Peirce School Family Newsletter

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Greetings Peirce Families,

The May Parent newsletter contains a lot of information, please be sure to check out the following topics in the body of the newsletter below:

• SY19-20 Budget - passed by the Local School Council at the April meeting
• Updates to Move-A-Thon - May 17th
• Playworks Community Kickball Game - May 3rd
• SY19-20 Enrollment Information - happening now
• Volunteer Celebration - May 31st at 8:15am
  
• Kindergarten Orientation - May 31st at 9:15am
• Summer Programs
• MAP Testing

Upon arriving from Spring Break, Aspen launched - the new student information management system. The change from Aspen has resulted in a few challenges for parents in accessing the student portal - check this FAQ guide for information on what to do if you are having difficulty accessing your students information. Please remember that having access to the student portal is the method which parents will be able to use in order to find out classroom placements for the 2019-2020 school year.

Thank you to Hopleaf! Peirce Day at Hopleaf was held on April 28th and was another successful fundraising event. Peirce is appreciative of this partnership - Michael Roper & Louise Molnar have been longtime supporters of Peirce School - through their support along with Friends of Peirce students have benefited from arts partnerships, sports programming, technology, school beautification projects, teacher stipends, field trips, lockers and so much more! Be on the lookout for additional lockers to be purchased for middle school along with refillable water bottle stations.

If you have been on the playground you will notice the structure for our newest Bricolage to be constructed above door #4. Be on the lookout as students work alongside of Green Star over the next month and a half to reveal our 3rd exterior Bricolage! Funding for this project was secured through the Alderman's Office - please thank Alderman Osterman when you see him.

Happy Spring!

Lori Zaimi

Principal

During the week of May 6-10, please join us and celebrate Chicago’s amazing teachers. CPS created a social media toolkit that has avatars, shareable graphics, and ideas for how you can join in the celebration. Use #thankateacher and please tag us at @ChiPubSchools so we can retweet, repost, and share your appreciation for our awesome teachers.

We can’t wait to celebrate our incredible teachers in the coming weeks.

Social Media Toolkit (PDF) (Spanish)

In addition, the Peirce Service Organization is hosting a breakfast on Tuesday, May 7th and are seeking donations, consider signing up here.

There are always great things happening that often do not go recognized. Send a shout out to a fellow Peirce Parent or Staff Member to be included in upcoming newsletters! Please submit any shout-outs here. Take a look at a few parent shout outs below:

• Peirce Staff would like to thank ALL OF THE PARENTS who supported the Luncheon during Report Card Day - As a staff, we appreciate you!
• Erin Payne for her dedication to completing the bathroom painting project in the old building!
  
• Tracy Didriksen for organizing the Peirce Site for the 48th Ward Clean & Green Event!
• PAC Parents who worked tirelessly to organize the latest round of Parent Math Workshops!
  
• Megan Brand for coordinating the Parent Focus Groups around Race.
• Tanya Larson for spending countless hours on the Student Babysitting Initiative!

• Pre-School is expanding! 4 additional classrooms have been granted to Peirce, for a total of 7 full day Pre-K Classrooms. The 4 additional classrooms will be at an off-site location - we will work to create unity between the two campuses, minimizing the feel of having two school campuses.
• Additional staff added to Peirce as a result of the Pre-K Expansion include 4 PK Teachers, 1 PK Lead Teacher, 1 Sp.Ed. Teacher for the PK Blended Program, 4 Teacher Assistants, 1 Assistant Principal, 1 Security.
• We will add in 1 additional homeroom to alleviate overcrowding that we experienced in 5th grade this year - all grade levels will have four classrooms per grade level. Adding in this classroom will require movement to the locations that some of our programs are currently placed in - we have not yet finalized a location for all programs next year.
• This past year we had 1.5 music teachers, next school year we will have 2 full time music teachers which will allow us to offer specials classes at both the PK center and the main building. The detailed specials schedule for PK has not yet been developed.
• Due to a decrease in poverty, Peirce no longer qualifies for a full time Playworks Coach which had been subsidized through the Ameri-Corps grant. However, we will partner with Playworks through the Team-Up Program - we will identify a current recess coach to become the recess lead, receiving training over the next school year from Playworks.

I am excited to see the ongoing growth and development at Peirce School - expanding educational opportunities for our students!

Parents often comment on the additional programs that we offer as reasons for choosing Peirce as your educational home. Once all positions are paid for, there are few dollars which remain for these special programs, materials, books, etc. Your support of paying student fees and supporting fundraising opportunities through Friends of Peirce (as you are able to) are greatly appreciated. If you are interested in making a one-time donation to Friends of Peirce, you can do so here. If you have not yet paid your SY18-19 Student Fee, you can do so here.

