Good afternoon!  We hope everyone is doing well today.  Please read below for a few important updates and reminders.
 
Have a wonderful day,
Katie and Derrick


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Starry Night Light – this coming Saturday, 7-10pm! – From FOSN

• Drop by for a bit, or stay for a while! Buy your ticket via PayPal here, or send $45 per ticket via Zelle (fosnfundraising@gmail.com) or Venmo (@Shivani-Shah). If using Zelle or Venmo, include "Starry Night Tickets", your email address, and student's homeroom in the memo section
• If you can’t make it, support through a donation: use the payment methods above, but include “Starry Night Donation” in your memo (along with your email address, student name and student homeroom)
• Sign up to volunteer here.

It’s been 3 long years. Let’s rebuild the Skinner North community – for us as parents and staff, and more importantly for our children! Be a part of supporting our school’s mission to develop highly successful and socially-motivated students, in a rigorous academic environment, in a community that promotes collaboration, leadership, and celebrates diversity. And let’s keep Skinner North as the #1 ranked elementary school in Illinois!
 
 
Summer Programming – We are thrilled to be able to offer many FREE  programs at Skinner North this summer! You will find the registration form HERE. Details about each program are listed on the registration form. Please fill out a new form for each program your child is interested in. Pay close attention to the days, times, and program format before submitting registration. This includes our KDG Navigators program for incoming Kindergarten students.  (Our sign up for new student groups (non-KDG) will come out in the upcoming week)
 
Registration forms are due by Friday, May 27th at 5:00pm. Acceptance Emails will be sent to the email provided in the registration form by Wednesday, June 1st. You will only receive an acceptance email if your child gets a spot in the program.
 
Please reach out to Mr. Popowich at jrpopowich@cps.edu with any questions.
 
 
Transferring?  - Please let us know if you are transferring for the next school year. This helps guide our enrollment requests, which is vital to our school budget. If your student(s) are transferring, please take a moment to complete the following:
https://forms.gle/KuxgLhumAzaFqRvd7
 
Spring Scholastic Book Fair - Our Scholastic Book Fair is back in person! It is being held this week, May 16-20. Please be sure to visit the library throughout the week with your students. To avoid crowding and practice social distancing, teachers will be provided with a schedule during which they can explore the Fair in the library. Book Fair previews and information on Scholastic eWallets should have gone home to students earlier this week.
 
Check out the Skinner North Fair page to create an eWallet account, access the Fair online (5/16 - 5/29), and more here:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairsdotcom/fair-finder.html
 
More info on eWallets:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/bookfairs/en/misc/bfc-ewallet.html
 
 
AAPI Heritage Month Highlight - For a story on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and implementation of the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act, Will Jones, ABC7 Chicago's Race and Culture reporter, will be filming at Skinner North on Friday, May 20. He plans to record student performances connected with a series of Filipino American history learning activities we are engaged in and to interview two of our students in 4th and 8th grades. 
 
International Fest - The student performance sign-up response for our Skinner North International Fest (Fri, 6/3 from 4-6pm) Cultural Show has been fantastic so far! Next, please click to pick a specific volunteer task to make the event one to remember for our school community. There are varied options (e.g., decorate indoors or outdoors, direct acts on/off stage, host an activity station, donate prizes) to pitch in before, during, and after the event. Thank you for your support!
 
Interested in being a part of the planning process? Join our Diversity Committee Meeting this Wed, 5/18 @ 4pm via this Zoom link. Reach out to sndiversity@gmail.com with questions or suggestions.
 
New nurse – Nurse Blissitt took a job in a hospital setting and is no longer with the district.  We have a new school nurse.  Her name is Dana Rosales.  Her email is dmrosales1@cps.edu.  She is at Skinner North on Tuesdays. 
​
7/8th Grade Musical – Our 7/8th grade elective musical class has been working hard on their musical this year.  It is a year-long effort that they are excited to perform.  They will have performances at 9:15 on Wednesday, May 25 and at 1PM on Thursday, May.  3-8th grade students will get the opportunity to see the show. 
 
