Press Release

Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard Urges Students to be Safe During Spring Break

Suggests safe alternate options for Spring activities

March 30, 2012

As students and families prepare for Spring break, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Jean-Claude Brizard today announced alternate options for families during the break to keep their children safe.

“I want all of our students to have a happy and safe spring break,” Brizard said. “I encourage parents with children on break to get them involved with safe activities that will keep them busy and actively engaged.”

A safe and free alternative for students on spring break is the Spring Break Safe Haven program, an extension of the CPS Safe Haven initiative. Spring Break Safe Haven is designed to provide CPS students with structured and productive activities while out of school. This year, Spring Break Safe Haven will operate in 50 churches across Chicago and will begin on Monday, April 2^nd, 2012 and will end with culminating events at each participating church on April 6^th, 2012. The program will run Monday through Friday from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. CPS has also partnered with Catholic Charities to provide breakfast and lunch daily for each child.

This season’s Spring Break Safe Haven curriculum and theme will focus on anti-bullying. Programming will include anger management workshops, conflict resolution exercises, group discussions as well as arts and crafts. For more information, parents can call 773.553.2500. A list of participating churches is below.

In addition to finding safe spring activities, Brizard also encourages parents to review these safety tips with their children during spring time months:

Spring time is now here. For most children, this means more outdoor activities (camping, bike riding, etc.). For all parents, this means being extra vigilant to keep your child safe and healthy. Learn about spring allergies, water and sun safety and using insect repellents safely.
Have your kids stay inside the house after dark.
If they have to be outside, remind your kids that they need to be extra careful walking around, especially after the sun goes down.
Make sure your kids know that drivers may have a difficult time seeing them particularly in rainy weather. Remind them to only cross the streets using crosswalks. Have them wear bright color or reflective clothing when outdoors after dark.

Spring break for most Chicago Public Schools students begins this Friday, March 30^th. Students who attend Track E schools began their break last Friday, March 23^rd. Classes for all CPS students resume on Monday, April 9th, 2012.

Participating churches and organizations for the Spring Break Safe Haven include:

Brickyard Bible 6334 W. Diversey Chicago, Illinois 60639	New Life Covenant 2401 W. North Chicago, Illinois 60647	St. James Industrial 8539 S. Racine Chicago, Illinois 60621
Mission Cristiana Familiar 1905 W. Schiller Chicago, Illinois 60622	Storehouse 2500 N. Talman Chicago, Illinois 60647	Original Mt. Pleasant 6614 S. Blackstone Chicago Illinois 60637
WestPoint M.B. Church 3566 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60652	St. Titus One M.B. Church 12257 S. Emerald Chicago, Illinois 60628	Christian Love M. B. Church 535 S Spaulding Chicago, Illinois 60624
Greater St. John M.B. Church 1256 N. Waller Street Chicago Illinois, 60651	Launch Out Into the Deep 2223 S. Millard Chicago, Illinois 60623	New Landmark M.B. Church 2700 W. Wilcox Chicago, Illinois 60612
Christ Centered Ministries 1533 S. Drake Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60623	Bright Star M.B. Church 735 E. 44th Street Chicago, Illinois 60653	Rising Sun Baptist Church 820 N. Central Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60651
Chicago Embassy Church 5848 S. Princeton Chicago, Illinois 60621	1st Corinthian Baptist Church 7500 S. Halsted St. Chicago, Illinois 60620	Mt. Hermon 7848 Normal Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60636
Promise Center 13560 S. Indiana Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60827	New Eclipse 715 W. 51st Street Chicago, Illinois 60609	Praise Tabernacle 9511 S. Commercial Chicago, Illinois 60617
Urban Vinyard 9511 S. Commercial Chicago, Illinois 60647	New Ebenezer 3555 W. Huron Street Chicago, Illinois 60624	Bethlehem Star M.B. Church 9231 S. Cottage Grove Chicago, Illinois 60619
People Church of the Harvest 3570 W. 5th Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60624	El Buen Pastor 2159 W. Cullerton Chicago, Illinois 60608	Rebano 2425 West Division Street Chicago, Illinois 60622
Purpose Over Pain 58 E. 48th St. Chicago, Illinois 60615	Believe in Thine Heart 6000 S. Ashland Ave Chicago, Illinois 60636	Greater Morning View 2335 W. 100th Street Chicago, Illinois 60617
Christian Fellowship Flock 10724 S. Ewing Chicago, Illinois 60617	New Life Pilsen 2512 S. Oakley Chicago, Illinois 60608	Gospel Truth Life Changing 4118 W. Division Chicago, Illinois 60624
St. Rest M.B.Church 5920 W. North Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60651	Truth and Deliverance 5151 W. Madison Chicago, Illinois 60644	Iglesia Evangelica Emanuel 5018 w. Armitage Ave Chicago, Illinois 60639
New Life C.C. H.P. 1410 N. Springfield Chicago, Illinois 60651	Heirs of the Promise 4821 W. Chicago Ave Chicago, Illinois 60644	Deliverance Christian 7737 S. Kedzie Ave Chicago, Illinois 60652
Gifts from God Ministry 1818 W. 74th Street Chicago, Illinois 60636	Grace And Peace 2100 N. Kildare Chicago, Illinois 60639	Maranatha 3542 W. 59th Street Chicago, Illinois 60629
Corinthian Temple 4520 W. Washington Chicago, Illinois 60624	Peaceful New Beginnings Church 345 S. Cicero Ave Chicago, Illinois 60644	Truth & Life 4146 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60651
Liberations Christian Center 6801 S. Ashland Chicago, Illinois 60653	New Cannaland M.B. Church 5957 S. Peoria Street Chicago, Illinois 60621	Iglesia Cristiana Manantial 5018 W. Armitage Chicago, Illinois 60632
New Memorial M.B. Church 6844 S. Indiana Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60637	The Way of Truth Church Baptist 6458 S. California Chicago, Illinois 60629