AIM FAMILY UPDATES
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 Current Community Care Families: The last day of Community Care is Friday, March, 19. We will reopen our campus building on April 12 for In-Person learning, and your child’s schedule will be different. Please see the information below for more details. LEARN@SCHOOL Families who are preparing for In-Person Learning, starting April 12, 2021:
 Refer a New Family to Art In Motion!
8th Grade Families: Go CPS ApplicationsNinth grade results for the first round will be released on Friday, April 30, 2021, between 5:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. CST. All applicants will receive their results via their online GoCPS account. An online GoCPS account will be created for paper applicants using the email address or phone number on the paper application; information will be emailed to paper applicants to assist them in accessing their online accounts. During the week of April 26th, all applicants will receive instructions via email on how to access their results.  3rd Quarter Progress Reports All students and families will be receiving an e-mail by the end of the day today from their mentor with our 3rd Quarter Progress Report Letter and a Progress Report for English, History, Math, and Science. Arts and Spanish teachers will send a separate progress update for their courses no later than Monday, March 22. This is an important check-in and key information is provided around student progress and requirements to successfully end the school year. Students must pass each course by the end of the year with a 70% C- or higher. Students with incomplete courses below a 70% C- will be required to attend Summer Learning in order to pass and be promoted to the next grade level. Contact your child’s mentor, teachers, and/or school leadership with any questions. Spring i-Ready Testing (7 & 8 th Grade only) Beginning the week of March 15th through March 26th, our 7th and 8th graders will begin taking the Spring i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment. i‑Ready is a comprehensive assessment and instructional program that empowers educators with the resources they need to help all students succeed. The Diagnostic assessment will not be graded but will be used as a resource to determine students' readiness for state learning standards. The student data will help guide teacher's instruction to personalize learning pathways for students. We are excited to witness student's growth from fall to spring. To prepare students for the assessment, encourage them to relax, take their time, and do the best they can. Please revisit the link i-Ready.com/FamiliesAssessAtHome and watch the video to learn more about i-Ready and its excellent benefits to fostering positive learning experiences for students. If you have any questions or concerns about testing, please reach out to Ms. Whitaker via email, cwhitaker@distinctiveschools.org.  Be on the lookout for Arts Progress Reports coming to you before Monday, March 15th! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to any of the AIM ARTS TEAM Members via email or use our Ask Us Form or Sign up for office hours using THIS link!
All-City Elementary and High School Visual Arts Exhibitions The spring exhibition will be curated by the CPS Department of Arts Education, and will showcase 2D, 3D, and time-based artwork by CPS high school students. All students in grades PreK–12 from any CPS school (including district-managed, charter, contract, and options schools) are encouraged to submit work. Teachers, students, parents, and guardians may all submit artwork on behalf of students. The submission window is open until April 22, 2021. As a reminder, seniors students’ artwork submitted to the All-City Visual Arts High School Exhibition by March 26, 2021 will immediately be made eligible for potential inclusion in the Art on theMART exhibition if it meets the selection criteria (please visit here for more information). Artwork must be submitted through one of the ACVA High School Exhibition portals to be considered for both the Art on theMART exhibition and the ACVA HS Exhibition. Please download and thoroughly read the attached 2020-21 ACVA ES-HS Submission Guidelines before submitting artwork. The guidelines contain direct links to the exhibition submission forms. With the support of CPS Visual Arts teachers, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), and Design Museum of Chicago, the Department of Arts Education created an All-City Visual Arts Exhibition website. View the 2019-20 exhibition by clicking this link.  Stronger Community = Less COVID: Check out this article of how communities that trust and know each other have lower COVID cases. Let’s build a strong community at AIM and in our neighborhoods.
  
Let's celebrate being CREATIVE! Watch the video below to see who is in the spotlight and enjoy lots of laughs from our staff video submissions!
