End of Week Message: Providing Safety in Uncertain Times/ Ofreciendo seguridad en estos tiempos inciertos
05 September 2025
Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
After three weeks of classes, students should be starting to feel settled at school. But I know that for many in our CPS community, this is a very “unsettled” time.
Of course, this has nothing to do with the amazing work that’s happening in our schools, and everything to do with what we’re anticipating for our city.
The daily talk of more federal agents — and even federal troops — arriving in Chicago has many of us feeling fearful. This is especially true for our Black, Brown, and immigrant families, as we have seen these communities targeted by federal action in other cities.
I want to assure our families and staff that CPS is prepared, and that we are working closely with public safety officials at both the state and local level to keep families and staff safe.
CPS Protocols and Procedures
First, CPS has strong protocols in place to protect our students and staff, and we have well-established procedures for interacting with federal agents. Our District:
- DOES NOT ask for our families' immigration status
- WILL NOT coordinate with federal representatives, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),
- DOES NOT share student records with ICE or any other federal representatives, except in the rare case where there is a court order or consent from the parent/guardian, and
- WILL NOT allow ICE agents or any other federal representatives access to CPS schools or facilities unless they produce a criminal judicial warrant signed by a federal judge.
All students deserve a safe, supportive environment where they can learn and grow, and it’s our District’s privilege to provide it. But we know that the concerns our families have extend well beyond the school day.
Staying Safe Within the Community
To further support families during this time, CPS has created this guidance document with tips on staying safe as they travel to-and-from school and around the community. This resource also includes a review of everyone’s Constitutional rights, information and resources for immigrant families from community organizations, and details on Know Your Rights seminars. Finally, it includes information about Family Preparedness Workshops that are being hosted by the City of Chicago’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMRR) every Thursday evening in September. Details on these workshops, along with additional guidance and resources, are available on the IMRR website at chicago.gov/imrr.
Importance of Attendance
I know that with the threat of a federal deployment, it’s hard for parents to feel comfortable going through their daily routines, including sending their children to school. But school is still the best, safest place for students, especially in these early weeks of the year.
Showing up every day in these first few weeks sets the tone for a successful school year, and is key to keeping children on track academically. After all — this is the time when teachers are laying the foundation that students will build on for the entire year.
But strong attendance affects more than just academics. It also gives students the chance to build their social and emotional skills, and create positive connections with their friends and teachers, which is critical to them feeling a sense of belonging at school.
CPS will continue to welcome all children with open arms, no matter where they or their families were born or what Chicago neighborhood they now call home. Our diversity is our strength, and we will wear it as a badge of honor.
There’s a lot we don’t know about what Chicago will experience in the days and weeks ahead. But whatever comes, we want families to know that school is the best and safest place for students, and we are fully prepared to keep them safe.
Sincerely,
Dr. Macquline King
Interim Superintendent/CEO
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!
A Look Around the District
This school year, Kennedy High School, located in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood of Chicago, is focused on building a classroom environment around trust and respect through community building and collaborative learning activities. Such activities include creating towers out of toothpicks and marshmallows, and learning about safety in the laboratory.
At Barnard Elementary in the East Beverly neighborhood, families and community members welcomed the school year with a Back to School Bash. The evening included horse riding, a performance from the Whilly White Tumblers, a special visit from the Chicago Fire Department, sweet treats, and more!
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in District Athletics
CPS SCORE! 5th-8th-grade sports programming is just around the corner as games begin September 13! Students will be able to participate in boys and girls volleyball, cross country, and boys soccer this fall. For more information on your school’s programs, please visit the school websites or the main athletics site, cpsathletics.com.
Alcott College Prep Girls Volleyball continues to build its program as they move up to the Red North division this year! Check out the feature story on how the team is preparing for success against new competition.
