NewHope Academy

07/22/2026

𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫: Passport to Wellness, planned, organized, and led by our Leadership students.

Students and guests explored interactive stations focused on coping skills, executive functioning, creativity, self-care, therapy animals, hydration, and overall wellness. Activities included meeting therapy ponies, creating art, releasing worries, and learning practical strategies for supporting mental health.

Our Leadership students spent weeks researching topics, designing activities, creating displays and preparing to welcome guests with confidence and compassion.

Thank you to our students, staff, families, district partners, and community members who helped make the event such a meaningful success!

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬:
https://hubs.la/Q04pZjCy0

07/20/2026

Student leadership took center stage at NewHope Academy’s first Mental Health Fair.

Leadership students researched wellness topics, created interactive activities, and confidently shared what they learned with families and community guests.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬:
https://hubs.la/Q04pZdMp0

NewHope Academy’s first student mental health fair gave students the opportunity to lead interactive activities focused on wellness.

06/25/2026

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲!

Our ESY program is all about keeping students engaged, learning, and having fun while continuing to build important academic, social, and life skills.

Junior High students will spend the summer working on creative projects that encourage collaboration, problem-solving, and hands-on learning. They’ll also enjoy a variety of our popular Thrills classes.

High School students have an exciting lineup of academic and elective classes, including Anime, D&D, Guitar, Robotics, Yard Games, Animal Behavior, Batman Psychology, Consumer Education, Sports Science, Driver’s Education, Gardening, Hispanic Cooking, and so much more!

EOS students will participate in a Summer Boot Camp focused on preparing for adulthood through community experiences, independent living, career readiness, and individualized goals.

At NewHope Academy, learning doesn’t stop when summer begins. Our students continue to grow, explore new interests, build relationships, and have fun every day.

05/26/2026

𝐀𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲, students interact with Fenway the therapy dog, Emmy the therapy bunny and Niles the bearded dragon throughout the school day. These meaningful connections help students regulate emotions, build confidence and feel more comfortable engaging with peers and staff.

These animals help create moments of comfort, connection and growth through calming regulation breaks, supervised care routines and meaningful daily interactions with students.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲:
https://hubs.la/Q04hHYz80

Students at New Hope Academy benefit from therapy animals that help create calm, comfort and emotional support throughout the day.

05/22/2026

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 brought the 70s back in style during this year’s prom celebration! Juniors and seniors enjoyed an afternoon filled with music, dancing, great food, awards, and unforgettable memories with friends and staff.

From retro outfits to classic hits on the dance floor, the event created meaningful moments for students to connect, celebrate milestones, and close out the school year together.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲’𝐬 𝟕𝟎𝐬-𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:
https://hubs.la/Q04hyP3Y0

Students at NewHope Academy celebrated a 70s themed prom filled with dancing, awards, music and memorable moments together.

05/04/2026

This week, we celebrate Appreciation Week at SESI. To our teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, social workers, nurses, therapists, behavior specialists, clinicians, and support staff thank you for shining a positive light on our students on every day.

04/29/2026

Students in Marine Biology had an exciting hands-on learning experience today as they participated in a shark dissection.

This engaging lab gave students the opportunity to examine shark anatomy up close, identify major organs and body systems, and better understand how these incredible predators are adapted for survival in the ocean.

Through curiosity, teamwork, and a little bravery, students brought science to life in a memorable way.

𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐣𝐚𝐰𝐬-𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!

04/27/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐇𝐀! 🌱🌎

Recently, all of our science classes took learning outside and spent the day giving back to the planet.

Students rolled up their sleeves to plant flowers, pick up garbage around campus, and spread awareness about caring for our environment. They also enjoyed a well-earned BBQ lunch together in the sunshine.

A day full of fresh air, teamwork, and meaningful action, because even small acts can make a big difference.

𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲!

03/16/2026

Recently, NewHope Academy students participated in the annual art show and basketball tournament hosted by the Chicago Alternative Education League (CAAEL), joining students from more than 10 alternative schools across the region.

Our talented artists proudly displayed their work in the art exhibition, highlighting creativity, self-expression, and the diverse talents of students across programs.

On the court, the NHA basketball team had an incredible showing and finished 2nd place in the tournament!

One of the most meaningful traditions of the tournament happens after every game. Both teams gather in a circle and recognize players from the opposing team with sportsmanship awards, celebrating respect, teamwork, and character both on and off the court.

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.

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03/13/2026

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 are wrapping up their Virus & Bacteria Unit in the most hands-on way possible, by culturing samples from high-traffic areas around the building!

Students carefully collected samples from commonly touched surfaces to investigate what microscopic life might be living among us. After the long weekend, they’ll analyze the growth results and identify patterns, comparing different areas of the building.

This lab brings learning to life by allowing students to apply scientific methods, make predictions, and interpret real data. It’s one thing to read about bacteria and viruses, it’s another to see colonies grow right in front of you!

We can’t wait to see what the results reveal…

𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐇𝐀!

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