For Cuffe Parents

Please read this announcement regarding the H1N1 virus.
Enrollment at Cuffe

Cuffe is a year-round neighborhood / Open Enrollment CPS School and we welcome all students in grades Pre-K - 8th to enroll! You will need to provide proof of age, address and immunization records. We invite you to call or stop in the Main Office for more details.
CPS - Enrollment and Transfer Policy

Age (bring one of the following)
a. Child’s birth certificate;
b. Child’s baptismal record;
c. Passport;
d. Court documents; and
e. Medical records.

Address (bring one of the following)
a. Current utility bills;
b. Illinois driver’s license or State of Illinois identification card;
c. Deed;
d. Employer identification card;
e. MediPlan/Medicaid Card;
f. Voter registration card;
g. Court documents;
h. Illinois Department of Public Aid card;
i. Stamped United States Post Office change of address form; and
j. Illinois state aid check/social security check.

Immunization / Health Examination
Please bring a doctor signed copy of the most recent immunization and medical records.
Minimum Health Requirements for School: English (.pdf) | Spanish (.pdf)

Parent/Teacher conferences
A parent or legal guardian must come to school to receive the report card on the designated days set-forth by the Chicago Public Schools. No report cards will be given to older brothers or sisters, or to students. If you cannot keep the time allotted to you by the teacher, please send a note to the teacher requesting another appointment.

Please observe the following:
1. Please make every effort to come to the school to discuss your child’s progress.
2. Do not wait until the conference day to discuss any problems or concerns.
3. Children are not to return to the school with you for the conference and they are not to return to school to play on the playground.
4. Please heed the teacher’s advice. They are there to help your child become a better student and citizen.

Special Education Resources for Parents

Exceptional Parent Magazine

This site presents a vast amount of information for parents, families, and professionals caring for children with disabilities

Special Ed News

An Internet magazine with helpful information for both parents and educators

Overview of ADA, IDEA, and Section 504
Reasonable Accommodations: The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
A Parents Guide to Special Ed. / Special Needs -Glossary of Special Ed Terms
Federation for Children with Special Needs
LD OnLine: Learning Disabilities Resources
All Kinds of Minds- a non-profit institute for the understanding of differences in learning
Landmark College- the only fully accredited college in the country designed exclusively for students with dyslexia, attention-deficit disorder, or specific learning disabilities
Sibling Support Site- a national program dedicated to the brothers and sisters of people with special health and developmental needs
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
Center for the Study of Autism
The Autism Society of America
Self-Esteem Theme Page
National Attention Deficit Disorder Association
CHADD: Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder
The New York Institute for Special Education

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Parent responsibilities
• assume responsibility for the child’s prompt and regular school attendance and comply with attendance rules and procedures.
• recognize that, in matters relating to the discipline in and conduct of the schools, the teacher stands in the relation of parent and guardian to the student.
• instill in the student respect for the law, for lawful authority, for the rights of others and for private and public property.
• talk with the child about school activities; share with the child and with the teacher an active interest in report cards, homework and in the child’s progress in school.
• safeguard the physical and mental heath of the child and be responsible for the periodic health examination required by state law.
• attend individual or group conferences and special school programs whenever possible.
• plan time and a place for homework assignments each night; provide necessary supervision.
• ask your child to read aloud to you on a regular basis.
• work with the school in fulfilling recommendations made and in carrying out disciplinary actions taken in the best interests of the student in relation to the school.

Parent and Students Becoming Partners
• Talk to your child about the importance of education and homework.
• Meet with your child's teachers early in the school year.
• Attend parent-teacher conferences, open houses, and report card pick-up days.
• Compliment and display your child's work. Praise his/her effort.
• Set a regular place and time for your child to read and do homework.
• Take your child to the library to get a library card. Encourage your child to visit the library often.
• Talk with your child regularly about his/her interests and activities.

Helping our children be successful students

The role of the parent and the home is of major importance in the development of sound habits and experiences of children which lead to success in school. The Cuffe staff stands ready to assist in providing positive educational experiences for your students.

Click here to read or print a copy of Ways you can help your child succeed

To help us implement this partnership, we would appreciate your assistance:

1. Send your children to school with a positive attitude. Teach them to respect their teachers and the staff at Cuffe who will return that respect.

2. Teach them to obey school rules. No rule is ever written except for the benefit of the student who will live in a world of rules. Safety, assurance of education for all and assisting the child to grow are the basis for rules.

3. Have your child dressed properly for school. Our Uniform Dress Code will continue this year and we expect 100% participation. School is not only for preparation for life, it is life, and school is the workday for the child. Neatness, cleanliness, modesty, and safety are good guides. Children should be allowed to concentrate upon learning and nothing should be permitted to disrupt the learning environment.

4. Send children to school every day except when they are actually ill. Line up bell is at 8:45 AM. Pupil entrance is at 8:50 AM. The tardy bell rings at 9:00AM. Encourage promptness. Tardiness prevents the child from getting the full lesson and disturbs the class. If your child is tardy, you must send a note with him/her.

5. Encourage independent study. A child has homework starting the first week of school. The minute the first lesson is presented there is homework. It may be reading, discussion, or review. It does not always require a sheet of paper or a written assignment. Often, writing is required. Reading, drill, memorization and understanding are also required.

6. School rules are based upon:
    :: The Uniform Discipline Code (UDC)
    :: School Code of Illinois
    :: Rules of the Board of Education (BOE)
    :: Student Conduct and Discipline : (BOE)
    :: BOE– Union Agreement
    :: Appropriate sections of the Statutes of the State of Illinois
    :: Municipal Code

7. Caution children to cross at crosswalks under the guidance of Crossing Guards ands Student Safety Patrol Guards. We have a crossing guard stations at 83rd & Racine and at 84th and Racine in the mornings and afternoons. If your child crosses in the middle of the street he/she is subject to detention/suspension.

8. Caution children to come right home after school by the shortest, safest, and most direct route. Establish with your child the route you want him/her to travel.

9. See that your child has the materials and supplies requested by his/her teacher. Make sure that you replenish the supplies as needed. (see the Supply List below)

10. Provide your child with an adequate diet and see that your child gets the proper amount of rest.

11. Show interest in your child’s school work and praise him for his effort.

12. Check and discuss your child’s homework each day.

13. See that your child’s textbooks have been covered with a book cover (one made from a paper bag is fine) and that your child has a cloth book bag to bring books home for homework. Youngsters who lose books will be expected to pay for the lost book before they are issued another book. They will also lose special privileges and will not be given a report card until the fine is paid in full.

14. Provide a quiet place to study and urge study at home on a regular basis.

15. Help budget time between study and recreational activities. Assist in the selection of television programs, movies and reading materials. Permit only a minimal amount of time on television and video games.

16. Plan trips to the library, museums, zoos and other cultural and educational institutions.

Volunteering at Cuffe

We welcome you to assist with the educational program at Cuffe Academy by becoming a school volunteer. School volunteers are needed in order to assist the school staff in their day to day activities. Volunteers may assist the staff and students at Cuffe by volunteering to help in one or more of the following areas: classroom assistant, library volunteer, school assistant, student supervision volunteer.
Parents interested in becoming school volunteers may contact the assistant principal at 535-8250. Regular volunteers are required to fill out a volunteer application form, get a tuberculin test, and go through a criminal background check.

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