The Blueprint obtained an email and confirmed the information shortly after when the Chicago Teachers Union Instagram and Facebook page posted information about a protest in solidarity with teachers who are returning to "in-person" learning. The e-mail and the CTU’S Instagram and Facebook page claimed there will be a protest at Union Park tomorrow at 9 a.m against the reopening of Chicago...

While a regular school year would not be complete without the annual Jones Open House, filled with hundreds of prospective students and families learning about the many classes, clubs, and sports offered, this year’s Open House certainly looks different.   The Virtual Open House was a nine-minute video giving viewers a glimpse into the experience of student life at Jones. “We tried to...

The Blueprint obtained an email and confirmed the information shortly after when the Chicago Teachers Union Instagram and Facebook page posted information about a protest in solidarity with teachers who are returning to "in-person" learning. The e-mail and the CTU’S Instagram and Facebook page claimed there will be a protest at Union Park tomorrow at 9 a.m against the reopening of Chicago...

It’s been months since the music rooms of Chicago Public Schools high schools have been filled with guitar riffs and drum beats, but students have still found ways to explore their passion for the art through extracurricular programs.  The Ravinia Jazz Scholar Program recruits and mentors CPS students looking to learn more about music, while the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) looks...

The controversial announcement of the IHSA (Illinois High School Sports Association), to disregard Governor Pritzker’s safety guidelines surrounding winter sports has caused quite a stir within basketball teams and players throughout Illinois. Even though CPS has postponed the basketball season for city schools, the IHSA’s ruling is wrong. I have loved the game my whole life. From my first moments...

Last month, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) canceled all winter sports until further notice due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.  Due to the surge, CPS and Illinois High Schools Association (IHSA)  made multiple decisions for this season. Basketball and wrestling were already postponed. This new decision postpones bowling, boys swimming and diving, competitive dance, and competitive cheerleading. “I...

The Jones Valorant E-Sports team won their first match of the season against Niles North.  Valorant, a 5v5 shooter game, requires 13 rounds to win a game with one side defending and the other on the attack. The way the game is played is a best two out of three series to win each match, with 12 rounds each half and a new map every game.  Jones won both matches and clinched the win for their...

Sports work in a hierarchy: professional sports up top, followed by collegiate sports, and then high school. This ladder-shaped system has been around for ages, shaping how our very own high school sports are run and played. Now, as we attempt to continue sports amidst a global pandemic, professional sports leagues only seem to trickle down pessimism to younger athletes. With desperate pleads from...

Students don’t have much input on returning to in-person school. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) says they’re “for the kids,” yet individual students have never weighed in nor do they have a public outlet for voicing their concerns. Students are the ones returning and should have a say in the reopening process, because the type of learning students receive can dramatically affect their lives....

The controversial announcement of the IHSA (Illinois High School Sports Association), to disregard Governor Pritzker’s safety guidelines surrounding winter sports has caused quite a stir within basketball teams and players throughout Illinois. Even though CPS has postponed the basketball season for city schools, the IHSA’s ruling is wrong. I have loved the game my whole life. From my first moments...