Catalyst Schools will be closed to scholars and staff for Winter Break from December 23, 2019- January 3, 2020.
Scholars will begin Winter Break on Friday December 20, 2019 at 1:00 PM.
Scholars will return TUESDAY January 7, 2020.
Staff will return Monday January 6, 2020 for Professional Development.
Have a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to an incredible year in 2020!
On December 21, the 1st annual Austin Community Christmas Concert will bring together hundreds from the Austin neighborhood to celebrate the power of music, partnership, and community through a performance by Rachel Washington. The 1st annual Austin Community Christmas Concert is part of a series of concerts and events at the KCA to engage a diverse group of Austin community members through the performing arts. To register for this free Christmas Concert event, visit the ticketing website linked here.
We are honored to announce that Catalyst Maria teacher and head soccer coach Jose Burgos has been named the national winner of the Champion Coach Recognition Program - an awards program to recognize coaches putting positive coaching values into action within their teams and their communities.
Mr. Burgos was selected from 300 coach nominees from 29 different states in 25 different sports who embody the values promoted by TrueSport - sportsmanship, character-building and life skills, and clean and healthy performance.
Mr. Burgos joined Catalyst Maria as Head Soccer Coach and Spanish teacher in 2018. He was recognized for creating a strong supportive team community within the school and within the community-at-large to provide physical and psychological safety for his athletes. Born in Chile, Burgos emphasizes the idea of soccer as "family" and "community" rather than just a game. He organized the first-ever Catalyst Futsal Cup for 6-8 graders to begin broadening the impact and opportunities that soccer can provide for the youth in the community.
On Tuesday, December 10, Mr. Burgos was presented with the award and was recognized in front of student-athletes, school staff, fellow coaches and his family (including his father who flew from Chile to share the moment with his son!).
A Chicago community leader, Joel Farran, nominated Burgos. "Coach Jose's love of soccer is matched only by his love for people and helping people find and become their best selves," stated Farran. "Spend any time with Jose and you will experience his energy and passion to be infectious. The community, the school, the sport, and most importantly the youth are fortunate to have Coach Jose on their side."
Congratulations Mr. Burgos and thank you for all that you do to embody the Catalyst's mission of Teaching Minds and Touching Hearts!
Check out an interview with Catalyst Circle Rock Dean of Scholars Jason Kent on the Junior Sheriff’s program at CCR on the Elevate Chicago blog (linked through the image below)!
We are honored to announce that Catalyst Circle Rock Principal Elizabeth Jamison-Dunn was a finalist for an INCS 2019 Charter Excellence Award! Each year, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) recognizes an exceptional principal, teacher, student, and advocate, and Ms. Jamison-Dunn was selected as one of three finalists among a record 90 nominees! A founding member of Catalyst Circle Rock in 2007 and the school's principal since 2015, we are inspired by Ms. Jamison-Dunn on a daily basis!
