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MARK T. SKINNER WEST SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
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 2020-2021 School Year
Week #2: September 18 - 24
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New Articles
Repeat Articles
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Dates to Remember
Free COVID-19 Walk-up Testing: Wednesdays in September
Tues, 9/22 & Wed, 9/23 @ 3-5pm 4th Gr. Materials Pick Up Door #11
Wednesday, September 23 | 3-5p: KDG Materials Pickup
Door #10
Friday, October 2nd: LSC Nomination Forms Due
Tuesday, 11/3: No School (Election Day)
CPS 2020-2021 Calendar: here
Front Office Hours: 8:45am-4:00pm
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Please find this month's Principal Report attached here. Mrs. Clark reviews her report monthly during the Local School Council meeting (LSC). Next month's meeting is on Tuesday, October 20th at 6pm. Attendance information will be sent in a future newsletter.
Here's a special shout-out to our teachers for everything they have done to make our first week such a success! |
We need your help! Skinner West relies on several federal & state funding mechanisms that make up our school budget. The Family Income Information Form (FIIN) affects one bucket called, "Supplemental State Aid". This funding affects the current 2020/2021 school year, so it's very important to request all families complete and return the form. CPS asks EVERY household to fill out the FIIN form once per year. What makes this year especially important is that many of our family and community members have experienced loss of income. This link takes you to the FY21 Family Income Information Form. This year's deadline is September 30. If you have not already submitted this form, please: 1. Download and fill out this form, including signature (we must have a signature); NOTE: You can write 'N/A' across the income section if you prefer.
2. Scan and email back to your child's teacher (You can send a photo of the completed form) If you cannot download or scan in this way, you may pick up and drop off a form Tuesday-Friday, September 21-25 from 10-2pm and we'll have a copy for you to fill out at the main entrance. If you choose to not disclose your income, you can simply write N/A and be sure to include your signature. Let's reach 100% return from our Skinner Families!
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The district was unable to hold LSC elections in April due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Therefore,CPS has adjusted the LSC election timeline. The nomination process is open now through October 2nd.
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Forms Pickup:
Monday, September 21 3pm-6pm Gym Door 10
Thursday, September 24 3pm-6pm Gym Door 10
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Forms Drop Off:
Thursday, September 24 3pm-6pm Gym Door 10
Wednesday, September 30 10am-2pm - Main Entrance
Friday, October 2 10am-2pm Main Entrance
- Candidate forums will be held virtually from 10/19-10/30 (more to come)
- LSC elections will be held during Report Card Pick Up days this fall on November 18th for elementary schools & November 19th for high schools.
- LSC members will be inaugurated on January 10th, 2021.
- New LSC members will serve for 18 months (through July 1, 2022)
For more information, please click here.
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Kindergarten Materials Pick-Up is Wednesday, September 23 from 3-5pm at Gym Door 10. 4th Grade Pick-Up is Tuesday, September 22 & Wednesday, September 23 from 3-5:00 p.m. at Gym Door 11.
Please be patient as we are waiting on the delivery of school textbooks and other materials for other grades; we hope to have more information very soon.. We will also run a textbook return day for those who have books to return from last year.
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Attention 6-8th grade students and parents. Do you need access to NWEA scores? Ask your homeroom teacher to email them to you directly.. Please be patient as we get started in this new year!
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Congratulations to our Superstars who moved on to the Academic
Centers for the 2020-2021 school year:
* Whitney Young - 24
* Kenwood - 2
* Lane Tech - 4
* Lindblom - 2
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Chicago Connected Free Internet Program
Chicago Connected is a groundbreaking program that will provide free high-speed internet service to approximately 100,000 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students. This first-of-its-kind program will be one of the largest and longest-term efforts by any city to provide free, high-speed internet over the course of four years to increase internet access for students. More information can be found here.
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Mrs. Clark's Welcome Video!
Mrs. Clark's welcome to the 2020-2021 school year video can be found here.
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Please join us Tuesday, 9/15 for the Local School Council (LSC) Meeting
The next LSC meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 15th at 6:00pm. We hope you can join us to learn more about the work happening at Skinner!
