AJLA School Updates
Week of August 19, 2019
Greetings AJLA students and families! We hope you are ready and excited to start a wonderful school year. As we prepare for the 2019-20 school year, please take note of important information and events as noted in this week's school update.

Don’t forget to visit us on the web www.andrewjackson.cps.edu and follow Andrew Jackson Language Academy on Facebook by clicking here and on Twitter @AJLAmsrebolledo. We look forward to seeing all of you soon.
The 7 Habits
 Quote of the Week:
“Habits can be learned and unlearned. But I also know it isn't a quck fix. It involves a process and a tremendous commitment.” Paradigms & Priniciples of Effectiveness

As a Leader in Me school, AJLA practices the 7 Habits which infuses leadership skills for kids and adults. Do you know your 7 habits? Are you practicing the 7 habits?

Habit #1: Be proactive . You are in charge of you.
Habit #2: Begin with the end in mind . Have a plan.
Habit #3: Put first things first . Prioritize and do important things first.
Habit #4: Think win-win . Compromise and find ways where everyone can win.
Habit #5: Seek first to understand then be understood . Listen before you speak.
Habit #6: Synergize . Work together.
Habit #7: Sharpen the saw . Take care of yourself.
Celebrations
Thank you to the Jensik Foundation for your generous contribution for our school programming.

Congratulations AJLA for receiving the Out-of-School Time (OST) Award Program as part of after school programming.   We were awarded over $19,000.00 in funds to provide afterschool programming
for our students. 
Supply Drop-off and Meet & Greet Day
Please join us for Meet/ Greet and Supply Drop-off on Thursday, August 29 from 8:00 AM until 9:30 AM . Homeroom assignments will be posted on this day. This is a great opportunity to meet your child's teachers, drop off supplies, pay school fees, register for J at School after school program, register as a CPS volunteer (bring your ID), sign up to volunteer, register for CPS Score sports programs, and meet other families. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Kindergarten Parent Orientation
There will be a kindergarten mandatory Parent Orientation on Thursday, August 29 at 5:00 PM.  This meeting is for parents only . We will review school policies, schedules, and the first day of school procedures. Please make sure to submit all required CPS forms during the orientation: medical, dental, vision, emergency. 
Back to School Bash
Please join us for our annual Back to School Bash on Friday, September 6, 2019 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM . Our Dads Club will be grilling hot dogs and burgers! This is a great opportunity to meet other community members, sign-up to volunteer, ask questions, etc. Hope to see you all there!
JCC Aftershool Program Registration
The J at School after school programming is back at AJLA and will begin on Tuesday, September 3.  You can r egister online at  JCC Chicago   then select the school registration option of your choice (Andrew Jackson Language Academy).  Please note that JCC will have two pick up times:  5:00 PM and 6:00 PM.  Financial assistance is also available for those who qualify. 

This fall season, JCC will be offering enrichment programs for students.  Parents can register online at  JCC Chicago .  For more information or questions, please contact JCC at 312-775-1848 or email  jatschool@jccchicago.org . T he fall session will run from September 9th until December 13. Registration is open now online.

The link to register for both enrichment and aftercare programming can be found in the JCC Chicago website. Registration for aftercare is already open so families can register at any time. 
2019-2020 Minimum Health Requirements
Please note the health requirements as noted in the CPS Parent and Student Guide inserted with your child’s report card. Families must show proof of required physical exams and immunizations or they will face exclusion from school per the Student Health Examinations, Immunizations, Dental Examinations, and Eye Examinations Policy. 


Physical Examination -Please note that Physical Examination must be completed for all entering Kindergarten and 6 th grade students. Physical examinations must be completed within one year prior to entry into preschool, Kindergarten, 6 th , and 9 th grades or upon first-time enrollment into Chicago Public Schools if entering from another state or country. Students moving to a CPS school from another school in Illinois, outside of CPS, must provide physical exam and immunization records to the school.

Vision Examination –Current eye examinations must be provided upon enrolling into CPS from out of state (at any grade level), and entering all entering kindergarten students.

Dental Examination – Dental exams must be provided and completed for all entering kindergarten, 2 nd or 6 th grade students. 

Immunization Requirements:  Annually, a student’s health record must show up-to-date immunizations for the following: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTP/DTap/Tdap), Polio, (IPV) Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Varicella (Chicken Pox), and Meningitis (MCV4) vaccine.  
CPS Volunteer Policy and Procedures
Are you interested in volunteering? In order to volunteer at any CPS school, everyone must complete the electronic CPS Volunteer Application. Please complete the following steps if you plan to volunteer in the classroom, on a fieldtrip, school events, etc. This must be completed yearly. **If you are a returning volunteer, please contact Ms. Burger in the office so that she can assist you.