The District was proud to re-open historic Hanson Stadium earlier this fall, after a complete renovation, now making all seven CPS municipal stadiums active for student activities and sporting events. The stadium features brand new turf, scoreboard, track, locker rooms, washrooms, pressbox, and more! This renovation is part of the continued efforts to upgrade these athletics venues, that have seen major improvements and additions to these stadiums over the last 5 years. The District is excited to welcome the community back to the stadium. For a full schedule of events at Hanson Stadium, please click here!
FINAL REMINDER: CPS is excited to partner with Chicago Cubs Charities throughout the year on initiatives that elevate our students in athletics and in the community. Cubs Charities is inviting all CPS students for FREE to the exciting screening of the documentary, SEE HER BE HER, a documentary on women’s baseball around the world, inspiring the next generation of student-athletes and gender equity in sports. The documentary is produced in partnership with Grassroots Baseball and follows seven “sheroes” in baseball across the globe, and features sport legends Billie Jean King, Cal Ripken Jr. Ichiro Suzuki and more! The screening will be on September 6, 2025, at AMC River North Theater (322 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60611) at 1:00 p.m. Free Student Tickets can be secured via the link below, and adult tickets are $15, with all proceeds going to the Little League Girls With Game program!
CPS is proud to continue its 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 below for the upcoming list of webinars and to register!
Click here for Honest Game Webinar information and Registration
Finally, as a reminder, for the latest content surrounding CPS student-athletes, make sure to follow us across social media!
Special Ticket Offers from the Chicago Fire
There’s still time to take advantage of discounted Chicago Fire tickets for their remaining theme offers at Soldier Field!
- Harry Potter Night - September 13
- Hispanic Heritage Night - September 27
- Fan Appreciation Night - October 4
For each match, tickets start at just $20 and include a special-edition scarf! Click here to learn more and secure your tickets.
The Chicago Fire can also offer STEM & Soccer programming for your students! If interested in learning more, please reach out to their group sales team at grouptickets@chicagofirefc.com, or call (872) 710-0550.
Experience Fall at the Chicago Park District
Paid Lifeguard Training Program for Teens
In the Lifeguard Explorers training program, participants learn the skills needed to be a lifeguard and pass the Chicago Park District Lifeguard Skills Test while getting paid. Participants must be 14-19 years old and live in Chicago. The fall session is offered at seven parks across the city. Classes begin the week of September 22 and run through December 7. Learn more & register at chicagoparkdistrict.com/lifeguard-explorers/cps.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the Parks
Join the Chicago Park District in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at a variety of events offered from mid-September through mid-October. View the event list at chicagoparkdistrict.com/hispanic-heritage-month/cps.
Register Now for Girls Day of P.L.A.Y on Sept. 26
Girls ages 6-12 are invited to participate in the Chicago Park District Girls Day of P.L.A.Y. program on Friday, September 26, which is a day off from school for CPS students. Offered at more than 20 parks across the city, this free day-long program includes sports, arts & crafts, and more! Girls Day of P.L.A.Y. programming focuses on Positivity, Leadership, Ambition, and being You! Ages and times can vary by park. Learn more and register at chicagoparkdistrict.com/girls-play/cps
Register for a Fall Program in the Parks
A variety of programs are available for all ages and interests. The ParkKids afterschool program has begun. Most other programs begin the week of September 2 and run through December 7. Aquatics programs begin the week of September 15. Learn more at chicagoparkdistrict.com/fall-programs/cps.
For questions, please email play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Wednesday, September 10: Board Agenda Review Committee Meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Thursday, September 25: Board of Education Meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Friday, September 26: Professional development day for staff; no classes for students.
Ofreciendo seguridad en estos tiempos inciertos
Estimados colegas, familias y simpatizantes de CPS:
Después de tres semanas de clases, los estudiantes deberían estar sintiéndose asentados en la escuela. Sin embargo, sé que esto no ha sido posible para muchos en nuestra comunidad escolar.
Por supuesto, esto no tiene nada que ver con la excelente labor que ocurre en nuestras escuelas, y todo que ver con lo que se anticipa en nuestra ciudad.
