MARK T. SKINNER WEST SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
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2019-2020 School Year
Week #3: Sept 20 - Sept 27
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Dates to Remember
PTO Catalog Fundraiser Orders Due 9/20
Curriculum Night/Open House Gr. 6-8: 9/24 @ 5:30pm
Curriculum Night/Open House Gr. 3-5: 9/25 @ 5:00pm
Skinner Walkathon Thursday, 9/26
Skinner Walkathon Rain-Out Date 9/27
CPS 2019- 2020 Calendar: here
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New Door Times!
We would like to thank the parents and caregivers who voiced their concerns at this week's LSC meeting. Mrs Clark and the LSC allocated funding that will allow us to open the Adams St entrance doors to students at 8:00A.M. starting Monday, September 23rd.
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we looked for suitable options to meet your needs and provide adequate supervision for our Superstars before school.We are proud to serve our Superstars and families.
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Principal Clark's Report
The LSC met this week for its first meeting of the new school year. Thank you to all the parents who attended this meeting. Couldn't make the meeting? Please read Mrs. Clark's September LSC Report here to learn more about the inner workings and developments of our school.
The next LSC meeting is on Tuesday, October 22nd at 6:00 pm.
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Drop-Off and Pick-Up Safety Issues
Parents & Caregivers,
The drop-off and pick-up situation remains a serious safety issue for our children - we have had several incidents since the beginning of the school year that have threatened the safety of our students. Please remember the following:
The entire parking lane on Adams Street west of Skinner is designated for parent drop off - Please pull into the parking lane and drop-off your child. (see pic below)
- DO NOT PARK IN THE CROSS WALKS (other vehicles cannot see children crossing the street when cars are parked in the crosswalks) - DO NOT TURN LEFT FROM THE INSIDE LANE of Adams Street ONTO THROOP STREET - DROP OFF YOUR CHILD AND PROCEED OUT of the drop-off areas. This is not a time to continue a phone conversation - RESPECT our teachers and parent volunteers directing traffic. It is unacceptable to treat anyone with disrespect - especially those tasked with keeping our children safe - You will be ticketed for leaving your vehicles or parking in a 'no parking' zone - Superstar arrival procedures can be found here. We are working on more ways to make drop-off easier and safer for our children which we will share in the coming weeks. It takes the entire Skinner community to keep our children safe. Please make this a priority. Thank you for everything you do for our students and teachers. We want to keep Skinner a safe place for our children.
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Reminder - Curriculum Night
Parents of current Skinner students, please mark your calendars for this year's Curriculum Night. On this date, you will meet your child's teacher and learn valuable information about the upcoming school year and classroom expectations. Also, a brief general presentation with Principal Clark will be included on each night. Purple slips will be written for students whose parents attend the general session in the gym.
Grades 6-8 5:30-7:00 Tuesday, September 24th
Grades 3-5 5:00-6:00 Wednesday, September 25th
*These are parent-only events.
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Walkathon is Next Week!
Just a reminder to get ready for the Walkathon on Thursday the 26th! All students are encouraged to wear purple and gold and to bring a refillable water bottle. Bikers or scooters MUST wear helmets or they will not be allowed to ride. Walkathon contributions should be handed in to your homeroom teacher. Parents, please ask your teacher if you can help volunteer with their classroom or sign up to volunteer here: http://goo.gl/bZx6J8. Let's do this!
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School Fees Are Due
Parents, it's not too late- please pay the school fees for our 2019-2020 school year. Find your grade level fees and pay via CPS' payment site- Illinois ePay or via checks made out to 'Skinner West Elementary School.' |
Skinner West Comings and Goings
At the end of our last school year, we said goodbye and good luck to the 6th graders who moved on to Academic Centers. We were very proud of our 39 Superstars who moved on to Academic Programs throughout the city (19 Whitney Young, 14 Kenwood, 4 Lane Tech, 1 Lindblom and 1 Taft).
Congratulations also to 16 of our neighborhood students who were accepted into Skinner's Classical program!
We warmly officially welcome all students that transferred to Skinner West this year. We wish you all the very best!
