Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
Happy holidays to our CPS community! Please see this video message from myself and CEdO Carmona with some important information on celebrating safely!
As we prepare to dismiss for winter break, I’m excited to share some of the festive ways our school communities have been celebrating the holidays!
I was excited to join our partners at the Children First Fund (CFF)—our District’s foundation—to spread holiday cheer to the students at Earle STEM Academy in West Englewood.
Dressed in my favorite holiday outfit, I had the pleasure of going from classroom to classroom, distributing holiday gifts to every student!
Meanwhile, at Hitch Elementary in Norwood Park, more than 200 students in grades pre-k–4 took the stage in “Star Bucks! The Musical,” an original production written by their school music teacher in celebration of the holiday season.
And at Farragut Career Academy in Little Village, the staff created a Winter Wonderland experience where students were able to participate in festive games and win fun prizes.
Keeping Students Safe and Engaged During Winter Break
We want our students to enjoy their time off, but we also want them to stay safe and engaged during their break from school. Community partners offering activities over the next two weeks include:
- Chicago Park District. The Chicago Park District heats up in the winter with expanded indoor and outdoor activities. Students can take part in ice skating, Winter Break Camps and a variety of festive holiday happenings in the parks!
- Chicago Public Library. Our city’s public libraries offer exciting programming for students all year round, including over winter break. Explore events for children of all ages at various CPL locations throughout the city.
- Chicago Museums. Students can visit the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium at no cost this month on Illinois Free Wednesdays. Many additional museums have free admission every day. Click here for a complete list.
- My CHI. My Future. The My Chi. My Future. app is full of fun activities, events, and city destinations for youth to experience during Winter Break and all year round. Sign up for this app today!
A reminder that CPS students will be on winter break from Monday, December 22, 2025 through Monday, January 5, 2026. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. For more details on the many options available to students during winter break, please visit cps.edu/winterbreak.
I wish everyone in our CPS community a joyful holiday season, and urge all of our students to have fun, be smart, and stay safe during winter break!
Sincerely,
Dr. Macquline King
Interim Superintendent/CEO
Chicago Public Schools
A Look Around the District
As winter holidays are underway, schools across our District are celebrating by giving back to their communities! At Suder Elementary in the Near West Side of the City, students in room 104 collected 182 books to donate to Open Books, a nonprofit literacy organization that provides educators and students with the magic of reading for free through its programs.
While at Cameron Elementary in Humboldt Park, the Chicago White Sox mascot, Southpaw, visited students in Kindergarten–5th grade for an energetic and engaging anti-bullying presentation.
And Nicholson STEM Academy, located in the Englewood neighborhood, celebrated National Rocket Day, with students and staff participating in a challenge to build and launch their own rockets!
CTE Director Honored as Education Advocate
Congratulations to Chandler Meyer-Brown, CPS’ Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE), on being named an Ag Education Advocate by the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education (ILCAE)!
Each year, ILCAE recognizes outstanding individuals and partners who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, advocacy, and commitment to advancing agricultural education across the state. Chandler, who was chosen for his leadership in strengthening Illinois’ agricultural education ecosystem, has been an advocate for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resource programs in CPS for the past six years. His assistance in supporting teachers as they navigate licensure, meet grant deadlines, and cultivate partnerships has strengthened ag education throughout the District.
Introducing the Hidden Genius Project
Earlier this week, District leadership joined CPS students for their participation in the Hidden Genius Project—an interactive event hosted in cities around the country to introduce youth to the basics of coding education. Sponsored by Brothers Code, students had the chance to practice coding and programming skills while learning more about the networks that can guide them to exciting opportunities and careers within the booming technology sector.
Apply Now to Join the Board of Education’s Special Education Advisory Committee
The Chicago Board of Education’s Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is currently accepting membership applications. Early in 2026, the SEAC will appoint 14 members to each serve a 1-year term. Applicants must reside within the City of Chicago, and if selected, must complete the CPS New Volunteer Application and participate in a series of required trainings.
Established in August 2023, the Special Education Advisory Committee serves as a formal advisory body to the Board of Education. The committee provides structured input on policies, programs, and services; elevates issues that require the Board’s attention; and strengthens transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across special education.
The SEAC is committed to a fair and transparent application process. The application is open to a broad range of CPS stakeholders, including students, parents, public school educators and administrators, social service providers, residents, and community leaders. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a commitment to ensuring that the experiences and needs of students with disabilities and their families are represented in District decision-making.
Applications will be accepted online through Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Celebrate Kwanzaa with City Colleges of Chicago
Malcolm X College (1900 W Jackson Blvd) is hosting a Kwanzaa celebration from December 26 through January 1. Daily highlights include:
- Vendor Market: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Children’s Reading Circle: 11:00 a.m.