 AIM's goal is to maintain our ongoing commitment to a rigorous college-preparatory education for students and equip them with the skills required to succeed beyond the classroom. Although learning environments look different this year, our commitment and approach to instruction remain a priority. The AIM approach requires students to be engaged in their learning for the entire year and affords student’s the flexibility and opportunity to earn strong grades through perseverance and hard work. Because individuals learn at different paces, students are measured against year-end competency targets allowing a full academic year to demonstrate mastery of Art In Motion's curriculum. Quarter 3 Progress Reports will be distributed Thursday, March 11th. Progress Reports serve as a snapshot of student academic development and highlight areas of strengths and growth. Progress Please review your child’s report and identify the classes that your student may be off track. If your child is off track in any course, please reach out to your child’s teacher and mentor. Teacher and Mentor Support: Teachers and mentors are committed to the success of every student. Teachers and mentors have designated office hours and times embedded in their daily schedules to support students. Mentors will meet with students and their teachers to create goals and devise a plan to get caught up and continue to check-in during weekly mentoring sessions as we approach the midpoint of Semester 2. Remember, all families have access to Summit and Synergy to monitor student progress daily: 
The AIM Arts Website reflects our new assignments with a NEW LAYOUT. Each discipline class covered classroom expectations last week and provided a calendar of due dates to assist students with goal setting and planning. Every class period is an opportunity to do assignments and ask questions from peers or the instructor! Meeting deadlines and completing work with 100% effort will guarantee success for Middle School and High School students. DO NOT HESITATE to share your creative process with us! We are grading students on their ability to create, produce, connect, and respond within each assignment. 
Our experience with Community of Care (CoC) has helped us prepare for a safe return to school on April 12 for students planning to learn on campus. We’ve had CoC students and staff on campus and have had zero (0) incidents of COVID with our bi-weekly saliva enzyme testing and other mitigation measures . As our teachers return to campus March 15 and students returning April 12, we have put in place additional plans and measures to ensure we are ready. Your cooperation and reinforcement of all health/safety/behavioral expectations will be key to a safe return. Check out this video from Distinctive Schools to get an idea of how we are prioritizing everyone’s well-being in order to get our students back on campus:
 8th Grade Graduation Information - Cap & Gown Size Needed!
If you need payment support please reach out to aim@distinctiveschools.org, we are happy to accommodate families as needed. See information below about P-EBT Benefits for eligible students.  
ALL FAMILIES: IN PERSON OR REMOTE LEARNING FORMS DUE BY 3.3.21
FAMILY CHOICE: Please submit your selections using this form, by Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
Learn more about the The Learn At School Learn At Home Plan:
 Please utilize our www.aimchicago.org website for resources like all Student Links (including weekly assignment bulletins, schedules, program websites, teacher e-mails), these Family Updates, and more. Also, follow AIM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news, celebrations, etc. Need more help keeping track of your child’s school progress? Need your parent/guardian login for Synergy and Summit Learning? We are here to help. Use the staff e-mail list above or reach out to Mr. Kreller, Lead Instructional Coach, at kkreller@distinctiveschools.org for support. ICYMI: Creative Scholars Awards NightIncase you missed it, here is a recording of Creative Scholars night where we honored both the academic and creative excellence of our students. Thank you to the planning committee for bringing together our community in such a joyous way!
8th Grade Graduation Information
IMPORTANT 8th GRADE GRADUATION INFO
If you need payment support please reach out to aim@distinctiveschools.org, we are happy to accommodate families as needed JOIN OUR ARTS FAMILY TOWN HALL THIS WEDNESDAY AT 5:00pm!
