Universal Pre-K News
Town Hall Meeting Wednesday to Discuss
In-Person High School
Find Out More About Your Community Group
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Dear Neighbors,
Universal pre-school for four year olds has been a goal of our city for some time. In 2019, Mayor Emanuel pledged to support universal free pre-k, and obtained funding from Springfield and private philanthropy to support it.
Since then, Chicago Public Schools have opened more than 16,000 new seats for free pre-school for four year olds throughout the city, in either CPS-run locations or in partnership with community based organizations, and are working to open 2160 more.
Universal pre-school is a proven strategy for raising long-term educational achievement.
Today, only Oscar Mayer and Alcott offer a limited pre-K program. CPS is now announcing that in its last phase of its roll-out, Lincoln Park will be able to offer free pre-school for four year olds, as early as this September. CPS has chosen two locations in our ward.
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1840 N Clark Street (the commercial space next to Hemingway House condominiums) For this location, estimated to serve 200 students, CPS proposes to hire a principal and have a parent advisory committee.
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610 W Schubert, on the second floor. This building houses the Banana Republic store on the first floor and will serve an estimated 120 students. In 2015, the community approved the construction of a school inside the second floor of the building, but it was never built. This location will be an ancillary location of Alcott College Prep, and Principal Estrada will oversee its operations. This approach will allow Alcott, which has grown very quickly, to take more neighborhood kids in the elementary grades.
These two new preschools are open to all, whether or not your older children attend CPS schools.
To learn more about the educational plan as well as the operational issues and impact on the neighborhood, please attend one of the below community meetings.
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CPS Pre-School Meeting
1840 N Clark Location
Monday, March 15
6:00 p.m.
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CPS Pre-School Meeting
610 W. Schubert Location
Thursday, March 18
6:00 p.m.
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CPS will present identical educational information at each meeting covering the proposed program, and operating hours, and will discuss the zoning and traffic issues for each site.
CPS representatives will answer questions from the audience. My office will conduct the discussion, take notes, and record your comments.
Normally, pre-schools are permitted in all districts and do not require a "special use." However, under our zoning code, pre-schools operated by Chicago Public Schools do require a special use.
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Time to Opt-In for In-Person Learning for the Fourth Quarter
Town Hall Meetings
Beginning now, all CPS families who have not yet returned to schools in-person can opt-in for a return later this year. The opt-in window will be available to students in all grades (grades Pre-K through 12) and will remain open for two weeks. Opt-in forms will be sent directly to parents, and this will be the final opportunity to choose in-person learning this school year.
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Opt-In for Students in Pre-K, Elementary, and Cluster Programs: Families who have not yet returned to classrooms will be able to return Monday , April 19 — the first day of the 4th-quarter. Families who are already enrolled in classroom-based learning will not need to fill out the intent form to remain in-person.
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Opt-In for High School and Academic Center Students: For the first time, families in grades 9-12, as well as students in high school academic centers, will also be asked to decide if they want to return to classrooms this year.
To give families additional opportunities to learn about our plans and provide input, CPS is scheduling two virtual parent town halls — one for elementary and one for high school— in the next two weeks:
CPS High School Town Hall
Wednesday, March 10
5-6:30 p.m.
CPS Elementary School Town Hall
Tuesday, March 16
5-6:30 p.m.
The district is actively meeting with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) to establish a plan for the return of high school students and staff. No return date has been set and the specific learning model used in high schools remains under discussion, but CPS hopes students will be able to return to school as early as mid-April. They are asking families for their learning preference now so that the necessary staffing and classroom models will be in place to safely support all interested high school students.
As with elementary schools, high schools will follow a strict set of health and safety protocols including required face-coverings and social distancing.
Our high schools will also be provided with the air purifiers, hand sanitizer, and enhanced cleaning practices that have allowed CPS to safely reopen our elementary schools for in-person learning.
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Public Safety Update
Carjacking Arrests:
Two male juveniles, 17 and 15, were arrested on March 6 for armed carjacking and other offenses for pulling a 58-year-old woman out of her Hyundai Tucson on the South Side and threatening to shoot her before taking her vehicle.
