Education & Families News
The McKinley Park Civic Association, the neighborhood's longest-serving community group, plans to celebrate its 46th year of service at its annual banquet, scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, 2017, at Polonia Banquets, 4604 S. Archer Ave., Chicago. In addition to offering victuals and camaraderie with friends and neighbors, the event will also honor local educators and contributors to the McKinley Park community.
Read more: Civic Association To Celebrate 46 Years of Service at Annual Banquet
Aquinas Literacy Center (ALC) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary during the 2016-2017 academic year. ALC was founded in 1996 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in response to the needs of immigrants in the McKinley Park neighborhood and surrounding areas to learn English. ALC continues to offer free, individualized tutoring in the English language to adult immigrants.
In preparation for the school year, ALC held a training workshop for new tutors on August 26 and 27. Three current tutors came to share their experiences and tips they had on tutoring adult immigrants. The next new tutor training will be held on October 21 and 22.
Read more: Aquinas Literacy Center Kicks off its 20th Anniversary School Year
The Montessori Foundations of Chicago, a McKinley Park neighborhood-based preschool and kindergarten, has achieved the Silver Circle of Quality designation from ExceleRate Illinois, a state program that establishes and certifies standards for early childhood education. With the award, the State of Illinois recognizes that the school meets or exceeds standards for teaching, the educational environment, administration and training and education.
"Being recognized by ExceleRate is a source of pride and affirmation not only for our school and the Montessori community, but for our entire community," said school principal Beata (Betty) Skorusa. "It's an assurance for our current families, visitors and prospective parents."
Read more: State of Illinois Recognizes McKinley Park Montessori School for Quality
According to recent announcements by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and a letter sent to parents, elevated levels of lead were discovered at two drinking fountains at Edward Everett Elementary School, 3419 S. Bell Ave., Chicago, in the McKinley Park neighborhood. Spurred by national reports of high lead in water systems, CPS has been testing at its school sites and has uncovered 75 schools that have now tested positive for high levels of lead, including Everett.
The two fountains with high lead are sited in the basement in the girls playroom at Everett; some of the tests showed levels more than five times higher than the 15 parts per billion the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets as a cutoff for needed action. Both fountains are now disconnected, and other drinking fountains in the building tested below the EPA's action level, CPS said.
DePaul University senior Matt Welsh is dedicating his summer to an internship at the Aquinas Literacy Center, including management of the upcoming Wine & Cheese Information Session between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13. Held at the center at 3540 S. Hermitage Ave., Chicago, the open house-style wine and cheese event lets the public learn about the mission of Aquinas and available volunteer opportunities.
This is the first such event for Aquinas, said Volunteer Coordinator Kristen Dempey Pasyk. "The idea came about so we could engage prospective volunteers during the summer months when our regular program is closed. We are excited to have Matt on board to plan the event, and we appreciate this opportunity to deepen our partnership with DePaul University by hosting one of their students as an intern."
Read more: DePaul Intern Helms Wine & Cheese Info Session at Aquinas