The arts department will provide deeper information and clarity about new Arts courses at AIM, info about how to support student expectations/mindsets, and learn more about Wiz In Motion, our end-of-year arts festival! Zoom info will be sent before event. The Arts team has been working diligently for students to begin their new, disciplinary arts classes (music, dance, visual art, or literary art) starting Monday, February 22. In case your student forgets their Arts teacher, rosters and class information is posted on the AIM Arts Website homepage. Students will be in these classes for the remainder of the school year! All of the interdisciplinary work we are doing is leading to our Spring Festival called The Wiz In Motion! Middle and high school students are continuing their creative analysis of The Wiz with the expectation of using the strategies they learned from Quarter 2. It is highly recommended every day students spend at least 1 hour on each arts assignment to ensure they understand the requirements and meet their deadline. Peer feedback and group discussions during live instruction is a vital part of the IL Arts Standards and it greatly impacts students’ Participation grade (50% of the overall grade).  The Corner Store will be opening again in March. Be sure to do your work, stay engaged in class, and exhibit our CREATIVE values to earn “Bodega Points” towards the store. Want Happiness & Health? Be Nice: Check out this article that details How Kindness Fits Into a Happy Life Family Synergy/Summit Access: Families have access to review their student’s attendance, academic progress, and grades by using Synergy (attendance, arts, and Spanish) and Summit (English, Math, Science, and History). Check out this video on how to navigate the platforms. Reach out to Mr Acevedo at jacevedo@distinctiveschools.org  STUDENT SPOTLIGHT CELEBRATIONS!
Black History Month Tribute: Lois Mailou Jones, Visual Artist Prospective Families Open House, Tuesday, 2.23.21 5pm AIM Scholars Night 6:30-8PM Thursday, 2.25.21 1pm Dismissal, Friday, 3.19.21 End of Quarter 3, 3.25.21 Spring Break, March 29-April 2, 2021 On February 25, 2021 we will gather for a special program to honor students who have risen above, demonstrated academic excellence and CREATIVE citizenship on and off the camera! All families are welcome to attend this virtual event streaming on Facebook . Students who will be honored for academic excellence and CREATIVE awards will receive a special invite from the host committee. Reach out to Ms. Rivas with any questions!  We will be sending additional updates and a family survery this coming week as we plan for in- person and on campus learning options this April!     At AIM, our primary concern is the health and well-being of our students. We strive to be responsive to the needs of our students each day. The pandemic has continued to shine the light on the need for mental health supports for families and students. We are here for you. Take a look at this article for tips on dealing with the COVID blues: Six Ways to Manage Coronavirus Depression
  We are very grateful for the partnership, collaboration, and positive feedback received from Family conferences last week! If you were not able to sign-up for conferences, please reach out and connect with your child’s teachers - staff e-mails can be found here - www.aimchicago.org/staff. Please utilize our www.aimchicago.org website for resources like all Student Links (including weekly assignment bulletins, schedules, program websites, teacher e-mails), these Family Updates, and more. Also, follow AIM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news, celebrations, etc. Need more help keeping track of your child’s school progress? Need your parent/guardian login for Synergy and Summit Learning? We are here to help. Use the staff e-mail list above or reach out to Mr. Kreller, Lead Instructional Coach, at kkreller@distinctiveschools.org for support.  The AIM Arts department has been working diligently for students to begin their new, disciplinary arts classes (music, dance, visual art, or literary art) starting this Monday, February 22. Students have been informed throughout this week that they will start their new classes on Monday. Rosters and class information will be posted on the AIM Arts Website and e-mailed individually to students and families by Monday morning. Please keep an eye out for this information and support your child in a successful transition to their new Arts class. Reach out to any of our Arts teachers with questions.
