in the Play-In Tournament and first round of the NBA Playoffs. Buy tickets here. Any tickets purchased for home games that do not get played will be refunded to the original method of payment. Schedules will be announced as they are confirmed. Visit Bulls.com/Postseason for more information.
Chicago Cubs
On April 18th, the Chicago Cubs will honor Jackie Robinson and his achievements and will donate a portion of the proceeds from sales of the Special Ticket Offer to the Common Ground Foundation, working to empower youth to become future leaders and live out their dreams. Please use this flier to purchase tickets.
The Cubs also invite CPS teachers, administrators, and staff to visit Wrigley Field on Monday, May 5 at 6:40 p.m. for Teacher Appreciation Night! Discount tickets are available from $24 and include a Cubs quarter-zip. Get your tickets here!
Chicago Fire FC
In just two days, the Chicago Fire FC will take on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in their most anticipated match of the season. This match will be held on Sunday, April 13th at 3:30 PM at Soldier Field! The Fire have provided a special discounted ticket offer for CPS staff, students and their families. Please click here to view our dedicated ticket page.
Families and staff can also wrap up Teacher Appreciation week with the Chicago Fire on Saturday, May 10. Each ticket purchased through this link includes a special-edition scarf. The 1:30 p.m. match at Soldier Field is also the Fire’s annual Family Day and the first 5,000 fans receive a plush giveaway of their mascot Sparky!
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- April 8–29: Spring 2025 Capital Plan Community Meetings. Learn more on the CPS website.
- Friday, April 18: Professional development day for staff; no classes for students.
- Thursday, April 24: Board of Education meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.