The Eagle's Press
Week of Oct 12
Greetings Lindblom MSA Eagles,
THANK YOU to the following for playing a valuable role in bringing our HS and AC homecoming dances to life!
Office teams (McDaniel, Williams, Pettigrew, Villagran, Herrera, Nguyen)
RJ team (Brown & Taylor)
Culture and Climate team (Cohill, Evans, Harris, Shinaul)
Several SECAs (Blue, Charleston, Hayes, Moore, West)
Case Manager (Clemons), Counselor (C. Clark), Coach (Lawson)
AC parents: Ms. Penson, Ms. Blair-Jones, Ms. Young, Ms. Mathis, Ms. Powell, Ms. Collins
HS parents: Ms. Williams, Ms. Rogers, Ms. Outlaw
Golden Apple volunteer: Ms. Blount
On behalf of our HS and AC students, thank you! This weekend’s events were a success because of your time, commitment, and contributions. We appreciate the collective effort that goes into creating meaningful experiences for our students.
We are also seeking a few dedicated community members and advocates to fill our current ALSC openings. To apply, visit the CPS LSC Vacancies Page.
Together, we strive for excellence,
Principal Banks
~Swoop, swoop
Attendance
Did you know that teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night to stay focused and energized? Late-night screen time—whether scrolling, gaming, or studying—is one of the biggest reasons teens struggle to wake up on time for first period.
Parents, try these tips:
Set a device curfew: Create a central charging spot outside bedrooms starting at 10:00 PM.
Prep the night before: Encourage your teen to choose their outfit, pack their backpack, and prep breakfast/lunch items before going to bed.
Small evening habits lead to stress-free mornings!
Engage in a discussion with our attendance staff, Mr. Catlett mecatlett@cps.edu, or Ms. Williams, sdwilliams1@cps.edu if you have questions about your student's attendance.
Monster Ball High
Empower students to build confidence, creativity, and community for LGBTQ+ and ally youth. The Monster High Ball is a youth Halloween Ball where students walk, dance, and express themselves in a safe, affirming space.
Hosted by Brave Space Alliance on October 23rd, it uses Chicago Ballroom culture to build confidence, creativity, and community for LGBTQ+ and ally youth. Students compete in fun, school-appropriate categories — Runway, Face, Vogue — inspired by Monster High. Check out the poster near Keeler to learn more about it. More questions- See Sunny!
Open Quiet Library
Students, want to show off your spelling skills? Register for Open Quiet Library on Oct. 21.
Global Opportunities
I am excited to share that the 2027-28 NSLI-Y and FLEX Global Abroad combined application is now available! Applicants can apply for the NSLI-Y and FLEX Global Abroad programs using one application.
Eligible applicants can apply here.
NSLI-Y Application Deadline: November 12, 2026 (4 PM ET)
FLEX Global Abroad Application Deadline: November 30, 2026 (4 PM ET)
National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) NSLI-Y Summer 2027 & Academic Year 2027-28 Application: Now Available!
Application Deadline: November 12, 2026 (4 PM ET)
The 2027-28 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) summer and academic year application is now available! NSLI-Y is a U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program to provides overseas critical language study opportunities for U.S. high school language learners. The NSLI-Y goals can be viewed on the program's website.
Eligible U.S. high school students can apply to NSLI-Y summer 2027 or NSLI-Y academic year 2027-28. NSLI-Y does not require previous language study. The program is able to accommodate learners at the complete beginner through Advanced-Low levels on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency scale. For more information about eligibility, please see our website.
Language offerings for 2027 study abroad programs include:
Summer: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, and Russian
Academic year: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), and Russian
Finalists selected though a merit-based process will study the target language in a host location abroad in summer 2027 or academic year 2027-28. Learn more about covered costs here.
Student Spotlight
Please join us in congratulating the winners of our Homecoming Court: Eric and Kellsey (King & Queen), Idris and London (Prince & Princess), Caleb and Wynter (Duke & Duchess), and Roscoe and Nylah (Count & Countess).
Alumni Spotlight
Donna Brown is a self-described "word nerd" with a passion for literacy. That passion led her to create iMagicNation, a not-for-profit based in Springfield, Illinois. The organization is on a mission to "Bring Books Back" and offers tutoring and other community-based literacy initiatives to encourage reading and improve literacy proficiency. Brown is a Dyslexia Practitioner and tutors children and adults who have dyslexia and other reading challenges.
Brown holds a B.A. in English and Communications from DePaul University and a M.A. in Public Affairs Reporting. Her first job after college was with the Chicago Defender and she worked in many other fields, including financial services before retiring in 2023.
Brown will release her first book this November. In it, she chronicles a day with her great-grandmother who she visited in Memphis each summer. As a child whose parents were a part of the Great Migration, Brown explores the connection between children raised in the North and their extended family members in the South.
The book titled: My Momma Maggie: Summers in Memphis with my Great-Grandmother is Brown's first; it is suitable for children ages 8-12. "I wrote the book for my two grandchildren because I wanted them to know what my life was like when I was their age. When the book opens, I'm 10 years old and preparing to board the Amtrak at Union Station."
She adds, "I realized I have an obligation to pass on my personal history couched in our national history. Kids may read about Dr. King being assassinated in Memphis, but they can also learn from their family members and others who were alive in the 1960s."
The book will be available in print and digital formats.