Amber Leitsch - aleitsch@distinctiveschools.org Venise Keys - vkeys@distinctiveschools.org Taylor Edwards - tedwards@distinctiveschools.org Taylor Jordan - tjordan@distinctiveschools.org 
In this week’s tribute, Mr. Frazier Keys celebrates the unity of Pan-Africanism through spoken word with Ayinde Cartman who is Executive Director of Real Men Charities located in South Shore. He is committed to providing Black men and youth with the necessary language, resources, and outreach to develop them and cultivate the best they have to offer to themselves, and their worlds. Thank you, Mr. Frazier - Keys for sharing your heart and passion for AIM with the community!  1 pm Dismissal, Friday, 2.12.2021 No SCHOOL: Presidents Day, Monday, 2.15.21 Prospective Families Open House, Tuesday, 2.23.21 5pm AIM Scholars Night 6:30-8PM Thursday, 2.25.21 1pm Dismissal, Friday, 3.19.21 Spring Break, March 29-April 2, 2021    Community of Care - Our Community of Care program (on-campus, remote learning) for students has restarted. We understand the challenge of balancing your student’s school during the pandemic and are here to help! If you would like to register for Community of Care, contact Mr. Avery for details!
 
 Family Conferences: Thank you to those families that were able to connect with us for conferences this week! If you were not able to sign-up for conferences, please reach out and connect with your child’s teachers - staff e-mails can be found here Supporting your child’s learning: Please utilize our www.aimchicago.org website for resources like all Student Links (including weekly assignment bulletins, schedules, program websites, teacher e-mails), these Family Updates, and more. Also, follow AIM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news, celebrations, etc. Summit Learning Feature Update: We are committed to providing students with a rigorous academic experience. We are also aware of the challenges of remote learning instruction. We are making a key shift to the Summit Learning platform in order to better support student success. Please read this family letter and reach out to Mr. Kreller, Lead Instructional Coach, with any questions. Health & Sexual Health Education: As part of our physical education (PE) curriculum at Art In Motion, your child will receive Health Education as part of the Chicago Public Schools Sexual Health Education Policy. Starting in March, your child will be taught topics, including: Nutrition, Healthy eating goals, Physical activities, Fitness goals, Healthy/ unhealthy relationships and Physical changes. During this time of virtual instruction, Art In Motion will not be teaching any topics associated with sexual health education. The CPS Board acknowledges that parents/guardians are the primary sexuality educators for their child/children. Art In Motion is committed to partnering with you to provide supplementary instruction to students via the sexual health education lessons if you would like this information. The instructional materials and outlines for this unit are available for your review by appointment with your school Director or designee. In alignment with Illinois law, students can be excused from taking part or participating in courses on family life instruction if the student’s parent/guardian submits a timely written objection to the student’s participation. (105 ILCS 110/3). If you wish to opt your child out of this unit of study, please email Mrs. Veriner James 2.26.21. Students who opt out will not be subject to any consequences, however he/she will work on alternative physical education assignments.  On February 25, 2021 we will gather for a special program to honor students who have risen above, demonstrated academic excellence and CREATIVE citizenship on and off the camera! All families are welcome to attend this virtual event streaming on Facebook . Students who will be honored for academic excellence and CREATIVE awards will receive a special invite from the host committee. Reach out to Ms. Rivas with any questions!  Artist Interview Videos are being submitted this week! We are still working on The Wiz for Semester 2 in preparation for our Spring Festival Showcase!This Arts event will be online + social distancing in person to bring our AIM family together and celebrate the hard work we have been doing since December 2020. Students AND families are encouraged to find their creative passions and connect those to the lessons being taught in Dance, Music, Literary Art & Drama, along with Visual Art. After the first two weeks of 3rd quarter instruction, students were expected to submit an Artist Community Interview Video by Tuesday, February 9, in order to be placed into a disciplinary arts class for the remainder of the school year, beginning on Monday, February 22. See the AIM Arts Website for more info and reach out to your child’s Arts teacher with any questions. Students with an Incomplete (below 70% average) from their Quarter 2 Arts class will need to make-up and submit missing assignments no later than Friday, February 19, in order to earn a passing grade for Quarter 2. Class time will be provided the week of February 16th for make-up work. HELP BUILD OUR COMMUNITY!
FAMILY CONFERENCES - SIGN UP NOW!
