End of Week Message: Preparing for Monday, January 20
17 January 2025
Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
This Monday, January 20, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A reminder that there are no classes for CPS students on this day, and all schools and District offices will be closed. There are also no classes for students on Tuesday, January 21, as this is a school improvement day for staff.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. embodied an unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion for all people. He showed us the power that words can have, and taught us the true meaning of perseverance in both word and deed. I look forward to seeing how our schools will honor Dr. King’s legacy, both next week and throughout Black History Month in February.
Preparing for a New Presidential Administration
Monday, January 20 is also the day our country will usher in a new presidential administration. I know that this change is raising concerns among many in our school communities, so I want to assure everyone that CPS is taking proactive steps to support our students and staff.
We recently launched a new website at cps.edu/NewAdminGuidance. This site contains lots of useful information, including help with immigration services, trainings and workshops to help families understand their rights, guidance for students’ applying for financial aid for college, and much more.
Our goal is to ensure that all CPS schools remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming educational environments that embrace and celebrate everyone in our diverse school communities. Toward that end, CPS has strong protections already in place for our students and staff; you can read about them here. We will rely on these policies and protections to guide our District in the months ahead, and will continue communicating with families and staff about our response to any federal policy changes that impact CPS as the new administration takes office.
Reflecting on the Impact of Two CPS Leaders
It is with mixed emotions that we prepare to say goodbye to two of our District’s most exceptional leaders. Felicia Sanders, our Chief Schools Officer, and Jadine Chou, our Chief of Safety and Security, will both be departing CPS in the coming weeks, Chief Sanders to begin her retirement, and Chief Chou to begin the next chapter of her career.
Chief Sanders has been a part of the CPS family since she was a student at Barton Elementary, and has spent the past 33 years in the service of our District’s children. Her roles have included teacher, principal, Network leader, and finally, Chief Schools Officer, where she has supported our Network leaders in providing guidance, mentorship, and empowerment to our talented CPS principals. Her philosophy as an educator has been grounded in promoting equity, and in the belief that all children have amazing potential that is just waiting to be nurtured. Read more about Chief Sanders, her CPS journey, and her lasting impact on our District here.
Fourteen years ago, Jadine Chou became the first woman and first person of Asian heritage to serve as Chief of Safety and Security for our District. Her belief in restorative discipline practices and building trusting relationships between students and adults helped CPS achieve a transformative shift in how we view and manage school safety. Chief Chou was a key contributor to our District’s Whole School Safety Policy, which places students’ emotional safety on par with ensuring that they are physically safe at school. Read more about her CPS journey here.
Both of these remarkable leaders will be deeply missed. But their CPS legacy is secure, as they are leaving us with a solid foundation on which to continue their important work. I congratulate both Chief Sanders and Chief Chou on their many CPS achievements and wish them joy and fulfillment in their next chapter.
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!
Here are some ideas to consider:
- January is National Mentoring Month. Do you know a CPS teacher, counselor, coach, or other education professional who deserves to be recognized for the extra time they take with students?
- On January 20, 2025, the world will honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. How will your school honor his legacy?
- January 23 is National Reading Day. Is there a literacy program at your school that is getting kids to love books?
- What plans does your school have for the celebration of Black History Month in February?
Use our Good News Form to help us showcase all the ways the Best are with CPS!
A Look Around the District
At Marine Leadership Academy High School, located in the Logan Square neighborhood, students a part of the All Students for Equality group created care bags or packages for community members in need. These packages included hats, gloves, socks, and sweets to help stay warm during the winter season.
Meanwhile, students at Sutherland Elementary in Beverly recently participated in the Illinois Region Stock Market Game competition hosted by the SIFMA Foundation. Two of the school’s student teams placed 1st and 2nd place in the Chicago Elementary division, and all three teams ranked in the top 15% of the Competitive State 4th-12th Division.
And at Poe Elementary in Roseland, the school hosted a First Lego League (FLL) Challenge Qualifier Event where their robotics team scored the Championship win. The team has gone on to place 4th at a Sectional Event, advancing them to the State Competition, and were even rewarded the Engineering Excellence Award!
Eberhart Students Give Back to the Community
Last month, Eberhart Elementary School's C.H.O.P. (Courageous, Honorable, Overcomer, Powerful) Mentoring Program organized a Toy Drive for the Olive Branch Homeless Shelter. The middle school boys who are part of this program took the initiative to plan and promote the toy drive, successfully collecting more than 200 toys through generous donations from students, staff, and community members! Encouraging giving back and instilling empathy in students is a key part of Eberhart Elementary’s mission to foster unity across the school community.
