Skinner North Classical School
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Skinner North Update

7/17/2020

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Good afternoon,


We hope everyone is doing well.  We wanted to ensure everyone received CPS' reopening "framework" proposal that was shared today.  The district is looking for feedback, so please use this link to do so.  The plan can be directly accessed at https://cps.edu/coronavirus/Pages/covid19.aspx and the email that was sent is below.  We, as a school staff, are working to plan around the proposed parameters to ensure the safety of our students and community.  I know there is a lot of uncertainty and this can be stressful.  Our goal as always is to work together to best support our students and community.  (Please note:  In the coming weeks, we will seek parent feedback/input on ways to best support and schedule i.e. Pods, siblings, etc.  Please be on the lookout for our emails.)   

Please use the feedback link (https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5727707/CPS-ReOpening-Feedback) to provide your perspective and/or participate in a virtual community gathering: See schedule and registration information below to join a virtual community gathering to discuss CPS’ reopening plans.Date: Monday, July 27, 2020
Time: 9–10:30 a.m. 
Language: English
Registration Link: https://cpsreopeningconversation1.eventbrite.com 


Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Time: 4–5:30 p.m.
Language: Spanish
Registration Link: https://cpsreopeningconversation2.eventbrite.com 

Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Time: 9–10:30 a.m.
Language: Spanish
Registration Link: https://cpsreopeningconversation3.eventbrite.com 

Date: Thursday, July 30, 2020, 
Time: 4–5:30 p.m.
Language: English
Registration Link: https://cpsreopeningconversation4.eventbrite.com

Date: Friday, July 31, 2020
Time: 9–10:30 a.m.
Language: English
Registration Link: https://cpsreopeningconversation5.eventbrite.com 
Have a great day,
Katie

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Chicago Public Schools <info@cps.edu>
Date: Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 11:50 AM
Subject: Preliminary framework to reopen schools in a safe and responsible manner/Marco preliminar para reabrir las escuelas de una manera segura y responsable
To: <kmagnuson@cps.edu>



July 17, 2020


Preliminary framework to reopen schools in a safe and responsible manner

Dear CPS Families, 

In March, we made the difficult decision to close our school buildings in order to keep our communities safe and slow the spread of COVID-19. In the ensuing months, our educators completely transformed how they provide instruction; our students gave up proms, athletics, and graduations; and you supported your children in more ways than ever before. Our shared sacrifices helped flatten the curve in our state and allowed us to evaluate reopening schools in the fall. Today, we are sharing a preliminary reopening framework that is aligned to the strongest guidance from public health officials and will help us prepare to reopen schools if it is safe to do so on September 8. 

Our preliminary framework is rooted in science and was developed in accordance with guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDPH, and the Illinois State Board of Education. We’ve heard from families that they are eager to resume their child’s education but in a manner that minimizes the health risks posed by COVID-19. To strike this fine balance, we are preparing for a scenario in which it is safe to begin the 2020–21 school year with a hybrid learning model where students will learn at school and at home. This hybrid model would allow students to follow proper social distancing guidelines by effectively cutting the number of students in a classroom in half and ensuring students can access high-quality in-person instruction from caring teachers. And because our public health situation continues to evolve, our framework is designed to adapt to changing public health conditions and easily transition to full at-home learning should COVID-19 cases begin to rise.

While we intend to bring students back if it is safe to do so, we also understand that some families will prefer to keep their children home. In recognition of the unprecedented nature of this pandemic and the need for flexibility, every parent will have the option to opt out of in-person instruction and learn from home full time.

School buildings will look different this fall
It is clear that school will feel different this year. Following public health guidance, school buildings will welcome half of their normal student body into the building on any given day. Staff and students will complete daily symptom screeners before coming to school, have their temperatures taken before entering the building, and wear face coverings. Students will come to school for only a few days a week.

Supporting these measures requires a considerable investment, which we are fully committed to making. To ensure the safest possible learning environments, we have purchased more than 1.2 million reusable cloth face masks to support every student and staff member, 42,000 hand sanitizer dispensers, more than 40,000 containers of disinfectant wipes, 22,000 infrared thermometers, hospital-grade disinfectant sprayers, and additional PPE for specialty roles. We’re also hiring approximately 400 additional custodians to help carry out stringent cleaning and disinfection protocols every day in every school. 

