Good afternoon!

Please see below for important information regarding International Fest and 2 reminders.
Have a great day,
Katie and Derrick
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International Fest- The annual International Festival celebrates the cultural diversity of our Skinner North community. Join the celebration with a new, virtual twist! Submit a brief (2 min or less) video or slideshow that showcases an aspect of your culture (e.g., music, recipe, traditional dress, game, craft). Kahoot or Gimkit trivia game creations also are welcome! Please SIGN UP HERE by FRIDAY, MAY 7th.

The festival will take place virtually during Buddy Classrooms on Wednesday, June 2nd. Video links also will be available for families to enjoy together at home. Questions? Please contact Kimberly Sanker-Panchal at kimberlypanchal@icloud.com or sndiversity@gmail.com.

Skinner North Family Survey (Q4 Thinking to SY22) Reminder- 
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 Wednesday, May 28 at 5PM.

Transferring Out  - If you are transferring out of the school for the 2021-2022 school year, we appreciate you letting us know in advance as this helps us plan for our upcoming selections processes.  Please complete this form if you are transferring out of Skinner North. ​

Good morning!  I hope everyone had a productive Parent-Teacher Conference day yesterday.  We have been happy to welcome more students back this week and are looking forward to the remainder of the 4th quarter.  Please see below for a couple of updates.

Have a great day,
Katie 
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Skinner North Family Survey (Q4 Thinking to SY22) - Your opinion is very important to us as we plan for the next school year.  We do not have all the answers on what next year will look like.  The hope of the district is to return for 5 days a week, but we will follow science in regards to this.  
That being said we need your input.  You and our students have experienced a year unlike any other with varied schedules and ways to engage (remote, hybrid, etc.).  Please email Katie (kmagnuson@cps.edu) for a link to 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 Wednesday, May 28 at 5PM.


Transferring Out  - If you are transferring out of the school for the 2021-2022 school year, we appreciate you letting us know in advance as this helps us plan for our upcoming selections processes.  Please complete this form if you are transferring out of Skinner North.   
 
Issue with Today's Health Screener Text Message - Please be aware that there was a district-wide issue this morning where some of our parents did not receive the daily Health Screener text message. If you do not receive a text message, please direct complete the health screener manually at cps.edu/healthscreener. Parents can look up their student by entering either their Student ID or Student Email AND the Date of Birth.


P-EBT Cards - Please see below the information from the Illinois Department of Human Services on P-EBT benefits. All CPS students are eligible. A P-EBT change of address should be made using the  Illinois Department of Human Services P-EBT Change of Address Form. Should families have questions regarding the P-EBT benefits and issuances, review the P-EBT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). They can also contact our Healthy CPS Hotline at 773-553-KIDS (5437) or complete a Healthy CPS Assistance Request Form.
Frequently Asked Questions - P-EBT

• What should a family do if they haven't received their P-EBT card in the mail?
  
  • There is a known delivery lag due to a delay with the P-EBT card manufacturer. 
    
  • The last batch of P-EBT cards were scheduled to be printed and mailed on March 14th. Due to the manufacturing delay, there is an estimated two week delay. 
    
  • Neither the DHS P-EBT Hotline nor the Healthy CPS Hotline have or can provide estimates on delivery timelines. 
    

• Where would my card have been mailed?
  
  • The card will be mailed to the student’s primary address in ASPEN. 
    
  • If the family would prefer to have the P-EBT card sent to the school, the clerk should update the student’s mailing address to the school’s address.
    
  • A change of address should be made using the Illinois Department of Human Services P-EBT Change of Address Form. 
    

• When to call your school:
  
  • If a change of address needs to be made in ASPEN. 
    
  • If the P-EBT card has been sent to the school, due to the mailing address being listed as the school, and the family needs to coordinate a pick-up time. The family must sign for the PEBT card.
    

• When to call the Healthy CPS Hotline:
  
  • If questions are outside the P-EBT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.
    
    • P-EBT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Spanish
      

• By what date should I have received my card? Will this be the only card I receive?
  
  • There is a known delay in P-EBT card delivery. 
    
  • Families will receive one card per qualifying student.
    
