Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
Congratulations to the 98 CPS students who graduated from our Chicago Builds program this week! This is the largest group of graduates in the history of this two-year program, and each will be finishing high school having earned industry-recognized certifications in the construction industry, including in the areas of electrical, carpentry, HVAC, and welding.
Part of our District’s growing menu of 34 Career and Technical Education programs across over 80 high schools, Chicago Builds is a phenomenal example of how CPS students can get a head start on their career planning while still in high school. In addition to gaining valuable experience through hands-on coursework, they are able to better visualize their futures by visiting union training facilities, hearing from guest speakers in the construction industry, participating in internships, completing a capstone project, and preparing for the pre-apprenticeship exam.
I applaud our Chicago Builds graduates for their hard work, and thank the many industry partners who are providing CPS students with the opportunity to explore the career possibilities that align with their developing interests.
Summer Resources for CPS Families
With less than two weeks of classes left in the school year, I know that our students are getting very excited about summer break. I want our kids to have a great time this summer, but it’s also important that they stay safe, and that they have plenty of activities to keep them happy and engaged.
Here is a collection of resources to help our students and families make plans for a safe and engaging summer:
Safe Haven:
Again this summer, CPS is partnering with faith-based and nonprofit organizations to host the Safe Haven program. Students will be provided breakfast and lunch daily, and will have access to enrichment activities, field trips, and other recreational opportunities. Sites will be open from June 16 to August 8, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Click here for a list of Safe Haven locations. For questions, please contact faithbased@cps.edu.
Chicago Park District:
- Summer Camps. Keep students active during summer break by enrolling them in a Chicago Park District camp. Most camps run from June 23–August 1. Learn more and register here.
- Additional Park District Programs. From dance and athletics to fitness, music, and art, there is truly something for everyone at the parks! Most summer programs run from June 16–August 10. Learn more and register here.
- Teens in the Park (TIP) Fest. Teen artists, including singers, rappers, dancers, spoken word artists, musicians, and poets between the ages of 14 and 24 are encouraged to audition to be part of the 10th Annual Teens in the Park (TIP) Fest 2025! Auditions take place on June 14, June 28, and July 12. Register for one of these three auditions to be eligible to participate in the citywide event on August 30. The top three winners at T.I.P. Fest will receive $1,000 for first place, $650 for second place, and $350 for third place. Learn more and sign up here.
- Night Out in the Parks. Now in its thirteenth year, this event series features more than 600 free, fun-filled activities around the city throughout the summer. View the full schedule here and start making your summer plans!
For any questions about summer activities in the parks, please email play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
My CHI. My Future. Summer Kickbacks:
My CHI. My Future. The Summer Kickback Series is back in 2025! Join My CHI. for dozens of fun and exciting events across Chicago this summer beginning in June. Download the My CHI. My Future. app or visit their website to find opportunities in your neighborhood.
Late Night Ball on Holiday Weekends:
The Mayor’s Office of Community Safety has launched a summer sports series made to create safe and welcoming public spaces for Chicago residents during holiday weekends. These events kicked off on Memorial Day weekend and will continue on Father's Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day weekends. Programs run from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at select locations citywide. Visit the chicago.gov website to stay up to date on future events and registration.
Chicago Public Library Summer Kickoff and Programs:
Celebrate the Kickoff of Summer at a Chicago Public Library on Saturday, June 21! Visit your regional library from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day of free, nature-themed fun. RSVP here and visit the CPL website for more programs and activities available at your local library this summer.
Resident Free Days at Chicago Museums:
- Adler Planetarium: Entry is free for Illinois residents every Wednesday from 4 - 10 p.m. Stop by and enjoy everything the Adler has to offer at night, for free, as part of our Illinois Resident Discount Days program. Reserve your free Museum Entry tickets here.
- Art Institute of Chicago: Admission is free for Illinois residents on Thursday evenings, 5 to 8 p.m., from June 1 to September 25, 2025. Illinois residents under 14 are always free with an adult. To receive free admission tickets, Illinois residents can reserve them online in advance or visit the admissions desk on the day of their visit.
- Field Museum: Entry is free for Illinois residents on Wednesdays with proof of residency. Reserve your free basic admissions pass here.
- Shedd Aquarium: Illinois residents can enjoy free admission during select hours this summer. Click here to reserve your tickets and gain access to all exhibits from 5-9 p.m. on June 3, 10, 17, and 24.
- Explore More Illinois Digital Pass. Chicago Public Library cardholders ages 18 and older can log in at chipublib.org/digitalpasses to reserve free general admission passes to Chicago museums.
