Category: Education

On Wednesday, March 13, Cinespace Chicago Film Studios President and CEO Alex Pissios volunteered at Sinai Health System as “Caregiver for a Day” during the afterschool program with students from Plamundon Elementary School. Mr. Pissios was the first Sinai board member to take part in a new role that Sinai Health System has established as part of its 100th anniversary events, “Caregiver for a Day.” This initial Caregiver event aimed at raising awareness of the need for volunteers at the afterschool and other programs at Sinai Health System, as well as promoting youth mentoring. After helping approximately 20 students, ages 6-14, finish homework and enjoy snack time, Pissios and the children who participate in the daily program at Sinai Community Institute, presented a monetary gift to Sinai’s leadership team in recognition of its centennial year. Cinespace Chicago Film Studios has pledged more than $2.3 million dollars to Sinai Health System. The pledge, which will be completed in 2022, includes an in-kind contribution to Sinai Health System and monetary support for the area of greatest need at Sinai Health System. 

Photo Credit: Sinai Health System

El capítulo de Illinois de la Sociedad de Enfermedad de Huntington de América (HDSA) ofrecerá la Conferencia Estatal de Illinois: El Poder de la Positividad es un evento educativo que incluirá grupos de apoyo de HD y pruebas clínicas actualizadas de profesionales. El evento se intenta sea una experiencia positiva para la comunidad HD. El evento tendrá lugar el sábado, 13 de abril, de 8:30 a.m. a 4 p.m., en Moraine Valley Community College Edificio M, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills, IL. La entrada al evento cuesta $10. El programa está patrocinado por la Sociedad de la Enfermedad de Huntington de América a través de un subsidio educativo sin restricciones de Genentech. Para más información sobre la enfermedad de Huntington y el trabajo de la Sociedad de Enfermedad de Huntington de América, visite www.HDSA.org o llame al 1-800-345-HDSA.

El Alcalde Rahm Emanuel, el Gobernador JB Pritzker, las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) y el Departamento de Servicios Familiares y de Apoyo (DFSS) anunciaron la expansión de los programas del Día Completo Universal de Pre-Kindergarten en 28 comunidades de Chicago. Como parte del plan del Alcalde Emanuel de ofrecer pre-k universal para el 2021, más de 100 nuevos salones de clase de día completo serán añadidos el próximo año escolar. Como parte de un aumento de $27 millones en gastos de CPS por Pre-K el próximo año, el distrito está abriendo más de 100 clases gratuitas, de tiempo completo, el año próximo. Las 28 comunidades más necesitadas incluirán: Auburn, Gresham, Avalon Park, Burnside, Calumet Heights, Chatham, East Side, Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, Hegewisch, Pullman, Riverdale, Roseland, South Chicago, South Deering, Washington Heights, West Englewood, West Pullman, Riverdale, Roseland, South Chicago, South Deering, Washington Heights, West Englewood, West Pullman; Austin, East Garfield Park, Humbold Park, Logan Square, Lower West Side, North Lawndale, South Lawndale, West Garfield Park, West Town y Uptown. Como parte de esta expansión el Departamento de Servicios Famliares y de Apoyo agregará otros $50 millones en apoyo a organizaciones comunitarias, brindando programas de educación temprana a través de un próximo RFP. Todos los sitios actuales de aprendizaje temprano pueden encontrarse en el portal en línea interactiva, fácil de usar, de la Ciudad, en www.chicagoearlylearning.org. Chicago’s Roadmap to Implementing Universal Pre-K (UPK), reporte detallando los detalles de nuestro plan de cuatro años lo puede encontrar en www.chilearn.org/UPK

El miércoles, 13 de marzo, el Presidente y CEO de Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, Alex Pissios, se ofreció como voluntario en Sinai Health System como “Cuidador por un Día” durante el programa para después de la escuela, con estudiantes de Plamundon Elementary School. El Sr. Pissios fue el primer miembro de la junta del Sinai en tomar parte en un nuevo papel que Sinai Health System ha establecido como parte de sus eventos del 100º Aniversario,“Cuidador por un Día”. Este evento inicial de Cuidador, está destinado a promover la necesidad de voluntarios para los programas para después de la escuela y otros en Sinai Health System, así como a promover la tutoría de los jóvenes. Después de ayudar a aproximadamente 20 estudiantes, de 6 a 14 años, a terminar su tarea y disfrutar de la hora de la merienda, Pissios y los niños que participaron en el programa diario de Sinai Community Institute, entregaron un regalo monetario al equipo de liderazgo del Sinai, en reconocimiento a su centenario. Cinespace Chicago Film Studios ha prometido más de $2.3 millones de dólares a Sinai Health System. La promesa, que quedará completada en el 2022, incluye una contribución en especie a Sinai Health System y apoyo monetario en el área de mayor necesidad en Sinai Health System.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) announced the launch of the One Summer Chicago application. The One Summer Chicago program will support 32,000 jobs and internship opportunities for youth to gain valuable work experience and critical support services. The application is available for youth ages 14 to 24 through May 20 at www.onesummerchicago.org. The 2019 One Summer Chicago program will run for six weeks from July 1 through August 9. Opportunities include: infrastructure jobs; camp counselors; urban agriculture and outdoor forestry projects; and private sector experience. Summer Fast Track is a new program developed by DFSS, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and City Colleges of Chicago (CCC). Summer Fast Track will provide approximately 200 high school seniors with the opportunity to complete high school and college level courses in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway at no cost. After School Matters will provide stipends to students in this program.

