Hawks TGIF Dispatch SY 2026-2027

Dear Teachers and Staff,

We are entering the 5th week of school! It has been a very productive 1st 4 weeks and this week will mark the middle of the 1st quarter. This Friday, we will be focusing our time together in the morning on our CIWP Priority 2: Connectedness and Wellbeing and in the afternoon we will continue our work on Priority 1: Effective Instruction. We will be sharing the agenda no later than Thursday of this week. Please see the reminders in the dispatch below in regards to a few things that have come up these last few weeks.

With gratitude,

MA and Luna

Just a friendly reminder to review the staff handbook regarding personal days and religious holidays. Please review the guidelines starting on page 63.

Reminder | Progress Reports: Grade Posting Window is Open

The Teacher Grade Posting Window for Progress Reports is open until Tuesday, September 22nd at 5 p.m. Teachers can post grades multiple times in Aspen while the grade posting window is open, and grades must be posted to display on progress reports, report cards, and transcripts. Refer to the following guidance for steps to complete the grade posting process: Aspen Quick Guide - Posting Grades for Teachers. Also refer to the Chicago Public Schools Comprehensive Grading Guidance 2026-2028 to ensure grading practices are aligned. Bookmark the SIS Calendar to access and review upcoming dates and deadlines. Contact grades@cps.edu with any questions.

Monday, September 21st

• MTSS Cycle 1 Begins
• Boys' 7th/8th Grade Soccer Practice 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Girls' 7th/8th Grade Volleyball Practice 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• NRC After School Program
• 3rd-4th Homework Help and Fun Activities
• 5th-8th Introduction to Guitar

Tuesday, September 22nd

• First Day of Autumn
• Progress Report Grades Posted by 5:00 p.m.
• Boys' 5th/6th Grade Soccer Practice 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• NRC After School Program
• K-1st Crafty Club
• 1st-3rd Bilingual Tutoring
• 2nd-3rd Little Kickers
• 5th-6th Crochet Club
• 5th-6th Wrestling and Fitness
• 7th-8th Co-ed Soccer

Wednesday, September 23rd

• PLC in Room 105
• Boys' 7th/8th Grade Soccer Practice 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Girls' 7th/8th Grade Volleyball Practice 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• NRC After School Program
• 3rd-4th Homework Help and Fun Activities
• 5th-8th Introduction to Guitar

Thursday, September 24th

• Q1 Progress Report Distribution
• 8th Grade Parent Information Session (Auditorium) 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Loteria Night @ 5:00 p.m.
• BOY Testing Closes
• Boys' 5th/6th Grade Soccer Practice 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• NRC After School Program
• K-1st Crafty Club
• 1st-3rd Bilingual Tutoring
• 2nd-3rd Little Kickers
• 5th-7th Art Club
• 5th-6th Wrestling and Fitness
• 7th-8th Co-ed Soccer
• 4th-8th Broadway Beats

Friday, September 25th

• Professional Development Day ~ No Classes

Saturday, September 26th

• Girls Volleyball Game 11:15 a.m. vs. Beaubian @ Rickover H.S.
• Boys Soccer Game 10:00 a.m. vs. APC @ Portage Park

5th ~ World Teachers' Day

8th ~ High School Exam for 8th Grade

12th ~ Indigenous Peoples' Day

13th ~ LSC Regular Meeting @ 4:00 p.m.

13th ~ Cultivate Survey Opens

19th ~ Picture Day

23rd ~ Quarter 1 Ends

23rd ~ Cultivate Survey Closes

29th ~ Day of the Dead Event and Trunk or Treat

Please complete by date indicated.

All Staff/Teachers

• Please be sure to read through the staff handbook and complete the Acknowledgement and Receipt form in the office and place it in Ms. Reynolds' mailbox: Due Friday, 8/28/26 (past due)
• Don't forget to log into your Safe Schools Account to complete the required trainings.

Teachers

• Homerooms, collect all emergency forms and media consent forms. Please make a copy and place the copies in the file folder with you homeroom number in the file cabinet under "Henry the Fish". Due Friday, 8/28/25 to the main office. Past Due
• Emergency Lesson Plans: Turn them into the main office file cabinet by "Henry the Fish" ~ Past Due

PLCs

• Upload Curriculum Night information Curriculum Night (past due)
• Upload Curriculum Newsletter in Google Classroom by Monday, August 31st. (past due)
• Lesson Plans will be reviewed weekly. Upload them in Google Classroom.
• Please be sure to complete the ACCESS Score Plotting as well as Unit 1 Internalization work from our Week 0 professional development. (past due)
• Unit 1 Internalization (past due)
• Progress Report Grades Due Wednesday, September 23rd at 5:00 p.m.

Dear Teachers,

We are starting Cycle 1 on Monday, September 21st. Please remember, all Tier 2 and Tier 3 students need to have plans in Branching Minds for each subject area that they are in Tier 2 or Tier 3. Progress reports are going home this week. If a student is receiving a D or an F in a core content area- they must also have a plan in Branching Minds (make sure you submit a BHT referral as well). If grades are the reason they need a plan, please reach out to me for next steps. We need to determine if it is an academic content deficit or behavior related.

