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MARK T. SKINNER WEST SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
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 2020-2021 School Year
Week #8: October 30 - November 5
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New Articles
Repeat Articles
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Dear Parents and Families:
With Halloween approaching, I'm sure that many of our families are planning to participate in holiday festivities. But due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, we must all take special precautions this year to keep everyone in our families and communities healthy and safe.
Please review these guidelines from the City of Chicago about how to celebrate Halloween safely during COVID-19:
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Masks aren't just for trick-or-treaters this year! Everyone-including candy givers-should wear a face covering (multi-layered, covering the mouth and nose, without gaps around the face).
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Leave a light on or hang a Halloween sign in your window to let others know your house is giving out candy safely.
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Handing out candy? Please socially distance and have hand sanitizer, too.
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Trick or treating? Stay on the move! Less congregating means more houses and more candy.
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Ensure there's all treats and no tricks. Please don't reach into candy bowls while trick or treating, and eat candy only at home after washing your hands.
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No haunted houses. They are truly spooky and dangerous this year.
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Keep your candy crew small. Trick-or-treating groups should be six people or less.
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Stay outside- No house parties large or small this year.
I also encourage you to remind your children about the below safety precautions. These are good to follow at all times, but especially on Halloween:
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Travel in pairs or small groups whenever possible.
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If you feel uncomfortable or threatened in any way, go to the nearest business or populated area and call for help.
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Communicate with others about your location and where you are going.
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If you dress up in a costume, use reflective tape.
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Stick to well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
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Carry a cell phone for emergencies, but remember to stay alert while walking.
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Stay alert while crossing the street and while walking in parking lots-cars might have a hard time seeing you when it's dark.
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If you are driving, remember to stay alert and watch for pedestrians crossing the street.
I want our kids to have fun this Halloween, but it is critical that we all celebrate responsibly. I urge you to make safe choices for your family, and hope you will help spread the word about these important precautions. For more resources, please visit our city’s guide to celebrating Halloween safely, which includes upcoming virtual celebrations, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for an outline of high-, moderate-, and low-risk Halloween activities. I thank you for your partnership as we work hard to keep all in our Skinner West family healthy and safe this Halloween.
Sincerely,
Deborah M. Clark
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The Principal's Report from last week's Local School Council (LSC) meeting can be found here.
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There will be NO SCHOOL on Tuesday, November 3rd in observance of Election Day. Earlier this summer, Governor Pritzker signed legislation making Election Day, November 3rd, 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.
Please Note: School will be IN SESSION on Wednesday, November 11th.
In past years, there was no school on this day in honor of Veteran's Day. Although this will now be an instructional day, 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 11th.
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LSC elections will take place by mail and in-person by November 18th. More information to come on election procedures and instructions.
Below are the candidates in order of ballot position. Click the links to learn more about our candidates:
Parent Candidates
Community Candidates
Staff Candidates
Teacher Candidates
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Miles K., 8th Grade Rm 319, created this special message for Principal Appreciation Week! Thank you to all who shared messages of support and appreciation to Mrs. Clark. You can always reach her at skinnerwestparents@cps.edu.
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Week #7 Inspirational Messages to our Superstars:
PreK: "The best teachers are those who show where to look, but don't tell you what to see." ~Alexandra K Trenfor
Kindergarten & First Grade: "You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." ~Winnie the Pooh
Second Grade: "The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it." ~ Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie
Third Grade: "If you want the rainbow, you've got to put up with the rain."
Fourth Grade: "Don't give up, Never give up, Give it all you got!"
Fifth Grade: "Don't let anyone dull your sparkle!"
Sixth Grade: "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." ~ Vince Lombardi
Seventh Grade: "Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?" ~ Frida Kahlo
Eighth Grade: "The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely." ~ Louisa May Alcott
Remote Learning Plans are posted every Monday on our Homepage:
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The candidate forum for the upcoming LSC election was held on Tuesday, October 20th. Candidates for Parent and Community Representatives were able to give their statements during that time.
Mr. Steve L'Heureux is running for community representative, but was not able to provide his statement during the candidate forum. His statement can viewed below.
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Many high schools are offering virtual tours. You can find many of the dates for virtual open houses for both public and private high schools through the link below. On Saturday, 10/24, Chicago School GPS is hosting a virtual event called, "High School Hidden Gems". Tickets are $15 and can be found here.
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Room Parents are still needed for the following rooms:
Ms. Schultz - 1st Ms. O'Connor - 2nd
Ms. McCanna - 2nd Mr. O'Brien - 4th Ms. Ball - 5th Mrs. Oluewu - 5th
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GoCPS is the gateway to finding and applying to the right school for you, and the application process for the 2021-22 school year opens Monday, October 12 for prospective high school, elementary, and pre-k students. Schools are now offering virtual open houses for families. Check out the GoCPS calendar to view events by date, or to search by school or zip code.
Not yet a CPS student? Please complete a CPS ID request. Requests must be submitted by November 23 in order to apply to schools online for the 2021-22 school year.
For more information, contact the Office of Access and Enrollment at gocps@cps.edu or 773-553-2060.
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Skinner's Communications Team would like to spend a special 'shout out' to Friends of Skinner West (FOSW) for their generous support of our newsletter application subscription, Constant Contact. With their support, we will continue to bring you weekly newsletters geared toward the happenings in our community. Thank you Laurie Mullick and team!
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The Chicago Soccer Foundation and Chicago Rec Sports are two organizations looking to provide affordable recreational sports in efforts to build community and empower youth. They are offering Soccer, Basketball, Flag Football, and Hockey programs starting November 4th!
They have modified our programs to be COVID compliant so that youth can be active in a safe environment. All programs will take place at the brand new ComEd Rec Center located on 1434 S Loomis St.
Registration Link:
If you would be interested in more information on either the winter programs or to serve on the Foundation Advisory Board, please contact Matt Fleisher at mattfleisher21@gmail.com.
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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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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 through year-end. 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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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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