​Good morning,

Our thoughts are with those in Uvalde, Texas.  The events that happened there yesterday are heartbreaking and tragic.  There are too many emotions to describe the effect of seeing this event and having to send resources yet again about senseless acts of violence that impact school age children.   As an educator, I feel anger and sadness that our students and teachers have to process these events.  As a mother, it is difficult to process the emotions and think about how and what to discuss with my own children.  Attached is a resource I have found helpful in supporting conversations at home.  

Our goal at school and the most important priority is making sure our students are safe and feel that sense of belonging and safety.  

Students need normalcy from us.  We will continue to support and educate our students.  We are here for them.  If they need space to talk or process, our counselors are available to support.  

Please reach out if there is anything you need.  

Have a good day,
Katie

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.