Mark T. Skinner West School

WEEK AT A GLANCE 


  Week 34: 

April 27 - May 4, 2012 

 

Skinner Banner 2011

Weekly Update 


Friday, April 27
Pizza Day 
 
4-7pm

Money Smart
Family Fun Night
   
 Spring Bazaar
  
Wednesday, May 2
 New Student Enrollment

4:30pm
Edible Schoolyard Committee mtg 
 
Thursday, May 3
 New Student Enrollment

10-11am

School Tours for Prospective Neighborhood Parents -  

Saturday, May 5
 Cinco de Mayo

6-10pm
 Gallery 111-No Art left Behind Fundraiser
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Did you miss last week's Week-At-A-Glance e-newsletter? Click here to catch up on a must-read!
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Does your Superstar have an accomplishment or honorable mention you would like to submit to the newsletter?  

Reply to this email or email us at skinnerwest@gmail.com.

 

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 ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
Are you supporting Skinner through these NO additional cost fundraisers?

SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL and Share this with Family and Friends! 

 

Box Tops/ Labels for Education
Collect everyday labels from groceries to earn points and funds for our school library


e-Scrip (Dominick's & other retailers)
Visit www.escrip.com to designate your eScrip accounts to Mark T. Skinner. A percentage of your purchases go to the school. However, you must renew your e-Scrip annually. Look out for special bonus days too!
 

Target

1% goes to Skinner on ALL purchases made with Target Card (additional 5% all purchases for you!)
Designate Skinner Classical as your school

www.target.com/tcoe

 

 

Mamapedia

5% of purchases go to Mark T. Skinner Classical School (Code A5BY)

 www.deals.mamapedia.com 

 

     

 

 

 

   

 

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Please submit pictures from any Skinner West events (concerts, parties, presentations etc) to skinnerwest@gmail.com.
 We prefer .jpg or .gif files of up to 350kb. 
Thank you!
 

 
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In This Issue...

 

New Articles:

  • Local School Council Meeting
    Principal's Report
  • Pizza Day
  • Financial Fitness Fair - Family Fun Night
  • Chinese Speech Competition Results  
  • Upper Grade History Fair Results 
  • Come one, come all & celebrate Cinqo de Mayo
  • Dancing With The.......... First Graders

    Sponsored by Gallery 111

  • Star Program Yoga Fridays
  • Earth Day Awareness at Skinner 
  • Edible Schoolyard Help Needed   
  • Early College Stem Schools
    are now Accepting Applications 
  • Project SYNCERE's 2012 Middle School  Engineering Summer Camp
  • Chili's Pepper Partner Program  

Repeat News Articles and Updates:  

   

  • SKINNER SUPERSTARS Summer Basketball Camp   
  • Call for Science Volunteers for Space Race!
  •  Walk-a-Thon and Field Day - June 5th; Save the Date and Call for Food Donations

 

 

Be Sure to Check   www.Skinnersuperstars.org for the updated...

New Articles 
Ms. Clark
Local School Council Meeting
Principal's Report

Parents click on this link for a copy of the Local School Council Meeting Principal's Report from April 24th.  

 

Deborah M. Clark,
Principal
Pizza
Pizza Day
 
The Skinner West Pizza Day is Friday, April 27th.  Cash collected from this event goes to Skinner's Eighth Grade.  Pre-ordering by Thursday, April 26th is required.  There will be no same day pre-orders for this Pizza Day.  Please give orders to your child's teacher. 

Parent volunteers are needed on Pizza Day from 11 to 1pm.  Please contact Ms. Mellos if you would like to help.
 

  

SKINNER WEST ELEMENTARY FORUM PTO    

FINANCIAL FITNESS FAIR -   

Money Smart Family Fun Night

 is this Friday, April 27th 4:00 -7:00PM  

in the Gym

  

Skinner West Elementary School

1260 West Adams Street

Chicago, Illinois 60607

  

A fun night of games, prizes, entertainment, food (pre-order required - see below) and lots of useful information relating to personal finance for the entire family.

 

EXHIBITS: 

Please stop in and chat with the following exhibitors:

  • Charter One Bank
  • Illinois Attorney General's Office
  • Internal Revenue Service
  • Salvation Army
  • Illinois Securities Department
  • Mb Financial Bank

WORKSHOPS:

There will be workshops for adults and our superstars. Topics include:

  • Financial literacy experts - "Planning to Pay for College"@6pm in the Library
  • Internal Revenue Service - "Resolving Issues With the IRS"@5:30&6:15pm  
  • For our Superstars - enterprising kids- "Making Ends Meet"@4:30 &5:15pm
  • Illinois Securities Department-"Tips to Avoid Investment Fraud"@ 5:30 & 6:15pm
  • Chicago Bullying Prevention Initiative Project- "Bullying Prevention"@5:30 &6:30pm
  • Try out financial education software in the computer lab

Attend at least one workshop and fill out a survey for a chance to win White Sox tickets & other prizes!

