Every winter CPS schools are required to administer the NWEA MAP assessments to K-8th grade students. The NWEA assessments are computer based and are targeted to each individual student's skill level. These assessments are used to measure your child's growth in reading and math from one year to the next. Individual growth targets are set at the beginning of the school year with the hopes that each student will meet or exceed his/her growth targets. Teachers use the test information to guide instruction and know where a child's strengths and weaknesses are. This test information is also used in CPS to determine promotion and selective enrollment eligibility.

Our NWEA winter testing schedule is as follows:

Grade	Dates
K	January 9, 10, 16, 17
1	January 21, 22
2	January 22, 23
3	January 14, 15
4	January 8, 9
5	January 15, 17
6	January 7-10, 14-17
7	January 7-10, 14-17
8	January 7-10, 14-17

In preparation for NWEA assessments, please do the following:

Have your child get a good night's rest
Have your child eat a good breakfast on the mornings of testing, and arrive to school on time.
Students who are tardy will wait in the lunchroom until the test session is over, and make up any test sessions missed during the make-up testing scheduled time
Let your child know that you have confidence in his/her ability to do his/her best

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support in making this testing experience successful for your child.

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PTO Presents: Bulls vs the Cavaliers

Saturday, January 18 @ 7:00 p.m.

Purchase tickets HERE

Enjoy a legendary outing at a Chicago Bulls game with Skinner West students, faculty, family, and friends.

Purchase tickets at a discounted price now, and for every ticket sold, 30% of the proceeds will go towards supporting enrichment activities for Skinner West Superstars.

Share the excitement of Bulls basketball and the NBA's leading entertainment experience as the team takes on the Cavs.

Support Skinner West and be a part of Bulls Nation today!

Can't go to the game? To help expand the types of support given to the school, please also consider donating the price of a ticket to the PTO.

The discounted ticket price is:
300 Level, Rows 8-17 (baseline): $32.40 (regularly $44.80)

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Eighth Grade Trip Fundraisers!

Show your Skinner spirit by purchasing a one-of-a-kind magnet! The Class of 2020 will be selling magnets as a fundraiser to support their 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C.

Please fill out the order form and place it in an envelope along with the amount collected. Return the envelope to your homeroom teacher. Magnets will be distributed to each classroom. Thank you for your support!

Magnet Order Form (PDF)

Skinner Faculty & Staff - There is "merch" available for you as well! Think how great you'll look sporting Superstar Logo Gear!! Online ordering details are here.

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YOUmedia at the West Loop Library

The YOUmedia space in the West Loop Library (122 N. Aberdeen Street) is open for 6th to 8th graders after-school.

Hours are:

Monday and Wednesday: 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 3:00 p.m. - 7 p.m.

The library offers FREE workshops that introduce teens to 3D printing, vinyl cutting, gaming, podcasting, and photography, as well as a graphic novel club.

Download the flyer for more information (PDF).

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Save the Date: Gallery 111 is February 29, 2020

** Call for Silent Auction Donations!**

Save the Date for the Skinner annual "No Art Left Behind" gala

Saturday, February 29 7:00-10:00

National Museum of Mexican Art

We are currently looking for families

interested in contributing to our silent auction to consider donating the following needed items:

Host a Party

Do you have a great space or a skill that you could share with our party goers? If so, let us know, we would love to work with you to create an exciting experience for our guests.

Vacation Home

Do you have a second home? Michigan? Wisconsin? Florida? Tahiti? We would love to offer a vacation opportunities for our silent auction Please let us know if you have any connections.

Art, jewelry, event tickets spa experiences, dining, and hotel stays

Reach out to Jen Christiansen at jmchristiansen@cps.edu for more information.

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Diwali Celebration

On November 7, Skinner West hosted a Diwali celebration. Students from kindergarten through 6th grade participated.

Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, is celebrated to honor Rama-chandra, the seventh avatar (incarnation of the god Vishnu). It is believed that on this day Rama returned to his people after 14 years of exile during which he fought and won a battle against the demons and the demon king, Ravana.

Thanks to the parent volunteers led by Jayasree Sathish who organized this event.

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Repeat Articles

Principal's Report from the 12/17 LSC Meeting

A copy of the Principal's Report from the December 17th LSC Meeting can be found here.

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Debate Team Tournament Results

The Skinner West Debate Team participated in the Chicago Middle School Debate League's Tournament One for the 2019-2020 season on Saturday, December 7.

The overall topic for the year is: 'Arms Sales', and the cases being debated at this Tournament were 'Ukraine' and 'Taiwan'.

Over 100 debaters across 52 teams from 6 schools competed at the tournament, but 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 won 1st place in five out of the six award categories

2) Skinner West won 52% of all possible awards at the tournament (28 out of 54).

19th Novice Individual Aarav M.

15th Novice Individual Daanya M.

14th Novice Individual Miles G.
12th Novice Individual Anushri V.
11th Novice Individual Gabriel K.
10th Novice Individual Darwin B.
6th Novice Individual Erik I.
3rd Novice Individual Sabrina Q.
2nd Novice Individual Samar M.
1st Novice Individual Eleanor M.
9th Novice Team Anushri V. Daanya M.
4th Novice Team Erik I. / Josiah R.
2nd Novice Team Aurelie G.B. / Sabrina Q.
1st Novice Team Darwin B. / Samar M.
6th JV Individual Daniel B.
5th JV Individual Amber P.
4th JV Individual Aleksia L.
3rd JV Individual Anjali R.
2nd JV Individual Jayden I.
1st JV Individual Matthew Z.
4th JV Team Zach R. / Sara R.
3rd JV Team Jayden I. / Aadi K.
2nd JV Team Maura S. / Aleksia L.
1st JV Team Sophie M. / Katelyn T.
8th Varsity Individual Nikita A.
6th Varsity Individual Anna S.
4th Varsity Team Nikita A. / Anna S.
1st Varsity Team Darian K. / Katelyn L.

Many thanks to Mr. Lee for coaching our Debate Team Superstars!

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Physical Education Newsletter

Curious why your child is talking about pacer tests and push-up challenges? Please read Mr. Johnson and Ms. Westy's 2nd Quarter PE Newsletter here.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

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Superstars in the Spotlight

Congratulations to our Skinner Superstar Yuvraj C. who participated in the National chess competition last weekend in Florida. Yuvraj is currently the #1 fourth grade chess player in the nation.

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Classroom Connections

This week Ms. Growe's kindergarten class united with Ms. Fisher's second grade class for a game of Dreidel. Second graders paired up with the 5-year olds and helped guide them in a successful day of holiday fun!