News & Announcements

Parents, join Amundsen's Parent Advisory Council (PAC) on Tuesday, September 13, at 6pm, for “A Virtual Conversation About College Application Essays,” presented by Amy F. Williamson. For the last decade, Amy has been teaching high school seniors locally and across the U.S. how best to tell their own unique stories in college application essays. Registration is required for this session.

Show your Viking pride neighborhood-wide -- in your yard, in your window, or on your balcony! Signs are $10 each and available for local pickup.

Want one? Email [email protected] to arrange pickup and payment (cash or credit card at pickup). GO VIKINGS!

One of the best moments from Raise the Sails was receiving a $25,000 School All-Star Grant from our generous neighbor and supporter, Cubs Charities. Cubs Assistant Director of Government and Community Affairs Heather Way Kitzes presented the jumbo check to Amundsen Principal Anna Pavichevich at the DANK Haus, giving us even more to celebrate that night. A portion of the funds will support Amundsen’s new batting cages, and the rest will support educational programs for all Amundsen students. Thank you, Cubs Charities, for your ongoing support of Amundsen–it makes a huge difference for our students and our entire school community.
GO CUBBIES! GO VIKINGS!

Amundsen and its partners will be offering workshops this summer for rising seniors in order to help them prepare for the college admissions process. Please see the attached flyer for details. This is a great opportunity to "get your stuff done" and minimize your senior stress! Please contact Ms. Maldonado with questions!

In order to continue to keep students and staff safe, CPS will continue to provide COVID testing throughout summer school. The summer testing strategy will include a continuation of the surveillance in-school testing program, a continuation of our Modified Test to Stay Program, and compliance testing for unvaccinated student-athletes and unvaccinated staff. Testing will take place from July 5-29, 2022 for summer programs that register students in Aspen.

Summer In-School Surveillance Testing

All staff and students that consented to test during the regular school year will be eligible to participate in summer school testing. Regular weekly testing will be provided by Thermo Fisher.

Modified Test to Stay

After hearing positive feedback from parents and school leaders, the Modified Test to Stay program that was piloted at 40 schools during last school year will continue to be an option for summer school programs.

We know that keeping students and staff in the classroom safely is absolutely critical to learning and development, and giving individuals the Test to Stay option is an important tool.

Here's how the program works:


Unvaccinated students and staff that are identified as a close contacts will have three options:

Work/learn from home for five calendar days per CDC guidelines and wear a mask on days 6-10

Continue to work/learn in-person by submitting proof of full vaccination to their school

Continue to work/learn in person through Test to Stay.

Individuals who exercise the Test to Stay option must:

Test negative on the next immediate Monday or Thursday and the following Monday or Thursday following exposure and submit their results to cps.edu/covidresults

Remain symptom free

Wear a mask in school for ten calendar days following exposure

When a case is confirmed, the Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) will reach out to the school leader and ask if they would like to offer the Test to Stay option to the unvaccinated close contacts of that case. OSHW will then walk the school leader through implementation of the program, and will provide a guide with protocols and communications templates for communicating with individuals who have been exposed.

Compliance Summer Testing

Unvaccinated student-athletes will also be required to test this summer using rapid antigen test kits. Distribution plans for testing kits are in development in collaboration with the Office of Sports Administration. Unvaccinated athletes will be required to test twice a week (Monday and Thursday) and report the results to cps.edu/covidresults.

Amundsen will host a Freshman Connection program this summer for students in our incoming freshman class. Each one-week session will help students to have fun, to make new friends, to experience the high school environment, and to connect with teachers and counselors. The program is free but you must register in advance. Click on the link above to visit our Class of 2026 welcome site to register for FC and to access important information for incoming freshmen and their families.

Amundsen's String Ambassadors, under the direction of AHS Orchestra teacher, Mr. Sean Reidy, recently helped to launch yet another orchestra mentoring program at McPherson Elementary School. This partnership builds on an existing partnership with Chappell Elementary, where an autonomous group of of 12 Viking String Ambassadors regularly teaches strings to Chappell students. We appreciate the support of A440 Violins, the Friends of McPherson, the Friends of Amundsen, the Nagaunee Institute, and the Civic Orchestra of the CSO, for their support of the neighborhood school music programs that make these partnerships possible.