Dear New Field families,

We are thrilled to share that this week, thanks to our long-standing partnership with Bernie's Book Bank, all New Field students will receive a free bag of high quality books to start, or add to, their at-home reading libraries. Expect your child to come home with a neon green bag full of books. These are yours to keep!! We hope they bring you and your family much enjoyment and many special memories!

Reading at home is such an incredibly important experience for young children. Not only does it teach critical literacy skills, reading at home also has some perhaps unexpected benefits, including:

• Reading books aloud helps children build language skills
• Reading books aloud helps children learn general information about the world, which makes it easier for them to learn about new subjects and ideas.
  
• Reading stories helps children build empathy and learn how to handle challenging feelings.
  
• Reading together strengthens the child/parent bond. Even a few minutes of reading together gives both you and your child a chance to slow down, connect with each other, and share an enjoyable activity

There is no one right way to read with your child. You can read in any language, you can read/tell stories using pictures and illustrations alone, without any words or print. Any caregiver can read with a child - including older siblings, cousins, mentors, grandparents and more. To mimic this experience of reading, you can also engage in oral storytelling as a way to build language and comprehension. You can share read with your child, meaning you and your child take turns reading print. Click here to read more from the Child-Mind Institute.

We hope you and your children enjoy these wonderful books and that you build even stronger routines for reading at home, as homework tapers off and summer break nears.

Happy reading to each and everyone of you!

Warmly,

Mrs. Conrey Callahan

Principal, New Field ES

Our after school programming has staggered ending dates depending on the program. Please mark your calendars and be aware of the following ending dates. Please email our after school coordinator, Manini Rao, with any questions: mrao2@cps.edu

May After School Program Ending Dates:

• Girls on the Run; 5/16

• Art/Drawing Program (Young Rembrandts): 5/20

• Capoeira Monday K-2 (Brazilian martial arts/dance): 5/20

• Chicago Run Spring: 5/21

• Crazy 8s Math Club: 5/21 & 5/23

• Bollywood Thursday: 5/23

• Recycling Club: 5/22

• Capoeira Thursday 3rd-4th (Brazilian martial arts/dance): 5/23

• Choir (Uniting Voices Chicago): 5/28

• Soccer with Mr. Oscar (Urban Initiatives): 5/30

• Soccer with Mr. West (Urban Initiatives): 5/30

• PK Soccer with Ms. Cielo (Urban Initiatives): 5/30

Our annual Summer Splash Day is Friday, May 24!

Students will have fun water games, music and popsicles at recess.

Please send your child to school with a bathing suit, towel and/or a change of clothing.

Participation is optional

Please save the date for our end-of-year concert, the New Field Garden Party! Each student in K-4 will be starring in a class song or dance to celebrate growth and nature. In addition, some students in after school programs will display and celebrate their learning.

There will be three separate concerts, and your child will perform in at least one of them. Please see the schedule below to find out the date of their show.

All concerts will begin at 2:15 in the cafeteria.

• Wednesday 5/29: Rooms 108, 202, 212, 313, 310, 304, 101, Bollywood Dance Club, and Brazilian Capoeira
• Thursday 5/30: Rooms 109, 111, 210, 311, 305, 308, 213, Chicago Children's Choir, Bollywood Dance, Brazilian Capoeira
• Friday 5/31: Rooms 113, 201, 309, 302, 312, 306, 301, 110, Bollywood Dance, Brazilian Capoeira

Please contact Mr. Dusel (ddusel@cps.edu) or your child's classroom teacher if you have any questions!

New Field Movie Night: Friday, May 31, 8:15 PM

Movie night is a free, outdoor movie experience for New Field community members.

Students will vote to select the movie of their choice

Entry begins at 7:30

Movie expected to begin at 8:15 (sunset)

No rain date will be scheduled

Looking ahead to SY2025, Kinder-Fourth Grade enrollment is now open! Neighborhood families can enroll any day between 9:00 - 2:00, no appointment needed.

• Click here to check your address and your assigned neighborhood school
• Click here to view our required documents for enrollment

Families, we need critical information from you about next school year:

• Fourth Grade Families: Please be sure to confirm your child's next school of enrollment ASAP. We will update our records accordingly (survey linked below)
• PK-Third Grade Families: Please confirm that you will continue enrollment with us. Changing schools? This requires a transfer at the end of the year. Please help us plan effectively for SY2025 and confirm your child's enrollment.

• New Field Family Handbook
• New Field Community Google Calendar
• Healthy Celebration Snack Policy & Recommended Snacks
• ISBE Outdoor Activity Guidelines
• CPS Meal Viewer
• COVID Self-Report Form
• e-Absence & ASPEN Parent Portal