Whitney Young Weekly

WELCOME BACK to an exciting school year! This year marks 50 years of excellence at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. We are 50 Years YOUNG! Stay tuned for upcoming activities to celebrate this milestone.

We are thrilled to have all our students, faculty, and staff back, ready to embark on another year of learning, growth, and championships. Each of us together make our school a truly special place. Throughout this year, we are committed to providing a supportive and enriching environment where each student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our amazing teachers and staff have been working hard to prepare engaging lessons, meaningful extracurricular activities, and a safe atmosphere for everyone.

As we begin this year together, let's remember the importance of collaboration and communication. Parents and guardians, your involvement plays a crucial role in your child's success. Together We Can Achieve More!!

Together we will continue to uphold the pillars of Respect, Integrity, Empathy, and Resilience and our standard of excellence. Here's to a year filled with discoveries, accomplishments, and many lasting wonderful memories.

Our theme this year is "Go For The Gold!" Let's make this year one for the record books!

Go Dolphins!!

Keeping with tradition, Mr. Harris will continue soliciting questions for the Whitney Young Weekly. He will select and answer questions each week. Note: by submitting your question, you agree that the question and answer will be published and sent to the whole school community. Not all questions will be able to be answered/published. Due to the popularity of Harris' Huddle, questions may take at least four weeks to be published. If you have an immediate concern, please contact the Main Office during regular school hours at (773) 534-7500.

Submit your question or comment here.

Hey Dolphins,

Welcome back to another school year! We hope your break was restful because we're starting this year with a splash. We are excited to announce that this year's Masquerade Homecoming will occur on Friday, September 27th. Look forward to a night of mystery—or just fun with your friends.

Of course, Homecoming being so soon means Spirit Week is even sooner! As always, we value your input, so make sure you vote for your Spirit Week themes here.

Lastly, we'd like to announce that we are opening Homecoming Court nominations. You can nominate your friends (with permission), or yourself, here. Nominations close September 9th at 11:59 PM, and Homecoming Court voting will follow soon after. Good luck to all of those who are hoping to run!

Illinois Law currently requires Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to exclude SAT scores from a student’s High School Transcript unless the parent or guardian (for students 17 or younger) or student (age 18+) requests CPS to report the scores on the transcript. CPS has established an Opt-In Form for this purpose for distribution to high school seniors and other applicable students who have obtained SAT scores from the CPS administration of this test.

Students may opt in now, but School Day SAT scores will not appear on the transcripts until later in the fall after ISBE delivers the scores to CPS. Last school year, the scores were available in late November.

Once an opt-in request is recorded electronically, any transcript generated from the student information system for the student will include their CPS-administered SAT scores.

Opt in form (English) and (Spanish)

Sept 25 - Northwestern Univ; cost $25; Permission slip (here)
To secure your spot, turn in cash/check made out to Whitney Young and signed permission slip to School Store

Recommended for upper classmen to attend, but open to any high school student if it is your lunch period. For upper classmen wishing to visit when it is not your lunch period, you must obtain permission from your teacher before attending.

• Visits are listed in SchooLinks and on the Counseling Website
• All visits are held in the Counseling Office 120A
• Be prompt and attentive during visits; be sure to sign in with the on duty counselor
• Be prepared with questions and engage with the representative

Permission slip (2 pages, sign both) can be found here. To reserve your spot, bring the signed permission slip and a deposit of $100 (cash or check) to the school store before Sept 4 at 1:15pm. We have 20 spots for the trip and must fill all 20 spots to proceed. If you have made your deposit on Sept 4, you will receive further instructions to pay the balance (online or in person). If we do not reach the necessary number, your deposit will be refunded. We CANNOT refund the deposit if you change your mind about attending as we will have counted on your attendance and purchased an airline ticket for you.

• In addition to the permission slip, please complete this registration form.
• The cost of this trip is $600. Students will need appx $100 spending money to cover public transportation in Philly as well as meals.

Limited financial assistance may be available by application for one trip per year. To apply, email Alison Melton at amelton2@cps.edu

Starting Tues, Sept. 10th, you will be able to select and attend an Enrichment activity of your choice. The options for Enrichment activities will be shared in next week's Whitney Young Weekly. Remember that it is your responsibility to make sure you are correctly scanned into your activity so your attendance is recorded. If you do not scan into a location, you will be assigned an Enrichment in the Library.

To best prepare, students will have the chance to practice scanning into enrichment during advisory this week. 7th and 9th grade students should make sure they have memorized their student ID numbers (or have them written down) to facilitate a smooth scanning process.

During the week of August 5, 2024, Sarida Silapaduriyang volunteered to teach English to Thai students at Triamudomsuksanomklao Nonthaburi School (outside of Bangkok). She assisted the English teachers and occasionally took on the lead role, teaching students between 7 and 12 grades. She built the students' confidence and encouraged them to speak English outside of the classroom.

The D19 Mutual Aid Group is a volunteer group helping migrant families meet their immediate needs. Among other things, we equip hundreds of new CPS students with backpacks filled with supplies, clothes and basic needs items. To do this we need used but still serviceable) backpacks.

If you have backpacks that are no longer needed that are in working condition, please consider donating them to this cause.

Donation bins will be set up in Blue House and Red House on Sept 3 - 6th.

We greatly appreciate your help! Any additional questions about the group can be emailed to mutualaid19th@gmail.com.

We invite everyone to our annual Staff Art Show in the Whitney Young Art Gallery on the 2nd floor of our Academic Building (next to the library) on Parent Night, Thursday, Sept. 5. We will have Art, music, and snacks at 3:30 - 4:15. The gallery will stay open until Parent Night is over. This exhibition showcases artwork created by our teachers, administration, interpreters, security, student aides, and clerks! Our gallery is open every day during school and all are welcome.

Our annual appeal for donations for Family Night is starting right now! This year we are working with Friends of Whitney Young and broadening our funding appeal to all of our Beloved Whitney Young Community—so if you are a member of a current 7th or 8th grade family or if you have happy memories of Family Nights your family has attended, or if you are simply able to donate regardless, we need your support. ACaThon is September 11, and we need to know our financial situation as soon as possible so that we can plan and carry out our program this year. Please donate using this link and when you get to the screen that asks you to indicate which program your donation supports, insert the words “Academic Center Family Night.” Many thanks! Questions? Contact ddbloland@cps.edu

If you want to go on a affordable overnight community service trip join Community Engagement Club! Last year we went on a five day service trip to West Virginia and students got to visit Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This year we hope to do something similar. Join our google classroom to hear all the updates and learn more about the club! GC: yxtjcer

Are you interested in politics? Do you want to go on a weekend trip to Springfield to propose legislation and hang out with your friends? If yes then join Youth and Government! We're a club dedicated to teaching students how to be an advocate and how to be involved in politics. Join our google classroom for more information! GC: vga3x6v

Monday, September 2nd

No School - Labor Day

Thursday, September 5th

Parent Night

Tuesday, September 10th

First Day of Enrichment

Whitney Young Event Calendar

Chicago Public Schools Calendar