In Branching Minds you need the following:

Dates: Sept. 21- Oct. 26

Progress Monitor every two weeks (minimum) or weekly

Tier 2 should meet 2-3 times a week for 15-20 minutes each time.

• Add the intervention program that matches the deficit

• Add the progress monitoring that matches the skill/ deficit you are explicitly teaching to the students.

You must be meeting with your students throughout the week in small groups to teach the deficit- this teaching should not come from a computer program (IXL, Freckle, etc) Those are tools you can use, similar to a worksheet or a book. But the actual teaching and learning come from the teacher.

Here is a deck that explains the Tiering process and refresher on how to add your plans in Branching Minds!

Middle School Teachers- please reach out to the advisory teachers to help support groups during that time. If you are teaching an advisory, please remember to dedicate time in the week to interventions in Reading and Math. We can be creative and share groups and kids amongst the grade level.

I will be around to discuss the groups and times I am going to be pulling with specific teachers. If you have any questions, need clarification, etc. Let me know and we can meet to plan this out.

Thank you for all of your hard work!

Lindsay Krizanovic

Every day a student is absent is a lost opportunity for learning. Too many absences not only can affect achievement for the absent student but also can disrupt learning for the entire class. While teachers play a key role, everyone in the school building— from the principal to the front office to the cafeteria— can teach attendance!

What does it mean to teach attendance? More than simply taking roll each day. Teaching attendance involves building awareness about how many absences are too many, encouraging students to come to school every day even when it is hard and engaging them once they are in the school building.

It can also involve helping children and families get assistance to solve a significant barrier to getting to school. Yet educators don’t need to solve the problem of chronic absence alone. When educators review student attendance data and notice absences adding up, they can encourage families to partner with other school staff, such as social workers or nurses, as well as community agencies to get needed supports.

Boys Soccer 7/8 grade (starts 8/31/26 )

Fútbol Masculino 7/8 grado

Coach Ms. Daicy Martinez

Monday and Wednesday

Lunes y Miércoles

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Boys Soccer 5/6 grade (will start 9/7/26 )

Fútbol Masculino 5/6 grado

Coach Mr. Aaron Belcher

Tuesday and Thursday

Martes Y Jueves

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Girls Volleyball 7/8 grade (starts 8/31/26 )

Volibol Femenil 7/8 grado

Coach Mr. Derek Arias

Monday and Wednesday

Lunes y Miércoles

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Girls Volleyball 5/6 grade (will start 9/7/26 )

Volibol Femenil 5/6 grado

Coach Ms. Irma Ortega

Monday and Wednesday

Lunes y Miércoles

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

All Games at Portage Park

September 19th @ 1:00 p.m. vs. Gray (Canceled due to weather)

September 26th @ 10:00 a.m. vs APC

October 3rd @ 10:00 a.m. vs Portage Park

October 10th @ 1:00 p.m. vs Soloman

October 17th @ 11:00 a.m. vs Wildwood

October 24th @ 11:00 a.m. vs. Belding

All Games at Rickover High School

September 19th @ 11:15 a.m. vs Scammon

September 26th @ 11:15 a.m. vs Beaubian

October 3rd @ 3:00 p.m. & 3:45 p.m. vs Thorp

October 10th @ 10:30 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. vs Canty

October 17th @ 9:00 a.m. & 9:45 a.m. vs Cleveland

October 24th @ 3:00 p.m. & 3:45 p.m. vs Dever

Thank you for supporting our students and brining your smile to brighten everyone's day. 🙂

Hi Everyone!

Please take a moment to read the shout-outs and news below. If you'd like to give a shout-out or share some news, please fill out the form.

To Ms. K - Thank you for supporting us with testing! -Anonymous

To Ms. Nina Sanchez - Thank you for helping provide me with guidance, materials, and support for our separate setting class. -Ms. Looker

To Ms. Greene and Mr. Jensen - Thank you for creating such a strong start with: student expectations, classroom curriculum, and building relationships with students. I enjoy being in your classrooms! -Ms. Looker

To Ms. Train - Thank you for setting up our after-school program. The students are so excited. -Anonymous

To Ms. Millan - Thank you for being so kind and caring. The students and families are so happy to see you greeting them by Door 4! -Anonymous

To Ms. Brock, Ms. Fickes, and Ms. Looker - Shout-out for setting up the store for students. It would not be successful without you! -Anonymous

To Ms. Rios - For helping students get sorted into their houses! -Anonymous

To SECAs - Thank you for supporting our students and being flexible as our students needs constantly change on a daily basis! You guys are amazing! -Mr. Hussey

To Primary cluster team-Nunez, Aya, Cabrera, Avila, Rivera, and anyone who has supported - For consistently providing high levels of support to our highest need students. You guys have an abundance of expertise and patience! -Mr. Hussey

Happy Friday!

Please fill out this form if you would like to give Culture & Climate Feedback. This form is always anonymous (unless you choose to provide your name). This form is open and reviewed regularly. You don't need to answer every question. Share what you'd like! Feedback is appreciated!

🎂Happy September Birthdays 🎂

16 ~ Selena Rios

19 ~ Zenaida Rivera

30 ~ Vernice Cabrera

30 ~ Mykie Moya

Week 0

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4