Here's how to join:
Via phone 1-585-491-9560 PIN: 332 870 557#
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Revised Criteria for Selective Enrollment Schools
CPS announced revised criteria for Selective Enrollment High Schools and Academic Centers. Parents, read the full announcement here:
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CPS has partnered with Google Education to provide a series of virtual trainings throughout the first few weeks of school. They cover everything from the basics to specialized trainings for diverse learners and families with Pre-K students to second graders. CPS is going to continue to produce more resources as the year progresses. If you need more information contact familyservices@cps.edu.
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CPS Additional Grab-and-Go Meal Sites
Beginning Tuesday, September 8, CPS will have more than 450 meal sites for the 2020-21 school year. Students, parents, or guardians may pick up free meals at the nearest school from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please find the nearest meal distribution site here. If families are unable to visit a meal site in-person, the district will continue to provide free delivery for those who need additional support.
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CPS Calendar Change: No School on November 3rd. Classes in Session on November 11th.
Earlier this summer, Governor Pritzker signed legislation making Election Day, November 3, a state holiday in Illinois and requiring K-12 schools to be closed to ensure all Illinoisans are able to vote and fully participate in our democracy.
Veterans Day, November 11, which is normally a day off for students and staff, will now be a regular instructional day to ensure students do not lose invaluable instruction time. The Chicago Board of Education approved of the calendar change during the August Board meeting. While schools will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on November 3, we will honor our veterans with a moment of silence and students will be provided with instructional activities recognizing the service and sacrifice of our nation's veterans on November 11.
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Learn more about the Debate Team at a informational meeting on Thursday, Sep. 17, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. You may not know this, but the Skinner West Debate Team regularly receives high rankings in competition and in previous years, students have qualified for the state championship. The meeting link can be found here. Questions should be directed to Mr. Lee at: jmlee18@cps.edu. Let's go Superstars!!! |
Room Parents Needed!
Room parents are parent volunteers who are liaisons between the teacher and families, and is great way to be involved in your child's class. Throughout the school year RP's coordinate other parent volunteers, communicate classroom needs, and help with class parties. Although we will not be starting the year in an actual classroom, we will be taking down a list of room parents as a resource for the teachers. RP's are needed for K through 5th Grade only.
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Free Walk-up COVID-19 Testing in West Loop
Bennett Day School, The State of Illinois, Alinea, and Morgan Manufacturing have teamed up to provide free COVID-19 testing, open to the community, in the Bennett Day School parking lot.
Testing will be available from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm starting Wednesday, September 9 and weekly on Wednesdays through September in this initial partnership. Testing will be available on a walk-up basis only at 955 W Grand Street in the alley (no drive-thru testing).
This molecular RNA test, which the State indicates is 98% accurate, is administered by HRSupport, is processed locally at Tempus Lab (600 West Chicago.) Results have come back quickly in just 2 days via a phone call, even though 4 to 7 days is what is promised. Anyone is welcome to be tested, insurance is not required as it is free, and all you need to provide is a phone number for results.
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The Skinner West Debate Team participated in the Illinois Middle School Debate State Championship Tournament for the 2019-2020 season on Saturday, May 30. The overall topic for the year was: 'Arms Sales', and the cases being debated at the Tournament were 'Ukraine', 'Taiwan', and 'Saudi Arabia'.
As an invitational tournament, only the best teams in Illinois were invited to compete, and Skinner West represented our school extremely well. Facing off against the best debate teams Illinois had to offer, the students did an outstanding job against elite competitors and won the awards listed below.
Some highlights we would especially like to point out are:
1) Skinner West won 1st place in all three divisions (Novice, JV, Varsity), sweeping the State Championships! 2) Skinner West earned 4 of the 6 spots in the finals; the Varsity Division was a Skinner West vs. Skinner West affair.
3) Skinner West qualified one-third of the competing teams (12 out of 36).
Congratulations Superstars!!
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Front Office Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm
In-person by appointment ONLY. Phone: 773 534-7790
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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?
Text SKINNERNEWS to 22828 or click here (Messaging & data rates may apply)
Deborah M. Clark
Principal
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