Noble in the News: US News & World Report

By The Noble Network of Charter Schools

“U.S. News and World Report recently released their annual rankings of high schools across the country. Noble schools were prominently featured in the rankings, here are a few highlights: Our Noble Street campus was ranked #25 in the entire state of Illinois among all schools, and Noble campuses were 5 of the top 50 ranked schools; Noble schools hold all top 8 slots for charter high schools in Chicago and all 16 Noble campuses eligible for rankings were in the top 30; Noble campuses represented 9 of the top 100 high schools in the entire state of Illinois (out of more than 800 total high schools ranked). Within CPS, test-in selective enrollment schools led the rankings, when looking at schools that are open to all students, Noble campuses were 8 of the top 15. “While we know rankings aren’t the end all be all measure of a school and no ranking can ever capture the full depth and power of a well-rounded education, we’re proud of the work of our students, families and staff that is recognized in these rankings,” said Ellen Metz, Noble’s Head of Schools.”

Midday Fix: NobleFit virtual yoga

By WGN

“As e-learning continues in the United States in all capacities, there has been an emergence of creative ways to engage with parents, students and teachers. Current high school gym teacher and former NFL player Sean Cattouse currently offers virtual yoga sessions to the community once a week from Rauner College Prep, where he is employed. For more information on NobleFit, visit the school’s website and Facebook page and Instagram.”

Common’s online class helps students find their voices while addressing social justice issues

By Evan F. Moore for The Chicago Sun-Times

“In an era where parents are searching for creative ways to keep their children engaged outside of e-learning, an educational organization has enlisted one of Chicago’s favorite sons to teach a virtual course. Starting Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., South Side native Common — who wears many hats, as a musician, activist and actor — will launch the online Varsity Tutors’ Social Conscience Series with the aim of teaching students how to develop their voices in causes that matter to them. Common plans to teach a free, one session only 45-minute class titled “Finding Your Voice,” to assist students in curating their voices while sharing his experiences and influences.”

 

4 Chicago artists, including Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensa, team up to give school supplies to kids in need

By Madeline Kenney for The Chicago Sun-Times

“Four Chicago rappers — Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Joey Purp and G Herbo — joined forces Saturday to give back to their communities by co-sponsoring the Year of the Youth peace walk and back-to-school event in Bronzeville. Following a pre-walk dance party, nearly 100 people chanted as they marched through the South Side neighborhood, with organizers bringing about two dozen children up front to lead the final stretch of the demonstration. Later, the four artists, along with many volunteers from Chance’s SocialWorks and Mensa’s Save Money, Save Life Foundation, handed out more than 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies outside the shuttered Overton Elementary School at 221 E. 49th St. The event also had a table set up to help people register to vote and tents for free COVID-19 and HIV testing.”

 

CPS plan for reopening schools remains unclear as parents share remote learning woes with Board of Education: ‘It’s just not working’

By Hannah Leone for The Chicago Tribune

“Wednesday’s Chicago Board of Education meeting offered little clarity for everyone who wants to know if students will be back in classrooms when the second quarter begins in November. Allison Gorsuch, who has a child in kindergarten at Pulaski International School of Chicago, called on the board to be transparent and “release criteria for reopening as soon as possible,” including firm case numbers and positivity rates. “Remote learning is not developmentally appropriate for kindergartners,” she said. “… I’ve watched my student and his teacher work really hard at remote learning, but he’s 5, and it’s just not working.”

 

Thousands of CPS students still haven’t attended virtual classes this fall, officials say

By Nader Issa for The Chicago Sun-Times

“Chicago Public Schools officials are still working to get thousands of students into online classes two weeks into the school year, a sign that obstacles to learning still exist for some and that many families may have transferred out of the district this fall. The school system’s chief education officer, LaTanya McDade, said at Wednesday’s monthly Board of Education meeting that as many as 6,900 children were still missing from virtual classes in the 300,000-student district at the end of last week. McDade said not all those students who haven’t attended classes have been “lost” and not contacted.”