 

FOOD

Are you and the family attending Money Smart Family Fun Night and need dinner options? No worry...pre-order from Potbelly Sandwich shop. Potbelly orders must be turned in by Thursday, 4/26/12.  See attached order form. Cash or money orders only. Contact: Ronetta Hall at hirereal@sbcglobal.net with any questions.

 

 Order Form for Potbelly Dinner  

 

VOLUNTEERS:

Volunteers needed to assist with the event.  You can volunteer by contacting  Ronetta Hall at hirereal@sbcglobal.net.  

   


 

 

Here is the results for the 4th Annual Chinese Speech Contest at Northside College Prep High School on Sat. 4/21. Congrats to: 
  • Margaret Daisy S. (4-216) for receiving a Bronze Metal,
  • Lillian B. (3-220) for receiving a Bronze Metal,  
  • Arly D. (2-219) for receiving a Silver Metal,  
  • Ronak R. (2-219) for receiving a Silver Metal. 
And a special thanks to Ms. Kong for helping these Superstar winners and all of our students shine in Chinese!  


Upper Grade History Fair Results Are In!!

Saturday's contest, held at De Paul University, was alive with happy, proud students, teachers, and families as the students presented their work to our judges.  Our Skinner Superstars did an awesome job!  Eventually, however, scores are given and advances to the State History Fair are decided.  Below, you will find the exhibit(s) that will advance to NEXT WEEK's State History Fair on May 3rd at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center in Springfield: 
  • Boom! Cinematic!                  8th grade         

Millenna M.                              Exhibit

  • Boom! Cinematic!                   8th grade         

Natalia L.                                 Exhibit

  • Muckrakers to the Rescue     8th grade         

Carman C.                                 Exhibit

  • Muckrakers to the Rescue      8th grade         

Amy Y.                                         Exhibit

  • Up, Up, Then Away                6th grade         

Karis W.                                  Exhibit

  • Up, Up, Then Away                6th grade         

Yu Jing C.                                Exhibit

 
Congratulations!!
Your History Teachers~ Mr. FitzSimmons & Ms. Mellos
 

     

Come one, come all and celebrate Cinqo de Mayo with fellow parents, teachers, and amigos!

  

During the silent auction, enjoy your delectable and delightful evening with:

  • Catering by Third Coast Chef
  • Desserts by Bombon Cafe
  • Wine and Beer by Beverage Testing Institute 
  • Music by DJ Paul Caston

There is a raffle, with the prizes being:  

  • 1st  prize -  the new iPad (iPad3)
  • 2nd prize - Chicago Yacht Charter Cruise on The Anita Dee
  • 3rd prize - iPod Touch 

The cost of one raffle ticket is $20 or three raffle tickets for $50.   Raffle tickets can be purchased at the event OR by sending a check with the correct amount for the number of tickets with your student.  Please make check payable to Gallery 111.

 

Please visit www.gallery111.net to buy your ticket. Click directly on the price of the ticket and start planning your Cinqo de Mayo weekend.   


Hope to see you there!

Dancing With The.......... First Graders

Sponsored by Gallery 111


These last couple of weeks the first grade students have been learning partner ballroom dance. The dance company that provided the instruction was May I Have This Dance and it was funded by Gallery111. Each first grade room learned a different Style of dance: Tango, Paso Doble, AND MERENGUE. This four week workshop included a recital that was held on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.

Don't forget to come out and support Gallery 111 on May 5th so we can continue these types of amazing art programs for our SuperStars.

** Tickets can be purchased in advance at: www.gallery111.net **

Once a dancer, always a dancer!

 

 
 
                                         Yoga Fridays 

The STAR program is proud to launch a Yoga for Kids on Fridays. We will start with the purple, yellow and red  groups.  We are very excited to start this program and are hoping everyone will enjoy!

Earth Day Awareness at Skinner

 

Last Friday in honor of Earth Day, Mrs. Pope arranged a presentation from ACE, the Alliance for Climate Education, to speak with our Superstars about the effect each one of us has on climate change. The representative, Page May, used a video produced by ACE the national nonprofit organization to tell our students about the science behind climate change and inspired them to do something about it-while having fun along the way. The presenter explained how each individual has an impact on altering the world's climate and can make a difference by DOT, as ACE calls it, 'Doing one thing to change how we impact the environment'.  

 

According to Mrs. Pope, Skinner's students have responded to the presentation and are eager to take action. Next week, Mrs. Pope will hold a meeting to put a plan in place for our Superstars to get involved in making changes at home and at Skinner in how we can reduce the effects of climate change.

 

Mrs. Pope would like to thank Mr. Katz the Biology teacher at Whitney Young for recommending this outstanding organization to our Skinner Superstars.

 


Help Needed 

Since planting and growing season is right around the corner, the Skinner Edible Schoolyard will be hosting weekly meetings over the next 2 months to come together to design the garden, help plant, organize, etc..

We NEED YOUR HELP!  

Please find the time to come to our weekly meetings to help give input, provide comments/feedback, possible contacts to help out. We will be meeting in the school cafeteria at 4:30pm on Wednesday afternoons.  

