Walter Payton College Prep

Congratulations to members of the Model U.N. team who participated in the Chicago International Model U.N. conference over the weekend!

The following students won awards for their performances:

Best Delegate Awards: Logan Cotton and Marisa Carroll
Outstanding Delegation Awards: Jennifer Linker and Maddie Mermall, and Amy Banaszek
Honorable Mention Awards: Jana Wulff-Troegger and Grace Zahrah, Laura Mueller-Soppart, and Zach Fogelson
Delegate's Choice Award: Jonathan Wheeler
The delegation of France won 3rd place overall

Payton Volleyball on Good Day Chicago:

Video 1 - Video 2 - Video 3 - Photos

Walter Payton College Prep is looking for a qualified Sophomore Baseball Coach for the 2009 season. Prior baseball experience and coaching experience preferred. If interested contact Luis Menacho at LEMenacho@cps.edu.

Winter Instrumental Concert: Friday Dec. 5th @ 7:00 p.m.
Winter Choral Concert: Thursday Dec. 11th @ 7:01 p.m.

News of the 2009 Friends of Payton Fundraising Campaign!!!

From the Principal's Desk:

Thanksgiving 2008

What a wonderful time to reflect on all that is good in our lives!

Family members travel home, or there may be an empty chair for someone far away but never forgotten! A time to put away acrimony and to dwell on peace, a peace so sorely needed in this world! A time to remember those who have gone before us and upon whose shoulders we stand in every area of our lives: personal, professional and political!

What am I grateful for?

For living in such a historic time and to witness the coming of age of our country with the election of our new president!

For laboring alongside the best faculty, staff, committed families, and students!

For observing our students develop and grow, mature and realize their personal goals and achieve their dreams!

For being part of a dynamic and vibrant Payton community!

On behalf of the administration, faculty and staff at Payton, we are grateful for you!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!

Ellen Estrada
Principal

Check out the new Sounds of Sweetness web page here or under Quick Links.

Congratulations to Tim Bingham and Charlie Curran, who captured the Valley Mid-America Debate Championship this Fall. With their recent finish at the Iowa Caucus Tournament, Tim and Charlie have also captured a national bid to compete at the 2009 Tournament of Champions (TOC) in Lexington, KY, thus claiming a place among the top 72 debate teams in the country. This is the second team Payton has sent to the TOC, and only the third qualifying team to advance in CPS history.

Support Student Government's Holiday Toy Drive by donating NEW toys for children ages newborn -18 years.  All toys are needed in the box outside of the main office by December 1st. All toys benefit the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation's Holiday Giving Program for underprivileged children.

Payton receives the prestigious Blue Ribbon award!

The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. In addition to being honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC, where each school receives a plaque and flag signifying their status, these schools serve as models for other schools throughout the nation.

Click here for more!

PLEASE READ AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE STUDENT BUS CARD PROGRAM

PLEASE READ AN IMPORTANT MEMO ABOUT PROGRESS REPORTS AND TEACHER GRADING SCALES

* * * * * FOP Fund Raising Campaign 2009!!! * * * * *

Art contests and scholarships information now Onilne

Walter Payton College Prep has been named a National Blue Ribbon Award winner for 2008. The announcement was made on September 9^th by U.S. Dept. of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. Payton was awarded this honor for our students in the top 10% of their state on state exams. While there are a number of high achieving schools in Illinois, Payton drew the attention of the Illinois State Board of Education after experiencing five years of consecutive growth in both math and reading on the PSAE. The school will be honored at the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education meeting on September 24 and in Washington DC at an award ceremony on October 20-21. Principal Estrada will attend the ceremony in the nation's capital accompanied by Founding Principal Gail Ward.

If you are interested in more information about the National Blue Ribbon Awards, go to http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/index.html

Participants in Community School Lunch Program: Students who qualify for free lunches or breakfasts under an act authorizing school boards and welfare centers to sponsor community school lunch programs and free breakfast and lunch programs and an act authorizing and requiring free school lunch programs, providing for State reimbursement (the Community School Lunch Program), are eligible for waiver of school fees. All students will receive free/reduced lunch applications in their FirstClass email. To learn more about obtaining your FirstClass account credentials, click here.