ATTENDANCE UPDATEBeginning this week families will receive phone calls after 2:30pm each day noting the periods in which your student was absent. If your student is going to be absent please email aim@distinctiveschools.org or call 773-828-4221. Attendance letters have been sent out for students who have missed 10% of school days thus far. There is a direct correlation between academic success and regular school attendance. Our student support team will reach out next week to schedule meetings to help support students who are not attending class regularly, which may include recommending Community of Care for your student. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We recognize that the pandemic has had a tremendous impact on our students and have a student support team ready to help in any way possible.  We are officially into Quarter 3 and Semester 2 of the 2020-2021 school year! We are grateful and proud of the effort from all members of the AIM community - especially families, staff, and students - that have overcome significant challenges and made the most of the first half of the school year. We look forward to Semester 2 and partnering with families to ensure student success. Please sign-up for Winter Family Conferences to meet with your child’s teachers and discuss current progress. These will take place on Wednesday, February 10, from 1:30 PM-4:30 PM and Thursday, February 11, from 1:30 PM-6:30PM. This is a critical time to check in and continue the partnership between teachers, students, and families, in order to support students in completing required coursework and being on track for promotion to the next grade level at the end of the year. Reach out to Mr. Kreller, Lead Instructional Coach, at kkreller@distinctiveschools.org with any questions regarding Family Conferences.   The AIM Arts Department is so excited to announce our Spring 2021 Artist Community Interviews! These will be used to place students into classes, aid in developing a personalized learning model for students, and be used as a tool for the Arts Team to get to know our rising artists even better! Feel free to read more information about the details and expectations of the videos on the AIM ARTS WEBSITE, but here are a few key things to keep in mind over the next few weeks: Students report to their designated Arts Cohorts that they have been attending regularly for the first 15 minutes of class for attendance purposes. AFTER those 15 minutes they will be transitioning to the ALL ARTS TOGETHER Zoom Room where they will receive their instruction from discipline specific teachers. If students are greater than 15 MINUTES late, they are to do two things:
The ALL ARTS TOGETHER Zoom Room link is listed on the AIM ARTS WEBSITE All Artist Community Interview Videos are due February 9th, 2021 with NO EXCEPTIONS. Students who do not submit their videos by February 9th will then lose their opportunity to communicate their Arts Course preference and will be placed into whichever Arts Class has the most availability. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to any of the Arts Teachers in any of the follow ways:
ARTS ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES VIDEO SCREENING BY EarthX: Monday, February 1st screening of THIS LAND and the Q&A session with filmmaker Faith Briggs: Faith will share her personal journey through 150 miles of national park lands. In the Q&A session, she opens the door for students to ask her questions about everything, from protecting our public lands to the more challenging subjects such as respect and what it means to feel comfortable as a woman of color and respectful of our national monuments. Your students will not want to miss this opportunity to engage Faith Briggs in conversation! Students must sign a photo release in order to directly ask a question or be seen and heard on camera. To access the form, click here for Student Waiver. The session with Faith Briggs and the students will be edited and played on-demand by EarthX at a later date. FRESH FILMS VIRTUAL PRESENTS: Free Virtual Video Editing Course for Youth! Through this program, you will become a better writer, storyteller, communicator, and expand your film and editing skills. You’ll collaborate with fellow young filmmakers across the country as you build your documentary and narrative film production skills and add content to your portfolio! No film experience or special equipment required. What’s the commitment? Students meet with the pros from Fresh Films and your fellow filmmakers once each week on Thursdays from 4-6:30pm to learn new skills and create short film projects. P.S. We also have on-set opportunities each summer (well, each summer when there is no Covid!) 
  If you know any students in grades 7, 8, 9 or 10 who would like to join the AIM Family, have them visit aimchicago.org for all information and to apply! 
