Peirce Update
May 28, 2021
This update contains information on:
- Reopening Updates
- Weekly Student Digital Announcement
- Enroll Now for next school year
- Moving? Transferring Schools - please let us know!
- Camp Invention @ Senn High School
- Volunteers Needed: School Garden
- Participate or provide input into our interview process
- Accommodations for School Meetings
- Sexual Health Information Session
- Spanish Speaking Families Discussion Group
- GSA Summit for LGBTQ+ Students, Staff, and Allies
- Parent Workshops
- Solidarity fund
The past year and a half have pushed us in ways that we may never have imagined possible.
- In March of 2020 we closed our physical classroom doors and opened virtual spaces for learning.
- A year and a half later our students continue to learn in a non-traditional way.
- Teachers were asked to overhaul their approach to teaching and learning, parents, caregivers and siblings became at home teachers while also trying to manager their own personal responsibilities.
- This time last year, our nation engaged in a call for justice after the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson and George Floyd at the hands of police.
- Tensions in Chicago were high earlier this year as we planned for the return to in person learning.
The past year has been hard on all of us. Hard. HARD.
I ask our community to pause and reflect now - are we better off today than we were a year and a half ago? Are we committed to the call for Racial Justice within our nation and school community? What more do we need to do in order to establish conditions for an equitable school community? How can we as a community embrace the ten attributes of the IB Learner Profile: Caring, Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open Minded, Risk Takers, Balanced and Reflective?
I call on our community to seek understanding, build personal connections, call each other in when we engage in difficult conversations. The path we are on to create a Racially Just school is an important one - one that requires every single one of us to participate in.
In the year ahead of us, our staff will continue to engage in professional development related to Racial Equity, we will continue revising our curriculum, we will refine our supports in and out of the classroom as we differentiate instruction, supporting students with IEPs and those enrolled in the Bilingual Program, we will work to create equitable outcomes and learning environments for our students, while intentionally thinking about our students of color.
We will partner with parents and caregivers, we know you love your children , as do we - and you provide a valuable perspective into the needs of your children - we will listen to you and learn from you.
I ask our school community to support our staff - seek to understand the conditions we are operating in, teaching and learning is an intricate craft, please trust that our staff are dedicated professionals, committed to ongoing growth. They show up everyday to care for and educate your children.
Please seek to understand each other as parents and caregivers - each of you brings your own personal story, comes with your own perspective - stop and listen before speaking.
Most importantly - let's center the needs of children, each and everyday. Love our children, listen to our children, learn from our children.
I look forward to ongoing growth as a school community.
I am here to serve our school, serve our community, serve our children.
Lori Zaimi
Principal
Reopening Resources & Reminders
Reminders
- Peirce's playground is closed to the community from 7:30am - 3:30pm
- Please continue wearing your mask while on school grounds
- Pets are not allowed on school grounds
Reopening Information
- There are currently 3 reported actionable case of COVID reported at Peirce with 0 pods that needed to quarantine. You can check this district website to see the number of cases in the district and then also at individual schools. Scroll towards the bottom of the page to view data.
- Thank you to Peirce Parent Kristin Shannon for putting together this document which highlights COVID safe practices.
Virtual Family Bulletin Board
English:
Spanish-language version
Weekly Student Digital Announcement
Peirce Students are putting together a weekly video announcement message - see below!
STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTSEnrolling Now for Next School Year
Kindergarten - 8th Grade Enrollment
Peirce is currently enrolling students for next school year who reside within the attendance boundary. Please complete the form below to indicate your interest in enrolling and someone from the main office will be in touch to complete the process.Enrollment Link:
Students who have applied through the lottery will learn of their acceptance in May from the Office of Academic Enhancement.
Pre-School Enrollment
The link below provides answers to frequently asked questions about the Pre-School application process.
https://blog.cps.edu/2021/05/10/answering-your-questions-about-pre-k-enrollment/
Moving? Transferring Schools?
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd09yM6dvttfZSusBdrjToUOxG98BlP2eeFIL-ILLIKO8q88A/viewform
Camp Invention @ Senn High School
Senn High School will be hosting a virtual Camp Invention this summer during the week of June 28. Below is the camp information and flyer that can be shared with your families.
This year, our local camp will be an at-home program, so activity kits will be delivered directly to families and optional virtual sessions will be led by a certified local educator. Campers will have everything they need for an amazing week of STEM fun from home!
During this energizing program, young innovators (aka campers) will:
- Design morphing vehicles to travel across land, then find inspiration in nature to add prototype elements for moving through air and water.
- Experiment with fun physics concepts like trajectory and velocity as they build, test and modify a device to launch rubber ducks to reach international landmarks.
- Make and adopt their own robotic crickets and apply empathy to build customized habitats and protective gear for their solar-powered bots.
- Reverse engineer their own wireless microphone to discover sound waves, and then use their unique voice to create and promote an extraordinary invention.
A limited number of $250 scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Families interested in the $250 scholarship should return a completed registration form (attached) with $20 parent payment to me, Jennie Medellin, at jalittle@cps.edu. Scholarships are limited and spots will fill fast, so don’t delay!
Visit invent.org/mylocalcamp for more information or contact Jennie Medellin at jalittle@cps.edu. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
Volunteers Needed: Garden
Peirce Garden Watering Sign Up
It is that time of year again! We need help with the Peirce Community Garden located behind the school on Gregory, outside the Kindergarten Room. There is a water key located on the windowsill above the water hose hookup. If you sign up to water, please use the water key to turn on the water and let it run for 10-15 minutes. When you are done please make sure to turn the water off and return the water key to the windowsill. If it rains that day, please feel free to signup for a different day. Please also feel free to come at whatever time works for you. Lastly, please feel free to take anything that is ready to be eaten and enjoy! If there are any issues you can contact Mrs. Baumgarten at 773-459-0665.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a45adab29a0fc1-peirce
Thank you Mrs. Fabs and Mrs. Baumgarten
Interview Interest Form
Please complete this form by Monday, May 31st, if you are interested in participating in the interview panel. Thank you! - Janelle Miller
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuRR5sS8L_BH4eMqT075X-FHwXamlxYQHxkfgn16qaGe4CTw/viewform
Accommodations for School Meetings
Peirce strives to make meetings as accessible as possible. For this reason, we routinely include the following accommodations for meetings:
Virtual Meetings
Video and chat functions optional for participants
Live transcript is on (for English)
YouTube streaming for those who prefer that platform (during LSC Meetings only)
Spanish-English interpretation
Closed captioning
In Person Meetings
- Spanish-English interpretation
- Use of microphones as appropriate
- Printed copies of materials as appropriate
If you need accommodations beyond those specified here, please contact the Principal, Lori Zaimi, in writing at lzaimi@cps.edu, at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting you would like to attend. Please know that the school will work to fulfill accommodations as they are able to, but cannot guarantee that all requests will be fulfilled. Requests submitted as far in advance as possible will help with this process.
*Please note Chicago Public Schools Americans with Disability Act Policy
Sexual Health Information Session
Teachers will begin teaching the Sexual Health Curriculum throughout the month of June. The CPS curriculum is medically accurate, age appropriate, and comprehensive. It is also aligned with the National Sexuality Education Standards. Information on lessons will be sent by grade level teachers. Parents/guardians can opt out students.
There will be an informational meeting for parents and guardians on Wednesday June 2nd from 10:35am to 11:00am. Any question you can email our physical education teacher Luis Carbajal lecarbajal@cps.edu.
Google meet: meet.google.com/phh-rkti-nsc
Spanish Speaking Families Discussion Group
Spanish-speaking families discussion group | Tue, June 1 @ 3pm | (Zoom link)
This one-hour discussion organized by the Racial Equity Parents group (REP) is a chance for Spanish-speaking parents of Peirce students to discuss their experiences in the Peirce community, including communication between the school and families. We plan to discuss positive aspects of these experiences as well as areas where families would like to see improvements.
GSA Summit for LGBTQ+ Students, Staff, and Allies
Virtually Saturday, June 12 10am-2pm
The Office of Student Health and Wellness and GSA Leadership Committee are excited to announce the first ever CPS GSA Summit for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and affirming allies! The summit will feature student-led workshops on topics and issues pertinent to supporting LGBTQ+ students. Attending staff can apply for Continuing Education credits. This event is an opportunity for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and affirming allies to engage in collective learning, activism, and a space to socialize and build community. Interested participants can register by June 2 at bit.ly/GSAsummit21
Parent Workshops
FACE2FACE: UPCOMING SESSIONS FOR CPS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
The Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) and Office of Family & Community Engagement in Education (FACE2) are hosting weekly virtual sessions for parents and guardians about important topics impacting CPS youth.
EVERY MONDAY 4:00 PM CT
Sessions are available in English and Spanish. Request additional languages when registering.
Upcoming topics include:
- June 7 Mental Health Supports for Young People
- June 14 Physicals and Health Information Form
Click here to register:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6w8KURRn3RNmcZADeceQlUWxYB2Yy88BW4oXwpU6NL_5LTQ/viewform
Upcoming Calendar Dates
May
31st No School - Memorial Day
June
2nd Sexual Health Information Session, 10:35am
8th Friends of Peirce, 6:30pm
15th Local School Council Meeting, 6:00pm
18th Parent Advisory Council Meeting, 12:00pm
18th 8th Grade Graduation
19th Juneteenth
22nd Last Day of School
Please note the updated CPS Calendar
Update on Peirce Solidarity Fund
Thank you to everyone for their support of the mutual aid fund. To date, more than $33,000 in aid has been distributed to 48 different families.
As a result of the amount of contributions the Fund has received, many families have been able to receive assistance more than once since the summer.
To contribute, please Venmo @PeirceSolidarityFund or PayPal PeirceSolidarityFund@gmail.com.
If your family has already received assistance but you continue to be in need, don't hesitate to contact us again. You can email PeirceSolidarityFund@gmail.com or text 773-766-7451 (Spanish is spoken).
Helen C. Peirce School of International Studies
Email: lzaimi@cps.edu
Website: peirce.cps.edu
Location: 1423 W Bryn Mawr Chicago, IL
Phone: 773-534-2440
Facebook: facebook.com/peircecps