Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
I want to begin this week’s message by offering our deepest gratitude to the veterans and active-duty service members whose service and sacrifice advance our highest aspirations for unity across our nation and within our local communities. Our school communities shared in Veteran’s Day activities this week, including the Farragut Career Academy All Service Color Guard and the members of the CPS City Corps Staff who represented our District at Chicago’s Veteran’s Day Commemoration Ceremony earlier this week. These cadets from around the city led the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the National Anthem, served as escorts, and presented the colors at this annual ceremony honoring those who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces.
Update on SNAP Benefits
The federal government shutdown has now ended. According to the Illinois Department of Human Services website, the State anticipates that remaining SNAP benefit payments will be made over the coming days, with all SNAP recipients receiving their full November benefits by Nov. 20. Families receiving benefits can check their EBT Card balance by visiting IDHS: Illinois Link Card or by calling the Illinois Link Help Line: 1-800-678-LINK (5456).
We know that this delay has impacted many in our school communities. As a reminder, SNAP benefits left over from previous months can still be used, and all CPS students will continue receiving free breakfast and lunch at school every day.
Families who need support finding groceries or meals right now can:
- Consult this new CPS resource matching school locations with local food, shelter, and medical care options.
- Visit the We Got You Illinois website for a comprehensive list of food pantries, meal programs, and food distribution partners throughout Chicago and Cook County.
- Call the Healthy CPS Hotline at (773) 553-KIDS (5437) or visit cps.edu/snap.
For the latest updates on how Illinois is managing the distribution of SNAP benefits, visit the Illinois Department of Human Services website.
Preparing for Winter Weather
A big thank you to our Facilities Team for successfully tackling the first winter storm of the season earlier this week, clearing snow from sidewalks and parking lots and ensuring that school buildings remained safe, warm, and dry!
We’re all glad to see temperatures returning to the 60s this weekend, but last Monday’s brush with winter is a good reminder to review our procedures for the coming months. A few things to keep in mind when talking about extreme weather:
- CPS will continue to prioritize keeping classes in session, provided it is safe for our students and staff.
- If classes are ever canceled due to extreme weather, staff and families will be notified via email, text, and robocall, and the information will be posted on our website at cps.edu.
- Decisions about canceling classes due to weather are made at the District level. Factors that go into making that decision include:
- air temperature and wind chill
- the amount of snow and ice on the ground
- the accessibility of buildings and roads
- potential issues with heating systems or power outages
- the ability to transport students safely on buses
Should extreme weather set in, our schools will implement CPS protocols for inclement weather, including limiting the time students spend outdoors at recess.
We thank you for your partnership as we begin the winter months and will always keep you updated around how weather conditions are impacting our schools.
Exciting News Regarding Sustainable Community Schools
In closing, I’m pleased to share an exciting addition to our CPS family!
Valentina Gamboa-Turner, an accomplished professional with more than 25 years of experience in the education space, is joining the District as the Executive Director of the CPS Office of Sustainable Community Schools (SCS).
Ms. Gamboa-Turner comes to us from the Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs at Northeastern Illinois University. Prior to this role, she served as Coordinator of the Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline at Illinois State University, and spent several years in a school setting, both as a high school teacher and Program Coordinator responsible for managing citywide internships in collaboration with more than 60 community partners.
A proud CPS alumnus, Ms. Gamboa-Turner is a graduate of Saucedo Elementary and Lake View High School. In addition, as a CPS parent and member of a Sustainable Community School, she has seen firsthand the power of this innovative model.
We are excited to have Ms. Gamboa-Turner join the SCS team, and are confident she will advance our goal of empowering students, families, staff, and community members to be equitable decision makers who transform their school communities into neighborhood anchors. While we continue to navigate difficult and uncertain circumstances, this new addition to our CPS family reflects our ongoing commitment to unity, support, and student success.
Sincerely,
Dr. Macquline King
Interim Superintendent/CEO
Chicago Public Schools
Highlight Your School for the Holidays
We know that there will be great things going on in our schools during the upcoming holiday season! Please let us know about your holiday celebrations and special events, including those featuring your students and staff giving back to the community, using the Good News Form!
A Look Around the District
Take a look at these highlights from schools across the district!
At Wildwood Elementary in the North Edgebrook community of Chicago, students recently commemorated Veterans Day through school-wide activities. Students in all grade levels participated in classroom-based learning related to service, listened to guest veterans share their experiences, and contributed artwork and letters for the school’s Wall of Honor.
Finally, Burroughs Elementary in Brighton Park hosted its annual STEAM Night. The event led by students and staff was coordinated alongside the school’s Science Fair, and guests enjoyed fun STEAM activities!
