Dear Tubman Families,

Winter break is almost here! I hope you and your loved ones enjoy a wonderful and relaxing break filled with family, fun, and rest. 

I hope you can join us this Tuesday and Wednesday for the Dance Show! Our students have been working on their performance for months, and I am excited to see their hard work come to life this week!

As temperatures continue to drop, I want to remind everyone about how we handle arrival, dismissal, and recess during inclement weather. Please review the following guidelines:

Recess and Inclement Weather Guidelines

Students will have outdoor recess daily unless there is inclement weather. This decision is made by administration based on factors like temperature, wind chill, active rain/snow, and playground safety. Here’s what you can expect:

• 25 degrees and above: Outdoor arrival, dismissal, and recess
• 16–25 degrees (feels like 20 degrees or higher): Outdoor arrival, dismissal, and recess
• 16–25 degrees (feels like below 20 degrees): Indoor arrival, dismissal, and recess
• 20 degrees or below: Indoor arrival, dismissal, and recess

Important Note: Doors will open at 7:30 AM. For safety, please do not drop off your child before this time, as we cannot bring students inside earlier. Be sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather, including a warm coat, gloves, and a hat.

Coffee with the Principal – Lunch/Recess Updates

Thank you to everyone who attended our recent Coffee with the Principal. Based on valuable feedback from parents and staff, we will be making some adjustments to our lunch and recess schedule starting after winter break:

• Students will rotate through different recess locations weekly in smaller groups. Locations may include the north turf, basketball court, playground, South Turf (soccer field), learning garden, and gym.

• The 3rd–5th grade lunch/recess schedule will be adjusted:
• 3rd and 4th grade will have lunch/recess together.
• 5th grade will have lunch/recess together.

• We will continue working with Right at School Recess Staff, Security, and Special Education Classroom Assistants to support students, address conflicts, and reinforce our Universal Expectations:

• Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Be IB

If you have lunch or recess concerns, please reach out to Mr. Bonner (cmbonner@cps.edu) and cc your child’s teacher for awareness. Your feedback is invaluable, and our goal is to make recess safer and more enjoyable for all students.

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing you in 2025 as we continue to make Tubman the best it can be.

In Partnership,



Principal Hammaker

Harriet Tubman Elementary School

2851 N Seminary Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Phone: (773) 534 - 5784 | Fax: (773) 534 - 5784

tubmanelementarycps.org