CICS Irving Park Awarded $280,000 Breakthrough Schools Grant!

CICS Irving Park will break through to school year 2016-2017 riding the momentum of an exciting new opportunity – we are the recipients of a $280,000 grant that will help implement a school-wide personalized learning model! On Thursday, May 5, our learning community gathered outdoors for a special presentation made by the LEAP Innovations team, our Breakthrough Schools Chicago partner, to formally announce our selection and present us with a larger-than-life check!
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​“We have welcomed the challenge to innovate our model and personalize learning for all students,” says School Director Karin Breo. Last fall, CICS Irving Park received a $30,000 grant as part of the Breakthrough Schools Chicago cohort to innovate and develop a personalized learning program for our third and fourth grade classrooms. Led by a team of teachers, administrators, and Distinctive Schools team members, the program was based on three design anchors: “high expectations, dynamic mindset, and an awesome, powerful, community.” These design anchors guided the entire process and provided a foundation for how we communicated the personalized learning model to students, families, and staff members. Through design thinking, daily evaluation and planning, and the constant reiteration of the ideas and strategies being used, this model has transformed and innovated the way we approach learning within the CICS Irving Park community. Our Parent Innovation Night brought in over 90% of our families from all grade levels and the response to personalized learning has been overwhelming! “The CICS Irving Park community works every minute, every day to equip our students with the tools necessary to get to and through college, and become well-rounded and ready citizens. We are aligning and extending learning beyond the classroom, strengthening our school community, and empowering students to make positive changes,” adds Ms. Breo.

The CICS Irving Park learning community would like to thank our Breakthrough Team for their innovative thinking, can-do attitudes, and for going above and beyond our wildest expectations. Thank you for doing “whatever it takes!”