Learning from home will also look different this fall
Based on guidance from ISBE, students learning at home will have a minimum of five hours of instruction or assigned work per day, and attendance will be tracked. Teachers will design activities and assignments that could include pre-recorded lessons, independent work to build skills, and digital curriculum resources. Students will access assignments through Google Classroom as part of a wider transition to Google platforms. Additional details on new learning expectations and improvements will be provided in the final reopening framework.

Social distancing will be critical to keeping students and educators safe
Students will be assigned to pods of approximately 15 students and, along with a designated group of teachers, will stay together for as long as the hybrid learning model is in place. This pod model reduces potential viral transmission, allows us to conduct rapid contact tracing, and reduces the need to disrupt learning for the school community if a case of COVID-19 is identified. 

In order to ensure proper social distancing, the majority of K–10 students will split their time between learning at home and learning at school. Students will learn at school with their teacher, and they will use their time learning at home to complete assignments and access digital curriculum. Under a 2-1-2 hybrid schedule model, each student pod will spend the same two consecutive days each week learning at school, the same two days learning independently at home, and each Wednesday they will participate in real-time virtual instruction with their classroom teacher. This model will allow students, staff, and families to maintain a stable weekly schedule while affording educators necessary time to plan for various instructional needs.

We’re differentiating the amount of in-person instruction students will receive based on their age and developmental learning needs. Pre-K students will go to school every day while high school juniors and seniors will learn at home due to the complexity of their schedules and the inability to maintain small, stable pods when schedules differ to such a great degree. Diverse learners, English Learners, students in Career and Technical Education programs that need access to specific resources, and high school juniors and seniors who need additional academic and social and emotional support will be prioritized for in-person instruction based on the capacity of each school. 

We will prioritize the social-emotional wellbeing of our students
Our reopening framework goes far beyond academics. It prioritizes the social-emotional needs of our students, many of whom have experienced trauma from the impact of COVID-19 on their communities and the demonstrations in our country following the murder of George Floyd. Easing our students’ anxiety and building supportive learning environments will be critical to their success this coming school year. Beginning in August, we will offer additional mental health interventions and supports, introduce grief curriculum, expand small group trauma interventions, and introduce classroom-based activities for managing stress and anxiety. 

Our reopening framework honors our commitment to equity
To follow through on the equity promise set forth in our Five-Year Vision, Success Starts Here, our reopening framework also takes into account the unique needs of our most vulnerable populations, including our English Learners and students with diverse learning needs. We are working on a plan to bring many of these students back into the classroom during all in-person instruction days, and we remain committed to providing all children with the supports and resources they will need to be successful during this challenging time.

In the coming weeks, the district will be finalizing our plans for implementing a high-quality hybrid learning model. We need your input on how best to resume school in a responsible manner. Please review the reopening framework and complete the reopening survey by July 31, 2020. Following an extensive public engagement period, we will release our final plan for the reopening of schools during the first week of August. And in late August, when we will have greater clarity on the public health situation at the time school is about to begin, we will make a final determination about whether we can welcome students back into school buildings a few days a week or have students learn-at-home full time. 

Despite this new reality, we are confident in the ability of our educators, families, and partners to work together to provide all CPS students with a robust, high-quality education. 

It will take all of us working together to make this school year a success and uphold necessary health and safety protocols in our schools. Everyone can help ensure schools are able to safely reopen in the fall by continuing to practice social distancing, wearing masks, and following the latest guidance from our public health officials. We hope you will unite with us in these efforts. We thank you for your input, patience, and flexibility. We value your partnership and look forward to hearing from you in the coming weeks. 