In collaboration with the Move-A-Thon Planning Committee, we are excited to announce a slight change to the format of this years Move-A-Thon. On Friday, May 17th, all 1,040 students and 100+ staff members will be walking from Peirce School to the Lakefront! PK & Kindergarten students will walk from Peirce to a local park, play and come back. The new format of the event has already created much excitement among our student body - students have expressed that this is a great way for the school to show unity and support for the school we all love. We are working with the Alderman's Office and the Chicago Police Department around logistics for the event to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Field Trip slips will be sent home by classroom teachers, students who are unable to participate will engage in movement activities at the school during the walk.

The outside movement activities and support from local vendors that students have participated in the past will still remain - these opportunities will take place in the afternoon via recess and through specials/classroom partnerships with vendors. We still see this day as a day of movement with a balance of walking and fun activities in place.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

There are several ways for parents/community members to be involved - all volunteers must be level 2 approved. We are seeking parents who can walk with classrooms as chaperones, stand as crossing guards at each corner along the path, help organize/send off students and staff from the school, welcome students/staff at the lakefront, someone to dress up as Pickles and those that just want to stand along the route cheering our student body on. Please sign up via the Sign Up Genius. More information will be sent to those who have indicated that they can volunteer.

How To Raise Funds

1. Visit the Move-A-Thon Website
2. Have students create an online account - takes less than 30 seconds - each student receives a unique link that can be emailed to friends and family to request for family support.
3. Collect in-person donations - form found here.
4. Each Thursday leading up to Move-a-Thon (May 2, 9, 16) we’ll have a raffle in which each student who has participated by submitting donations (either online or through cash/check) will be entered!
   

Come out for an afternoon of fun and healthy competition at the second annual Playworks Community Kickball Game! Please join us Friday May 3rd after school on the turf to support the teams and cheer on all the players. We are still looking for parents and school staff to play, so please email Coach Julia (julia.dornbusch@playworks.org) if you are interested!

Peirce School is a site for Steve & Kate's Summer Camp! Click here to learn more information about the camp and the options for your child this summer.

Kindergarten-8th Grade

Spread the word - we are now enrolling for next school year! Encourage any family that you know of in the neighborhood to begin the registration process. More information can be found on the school website by visiting here.

Pre-Kindergarten

There pre-school application opens tomorrow, April 30th! Visit chicagoearlylearning.org to apply, more information can also be found by visiting here.

KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION - 5/31/19

We invite all parents and guardians of incoming Kindergarten students for the 2019-2020 school year to attend our Kindergarten Orientation. The meeting will provide an opportunity for you to learn about the Kindergarten program, meet the teachers and current parents, ask questions, and connect with other incoming Kindergarten parents.
Date: Friday, May 31, 2018
Time: 9:15 a.m.
RSVP to: bmfabianski@cps.edu

All Peirce Parents are invited to join the Peirce Administration, Students and Teachers on Friday, May 31st at 8:15am for our annual Volunteer Celebration! Peirce would not be what it is without support of our parents - from painting, to supporting school wide events, classroom initiatives, fundraising, tours and more - Peirce parents are always available and ready to lend a hand - thank you!

Students in 2nd-8th grades will take the MAP Test over the next month, May 31st is the deadline for all benchmark grades: 3rd, 6th and 8th grades as student promotion is based on MAP data and grades. MAP data counts for 60% of our overall school rating with student growth weighted the heaviest. Please reach out to your child's teacher with any questions about the MAP Test.

3rd, 6th, & 8th grades will test the week of May 20th

2nd, 4th, 5th & 7th Grades will test the week of June 3rd

With the roll-out of Aspen, current attendance data is not available. An update will be given in June, please continue sending children to school each day on time, as long as they are in good health.

Teacher Appreciation Week May 6th-10th

MAP Testing for 3rd, 6th & 8th Grades May 20th-24th

1st - Spring Parent Tour for prospective families, 8:30am

2nd - Student of the Month, 8:15am

3rd - Parent Advisory Council Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse

3rd - Spring Concert, 9:00am & 1:30pm

3rd - Playworks Community Event, 3:15pm

3rd - Parent Basketball League, 6:00pm

4th - 5th/6th Soccer Game @ Clarendon Park, 3pm

7th - America To Me Watch Party, 5:30pm, Room 206B

8th-10th 7th/8th New York City Trip

10th - Bilingual Advisory Council Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse

10th - Peirce Service Organization Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse

10th - Parent Basketball League, 6:00pm

14th - America To Me Watch Party, 5:30pm, Room 206B

14th - Friends of Peirce Meeting, 6:30pm, Fieldhouse

16th - Local School Council Meeting, 6:00pm, Gymnatorium

17th - Progress Reports Distributed

17th - Move-A-Thon

17th - Parent Basketball League, 6:00pm

18th - Track Meet @ Lane Tech HS, 12:30pm

18th - 5th/6th Soccer @ Clarendon Park, 2pm

18th - 7th/8th Soccer @ Clarendon Park, 2pm

21st - America To Me Watch Party, 5:30pm, Room 206B

22nd - Kindergarten Arts Partnership Performance

23rd - Friends of Peirce Day at Dollop Diner

24th - Small Group Parent Tour, 8:15am

24th - Parent Basketball League, 6:00pm

27th - No School, Memorial Day

28th - America To Me Watch Party, 5:30pm, Room 206B

30th - Race & Culture Parent Resource Group Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse

31st - Parent Volunteer Celebration, 8:15am

31st - Kindergarten Orientation, 9:15am

June 3rd-7th 2nd, 4th, 5th & 7th Grade MAP Testing

4th - 2nd Grade Dream Big Performance

5th - Student of the Month, 8:15am

6th - 3rd Grade Lookingglass Performance

6th - Box Tops Collected

7th - PSO Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse

7th - FOP Babysitting, 6pm

11th - Peirce Day @ Chipotle on Broadway

11th - Friends of Peirce Meeting, 6:30pm, Fieldhouse

13th - Local School Council Meeting, 6pm, Gymnatorium

14th - PYP 5th Grade Exhibition

14th - PAC Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse

18th - 8th Grade Graduation @ Senn High School, 8:30am

19th - Move Up Day

19th - 4th Transition to 5th Departmental

19th - 5th Transition to MYP Year 1 (6th Grade)

19th - Kindergarten Sing, 9:00am

20th - Last Day of School - 3pm dismissal

20th - Report Cards Distributed

20th - Math-A-Palooza

Back to School Information

August 23rd - Classroom Placements updated in Aspen (all placements are tentative - some changes may need to be made the first week of school)

August 29th - Back to School Festival - Meet the teacher/drop off supplies from 3:00 - 4:00pm, PSO Picnic from 4:00 - 6:00pm

August 29th - New Family Orientation, 3:00pm (If Kindergarten families missed the May 31st session, this is an opportunity to have a condensed version, and new families to grades other than Kindergarten are welcome to attend)

September 3rd - First Day of School for the 2019-2020 School Year!

Peirce families now have the option of paying student fees online by clicking here and then selecting the one time payment option. Fees are $50 per student or $100 max for 2 or more children.

Las familias de Peirce ahora tienen la opción de pagar las cuotas de los estudiantes en línea haciendo clic aquí y luego seleccionando la opción de pago por única vez. Los honorarios son de $ 50 por estudiante o de $ 100 como máximo para 2 o más niños.

Please help us create a safe space for our students as they enter and leave the building - dogs and pets are not allowed on school grounds.

Ayúdenos a crear un espacio seguro para nuestros estudiantes al entrar y salir del edificio; no se permiten perros ni mascotas en el recinto escolar.

The CPS Breakfast and Lunch Menu can be found here, this is updated regularly, so please check back often. These menus are subject to change. Also, please check out the CPS Nutrition Services Website.

El menú de desayuno y almuerzo de CPS se puede encontrar aquí, se actualiza regularmente, así que por favor vuelva a visitarlo con frecuencia. Estos menús están sujetos a cambios. Además, consulte el sitio web de CPS Nutrition Services.

The specials schedule can be accessed here - this indicates the class that your child will have each day of the week (Art, Music, Dance, PE, Spanish).

Se puede acceder al programa de especiales aquí: esto indica la clase que tendrá su hijo cada día de la semana (Arte, Música, Danza, Educación Física, Español).

The Parent-Student Handbook can be found here. Please review to become familiar with school policies and procedures.

El manual para padres y alumnos se puede encontrar aquí. Por favor revise para familiarizarse con las políticas y procedimientos de la escuela.

Peirce School utilizes Restorative Practices which are in alignment with the Chicago Public Schools Student Code of Conduct. This guide provides information on how student behavior is supported in CPS. Click here to access the Student Code of Conduct. Any questions related to Restorative Practices or the Student Code of Conduct can be directed to Shelton Jackson via email sjackson143@cps.edu or by phone at 773-534-2440.

La Escuela Peirce utiliza Prácticas Restaurativas que están alineadas con el Código de Conducta Estudiantil de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago. Esta guía proporciona información sobre cómo se admite el comportamiento de los estudiantes en CPS. Haga clic aquí para acceder al Código de Conducta Estudiantil. Cualquier pregunta relacionada con las Prácticas de Restauración o el Código de Conducta del Estudiante puede dirigirse a Shelton Jackson por correo electrónico sjackson143@cps.edu o por teléfono al 773-534-2440.

Email: lzaimi@cps.edu
Website: peirce.cps.edu
Location: 1423 W Bryn Mawr Chicago, IL
Phone: 773-534-2440
Facebook: facebook.com/peircecps