- Drum Call: 12:00 p.m.
More information can be reviewed here. Happy holidays!
You’re Invited to the All-City Visual Arts Senior Portfolio Exhibition
Come join us in celebrating the creativity of over 100 talented CPS high school seniors from across the District! With the support of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Design Museum of Chicago, the Department of Arts Education would like to invite you to visit the 2026 CPS All-City Senior Portfolio Exhibition Opening Reception on January 7, 2026 from 4–7 p.m. at The LeRoy Neiman Center at 37 S. Wabash Ave.
This free exhibition will be on display daily from January 7–14 from 12:30–6 p.m. The show closes on January 14 at 4 p.m. Can’t make it in person? Explore the exhibition online here starting January 7.
Application Deadline Approaching for Black Student Achievement Committee
The Chicago Board of Education is now accepting online applications for its Black Student Achievement Committee (BSAC). This opportunity is open to a broad range of CPS stakeholders, including students, parents, public school educators and administrators, social service providers, and community leaders. Fourteen individuals will be selected to serve a one-year term on the BSAC.
Applicants must reside within the city of Chicago, and if selected, must complete the CPS New Volunteer Application. Those who successfully complete the volunteer application will participate in an onboarding process before their names are released publicly.
The BSAC is committed to a fair and transparent process for selecting members. As such, the application process will use an initial screening and scoring methodology to ensure candidates align with the profile criteria outlined in the Illinois School Code, including a demonstrated commitment to racial justice and public education.
Apply online through Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Consider Running for Your Local School Council
Applications are now being accepted for our District’s next Local School Council election in the spring of 2026. Students, parents, staff, and community members who are interested in running for a seat on their LSC can apply online at cps.edu/lscelections.
LSC members have many important responsibilities, including approving academic plans, aligning financial resources to those plans, and selecting and evaluating school principals.
LSC candidates must file their paperwork by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20 in order to run in the next LSC election on March 18, 2026. More information is available at cps.edu/lscelections.
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in District Athletics
The Chicago Public League is excited to bring back Merry Madness Holiday Shootout—a CPS holiday boys basketball tournament - from December 22 to 23 at Whitney Young High School. Student athletes from across the District and state will compete in these two unforgettable days of basketball as we begin winter break. Click here for details, ticketing, and schedules!
At halftime of their last home game, the Chicago Bears honored their player and coach of the week winners from this past Boys Football season. Congratulations to Ernest Bryant from Bogan and Keith Brookshire from Corliss who were recognized at historic Soldier Field. Coach Brookshire led Corliss to a 7-2 record, their best finish since 2016, while Coach Bryant, in his first season with Bogan, had one of the best regular season records in recent program history, stringing together an 8-game winning streak. Both coaches have been instrumental in the success of their student-athletes on and off the field, setting a great example for the District.
Congrats to 12-year-old W. Wilks of Lenert Regional Gifted Center, who recently won ABC-7’s Jr. Sportscaster award! He competed against hundreds of students across the state for the prize, and was able to do his own sports broadcast on ABC-7.
Earlier this winter, the Chicago Sky surprised students at Chalmers Elementary for an unforgettable day at practice! Check out the photo gallery here.
Winter schedules for CPS SCORE! Are beginning to be released for basketball, wrestling, and cheer! Visit cpsathletics.com to find out who is playing where and when this winter!
CPS is proud to continue our partnership with Honest Game to ensure students are academically eligible to play sports in college if they so choose. Families can learn more about Honest Game’s services for their student-athletes through family-facing webinars throughout the year. Please click here to register.
For the latest content surrounding CPS student-athletes, make sure to follow us across social media!
Special Ticket Offers from the Chicago Bulls and Lyric Opera of Chicago
This holiday season, enter the spellbinding world where history and dreams intertwine. Join Marie and her Nutcracker prince on a fantastical adventure in Tony Award®-winning Christopher Wheeldon's kaleidoscopic reimagining of The Nutcracker, set amidst the spectacle of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. CPS employees receive 10% savings on tickets! Use code JBCPS10. (Discount excludes weekend matinees and price level E. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Restrictions apply.) Purchase tickets here: Joffrey.org/nutcracker.
CPS staff are invited to cheer on the Chicago Bulls with an exclusive ticket offer for the below games.
- Bulls vs. Bucks: December 27
- Bulls vs. Magic: January 2
- Bulls vs. Hornets: January 3
- Bulls vs Heat: January 8
- Bulls vs. Mavericks: January 10
- Bulls vs. Jazz: January 14
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Monday, December 22–Friday, January 2: All CPS students and teachers will be on winter break from December 22 through January 2; all CPS offices will be closed from December 25 through January 1.
- Monday, January 5: A professional development day for staff; no classes for students.
- Tuesday, January 6: All students return to class after winter break.