 Art in Motion will soon begin the support group for our students who have experienced grief and/or loss due to the death of a loved one, separation of family member(s), divorce, foster care and/or incarceration. As we continue to support the WHOLE student, we believe here at AIM that allowing students to appropriately express their thoughts and feelings of loss in a monitored setting by a trained professional encourages the students’ growth and healing in order to promote success academically, creatively, socially and emotionally. If your pre-teen/teen has experienced a loss such as those mentioned above, please feel free to review what we have to offer in terms of our grief and loss group. Please complete the online registration form no later than January 29, 2021. Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to servicing your pre-teen/teen here at Art In Motion. Please note: Mrs. Lee, Art In Motion’s School Social Worker will be the facilitator of this group. This group will take place via zoom ONCE a week from 2-2:30p for six consecutive weeks. There will be an additional week included after the sixth week for a small celebration for the students (via zoom). This form is due no later than Friday, January 29, 2021. Forms will NOT be accepted after this date. This is to maintain the integrity of the group so that students may begin group work together and end together. If your pre-teen/teen misses a day of school for which the group takes place, make up work is not a requirement but you are at liberty to request the activity for that session be sent via email. Thank you and I look forward to working with your pre-teen/teen through this process. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at alee@distinctiveschools.org. Today marks the end of Semester 1. Teachers have worked diligently with students to help them meet learning benchmarks during quarters 1 and 2. Although learning looked differently this semester, our commitment to rigorous student-paced instruction remained intact. Over the next several weeks, parents will receive phone calls and emails from teachers to schedule a time for conferences. We encourage parents and students to partner with teachers to set goals and prepare a plan to successfully achieve Semester 2 benchmarks. We are confident, through this partnership, students will be set up for success. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to helping our kids be successful.   Students are finishing their semester having completed two Arts Study Paths. We are so excited to continue our creative journey for Quarter 3! The Arts Study Paths [Literary Art & Visual Art] [Dance & Music] lay the foundation for upcoming Artist Interviews, and original presentations of The Wiz for the Spring 2021 Showcase! Arts teachers will go in depth about Artist Interviews and upcoming work during the first week of Quarter 3 in their Zoom classrooms during Arts Class. If you have further questions attend our Office Hours, and we are more than happy to assist. 
      
We plan to launch In-Person Community Care on February 8, leading up to the launch of our
In-Person Learning Model on April 12. As we welcome students and staff back into our school buildings, we will continue to offer a Remote-Only option for families who prefer to continue remote learning through the remainder of the school year. TIMELINE FOR REOPENING:
If you are interested in signing up for Community Care or In-Person Learning, please submit your interest by Thursday, January 21, 2021 using this form.
(Note – you must sign up for Community Care by January 21; the form to select an in-person option for your student will be sent in February, to sign up for In-Person learning beginning April 12). For questions about our return to campus with Community Care or In-Person Learning, we will host a family ‘office hours’ sessions on:
By the end of January, we will start phone calls to parents and guardians each day with a summary of all periods that your student was marked with an unexcused absence. To report a student absence, please call the main office (773-820-9426) or aim@distinctiveschools.org. If you need support with motivating your student or help navigating their schedule, please reach out to Mr. Acevedo, our Student Support team leader, jacevedo@distinctiveschools.org   With Quarter 2 and Semester 1 ending on Friday, January 22nd, students should be attending classes, engaging and participating, and completing required work to end the quarter and semester with a passing grade in each class. Reach out to your child’s mentor, teachers, staff, and leadership with any questions or supports needed - staff emails can be found here. All students are enrolled in the following courses: Middle School (7th & 8th Grade): English, History, Math, Science, WIN, Arts High School (9th Grade): English, History, Math, Science, Spanish, Arts Friday, January 22nd is the last day for students to turn in work that will be graded and reflected on Quarter 2/Semester 1 Report Cards. Students who turn in work after the deadline can receive credit, but there is no guarantee that it will be included in Report Card grades. Quarter 3/Semester 2 begins on Monday, January 25th. We are looking forward to the second half of the school year and your continued partnership in your child’s education! All AIM students are enrolled in a Quarter 2 Arts class in which they are working through either a music and dance or visual and literary arts learning pathway. Daily instruction and assignments have been carried out during classes utilizing the AIM Arts Website. Please check in with your child and their arts teacher to ensure they are on track with Q2 assignments in order to pass the class by the end of the quarter next Friday, January 22nd. 
