Dear CPS Community:

It is hard to believe that the Thanksgiving holiday is already here. As you get ready to celebrate with your family and friends, please know how grateful I am to serve as Superintendent of such a caring and deeply thoughtful community.

After the break I will be sharing some more details about our efforts to study the issue of quality learning and professional time in CPS. If you have time over the long weekend and are interested in learning about our work in this area, you might take some time to view the video from the November 13 School Committee Roundtable on Learning & Professional Time. You can also read our presentation on our findings to date on our website.

I believe this process will result in a well-considered proposal to improve the quality of learning and professional time in CPS. Most important to me for the next few days, however, will be enjoying my family over the holiday weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving to our CPS community. Enjoy your break!

Sincerely,

Kenneth N. Salim, Ed.D. 

Updates on Learning & Professional Time
Among the resources needed to achieve our educational vision is high quality time for educators and students to engage in rigorous, joyful, and culturally responsive learning experiences.

Members of the CPS community are invited to join the conversation:
Community Forum on Learning & Professional Time
December 5, 2018 at Morse School
Childcare & refreshments will be provided

Check out the latest updates and reports from our study and design process to improve learning and professional time >>


Roundtable on Social Emotional Learning
On October 9, CPS Teacher in Charge of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Alice Cohen led a roundtable discussion on efforts to improve school climate from a Whole Child perspective.

The presentation shone a spotlight on specific priorities and efforts in place within individual schools, while also painting a picture of the SEL Model that the district is adopting across all school communities.

Watch the video and view the presentation from the School Committee Roundtable.


Reducing Chronic Absenteeism
When it comes to student learning, school attendance matters. Research shows that getting to school every day can result in stronger academic outcomes, higher grades, and even healthier emotional wellbeing.

CPS has been studying the causes of chronic absenteeism, which is defined as students missing 10% or more school days. A number of strategies for improvement have been developed through a design process that began by focusing on the high school. 

Learn more: view the presentation and watch the video. 

Keynote Address on Equity
CPS invites members of our wider community to hear the stirring Keynote Address delivered by Dr. Tyrone C. Howard, professor at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA, at last summer’s Educator Colloquium. The colloquium provides an annual opportunity for educators to come together around a shared vision and priorities for the school year, and this year’s event focused on issues of equity and access. Read more about the colloquium and watch the keynote address >>


Teaching Empathy
A new elementary health education program, which began last year, has continued to support students in understanding the role they play in creating positive school climate. Among the topics the class covers are celebrating diversity, friendship, communication skills, conflict resolution, and bullying. Read more about this program >>