February 2021 Happy February!
Hard to imagine we are already in our second month of 2021, and we have many exciting things on the horizon for our Alumni Community. I am excited to announce the re-launch of our Class Captains. This group of alumni from the last 10 years will help to plan and shape events and reengage alumni with our Cook Community. Please let me know if you are interested in joining this group!
The 23rd Annual Gala is also coming up - this year it will be livestreamed and available to anyone who makes a donation. The Gala will be held on Saturday, March 20, at 6:00 p.m. If you are interested in tuning in to our 80s throwback event, you can check out more details at the bottom of this newsletter or head to our Gala webpage.
As always, thank you for your continued support and love for Catherine Cook!
Lindsay Bartlett Associate Director of Annual Giving and Special Events Eddie Pryce High School Placement Director & Alumni Outreach Liaison
How many years have you been teaching at Catherine Cook? Seven and a half years
Are you a coach or facilitator? I coach Track and Flag Football, and I have also been a facilitator for Students of Color
Favorite piece of Catherine Cook apparel? My Catherine Cook Sweatshirt
Do you have a favorite assembly? The MLK Assembly is my favorite
What is your favorite Catherine Cook tradition? I think my favorite Catherine Cook tradition would be our weekly assemblies! And of course, I also love Graduation.
What is your best Catherine Cook memory? Hard to pick one, but it would either be one of my SeaCamp trips, our first Track meet in 2014, or the first time I got a shoutout in those Mr. Lelo language videos. I was NOT expecting that.
What is your favorite room/space in the building? My office is my favorite space
Words of advice/encouragement for Alumni? Keep being yourself and making us proud. Everything is ahead of you. We are all proud of everything you do and achieve once you leave here. Just continue to keep good company and experience great things. Brendan Myers '17
Brendan has had a remarkable experience at The Latin School of Chicago. Now in his senior year, he has been able to take full advantage of what was available to him throughout high school. Prior to this past year, he did Project Week trips including one to Spain and a service trip to Ecuador. He is also in Film Club, Debate Club, Honors Society, Robotics, and Model U.N. Brendan is currently running a club that gives people the chance to become certified in a couple of specialties like CPR, Scuba, and Lifeguarding. He recently was accepted to Washington University in St. Louis through early decision! Rose Jacobs '13
Rose is currently in her final semester at Columbia University in New York City. Her program was a combined program at Columbia with an abroad program in France. Rose's professional focus is turned towards election campaigns (with eventual plans for law school). She worked for Emily's List this summer and has been selected for this semester's cohort at the National Democratic Training Committee. Rose was recently featured on CNN's Instagram and was also interviewed by the New Yorker!
Two years ago, Catherine Cook deepened its commitment to diversity and inclusion by funding and implementing a grant that supports students who demonstrate significant financial need and who identify with an underrepresented race, ethnicity, religion, physical ability, sexual identity, or gender identity within the school community. This Grant for Diversity and Inclusion includes full tuition, Extended Day, and school lunches as well as funding towards After School Adventures, materials, and additional programming that supports their full participation in all that Cook offers.
As Cook's first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, I look forward to growing our grant program and collaborating with families, teachers, and administrators to continue the program's successes. As I assume the oversight of the grant program, I have tremendous gratitude for everyone who made this opportunity possible. Alumni have been integral to informing how we implement the program. Thank you for how you have helped launch the grant as well as how you continue to develop it with us. Catherine Cook is committed to further developing a school population that is reflective of the community and city in which we live, and your support shows that you also recognize that diversity is crucial to any place dedicated to inquiry, learning, and empathy.
Please reach out at any time if you have questions about the grant or insights to share about your own Cook experience that will help grow and progress our DEI efforts.
Motoko Maegawa Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 7th Annual Book Awards
Calling for College-Age Alumni Judges for History Fair
Catherine Cook's History Fair is around the corner, and this year it will be virtual! The silver lining is alumni can participate in the judging process. Some of you might remember learning the art of writing a research paper with a thought-provoking thesis. And the many hours spent revising paragraphs and meticulously citing images. We are excited that this year we can invite you to be a part of this unique History Fair, but from the perspective of a judge!
Virtual judging will take place on Wednesday, March 3, from 8:30 a.m. until noon. Due to the change of venue to Zoom, we will have projects assigned to judges and interviews scheduled prior to the event.
Please respond by email if you are interested in judging this year or if you have any questions. |