CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The end of winter recess for Chicago Public School students was Thursday, four days earlier than originally scheduled, to make up days after the teachers' strike.
School hadn't been scheduled to resume until Monday, Jan. 6, but due to the strike, makeup days were added to the school year - two of which were scheduled for Thursday and Friday, meaning families had to shift gears.
It was anticipated that many students would just not show up, but at least one school created an incentive for students to come back early.
Thursday and Friday are what Amundsen High School Principal Anna Pavichevich has dubbed "redemption days" - a chance for students who do show up to catch up with work or get one-on-one help from teachers.
And, she said, students who showed up Thursday and Friday will get five "homework passes." Each pass may be used later, essentially excusing a student for not doing a homework assignment.
"There are students who specifically communicated to us that they had no intention of coming these two days, but were induced to come because of the redemption days," Pavichevich said. "Not only because of the homework passes, but because of the time they're getting to actually work closer with teachers and to catch up and get the personalized attention they need."
On Thursday, Pavichevich said about 65 percent attended class and Friday she's expecting more.
WBBM: Did you expect that many?
"Ah, you know - no," she laughed.
"To be honest with you, I expected that we would have attendance - I kind of likened it to what it would be like on a snow day, and that's usually about 40 to 50 percent."