Debate Team Public Forum Tournament - Last Saturday, members of our debate team participated in a new speaking competition called Public Forum.  They are discussing the pros and cons of Universal Basic Income.  Students who participated are: Kaila D., Ash L., Isadora M., Kailen T., Michelle Y., Sophie Y., and Venye Z.  A big thanks to Liam S., from Bell, for joining our team for the day.  
 
Speaker Awards:  Sophie Y. - 3rd, Michelle Y. - 6th, and Kaila D. - 7th
Team Award: Michelle Y./Sophie Y. - 2nd Place
 
Ash L. received an Honorable Mention for the Robin Williams Award.  This award celebrates students for their kindness and good sportsmanship during the competition.  Congratulations!

​Good morning,


Please see this link for Wednesday's LSC meeting, which is at 8AM.  It is a virtual meeting and you can access at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2520679911?pwd=VTI5NTVheE02SWRzRWY5SnZrcmNQZz09.

Have a wonderful day,
Katie

​Good afternoon and happy Friday!  Please read below for a few updates.
 
Have a wonderful weekend,
Katie and Derrick
 
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"National Bike and Roll to School Day – Help our planet and exercise at the same time.  Please see this flier for more information.  We are encouraging families to bike to school on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.  We currently have two meet up locations planned where you can meet up with other Skinner North families at 8:00AM to ride to school together.  
Two rally points: (1) Crate and Barrel Parking Lot (North & Clybourn) and (2) Fulton Market and Halsted (please read parking lot signs as parking may or may not be available). 
We are looking for volunteers to assist students in parking bicycles.  Email Katie (kmagnuson@cps.edu) if you would like to help.  In addition, if you would like to host another meet up point please at your meet up spot on this spreadsheet by Monday, May 2nd.
 
 
Accepted Family Open House – Please let Katie (kmagnuson@cps.edu) if you would like to help give a tour at the Accepted Family Open House on Tuesday, May 10 from 5-6PM.  It is an in-person event and a great way to meet and welcome new families.
 
 
COVID Cases– We have had an increase in covid cases in the past two weeks. 
Contact tracing sends communication to close contacts and are now also sending notices to encourage masking in rooms with a case or require for rooms with multiple cases.  These letters will also let you know if there is a case in your student’s homeroom, thus giving a bit more information than the general emails sent.  I would highly encourage masking for students.  Please remember to keep student’s home if they are sick.  We appreciate your assistance on this.
 
Starry Night Light Save the date (from FoSN) - We are thrilled to be able to FINALLY get together and socialize…so let’s do it! Let’s ditch the suits and gowns, and focus on (re)building the Skinner North community through in-person human connection. More details to come next week, including the launch of ticket sales, but in the meantime – please save the date for Starry Night Light:

What: Starry Night Light (a much more laid back version of our otherwise formal annual gala / fundraiser)
Who: Skinner North Parents and Staff
Why: To build our community and support the school with some FUNdraising
Date: Saturday, May 21
Time: 7-10pm
Location: Midwest Coast Brewery (2137 W Walnut)
 
 
Special Education Position – We are currently looking for a special education teacher to fill Ms. Saba’s position.  If you know of any interested candidates, please have them send resumes to Katie (kmagnuson@cps.edu).
 
 
Right at School Summer Camp – Please see this flier for more information.
 


Virtual Academy Enrollment For SY23 - The Virtual Academy is now enrolling students for SY23. Qualifying students (PreK-Grade 12) must have a medical condition indicated on an active IEP/504. The student’s medical professional must determine that the student would benefit from the virtual format. The application is open until July 1st; acceptances will be announced by July 15th. If demand exceeds capacity, acceptance will be determined by lottery. Qualifying students who were not accepted will be placed on a waitlist.
A school leader overview can be found here. This document describes the impact on the school & application process.
Parents/Guardians should complete this interest form (Spanish) to begin the application process. Questions/inquiries can be directed to VirtualSY23@cps.edu. Additional details are available here.