Summer Jobs for Students:
- Become a Chicago Park District Lifeguard. The final test to be a Chicago Park District lifeguard this summer is May 31 at Whitney Young High School. To be a summer lifeguard, students must be a Chicago resident age 16 or older by July 1, 2025. Enjoy working in this important position while making $19.75 an hour. Learn more & apply now at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/lifeguards/cps.
- One Summer Chicago. Online applications are now open for One Summer Chicago—the youth employment program that partners with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and city agencies to provide paid work experience, work-based learning, and skill development opportunities for young people ages 14–24 over six weeks during the summer. Students should visit onesummerchicago.org for more information and to apply.
Free Mental Health Support for High School Students
- During the school year, CPS partnered with Hazel Health to provide free, virtual therapy sessions for all CPS high school students. We’re glad to announce that summer therapy sessions are available to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, as well as current 12th-graders who have already registered for the program. Rising freshmen will gain access to therapy through Hazel Health in August of 2025. To sign up, visit getstarted.hazel.co/district/cps.
I urge all of our students to finish these final weeks of school strong, and I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer break!
Sincerely,
Pedro Martinez
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools
Help Us Highlight Your School
We love highlighting the amazing things that are happening day-to-day in our schools, along with the people who are making them happen! Please share your stories with us using our Good News Form so that we can amplify the many ways “the best are with CPS!”
A Look Around the District
Check out these highlights from schools across the District!
At James Ward Elementary in Armour Square, 7th and 8th-grade students visited Washington, D.C., and four students had the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
Students at Coonley Elementary, located in the North Center neighborhood, have been running a morning news show this school year. The Coonley News Crew reports on events and activities happening in the school community each week and broadcasts them during the school’s virtual Friday announcements.
At Chicago Military Academy High School in Bronzeville, NSTEM cadets recently took a field trip to LanzaTech, a carbon management company that focuses on biotechnology-based carbon capture. Cadets participated in workshop training and a career panel discussion.
And at Till Elementary, located in West Woodlawn, students school-wide presented their artwork at the annual Till Art Exhibition. During this two-day event, student artists showcased their skills with network, District, and other community representatives!
Make Your Voice Heard in the Superintendent/CEO Search
The Chicago Board of Education is conducting a national search for CPS’ next Superintendent/CEO, and there are several ways for District stakeholders to get involved. We want to hear from you about the experience, vision, and overarching qualities you feel are the most important things to look for in our District’s next leader. You can share your insights by completing our survey, participating in a focus group, or attending a community gathering in the coming weeks. Stakeholders are free to attend any of the remaining meetings below. You do not have to live within the Elected School Board District boundary to attend a meeting.
- Monday, June 2, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: The Nettelhorst School (District 4)
- Thursday, June 5, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Marsh Elementary School (District 10)
- Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 12 p.m.: Virtual meeting. Register here.
Visit the Chicago Board of Education website regularly for specifics on these opportunities and complete details around the search.
Celebrating the Next Gen City Council Program
Congratulations to the CPS high school students who participated in this year’s Next Gen City Council Program—an innovative experience that elevates young people's voices and helps them become active and engaged Chicagoans. Through this program, students are introduced to real-world civic learning experiences at City Hall that allow them to work in committees alongside elected officials and community members and learn more about how ideas to support youth can be turned into policy. We thank City Clerk Anna Valencia for championing this effort, and applaud our student participants for their interest in learning more about the issues driving our city.
Sharing Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month - a perfect opportunity to share tools that will help our students finish the school year strong and prepare for a safe, productive, and enjoyable summer. Click here for a comprehensive list of resources, including information on our new partnership with Hazel Health, which can provide free, virtual therapy sessions for all CPS high school students during the school year and throughout the summer. To sign up, visit getstarted.hazel.co/district/cps.
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in CPS Athletics
The Chicago Public League City Season has come to a close, with CPS student-athletes and teams securing their respective championships! The latest city championship featured a thriller in baseball, as Lane Tech and Kenwood matched up for the title game for the second year in a row, and a wild finish secured Kenwood the 10-9 victory. For recaps and photo galleries of all of our spring championships, please visit cpsathletics.com or follow us on Instagram @CPSAthletics_.
CPS student athletes at South Shore, Chicago Agricultural Science and Whitney Young made history at the IHSA State Girls Track and Field Tournament! Whitney Young finished in fourth place overall in their 3A team tournament, and South Shore finished in fifth place overall in their 2A Tournament. On the individual side, South Shore’s Jordan H. placed first in 100m hurdles, Chicago Ag Science’s Taya R. placed first in the triple jump, and Young’s Angelena B. placed first in the 100m dash, setting a new IHSA record of 11.35.
Whitney Young brought home hardware at the IHSA State Tournament, securing a 4th-place finish in Boys Water Polo! The Dolphins secured the Chicago Public League City Championship earlier this spring before taking their momentum downstate for an unforgettable trip. Congratulations to the Whitney Young community on this achievement!
Senn High School’s Tobias Z. made history as he became the first CPS water polo athlete in history to receive a Division 1 water polo scholarship. Tobias will be attending Wagner University next fall to continue his academic and athletic career. Congratulations to Tobias, his family and the Senn community on this historic accomplishment!
CPS SCORE! Elementary Spring Sports Championships are just around the corner as student-athletes will compete in playoffs and championship tournaments in Girls Soccer, Boys and Girls Flag Football and Co-Ed Track and Field! Come out to support the students on June 5 at Rockne Stadium for the soccer and flag football championships (4:30, 5:30 and 7 p.m.), and June 7 at Rockne Stadium for the Track and Field Championships (9 a.m.)
As we close out the school year, make sure to stay up to date on all platforms following CPS Athletics (X , Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin) as we continue to showcase the accomplishments of our student-athletes and programs from this past school year!
Update on ProgramBRIDGE
As part of CPS' modernization efforts through ProgramBRIDGE, we are making updates in phases called “releases”. Each release focuses on different areas– such as Finance, HR, Procurement or Reporting–and allows us to improve systems one step at a time.
These releases won’t always happen one after another–some may overlap or will run side by side depending on how ready each team or system is. This flexible approach helps us make changes in manageable steps, giving teams time to review how things work today, share feedback, and get ready for what’s ahead.
Right now, we’re in Release 0 – Plan & Analyze, the foundation-building phase, where we’re working closely with schools and departments to understand how things work today and areas for improvement. We’ll continue to share timely updates so you know what's happening, what's changing and how to stay involved.
Thank you for helping us build a stronger, smarter CPS.
Options for Getting the Measles Vaccine
Cases of measles are currently on the rise around the country, and we want to make sure our CPS community is protected from this very contagious disease. The best way to do this is by making sure you and your children are up to date on the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which provides lifelong protection against measles.
Most people will have gotten the MMR vaccine during childhood. But for those who have not, there are many opportunities to get the vaccine. CPS offers school-required vaccinations like MMR, and other recommended vaccines at our school-based health clinics, and through our elementary, high school, and charter mobile clinics. Please use these links to schedule an appointment for a vaccine. Vaccines through CPS are free for those who are uninsured, underinsured, or who have health insurance through Medicaid or Medicare. For those with private insurance, please contact the clinic for details on which insurance carriers they accept.
The Chicago Department of Public Health also offers no-cost vaccines for those who are uninsured or under-insured at four immunization clinics in the city. Click here for details on these clinics. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is highly encouraged. Create an account and register for an appointment at https://getvaxchi.chicago.gov or by calling the clinic.
Individuals with private insurance or Medicaid/Medicare can also receive vaccines at health care providers or local in-network pharmacies throughout the city. Visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccine provider. Anyone unsure about which providers are in-network should call their health insurance company before getting vaccinated to avoid out-of-network charges.
Supporting Families Amidst Federal Policy Changes
With the transition to a new presidential administration, many in our school communities are experiencing anxiety, especially regarding immigration issues. CPS is committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming educational environments that embrace and celebrate everyone in our diverse communities. CPS has strong protections in place for our students and staff; you can read about them here.
We have also created a website with many resources on immigration services, as well as details on “Know Your Rights” trainings and workshops that are being held throughout Chicago. Some of these sessions are being conducted by our District’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Team, while others are being presented by our community partners. Families can find complete details at cps.edu/newadminguidance. This website will be updated frequently to reflect new training opportunities and any changes to federal law, so we encourage everyone to visit regularly. Mental health supports are also available to students through their schools. Parents who feel their children could benefit from these supports should contact their child’s teacher, principal, or school counselor directly.
Discounted Summer Break White Sox Tickets for CPS Staff and Families
CPS is partnering with the Chicago White Sox to offer up to 75% off tickets, starting at $7.99 to select home games this summer!
- This offer is first-come, first-served.
- This offer is available only to CPS administrators, teachers, students over 18 years old, and parents/legal guardians of minor students.
- Game tickets will be delivered to your online account no later than 48 hours prior to your selected game. Tickets are ineligible for resale.
Learn more and get your tickets here. If you have any questions, please contact ticketpromos@chisox.com.
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Thursday, June 12: Last day of school for CPS students.
- Wednesday, June 18: Board of Education Agenda Review Committee meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Thursday, June 19: CPS buildings are closed in observance of Juneteenth.