Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are your hours?
A: Hamilton is an ‘open campus’ school and our day is from 8:00-2:30. Earliest drop off for students is 7:30 a.m.. The YMCA provides after school care on-site from 2:30-6:00 p.m..
Q: Are you a magnet school?
A: No, we are a fine and performing arts magnet cluster school. This means we are neighborhood school which accepts students from outside our attendance area through the lottery. The Chicago Public Schools fund two teacher positions each year through the Magnet Cluster Program (Music and Multi-Cultural Studies)
Q: Do you have recess?
A: Yes. Hamilton is an open campus school. All students have 45 minutes total for lunch and recess each day.
Q: Can I volunteer at Hamilton?
A: Yes. Hamilton has a volunteer coordinator (langburns@msn.com) and there are many opportunities to get involved. All volunteers must have a background check completed before volunteering.
Q: What is your visitor policy?
A: All parents visiting the school must sign in at the security desk and get a visitor badge. Classes may not be interrupted during the school day.
Q: What is your uniform policy?
There is no uniform policy at Hamilton. Hats may not be worn inside the building.
Q: What time of the day can I meet with my child’s teacher?
A: Teachers are available before the school day 7:30-8:00 and at the conclusion of the day
Q: Do you offer foreign language instruction?
A: Language Stars (Mandarin Chinese and Spanish) have fee based after school classes at Hamilton. One of our School improvement goals is to offer foreign language during the day, but we do not currently offer that program.
Q: How often do the students have physical education?
A: All of our students have physical education once a week (45 minutes per class) and some have it twice a week depending upon grade level.
Q: What other ‘special’ classes do students have?
A: All of our students have Art, Music and Multicultural Studies at least once a week (45 minutes per class). In addition we have visiting artists (dance, drama, art, music) come to Hamilton to work with our students within their classrooms.
Q: What are the demographics of your school?
A: 39% of our students are white, 35% are Hispanic, 16% are African-American, 5% are Asian and Pacific Islander, 4% are Multi-Racial and <1% are American Indian.
Q: Do you have after school programming?
A: Yes. The Lakeview YMCA provides afterschool care from 1:45-6:00 on site. We also offer 12 different fee based after school classes during the week.
Q: What is your homework policy?
A: Homework is the reinforcement of the learning taught in the classroom.
The Board of Education homework guidelines are:
Grades
Kindergarten 15 min. per day
1 – 3 30 min. per day
4 – 6 45 min. per day
7 & 8 90 min. per day
Q: What is your grading policy?
A: This grading system is utilized by all teachers in Grades 1-8:
90 – 100 A
80- 89 B
70 - 79 C
60 - 69 D
50-59 F