Good afternoon,


I hope everyone is doing well on this rainy Friday.  Thank you to everyone who helped with our Earth Day clean up.  (We were rained out in the afternoon, so will work to schedule another clean up day.)  Please read below for a few updates.
Have a great day,
Katie 
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LSC Elections – Thank you to all of our candidates and voters!  Your participation in the elections is appreciated.  Below are the elected members of the LSC.  Their terms will start July 1, 2022.  I look forward to working together with a continuous improvement mindset.
 
Parent
Maneesh Limaye
Danielle Capilla
Yuanying Guan
Zalita Neely

Community
Andrea Martyn

Teacher
Lucinda Ross
Mattea Walsh

Non-Teaching Staff
Gloria Morales

Student
Radhini Panchal

 
*We do have 2 parent and 1 community member positions open.  Please reach out if you have interest. 
 
Principal’s Report to the LSC – Please use this link to access the April Principal’s report to the LSC.


COVID Update - CPS recently changed their policy and  the district has transitioned to only identifying true close contacts, they no longer want to quarantine full cohorts. A true close contact is someone who was directly with the case less than 3ft apart for over 15 minutes.  So, it is possible for a student to be unvaccinated and not be flipped to remote with a positive case in their classroom.  Starting today, the district will also send communication to the homeroom with a positive case to let everyone know there is a case in the homeroom for everyone's awareness.   Close contacts will also receive separate communication.
 
Diverse Needs Committee
April is Autism Acceptance Month
In the United States, 3.5 million people, and one in 44 children are on the autism spectrum. In April, Skinner North staff will share lessons about autism and empathy. Ask your student about what they have learned! Check out the committee website for more details.
Here are a few resources to learn more about autism and how to be an ally:
·  https://www.assistiveware.com/blog/5-guidelines-for-autism-acceptance-month
·  Should We Say 'with Autism' or 'Autistic'? Here's Why It Matters, from Parents Magazine
·  https://youtu.be/UKhg68QJlo0
sDiverse Learners Parent & Caregiver Meet-up
Friday, April 29, 2022, 8:40am (or directly after drop off)
Passion House Coffee Roasters
Goose Island location at Division and N. Branch
1200 N. Branch St, Chicago 60642
 
This is a casual meetup to be connected with other parents and to share experiences and questions regarding our childrens’ diverse learning needs. If you are interested but cannot join, feel free to drop an email to Boyoung, bh785@nyu.edu to suggest a different time/day of the week. We are very open to suggestions!
 
Save the date for our next meet-up, Friday, May 27!

​Good afternoon,

I hope you are doing well.  We are looking forward to Parent-Teacher Conferences tomorrow, Wednesday, May 19.  It is a great time to connect with your student’s teacher and work together to find best ways to support students.  It is also a non- attendance day for students.   Please read below for important updates and reminders.

Have a great day,
Katie
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LSC Elections – Elections are tomorrow (4/20) from 6AM-7PM in the school gymnasium.  Please report to the gymnasium to cast your vote. 

Earth Day – Earth Day is Friday, April 22.  The Earth Day theme is Invest in Our Planet and challenges us all to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably).  To honor this day, we will be doing a park clean up before (starting at 8:00AM) and after school (until 4:00PM) on Friday.  We will have supplies (gloves and bags) at the school.  Help us pick up the grounds and park.  It is also a great time to check out our learning garden and compost bin.  (Please reach out with interest to our Garden Team!  If you would like to help, please contact: Ms. Bergman At: sbergman1@cps.edu.)

We also have 2 standing planters out front that need some love.  Please let Katie (kmagnuson@cps.edu) if you would like to assist in planting those.

Classrooms are doing various activities to learn more about Earth Day this week and next.  (In addition, be on the lookout for more information around National Bike and Roll to School Day, which is on Wednesday, May 4.  We are encouraging families to bike to school that day.)
 
Local School Council Meeting Agenda – See this link for Thursday’s (4/20) LSC Agenda.  The meeting is at 5:30PM.  You can access the virtual meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2520679911?pwd=VTI5NTVheE02SWRzRWY5SnZrcmNQZz09.
 
