Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
I hope that everyone is staying safe and warm today!
Canceling classes today was not a decision taken lightly. After consulting with our partners at the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) and reviewing information from the National Weather Service, we determined it would not be safe for students and staff to travel to school.
The decision to cancel classes today should not change our academic calendar for the remainder of the school year. If this changes, staff and families will be notified by the District directly.
We thank our custodians and building engineers for being in school buildings today and working diligently to ensure that all schools are safe, warm, and dry when students return to class on Monday, January 26!
City Year Day of Service
For more than 30 years, CPS has partnered with City Year to host a Day of Service honoring the life, legacy, and call to action of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This annual tradition is rooted in Dr. King’s belief in service, community, and collective responsibility, bringing together students, educators, and community partners in meaningful acts of service. The event took place at Morgan Park High School on Chicago’s far southwest side, with hundreds of students, City Year staff, Americorps members, and CPS leaders painting more than 30 murals to beautify the inside of the school.
I’m deeply grateful to everyone who came together to make this event possible. Moments like these reflect the power of community and shared purpose. I look forward to continuing this momentum in February as we uplift and celebrate the enduring contributions of Black leaders, artists, and scholars throughout Black History Month, both in our classrooms and across our school communities. As we think about service, I encourage families and community members to consider answering our call to serve on a Local School Council (LSC). The deadline to apply is next week. There’s more information on Local School Councils and available mental health supports below.
LSC Application Deadline Extended to January 27
Thank you to all of the students, staff, families, and community members who have signed on to run for open seats on their Local School Councils (LSCs) later this spring. We have made a lot of progress in the past few weeks toward filling our open seats, but we still have a ways to go.
To help get us over the finish line, CPS has extended the application deadline to this Tuesday, January 27 at 3 p.m. Please consider serving your school community in this important way so that we can ensure all schools have the voices they need to grow and thrive. Details on how to become a candidate can be found on the LSC Election Website.
Help Shape Next Year’s Academic Calendar
The Chicago Board of Education is currently considering what CPS’ academic calendars should look like for the next two school years (SY 2026–27 and SY 2027–28), and they need your feedback!
The Board wants to know what students, families, staff, and community members would prefer regarding next year’s calendar, especially the start and end dates for each semester and the school year as a whole.
You can share your feedback by completing this very brief survey by the deadline of Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at noon. The survey provides three options for the 2026–27 calendar and asks you to choose the one you prefer most. Similar timing will be applied to the calendar for the following school year (SY 2027–28).
Prioritizing Mental Health in our Schools
For many in our school communities, especially our immigrant families, this school year has been emotionally challenging. So with January being National Mental Wellness Month, we want to highlight the work our Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) is doing to support students’ mental health.
The goal of the OSHW team is to remove health-related barriers to learning, including those related to mental health, and advance child health equity across all schools. Their work encompasses many important initiatives, including:
- Required training for staff around substance abuse and suicide prevention, along with a series of webinars designed to promote mental health awareness and education.
- Student-facing workshops, focus groups, and toolkits on maintaining good mental health and wellness
- Workshops for parents and guardians on preventing vaping and substance use among youth
- The Chicago Services Resource Guide, which assists the CPS community in accessing mental health services across the Chicagoland area.
- A collection of resources supporting the mental wellbeing of students, staff, and families amid federal immigration enforcement.
The OSHW Team also offers free Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) certification opportunities for CPS staff. Employees interested in obtaining this certification can click here for more information on how to sign up for a virtual session.
In addition, as part of their mission to increase treatment for, and recovery from substance use related diagnoses and behaviors, the OSHW Team has created this one pager with a comprehensive list of resources and trainings that are now available for staff, students, & families.
I encourage all staff and families to visit the OSHW Website for more mental health resources available through CPS. One-on-one support can also be obtained by reaching out to our OSHW team at mentalhealth@cps.edu.
During this and every month, CPS remains committed to prioritizing students’ physical and mental health alongside their academic progress, and to creating safe, welcoming learning environments where everyone feels supported, and where diversity is celebrated and embraced every day.
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 Black History Month in 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
Schools across our district celebrated MLK Day with various events! At Smith Elementary in the Pullman community, students competed in the Foley MLK Jr. Oratory Competition, and one of their students took home 1st place.
Meanwhile, in the Lakeview neighborhood, Tubman Elementary celebrated Human Rights Day. The Tubman Bulldog Buddies created posters illustrating the rights all people deserve, including the right to vote, to food, shelter, and water, as well as the rights to kindness and love.
3rd and 4th-grade students at Peterson Elementary in the North Park neighborhood participated in a Micro:bit initiative. Across two sessions, the school’s STEAM Coach, Ms. Slanker, guided approximately 200 students through hands-on coding and hardware challenges.
At Smyth Elementary in the Little Italy community, the school hosted the Chicago Bears’ mascot, Staley Da Bear, for his "Bear Down on Bullies" assembly. This high-energy program taught students the "3 R's": recognizing bullying, responding effectively, and reporting it to a trusted adult. It also encouraged them to be an "upstander" and promote kindness across the building.
Lastly, at Pritzker Elementary in Wicker Park, music teacher Dr. Jenai Jenkins was awarded the Chicago Bears Classroom Legends Award for her outstanding work throughout her career and for her efforts in teaching students the "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" fight song. She was later honored at the Bears vs Packers Game!
Summer Internship Applications Now Open
CPS high school students are encouraged to unlock their potential with real-world experience through an internship this summer! This opportunity is open to all students ages 16 and older, including soon-to-be graduates from the Class of 2026.
Summer interns typically work 20 to 25 hours per week with a local corporation, business, or nonprofit organization. These paid internships provide students with mentorship, skill development, and networking opportunities.
More information is available at cps.edu/summerinternships, or by contacting summer internships@cps.edu.
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).
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:
- JV and Individual Wrestling | January 24-26 | Whitney Young HS
- Girls Bowling | January 31 | Waveland Bowl
Congratulations to Butler, Payton, and Whitney Young on their competitive dance titles and to Lane Tech on sweeping the boys and girls wrestling titles, including the inaugural girls dual championship! Check out the recaps and photo galleries here!
CPS is proud to partner with BOWA Gives for National Women and Girls in Sports Day in February, featuring panels with athletic figures and speakers, track and field activities, and more! Click here to learn more and to register.
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
Join us for FREE family fun on Polar Adventure Day at Northerly Island Park, 1521 S. Linn White Dr., on Saturday, Jan. 24th at 11 am! Activities will include free fishing lessons, Nature Play with recycled holiday trees, and music. Learn more here!
Work out for free at Park District Fitness Centers Feb. 1-15. Details here.
Celebrate Heart Health Month this February with a FREE heart health screening. Don't delay. Take care of your heart today! Learn more about free screenings here.
Winter programs are happening (Spots still remain). 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. 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.
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 next Lifeguard Test on Friday, Jan. 30 at 4:30 pm at Foster Park (1440 W. 84th St). Must be a Chicago resident and at least 16 years old by July 1, 2026. Can’t make it on Jan. 30? There’s another opportunity to take the test on Friday, Feb. 27 at 4:30 pm at Ellis Park (3520 S. Cottage Grove Ave). Learn more and apply here.
On your mark, get set, GO! The Chicago Park District and its partners will host the BOWA Gives Girls’ Invite! This event will include two full days of programming and competition at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center - 10201 S. Cottage Grove Ave. This will be a chance for Chicago’s female athletes to lead, excel, feel inspired, and become empowered to grow. Learn more here.
For questions, please email play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Special Ticket Offers from the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Fire
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
The Chicago Fire kickoff their home schedule on Saturday, February 28 with an 1:30PM afternoon match vs CF Montreal at Soldier Field! The Fire are offering CPS families a discount of over 30% off tickets to the match! Get your tickets here.
The Chicago Fire can also assist with STEM & Soccer or Career in Sports field trips 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.
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- 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.