Se ha estado hablando mucho cada día de la llegada de más agentes federales —y hasta tropas federales— a Chicago, y esto ha dejado a muchos de nosotros asustados. Esto es especialmente cierto para nuestras familias inmigrantes o de color de piel negra o morena, ya que hemos visto a estas comunidades singularizadas por los actos federales en otras ciudades.
Quiero asegurarles a nuestras familias y personal que CPS está preparado, y que estamos trabajando cercanamente con oficiales de seguridad pública a nivel estatal y municipal para mantener seguros a las familias y el personal.
Protocolos y procedimientos de CPS
Primero, CPS ha puesto en vigor protecciones fuertes (vistas aquí en inglés) para proteger a nuestros estudiantes y empleados, y tenemos procedimientos muy establecidos para interactuar con agentes federales. Nuestro Distrito:
- NO solicita el estatus migratorio de nuestras familias;
- NO coordina ni coordinará con representantes federales, incluyendo el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas, mejor conocido como ICE;
- NO comparte expedientes estudiantiles con ICE o cualquier otro representante federal, excepto en el caso raro en el cual haya una orden judicial o consentimiento del padre o tutor legal;
- NO permite ni permitirá a agentes de ICE o cualquier otro representante federal obtener acceso a instalaciones de CPS a menos de que presenten una orden judicial criminal firmada por un juez federal.
Todos los estudiantes merecen un ambiente seguro y acogedor en el cual puedan aprender y crecer, y aquí en el Distrito nos sentimos privilegiados de ofrecerlo. Pero sabemos que las preocupaciones que sienten nuestras familias van más allá del día de clases.
Permanecer seguros en la comunidad
Para respaldar más a las familias durante este momento, CPS ha creado este documento guía con consejos para mantenerse seguros a medida que se viaja hacia o desde la escuela, o por la comunidad. Este recurso también incluye un resumen de los derechos constitucionales de todos, información y recursos —provenientes de organizaciones comunitarias— para familias inmigrantes, y detalles sobre seminarios de la campaña municipal Conozca sus Derechos. Finalmente, la guía incluye información sobre talleres de la campaña de preparación familiar Family Preparedness, llevados a cabo por la Oficina de Derechos de Inmigrantes, Migrantes y Refugiados (IMRR, por sus iniciales en inglés), del municipio de Chicago, cada jueves del mes de septiembre. Los detalles de estos talleres, junto con más consejos y recursos, están disponibles en el sitio web de la IMRR, chicago.gov/imrr.
La importancia de la asistencia
Sé que la amenaza de un despliegue federal hace difícil que las familias se sientan cómodas haciendo sus rutinas diarias, como mandar a sus niños a la escuela. Pero la escuela sigue siendo el mejor sitio para los estudiantes, y el más seguro, especialmente en estas primeras semanas del año escolar.
El asistir todos los días de estas primeras semanas establece el ritmo esencial para un año escolar exitoso, y es clave para mantener a los niños en buen camino, académicamente. Después de todo, este es el momento en que los maestros preparan los cimientos de la educación de todo el año.
Pero el tener buena asistencia afecta más que el aspecto académico. El estar en la escuela también les da a los estudiantes la oportunidad de desarrollar sus destrezas sociales y emocionales, y de crear conexiones positivas con sus amigos y maestros, que es crítico para que puedan sentir que pertenecen en sus escuelas.
CPS continuará acogiendo a todos los niños con brazos abiertos, sin importar dónde hayan nacido sus familias o el barrio en el cual actualmente residen. Nuestra diversidad es nuestra fuerza, y la consideramos nuestra insignia de honor.
Hay mucho que no sabemos sobre lo que Chicago experimentará en los días y semanas entrantes. Pero pase lo que pase, queremos que las familias sepan que la escuela es el mejor y el más seguro lugar para los estudiantes, y que estamos completamente listos para mantenerles seguros.
Atentamente,
Dra. Macquline King
Superintendente/directora ejecutiva interina
Chicago Public Schools