The Area One Vehicular Hijacking Team arrested one offender an hour and a half after the offense. The other offender got back in the stolen vehicle and drove away, but the same team located the car later with assistance from the police helicopter and placed the second offender into custody at approximately 7:46 p.m.
Male juvenile, 16, was arrested on March 2, 2021 for an armed carjacking that occurred on the South Side on September 17, 2020, on the Southwest Side. The offenders fled in the vehicle and a short time later crashed the vehicle on I-290, then fled on foot, resulting in the death of one offender who attempted to cross the interstate.
Federal Looting Charges Filed:
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that federal charges have been filed against a 22 year old Chicagoan for using Facebook to encourage people to loot and riot downtown and on the Near North Side last August. Massey allegedly looted several stores downtown as well as a marijuana dispensary on Weed Street. Hundreds of charges have been filed against offenders for the looting that took place last year as part of comprehensive work being done by Chicago Police detectives reviewing video.
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Illinoi Covid H.E.L.P.
Covid H.E.L.P. (Housing and Economic Loss Prevention) offers a team of virtual legal assistants created by a team of legal aid attorneys, addressing common, pandemic-related issues:
- Personal debt and bankruptcy
- Housing (landlord/tenant, eviction, and foreclosure)
- Employment
- Unemployment
- Wills, estates and guardianship
For more information and to receive help with your Covid-related issues, click here.
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Daylight Savings Time Begins March 14
Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. this Sunday, March 14. Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour and begin to look forward to longer Spring days.
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Inaugural Lincoln Park Alliance Meeting
March 22
6 p.m.
The Lincoln Park Alliance brings the seven Lincoln Park neighborhood associations together on Zoom to discuss common goals, challenges, and opportunities.
Learn about historical, current, and upcoming projects, as well the long-term vision from association and neighborhood leaders:
- Sally Drucker - Lincoln Central Association
- Mellisa Macek - Mid North Association
- Dorothy (Dee) DeCarlo - Old Town Triangle
- Nancy McAndrew - Park West Community Association
- David Lissner - Ranch Triangle
- Brian Comer - Sheffield Neighbors Association
- Faraz Sardharia - Wrightwood Neighbors Association
Discuss our neighborhood's businesses, parks, public safety (EMS, fire, police), government relations and services, and other timely topics.
Unsure of your Neighborhood Association? See the community boundaries here.
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March 19 - April 4
During Chicago Restaurant Weeks, March 19 - April 4, you can enjoy special prix fixe menus across the city. Participating Lincoln Park restaurants include:
Cafe Ba Ba-Reeba
Casati's Modern Italian
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Galit
Gemini
King Crab
Mon Ami Gabi
Oyster Bah
RJ GRunts
Rosati's
Sappori's
Stella Barra Pizzeria & Wine Bar
Summer House Santa Monica
Takito Street Lincoln Park
Tandoor Char House
The Lakefront Restaurant
Willow Room
If your restaurant is taking part, please let us know here and we will include you in upcoming newsletters.
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Together We Shine
Virtual Fundraiser for St. Vincent de Paul Parish
Saturday, March 27, 2021
7-8 p.m.
For almost 150 years, St. Vincent de Paul Parish has served the residents of Lincoln Park and beyond. Throughout the pandemic, St. Vincent's has continued to serve people in poverty through its soup kitchen, food pantry and emergency assistance throughout Chicago.
Join for an hour of fun to celebrate those people in our community who sustain their mission in Lincoln Park and Chicago and support their continued service.
Music | Paddle Raise | Raffles
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Marillac St. Vincent DePaul Queen of Hearts Raffle
Play each week for a chance to win the Queen of Hearts Jackpot.
This raffle supports the programs and services at Marillac St. Vincent Family Services to build well-being in Chicago for the thousands of children, teens, adults, and seniors they serve each day.
Click here for details and to participate.
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1969 N. Halsted
Yes, they offer margaritas to go, but the food is terrific. Terrific tacos, and you can get a box for a crowd! Yummy meat dishes, lots of vegetarian offerings.
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2523 N. Clark
Taking over from the Vienna Bakery, the new owners are continuing baking bread, making treats and offering breakfast and lunch. Open until 6 p.m. Try them!
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Order From Our Local Restaurants |
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Enjoy the beautiful weather and expanded dining and activity options, but please be careful and stay safe, |
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