Namaste Charter School

At Namaste’s Eco Club, students are learning through nature, teamwork, and hands-on experiences 🌱♻️
From growing vegetables, flowers, and succulents to composting, recycling, cleaning up shared spaces, caring for our school environment, and upcycling old newspapers into papier-mâché projects, students are building responsibility, creativity, and connection to the world around them.
Research shows that time spent in nature can reduce stress, improve focus, and support emotional well-being — proving that some of the most meaningful learning happens outside the classroom. 🌼💚

At Namaste Charter School (https://www.namastecharterschool.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), we are proud of our incredible young girls who crossed the finish line at the Girls on the Run 5K! 💜🏃‍♀️✨
Through months of training with their coach, our students learned the importance of health, wellness, perseverance, and confidence. They built strong foundations at a young age — not only in physical wellness, but also in character, teamwork, and self-belief.
This final race was more than a 5K; it was a celebration of growth, determination, and community. Families, staff, and supporters showed up to cheer them on every step of the way, reminding our girls that they are strong, capable, and unstoppable.
We are so proud of each and every runner for embracing the challenge, encouraging one another, and finishing strong. 💫

🌿💪 Recess = Wellness in Action at Namaste Charter School 💪🌿

At Namaste, we believe recess is not a break from learning—it is learning in motion. Every day, we prioritize structured, joyful, and inclusive recess because research shows it directly supports student wellness, focus, and academic success.

📊 What the research says:
Students who have regular recess show improved attention, memory, and concentration in class
Recess helps increase physical activity levels and overall fitness, supporting the recommended 60 minutes of daily movement
It also reduces classroom disruptions while improving behavior and engagement
Beyond academics, recess strengthens social skills, teamwork, and emotional regulation

🌟 How Namaste brings recess to life:
Our Junior Coaches lead the way—teaching games, modeling teamwork, and creating safe, joyful play spaces where every student feels included. From organized games to free play, students are moving, connecting, and growing together.

🤝 Why it matters:
Recess at Namaste isn’t just playtime—it’s a wellness strategy. It builds stronger bodies, calmer minds, and more connected classrooms.

💚 Movement. Joy. Leadership. Wellness.
That’s recess at Namaste.

What an incredible night at Namaste’s Casino Night ♠️

Thank you to our sponsors, donors, families, staff, Associate Board members, and community supporters who helped make this fundraiser such a success! Through raffle tickets, auction bids, donations, and casino games, the evening raised support for opportunities that help our students continue to grow academically, creatively, and emotionally.

Guests also explored interactive art stations, rug tufting, collaborative art, coded games, and robotics demonstrations led by our talented students, artists, and educators.

During the evening, Principal Rocio Tovar shared how Namaste students continue to show strong growth and proficiency in both ELA and math year after year — a reflection of the support and opportunities behind them.

Thank you for investing in our students and school community ❤️

SupportStudents

🌟 Art + Wellness + Community = Growth 🌿
At Namaste, our students are discovering who they are and where they come from through the power of art. Guided by James Jankowiak and Urban Gateways, they’ve created pieces that celebrate identity, culture, and community. 🖌️✨
These meaningful artworks will soon be proudly displayed throughout our building—a lasting symbol of collaboration, creativity, and wellness. At Namaste Charter School, every brushstroke is a step toward self-expression and connection. 💛
Thank you to Ingenuity for the grant support this year and for continuing to invest in our arts program and student wellness.
ChicagoSchools SpringExhibition

Outperforming. Outgrowing. Unstoppable. 🌱✨
At Namaste, our commitment to the whole child—mind, body, and heart—is making a difference where it matters most: student achievement.
📊 47% of Namaste students are performing on grade level
📊 Compared to 42% across CPS
This isn’t just a number—it’s a reflection of what happens when wellness, strong instruction, and community come together with purpose.
We are proud.
We are growing.
And we are just getting started.
StrongerTogether

🗳️ Future Presidents, Senators, and Changemakers in the Making. 🇺🇸✨
Our 3rd graders have been learning all about the election process—from campaigns and voting to the importance of being heard. To bring their learning to life, they held their very own mock election!
Students also designed their own election campaigns centered on topics that matter most to them, creating powerful slogans to earn the votes of their constituents. Through this hands-on experience, they learned the importance of leadership, civic engagement, responsibility, and making informed choices.
The future is bright with leaders like these! 🌟

From day one, Namaste has prioritized movement, wellness, and caring for both body and mind. This year, our students are participating in the FitnessGram Test three times a year to track their progress and stay active. 🏃‍♂️🏋️‍♀️
They also design their own circuit training three times a week, focusing on running, building strength, and flexibility. Research shows that students who are physically active perform better academically—and our students are proving it every day! 📚✨
Students are setting strong goals, pushing themselves, and cheering each other on as they elevate their wellness together.
We’re proud to share that Namaste has been nominated four times as an American Healthy School by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation! 🏆💚
StrongerEveryDay HealthySchools

From day one, Namaste has prioritized movement, wellness, and caring for both body and mind. This year, our students are participating in the FitnessGram Test three times a year to track their progress and stay active. 🏃‍♂️🏋️‍♀️
They also design their own circuit training three times a week, focusing on running, building strength, and flexibility. Research shows that students who are physically active perform better academically—and our students are proving it every day! 📚✨
Students are setting strong goals, pushing themselves, and cheering each other on as they elevate their wellness together.
We’re proud to share that Namaste has been nominated four times as an American Healthy School by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation! 🏆💚
StrongerEveryDay HealthySchools

Growth you can see. Impact you can measure. 📊✨
At Namaste, student growth isn’t just a goal—it’s a result.
Last year, our students outperformed both CPS and the State in ELA and Math growth, demonstrating stronger academic gains and steady progress across grade levels.
📈 Higher growth in ELA
📈 Higher growth in Math
📈 Outpacing district and state benchmarks
These results reflect the power of our model—where rigorous academics, wellness, and intentional support come together to move every student forward.
Because at Namaste, it’s not just about where students start—
it’s about how far they grow. 🌱
ClosingTheGap EducationMatters

🌟 ¡Voces que Inspiran! 🌟
Our dual language students are on their journey to becoming bilingual and biliterate, and they shone bright at our Oratory Competition! 🎤✨ They courageously recited poems about life, love, and nature in Spanish, captivating everyone with their passion and confidence. Families joined in to cheer them on every step of the way. 💛💙
At Namaste, 100% of our 5th graders are on the path to becoming bilingual and biliterate, and an amazing 97% of our 8th graders are progressing toward earning the Seal of Biliteracy! 🖊️💛💙
Our students are mastering language, culture, and confidence—one word at a time.
This is one way Namaste elevates its Language and Culture Pillar. If you want your child to be bilingual and biliterate, join our community. Register your student today!
Celebrating language, culture, and expression—our students are proving that words have power! 🌎💫
LifeLoveNature