Career Fair Inspires Young Women in STEM
Part of the CPS Girls in STEM Initiative, this annual career fair is designed to expose and connect female high school students with science-related professions. This event gave roughly 600 female students attending the District’s 13 Early College STEM High Schools an opportunity to meet STEM professionals and learn about jobs in their field of interest. The number of employers and professionals participating in this event has tripled since the fair’s inaugural year in 2024, expanding to meet CPS students’ rapidly growing interest in STEM.
Taking Care of Your Mental Health This Winter
We know that this is a challenging time for many in our CPS community, and getting ready for the winter holidays (and winter weather) can add an extra layer of stress. To learn more about how to take care of your mental health in the months ahead, please review this information on Seasonal Affective Disorder and the Chicago Services Resource Guide. Additional resources can be found on the Office of Student Health and Wellness Mental Health website. Please reach out to mentalhealth@cps.edu with any questions.
Stay Healthy During Respiratory Virus Season
All required and recommended vaccines for children are widely available to CPS students at little to no cost, regardless of health insurance or immigration status. Visit cps.edu/vaccines for information on accessing our District’s dozens of School-Based Health Centers, and to see a list of upcoming vaccine opportunities, including Saturday vaccine events being held by CPS and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).
We know that for children to be successful, they need to be in school. This can only happen if our students stay healthy, so families are also encouraged to get vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19, and RSV in accordance with the guidance provided by our public health experts.
For any questions about upcoming vaccine opportunities, families should email schoolhealth@cps.edu, or call the Healthy CPS Hotline at (773) 553-KIDS (5437).
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in District Athletics
CPS SCORE! Elementary Sports has crowned three out of four fall champions! Congratulations to Coonley (girls) and Bell (boys) on winning the 5/6th Grade Cross Country City Championships and Lane Tech AC (girls) and Whitney Young AC (boys) on winning the 7/8th Grade Cross Country Championships. Congratulations are also in order to Jamieson and O.A Thorp on winning the Boys and Girls Volleyball Championships! The final fall championship is tonight in Boys Soccer at Rockne Stadium at 5 p.m. Come out to support!
CPS teams and students continue to make history in the IHSA State Tournament! Congratulations to Lane Tech and Chicago Academy, who finished in 4th place in the state tournament in their respective classes, with Chicago Academy’s state finish being the school’s first-ever state trophy! And we wish the best of luck to our remaining CPS football teams that are competing in the state tournament!
Chicago Academy Makes History, Secures School’s First Ever State Trophy.
Lane Soccer Brings home Second Consecutive State Trophy
Schedules on IHSA.org.
The Chicago Public League will crown a football championship later this month, as the top teams across the city will compete for the title on November 22, with the winner advancing to the historic Prep Bowl against the Chicago Catholic League on November 28, 2025. This weekend, the semi-finals are set as Kenwood will take on Lane Tech at 12 p.m. and Whitney Young will square off against Morgan Park at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Rockne Stadium. Come out and support!
Outside of football, all of our fall Chicago Public League High School City Championships have been completed! Check out our website cpsathletics.com for the latest stories , photo galleries and recaps!
**IMPORTANT: As we continue the fall season of sports, please find the updated CPS-stadium policies for spectators as they relate to security, prohibited items and new bag policies. Please ensure to review this in advance of attending your next event at one of the stadiums. **These are new rules for CPS-owned and operated stadiums; individual school events may have different rules for their on-campus activities.
Free Author Event and Digital Course for Young Women Ages 17-24
The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services is hosting a "Meet the Author" event on November 17th from 4 to 6 p.m. with award-winning scholar Dr. Monique Couvson, who will discuss key takeaways from her new book, Girls, Unlimited: How to Invest in Our Daughters with More than Just Money. This program is an excellent fit for young female changemakers, activists and advocates, ages 17 to 24, who are interested in learning more about the ways society overlooks the unique needs and experiences of all girls. Register for the event here.
Special Ticket Offer from the Chicago Bulls
CPS staff are invited to cheer on the Chicago Bulls with exclusive ticket offers for the below games.
- Bulls vs. Heat: November 21
- Bulls vs. Wizards: November 22
- Bulls vs. Nets: December 3
- Bulls vs Pelicans: December 31
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Monday, November 24–Friday, November 28: In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, no students or teachers will be in school from November 24–28 and all CPS buildings will be closed on November 27 and 28.
- Wednesday, December 3: Board of Education Agenda Review Committee meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Thursday, December 18: Board of Education meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- 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.