Last Friday, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Jean-Claude Brizard joined faith, community, and corporate leaders to celebrate the end of the Safe Summer, Safe Haven program and to promote the advent of the upcoming school year at the end of summer back to school rally at Columbus Park.

Through the program, a partnership between CPS and the faith community, students were engaged in creative and performing arts, as well as provided with learning opportunities and mentoring, all in a safe and supervised environment. The program served more than 2,300 children ages 5-17 for the past six weeks at about 60 faith institutions throughout Chicago.

Parents who are uncertain about what calendar their child’s school follows can call the school, or visit the CPS back to school website, www.cps.edu/firstday or can call the back to school hotline at 773-553-3277.