LSC Meeting to Certify LSC Election Results – The LSC will meet on Friday, April 22 at 8:30AM to certify the LSC election results. Please see this link for the agenda.  You can access the meeting virtually at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2520679911?pwd=VTI5NTVheE02SWRzRWY5SnZrcmNQZz09.
 
Right at School Summer Camp at Skinner North Registration Open - Summer is right around the corner and we are looking forward to sunshine, warmer weather, and enjoying more time outdoors.  With that said, don’t forget that registration for our Right At School Summer Camp is now open!  With fun field trips, swimming, and so much more planned for our camps this year, we look forward to having your child/ren part of the FUN!  Our weekly pricing already included all field trip, activity, and transportation fees. For more information and to register today to ensure your spot in our Summer Camp please use the link below:
https://rightatschool-skinner-north-classical-school.jumbula.com/#/summer-camp


SY22 SEL Skills Inventory (5th-8th Grade) - As you may recall, Skinner North has partnered with the Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Social Emotional Learning (OSEL) this school year to explore strategies for understanding and supporting students’ development of social and emotional (SEL) skills. In December, students in 5th through 8th grade took Cycle 1 surveys about their SEL skills from their own perspective. The data from Cycle 1 was used by our school to strategically prioritize practices and strategies to support students in developing SEL skills. On the dates of April 25-May 6, we will administer Cycle 2 of the same survey to students as a means of evaluating whether or to what degree the priority practices and strategies were effective.  Learn more about the inventory at this link.


Lost and Found – The lost and found is located at the main entrance for families to pick up items.  The items remaining at the end of this week (4/22), will be donated to Cradles to Crayons. 

Diverse Needs Committee
April is Autism Acceptance Month
In the United States, 3.5 million people, and one in 44 children are on the autism spectrum. In April, Skinner North staff will share lessons about autism and empathy. Ask your student about what they have learned! Check out the committee website for more details.
Here are a few resources to learn more about autism and how to be an ally:
·  https://www.assistiveware.com/blog/5-guidelines-for-autism-acceptance-month
·  Should We Say 'with Autism' or 'Autistic'? Here's Why It Matters, from Parents Magazine
·  https://youtu.be/UKhg68QJlo0

Diverse Learners Parent & Caregiver Meet-up
Friday, April 29, 2022, 8:40am (or directly after drop off)
Passion House Coffee Roasters
Goose Island location at Division and N. Branch
1200 N. Branch St, Chicago 60642

This is a casual meetup to be connected with other parents and to share experiences and questions regarding our childrens’ diverse learning needs. If you are interested but cannot join, feel free to drop an email to Boyoung, bh785@nyu.edu to suggest a different time/day of the week. We are very open to suggestions!


Save the date for our next meet-up, Friday, May 27!


Please read below for a message from FoSN –
 
Skinner North Needs Your Help!  FoSN Needs Volunteers! - As you may have heard in the recent LSC meetings, the annual school budget for next year provided by CPS was cut by more than $160,000.  Our administration has worked tirelessly to ensure staff positions would not be affected by these changes, but other cuts in other important areas are inevitable.  As such, our FoSN community, which includes every parent and guardian of Skinner North, is being called upon to help fund lunch and recess coverage, instructional materials, classroom materials, and security staff, to name a few. 
 
Due to the last couple of years with limited volunteers and fundraising, we have not raised enough funds to cover these necessities.  Without volunteers in the leadership positions of FoSN, we will not be able to provide for the school in the ways needed for next year or future years.  We need you more than ever, our children and staff need you more than ever.  
 
FoSN will hold elections at our zoom meeting on Wednesday, May 4th.  To get involved, please read this and fill out this form by Friday, April 29th.  Positions range from bite-sized to as large as you want to make it.  
 
This will be my last year as President of FoSN.  I've served 6 rewarding years, and in doing so have made friendships with parents and staff that will hopefully last my lifetime.  Our community is truly amazing and I'm blessed to have led such a great team!
 
It's now time to GET INVOLVED - not only will your child's experience benefit, but as a member of the Skinner North community, yours will as well (I promise!).  
 
Adriane Schwager
 
If you'd like to donate today, you can zelle to Fosnfundraising@gmail.com or click here for other options. 

