Good afternoon Tubman Community,

It is amazing to see this past week we wrapped up Quarter 1 of the 2021-2022 school year. I want to thank you all for the support and patience shown this past quarter. It is hard to believe we are already 25% through the school year. We had successes and some challenges, yet despite it all, we continue to do the work that has to be done to ensure the safety and educational needs of our students. We've had limited cases of COVID, and only requiring three classrooms to quarantine. With the release of the vaccine for children ages 5-11, we are eager to see the need for quarantine decrease as well. Last Friday, the district communicated the effort to increase access and availability for vaccination, please see additional details below.

In partnership,

Principal Gibson & AP Moore

Please sign and return the media consent and release form that was sent home in your child’s classroom newsletter this past Friday. This will be an opportunity for us to highlight Tubman's special events with the community on our school website, community blast, and our social media page. We will also be sending a hard copy in this week’s Tuesday Folder.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is offering online and on-campus winter and spring courses for ages 10–18+ which are designed to allow young artists to focus on their interests, learn new skills, and bring their ideas to life. Courses start in January and February! Read more here.

Last week was the Hindu festival of Diwali, which began in India and is celebrated by millions of people of different faiths around the world.

The five day Festival of Lights celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

Click here for books you can read with kids to learn more about Diwali!

Happy Diwali to all our families who celebrate!

Please click here the link to the Tubman IB Communicator newsletter that is posted on our school website. The newsletter highlights the units and components of our IB PYP and MYP classrooms.

Greetings Tubman families!

The LSC needs your help in finding a Community Member to join the council!   If you know someone within the required boundaries that would be a good fit for our school community and the work we do, please encourage them to submit information for candidacy.  The appointed member would serve on the LSC for the remainder of the current school year.

A community member is eligible to serve as a community representative if he/she:

• Is 18 years of age or older
• Resides in the attendance area or voting district of that school.
• Is not the parent or legal guardian of a child currently enrolled at that school
• Is not an employee of the Board.

Forms required for Traditional Local School Council Nomination can be found at

https://www.cps.edu/about/local-school-councils/lsc-elections/ and must be submitted to the school office in person.

Additional information about LSC roles and responsibilities can be found at https://www.cps.edu/about/local-school-councils/. Questions about Harriet Tubman Elementary school or the Tubman LSC can be submitted to [email protected].

As the LSC looks looks to support our families and our administration in the important work outlined in our Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP), we are soliciting participants for various LSC committees.  Current LSC committees  looking for volunteers center on the following areas:

• Communication and Engagement -  Supporting the administration in reaching & involving more families  regarding communication, planning, and participation in school news,  activities and events.
• Equity -  Supporting the administration in focusing CIWP work through a lens of equity and facilitating school community activities in support of equity-centered CIWP goals.
• Diverse Learners -  Work with the administration, the CIWP team, and LSC to make sure that voices in the DL community are included in planning for school growth.

Committee heads are in the process of discussing specific topics with Principal Gibson. If you are interested in helping with a specific committee, please reach out to the LSC email or any LSC member. We are hoping our community will join us in our commitment to make all the wonderful things Tubman has to offer available to EVERY STUDENT EVERY DAY!

Thank you in advance for all that your do as part of the amazing Harriet Tubman Elementary School community.

Best regards,

Tina Holder King 

Harriet Tubman Elementary LSC Chair 

Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took the important step of approving the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five to 11. This is incredible news, as now nearly all Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students are eligible to receive the vaccine –– making our schools even safer teaching and learning environments for staff, students, and families. To ensure all eligible students have the opportunity to receive the vaccine as quickly as possible, CPS schools will be closed on Friday, November 12 for Vaccination Awareness Day. 

Vaccination Awareness Day on Friday, November 12 is an opportunity for parents and guardians to take their children five years of age and older to get vaccinated at their pediatrician’s office, at a healthcare provider, or at a CPS school-based site or community vaccination event.

Click here for more information on Vaccination Awareness Day and recommendation for vaccination sites.

If you are interested in having your child participate in testing, please register here. Testing is administered on Friday and is optional for students, except for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated student athletes in 5th-8th grade. This week COVID testing will occur on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, for all students. If you would like to confirm that your child is registered, please contact the CPS COVID-19 Testing Team at [email protected]. 

November is Native American Heritage Month

• November  9th: High School Placement Exam
• November 11th: Veterans Day - NO SCHOOL
• November 12th: Vaccination Awareness Day - NO SCHOOL
• November 17th: Parent/Teacher Conferences - NO CLASSES FOR STUDENTS
• November 18th: Kickoff for the Tubman Student Council Food Drive
• November 18th: Friends of Tubman Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
• November 20th: School Tour at 10:00 a.m.
• November 24th-26th: Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL