Mini Meteorologists

Ms. Tonette is the Head Early Learning Teacher at CYC-Sidney Epstein. When she’s not in class with her 19 students, she’s planning super fun and engaging lessons to get them kindergarten ready! This winter, as temperatures dropped below zero outside, she noticed many children asking why it was so cold. She saw this as a great opportunity to bring children’s curiosities into the classroom. 

“At first, it was a math lesson, actually.” said Ms. Tonette, “We measured the differences between temperatures to better understand cold weather.”  Soon after they started to investigate temperature, the little super sleuths began to ask many more questions. Students wanted to understand ideas like why some snow is fluffy or slushy, or why the sidewalk gets icy. What was designed to be a real-word math exercise quickly sprouted an interest in science, and so the Weather Center was born! What’s great is that they can continue their explorations through every season. 

Ms. Tonette next to the Weather Center Board she created!

Children arrive to class each morning excited to share what they noticed outside. The small scientists report their sightings of elements like clouds, fog, rain, or sunshine. Ms. Tonette writes their observations on the Weather Center board as she teaches her students about each condition they record. At the end of each lesson, the children take turns being the mini meteorologist of the day! This fantastic forecaster reads the charts back to the rest of the students as they give the official class weather report.  

Class meteorologist of the day!

Ms. Tonette shared about how the children continue to grow each day, “There are a few students that are becoming curious about larger topics like how raindrops and the sun make rainbows- they are all so smart!”  

Lessons about the weather are an easy, accessible way to continue exploring both inside and outside of the classroom. Offering engaging, real-world experiences like the Weather Center helps CYC children to grow as learners. Each Center and Site has incredible learning moments like these, and we’d love to continue to share them with you. Add your email to the form below and subscribe to the CYC newsletter so you can keep up with the fun! 

Sparking Excitement for Science!

When you think of science class, you probably remember how much fun you had doing hands-on experiments! Opportunities to explore are what can spark passion in topics like electricity and technology. Our Centers have Maker’s Labs where Specialists like Lex can create STEAM programs that offer children space to ask questions and investigate. One of our favorite parts about spending time in our Maker’s Labs is seeing kids build confidence in their new skills when they get a light or fan to work all on their own! 

Each group of young engineers has their own circuit projects that they are building. The youngest kids (6-8) are working on simple projects with copper tape, a cell battery, and light to make light up Valentine’s cards for their parents. As they learn more, they’ll begin making other cool projects like origami lightning bugs! Middle & high schoolers have learned many of the principles of electricity and are starting to put them into practice during their experiments. They are currently working their way up to more complex systems during each session and are eager to keep learning!  

Each day children arrive at our Centers excited to dive right into their lesson. Lex starts the kids off with a labeled, wired battery pack, and the goal is to correctly connect a small motor fan or lightbulb and power it up. Lex says that they like to give their classes independent experiments like this, because the kids see it as a puzzle game. During this exercise, Lex offers some guidance, but often encourages their class to keep trying certain ideas on their own instead of giving direct answers.  

This “hands-off” style of teaching really works! Each child’s confidence soars as the bulbs light up and the fans start turning. “I don’t think people realize how fun and easy electricity is to learn about and work with!” Lex says children often recall and retain much more of their learning when they independently problem-solve. With each circuit completed, the excitement to take on the next challenge grows. 

The CYC Maker’s Labs are incredibly special because they help children recognize that breaking something or making a mistake is just another step towards understanding and solving a problem. With encouragement from mentors like Lex, kids know they can tackle any topic they want! CYC spaces and programming are full of these daily "a-ha" moments. When children feel free to tinker with things like technology, they can continue to uncover new possibilities.  

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Celebrating Dr. King's Legacy

As Black History Month begins, we take time to acknowledge and reflect on the contributions and impact members of the Black communities across the African Diaspora have had on our city, country, and the world. With our recent celebrations of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at our Centers, we encouraged children to understand how influential figures, events, and historical movements continue to shape how we live today.  

At CYC-Sidney Epstein, children spent the afternoon exploring Dr. King’s legacy and how he had a lasting impact on the US, Chicago, and specifically North Lawndale. The kids participated in a variety of activities that offered opportunities to learn and think about many aspects of Dr. King’s life and work. Each activity station encouraged children to build connections to Dr. King’s work and see the effects of historic events on our present lives. Stations ranged from creative writing, to trivia, to sketching self-portraits showing how they hope to have a positive impact on the world. Teens who made these drawings said they loved sketching themselves and visualizing how one person can shift history. At CYC, we understand the importance of inclusive representation for children. Continuing to learn about and uplift the voices and experiences of those who came before them helps each child envision all the bright paths they can choose for their own lives. 

Check out some of CYC kids’ creative work!

Thank you to McDonald’s for supporting this event, and making sure we had happy bellies filled with happy meals.

As we remember Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we reflect on how CYC and North Lawndale are connected to his legacy. In 1966, Dr. King moved to North Lawndale to draw attention to discriminatory housing issues such as poor living conditions, overpriced rent, redlining, and other inequitable housing practices that existed in many Chicago Neighborhoods. He joined with local organizations to launch The Chicago Freedom Movement – leading marches, protests, and discussions on how to organize against unjust treatment. As his time in Chicago continued, he also demanded that the mayor address other major concerns like school desegregation, better wages, and teaching black history all year. Dr. King’s work in North Lawndale and his creation of The Chicago Freedom Movement are often credited for the passing of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which made it “illegal to restrict access to housing on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national origin.” 

In 1968, Dr. King was tragically assassinated. His death caused unrest in Chicago and cities across the country. From April 5-7, Chicago endured looting and rioting that caused damage throughout city neighborhoods, including North Lawndale. During this time, many families were displaced or didn’t feel safe in their own homes. To support our neighbors, the Sidney Epstein Center, known then as ABC Polk, opened its doors and stayed open for nearly four days to ensure local families had somewhere to go. Cots, blankets, and food were provided to anyone who might need them. To make sure children and teens were out of harm's way, staff started a basketball game that ended up lasting three straight days to encourage kids to stay safe during this time of uncertainty. 

Today CYC continues to be hub for joy, safety, and connection within communities. We offer a place for children to explore the past, make the most of the present, and envision what lies ahead in their futures. When we encourage children to reflect on Black History, we strengthen connections to culture and remind them that they too have the power to make history each day. Black History is more than just a month. Like all world history, it should be celebrated all year long!   

Bundled Up with Joy

As the days get colder, CYC wants to be sure children stay warm while they ice skate, build snowmen, and have snowball fights with their friends! If there’s anything we know about the wintertime, it's that busy, growing children need many layers to brave the cold Chicago temperatures. We are so grateful to have community partners, like Old Navy and the Reva and David Logan Foundation, to ensure CYC families have the winter gear they need.

Local Old Navy locations joined us to sponsor holiday cheer for several CYC families. Old Navy donated gifts and clothing for TEN families at CYC-Sherman School of Excellence. Each family member received gifts from their wish list along with new and stylish clothes. We loved seeing the joy and smiles from families while helping them pile their goodies into their cars!

Through our partnership with the Reva and David Logan Foundation, three of our Centers’ Early Learning Programs received donations of winter gear. CYC-Epstein, CYC-Crown, and CYC-Gautreaux hosted distribution days and provided clothing for over 200 children and their families. This included things like: winter coats, hats, gloves, boots, sweaters, thermal gear, neck warmers, and warm socks. Each family received clothes and shoes that fit just right and will help them stay warm from head-to-toe this winter!

Our deepest gratitude goes out to Old Navy and the Reva and David Logan Foundation for their support of CYC children and families this season. This thoughtful generosity assists CYC in our mission to holistically support children of all ages and their families.

Thank you to everyone who has supported CYC this winter. Whether you have volunteered, donated funds to support our programs, or re-shared our posts on social media, you have helped CYC continue to provide access to valuable resources for the children, families and communities we serve. If this story inspired you - click here to donate or here to find out ways to get involved!

Circles of Support

We’re invested in the growth of CYC students, families, and staff – that includes both their mental and physical health. This year, CYC has doubled down on our wellbeing initiatives, expanding the holistic practices that we offer to everyone. Our staff has had a blast participating in activities that benefit our bodies, spirits, and minds. We’ve hosted a walking challenge, virtual yoga sessions, and weekly book clubs just to name a few! CYC believes that when our staff is feeling well in personal and professional spaces, they can show up as their best selves for CYC children, families, and communities. 

