Helen M Hefferan Elementary School

Being totally honest, I'm pretty stressed about the health situation at Hefferan. My biggest gripe is how often kids are out—the chronic absenteeism in this neighborhood is a real problem, and it feels like the school is constantly playing catch-up because of it. It’s hard to have a solid wellness culture when so many desks are empty. Communication about bugs and stuff going around the classroom is also super hit or miss. I've had to find out from other parents in the group chat that there was a stomach flu or a lice scare because the school didn't send anything out until days later. It just feels like typical CPS where they're focused on the paperwork and the 'funds transfers' being discussed online, but on the ground, the hallways don't always feel the cleanest and the support staff for kids' mental health is stretched way too thin. Not great.

Honestly, the staff at Hefferan do a pretty solid job keeping things clean. My son hasn't brought home half as many sniffles this year compared to his last school, so they must be on top of the sanitizing. They're actually really good about sending out those alerts whenever something like strep or the flu starts going around a specific grade, which helps us stay ahead of it. My only gripe is that the sick policy is super strict—if they have even a tiny cough, you’re getting a call to pick them up right away! It’s kind of a hassle for working parents, but I guess it keeps the germs from spreading too much.