Christina Sanchez, principal at Dore Elementary School, parent volunteer Pam Cuevas and a team of eighth-grade ambassadors spearheaded the second annual First Responders Day on Oct. 28 uplifting all participants by celebrating the area’s tight-knit first responder communities in Clearing and Garfield Ridge.
The nationally celebrated day recognizes the courage, dedication and critical service of the people who keep Chicago safe.
“We wanted to acknowledge them for all the things they go through because it has a huge impact on the family which then can transfer down to the students,” Sanchez said. “We want to work with our families and give them positive time together and let them know the school is here to support them in any way we can.”
Born and raised on Chicago’s Southwest Side, Sanchez, a 16-year neighborhood resident,has been the school’s administrator for nine years.
The idea for the event came when she realized a large portion of the school’s population has a first responder in their family, she said.
“It was great to see the smiles on the faces of the families that were there,” she said. “The children having that time with their loved ones who sometimes go through so many bad and difficult experiences [is important]. Even though it’s an hour long, it was a very joyful hour.”
More than 50 first responders RSVP’d to attend, she added, noting honorees consisted of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings of students at the school, 7134 W. 65th St.
Pam Cuevas, who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, was the powerhouse behind donation procurement.
“I don’t like recognition,” she said, shifting her focus to family. “My husband’s a Chicago police officer. I come from an Irish Catholic family who are all Chicago police officers and my in-laws are all Chicago police officers so first responders do hold a special place in my heart.”
After the first event, she wanted to help out, Cuevas said and this year visited local businesses door-to-door securing donations including food, beverages and raffle prizes.
“Every first responder was able to leave with a gift from us,” she said. “The eighth-grade ambassadors were so good. I loved the speeches they made, they passed out raffle prizes and decorated the entire cafeteria. They made flags and created cards for every first responder, each with a personal message inside. It was so sweet.”
Faculty member Maureen O’Hara compiled the event program, listing every honoree and donor.
As the event closed, kindergarten through second-graders lined the halls waving flags in a mini-parade to send off the guests.
Serving approximately 680 students, Dore Elementary is keenly aware of family needs. The school employs two full-time social workers in place to assist parents and students alike.
Post-pandemic found the community’s parents returning to work resulting in some struggling with how their children would eat meals, prompting the school to step in during the seven hours children attend school, said Principal Sanchez.
“When they’re out there working, the things they encounter every day take a toll on the kids,” she said. “When parents come home from work I can’t even imagine how stressful that can be. I know what it’s like how stressful it is on our end.”
Ms. Santoyo, one of two social workers at Dore, spoke at this year’s event saying the school is present to support all family members “weekly or even daily” if needed, including checking in on children during tough times “ even if it’s a parent asking for us to check-in with a child on a particularly stressful day,” Sanchez said.
Many teachers at Dore are married to first responders and receive tailored support as well, she added.
Pam Cuevas agrees children’ s exposure to today’s realities are impactful.
“I think kids, in general, know a little too much that goes on in the world these days with social media,” she said. “They need to be kids. That’s what I try to instill in my daughter, like ‘ … you’re 10, not 25. You don’t have to worry about stuff,’ but she does. The counselors [at Dore] make her feel really safe and comfortable.”
Dore’s climate-culture team organizes events year-round to promote positivity and parental involvement based on student and community needs, including student awards, report card pick-ups, and cultural celebrations like the Ofrenda created by the Bi-Lingual Advisory Committee to give everyone at the school a place of belonging, Sanchez said.
Speakers included students sharing their views on first responders and Alderman Marty Quinn (13th), a long-time Dore School supporter, reassured first responders of his support, according to Sanchez.
“The Dore first responder celebration was a fantastic event,” said Quinn. “It reinforces our values as a community and to carve out a moment to say thank you to our first responders is a very, very good thing. I offer high-level compliments to Principal Sanchez, her staff, the students and Pam Cuevas who really worked hard to make it a very special day.”