Catalayah Elementary

Christmas in the Cafe!! Over the break our amazing Mary in the cafeteria came and decorated for our students and staff. How cute is that?! The kids loved seeing it when they came back!!! Thanks Mary, your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed. We appreciate you keeping it fun and festive!!! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

SQUISHING YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY!!! Instead of candy grams this year you can send a squishy to your friends!!! They are so cute! Forms are coming home today. Squishys are $1 each. Forms are due December 13. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Here are some helpful flyers with resources for families in need this holiday season. If you or someone you know could use extra support—or if you’d like to help families in need—check out the information attached! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

The kids love going to Stem Class. I'm so excited about the things Ms. Henry is going to be teaching them this year. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

It’s December!! What a great time to enjoy this cute November recap! It’s a good one! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

With 15 school days until Winter Break, Santa and CPS staff want to welcome you back from Thanksgiving break and remind you it's essential to FINISH STRONG. That is 105 hours of instructional time and 6,300 minutes of learning. ATTENDANCE MATTERS! See you back in class tomorrow morning. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

We are bursting with pride for two of our Catalayah alumni who have signed their letters of intent to become college athletes! 🎉 Grace will be continuing her softball journey, and Marcos will take his talents on the baseball field at the next level. Congratulations to both of you—Catalayah is so proud and can’t wait to cheer you on in this exciting new chapter. Once a Zebra, always a Zebra! 🦓🤍❤️⚾🥎 #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Rome got the exciting opportunity to step into the role of PE Teacher for the Day after his big win at PTO Bingo Night! 🎉 He took charge by organizing equipment, demonstrating games, and keeping his classmates motivated. Rome also created his own warm-up routine and spent some time planning future activities with Coach Hughes. I think Rome's favorite party was the microphone and the whistle!! It was a fun-filled day of leadership and teamwork—great job, Rome. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Alex (aka Miss Weaver) went from being a first grader to a first grade teacher for the day thanks to her big win at the PTO Bingo Night!!! She had her own desk where she took attendance and lunch count! She also graded papers and was generous with passing out stickers! She taught phonics and math and gave the students extra free time! She enjoyed McDonald’s for lunch and had lots of snacks throughout the day! She loved recess duty and hanging out with the other teachers! And of course made tiktoks with Mrs. Ward! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🦃 Thankful Thursday 🦃 This week, our hearts are full of gratitude for the incredible staff here at Catalayah Elementary! ❤️🖤 We are truly blessed to have such an amazing team. Your hard work, dedication, and genuine care for one another create a supportive and inspiring environment for our students and each other. You go above and beyond every day, and we’re so thankful for each and every one of you. Together, we make Catalayah a special place! Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and joyful Thanksgiving! 🦃🍂 #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

I found these cute projects hanging in the hallway before we left for break. I think disgusting the Turkey so it doesn't get eaten on Thanksgiving is one of my favorite projects. They are so creative. And the Thankful project- always a classic!!! It's so fun to see what the kids are thankful for! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Our kindergarten classes enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving fun. They made turkey hats, Thanksgiving bracelets & turkey donuts. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

One more post about our Holiday Meal!!! We had several PTO and parent volunteers to help make the day wonderful!! We loved having all the friends and family come and eat with our students. It was a great day!! Our cafeterias ladies are amazing. It was fun being able to celebrate them at Rise and Shine!! We hope they get to enjoy their break! #CPSZEBRAPIDE

Brenden had an unforgettable day as our PE Teacher for the Day, thanks to his big win at PTO Bingo Night! 🏆 He joined Coach Hughes in handling the daily duties of PE, complete with his very own whistle and name badge. Brenden helped lead activities, assisted with instruction, and even got to enjoy lunch in the coaches’ office. What an awesome experience for an amazing student! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Mrs. Castle's class worked so hard on their Thanksgiving projects. They had fun explaining what they are thankful for as they practiced their typing skills! They used their watercolor pieces for the turkey feathers. Mrs. Castle is thankful for them! Mrs. Castle also surprised her class with a sweet surprise before the Holiday Break!!! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Congratulations to our Staff Member of the Month, Mrs. Dunham! 🎉 Mrs. Dunham truly deserves this recognition for her dedication and hard work. She goes above and beyond every day to support our students and make Catalayah an amazing place to learn! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Last week at Catalayah, our staff secretly participated in an underground dress-up week! It was such a fun way to surprise the students, and we loved hearing the few who noticed! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

When we return from Holiday Break we will be starting our food drive. Here is a copy of the list incase you would like to grab a few things while you are on break. The 2 classes that bring the most items will get lunch provided by the Principals!! PreK- 2nd, 1 winner 3rd-5th, 1 winner #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Have we told you lately how awesome our PTO is?!? The woot woot wagon came by today! It was wonderful!!! Thanks PTO!! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🌟 Thankful Thursday 🌟 Today, we want to shine a BIG spotlight on our incredible cafeteria team here at Catalayah Elementary! Mary, Naeyma, Phyllis and Cathy are honestly the BEST!!! These amazing ladies worked tirelessly to serve nearly 1,000 lunches for our students, staff, and guests during our special holiday meal. And they did it all with the warmest smiles and hearts full of kindness. ❤️ Their dedication goes far beyond just preparing food—they create a welcoming and loving environment where every child is nourished, cared for, and uplifted. From the early morning hours to the last tray served, these heroes ensure our students have the fuel they need to learn and grow. We are SO grateful for their hard work, positivity, and the joy they bring to our school each day. Thank you for going above and beyond—you are the heart of our school, and we love and appreciate you more than words can say! 🥰 Let’s give a HUGE round of applause to our cafeteria team! Drop a comment below to share your gratitude and let them know how much they mean to us. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE