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Dear CPS Families, Colleagues, and Supporters,
As a reminder, all CPS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. We hope everyone enjoys the long weekend and has an opportunity to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and loved ones.
Families can explore activities and opportunities for the long weekend from the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Public Library (please note: libraries are closed on Monday). There are also exciting activities and safety information listed for the weekend on this page from the City of Chicago’s website.
We encourage all families to have fun, stay engaged, and stay safe.
We’ve had a great second week of classes, with students and staff getting into their routines and beginning the all-important work of growing not only their academic skills, but also their relationships with their teachers and with each other!
I want to thank our dedicated Facilities Team for their work during this latest heat wave! Their careful monitoring of our school buildings is helping ensure students and staff stay cool and comfortable as summer temperatures persist!
Thanks also to our Transportation Team, especially our bus drivers and bus aides, who are safely transporting nearly 11,000 students to and from school each day. This is an improvement over where we were this time last year, which is impressive given the continued bus driver shortage nationwide, and the growing number of students who require transportation services.
USA 250: Our Shared Success
As we approach the Labor Day holiday, and in the wake of our nation’s 250th birthday this past July 4, the CPS Office of Multilingual, Multicultural Education (OMME) Center opened a powerful exhibition this week honoring the knowledge, labor, creativity, and dreams that have shaped our country’s collective story.
Titled “USA 250: Our Shared Success”, this exhibition is the culminating event of a CPS project that brought civics and art together in a unique and beautiful way. Throughout the summer, multilingual students from across the District worked to create this showcase, their goal being to honor the diverse legacies that continue to define and strengthen our communities today.
I could not be more proud of these young scholars for the work they’ve done to bring this exhibition to life. It will remain open at the OMME Center through October 9, so please use this QR Code to arrange a tour!
CPS will be sharing stories like these from across our District all year, so use our Good News Form to tell us your story!
And to keep up with everything CPS, follow us on our social media channels — on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Sincerely,
Dr. Macquline King
Chief Executive Officer
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!
- Is there a special event or celebration coming up at your school?
- Is there a school program that you’re particularly proud of?
- What about a member of your school community who deserves to be recognized?
Share your story with us today so that we can feature it through this newsletter, on CPS social media, and even in the news!
Mark Your Calendar!
Now that the school year is underway, be sure to visit cps.edu/calendar for important dates! Here are a few to keep in mind right now:
- Monday, September 7: Labor Day (no classes for CPS students)
- Wednesday, September 9: GoCPS application opens for the 2027–28 school year
- Monday, September 21: Student Progress Reports distributed for Quarter 1
- Friday, September 25: Professional Development Day (no classes for CPS students)
Be sure to also check your school’s website for a school-specific calendar of events!
Important Health News
A reminder that all required vaccinations and physical exams for CPS students are due by October 15. Visit cps.edu/vaccines for a list of these requirements.
Throughout the fall, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) will be providing student vaccines required by CPS at no cost to families. These include the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and varicella (chickenpox), as well as seasonal vaccines for the flu and COVID-19. Please visit the CDPH website for complete details on immunization clinics and upcoming vaccine events.
Keeping Schools Safe Amid Federal Activity
Over the past year, we have seen an escalation of federal activity in Chicago, and we want to remind everyone what CPS is doing to keep schools and students safe.
Please visit cps.edu/immigration for the latest information, including:
- Our procedures and protocols to ensure safety at school
- Tips for staying safe at home and in the community
- Resources available to families and staff, including “Know Your Rights” trainings and mental health supports
Back-to-School Supply Drive at Chalmers STEAM Elementary
Thank you to the Chicago Sky Foundation for hosting a back-to-school supply drive at Chalmers STEAM Elementary in North Lawndale! Students were able to pick up backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils, binders, and other materials to help them start their school year strong!
The Power of Partnership
Congratulations to the CPS teachers who are receiving grant funding from the Rotary Club of Chicago to enrich student learning in their classrooms this school year! This generous funding will go to support a Math Logic Lab, certification exams for JROTC students, and a classroom library with books related to peace and conflict resolution, among other exciting projects!
We Are One CPS: Kinzie Elementary and Kennedy High School
I want to thank Principal Ariana Ortiz of Kinzie Elementary and Principal George Szkapiak of Kennedy High School for joining forces to support the Kinzie community with an environmental issue they faced during the first week of school. With support from Principal Szkapiak and his team, Kinzie students and staff spent last week learning at Kennedy before returning to their classrooms this past Monday. These two school leaders are a prime example of what it means to be One CPS!
Celebrating Back-to-School
Schools across the District are kicking off the new school year with festive events!
At Gillespie Elementary in West Chesterfield, for example, the 20th annual Back-to-School Jam featured fun activities, prizes, free school supplies, and more.
And at Kellman Elementary in Lawndale, a back-to-school tunnel at the main entrance did a lot to boost school spirit!
Save on Back-to-School at Target
Target is making classroom essentials more affordable for teachers! Those educators who are part of the free Target Circle Loyalty Program can access exclusive savings, including 20% off one storewide purchase through September 12. Verify your teacher status in the Target Circle app today!
FREE Admission to Anne Frank The Exhibition
CPS staff can receive FREE tickets to Anne Frank The Exhibition with General Admission to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry through December 31, 2026 using the promo code LEGACY.
Anne Frank The Exhibition is an immersive, full-scale recreation of the Secret Annex where Anne Frank, her family, and four others lived in hiding during World War II. Griffin MSI is the first museum in the Midwest, and only the second in the U.S., to host this extraordinary exhibition, which also features never-before-seen artifacts from Anne Frank’s life.