Principals' Newsletter - August

We are extremely excited to welcome all of our students and families back to school on Monday, 8/26, at 8:45am. Teachers and staff are eager to kick off the 2025 school year and ready to support each student's academic and social emotional development. Ravenswood remains committed to fostering a positive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We look forward to hearing about the fun and relaxing times from this summer!

Below you will find important information and some action items. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out.

To ensure the safety and security of our families and students, during arrival, staff will be closing Paulina Street and the Alley on Montrose and Cullom Ave by 8:35am.

During dismissal, Paulina street and the Alley will once again close by 3:35pm. With the exception of school buses and deliveries, we ask our families to support our staff with respecting the barriers during arrival and dismissal.

Teachers will be in the designated areas:

Arrival at 8:45am:

• PreK: Door 8
• Kindergarten and 1st Grade: Door 1
• 2nd, 3rd & 4th Grade: Door 6 & Door 7 (Outdoor Basketball Court)
• 5th& 6th Grade: Door 3
• 7th & 8th Grade: by Door 4 (North Courtyard)

Dismissal at 3:45pm:

• PreK: Door 8
• Kindergarten and 1st Grade: Door 1
• 2nd, 3rd & 4th Grade: Door 6 & Door 7 (Outdoor Basketball Court)
• 5th& 6th Grade: Door 2
• 7th & 8th Grade: Door 3

For families dropping off their children, we will have supervision beginning at 8:30am.

To encourage independence and good habits, we are asking all students to enter the building with their teachers only. Parents will not be allowed to walk students to their classroom. If you need to enter the building, please use Door 2 to access the Main Office.

Teachers and staff will be available during dismissal if you would like to check in about your child's day.

• Emergency and Health Form
• Media Consent Form
• CPS family income information Form (1 per family)
• School Messaging Consent Form

Paper copies of these forms will be sent home with your child during the first week.

We would like to WELCOME our new team members to Ravenswood!

• Sam Stovitz, 5th-6th grade ELA Teacher
• Michael Fisher, 7th-8th grade Diverse Learner Teacher
• Ashely Telman, English Language Program Teacher
• Angela Maniak, School Counselor
• Oana Odean, Pre-K Lunch Support
• Crystal Brandy, Youth Guidance Coach
  

Please be sure to give them a warm Ravenswood welcome when you see them over the next couple of days and weeks!

Additionally, HERE is Ravenswood's Organizational Chart. You will find our teachers, staff, and clinicians' roles and contact information.

CPS Facilities has been working hard this summer on the first floor (north) bathroom renovation. This bathroom will be completely remodeled with new toilets, wash closets, sinks, mirrors, tiles, etc. Additionally, ALL other bathrooms received new toilets and flush valves. This has supported our primary students significantly.

A big shout out to our Ravenswood Bathroom Committee for their efforts to get this project moving! Their collaboration, organization, and communication with CPS and elected officials made this all happen!

The ADA office has requested that we solicit our families for the following information. This request aims to inform our school community and ADA office re: potential service animals in our school building.

If you are a parent of a child with allergies or adverse responses triggered by animals, please let us know by answering this quick form HERE.

Are you interested in supporting Ravenswood students during the school day? We have partnered with One North Side to support students in and out of the classroom.

If you are interested in learning more, please complete the survey HERE.

We'd like to take a quick moment to remind you of the Chicago Public School's policy regarding dogs. Respectfully, dogs are not allowed on the school premises including the playground. Unfortunately, some of our community members have been using the playground as a dog park on the weekends and excrement has had to be cleaned up on multiple occasions on Mondays.

Kindly, please refrain from from bringing your dogs to the playground. Also, if you see dog owners with their pets on the playground, please call 3-1-1 and request CPD to come to the school to address the situation.

Please see the following updates and action items:

• School Supply Lists - Available HERE. Paper copies are available in the main office.
• August: Class Lists - Rosters will go live in Aspen the week of 8/19.

• 8/14: Regular Office Hours - 8:45am to 3:45pm
• 8/22: Teacher/Staff Meet & Greet - 3:45pm to 5:15pm
• 8/26: First Day of School
  
• 8/30: Welcome Parent Coffee: 9am, North Courtyard
• 9/7: Back to School Block Party - 3pm to 8pm
• 9/12: Open House/Curriculum Night - 5pm to 7pm

Parent Handbook

The Ravenswood Parent Handbook is your guide to Ravenwood's policies and procedures. You will find specific information as well as contact information for teachers and staff.

Volunteering at Ravenswood

• Interested in volunteering, click HERE

ASPEN Parent Portal

• Aspen Excused Absences: Parents and guardians can now submit and track student absences electronically. Here is more about this new feature: E-Absence Flyer.

ASPEN Student Portal

• Teachers in 4th-8th grade will be resetting passwords and will provide students with their email credentials to access the student portal. Please reach out to your child's teacher if your child needs access to student portal.
  

Ravenswood Rambler

• Use this LINK to subscribe to the Ravenswood Rambler and stay on top of upcoming school events.

Ms. Paredes and I are requesting your feedback. Please take a moment to provide us with some constructive feedback regarding our leadership thus far. The Google Form is anonymous and will be used to make shifts in our leadership for the remainder of the school year. The feedback form can be found HERE.

Carolina and I are grateful to be part of this AMAZING community of students, staff, families, and community members. We look forward to continuing our work in partnership with you all and supporting, sustaining, and enhancing Ravenswood!

Best,