August 29, 2014
Mayor’s Press Office
MAYOR EMANUEL CUTS RIBBON ON NEW PLAYGROUND GROUND EQUIPMENT
AT BRET HARTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Joins Teachers and Students for an Ice Cream Social to Celebrate Back to School
Mayor Rahm Emanuel cut the ribbon on new play equipment in the school playground at Bret Harte Elementary School on Friday. The Mayor also joined teachers, students, and administrators for an ice cream social to celebrate the first day of school for Chicago Public School (CPS) students, which is September 2, 2014.
“As we prepare to kick off a great school year, while we may be cutting the ribbon on a new playground, we’re really cutting the ribbon on a new era of excellence for Harte,” said Mayor Emanuel. “From a full day of school to air conditioning in every classroom to an expanded Safe Passage program, the City of Chicago will continue to make crucial investments so children in every neighborhood have a bright future.”
The new play equipment is one of several investments Mayor Emanuel and CPS have made at Bret Harte Elementary School. The school is also has a learning garden and received air conditioning installation in every classroom in the 2013-2014 school year. Under Mayor Emanuel’s leadership, a total of 154 schools have received air conditioning in the past two years. Starting this school year, students traveling to Bret Harte will have Safe Passage routes for the first time, benefiting from a $1 million program expansion.
Bret Harte is a math and science magnet school with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) partnerships with the University of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, and the SMART Museum. Last March, Mayor Emanuel announced a city-wide strategy to increase Chicago students’ access to high-quality STEM learning experiences from early childhood through college and career.
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Photo Caption 1: Mayor Emanuel joins Bret Harte Elementary School to cut ribbon on new playground Photo Caption 2: Mayor Emanuel visits with students and parents at Bret Harte Elementary School Photo Credit: Brooke Collins // City of Chicago