Good morning,
We will have a special meeting to discuss and approve our 2022-2023 school budget.  The meeting is Tuesday, April 5 at 7AM.  Please see the full agenda at this link.  You can access the virtual meeting at:  * https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2520679911?pwd=VTI5NTVheE02SWRzRWY5SnZrcmNQZz09.
Have a great day,
Katie

Good afternoon,


I hope you are doing well and enjoying this Friday.  Please see below for a few important updates and reminders.  


Have a great weekend,
Katie
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VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISIT NEXT WEEK!
Skinner North K-8 classrooms will have the special opportunity to meet virtually with Zetta Elliott! Dr. Elliott is an award-winning Black feminist author and educator based in Chicago. Her work consists of poetry, plays, essays, novels, and stories for children. Thank you to Ms. Castillo for her planning collaboration with our upcoming, poetry-focused Author Talk on Wednesday, March 30th!
 
Resources to check out with your child(ren) to support the learning:
Poetry Recitation of Pieces in Say Her Name
https://www.zettaelliott.com/bio/why-i-write/
http://www.zettaelliott.com/books/kids/
 
 
Skinner North Family Survey (Thinking to SY23)
Your opinion is very important to us as we plan for the next school year.   You and our students have experienced two years unlike any other with varied schedules and ways to engage (remote, hybrid, flip to remote, in person, etc.).  Your experiences help use better plan and think through the coming year.
 
Please complete this anonymous survey to share your thoughts on what, in your thinking, would be helpful to prioritize for your child(ren) and also best ways for us to engage your family next school year.  The information will help us to further plan for budget allocations in alignment with our CIWP (Continuous Improvement Work Plan) for the coming school year. 
 
The survey will close on Thursday, March 31. Use this link to access. 
 
LSC Candidate Forum – Please see this link for a video of the LSC Candidate Forum which occurred on 3/23.  Elections will take place on April 20 between 6AM and 7PM.
 
Report Card Pick Up – We will have report card pick up day on Wednesday, April 20 from 8:30-3:30. Teachers will be sending sign ups for spots in the near future. 
 
2022-2023 School Calendar – CPS has approved the calendar for the next school year.  Highlights of the 2022-23 Academic Calendar:
·  A school start date of Monday, August 22, 2022 and an end date of Wednesday, June 7, 2023
·  Students complete their first semester prior to Winter Break on Friday, December 22, 2022 
·  176 days of instruction for students
·  12 professional learning days for teachers and school-based staff (this includes2 days more than this school year)
·  1 parent-teacher conference day for both HS and ES students in the fall of 2022 and 1 for both HS and ES students in the spring of 2023 instead of separate days for HS and ES students in both the fall and spring
·  2 weeks of winter vacation and 1 week of spring vacation
·  No student instruction during the entire week of Thanksgiving
 

Good Afternoon,


We hope everyone has had a nice week.  Please read below for a few updates and reminders.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Katie and Derrick
--------------------------------------

Local School Council Candidate Forum - Please see this link for our agenda for Wednesday's LSC Candidate Forum.  This is a virtual event that begins at 6.

LSC Principal Report - Please see this link for the principal report from this week's LSC meeting.

COVID Testing - The testing company had to reschedule our testing.  They came today to test.  We will return to our Tuesday schedule next week barring any staffing shortages on their end.

Yearbook Orders - It's that time again! Yearbook orders can be placed by visiting inter-state.com/order and entering our school code: 63617T

Diverse Learners Parent & Caregiver Meet-up
This is a casual meetup to be connected with other parents and to share experiences and questions regarding our childrens’ diverse learning needs.
Friday,March 25, 2022, 8:40am (or directly after drop off)
Passion House Coffee Roasters
Goose Island location at Division and N. Branch
1200 N. Branch St, Chicago 60642

Diverse Learners Transition to High School Virtual Meeting
Calling all High School-bound students, upper graders, parents and caregivers! Save the date for a virtual meeting with High School case managers, answering questions from Skinner North families about IEP and 504 plan implementation and management during High School. 
Monday, April 4, 2022, 6pm
Zoom link to follow

​