Restorative Conversations during Covid: Check out this tip sheet on ways to have meaningful communications during the challenges of Covid.
School Store: The AIM Corner Store’s Grand Opening is the end of this month. Great prizes like: snack boxes, art supplies, AIM Gear, and gift certificates (gaming, music, etc.) are available. Earn your points by completing projects, PFAs, and engaging in class activities. January Happiness Calendar: Daily activities to bring happiness and joy to your life and that of others. Learn how to support your student with our digital tools!
Summit: (English/Science/Math/History) and Synergy: (Spanish/Arts/Attendance) Contact Dean Acevedo (jacevedo@distinctiveschools.org) with any questions!
 If you know any students in grades 7, 8, 9 or 10 who would like to join the AIM Family, have them visit aimchicago.org for all information and to apply!
"Presence Over Productivity" by Angela Lee, School Social Worker If 2020 didn't teach us anything else, it taught us that IT CAN WAIT! In our western society, we value and dare I say, honor busy-ness and productivity. When you live in a capitalist society, nothing matters but the bottom line. But all of that came to a massive halt when COVID-19 unapologetically disrupted our daily lives. It's as if someone stripped us of all the luxuries in life and said "Okay, go and figure out how to navigate the basics... all over again". That led me to thinking, we just need to be present. We can no longer plan, because plans are changing everyday. We can no longer mindlessly wander through life, because well hey, that's not working either. We can no longer focus on just producing because that means nothing when your life is literally at stake. All we can do is be present for ourselves and others. Life is to be lived and no amount of productivity will give you back a deep breath needed to center yourself, or a quality nap, or a much needed conversation with an old friend, or quality time at the dinner table with family, or your physical and mental health. So I implore you, in the year of 2021, make being present a priority. Trust me, production will naturally follow.
By the end of January, we will start phone calls to parents and guardians each day with a summary of all periods that your student was marked with an unexcused absence. To report a student absence, please call the main office (773-820-9426) or aim@distinctiveschools.org. If you need support with motivating your student or help navigating their schedule, please reach out to Mr. Acevedo, our Student Support team leader, jacevedo@distinctiveschools.org End of Quarter 2 & Semester 1 on Friday, January 22 Over the next couple of weeks, check-in regularly with your child about their school progress to ensure they’re passing each class as we near the end of Quarter 2 and Semester 1 on Friday, 1/22. Reach out to your child’s mentor and teachers with any questions and be on the lookout for communications from them. Quarter 2 Report Cards will be available at Family Conferences on February 10th and 11th. High School Diagnostic Assessments Beginning the week of January 11th, our 9th graders will begin taking the i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment. i‑Ready is a comprehensive assessment and instructional program that empowers educators with the resources they need to help all students succeed. The Diagnostic assessment will not be graded but will be used as a resource to determine students' readiness for state learning standards. The student data will help guide instruction to personalize learning pathways for students. To prepare students for the assessment, encourage them to relax, take their time, and do the best they can. Please visit the link i-Ready.com/FamiliesAssessAtHome and watch the video to learn more about i-Ready and its excellent benefits to fostering positive learning experiences for students. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Veriner James via email at Vjames@distinctiveschools.org.
We are deeply grateful for our partnership with The Lang Lang International Music Foundation. Through their generosity, we are able to transform and inspire our students during remote learning .
