September 6th, 2024

Greetings Durkin Park Families,

This week’s updates can be found below:

OST After School Programming

• In-person registration will take place on Tuesday, September 10th and Wednesday September 11th from 3PM-4PM. At Door 1.
  
• Program seats are available on a first come, first serve basis.
  
• Fall OST Programs

Parent Mentors

• Our Parent Mentor program is back at Durkin Park in partnership with The Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP).
  
• Parent mentors will learn alongside teachers and work with students in grades PreK-5.
  
• The program provides parents with workshops on instructional strategies and student development and offers preparation classes to take the WorkKeys exam for an ISBE paraprofessional license.
  
• Requirements
  
  • Child is enrolled at Durkin Park,
    
  • Background check and a TB test
    
• Program awards $1,500 stipend after 100 hours of participation.
  
• More information and next steps are available on this flyer.

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

• Durkin Park will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month during September in the following ways:
  
  • Music in the Cafeteria
    
    • 9/13-Merengue, 9/20-Cumbia, 9/26-Salsa, 10/4-Mariachi, 10/11-Reggaeton
  • Cultural Dress Day, September 16th
    
    • Student may wear traditional clothing, national team jerseys, flag colors
  • Literacy and Loteria Night, October 10th (After School Event)
    
  • PreK-2 Movie Day Coco, October 11th (AM)
    
  • 3rd-8th Grade Trivia, October 11th (PM)

Upcoming High School Fair

• We are partnering with Network 10 schools to provide students and their families the opportunity to meet representatives from various high schools to learn about their programs.
  
• The High School Fair will take place October 17, 2024 at Morgan Park High School from 5:00-7:00 PM.
  
• All students in 6th-8th grades and their families are welcome to attend this fair! Principal’s Title One Meetings
  
• The Parent Advisory Council(PAC) and Bilingual Advisory Committee(BAC) organizational meetings will take place on September 19th at 8:15 AM in the multipurpose room.
  
• All parents interested in running for PAC or BAC officer positions should attend this meeting.

Student Forms and Fees

• Each year Chicago Public Schools requires the completion of Health and School Forms.
• The forms packet can be found here.
• Please complete the packet and return it to the school as soon as possible.
• Paper copies are available for immediate pick up in the main office.
• All Health and School forms must be completed and returned to the school by Tuesday, September 3rd in order for your child to participate in field day on Friday, September 6th.

• The Durkin Park Student Activity Fee for the 2024-2025 school year will be as follows:
  • First student: $50
  • Each additional student: $25
• The student activity fee covers:
  • The beginning of year and end of year field days
  • 1 school bus for the first field trip
  • Printer ink and copy paper
  • Student incentives and special events
  • Learning technology repair and replenishment
• In order to participate in field day on September 6th and any field trips throughout the school year, students must have their fees paid and all forms submitted by Tuesday, September 2nd.
• Fees can be paid online at durkinpark.com

​
Parent Concerns

• Please begin any inquiries regarding your child, with their homeroom teacher.
• Generally your child’s homeroom teacher will be able to quickly resolve the matter or escalate to school administration.

Dental Exams

• All Kindergarten, 2nd grade, 6th grade, and 9th grade must have a dental exam completed by a licensed dentist before May 15th of the school year.
• In partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), CPS offers on-site, preventative dental services at no cost to ALL Pre-K-12th grade students.
• Complete the CONSENT for dental services form here and return it to the main office.

LSC Meetings Dates

• The Local School Council is the governing body of Durkin Park School
• Meetings are open to all members of the community.
• Meeting Dates: 10/10, 12/12, 2/13, 4/10, 5/29
• All meetings take place in room 114 at 4:00 PM

Upcoming Events​

• Back to School Field Day: Friday September 6th, 2024 (All forms must be submitted and school fees paid​ to participate)
• Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration: September 15-October 15

Resources

• Parent University Registration
• Pay School Fees
• School Forms
• CPS Student Code of Conduct
• Parent/Student Handbook

Warm Regards,
Charles E. Beavers II
Principal
​

Saludos a las familias de Durkin Park,
Las actualizaciones de esta semana se pueden encontrar a continuación:
Programación extraescolar OST
● La inscripción en persona se llevará a cabo el martes 10 de septiembre y el miércoles 11 de
septiembre de 3:00 p. m. a 4:00 p. m. En la puerta 1.
● Los asientos del programa están disponibles por orden de llegada.
● Programas OST de otoño
Padres mentores
● Nuestro programa de padres mentores está de regreso en Durkin Park en asociación con The
Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP).
● Los padres mentores aprenderán junto con los maestros y trabajarán con los estudiantes en
los grados PreK-5.
● El programa ofrece a los padres talleres sobre estrategias de instrucción y desarrollo
estudiantil y ofrece clases de preparación para tomar el examen WorkKeys para una licencia
de paraprofesional ISBE.
● Requisitos
○ El niño está inscrito en Durkin Park,
○ Verificación de antecedentes y prueba de tuberculosis.
● El programa otorga un estipendio de $1,500 después de 100 horas de participación.
● Más información y próximos pasos están disponibles en este volante.
Celebración del Mes de la Herencia Hispana
● Durkin Park celebrará el Mes de la Herencia Hispana durante septiembre de las siguientes
maneras:
○ Música en la cafetería
■ 9/13-Merengue, 9/20-Cumbia, 9/26-Salsa, 10/4-Mariachi, 10/11-Reggaetón
○ Día de la vestimenta cultural, 16 de septiembre
■ Los estudiantes pueden usar ropa tradicional, camisetas del equipo nacional y
colores de la bandera.

○ Noche de alfabetización y lotería, 10 de octubre (evento después de clases)
○ Día de cine PreK-2 Coco, 11 de octubre (AM)
○ Trivia de 3.o a 8.o grado, 11 de octubre (PM)

Próxima feria de escuelas secundarias
● Nos estamos asociando con las escuelas de Network 10 para brindarles a los estudiantes y sus
familias la oportunidad de conocer a representantes de varias escuelas secundarias para
conocer sus programas.
● La feria de escuelas secundarias se llevará a cabo el 17 de octubre de 2024 en Morgan Park
High School de 5:00 a 7:00 p.m.
● ¡Todos los estudiantes de 6.o a 8.o grado y sus familias son bienvenidos a asistir a esta feria!
Reuniones de Título Uno del Director
● Las reuniones organizativas del Consejo Asesor de Padres (PAC) y del Comité Asesor Bilingüe
(BAC) se llevarán a cabo el 19 de septiembre a las 8:15 a.m. en el salón de usos múltiples.
● todos los padres. Los interesados en postularse para puestos directivos de PAC o BAC deben
asistir a esta reunión.