Please read the Principal's Report which was presented at the January 25 LSC Meeting.

First round interviews took place last week and the Principal Selection Committee met this week to discuss which candidates will advance to round two. The LSC met in a special session on Wednesday, January 26, and selected three candidates. Round two interviews will take place the week of January 31. The Principal Selection Committee will meet in closed session the week of February 7 and the LSC will meet in a special meeting on February 10 to vote and select the final two candidates.

Dear Skinner West Community,

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is committed to keeping you informed of the most current developments regarding COVID-19. Individuals who were in our school building on January 18, 19, and 24, 2022, tested positive for COVID-19. We are sending this notification for your awareness, and you do not need to take any further action at this time. If you have been identified as a close contact, you should have received a separate notification from the Office of Student Health and Wellness with additional information.

As a reminder, we can slow the spread of COVID-19 as a CPS school community by getting vaccinated, social distancing whenever possible, wearing masks in public, washing our hands thoroughly, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

For district updates and resources, visit www.cps.edu. If you need help locating medical care or have any CPS-specific questions, please reach out to the Healthy CPS Hotline at 773-553-KIDS (5437) which is staffed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

We are here to support you as we move forward together as one healthy, supportive and engaged school family.

Sincerely,

Skinner West Administration

As a reminder, Skinner West has a full document referencing all COVID-19 quarantine protocols. Please review the document for answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Highlighted below is the section on “Synchronous (Live) and Asynchronous Instruction” for students on a CPS-directed quarantine.

In the event that a student is unvaccinated and requires quarantine or isolation as directed by CPS or CDPH, remote instruction will be provided. It is important to note that remote instruction will only be offered if a student meets these requirements. If your student requires quarantine or isolation, you will receive specific instructions from your school on how to ensure that they are able to access remote instruction during this period of time.

Synchronous (Live) Remote instruction on Google Meet will not be offered for students who choose to stay home or who are otherwise sick and unable to attend school. If your student is awaiting a COVID-19 test result, or is unvaccinated and returning from out-of-state travel, they can access take-home schoolwork and be marked absent excused. Finally, it is important to note that parent refusal to take a child to school is not an ISBE-approved reason for an excused absence. Accordingly, if a student is absent from school due to parent refusal, the student will be marked absent unexcused

For more information, visit Skinner COVID-19 Quarantine Protocols.

Designed for learners of all ages and abilities, Friends of Skinner West has completed its set up of the STEM Lab which was made possible through a large donation. Students will use the lab during their science classes. Available equipment includes: green screen technology, 3D printers, coding devices, a LEGO wall, iPads and a makerspace.

Indoor recess is now leveled up! The PTO and the school have purchased new activities for our Superstars during indoor recess. Students can now enjoy giant versions of checkers, Connect Four, Uno and Jenga, as well as a drawing table.

Some of our Superstars, along with Mr. McCarthy, have worked together to organize the Library and give it a refreshing look. Check out their fantastic work.

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is February 7 to February 14 which promotes awareness and educational opportunities for the public on congenital heart defects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. Show your support for those affected by CHD and their families by wearing red on Monday, February 7.

For more information on congenital heart defects and the awareness campaign, visit:

This week, the Principal Selection Committee interviewed first round candidates from an incredible applicant group for Skinner West’s principal position. The group will meet in closed session next week to discuss the interviews and the LSC will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, January 26, to vote on advancing the top three first round candidates to second round interviews.

Here are next steps after second round interviews:

The committee expects to wrap up the principal search by mid-February and will continue to send updates.

Fall Picture Day Retake (Main building and Branch) - 2/10

Graduation (8th and K) - 2/17

Spring Picture Day - 3/24

For the entire school year, CPS is offering COVID testing through a partnership with ThermoFisher Scientific and Color Health and their ReadyCheckGo™ testing program. This program is completely voluntary.

The link to sign up for student weekly FREE testing is here: Register for COVID Testing with Color Health

Read more:

1. Send a copy of your child's vaccination card along with the child's full name to our school nurse, Stephanie Johnson at sjohnson90@cps.edu

CPS Policy states: Fully vaccinated students who are not experiencing symptoms do not need to quarantine. It is recommended that they be tested 3-5 days after the last day of exposure.