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Letter from Ms. Sangster, Skinner Social Worker
Please read this letter from Ms. Sangster, Skinner's Social Worker. The letter outlines the role of a social worker in a school and lists Ms. Sangster's hours and contact information.
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PTO Catalog Fundraiser - Orders Due Friday
Parents: All orders and checks for the PTO Catalog Fundraiser must be turned in by Friday, September 20th. Help support Skinner West by selling items from the "Believe in Magic" catalog to your family and friends. Up to 40% of sales will go back to Skinner West, and students are eligible for fun prizes. For questions, contact skinnerwestpto@gmail.com.
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GoCPS -Start the High School Application Process Now!
For families that will be applying to a CPS high school for the 2020-21 school year, it's time to take the next step in the high school application process and activate your account.
Contact the Office of Access and Enrollment at 773-553-2060 or https://go.cps.edu for assistance.
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Volunteer Application Process
Calling all Skinner parents ! Do you want to volunteer this school year in your child's classroom, at a class party, at the book fair or as a chaperone for a field trip? Our Skinner West parent volunteers are essential to our school functions. If you are interested in volunteering or are leading any activity or program at Skinner West Elementary, you must complete a CPS volunteer application. Please visit CPS Parent U to become a qualified CPS volunteer. Getting approved takes just 3 simple steps. However, the overall approval proces does take some time so we recommend applying now so you can be approved when events and opportunities start this fall. For an overview of Skinner's volunteer process, see this document.
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Your Child's Name in Lights! Looking for a unique way to wish your child a "Happy Birthday"? Surprise them with an electronic greeting on the Skinner West marquee for only $25.
In addition, a birthday greeting will be sent to your child via the intercom during morning announcements. All proceeds will help our Skinner 8th graders go to Washington DC. -
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Enclose $25 cash or check to 'Skinner West'
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Turn the form into Room 332 - Mr. Bathchelor's room (Note: this is a different room than last year)
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Forms must be turned in at least one week prior to your requested date
Your child's birthday announcement will run for 24 hours. If your child's birthday falls on a weekend, the announcement will run the Friday before. |
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Box Tops for Education Now Digital:
Support Skinner West with your Grocery Shopping
What is Box Tops for Education?
Box Tops for Education will donate at least 10¢ to Skinner West for each qualifying item you purchase, at no additional cost to you. 10¢ sounds like a small amount, but adds up quickly! Over the years, Skinner West has earned over $15,000.
This summer, Box Tops for Education went digital. The program is transitioning from Box Tops you clip off of packaging, to digital Box Tops that are collected from your grocery receipts on the Box Tops App. The switch to digital is better for the environment, reduces the amount of expired Box Tops that go to waste, and encourages more companies to participate in the Box Tops for Education program.
How Can I Help Skinner West?-
Download the free Box Tops for Education App and create a Box Tops account.
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Scan your receipts in the Box Tops app once you get your groceries put away, or within 14 days of your purchase. The Box Tops app automatically detects qualified purchases and any Bonus Box Top offers. Your Box Top earnings are immediately deposited in Skinner's Box Top Account. *If you shop online for groceries, you can participate too! Please see details: Online Shopping Receipt -
Go Old School. Keep your eyes open for traditional Box Tops during the transition to all-digital Box Tops. Traditional Box Tops can be clipped off packaging and sent to Skinner West Library with your child.
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Not Tech Savvy? Tired of Apps? Send your receipts to Skinner West Library within 7 days of purchase and Ms. Ranftl will scan them in for you using the coordinator account. -
Ask Friends and Family to help. Anyone can collect Box Tops for Skinner West! Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, neighbors, high school and college kids can collect traditional Box Tops, use the Box Tops app, or submit receipts to be scanned.
What Products Participate? |
Tutoring Chicago
Tutoring Chicago is a non-profit organization that provides free, one-to-one evening tutoring sessions for economically disadvanted students each week during the school year. Tutoring Chicago has a Near West Side site on Washington Blvd and Ashland Avenue. For more information about this see these flyers here (English) or here (Spanish). |
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?
Text SKINNERNEWS to 22828 or click here (Messaging & data rates may apply)
Deborah M. Clark
Principal
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