Education & Families News
For the 48th year in a row, the McKinley Park Civic Association celebrated the community at its annual banquet and awards on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Association officers led the award ceremonies, including presentation of Educators of the Year and William H.G. Toms Community Service awards, alongside a gala gathering and meal at Polonia Banquets.
"Everything I do has been the result of many extraordinary people," said William H.G. Toms winner Jose Negrete, the head of circulation at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library. "I get my motivation from you."
Read more: Civic Association Celebrates Educators, Leaders at Annual Banquet
The early learning facilities in the field house at McKinley Park have been overhauled and refreshed for Spring 2019 programs, part of a larger field house clean-up and rehabilitation being spearheaded by new McKinley Park Supervisor Briana Soria. In addition to completely replacing the floor and sub-floor for the early learning room, the room shines with a new paint job, and all old and broken equipment and materials have been removed and replaced.
Early learning instructor Marilyn Camacho said that the improved facilities will support park programs geared toward young children, including play school, story times, the kiddie college and upcoming programs tied to nutrition and healthy eating. "It's a much better environment for kids and parents," she said.
Read more: Early Learning in McKinley Park Gets Kick from Overhauled Kids Room
Local educator Jessica Fong received more recognition for her groundbreaking research on the benefit of outdoor play for children in a new writeup that also profiles the McKinley Community Play Garden, the beloved community space at 3518-28 S. Wolcott Ave., Chicago.
The article by Julia Mondschean on Free Spirit Media looks at both the facility and use of the play garden, as well as Fong's research into the disparity of access to natural play spaces across Chicago's social strata and geographic areas. The McKinley Park News has previously noted Fong's role in local nature play education in an article from this past fall.
Click here to read the Free Spirit Media article
Nathanael Greene Elementary School, which serves McKinley Park neighborhood students, has achieved a coveted 1+ rating in the latest school data released from Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The rating, which is the highest awarded by CPS, places Greene in the top tiers of high-performing public schools in Chicago.
"I'm very proud of the teachers and the parents and the students," said school Principal Shelley Lugo-Cordova. "It was a team effort. We have very strong community involvement."
Read more: Greene Elementary Lands Top School Rating from CPS
Local educator and McKinley Park neighborhood resident Jessica Fong has started her teaching engagement at the Velma Thomas Early Childhood Center, bringing her expertise in nature-based play to the highly regarded preschool. Fong, whose original research quantifies the benefits of nature play, said she is eager to bring what she has learned to the school and take advantage of nearby McKinley Park and the McKinley Community Play Garden.
"Having the 65 acre park just a half block away will add another dimension to my nature-based play research," she said. "I am also curious to see what effects nature play has, if any, on the dual language development of the students."
Read more: Local Educator Brings Nature Play Expertise to Velma Thomas
