BOONE SCHOOL FAMILY NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2019
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that."
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Families and Friends of Boone School,
What an extra exciting start of the year we had! With an unexpected thunderstorm and power outage on September 3rd, I'm sure it's a first day of school story that many of us will be telling for years to come!
This year the primary focus of our school improvement plan is on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. To begin the year, students in all classrooms PK-8 have engaged in two school-wide reads, "Say Something" by Peter Reynolds, and "We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders with an introduction by Harry Belafonte." With conversations framed by the words in these books, each classroom is developing an Equity goal. Some of the essential questions that students are discussing include, “What is Equity?” “Why should we all advocate for Equity?” “What does Equity look like in our classroom? In our school?” We encourage all students to continue the conversation at home as well, as we will continue asking these questions throughout the year.
I am also so very happy to announce that Boone School has been selected to receive the Space to Grow playground renovation grant! Please read below for more information. There are many stages to the grant, including planning meetings with students, parents, and community members. I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming meetings to help decide what our new playground will look like. Thank you again to so many of you who helped with writing and securing this amazing grant for our school.
Sincerely,
Jackie Delaney, Principal
Boone School to Receive the Space to Grow Playground Renovation Grant!
Space to Grow transforms Chicago schoolyards into vibrant spaces to play, learn and be outside. Schoolyard transformations prioritize physical activity, outdoor learning and community engagement. The green schoolyards incorporate landscape features that capture a significant amount of rainfall, helping keep the city’s water resources clean and resulting in less neighborhood flooding. It’s a win for students, neighborhoods and our city’s environment.
Space to Grow is managed by Healthy Schools Campaign and Openlands and is made possible through the financial support and partnership of Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Department of Water Management, and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Boone is one of five schools selected in this this round of applications. The community design process will kick off in October and the new schoolyard should be completed by next fall!
CLASSROOM EQUITY PROJECT 4TH GRADE
Ms. Main - 4th Grade
Ms. Phan - 4th Grade
Students explored the idea of Equity within our Boone Community. They created posters inspired by famous quotes in the book..
Inspired by Sonia Sotomayor, “If the system is broken my inclination is to fix it rather than fight it.”
Ibrahim A (Room 205)- Our poster is about how we can work together to fix the earth. All of our ideas can be heard equally so the earth can be a better place. Everyone has a voice that should be heard without judgement.
Inspired by Fredrick Douglass, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
Farah (Room 205) - My group wanted to encourage other students that failed to study hard and try again. When you struggle it doesn't mean that it’s bad, it means that you have progress because you’re working at your own pace to achieve something you really want. Equity is important. Everybodys’ voice matters and should be heard. At school, everybody should feel comfortable and not be judged.
Mateus H. (Room 201) - We did this because if someone did a test and it was so easy for them they wouldn’t learn anything. So they wouldn’t progress. Another reason was it has something to do with equity and equity is what we are focusing on.
Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.”
Fatima A. (Room 201) - People who like their own gender aren’t different from us. So we shouldn’t hate them because hate is never the answer. We should support them no matter what. You might like your own gender too.
Inspired by Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Ava S. (Room 209) - The quote tells you about teamwork. My poster connects to equity because alone you can’t do a lot so you are different from others that are working together. When you join everyone you are still different in one way while you are working together, but you still can get your work done faster and it is a little more easy than before!
CLASSROOM EQUITY PROJECT 2ND GRADE
BUILDING BOONE
Attention parents…The Building Boone Committee needs your email address! Sharing your email is the best way to stay engaged with what is happening at Boone and in your child’s classroom. Please email buildingboonecps@gmail.com with the following information:
1) Your first and last name; 2) Best email address ; 3) Phone number; 4) Student name(s) and grade(s), and their classroom number.
The Building Boone Committee is also looking for a parent that can donate their time to design a logo (in various digital formats) for the committee. Please email buidlingboonecps@gmail.com if you have the talent and time to donate or if you know of someone who does.
AMAZON SMILE RAISES $$ FOR BOONE SCHOOL:
This is the Amazon you know, except when you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to the Building Boone Committee. Instead of shopping at www.amazon.com, shop instead at https://smile.amazon.com and put the Building Boone Committee as your primary charity. Make sure your kids get the most amazing education they can from your shopping!
BBC Condensed Mission Statement: “The purpose of The Building Boone Committee is to raise funds to support Boone’s students, educational programs, and strategic school initiatives as identified by the school’s principal and Local School Council (LSC).”
WELCOME NEW BOONIES!
HECTOR VALENCIA - Security Officer
My name is Hector Valencia and I feel fortunate to become part of the Boone community. I have been a security officer in different fields, and I am excited to begin working in schools at Boone. I enjoy spending time with my wife and two little ones.
ELISA CARRILLO - SECA
I am very excited to be working as a SECA this year at Boone. I have worked with children for over 8 years. I am currently in school to become a special education teacher. Dancing and playing soccer and softball are a few of my passions. I love working with all children and enjoy being able to assist them with learning. I am excited and look forward to seeing what this school year will bring.