To build on the record-setting academic progress being made in Chicago schools, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson announced on Tuesday that nearly 17,000 CPS students at 32 schools across the city will gain access to high-quality programming next school year as part of the largest-ever program expansion in district schools. CPS’ remarkable financial turnaround — due in large part to the education funding reform that families and city leaders fought to achieve in 2017 — has positioned the district to invest $32 million in new programs that were requested through a first-of-its-kind application process that empowered school communities to apply for new high-quality programs including International Baccalaureate (IB), STEM and Dual Language. To ensure the success of these programs, which will benefit a student population that is 80 percent low income, CPS will be providing the 32 schools, including Belmont-Cragin Elementary School, Columbia Explorers Elementary School, and Hawthorne Elementary School a total of $32 million over the next six years to support staffing, training, learning resources, and other elements needed to ensure programs are successfully implemented. To view the full program, view https://cps.edu/SchoolData/Pages/SchoolData.aspx.

Illinois Institute of Technology announced that it will host the Chicago Public Schools Exhibition of Student Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research for the first time at its main campus in Chicago March 18-24. Each year, more than 200 students from grades 7-12 from across the CPS system participate in the annual STEM Exhibition, which has awarded more than $3 million in student scholarships to date, including cash grants and tuition waivers from Illinois Tech, DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, University of Chicago, and University of Illinois at Chicago. The top student STEM projects will go on to compete for awards at the statewide Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Fair, and four (4) high school students will be selected to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, AZ. This year’s theme, “Exploring the Unexplored through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,” will encourage students to challenge themselves to apply critical thinking skills in order to “discover, create, and solve,” in accordance with the mission of Illinois Tech. The Student STEM Exhibition will be open to the public from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm on Friday, March 22, and from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday, March 23. For more information regarding the 69th Annual CPS Exhibition of Student STEM Research, please visit www.cpsscifair.org.

By 2020, more than 67 percent of jobs in Illinois will require postsecondary education or training. Yet, three million adults lack education beyond high school. The effects of this shocking educational gap are widespread, not only felt by these underserved adults and their families, but causing economic ripples across Illinois. Adult education saves the government millions of dollars by reducing the need for state-subsidized programs such as public aid, housing, unemployment, food stamps, Medicaid and corrections. For every dollar spent on adult education, Illinois is paid back $2.50. Recognizing this connection between literacy and the state’s overall wellbeing, the Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition (CCLC) aims to improve the quality and build the capacity of adult basic education programs in Illinois through work with and support of 40 organizations over the last ten years. This month, the CCLC was one of 24 nationally-recognized XPRIZE award recipients. As a result, the CCLC will be given a code to distribute, providing any adult learner with free access to an app that will help them with their reading and writing. On Thursday, March 28, the CCLC will host their 4th annual Beyond Books award ceremony at the Newberry Library. This year they will honor Julie Morita, Commissioner of Chicago Department of Public Health, as the Literacy Leader Award winner, placing a focus on the many ways in which literacy and health intersect.

El Alcalde Rahm Emanuel y el Departamento de Servicios Familiares y de Apoyo (DFSS) anunciaron el lanzamiento de la solicitud One Summer Chicago. El Programa One Summer Chicago apoya 32,000 trabajos y oortunidades de internado para jóvenes, para que adquieran valiosa experiencia de trabajo y servicios de apoyo indispensables. La solicitud está disponible para jóvenes de 14 a 24 años hasta el 20 de mayo en www.onesummerchicao.org. El progama One Summer Chicago tiene una duración de seis meses, del 1º de julio al 9 de agosto. Las oportunidades incluyen: Infraestructura de empleos; consejeros de campo, agricultura urbana y proyectos de silvicultura; yexperiencia en el sector privado. Summer Fast Track es un nuevo programa desarrollado por DFSS, las Escuelas Públlicas de Chicago (CPS) y los Colegios de la Ciudad de Chicago (CCC). Summer Fast Track ofrecerá aproximadamente a 200 estudiantes de último año de secundaria la oportunidad de terminar la secundaria y cursos a nivel de colegio en una Carrera y Educación Técnica (CTE) sin costo alguno. After School Matters dará estipendios a los estudiantes en este programa.

Por: Ashmar Mandou

Golden Apple sorprendió a unos cuantos maestros de Chicago esta semana, con el más respetado Premio anual de Golden Apple por Excelencia en Enseñanza. Los premios Golden Apple por Excelencia en Enseñanza reconocen y honran a destacados maestros por su papel en establecer una sociedad más fuerte y mejor educada. Los recipientes de los premios del 2019 fueron seleccionados de un grupo récord de más de 555 nominaciones y representa a maestros de secundaria de todo Illinois. Compañeros educadores, estudiantes, padres y miembros de la comunidad nominan a maestros para el premio todos los años. La Universidad Northwestern da a cada recipiente del Premio Golden Apple un trimestre sabático de primavera, con colegiatura gratis para estudiar en la Universidad Northwestern. Cada recipiente recibe también un premio en efectivo de $5,000. Algunos de los ganadors de este año incluyen a:

Nicole Cordero
Amundsen High School-Chicago

Greta Kringle
Eric Solorio Academy High School-Chicago

Joshua Long
Southside Occupational Academy-Chicago

Erin Unander
Lake View High School-Chicago