MARK T. SKINNER WEST SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
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2019-2020 School Year
Welcome Newsletter #1
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Dates to Remember
Elementary & KDG Registration: Tuesday & Thursday 10a-6p
Orientation for New Students Grades 1-5: 8/29@ 1:00-2:00
Orientation for New Students Grades 6-8: 8/29 @ 2:00-3:00
New Teacher Meet & Greet Grades 1-8: 8/29 @ 3:00-3:45
Kindergarten Orientation: 8/29 4:00-5:30 pm
School Supply Drop Off Day: 8/30 @ 9:30-4:00 Lunchroom
Skinner STAR Aftercare Registration Due 8/30
Friends of Skinner West Volunteer Mtg: 9/11 @ 9:00am
First Day of School 2019: Tuesday, 9/3 @ 8:45am
CPS 2019- 2020 Calendar: here
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You should be extremely proud of your Skinner Superstars, one of the top schools in the entire state of Illinois, a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School and ranked as the # 1 school in the city of Chicago by the Chicago Magazine in 2016. We wish to thank you for your diligence and guidance in preparing your child to excel among hundreds of applicants.
As August quickly slips away, we know that your thoughts will soon turn to preparing for the new school year at Skinner. We are prepared and excited to take your child to the next level of academic accomplishments and social / emotional growth and well-being. It is our vision to be the premier school in the city of Chicago for educating Classical, neighborhood/magnet and special needs students and to serve as a model for all such schools. Our teachers are knowledgeable, dedicated, caring and committed to creating a learning environment which fosters creativity, intellectual curiosity, high expectations, rigor, sensitivity, cooperation and support. Our continued success would not be possible without strong parental involvement. We appreciate the many ways that our parents support their child's education through monitoring classroom activities, assignments and projects, keeping abreast of grades via the CPS IMPACT system, involvement on committees, volunteering for school activities, attendance at school events and providing generous support for all of our fundraising activities. We want to encourage you to play an active role in whichever school activities your schedule will allow. Your participation and support will add to the enthusiastic and caring spirit which makes Skinner such a unique and special school.
The 2019-2020 school year will include the expanded use of our new addition, the continuation of more physical education minutes, greater access to technology based programs and implementation of the new Common Core Standards in language arts and math. In addition, we will continue to offer our strong academic programs and our array of after school activities, including STAR and Skinner Park programs.
Visit our Skinner website at www.Skinnerwest.cps.edu under parent resources for more information on how to purchase supplies via Resources. If you choose to purchase from Yubbler, Friends of Skinner West will receive 50% of the profits (which go directly back to the school).
As always, if you have any questions for me, please contact me using the Skinner West parent-only email address:
If you have any new parent questions, we have parent volunteers on hand to help by emailing skinnerwest@gmail.com (please label the subject with "new parent question").
Try to enjoy the rest of summer with your Superstar. Stay on the lookout for more pertinent updates before the first day of school. We look forward to each Superstar returning on
Tuesday, September 3rd! We are ready for another fantastic school year with our wonderful Superstar families and staff!
Deborah M. Clark
Principal
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School Supplies and Fees 2019-20
- Please consider ordering your school supplies through Yubbler as 50% of the profits go back to our school. You may also find the list of supplies here.
- Please remember: purchase your grade level supplies AND the Ancillary list supplies, Art, and Science supplies.
- School fees remain the same this year. You may pay online via this link or via check made out to Skinner West and dropped in the office (note child, grade level & classroom/teacher) in the memo line.
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Updates from Friends of Skinner West (FOSW)
Please save the date for the annual Friends of Skinner West Walkathon. This is the largest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds will go to purchase technology and other needed equipment for the school. The date for this year's Walkathon will be Thursday, September 26th (rain date September 27th). Please contact us as friendsofskinnerwest2011@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer. More information will be sent home during the first week of school. Friends of Skinner West will host an informational meeting regarding the Walkathon and other volunteer opportunities within our organization. Please join us on Wednesday, September 11th at 9:00am in the cafeteria for a brief meeting regarding ways you can get involved.
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Drop off your school supplies on Friday, August 30th between 9:30-4:00 to allow teachers time to put everything away and make your child's first day of school easier.
Supplies should be placed in separate bags labeled "shared classroom supplies from (child's name)" or "individual supplies for (child's name)" along with your teacher's name. School staff will be available in the lunchroom to receive the supplies and deliver them to your child's teacher at the end of the day on Friday.
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Soon we'll be sharing more information about the following:
- Classroom assignments & teacher rosters - New Pick up/Drop off procedures for the main building - Pick up/Drop off procedures for 225 S Aberdeen, "the branch" |
STAR Aftercare Program Registration
Registration is due by August 30th, and the online form needs to be filled out for each child. Students who were in the program last year must be registered for the new school year.
We do accept online payments through CPS, cash or checks. Payments can be made at the school office during summer office hours - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-6.
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The Communications Committee welcomes any new parent volunteers who want offer their time in helping with website maintenance, newsletter development and more! Volunteering is flexible, minimal, and does not require in-person involvement at the school. Meet new parents and learn more about what Skinner offers: Contact us at skinnerwest@gmail.com
There are many worthy committees that need your time and help. Check out the Skinner Website to get more details about the myriad of volunteer opportunities!
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All comments, suggestions or requests to submit information to this newsletter should be emailed to skinnerwest@gmail.com.
Communications Volunteers are welcome. Donate your time to help increase communications and contact us!
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Would you like to add another parent, guardian or caregiver?
Sign up for the newsletter here or text SKINNERNEWS to 22828 (Messaging & data rates may apply)
Deborah M. Clark
Principal
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