Updated with new links


Dear Parents,
 
Today I write to you to plead for your help. 
 
Waters school, along with every other CPS school, is facing a devastating financial disaster. This is very real and will negatively impact our school. Waters is a fine and performing arts magnet cluster school, and we stand to lose many of the very programs that make Waters the school we all know and love.
 
I need you, the parents of Waters, to use your voice to demand what is right for the children of Chicago. 
 
If we do nothing, Waters stands to lose outstanding teachers and programs.

If we lose positions due to this budget crisis, we could lose at minimum, four of our least senior staff. Our classroom teaching positions will have to be re-assigned. Our staff, in compliance with the Chicago Teacher's Union (CTU) agreement, will be reassigned with priority given to the general education classroom. Classrooms may have to be consolidated, depending on the number of positions lost, which means your child(ren) may be re-assigned and class sizes will grow. Many of our specials, i.e. Fine Arts, Technology, Math Support will likely be cut.
 
I have included a letter (and links to the public officials that you need to send it to) that you may use to help stress the importance of passing the state budget.  I urge you to use your voice so that all children in CPS are not negatively impacted.
 
Sincerely,
 
Titia M. Crespo
Principal
Thomas J. Waters Elementary School

Click here for the official CPS press release on the budget cuts.
Email Principal Crespo

Dear Parents,
 
Today I write to you to plead for your help. 
 
Waters school, along with every other CPS school, is facing a devastating financial disaster. This is very real and will negatively impact our school. Waters is a fine and performing arts magnet cluster school, and we stand to lose many of the very programs that make Waters the school we all know and love.
 
I need you, the parents of Waters, to use your voice to demand what is right for the children of Chicago. 
 
If we do nothing, Waters stands to lose outstanding teachers and programs.

If we lose positions due to this budget crisis, we could lose at minimum, four of our least senior staff. Our classroom teaching positions will have to be re-assigned. Our staff, in compliance with the Chicago Teacher's Union (CTU) agreement, will be reassigned with priority given to the general education classroom. Classrooms may have to be consolidated, depending on the number of positions lost, which means your child(ren) may be re-assigned and class sizes will grow. Many of our specials, i.e. Fine Arts, Technology, Math Support will likely be cut.
 
I have included a letter (and links to the public officials that you need to send it to) that you may use to help stress the importance of passing the state budget.  I urge you to use your voice so that all children in CPS are not negatively impacted.
 
Sincerely,
 
Titia M. Crespo
Principal
Thomas J. Waters Elementary School

Click here for the official CPS press release on the budget cuts.

Dear Parents;
 
It was another busy week at Waters!
 
We began our week with the celebration of Dia de los Muertos, remembering our loved ones. Thank you to Laura Crotte, a dramatist, who shared her remarkable storytelling talents with our students.
 
This month is unusual in terms of multiple days off. Please pay close attention to the calendar. This week there will be no classes on Wednesday (Veteran's Day) and Friday (school improvement day).  
 
I would like to thank all of our veterans and their families for giving of their time, and in some cases, their lives, to protect our country.
 
On a completely different topic, I, along with the Alderman's office, have received several complaints about speeding traffic, rolling through cross walks, blocked alley ways, cutting through alleys and other traffic violations around Waters during drop off and pick up. While we are a neighborhood school, there seems to be a lot of families who drive to school. Please be respectful of our neighbors. This includes: not blocking alleys that neighbors need to access to park in their garages; cutting through the alley to avoid traffic; or failing to stop at the crosswalks. There are children everywhere and it is all of our responsibility to keep them safe. The Chicago Police Department will be establishing an increased presence around Waters to cut down on these types of illegal acts.    
 
Please be sure to attend our parent teacher (PT) conferences next week Wednesday, November 18. If you haven't already signed up for a time to meet with your teacher, please reach out to them. We want to see all of you at PT conferences.

         – Ms. Crespo

Dear Parents,

A huge thank you to all staff, parents and community members who made our annual school spirit week a success! The fireside stories, the petting zoo and pumpkin patch were a hit and a great culmination to our week. 
 
In a couple of weeks, Waters will host Parent Teacher Conferences. Teachers will be reaching out to set up conference times. Please be sure to make time and meet with your child's teacher. This is a great time to check in and see how your children are progressing academically. While this is a "timed" conference, if needed, you can schedule a follow up appointment with the teacher. We would love to see all of you at the conferences! 
 
Don't forget to send in your Big Fork order forms by November 12. Orders will be available for pick up during Parent Teacher Conferences on November 18, 2015. 
 
Please be on the lookout this week for a letter regarding the CPS budget and concerns surrounding the budget. It will be sent home with all students. 
 
Enjoy the coming week!