SPECIAL NEEDS and CONSIDERATIONS 

Middle School Courses 

Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM

 Students in our Summer Camp will experience hands-on learning in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education by rotating to a new course every two weeks. CHICAT families can choose any of the following sessions to enroll their middle school student in or families can opt to enroll in all 3 sessions for the summer! 

 

 

Design Lab: Pizza Pillow Collaborative 

Students will develop skills of drawing through sewing in this course. Using their imagination, students will design individual creative slices of pizza that we will make into pillows. The pillows will all fit together as a whole pizza pie for display in an art exhibition. 

 

Digital Lab: Panoramic Photography

Explore the Chicago landscape by creating a series of panoramic images. Panoramic photography is a technique of photography using specialized equipment and software to produce an elongated field of view. It is also known as wide format photography. You will create and print your successful panoramic landscape image. Students will learn specialized camera and computer techniques to print out a poster-size photograph

 

3D Maker Lab: Coding with Scratch

Take your first steps into the world of computer science by learning to code with Scratch. This class will cover basics of programming and tech literacy to promote computational thinking and problem-solving skills, creative learning, and equity in computing.

 

 

High School Courses

Monday - Thursday from 1:00 PM - 5:00PM

For Teens 16 years and older, programs run Monday - Friday from 1:00 PM - 5:00PM

These programs are funded by After School Matters. Students enrolled will receive a stipend. Space is limited. 

 

Digital Lab: Cut-Out Animation: Introduction to Animation

This class is focused on teaching student’s digital cutout-style animation techniques, with scanned images and vector graphics. South Park is a notable example of the cutout-style.

 

3D Maker Lab: Creative Coding

This class is focused on teaching students programming Python and JavaScript. The class will begin with fundamentals of the languages and how they are used to make both interactive and musical projects. As the class continues, students will use code to create interactive 2D projects or their own songs.

 

Design Lab: Mystical Polymer Clay Figures 

As an extension of the summer course, students will use their imagination as a tool to create. Using technical drawings, students will design a 2D mythical set design to display along a mystical clay figure. The encompassing design will express their ideas of freedom through identity. 

 

To apply, visit https://www.afterschoolmatters.org/teens/apply/. Search for CHICAT's program and submit the application.

 

CHICAT is excited to safely return students and staff to in-person learning in September 2021. In order to facilitate a safe and healthy return, CHICAT has adopted the following Return to Class Policy applicable to all students and their caregivers.

I. Daily Health Screening Form. All caregivers are responsible for completing and submitting a Health Screening Form prior to the student’s arrival at CHICAT. Students will not be permitted entry into CHICAT unless the Health Screening Form has been received for that day and all responses are truthfully answered “no.” If a student responds “yes” to one or more of the health screening questions, he/she/they must be kept home and will not be permitted entry into CHICAT. If a student arrives and either the Health Screening Form has not been received or the student is exhibiting symptoms of COVID19, the student’s caregiver will be notified and must arrange for the student to be picked up or transported home at the caregiver’s expense. As a general rule, caregivers should not send a sick student to CHICAT under any circumstance.

II. Students Who Become Sick At CHICAT. If a student falls ill while at CHICAT, staff will remove the student from the classroom and isolate him/her/them in a private, closed room. Staff will then notify the caregiver that the student is unwell and must be taken home immediately. Caregivers are obligated to arrange for their child to be picked up from CHICAT and taken home as soon as possible but no more than 1 hour after CHICAT notifies the caregiver. CHICAT will call 911 if a student is experiencing a medical emergency (e.g. unable to breathe, loss of consciousness) before notifying the caregiver.

III. Contact Tracing. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, caregivers are asked to promptly notify Lisa Moultrie by calling (312) 733-1701 or emailing lisa@chicat.org. CHICAT may request to ask the student whom they had close contact with during the 48 hours before the diagnosis. CHICAT will then
notify all staff and students who had close contact with the student, without revealing the student’s name or identity.

IV. Face Mask Policy. When inside CHICAT, students must wear a face mask or face covering that covers the nose and mouth. If a student has a medical condition or disability that prevents them from safely wearing a face mask or face covering, the caregiver must notify CHICAT before the start of class. Students who arrive to CHICAT without a face mask or face covering will be provided a disposable face
mask for use that day.

V. Social Distancing. Classrooms have been configured to accommodate social distancing guidelines for K-12 schools. Students should generally remain 3-6 feet apart from other people inside CHICAT and should comply with any and all directional signs indicating one-way hallways or social distancing measures.

VI. Hygiene. Students should practice safe cough hygiene by coughing into the shoulder as opposed to the hands. Students should utilize hand sanitizer throughout the day and should wash hands frequently with soap and water.

VII. Cleaning and Sanitation. Students should contribute to the overall cleanliness of CHICAT by putting trash in receptacle bins, keeping desks clean and tidy, and cooperating with cleaning and sanitation measures that occur throughout the day. Students should promptly report spills or related accidents that impact the overall cleanliness of CHICAT.

VIII.COVID-19 Vaccination. CHICAT does not require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at this time. However, CHICAT encourages all caregivers to independently research the available COVID-19 vaccines and discuss the risks and benefits with their health care provider. If a student is or becomes fully-vaccinated, as defined by the Centers of Disease Control (“CDC’”), caregivers are encouraged (but not required) to disclose student vaccination status by emailing Lisa Moultrie at lisa@chicat.org. Fully vaccinated students will be permitted entry into CHICAT so long as they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 not attributed to another medical condition.

CHICAT strives to be transparent regarding its response to COVID-19 and return to in-person instruction. To the extent parents or caregivers have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Lisa Moultrie by calling (312) 733-1701 or emailing lisa@chicat.org.

CONSENT AND RELEASE

I consent to interviews, photographs, and audio and video recordings of myself (collectively, “Personal Images” I grant the Chicago Center for Arts and Technology irrevocable right to use, reproduce (whether through digital copying, photography, audio, and video recordings, or any other means), release, publish, transmit, distribute, exhibit, and/or display in any and all forms of media (whether existing or future, and whether in whole or in part) and in any and all manners, including (1) any or all of my artwork that is created at or through CHICAT, (2) any or all of the Personal Images, and (3) my name and likeness. The preceding consents are given for and limited to CHICAT’s activities as a non-profit institution. Such activities may include, without limitation, news articles, telecasts, webcasts, press releases, education, fundraising, marketing, advertising, and research. Such activities may be performed by CHICAT or CHICAT’s employees, agents, affiliates, partners, assignees, licensees, or designees.

I waive all rights to inspect or approve any uses that may be created under the preceding paragraph, or the use to which any of the materials may be applied. I waive the right to compensation by, through, or under CHICAT for any uses that may be created under the preceding paragraph. I agree that Personal Images and all other originals thereof shall constitute CHICAT’s sole property, with the full right of disposition in any manner whatsoever.

I release, discharge, and agree to hold harmless CHICAT, its agents, affiliates, partners, assignees, licensees, and designees, and all persons acting under its/their authority from any and all claims whatsoever in connection with the use of the materials as described in the first paragraph above. I certify that I either (a) am 18-years old and legally competent to execute this Consent and Release or (b) am under 18-years old and have the consent of my parent or guardian to execute this Consent and Release. I understand that the terms herein are contractual and not a mere recital, that this instrument is legally binding, that I have voluntarily signed this document, and that CHICAT is relying on this Consent and Release to perform the activities described in the first paragraph above. I have read this Consent and Release and am fully familiar with its contents.