End of Week Message: LSC Applications Due Tuesday; Uplifting our Student Artists; No School Monday, January 19, in Observance of Dr. MLK Day
16 January 2026
Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
A reminder that all CPS schools and offices will be closed this Monday, January 19 to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Amid the challenges and crises many of our families are currently facing, I am deeply grateful to our educators for taking time this month to engage students in learning about Dr. King’s courageous leadership, his unwavering commitment to nonviolent action, and the enduring significance of the Civil Rights Movement. May Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy continue to shine as a beacon of hope, justice, and possibility for us all.
In this week’s message, I also want to acknowledge the work of our talented students when it comes to the arts. The arts have long played a powerful role in the struggle for civil rights, giving voice to resistance, hope, and collective action, and helping students understand history, express their experiences, and imagine a more just future. I want to thank César Torruella, our Executive Director of Arts Education, for leading the Arts 2.0 initiative and advocating for high-quality arts programming in every community — work that helps students connect history, creativity, and civic voice. Check out some featured artwork from our talented students below.
In addition to the arts, our schools continue to offer meaningful opportunities for civic engagement, including through participation in Local School Councils (LSCs).
LSC Candidate Deadline is January 20
Interested in running for a seat on your Local School Council (LSC)? A reminder that the deadline to file your application is Tuesday, January 20 at 3 p.m.! Staff, community members, parents/guardians, and students in grades 6 to 11 are eligible to be candidates! Talk to your school leadership for more information, or visit cps.edu/lscelection.
Showcasing our Student Artists
Congratulations to the CPS students from the Class of 2026 who saw their work showcased in this year’s All-City Visual Arts Senior Portfolio Exhibition!
A collaboration between CPS, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Chicago Design Museum, this annual event showcased the talents of 160 students from 42 schools.
The process to enter the exhibition was highly competitive, with students submitting a piece that was then reviewed by a panel of arts professionals. The top projects were displayed in the street-level gallery at the corner of Monroe and Wabash in downtown Chicago, with a number of honorable mentions making up a virtual slideshow that ran on a loop alongside the physical pieces.
The theme of this year’s exhibition was “Bloom”, and students were asked to submit artwork that reflects how they are impacted by their ecosystem. Projects ran the gamut creatively, including everything from acrylics and fashion pieces to charcoal, oil on canvas, and digital photography.
One piece that stood out was “Wolf of the Elements", a painting by Luna from Alcott High School in Chicago’s Roscoe Village community. Luna is part of RE:ALIZE—an early college program that provides CPS students with up to two years of college coursework in the visual and performing arts. Through dual-enrollment with Columbia College Chicago, students in this program can earn up to 12 college credits while working regularly with professional artists to develop a portfolio and further showcase their talents.
Check out this feature on Luna and her work from WGN!
I thank all of the arts partners who are making these experiences possible for our students, and congratulate all of the 12th-graders whose work was featured in this year’s visual arts exhibition. I have no doubt that wherever they go next, these students will continue using their considerable talents to create beauty in our world.
Sincerely,
Dr. Macquline King
Interim Superintendent/CEO
Chicago Public Schools
Share Your Good News!
We love highlighting the great things that are happening in our schools, along with the people who are making them happen! Please use the Good News Form to tell us your stories so that we can share them with the District!
Here are some ideas to consider:
- January is National Mentoring Month. Is there a teacher, school leader, coach, etc. who you feel is serving as an exemplary mentor to the students in your school?
- January is also National Mental Health Awareness Month. Tell us about a school counselor, social worker, SEL specialist, or other member of your school community who is helping ensure that students’ mental health remains a top priority.
- What events, projects, or festivities does your school community have planned for the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 19) and Black History Month (February)?
Share your story with us today so that we can spread the news through this newsletter, on CPS social media, and even in the news!
A Look Around the District
Take a look at these highlights from schools around the District!
DePriest Elementary in the Austin neighborhood hosted a Polar Express-themed event. 1st-grade students boarded a ‘train’ with golden tickets, and enjoyed craft activities and hot cocoa they purchased using pretend money. This activity helped students practice purchasing items appropriately from a coffee shop run by 6th-8th graders.
