May 23 - May 27, 2022 | Week #35
This week: | Spring Concert | End of Year Events | New Student Registration Info | Skinner Fun Fair | First Grade Field Trip to POW Gym | Skinner Superstar Joy C | Summer Planning | Summer Day Camp | Chicago Debates Summer Camp | Summer Camp Promo| Subscribe to Skinner Newsletter|
Dates to Remember

  • No School - Memorial Day: May 30
  • Skinner Spring Concert: June 8
  • Discussion with Dr. Bush: June 9
  • Kindergarten Graduation: June 10
  • Grade 8 Graduation: June 10
  • Last Day of School: June 14
  • New Student Registration: Jun 20- Aug 11
COVID-19 Statistics

As of 5/27, Skinner's COVID-19 statistics are as follows:

Open actionable cases: 7
Closed actionable cases: 179
Closed non-actionable cases: 135
 
Student population vaccinated: 71% (Reported)
Skinner Spring Concert
Mark your calendars, Skinner Spring Concert is back!

Spring Concert for Students Only:
When: Monday, June 6th
Time: 9:45 AM (Students only)

Spring Concert for the Community and Parents
When: Wednesday, June 8th
Time: 9:45 AM

Performers: 5th, 6th, 7th Grades and the Glee Club
Where: School Gymnasium

Masks are optional but encouraged.
End of Year Events
May 30th: Memorial Day (No School)
June 1st: Algebra Exit Exam (8th Grade Only)
June 6th: Spring Concert for Students Only at 9:45 AM
June 7th: 1st Grade Ballroom Dance Performance
June 7th: 6th Grade Field Trip to Six Flags
June 8th: Spring Concert for Community at 9:45 AM
June 9th: 5th Grade Springfield Trip
June 9th: Discussion with Dr. Bush (more details to come)
June 10th: Kindergarten Graduation
June 10th: 8th Grade Graduation at Whitney Young High School (5:00 p.m.)
June 14th: Last day of school for students 

*Dates for Spring Concert have changed.
New Student Registration: Neighborhood Program
Skinner Fun Fair
Skinner Superstars enjoyed a day full of fun on Friday (May 20th) at the Skinner Fun Fair. Thank you to all the parents who volunteered. Shout out to Ms. DeJulio and her team for organizing this event.
Field Trip to POW Gym
Skinner Superstars had a blast on their field trip to POW Gym this week. They participated in multiple obstacle courses and learned new exercises. 

Here are some fun photos from the field trip.  
Skinner Superstar: Joy C
Our Skinner Superstar, 6th grader Joy C, attended a swimming competition as a member of Team Illinois in Houston, Texas. The meet brings together All-Star teams from Illinois, Indiana and Gulf Swimming - three of USA Swimming's highest-performing LSC's- with swimmers ages 11 through 16.

Joy achieved 3 new zone LCM times:
  1. 100 meters breaststroke 1st place
  2. 50 meter breaststroke 4th place
  3. 200 IM 6th place.

Her 100 breaststroke ranks AAAA USA swimming time in her age group.

Congratulations to Joy and her teammates who helped lead Team Illinois to victory!
summer reading
Start Planning for Summer!
There are only three weeks left in the school year, so now is the time to start planning summer activities for your student. CPS elementary schools will be offering academic, enrichment, transition, and athletic programs for eligible students. More details to follow!
Looking for an Affordable Summer Day Camp?

The Midtown Educational Foundation offers an affordable, holistic, in-person, summer day camp via Midtown Center for Boys and Metro Achievement Center for Girls. The camps are open to rising 4th-12th graders.

The six week camp runs June 27-August 5, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tuition for the entire camp is $275.*

Registration is open until Jun 1, 2022.

For more information contact: Vince Meno, Director of Community Outreach & Marketing at Midtown Education Foundation: vmeno@midtown-metro.org, (773) 270-5202.

*Scholarships are available to six (6) Skinner West students targeting low-income families (based on the most recent HUD income limits). The deadline to apply for scholarships is May 6.
Chicago Debates Summer Camp
Who:
  • Middle School students entering 5th grade through 8th grade (Middle School CDSI)
  • High School students entering 9th grade through 12th grade (High School CDSI)
What: Chicago Debate Summer Institute
Where: The camp will have BOTH an in-person and a virtual debate camp. Students who select the in-person option will be at Whitney Young. Students must pick one or the other.
When: July 25th – August 12th, M-F
  • Virtual Camp will be 9 am – 2 pm. In-person camp will be 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
  • For the first time ever, a Virtual Speech Camp is being offered from July 25th to July 29th
  • The traditional two week Debate Camp will be held from August 1st to August 12th 
Why:
  • Fun, supportive environment with students from throughout Chicago area
  • Great staff drawn from the best teachers in Chicago, successful CPS alums, and instructors with national college coaching experience
  • Tuition free for Title I CPS students
  • Lowest cost camp in the Midwest for all other students. Specific details are available on the website.
ACTION ITEMS
1)      Please check out the camp information below, as well as on the CMSDL website here: 2022 Summer Debate Camp 
2)      Complete the Registration form here (link is also on the website above): CDSI 2022 Registration Form
 
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at: jmlee18@cps.edu
You can also contact the league directly at: Chicago Debates
We hope to see as many Skinner students as possible at the Chicago Debate Summer Institute!
Summer Camps: Skinner West School Special Offer
Subscribe to Skinner Newsletter
One of the main methods of communicating important information to our parents is through our weekly newsletter.

To subscribe:
Text SKINNERNEWS to 22828 (messaging and data rates may apply)
In Case You Missed It...
Notice of Covid Cases in Skinner: Community Notice from Dr. Bush
Skinner School Health Community Notice
Dear Skinner Community, 

The safety and security of Skinner Superstars is our top priority. Please see the attached letter regarding significant updates regarding Skinner’s health and safety.

Skinner Family Letter Moderate Covid Risk [English]
Skinner Family Letter Moderate Covid Risk [Spanish]
Skinner Family Letter Moderate Covid Risk [SimChinese]
Traffic Notice from Dr. Bush

Student safety is our number one priority. Skinner’s Local School Council and Chicago Police Department (CPD) are in collaboration to determine a safe and viable system for student arrival and dismissal. In the near future, we will host community forums and your input is valuable.

To immediately address the safety concerns during arrival and dismissal, CPD will issue tickets to drivers who are parked in crosswalks, double and triple parked, blocking bus drop off/pick up (on Adams St.), and blocking residential driveways on Adams and Monroe. CPD will enforce a Zero Tolerance Policy for traffic violations.

Ultimately, we ask each stakeholder to be neighborly and support student safety by adhering to the City of Chicago’s parking regulations, but also by dropping off or picking up your scholar in a safe and orderly manner. As previously stated, Skinner West is partnering with CPD to determine a safer system for arrival and dismissal.

If you have immediate questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to contact me (rrbush@cps.edu).

In partnership,
Dr. Rhea Bush
Principal
Classroom Connection: Meet Dr. Bush
Dr. Bush spent some time with Ms. Growe's Kindergarten class this week.
Mark T. Skinner West School
Front Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(773) 534-7790
By Appointment Only
Mark T. Skinner West School | 1260 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60607