Dear Tubman Families, 

I hope everyone enjoyed a restorative and restful long weekend in honor of Labor Day. As we step into another busy and exciting week of learning, I want to emphasize that your children's safety remains my absolute highest priority. To ensure our entire school community is aligned, please carefully review the important safety reminders and expectations outlined below. Strict adherence to these procedures is expected from all families to ensure a safe, smooth, and welcoming environment for every student.

Safety Reminders

• Parking Lot Traffic: Please do not drive through the parking lot after school; heavy traffic in this area combined with nearby students creates a safety hazard.
• Speed Limits: Please drive slowly when near the school, as we have many children moving throughout the area.
• Dismissal & Emergency Contacts: Only individuals listed on your child's emergency form are permitted to pick them up; please do not ask teachers to make exceptions. You can add new emergency contacts at any time by submitting a new emergency form to the main office.  
• Pets at Arrival and Dismissal: Many of our children are afraid of dogs. With that in mind, I’d like to remind everyone to please keep dogs off school property and away from student crowds during arrival and dismissal.  

Curriculum Night

I hope you can join us for Curriculum Night on September 16th from 5:00pm - 6:30pm. You will have an opportunity to hear from your child’s teachers, learn more about the resources available at Tubman and hear from me about all of the great things happening here at Tubman!

Please see the agenda for more details: Curriculum Night Agenda

Updated Email Communication Protocols

As part of my commitment to creating a safe, supportive, equitable and rigorous environment here at Tubman, I am prioritizing spending more direct time in classrooms and hallways alongside our students and staff this year. To give our learning spaces more attention during the school day, I will be adjusting my email routine. While my response times may be a bit longer than in the past, please be assured that every message is important to me and will receive a thoughtful reply as soon as possible. Thank you for your partnership, cooperation, and continued support in keeping Harriet Tubman Elementary a safe and thriving place to learn!

Warmly,

Principal Hammaker

The GoCPS High School application window is open from Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 AM to Friday, November 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM. All families are encouraged to log in and explore the GoCPS Portal to get familiar with the process before the window opens.

The current HSAT test will be replaced by the PreACT 9 Secure. As in previous years, this test will be offered to all 8th-grade students. Click here to learn more about the HSAT.

Starting in late September and early October, the CPS Office of Access and Enrollment is hosting a series of informative sessions to guide families step-by-step through the GoCPS application process for the 2027–28 school year (Click here to register). Please note a time update for Tubman upcoming GoCPS informative session on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. To make it more convenient for families attending Curriculum Night that evening, the session has been moved to 4:00 PM (originally scheduled for 1:00 PM).

Please make sure your student's address is correct in ASPEN, as accurate address data is required to calculate Tier status and to populate Neighborhood/Guaranteed Offer programs for students. I am here to help! If you have questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact me. Click here to sign up for my office hours. You can also call me directly at 773-534-5590.

Updated Event Details:

• Event: GoCPS Application Step-by-Step Guide (2027–28 School Year)
• Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
• New Time: 4:00 PM (right before Curriculum Night)
• Location: Tubman Elementary

GoCPS Parent Resources

GoCPS Applications Process Overview Family Facing Deck 

GoCPS High School Resource Video

High School Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Best Regards

Heather Beeker

Pronouns: She/her/hers (More information on pronouns here)

Professional School Counselor 

SPORTS

Important Student & Parent Reminders:

Please ensure your athlete brings proper athletic wear, sports shoes, and plenty of water to every practice.

Immediately after dismissal, all student-athletes must go directly to the auditorium and remain seated until their coach arrives to pick them up for practice. Students may not leave the building. Students who exit the building will not be allowed to re-enter.

Cross Country (Grades 5–8)

Practice Days: Mondays & Wednesdays

Practice Times: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Practice Location: Jonquil Park

Meets:

• Tuesday, September 22nd at Montrose Beach

• Saturday, September 26th at TBD

Boys 5th/6th Grade Soccer

Practice Days: Mondays & Wednesdays (Starting Sept 14)

Practice Times: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

If you have any questions, please email Ms. Grant at ogrant2@cps.edu

Girls 5th/6th Grade Volleyball

Practice Days: Mondays & Wednesdays (Starting Sept 14)

Practice Time: 3:15 PM – 5:00 PM

Coaches: Lynn Tucker & Andrew Don

Girls 7th/8th Grade Volleyball

Practice Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays

Practice Times: 3:10 PM – 5:00 PM

Practice Location: Gym

CPS SCORE Schedule Released (see below). Subject to change if teams are added or dropped. 

LOCATION: Kelvyn Park HS (4343 W Wrightwood Ave)

• Saturday, Sept. 19th at 9:45am (vs Funston)
• Saturday, Sept. 26th at 12pm (vs Darwin)
• Saturday, Oct. 3rd at 3:45pm (vs McAuliffe)
• Saturday, Oct 10th at 9:45am (vs Lorca)
• Saturday, Oct 17th at 2:15pm (vs Logan Square)
• Saturday, Oct. 24th at 12:45pm (vs Reilly)
• Playoffs Oct. 26th - Nov 6th (top 2 teams in each network make it)

MUSIC HOUSE

Friends of Tubman is an all-volunteer group of parents and caregivers dedicated to making Tubman a great school for all students through fundraising and community events. Please click here Subscribe to Friends of Tubman to subscribe to FOT emails to receive information on upcoming fundraisers, community events, and learn how to get involved.

Parent Portal Login

Parent Portal Navigation Guide

Parent Portal Setup Process Video

Parent Portal FAQs

Online Payment via Parent Portal Guide

Online Payment via Parent Portal Video

Online Payment via ePay Login

Online Payment via ePay Guide

E-Absence FAQs

E-Absence Guide Video

E-Absence from Mobile Device Instructions

For additional assistance with Parent Portal or ePay, email the School Clerk, Ms. Martinez, at Rmartinez170@cps.edu

Harriet Tubman Elementary School

2851 N Seminary Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Phone: (773) 534 - 5784 | Fax: (773) 534 - 5784

tubmanelementarycps.org