Information Guide
Catherine Cook School Viewbook
Daily Schedule 2020-2021
School Calendar 2020-2021
September 8 |
First Day of School |
October 12 |
No School |
November 8 | Admission Open House |
November 9 | No School: Teacher In-Service Day |
November 23-24 | No School: Parent-Teacher Conferences |
November 25-27 | Thanksgiving Break |
December 21 – January 1 | Winter Break |
January 18 | No School: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday |
February 12 | No School: Teacher In-Service Day |
February 15-19 | February Break |
March 25-26 |
Half-Day on March 25 and No School March 26: Parent-Teacher Conferences
|
March 29 - April 2 |
Spring Break |
May 31 | No School: Memorial Day Holiday |
June 3 | Last Day of School |
June 4 | Eighth Grade Graduation |
Early Childhood Information
- Age Requirements for Early Childhood
- Preschool FAQ
- Lunch and Snacks in Preschool and Junior Kindergarten
- Nap/Rest Time in Preschool and Junior Kindergarten
Age Requirements for Early Childhood
Preschool FAQ
Q. What are the Preschool schedule choices?
A. The schedule for Preschool is five days a week and will be offered as follows:
Morning Half-Day Program (8:15-11:50 a.m.)
Full Day Program (8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.)
Q. What is the deadline for committing to a half or full day of Preschool?
A. We would like to have your choice selections before decisions are sent. Your choice will not impact our decisions; we need to know so we can send appropriate acceptance letters and contracts. The deadline for new siblings and currently enrolled Catherine Cook students is December 14, 2020 For new students, the deadline is January 8, 2021.
Q. What will my child be doing if they stay for the afternoon?
A. After nap/rest time, Preschool students will have recess, free choice time, snack, and story time activities.
Q. Will we be able to choose fewer than five days a week for Full Day students to stay in the afternoons?
A. The Full Day is a five day program. Over time, Full Day curriculum will include projects that last over time and so children may feel that they are missing out if they are absent from afternoon sessions.
Lunch and Snacks in Preschool and Junior Kindergarten
Q. How does lunch work?
A. All Preschool and Junior Kindergarten students will eat lunch in their classrooms. Parents can either sign up for the Lunch Program or send a lunch prepared from home. Please do not send lunches with peanut butter, peanuts, coconut, or any kind of tree nuts to protect students with allergies.
Q. How do snacks work?
A. Catherine Cook will provide healthy vegetable, fruit, or grain snacks for Full and Half Day students (one morning and one afternoon snack). Once you enroll in our school, and when you have access to our Family Login, please click on the Magnus Health icon to complete your child’s Vital Health Record forms online. Please also make sure to inform your child’s teacher and the School Nurse of any food allergies or sensitivities so that we can ensure that our snacks are safe for every child.
Q. How do you handle allergies, sensitivities, and other health issues?
A. We encourage all families to learn about how to protect children with food and other allergies, asthma, and other health issues. To learn more, see the Catherine Cook Allergy Guidelines. Children wash hands with soap before snacks and lunch and after bathroom visits and recess; each classroom has a bathroom and hand sanitizer. Prior to the beginning of each school year, the School Nurse, teachers, and the Division Head will meet with families of children with allergies or other health issues to learn about your child’s specific health needs, and to develop an Allergy Action Plan or other protocols to keep your child safe and healthy at school.
Nap/Rest Time in Preschool and Junior Kindergarten
Preschool nap/rest time is scheduled for 60 minutes. We recognize that many three-year-olds may resist or not need to go to sleep, but they need this quiet time to consolidate the learning and to refresh for the afternoon and evening. Children may lie down or sit on their cots and relax with a book if they do not sleep. Each child may bring three items for rest time comfort (e.g. a blanket, a stuffed animal, and a favorite book).
Junior Kindergarten nap/rest time is scheduled for 60 minutes at the beginning of the year with the expectation that this amount of time will diminish gradually over the year. Like Preschoolers, four-year-olds may resist or not need to go to sleep. Children need quiet time to consolidate their learning and to refresh for the afternoon and evening. Children who do not sleep can relax with a book. Each child may bring three items for rest time comfort (e.g. a blanket, a stuffed animal, and a favorite book).
Facilities
Located in Chicago’s Old Town, our 86,000 sq. ft. facility includes a new addition housing our expanded Library with a separate Storytime Room and a fireplace, three science labs, an AV production studio, an IDEA Lab, a Nurse’s Office, and more. The IDEA Lab includes a laser cutter and engraver, eight 3D printers, one 3D scanner, two specialty programmable sewing machines and eighteen regular sewing machines, a 15 ft. x 6 ft. interactive digital display wall, and more. We have two rooftop playgrounds, an Early Childhood Tinker Space, and a gymnasium with an elevated indoor running track. The gymnasium includes full-size volleyball/basketball courts, a performance stage, professional lighting and audio/visual equipment, bleachers, locker rooms, and a kitchen. There are two art studios with a kiln, two music studios, an art gallery, and a cafeteria. Across the street, there is studio space for performing arts and gatherings and three additional classrooms. All classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboard technology and document cameras. Every child in Grades 1-8 is assigned a laptop or iPad computer. Early Childhood students have developmentally appropriate use of technology using iPads. The entire school has wireless technology.
Our Business Office and Advancement Office are housed in a separate building across the street from our school at 1402 N. North Park Avenue.
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Questions?
Jill Due
Director of Admission
312.266.3381 x 3146
admission@ccookschool.org