15M Grant to Help Students Design Personal Learning Paths
Congratulations to Avalon Park, Brunson, Kipling, and Logan Square elementary schools on being awarded a five-year, $15 million Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant will allow these four schools to become exemplar personalized learning schools. They will join 13 personalized learning schools already active in CPS, each of which uses an instructional model that allows students to play an active role with their teachers in co-designing their learning path, pace, and environment based on their individual strengths, needs, and interests. This is the third MSAP grant that CPS has received in the past eight years, the previous two going to fund STEM and STEAM programming in schools around the city.
Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Writing Contest for High School Students
High school students have an opportunity to win the Randall Albers Young Writers Award from the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. Students should submit a poetry, fiction, or nonfiction entry here for the chance to win up to a $250 prize and be honored at the Harold Washington Library in May. Submissions are due on Monday, March 3, at 5:00 p.m. Full rules and guidelines can be found using the above link, and additional information is also available on this flyer.
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in District Athletics
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 the already existing X account.
The Chicago Public League crowned their first high school winter champions this past weekend, as Lane Tech secured the Boys Varsity Bowling Title and Taft’s Tyler P. secured the individual Boys Bowling City Title. Learn more about the exciting day at Waveland Bowl in our tournament recap and photo gallery.
Kenwood’s Ariella H. and Danielle B. made school history in girls varsity basketball, with Danielle and Ariella surpassing 1,000 and 1,500 points scored in their high school careers, respectively. The two players have been instrumental in Kenwood’s success over the last few seasons, as they are once again a top 10 team in girls basketball in the state this year. Read more about their accomplishment here.
CPS SCORE! Elementary sports are in full swing! Check out the latest schedules and information for athletics at the 5th-8th grade level at cpsathletics.com. This site also has information on winter sports playoffs, which are also underway now in our high schools!
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
Make $19.75 an hour this summer as a Chicago Park District lifeguard. Apply Now! The next Lifeguard Skills test takes place Saturday, February 1 at Foster Park, 1440 W. 84th St. Sign up for the test when completing your application online. Must be a Chicago resident age 16 or older by July 1, 2025. Enjoy your perfect summer job in the parks! Learn more & apply here!
Come Out and Skate in the Parks! Enjoy time spent on the ice at six outdoor rinks in parks throughout the city. Rinks are open on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Learn more & register for skate sessions here!
Calling All CPS Artists! Upcoming Opportunities in the Arts
CPS Sophomores and Juniors: Apply now to RE:ALIZE, the FREE dual enrollment arts program created in partnership with Columbia College Chicago. In addition to 6–12 college credits in theater, music, dance, or visual arts, RE:ALIZE offers students support with developing a portfolio, workshops with professional artists, college and university visits, free supplies, multiple opportunities to showcase their work, and more. Apply by the deadline of March 17, 2025, or learn more on the RE:ALIZE website and through this informational slideshow. You can also reach out to realize@cps.edu with any questions!
All CPS Students: Submit Your Work to RE•VER•BER•ATE and All-City Visual Art (ACVA) Exhibitions
RE•VER•BER•ATE (April 22–25, 2025) is a free, multidisciplinary arts festival that offers CPS students in grades pre-k—12 the opportunity to participate in exhibitions, performances, workshops, masterclasses, and academic and professional collaborations. Teachers and students are invited to submit applications to perform or exhibit at the festival. Apply HERE for performing arts by February 3, 2025. Apply HERE for visual arts by March 13, 2025. Learn more about these opportunities at cps.edu/reverberate, and contact reverberate@cps.edu with any questions.
Applications to participate in the ACVA Pre-k–12 Visual Art Exhibition are open through March 13, 2025. Apply here. Full details can be found in the submission guidelines. Learn more at cps.edu/acva, and you can contact allcityarts@cps.edu with any questions. Any artwork submitted to the Pre-k–12 Visual Art Exhibition will also be automatically considered for inclusion in ART on THE MART 2025!
Discounted Tickets for CPS Staff
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. 76ers: Saturday, January 25
- Bulls vs. Pistons: Tuesday, February 11
- Bulls vs. Clippers: Wednesday, February 26
- Bulls vs. Raptors: Friday, February 28
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Monday, January 20: CPS offices and schools will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; no classes for CPS students.
- Tuesday, January 21: School improvement day for staff; no classes for CPS students.
- Thursday, January 30: Chicago Board of Education meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Wednesday, February 12: Chicago Board of Education Agenda Review Committee Meetings. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Monday, February 17: CPS offices and schools will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day; no classes for CPS students.
- Thursday, February 27: Chicago Board of Education Meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.