  • Once a family receives their P-EBT card, this will be the only card they will need to receive their P-EBT benefits. All future deposits for the P-EBT benefit will be made to the same card.
    

• By what date will my card be loaded with funds? How frequently should funds be loaded on to my card?
  
  • Benefits will load on to the card monthly. 
    
  • By April, the card will be loaded with a distribution from September 2020 to December 2020. 
    
  • In April, the card will be loaded with a distribution for January 2021 through March 2021.
    
  • Beginning in May, the card will be loaded monthly with the benefit for the remainder of the school year.
    

Dear Skinner North Parents and Families, 
We believe in student voice and we want our students to engage in meaningful conversations with their teachers and peers, even when issues are sensitive. 
Late last month, 13-year-old Adam Toledo, a student at Gary Elementary School, was shot by Chicago police and his death has shaken our CPS family.  The loss of a CPS student and the continuation of violence that occurs toward our BIPOC communities affects us all. We all have the right to be sad, angry, frustrated, tired, confused etc.  Please ensure you are allowing yourself time to process and finding ways to have self-care.
 To ensure our students have an outlet for their questions and emotions, CPS has developed a collection of professional and mental health resources for our educators to use in their classrooms.
I encourage you to review these materials so you understand how this situation will potentially be discussed at school and to assist you with conversations at home. 
 On another note, we are looking forward to welcoming more students back on Monday and we were happy to see many of you at our presentation on Wednesday.  If your student is returning, please review protocols and procedures with them using the link to our presentation or our Reopening Guide.
Thank you to everyone for your teamwork in supporting our students.  Read below for a few updates and reminders.
 
Have a wonderful day,
Katie and Derrick
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After School Registration Quarter 4 - Please click the link below to access the registration form for Q4 after-school programs. Registration is due on Wednesday, April 21st, acceptance emails will go out on the 23rd, and programs will start on the 26th. All programs will still be held virtually and are free of charge!  
Q4 After School Registration Form
 
Transferring Out  - If you are transferring out of the school for the 2021-2022 school year, we appreciate you letting us know in advance as this helps us plan for our upcoming selections processes.  Please complete this form if you are transferring out of Skinner North.   
Key Reminders For In Person Return - 
Technology - Students must use CPS devices at school.  If they do not already have a school issued Chromebook they will receive it on their first day back.  Their school issued devices should go home and come back every day.  Please make sure to charge them.
 
Daily Health Screener - You must complete a daily health screener for your student.  You can access the daily screener at cps.edu/healthscreener or opt into text message reminders (see reopening guide for further directions on this.)
 
Entry - Entry begins at 8:30. There is signage to assist with social distancing and line up areas. Students must have their screener complete and get a temperature check. Entry doors are as follows:
o Drop off for Kindergarten and First grade (Door 1-West side of building) 
o Drop off for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades (Door 2 - Main entrance) 
o Drop off for 5th through 8th grades (Door 9 - Recess / playground entrance) 
o Bussers will enter through Door 3 (Auditorium)
 
Pick Up - Students will be dismissed outside on a staggered schedule at the same doors they enter through in the AM.
 
·  Students will start preparing for dismissal at 3:05 p.m.
·  Teachers will escort each classroom down for dismissal. 
·  Kindergarten and 1st will dismiss at Door 1 (west door) at 3:15 p.m.
·  2nd Grade will dismiss at 3:15 p.m. at Door 2 (main entrance)
·  3rd Grade will dismiss at 3:20 p.m. at Door 2
·  4th Grade will dismiss at 3:25 p.m. at Door 2
·  5th Grade will dismiss at 3:15 p.m. at Door 9 (recess entrance)
·  6th Grade will dismiss at 3:20 p.m. at Door 9
·  7th Grade dismiss at 3:25 p.m. at Door 9
·  8th Grade dismiss at 3:30 p.m. at Door 9
*If you do not plan on picking up your student and want them to be released by the teacher on their own,  please write a note letting us know this.
4 Days A Week In Person Question - Thank you to everyone who completed our logistics survey.  A question in the survey asked about 4 day a week attendance.  However, this would be dependent on numbers of students and various factors in a building.  Based on our numbers returning and limitations on pod size, we are not able to offer 4 days a week attendance to students except in specific instances (i.e. students of CPS employees as this was a specific agreement between CPS and CTU for return to in person learning).  Our goal is to ensure student safety and adhering to the pod structure helps ensure this.
​

Good afternoon,


I hope everyone is doing well and has a chance to enjoy today's sunshine.  Please see below for a few updates and reminders.

