SY 2021-2022 Calendar for Families
Hello Catalyst families!
We hope that you are safe, healthy and doing well! Please find a printable 2021-2022 calendar linked here. We look forward to an INCREDIBLE year!!
Catalyst Board of Directors' Meetings SY21-22
Please see below for the dates, times and locations of the scheduled meetings for the Catalyst Board of Directors during SY2021-2022.
All Catalyst Board meetings are open to the public and an agenda will be posted at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. There is a public comment portion of the meeting established for every Board meeting.
September 20, 2021
3:00-6:00 PM
Catalyst Maria Charter School
6727 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60629
November 22, 2021
3:00-5:30 PM
Catalyst Maria Charter School
6727 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60629
March 7, 2022
3:00-5:30 PM
Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School
5608 W. Washington Ave.
Chicago, IL 60644
May 9, 2022
3:00-5:30 PM
Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School
5608 W. Washington Ave.
Chicago, IL 60644
CPS and CDPH provide three vaccination sites for students
In partnership with CDPH, CPS has three vaccination sites to serve students and families beginning the week of July 12. Please click here to read more information.
The legacy of James Baldwin- A conversation with Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr.-June 15, 2021
Please join us for an exclusive conversation with Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr. about the author James Baldwin. This event, James Baldwin: His Impact on the Theatre Then, Now, and in the Future will occur with a local audience at the Kehrein Center for the Arts as well as virtually on June 15, 2021 at 7:00 pm.
Dr. Glaude is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University. He is the author of Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own.
Dr. Glaude will join the Oak Park Festival Theatre, Austin Renaissance Council and additional Austin community partners to discuss Baldwin’s legacy, his impact on the arts, and his influence on the development of the American identity. Please click here to register virtually, or to attend in person, please contact Ed Siderewicz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Catalyst Alumni Persistence Fund update
The was the inaugural year of The Catalyst Schools Alumni Persistence Fund, made possible by the generosity of long-time Catalyst friends Terry and Monica Toth. The fund’s purpose is to help Catalyst alumni meet urgent needs that might otherwise be an obstacle to continuing post-secondary education. Terry and Monica established this fund to honor the spirit and legacy of John Baptiste de La Salle, patron saint of teachers of youth. Funds were shepherded by the Catalyst Maria Post-Secondary Success Team.
During the 2020-2021 school year, there was $7,459.91 in persistence funding allocated to over 30 alumni. This money went to help alumni with tuition costs, books, computers, supplies and other personal items. We were so fortunate to assist 30+ alumni were from the classes of 2017 -2020, and we look forward to helping even more of our alumni persist in their post-secondary endeavors in future years!
This is a terrific gift that complements the existing The Sisters of St. Casimir Legacy Scholarship, also established by Terry and Monica, and The CMHS Leadership in Diversity Scholarship, established by CMHS Post-Secondary team member Victoria Coriano. These remarkable gifts will enhance Catalyst’s already superb college going and college persistence rates, as well as other post-secondary endeavors of our awesome graduates!