September 24-30, 2021 | Week #4
This week: At Home Vaccination | Meet the Teacher | Principal's Report | PE Newsletter
Pre-K Update | AmazonSmile
Dates to Remember
  • Communications Meeting: Wed, Oct 6 @ 5:00 pm
  • No School: Monday, Oct 11
  • Expansion Committee Meeting: Tues, Oct 12 @ 5:30 pm
  • Walkathon: TBD
Meet Ms. Madelyn Angus

Ms. Angus is a first-year teacher at Skinner West. You can find her teaching fifth grade. This past May, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in elementary education.

"I could not be more excited to get this school year and my first year of teaching
started! When I am not at school, I am either doing something related to dogs, plants or shopping at Target. Go Illini!!"
At Home Vaccination

Did you know that in-home vaccination is available to all Chicago households? Anyone age 12 and up is eligible to receive a vaccine. Up to 10 people can be vaccinated at a time, so Chicagoans can invite family, friends or neighbors to their home to be vaccinated together.

Each person who gets vaccinated through the City's Protect Chicago At Home program is eligible to receive a $100 Visa gift card.
CPS and Skinner West have procedures in place to ensure the health and safety of our children. Please do your part by:
LSC Principal's Report

During last week's Local School Council (LSC) meeting, Principal Clark presented her principal's report.
Physical Education at Skinner West
The PE department at Skinner West puts out a quarterly newsletter for all Superstar families. You should receive this communication via email from your child's PE teacher.

If you missed it, click the button below!
Pre-K in Room 405

Our youngest Superstars have been working with Ms. Bottorff on recognizing and printing their names, learning classroom procedures, and making new friends. They have read many stories about Goldilocks and the Three Bears and even practiced comprehension skills by putting on a skit!

They have also been learning about a character named David who appears in many David Shannon stories, such as David Goes to School. David is learning to make good choices and so are we!!
Thanks, Amazon Shoppers!

AmazonSmile has given $138.98 to the Skinner School Forum this quarter. As of August 2021, Skinner West has received more than $2,000 from qualifying purchases.
In case you missed it....
STAR 360 and NWEA Testing
This year, CPS is implementing the STAR 360 assessment. This new assessment replaces the NWEA assessment for students in grades 3-8. Our students will be assessed in reading and math at the beginning and end of the school year.

Like NWEA, the Star 360 assessment is computer based and adapts to each student’s reading and math levels. Our teachers will administer the assessment as follows:
  • Grade 3: 9/22-9/23
  • Grade 4: 9/29/9/30
  • Grade 5: 9/20-9/21
  • Grade 6: 9/23-9/24
  • Grade 7: 9/23-9/24
  • Grade 8: 9/23-9/24

Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grader students will continue to take the NWEA. Their schedule will be:
  • Kindergarten: 10/3-10/8
  • Grades 1 and 2: 9/28/10/1
Meet Ms. Julia Petrosino

A Chicago native, Ms. Petrosino is a new second grade teacher this year. She received her bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Illinois State University. She quickly realized that children, not news, was her passion.

"I decided that being an educator was my true calling in life and I completed my master of arts in teaching early childhood education at Northeastern Illinois University." She has taught pre-school, kindergarten, first and second grades in CPS for six years.

"I have enjoyed every minute of being in the classroom. I especially enjoy teaching literacy. I look forward to working with the Skinner West community and an exciting year!"
Health Forms Due Oct. 15

Time to make your child's doctor appointment!

All new students, kindergarteners, and 6th graders must submit current health forms to the office on or before October 15, 2021.

Health forms include proof of required immunizations and health exams.

Contact our school nurse, Stephanie Johnson, with questions: sjohnson90@cps.edu.

Please email the records to Ms. Maldonado scmaldonado@cps.edu or Ms. Johnson sjohnson90@cps.edu with the subject line: [Child's Grade] Health Records.

Forms can be found on the Forms page of the web site or in the health book below.
After School Star Program Reminders

For families with children in the Star After-School Program, don't forget to fill out the Homeroom Form for each child.

When you pick-up your Superstar, please message with your child's first and last name, along with their color group. This helps avoid confusion between similar sounding names.

Don't forget to send a copy of your payment receipt to: skinner.starprogram@gmail.com
There's still space to volunteer! Room parents are needed in these rooms:

  • Fifth Grade: Ms. Angus/Mrs. Rupp
  • Fifth Grade: Mrs. Oluewu
  • Diverse Learners 3rd-5th Grade: Ms. Schneider
  • Diverse Learners 6th-8th Grade: Ms. Newmark
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