Have a great day,
Katie
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Reminder:  Skinner North 4th Quarter Opt-In Information Session  - At 8am, tomorrow, Wednesday, April 14th we will hold the Skinner North 4th Quarter Opt-In Information Session.  This presentation is targeted for parents who have students who are returning to the building for the 4th quarter.  We will highlight key information, logistics and reminders for a successful return to in person school.  Contact Katie (kmagnuson@cps.edu) for the link.  Here is the link to the presentation.  In addition, please also feel free to review our Reopening Guide.


Daily Health Screener - The Health Screener needs to be completed daily for in person students on the days of their in person attendance.  This applies even if your student is going to be absent.  The screener asks if they will be attending.  If the student is not attending on a given day, parents should answer no and then you will receive questions i.e. if it is covid-19 related or another reason.  This helps immensely with contract tracing and attendance.  (Please note, parents still need to call or submit a signed note to the office for us to excuse the absence.)     

Drop Off - Please remember that parents need to park in the lot across the street or at Target during drop off.  Please do not stop on the street to drop off.  This creates hazards for students crossing the street as cars try to go around those who park and it also impacts our buses.  We appreciate your help on this.


My Voice, My School Parent Survey - The 2021 My Voice, My School Parent/Guardian Survey is now open. Parents/Guardian have until April 30 to participate in the survey. Considering the current circumstances, the Parent Survey is taking place 100% online this school year. The link is available on the Parent Survey information page. A direct link to the survey can be found here.
Diverse Need Committee - Do you have questions about diverse learning experiences during hybrid learning? The Diverse Needs Committee has assembled a team of families, educators, and staff that can share their experiences and provide helpful tips for a successful return to in-person learning. Send your questions to sndiverseneeds@gmail.com and we’ll put you in touch with a member of our team.


Interested in learning more or joining the committee? 
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday April 21 at noon.
Meeting Link: meet.google.com/yur-ayrd-raj

​Good morning!  Please see this link for the LSC meeting agenda for this week.  This virtual meeting is Wednesday, April 14 at 6:30PM.  Login information is available on the agenda.


Have a great day,
Katie

Good afternoon!  Please see below for our April Diversity Discussion note.  It focuses on our impact at home and talking to kids about racism.  Thank you to the diversity committee for putting these resources together.

Also, remember that there is a virtual workshop entitled Anti-Asian American Racism Listening Session scheduled this Thursday from 6:30 - 8:30 pm for 6th-8th grade students and grownups of students in ALL grades (see the information below).  The session will be led by an external facilitator and accessible via this link, https://zoom.us/j/5252634982. 

Have a great day,
Katie​The key takeaway from this University of Michigan’s health blog, Raising Race-Conscious Children: How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism is to not ignore our differences. When race comes up, use it as an opportunity to promote diversity and how it helps make the world better. Parenting actions suggested in the article:

• acknowledge, intentionally highlight, and value differences in a positive way
  
• with younger kids, use child-friendly language in diverse books as conversation starters
  
• for older kids, consider a book or movie club and invite people from diverse religious, racial, and cultural backgrounds
  
• safely (in person) or virtually participate in family activities that celebrate different cultures
  
• call out racism with non-confrontational statements like, “I’m uncomfortable with what you said,” or “I don’t think that’s right or nice to say”
  
• model relationships with an authentic, diverse social circle of adults
  
• talk about racial privilege with an explanation like, “Privilege doesn’t mean you’ve never struggled or had an easy life. There are people who are poor or ill or have other troubles. Privilege just means race is not one of those struggles.”
  
• encourage questions, seek answers together, and keep the family conversation about race going over time
  

Recognizing that the conversation should be age-appropriate, PBS resources like Talking About Race and Racism (hosted by Amanda Gorman) highlights the fact that children as young as 3-months old begin to notice the differences between individuals. Another great resource is Common Sense Media’s dive into How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids.

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