Sincerely,

Janice K. Jackson, EdD            LaTanya D. McDade        
Chief Executive Officer            Chief Education Officer
Chicago Public Schools            Chicago Public SchoolsMarco preliminar para reabrir las escuelas de una manera segura y responsable

Estimadas familias de las CPS:

En marzo, tomamos la difícil decisión de cerrar nuestros edificios escolares para proteger nuestras comunidades y frenar la propagación de COVID-19. En los meses consiguientes, nuestros educadores cambiaron completamente la manera de impartir clases; nuestros estudiantes perdieron la oportunidad de participar en el baile de graduación, las actividades deportivas y la ceremonia de graduación; y usted apoyó a sus hijos de maneras que nunca había hecho antes. Nuestros sacrificios compartidos han ayudado a aplanar la curva en nuestro estado, y nos han permitido evaluar seriamente la reapertura de escuelas durante el otoño. Hoy nos complace compartir con usted nuestro marco preliminar para la reapertura que sigue las directrices de los funcionarios de salud pública, y que servirá como guía para reabrir las escuelas en caso de que sea seguro hacerlo el 8 de septiembre. 

Hemos desarrollado nuestro marco preliminar basándonos en datos científicos y las guías publicadas por el Departamento de Salud Pública de Chicago (CDPH, por sus siglas en inglés), los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades y la Junta de Educación del Estado de Illinois. Hemos incluido los comentarios de los padres de familia sobre reanudar las clases de una manera que minimice los riesgos de salud relacionados con COVID-19. Para lograr este equilibrio justo, proponemos empezar el año escolar 2020-21 con un modelo académico híbrido donde los estudiantes aprenderán en la escuela y en casa. Con este modelo híbrido, se reducirá efectivamente a la mitad el número de estudiantes por aula, y los estudiantes podrán participar en clases presenciales. Nuestro marco está diseñado de manera que podamos adaptarnos a las actuales condiciones cambiantes de salud pública, y hacer una transición de manera fácil a un modelo de aprendizaje en casa por tiempo completo si los casos de COVID-19 empiezan a aumentar.

Si bien planeamos el regreso de los estudiantes a la escuela, también entendemos que algunas familias preferirán mantener a sus hijos en casa. Reconociendo la naturaleza sin precedentes de esta pandemia y la necesidad de ser flexibles, todos los padres podrán optar por no participar en clases presenciales y sí aprender en casa por tiempo completo.

Se implementarán nuevas medidas en los edificios escolares para el otoño.
Este año se sentirá diferente estar en la escuela. De acuerdo con las guías de salud pública, se permitirá la asistencia de solo la mitad del cuerpo estudiantil de cada escuela en un día determinado. El personal y los estudiantes deberán completar diariamente en casa evaluaciones médicas para detectar síntomas antes de acudir a la escuela; someterse a la toma de temperatura antes de ingresar al edificio; y usar cubierta facial. Los estudiantes sólo asistirán a la escuela unos cuantos días a la semana. 

Para cumplir con estas medidas se requiere una inversión considerable, lo que estamos completamente comprometidos a hacer. Para garantizar entornos académicos lo más seguro posible, hemos adquirido más de 1.2 millones de mascarillas de tela faciales para cada estudiante y miembro del personal; 42,000 dispensadores de desinfección para manos; más de 40,000 contenedores de toallas de desinfección; 22,000 termómetros infrarrojos; rociadores desinfectantes para uso en hospitales; y equipos de protección personal (PPE, por sus siglas en inglés) adicionales para funciones específicas de limpieza. También contrataremos casi 400 conserjes nuevos para que limpien y desinfecten de manera exhaustiva cada escuela todos los días. 

También se implementarán nuevos métodos de aprendizaje en casa para el otoño.
De acuerdo con las directrices de la Junta de Educación del Estado de Illinois (SBE, por sus siglas en inglés) los estudiantes participarán en clases remotas o trabajos asignados por un mínimo de cinco horas al día, y se les tomará asistencia. Los maestros crearán actividades escolares y asignarán trabajos relacionados a lecciones que han sido grabadas previamente; a trabajo independiente que desarrollan las habilidades; y a recursos del currículo digital. Los estudiantes accederán a las tareas a través de Google Classroom, como parte de una transición más amplia a las plataformas de Google. En el marco definitivo para la reapertura se detallarán nuevas expectativas y mejoras académicas.

