Jan. 22 - 28, 2023 | Week #20
This week: Principal's Report from January LSC Meeting | Debate Team Tournament Results | Classroom Lunar New Year Celebrations | Skinner West Girls Basketball Team | Candy Gram Sale! | Upcoming Valentine's Day Dances
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Dates to Remember
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Feb 3: No School - Professional Development Day
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Feb 7: Wear Red for Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day
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Feb 10: Valentine's Day Dance from 4:30-6:30pm (grades 6-8)
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Feb 14: Valentine's Day Dance from 4:30-6:30pm (grades 4-5)
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Feb 17: Kindergarten Graduation Picture Day
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Feb 20: No School - President's Day
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Feb 23: Benny the Bull Safety Event (grades K-2)
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Feb 28: Uniting Voices Chicago Black History Month Concert - Chicago Children's Choir Event
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Feb 28: LSC Meeting
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COVID-19 Update
Actionable Cases: 0
Non-Actionable Cases: 0
Please note: Although there are no open cases, we are experiencing an increase in confirmed positive COVID cases.
Absences
Attendance Goal: 98%
For absences: Email Mrs. Eskridge, assistant principal:
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Principal's Report from January LSC Meeting
The January LSC meeting was on held Tuesday, January 24th. Please see below for a copy of the Principal's report.
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Debate Team Tournament Results
The Skinner West Debate Team participated in the Chicago Middle School Debate League's Tournament Three for the 2022-2023 season on Saturday, January 14.
The overall topic for the year is: ''NATO Security Cooperation', and the cases being debated at this Tournament were 'Disinformation' , 'The Baltics', and 'Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)'.
About 76 debaters across 41 teams from 7 CPS schools competed at the tournament, but the students did a great job against some tough competition and won the awards listed below.
Some highlights we would especially like to point out are:
1) Skinner West won 1st place in 2 out of 6 award categories.
2) Skinner West won 48% of all possible awards (21 out of 43).
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Classroom Lunar New Year Celebrations
Several classrooms celebrated the Lunar New Year this past week. A special thank you to parent volunteers who came in to teach students about Lunar New Year traditions, read the class stories, and lead activities related to the new year. The children had so much fun learning and celebrating the Year of the Rabbit or the Year of the Cat for those who celebrate Tết! Happy New Year to all of the Skinner Superstars and families who celebrate!
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Skinner West Girls Basketball Team
We are proud to introduce you to Skinner West's Girls Basketball team. They have been working hard and doing a fantastic job this season. Way to go, Superstars!
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Candy Gram Sale!
Our Student Council is hosting a candy gram sale for Valentine's Day this year! Please see below for details and how to order.
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Upcoming Valentine's Day Dances
Please see below for details regarding our upcoming school dances for Valentine's Day. Note that the school dance for grades 6-8 will take place on February 10th, while the school dance for grades 4-5 will take place on February 14th. Both will be held after school and have a live DJ. Please reach out to Ms. Ball with any questions.
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School Improvement Committee Meeting
The next School Improvement Committee meeting will take place on Monday, January 23 at 5:00 PM. This meeting will take place in-person for members, and the updates will be shared during the LSC meeting on January 24.
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Upcoming LSC Meeting Agenda
The January LSC meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 24 at 5:30 PM. The agenda is below. Everyone is welcome to join.
Meeting ID
Phone Number: (US)+1 631-743-6269
PIN: 288 746 274#
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Proposed Academic Calendar for SY2023-24
Dear CPS Families,
As we work to finish this school year strong and begin planning for the fall, we want to provide you with an important update about our District’s academic calendar for next school year.
CPS will present a proposed academic calendar for the 2023–24 school year at next month’s Board of Education meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
We invite you to share your thoughts on this proposed calendar by visiting the Board of Education website. This public comment period will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.
Highlights of the proposed 2023–24 Academic Calendar include:
- A school start date of Monday, August 21, 2023 and an end date of Thursday, June 6, 2024.
- Students complete their first semester prior to winter break on Thursday, December 21, 2023.
- 176 days of instruction for students.
- 12 professional learning days for teachers and school-based staff (consistent with the current school year).
- A shift in first quarter professional development to occur on Thursday, October 26, 2023 — the day before report card pickup day — to allow for more consistent weeks in October.
- Combined parent-teacher conference day for both high school and elementary school students on Friday, October 27, 2023, and separate conferences on consecutive days in the spring of 2024 (elementary school on Wednesday, April 10 and high school on Thursday, April 11).
- Two weeks of winter vacation (December 22, 2023–January 5, 2024) and one week of spring vacation (March 25–29, 2024).
- No student instruction for the entire week of Thanksgiving (November 20–24, 2023).
- Veterans Day will be a holiday for all staff and students during the 2023–24 school year and will be observed on Friday, November 10, 2023.
Similar to this school year, next year’s calendar:
- Aligns closely with the academic calendars of suburban school districts and local colleges and universities.
- Gives students a start date before Labor Day.
- Allows more students to participate in summer camps and job and recreational opportunities that start earlier in the summer.
- Give students more time to prepare for important exams, including AP and IB tests and the SAT.
Please visit this website between today and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25 to share your feedback on this proposed calendar for next school year. The final calendar will be voted on by the Board of Education during their February 22 meeting, and upon their approval, it will be shared with all CPS families and staff.
We thank you for your input and look forward to a strong start for our students in the fall of 2023.
- Chicago Public Schools
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English Language Learners Tutoring Program Survey
Dear Skinner Parents and Guardians,
Skinner's English Language Program is launching "The Skinner English Language Learners Tutoring Program" for the Spring 2023 semester. This program is designed to provide content support to students in the English Language Program in grades 1st through 8th with the goals of improving academic outcomes and increasing English language proficiency levels. In this tutoring program, an English As a Second Language (ESL) endorsed teacher will provide ESL instruction to your child.
We appreciate your feedback to see if you would like for your child to participate in the tutoring program after school. The information you provide will help us see how many students will be participating in the program this year. Please complete the questionnaire below and return it to your child’s homeroom teacher by Monday, January 23rd. 2023.
Thank you for your time. If you have any questions please contact Ms. Morales.
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After School Music House Offerings
Music House has reopened enrollment for some of their after school offerings: Ukulele and Rock Band at the Main Building. If you're interested in enrolling your child, please visit the link below.
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February 7: Wear Red for CHD
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is February 7 through 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 Tuesday, February 7.
For more information on congenital heart defects and the awareness campaign, visit:
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Southpaw Anti-Bullying Assembly
Earlier this week, Skinner Superstars attended an assembly focused on addressing different types of bullying. Southpaw taught students ways to help prevent and "Strike Out Bullies" by using the PAWS method. PAWS represents positive ways to prevent bullying by:
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Practicing confidence
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Always using your voice
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Walking away
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Standing up for others
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Discounted Chicago Bulls Games
Discounted tickets to upcoming Bulls games are available for the community! Choose from the following upcoming games: February 2 or March 17, and root for the Chicago Bulls at the United Center! Friends of Whitney Young is hosting this event for the wider community to facilitate these discounted tickets and a small donation will be made to them for each ticket. Donations will benefit the grants and students in need at the school. Note: While our mission benefits Whitney Young HS, we are a separate independent, non-profit, all-volunteer organization run by parents in the community.
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Mark T. Skinner West School
Front Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(773) 534-7790
By Appointment Only
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