MARK T. SKINNER WEST SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
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2018-2019 School Year
Week #16: Dec 21 - Dec 27
 

Repeat Articles
Dates to Remember

5th WEEK PROGRESS REPORTS - Friday, Dec 21st
Winter/ Holiday Break NO SCHOOL -  Dec 22 thru Jan 6th
SCHOOL RESUMES - Mon, Jan 7th 
BAC Meeting - 2nd Flr Landing - Fri, Jan 18th
School Improvement Meeting - Thurs, Jan 31st at 4:00 pm
Save the Date: Gallery 111 Gala - March 2, 2019


CPS 2018- 2019 Calendar: here
 
New Articles
 
holiday
 
  Happy Holidays! 
    
Our Skinner Superstars have had a wonderful start to the 2018-2019 school year.  We hope that our students and their families will have a joyful and restful holiday.  Thank you parents for your continued support.  We will see you all in the new year!
LSC1
 
  LSC Meeting Principal's Report and Meeting Minutes 
    
The Principal's Report from the December LSC Meeting can be found here
Meeting minutes of the November LSC Meeting can be found here
CNA
 
  CNA Holiday Surprise!
    
CNA presented Skinner West Elementary with a $40,000 check in celebration of 40 years of partnership with our Superstars!  Mrs. Clark has approval from the LSC to use half of those funds to purchase brand new computers for our new computer lab in the annex.  The Primary Chorus students sang holiday songs and enjoyed a holiday lunch after their performance. 
NWEAwinter
 
  NWEA Winter Testing Schedule
 
Our NWEA winter testing will begin the week we return from Winter Break.  Please see tentative schedule below and read here for more information.  

Grade
Dates
K
January 15, 17, 22, 23, 24
1
January 10, 11, 22, 23
2
January 9, 10
3
January 14, 15
4
January 8, 9
5
January 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23
6
January 15-18, 22-25
7
January 14-18, 22-25
8
January 15-18, 22-25
Debate
 
  Debate Team Tournament Results
 
The Skinner West Debate Team participated in the Chicago Middle School Debate League's Tournament Two for the 2018-2019 season on Saturday, December 1. 

The overall topic for the year is: 'Immigration', and the cases being debated at this Tournament were 'H-1B Visas' and 'Open Borders'.

The students did a great job against some tough competition and won the awards listed below.

Some highlights we would especially like to point out are:

1) Skinner West took 1st place in four out of the six award categories.

2) Skinner West won about one-third of all possible awards at the tournament (20 out of 64, approximately 32%).

20th Novice Individual: Rolando V.
11th Novice Individual: Curtis B.
9th Novice Individual: Anjali R.
4th Novice Individual: Jayden I. 
2nd Novice Individual: Matthew Z.
1st Novice Individual: Aleksia L.
8th Novice Team: Gabriel K. / Arhan G.
6th Novice Team: Carter M. / Sophie M.
5th Novice Team: Rolando V. / Sara R.
2nd Novice Team: Maura S. / Aleksia L.
10th JV Individual: Nikita A.
2nd JV Individual: Max B.
1st JV Individual: Katelyn L.
3rd JV Team: Anna S. / Nikita A.
1st JV Team: Max B. / Katelyn L.
10th Varsity Individual: Alex G.
8th Varsity Individual: Trayi S.
1st Varsity Individual: Nicole B.
4th Varsity Team: Trayi S. / Cosette R.
3rd Varsity Team: Alex G. / Nicole B.

Congratulations to our Superstars!
Music
 
  Superstars Spotlight: Winter Concert, Primary Chorus & Glee Club
      
Superstars were ringing in the holidays at this year's Annual Skinner West Winter / Holiday Concert with separate concerts for students and for parents.
The Primary Chorus and Skinner West Glee Club performed in several winter concerts around the city in addition to the school concert.
The Glee Club also spread the holiday cheer at the Palmer House and West Loop Mariano's. Many thanks to our music teacher, Ms. Maatouk ,for preparing our Superstars for such fine performances.
Gallery111Art
 
  Gallery 111 Art Submissions
 
Calling All Artists!  Gallery Art 111 Submissions are due January 7, 2019.
Aspen
 
  An Update on Aspen: Our New Student Information System
 
 
CPS has moved the Aspen transition date from January to April 22, 2019.  Please read here for more information.
Brooklyn
 
  Brooklyn Borders Winter Camp Info
 
 
Brooklyn Boulders' upcoming Winter Break Camps Newsletter are Dec 26-28, Jan 2-4, and Jan 21. Click here for more information.
Soccer
 
  West Loop Soccer Club Winter Camp Info
 
Winter Break camps will be held on December 26-28 & January 2-4.  Refer below for more information and discount code.
Repeat Articles  
Holidays
 
  Classroom Connections: Holidays Around the World - Room 119
     
Ms. Amanda Shaf shares how her class is preparing for the holiday season:

My first graders have been learning about holidays around the world and different ways that people celebrate this time of year. Last week, a mom came in and helped us learn how to play the dreidel and we learned about Hanukkah. We also learned about La Befana in Italy and drew pictures of what we think she might look like. 

This week, we have learned about the Netherlands and made a wooden shoe craft.  We also learned about how they celebrate in England and that England was the first country to send Christmas cards to friends and families.  Then, my students made their own Christmas cards with kind messages that I will be dropping off at a nursing home to spread a little kindness this season. 

We are keeping track of these countries and their traditions on our bulletin board and the students are saving things in a "suitcase" (folder) that they made. We have several more countries to go through, but so far they really enjoy it and my hope is that they will understand the important parts of celebrating holidays (like family and spreading joy) and that the differences between each country are interesting and and fun to share. 
Coding
 
  Classroom Connections: Learning to Code - Room 401
   
For the fourth year in a row, Accenture is teaming up with Code.org to support Hour of Code-a grassroots movement to empower every student, in every school, to learn to code. Last year, thousands of Accenture people rallied around the world to teach coding in schools and at special events in their local communities. 

This year we were excited to have Accenture join us at Skinner West to provide Mrs. Priola's class with their first Hour of Code!  

    
 
POW
 
  POW! Gym Winter Camps
 
Stay Connected

 Visit our website at http://www.skinnerwest.cps.edu/ 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.
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Deborah M. Clark
Principal
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