 


Early College Stem Schools
are now Accepting Applications


Eighth Grade Parents, Early College Stem Schools are now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 school year. Click on this link for more information, including how to apply. 
 
The deadline for this application has been extended -- this application is due to the Office of Access and Enrollment no later than May 8, 2012.

 


Project SYNCERE's

2012 Middle School  

Engineering Summer Camp 

 

Registration for the Project SYNCERE Middle School Summer Engineering Camp is now open! 

  

Project SYNCERE's Summer Engineering Camp was created for young aspiring engineers and is a great opportunity to learn about the exciting fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through project based learning.

  

The Middle School Engineering Camp is offered to students entering 6th-8th grade and will be held at the University of Illinois at Chicago, July 9-August 17. Classes will take place Monday thru Friday from 9:00am-3:00pm and extended hours are available from 3:00pm-4:30pm.

 

The summer camp is a terrific way for students to stay engaged during the summer months and to learn more about the fields of engineering. Through their participation in "hands-on" projects, educational presentations and field trips, students will learn how to use math and science to solve various engineering problems. 

  

For more information regarding the program, including project schedule and program fees, please click the registration link.  Below you will find a video showcasing all six engineering projects which will be conducted during the summer camp. 

 

To learn more about Project SYNCERE, please visit our website at  www.projectsyncere.org

 


 Chili's Pepper Partner Program 

Skinner PTO Forum is inviting all SKinner Family Members and friends to visit a local Chili's (4 stores listed below) during the months of May, June, & July.
Skokie, North Riverside, Marshfield, and State/Ontario to have 10% of your receipt will go back to Skinner West directly. 

 

Just present the attached voucher or mention to your server and 10% of your purchase will benefit Skinner West directly.  You must make sure you let them know so they can transfer the 10% of your receipt to Skinner's Group.  Please feel free to make copies & give to all of your friends, family, and coworkers, the more people visit Chili's, the more $$ that goes back to Skinner West. 

 

Some Specials to entice you to visit Chili's: 
  • Monday nights - Fajitas for 2 people $12.99 
  • Tuesday nights  - Kids eat free! (You may want to visit Chili's on Tuesdays :-)) 
  • Wednesday nights - Rib Day $12.99 
A copy of the voucher is available at this link.  Copies will be made and sent home with students as well.  Please also feel free to go to the Skinner Website and print voucher directly. 

 

Any questions, please feel free to contact Stephanie Majca @ 312.543.9974  
Repeat News and Updates

SKINNER SUPERSTARS  

Summer Basketball Camp

 

Skinner west will be holding its first annual summer basketball camp this upcoming summer break. The camp will start on June 24, 2012 and end July 27, 2012 (8AM-3PM | MON-FRI). The camp will be held every day except major holidays. Players will be part of a camp that teaches basketball skills (dribbling, shooting, passing, moving without the ball, etc.) with one-on-one work and development. The players will also practice as a team and participate in tournament play around the Midwest. Players will also be responsible for minimum assignments outside the program (journals and reading)

 

The cost of the camp will be $950.00. The cost includes transportation travel expenses, snacks and juice. Players are also encouraged to bring their own lunch as well. Players will also receive personal warm-up shirts, journals and basketball.

 

Space is limited to 45 student athletes and 15 in each age group. 3 teams: (8-9)-(10-12)-(13-14).  More information and travel schedule will be available soon. If you would like your child to participate in the camp, please fill out the attached form. All checks can be made out to Skinner West Elementary. All payments can be made at Skinner West Elementary.

Mission Patch 

  

Call for Science Volunteers - Mentors and Judges for Space Race Needed

 

We are in need of volunteers - parents, friends, professionals - with a science or engineering background who can help mentor groups of 4th to 8th graders as they write experiment design proposals for the Space Race.  (Learn more about the Space Race here).  Mentors will give advice to the group via email, helping the students craft a competitive experiment proposal for the competition.  The winning experiment design will be carried out aboard the International Space Station next fall.  Students' topics cover a wide range of science disciplines, but people with a life science background (especially with plants) are in very high demand.

 

We are also looking for volunteer judges to be a part of the review panel for the Space Race on May 11th.

 

If interested, please contact ksmilroy@cps.eduor 773.534.7790 ext 61192  

field day       

Walk-a-Thon and Field Day

SAVE THE DATE and Call for Food Donations

 

Our annual Field Day and Walk-a-Thon is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5th. 

More details are forthcoming.

 

We are seeking healthy food donations. If you are or know of a wholesaler, restaurant, or grocer who is willing to donate ANY amount of healthier food -  most importantly lunch, or snacks, fruit, veggies - to help nourish our Superstars during this event, please contact Marla Sedler from Friends of Skinner West (FOSW) at marlasedler@gmail.com.

 

Thank You!

 

Visit our website at

www.skinnersuperstars.org

for more information about what's happening in school.
 All comments, suggestions or requests to submit information

to this newsletter should be emailed to skinnerwest@gmail.com

Deborah M. Clark

Principal