Distinctive Schools

Wishing you all a joyful and restful spring break! We hope that you take this time to relax, recharge, and enjoy special moments with family and friends. We can’t wait to welcome you back on Monday, March 31, 2025, refreshed and ready to take on the final stretch of the school year!

Today is Pi Day! 📚🔢 March 14 celebrates 3.14, an infinite number with endless uses in math, science, and engineering. It’s also International Day of Mathematics—so let’s show some love for the power of math, numbers, and problem-solving! #InternationalPiDay #PiDay #InternationalDayofMathematics

Check out how Mr. Glover has been using Hip Hop to inspire students at CICS Lloyd Bond! What started as lunchroom raps has grown into a full Hip Hop class, podcasting, and even an upcoming school album! 🎶🎙️ “I want them to know their voices matter and they can use hip hop to uplift their school and community.” Mr. Glover is proving that music and media are more than hobbies—they’re pathways to the future. Read more about his impact: https://lnkd.in/g2pzDfnF #HipHopEd #StudentVoices #CICSLloydBond

Happy Women's History Month! 💜 Let's honor the resilience, achievements, and contributions of women throughout history and in our school communities today. Their leadership and innovation continues to inspire us all. Tag a woman who has impacted your life or the lives of our students in the comments 💕

At Distinctive Schools, we believe kindergarten sets the foundation for lifelong learning! 🌱 CICS Bucktown's Kindergarten Mentor Teacher Kaycee Hjerpe creates a classroom where young learners feel safe, valued, and excited through a balance of play-based learning, focused instruction, and movement. Her approach proves that academic growth and social-emotional development go hand-in-hand in creating confident young learners! Read the full story on our blog: https://lnkd.in/gZfMYnEb #KindergartenExperts

⚽ CICS West Belden students had an incredible experience thanks to AYSO PLAY! Our K-8 students had the opportunity to work on their soccer skills, practice teamwork, and a share their love for the game through expert coaching. This opportunity strengthens our commitment to growing our soccer program and giving our students the best experiences. A huge thank you to Coach Webb, Coach Ransdell, and AYSO PLAY! for supporting our vision—we’re excited to keep the momentum going! ⚽💙 #SoccerForAll #AYSOPlay

Hamza Kareem is this month’s CEO Spotlight! 🌟 As our incredible Financial Analyst, his expertise, strategic insights, and dedication make a huge impact on our schools, students, and families. Your ability to identify solutions and strategies for our long-term sustainability is invaluable, and we are so grateful to have you as part of our finance team. Hamza, we’re grateful for all you do—this month, the spotlight is on YOU! 👏

Happy School Social Workers Week! 🌟 While we appreciate our school social workers every day, this week we take extra time to celebrate the remarkable work you do to support our students, families, and communities. You're a lifeline for so many at your campus and across Distinctive Schools, offering vital resources, a listening ear, and helping students overcome obstacles to achieve success. Your work encourages our students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, and the impact of your efforts resonates far beyond the walls of our schools. We are so grateful for everything you do!

CICS Prairie’s Student Council President, Damarreon, met Distinctive Schools President, Mary Beck, for the first time—because great leadership starts with great conversations! 💡 #DistinctivePresidents

Proud of our DS team members Mary Beck (President), Norissa Pearson (Music Teacher & Instructional Coach, CICS Bucktown), Roberto Vargas (Managing Director of IT & Data Systems), and Jane Szot (Deputy Chief of Education) for representing Distinctive Schools at LEAP Innovations' Chicagoland Coalition for Human-Centered AI Quarterly Convening this week! Ms. Pearson's leadership in our AI initiatives, Expanded Design Team, and AI PLC experiences continues to accelerate innovation in music education. #AIinEducation #EdTech 📸 credit: National Louis University + Brandon Jones