El distanciamiento social será crítico para garantizar la seguridad de los estudiantes y los maestros. 
A los estudiantes se les asignará equipos pequeños (conocido en inglés como pods) de aproximadamente 15 estudiantes, y un grupo de maestros. Cada equipo permanecerá con sus maestros designados con tal de que se siga el modelo de aprendizaje híbrido. Este modelo de equipo reduce la posible transmisión del virus; nos permite realizar un rápido rastreo de contactos; y reduce la necesidad de interrumpir las clases si se presenta un caso de COVID-19. 

Para mantener un distanciamiento social adecuado, la mayoría de los estudiantes de kínder al 10.º grado (K-10) dividirán su tiempo entre aprender en casa y en la escuela. Los estudiantes aprenderán en la escuela con su maestro, y en la casa completarán tareas y accederán al currículo digital. Según este modelo de horario híbrido 2-1-2, todos los equipos de estudiantes aprenderán en la escuela durante los mismos días consecutivos de cada semana; aprenderán independientemente en casa durante los mismos dos días; y cada miércoles participarán en clases virtuales en tiempo real por tres horas junto con sus maestros. Este modelo les permitirá a los estudiantes, el personal y las familias mantener un estable horario semanal, y al mismo tiempo, les brindará a los maestros el tiempo necesario para planificar las clases. 

El número de estudiantes que participarán en clases presenciales se basarán en su edad y sus necesidades particulares de desarrollo académico. Los estudiantes de pre-kínder acudirán a la escuela todos los días. Mientras que los estudiantes de 11.º y 12.º grado aprenderán en casa, debido a la complejidad de sus horarios escolares y a la inhabilidad de mantener equipos pequeños y estables cuando tienen horarios tan diferentes. Se les dará prioridad para que participen en clases presenciales (basado a la capacidad de cada escuela) a los siguientes grupos: estudiantes de educación especial; estudiantes de inglés; estudiantes en programas de Educación Profesional y Técnica (CTE, por sus siglas en inglés) que necesitan acceso a recursos específicos; y estudiantes de 11.º y 12.º grado que necesitan apoyo académico y social y emocional adicional.

Priorizaremos el bienestar socio-emocional de nuestros estudiantes.
Nuestro marco para la reapertura abarca mucho más que lo académico. Éste prioriza las necesidades socio-emocionales de nuestros estudiantes, quienes muchos han experimentado traumas debido al impacto que COVID-19 ha tenido en sus comunidades, y debido a las manifestaciones en Estados Unidos tras el asesinato de George Floyd. Aliviar la ansiedad de nuestros estudiantes y crear entornos de aprendizaje acogedores será crítico para su éxito el próximo año escolar. Desde agosto, ofreceremos intervenciones y apoyos de salud mental; introduciremos currículos relacionados al manejo del duelo; aumentaremos las intervenciones de grupo reducido para el trauma; e introduciremos en el aula actividades para aliviar el estrés y la ansiedad. 

Nuestro marco para la reapertura honra nuestro compromiso con la equidad.
Para cumplir con la promesa de equidad establecida en nuestra Visión de cinco años, El éxito empieza aquí, nuestro marco para la reapertura también toma en consideración las necesidades únicas de nuestros grupos más vulnerables, como nuestros estudiantes de inglés y de educación especial. Estamos elaborando un plan para que muchos de estos estudiantes vuelvan al aula durante los días de clases presenciales. Además, aún nos comprometemos a proporcionarles a todos los niños el apoyo y los recursos necesarios para que tengan éxito durante este tiempo difícil.

En las próximas semanas, finalizaremos nuestros planes para implementar un modelo académico híbrido. Necesitamos su opinión sobre las mejores maneras de reanudar las clases de manera responsable. Le pedimos que revise el marco para la reapertura y que complete la encuesta sobre la reapertura antes del 31 de julio de 2020. Tras un período de interacción exhaustiva con el público, publicaremos nuestro plan definitivo para la reapertura de escuelas durante la primera semana de agosto. Y a finales de agosto, cuando tengamos más clara la situación de salud pública antes del comienzo de las clases, tomaremos una decisión final sobre si permitirles a los estudiantes acudir a la escuela unos cuantos días a la semana, o aprender en casa por tiempo completo.