1.        Visit http://www.cpsvolunteers.org and click on the “ Complete Volunteer Application”.  Make sure you complete all required fields. Please make sure that you are choosing Andrew Jackson Language Academy. Click on Level I (parent providing volunteer service in their child's school or classroom for 10 or more hours per week) or Type II (parent providing supervised volunteer service in their child's school or classroom less than 10 hours per week) volunteer.

2.     Submit a copy of your driver’s license or State ID to Ms. Burger in the office beginning August 26. We will approve your application. 

3.      Complete a CPS Background Check ( for Level 1 volunteers only ).  Take the attached Volunteer Fingerprinting Background Investigation Authorization and Release Form to an Accurate Biometrics location near you Accurate Biometrics location . The location closest to our school is:

Chicago - Loop
Metropolitan Building (Next to Cadillac Palace Theater)
134 N. La Salle Street Suite 2060
Chicago, Illinois 60602

**It is critical that you bring the authorization and release form with you to get fingerprinted, as it will ensure that your background check is routed to CPS . If you have any questions regarding your background results, please contact the CPS Background team at (773) 553-6503.
Optional: After being fingerprinted, you may email a copy your fingerprinting receipt to  volunteer@cps.edu . This will allow Volunteer Programs to track your background check results more efficiently.

4.     Complete a TB Test ( for Level I Volunteers only ).  If you have TB Test results that are less than two years old, you may submit these results. Otherwise, please see your current doctor or visit any Walgreens or CVS Pharmacy that offers the test. You can also use this  TB Test Form  and visit a  MercyWorks clinic location  where they provide a $20 TB Test for CPS employees and volunteers. Please submit your TB Test results via email to  volunteer@cps.edu . If you need assistance with scanning and emailing this document, please visit your school’s office.

Volunteers must receive an approval notice prior to volunteering in the school. When a volunteer completes the approval process, the volunteer and the Volunteer Coordinator (Ms. Burger) will receive an affirmative notice in writing.  Please bring a copy of your clearance letter from CPS to the office. If you have any questions, please contact Volunteer Programs at (773) 553-1544.
ASPEN: New Parent Portal System
Chicago Public Schools replaced the current Student Portal with a new system called Aspen. Aspen will provide the same capabilities of the old Student Portal while adding new features, including historical data, graduation requirements, student fees, and a new, easy-to-use mobile interface.

Students:
Existing Student Portal accounts will be automatically transferred to Aspen. The new Student Portal URL is  aspen.cps.edu  and you will use your CPS username (not your email address) and password.

Parent/Caregivers:
Existing Parent Portal accounts will not automatically be transferred to Aspen*. To access the new system for the first time, current portal users and parents who are interested in creating a portal account for the first time must  confirm the following with their school’s main office:

  • You are listed as a contact for your student(s) in the current Student Information System, and
  • You have an up-to-date email address in the current Student Information System

Assuming the above items are complete, you will receive an email that will start the sign up process.

More Aspen information regarding account sign-up instructions and support can be found on the  student  and  parent  resources page.

*The District cannot convert your current portal account over to the new Aspen system automatically. Knowledge of your current Parent Portal password is exclusive to you, and cannot be transferred over.

Parents Council News & Events

Our Parents Council is committed to our children's school experience. Please check out our website  AJLA Parents Council   for more information.

Thank you in advance for supporting our Parents Council sponsored events. Our parents volunteer their time to support school programs and raised funds for our school. Funds raised support building projects, teacher reimbursements, cultural events, enrichment programs, and other resources school-wide.

We invite you to come to our first Parents Council meeting of the 2019-20 school year on Wednesday, September 11th at 8:00 AM in the cafeteria. Come learn about Parents Council and ways to get involved. The 2019-20 Parents Council Officers are:

President – David O’Malley 
Vice-President –Emelie Illarde
Corresponding Secretary – Rubi Alvarez
Recording Secretary –Gretchen Gall
Treasurer – Pamela Alfaro

Don't forget our  Back to School Bash on Friday, September 6 from 4:00-6:00 PM . Our Dads Club will be grilling hot dogs and burgers! This is a great opportunity to meet other community members, sign-up to volunteer, ask questions, etc. Hope to see you all there!
Save the Date!
June 24 – August 23 –Steve & Kate’s Camp 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

August 23 - Last day of Steve & Kate's Camp

August 26 – 1 st Day for Teachers

August 29 - Open House and Supply drop-off 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM,Kindergarten Parent Orientation 5:00 PM

September 2 - No school - Labor Day holiday

September 3 – 1 st Day of School for students

September 6- Back to School Bash 4-6 pm

September 11 - Parents Council meeting at 8:00 AM in the cafeteria

September 23 - Local School Council Meeting 8:00 AM

September 27 - Dads Club Pizza Night 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Andrew Jackson Language Academy
1340 W. Harrison Street Chicago, IL 60607
Main Office 773-534-7000 | Fax 773-534-9338
msrebolledo@cps.edu
www.andrewjackson.cps.edu