Meanwhile, at Sabin Elementary in Wicker Park, school became a one-stop Holiday Shop before winter break, where students could pick out a gift of their choice, and others enjoyed Hot Cocoa with Santa. The school wrapped up the festivities with a Winter Showcase and a Food & Winter Coat Drive, which served more than 100 families and was made possible by community donations.
Lastly, we would like to highlight Sutherland Elementary, located in the Beverly neighborhood, for their Investment Club’s recent victories at the SIFMA Foundation’s Stock Market Game. 5th-grade students took home 1st and 2nd place in the Chicago Elementary Competitive Division for the game’s Fall session. Congratulations!
Stay Protected from Respiratory Illnesses
Chicago is currently experiencing a spike in flu cases, with emergency room visits and hospitalizations for flu at their highest level since 2022. While these serious flu cases are impacting all age groups, the most notable increase has been among children. And we know families are also vulnerable to RSV and COVID-19.
Thankfully — it’s not too late to get vaccinated this winter! All required and recommended vaccines, including the flu shot, are widely available at little to no cost, regardless of health insurance or immigration status. Families can visit cps.edu/vaccines for information on where to find vaccines.
For any questions about upcoming vaccine opportunities, families should email schoolhealth@cps.edu, or call the Healthy CPS Hotline at (773) 553-KIDS (5437).
Attention High School Stakeholders: Join a CPS Policy Focus Group
Two District policies, one on Grade Point Average and one on High School Promotion, are currently under review, and we need the help of our high school stakeholders to ensure both policies remain equitable, flexible, and aligned with student success beyond high school!
To gather feedback from our stakeholders, CPS will be holding virtual focus groups around these policies during the week of January 19, 2026. These discussions are being held across multiple days and times to accommodate as many schedules as possible.
- If you are a parent or guardian, please sign up for a focus group here.
- If you are a high school or academic center teacher, please sign up for a focus group here.
Each discussion will last for approximately one hour. Once you sign up for a specific date, you will receive a calendar invitation via email with a link to the Google Meet for that session.
Please contact the CPS Office of Teaching and Learning at teachingandlearning@cps.edu with any questions.
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in District Athletics
We are already in the playoff and championship season for some of our winter sports! Here is the upcoming schedule:
- Competitive Dance: January 17, Kenwood Academy
- Wrestling: January 16–17 and 24–26 at Curie and Whitney Young high schools
- Girls Bowling: January 31, Waveland Bowl
Registration for wrestling through CPS SCORE! is now open for students in grades 5 to 8. Click here to sign up!
Our first champion of the 2026 winter season has been crowned, with Lane Tech winning the Boys Bowling Championship, and Taft High School’s Tyler P. capturing the individual title.
CBEA and Black Baseball Media are excited to offer a free MLK Baseball and Softball Camp featuring MLB All-Star Curtis Granderson at the Pullman Community Center. Register here!
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!
Enjoy Winter in the Parks
Winter programs have begun. Start out 2026 by trying something new! Find something to get you out and active over winter! There is something for every age group throughout the city, and classes are very affordable. Most programs run January 5 through March 15, 2026. Spots still remain. Learn more here.
All outdoor ice rinks are now open (weather permitting). Pre-registration is required for all ice rink programs, including open skate sessions. Learn more & register for a skating session here.
Apply today to be a 2026 summer lifeguard. Get your summer job plans in motion now. Make $20.50 an hour next summer as a Chicago Park District lifeguard. Apply today, and then register to take the Lifeguard Test. Upcoming test dates are January 30 and February 27. Must be a Chicago resident and at least 16 years old by July 1, 2026. Join the Chicago Park District team! Learn more and apply here.
For questions, please email play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Special Ticket Offer from the Chicago Bulls
CPS staff are invited to cheer on the Chicago Bulls with an exclusive ticket offer for the below games.
- Bulls vs. Raptors: Feb. 19
- Bulls vs. Knicks: Feb. 22
- Bulls vs. Hornets: Feb 24
- Bulls vs. Trail Blazers: Feb. 26
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Monday, January 19: CPS offices and schools are closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No classes for students.
- Thursday, January 29: Board of Education meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Wednesday, February 11: Board Agenda Review Committee meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Monday, February 16: CPS offices and schools are closed in observance of Presidents' Day; no classes for students.
- Tuesday, February 17: Professional development day for staff; no classes for students.