A pesar de esta nueva realidad, confiamos en la capacidad de nuestros educadores, familias y socios para trabajar conjuntamente y proporcionarles a todos los estudiantes de las CPS una educación sólida y de alta calidad. 

Se requerirá colaboración para lograr un año escolar exitoso y mantener los protocolos de salud y seguridad en nuestras escuelas. Todos pueden contribuir a la reapertura segura en el otoño de las siguientes maneras: continuar la práctica del distanciamiento social, usar mascarillas y seguir las últimas directrices de nuestros funcionarios de salud pública. Esperamos que colabore con nosotros en estos esfuerzos. Como siempre, les agradecemos por su participación, paciencia y flexibilidad. Valoramos su colaboración y quedamos a la espera de sus comentarios en las próximas semanas. 

Atentamente,

Janice K. Jackson, EdD            LaTanya D. McDade
Directora Ejecutiva                  Directora de Educación
Escuelas Públicas de Chicago    Escuelas Públicas de Chicago
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Skinner North Family Check In: Remote Learning Feedback and Reflection

7/9/2020

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Good afternoon!  We hope everyone is doing well.  As we wait on further guidance from the district on what the fall will look like, we wanted to reach out to our families to give an opportunity to reflect on your experiences with remote learning and provide insight into your thinking about the fall.  We encourage you to complete this survey to help us further reflect and guide planning for next year.  As always, we so appreciate your partnership and perspective.


The survey is available at the above link or at:  https://forms.gle/PjLp7kxtx5gvDWLt8.

If possible, please complete the survey by Thursday, July 23.


Have a wonderful day,
Katie & Derrick
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Skinner North Update

7/6/2020

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Dear Skinner North Community:

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Single Story-Facilitated Workshops on race and racism, the Game Night in support of local, Black-owned restaurants, and/or the White Fragility Workshop. 


We are working towards forming a SEED cohort for our community in the coming school year. (SEED, which stands for Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity, is a series of facilitated monthly seminars designed to help participants create, develop, and implement strategies that foster respect for all people.) In continuation of our 'pre-work' for the SEED seminars, the next sessions in the Diversity Committee's Summer Workshop series are:


Beyond Black & White: Asian-Americans and Racial Justice
Tuesday, July 14th
6:30-8:00pm
If you haven't done so already, sign up here by July 12th to join a facilitated discussion about Asian-American experiences in the United States and the relationship of the Asian-American community to the current movement for anti-Black racial justice. (Attendance at previous or subsequent workshop sessions is welcome but not required.) 

Workshop Goals:
  • Asian American parents are able to share their experiences of racism
  • Participants have a historical and contemporary context for anti-Asian racism
  • Participants understand the importance of focusing on anti-Black racism 
  • Participants are aware of current work being done to address racism and anti-Black racism and ways they can be involved
Book Club: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
Dates TBD: 3 sessions from late July through August
We will be reading and discussing Stamped - a remix by Jason Reynolds of the National Book Award-winning book by Ibram X. Kendi.  Our Skinner North teachers will be reading the book in parallel, and many of our kids will be reading it in the fall.  We want to ensure everyone has access to the book, so please register here by July 12th and let us know if you are interested in getting a copy of the book from the Diversity Committee.
In order to create a space for learning, the summer workshop sessions are for grown-ups only.  We do invite all Skinner North parents and community members - including alumni and friends - to join any of these sessions.  You do not have to be White to discuss White Fragility. You do not have to identify as Asian-American to seek to better understand how members of that community might be experiencing recent events.  And we can all benefit from filling in the gaps in our knowledge of American history and how we got to the current moment.

Our school and others across the country are increasingly putting race and racism back into the curriculum from which it had been erased.  Because some of us have not had a chance to grapple with these topics in our formative years, we may feel ill-equipped to support our kids in their learning.  Our goal in this work continues to be supporting parents and other family members in preparing our kids to better understand the world around them and to become members of a diverse, global community.

If you have additional input or have another topic you would like to see us address, please reach out to us at sndiversity@gmail.com.

​
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Chicago, IL 60610

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