MARK T. SKINNER WEST SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
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2019-2020 School Year
Week #18: January 24 - January 31
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Dates to Remember
Communications Committee Meeting - Monday, Jan 27, 5:30
LSC Meeting - Tuesday, Jan 28, 6:00
PTO Meeting - Tuesday, Jan 28, 7:00
School Improvement Day, No Classes - Friday, Jan 31
President's Day, No Classes - Monday, Feb 17
CPS 2019 - 2020 (Revised) Calendar: here
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Classroom Connection: Ms. Chen's Chinese Class
Happy Lunar New Year! January 25 marks the Chinese new year and 2020 is the year of the rat. To celebrate, Ms. Chen's Chinese class had guest Chinese artist, Guo laoshi visit. He taught the class about Chinese culture and the game weiqi (also known as Go). Skinner students are really enjoying the game and activities in our Chinese classroom!
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Wear Red to Support Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
Congenital Heart Defect (aka CHD) Awareness Week kicks off on February 7 and runs through February 14. Did you know that every 1 in 100 live births in the U.S. is a child born with a heart defect? Heart defects are conditions that people live with throughout their entire lives. There are an estimated 1 million children and 1.4 million adults living in the U.S. that are living with heart conditions.
By wearing red on February 7 you help show your support for those living with these heart issues. This week is also a time to recognize those who care for children and adults born with heart defects, as well as researchers and other heart experts!
Please wear red on February 7 to support your friends, classmates, and family who live with heart issues.
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Superstar in the Spotlight
Congratulations to Superstar third grader Michael Singer from Mrs. Daigle's class. This fall, Michael started taking singing lessons at the School of Rock. And, he recently sang "Come Together" by The Beatles with the Rock 101 band. He's now learning to play drums.
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Eighth Grade Trip Fundraisers!
Show your Skinner spirit by purchasing a one-of-a-kind magnet! The Class of 2020 will be selling magnets as a fundraiser to support their 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C.
Please fill out the order form and place it in an envelope along with the amount collected. Return the envelope to your homeroom teacher. Magnets will be distributed to each classroom. Thank you for your support!
Skinner Faculty and Staff: There is "merch" available for you as well! Think how great you'll look sporting Superstar Logo Gear!! Online ordering details are here.
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Winter NWEA Testing Schedule
Dear Skinner Parents:
Every winter CPS schools are required to administer the NWEA MAP assessments to K-8th grade students. The NWEA assessments are computer based and are targeted to each individual student's skill level. These assessments are used to measure your child's growth in reading and math from one year to the next. Individual growth targets are set at the beginning of the school year with the hopes that each student will meet or exceed his/her growth targets. Teachers use the test information to guide instruction and know where a child's strengths and weaknesses are. This test information is also used in CPS to determine promotion and selective enrollment eligibility.
Our NWEA winter testing schedule is as follows:
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Grade
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Dates
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K
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January 9, 10, 16, 17
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1
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January 21, 22
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2
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January 22, 23
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3
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January 14, 15
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4
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January 8, 9
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5
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January 15, 17
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6
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January 7-10, 14-17
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7
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January 7-10, 14-17
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8
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January 7-10, 14-17
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In preparation for NWEA assessments, please do the following:
- Have your child get a good night's rest
- Have your child eat a good breakfast on the mornings of testing, and arrive to school on time.
- Students who are tardy will wait in the lunchroom until the test session is over, and make up any test sessions missed during the make-up testing scheduled time
- Let your child know that you have confidence in his/her ability to do his/her best
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support in making this testing experience successful for your child.
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Human Reproduction Classes Begin
A reminder that health education class will begin Tuesday, January 21, for all 5th graders. The class will cover human reproduction, growth, and development. Your child's participation in this worthwhile unit of study is completely voluntary.
If you wish to have your child excused from participation, please email Joy Westendorf jwestendorf@cps.edu.
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CPS LSC Funding Workshops
The CPS Office of Local School Council (LSC) Relations will be hosting six funding workshops to gather community feedback on potential opportunities to strengthen school budgeting. These workshops will provide an overview of CPS' current funding methodology and other aspects of the 2020 budget.
Attendees will be able to share their school community needs and offer suggestions on how to make the school funding process more equitable, transparent, and sustainable.
| Date | Time | Location | Register | | Jan 29 | 6:00-8:00 p.m. | Amundsen HS
5110 N Damen
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| | Jan 30 | 6:00-8:00 p.m. | Michele Clark HS
5101 W Harrison St
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| | Feb 1 | 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
| Corliss HS
821 E 103rd St
| Register
| | Feb 5 | 6:00-8:00 p.m.
| Hammond Elem
2819 W 21st Pl
| Register
| | Feb 6 | 6:00-8:00 p.m.
| Dyett HS
555 E 51st St
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| | Feb 8 | 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Roberto Clemente HS
1147 N Western Ave
| Register
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Brooklyn Boulders in the West Loop is offering Adventure Days on January 20 and 31 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $119 each day with extended care available until 6:00 p.m. for an additional $20. Space is limited.
West Loop Soccer Club will be holding a day camp on January 20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Mercy Soccer Center. The cost is $85. Skinner West students will receive a $10 discount when using the coupon code: MLK during registration.
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Although the weather's still chilly, it's never too early to think about summer day camp options. These organizations are offering camps in the West Loop this summer:
And, don't forget about our own Skinner Superstar Camp! Details on this summer will be coming soon.
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Save the Date: Gallery 111 is February 29, 2020
** Call for Silent Auction Donations!**
Save the Date for the Skinner annual "No Art Left Behind" gala
Saturday, February 29 7:00-10:00
National Museum of Mexican Art
We are currently looking for families
interested in contributing to our silent auction to consider donating the following needed items:
Do you have a great space or a skill that you could share with our party goers? If so, let us know, we would love to work with you to create an exciting experience for our guests.
Do you have a second home? Michigan? Wisconsin? Florida? Tahiti? We would love to offer a vacation opportunities for our silent auction Please let us know if you have any connections.
Art, jewelry, event tickets spa experiences, dining, and hotel stays
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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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