DIEGO RAMIREZ - SECA
Hey all! My name is Diego Ramirez I'm a Chicago and neighborhood native and I am super excited to be joining the Boone family this year! I graduated from Concordia University Chicago with a degree in Sociology and I am currently back in school at DePaul university for my MA in Sociology. Outside of school you can always find me with my friends, family or on the soccer pitch. I look forward to this new journey at Boone!
BEN LEVIN - Lunch/Recess
My name is Ben Levin, and I am ecstatic to be both a new member of the Boone community and a new resident of Chicago. Originally from Los Angeles, I graduated from Guilford College in North Carolina after studying Biology and German. I most recently worked at a non-profit that provides direct support to folks with ASD and their families. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, gardening, and exploring Chicagoland.
KATE ARNOLD - Temporary Pre-K TA
"Hi everyone! My name is Kate Arnold, and I am currently filling in for Maria Gomez as Mr. Perez's PreK Teacher Assistant. I grew up near Omaha, NE and came to Chicago for student teaching last year. I am loving being back at Boone and I am grateful to know so many wonderful students and faculty."
HANNAH TRAIS - Lunch/Recess Supervisor
Hi everyone! My name is Hannah and I am currently a nursing and psychology student at Loyola University Chicago. I have previously had the opportunity to volunteer and work at two other schools around the city. I am a new recess coach at Boone and I am looking forward to having a fun school year!
THE NEW ASPEN PARENT PORTAL
Chicago Public Schools is excited to announce that Parent Portal has been replaced with a new system called Aspen. Aspen will provide the same capabilities of the old Parent Portal while adding new features and a new, easy-to-use mobile interface.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To access the new Aspen Parent Portal, all current portal users and parents who are interested in creating an account for the first time must set up a new account. Existing Parent Portal accounts will NOT automatically be transferred to Aspen. Click here to access directions for how to set up a new Aspen Parent Portal Account.
Health and Safety Information about Dangers of Vaping
Dear CPS Parents and Families,
We are writing to alert you to a growing public health crisis. The health and safety of our students is our top priority, so we are flagging this urgent news on rising concerns about the potential health risks associated with the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products. E-cigarettes contain nicotine and dangerous chemicals and additives, and although some look like conventional cigarettes, many resemble pens or USB flash drives and are not easily recognizable. Using an e-cigarette is often called “vaping” or “JUULing,” after one of the leading e-cigarette brands.
Both nation-wide and in Chicago, there is an increasing number of lung injuries and deaths potentially associated with e-cigarettes and vaping products being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other state and local health agencies. While the CDC believes that a chemical exposure is likely associated with these illnesses, so far no
definitive cause has been established.
E-cigarette use is not safe for anyone, especially children, teenagers, and pregnant women. Some e-cigarette products contain cancer-causing substances and THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that is currently illegal in Illinois. Despite these risks, e-cigarettes are the most commonly-used nicotine product among young people, and we strongly recommend that you discuss the dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping use with your children.
SAFETY DRILLS
Throughout the school year, each CPS school is required to conduct a minimum of 7 safety drills. These drills include: building evacuation/fire drills (3), lockdown drill (1), shelter in place drill (1), allergen drill (1), and bus evacuation drill (1). Boone typically conducts additional drills per the recommendation of the CPD and CFD. Please be advised that drills will begin early in the school year to ensure we are prepared in the event of an emergency. Parents are encouraged to talk with students about these drills. Please contact your teacher or an administrator if you have questions or need support with talking to your student.
LSC PARENT VACANCY
We currently have one LSC Parent Vacancy. Any parents interested in joining the LSC should obtain an application in the office. Parents will have the opportunity to present themselves as candidates to the LSC at the October 16th meeting at 4:30PM, where a new Parent Representative will then be appointed. You can find out more about the role of the LSC at the following website:http://cps.edu/Pages/Localschoolcouncils.aspx
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct 3 - Tropical Optical at Boone
Oct 3 - Kindergarten Parent Morning, 8:30AM
Oct 4 - Progress Reports Distributed
Oct 14 - NO SCHOOL (Indigenous Peoples/Columbus Day)
Oct 15 - LSC Meeting, 4:30PM
Oct 15 - High School Fair at West Ridge School, 6-7:30PM
Oct 17 - 1st Grade Parent Morning, 8:30AM
Oct 21 - Fall Picture Day
Nov 8 - NO SCHOOL (Teacher Workshops)
FEEDBACK
We Want Your Feedback!
Do you have suggestions, questions, or concerns that you’d like to share with Boone administration? Do you have shout-outs or positive feedback about our school or staff that you’d like to share? Please take a moment to click on this Community Feedback link and tell us how we’re doing. This form is anonymous, although there is a place to provide your contact info if you’d like us to follow up with you. Thank you!Daniel Boone Elementary School
Website: www.boone.cps.edu
Location: 6710 N Washtenaw Ave, Chicago, IL, United States
Phone: 773-534-2160
Facebook: facebook.com/cpsboone
Twitter: @BooneCPS