Welcome Back! The Student Support Team (SST) would like to welcome everyone back from Winter Break. We are now wrapping up our 2nd quarter and hope to see everyone end on a high note. Be sure to reach out to your mentor and the SST team if you need any support with academics or health/wellness needs. Your SST Team includes:
January Happiness Calendar: Daily activities to bring happiness and joy to your life and that of others. Synergy/Summit: Learn how to support your student with Summit (English/Science/Math/History) and Synergy (Spanish/Arts/Attendance) by watching this video. Academic Integrity: AIM’s approach to preparing students for college and beyond includes integrity and hard work. It is expected that students' work be theirs and that they are following all expectations on assignments, projects, and assessments. Students who have violated academic integrity standards will have to do the assignment again, do a project on academic integrity, and will get a phone call home for first time incidents. Larger penalties may come if there is a persistent issue. If students are struggling with the concepts or work, please reach out to teachers and/or student support for assistance. We want to help. Managing Screen Time: Students still want to play video games, watch TV, or use their devices, though they’re on the computer all day in school. Check out this video on screen-time for tips.  
2020.2021 Applications are OPEN!
If you know any students in grades 7, 8, 9 or 10 who would like to join the AIM Family, have them visit aimchicago.org for all information. Also, please invite them to our next virtual open house. Seats are limited and we are already developing a waitlist for next year! 
AIM Families, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you deeply for your tremendous support of and hard work with your AIM Student this Fall; they are some of my favorite people in the world! We know that these have been difficult times for many of us, but I still remain encouraged to hold on to my faith and hope in something bigger than what I can see. I remember a quote from renowned author and therapist, Iyanla Vanzant. She said, “No storm can last forever. It will never rain 365 days consecutively. Keep in mind that trouble comes to pass, not to stay. Don’t worry! No storm, not even the one in your life, can last forever.” May this season find you enjoying or anticipating the beauty and potential of your “next” as we walk into 2021 with grace, peace and love. Be well and Happy Holidays! Kara May
Pause Before You Act by Angela Lee, School Social Worker When was the last time you gave yourself time to just be still? Give yourself a few moments of pause every day. Pause and notice how your body feels before you begin the work day, or take a moment to just sit without any outside distractions or sounds. These little moments of pause can do your mind some good in this fast-paced world.
Beginning in January, we will start phone calls to parents and guardians each day with a summary of all periods that your student was marked with an unexcused absence. To report a student absence, please call the main office (773-820-9426) or aim@distinctiveschools.org. If you need support with motivating your student or help navigating their schedule, please reach out to Mr. Acevedo, our Student Support team leader, jacevedo@distinctiveschools.org  Wrapping Up Semester 1 By now, every family should have received a copy of their child’s Quarter Progress Report. Progress Reports serve as a snapshot of student academic development and highlight areas of strengths and growth. Please review your child’s report and identify the classes that your student may be off track. If your child is off track in any course, please use Winter Break as an opportunity to catch up. Friday, January 22, 2021, marks the end of semester one and the final day for students to submit coursework. Students are highly encouraged to work diligently to meet grade-level and year-end competency goals and stay on track to meet graduation and promotion requirements. High School Diagnostic Assessments Beginning the week of January 11th, our 9th graders will begin taking the i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment. i‑Ready is a comprehensive assessment and instructional program that empowers educators with the resources they need to help all students succeed. The Diagnostic assessment will not be graded but will be used as a resource to determine students' readiness for state learning standards. The student data will help guide teacher's instruction to personalize learning pathways for students. To prepare students for the assessment, encourage them to relax, take their time, and do the best they can. Please visit the link i-Ready.com/FamiliesAssessAtHome and watch the video to learn more about i-Ready and its excellent benefits to fostering positive learning experiences for students. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Veriner James via email at Vjames@distinctiveschools.org. On track students should be starting their second Study Path option assignments on the AIM Arts Website. All late assignments must be submitted BEFORE beginning their second student path choice. Students who did not chose a pathway were sent a letter last week to ensure a strong finish of Quarter 2. 
The Impact of Social and Emotional Learning
Watch this video to see why we focus on Social Emotional Learning with our students! |
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May 2021
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