This year, CYC has taken big steps forward in our wellness journey. We’re working to strengthen our knowledge on imperative topics like trauma-informed care and restorative justice practices. Thanks to incredible community partners, our staff has received comprehensive training on practices that assist with things like emotional regulation, coherent communication, and active listening. Our professional development and training benefit our staff, and also directly improves the work we do with the CYC community. 

As staff continue to learn more about the many aspects of well-being, we’ve been able to grow what wellness programs look like in programming. Children have taken part in activities that range from yoga and stretching, to journaling, to attending a Wellness Summit organized by their own Teen Council. On top of these amazing events, staff also ensures that some portion of well-being is used every day at our Centers. One daily practice we use is Circle Time. Circle Time is designed to create an opportunity to be open with peers and colleagues, sparking growth as we support one another. This daily chance to connect quickly became a favorite among staff during their training, and now CYC kids love it too! 

CYC has ingrained Circle Time into our agency’s practices to ensure that we are listening first to the needs of our team and children. For CYC staff, Circle Time is a space to share ideas, victories, and areas in which they may need more support. Modeling and facilitating this practice with our staff first helps ensure that they feel confident modeling and utilizing it with children and families. For CYC children, Circle Time is a much-needed transition from the school day or their home lives to settle in for programming. When kids arrive at their Center, they know that they will receive full support from their peers and their mentors. The success of this initiative stems from the lack of judgement in Circle Time spaces. Children see this activity as a time where everyone is important and heard. This feeling carries into their other activities during programming and spaces outside of CYC, too. 

We are eager to share the impact of our well-being programs and are grateful to our community partners and supporters who have helped us launch these initiatives. Stay tuned for all of the wellness that CYC has planned for 2024! 

Pampering Early Learning Parents

As the winter season approaches, the days get shorter, the temperature drops, and many get busy with the bustle of the holidays. Sometimes during these cold months, we need to slow down and make space to take care of ourselves. CYC’s Early Learning Team held their second annual Parent Wellness Expo right on time! This event focused on holistically supporting CYC Early Learning Parents- helping them relax while extending tools and resources to bolster their well-being all through winter and into the new year. At this Expo, 45 attendees were able to spend the afternoon learning more about holistic health and celebrating themselves. 

This event gave caregivers the option to pick topics they would like to learn more about. Each mini class had both an educational portion and an open-ended discussion. These sessions included a presentation about health education, where participants learned about high blood pressure management, diabetes, and stress management. There were also conversations about parenting and how to balance responsibility and self-care. These went hand in hand with activities like painting and jewelry making, so caregivers could have fun together as they learn and chat. Prioritizing discussions around well-being is often difficult, but incredibly important. CYC ensures the spaces we create are welcoming and safe, so caregivers can feel comfortable participating and get the most from events like this one. 

After the mini classes, the CYC team brought in experts to lead the group in yoga and chair yoga, allowing those of any ability time to meditate and stretch. There was even time to see massage therapists, so parents could feel extra pampered! Staff wanted to use this day to remind caregivers that they are appreciated and to celebrate themselves, all their hard work, and their accomplishments. 

CYC also used this afternoon to recognize a group of parents who go above and beyond to support our organization. The Parent Policy Committee is an integral part of CYC and is made up of a parent representative from each Early Learning Site. They're the decision-making body for many parts of our Early Learning Programming. This voluntary Committee works hard to ensure that CYC is operating within the goals and standards for Early Childhood Education Programs. The Wellness Expo was the perfect opportunity to acknowledge their efforts and treat them to rejuvenating experiences to show our gratitude! 

Because of this Expo, attendees said they felt relaxed, well prepared, and excited to continue their holistic self-care practices at home. Often, parents and caregivers do not get many chances to practice self-care or spend time focusing on their well-being. CYC is actively changing this for the families we serve. We have been creating more opportunities to take a break from the hustle of everyday life to connect with the community. Our staff invites families to brave, calm spaces to discuss important issues and share knowledge every chance we get. When a caregiver has the right tools and resources, they can be at their best with their families.

We are so excited to be able to provide experiences like this for the CYC community. Thanks to the generosity of supporters and friends like you, CYC can broaden our Family Engagement Programming. This allows us to offer consistent and fun programming to meet the interests and needs of each person we serve.  

Thank you so much to all who helped put this wonderful wellness event together. A special thank you to Daniel on our Wabash Team and Robert from CYC-Calumet Heights for your support with transportation and set up. We could not have had such a successful event without you all!