Good evening!  It was nice seeing so many of you today and welcoming students back to the building.  Students met their teachers, became more familiar with classmates and classroom routines.  We look forward to day 2.  Please read below for a few updates.


Have a great day,
Katie
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Drop Off Update for Tomorrow (Please read and follow the request)- To assist with social distancing, we ask that parents do not line up with students or stand in the student line up sections.  We have staff outside at 8:15.   After you drop your student off in their section,please feel free to observe from a distance.  There is the green space across from the school that works well for this.  (Thank you for your help on this.  It allows us to better see students, aid social distancing and create smoother transitions.)  (Our youngest students will have name tags with their room numbers on them to ensure all staff can assist them.)


Health Screener Attestation (Due 9/3) - Health Screener Attestation Forms are due by 9/3/21.  You can access it here.  Please print, complete and have your student return it to their teacher.  We will also send paper copies home tomorrow if you are unable to print. 


COVID Testing for Students - If you are interested in having your child participate in testing, please follow this link https://home.color.com/covid/sign-up/start?partner=tf-ski-610534-students and complete the registration process. A parent or guardian must register any minor under 18 years old, and you’ll give a one-time consent and HIPAA authorization to share your child’s results with the school and district. 
Testing is optional for students, except for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated student athletes. Testing will take place during regular school hours and results will be available in 24 to 48 hours. Color Health will follow up with you directly if your child receives a positive result. 

For more information on testing with Thermo Fisher and Color, including self-swab testing and receiving results, head to their Support FAQs or call 888-603-1028. You may also email the CPS COVID-19 Testing Team at covidtestingcps@cps.edu. 
 
Thank you for your participation to keep our school community safe and healthy.


​

Good morning!  I want to thank everyone who came to the livestream and also apologize.  Our software was not working for the steaming and we were not able to get it fixed quickly enough.  We appreciate your understanding!  Please read below for links to access the presentation and items discussed.  

Have a wonderful day,
Katie and Derrick
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Skinner North Welcome Back Recording -  We did record the presentation that was supposed to be livestreamed.  It incorporated the parent questions received.  Please view this video at: https://youtu.be/0hQDrvSLnSY
or you can access the slides at this link.

Reminder - End of Day Plan (Please complete) - This form helps us ensure that we know where your student should go at dismissal (Bus, Stanton Park, Right At School, or regular dismissal with their class).  This is essential for students who ride the bus and our younger students.  (Historically, some students are signed up for bus, but don't ride initially.)  We want to make sure we know your wishes.  (Please review with your student as well.)  We ask that you complete by 10AM Monday.  


*Please note:  Send a signed note to the main office if your student is self dismissing this year.

Health Screener Form - We talked about this in our presentation.  Parents will be asked to complete this daily with students.  You do not have to submit electronically.  You will be asked to do an attestation that you ask the questions daily.  This will be sent to you at a later point.

Skinner North Staff Directory - Learn more about our team members with our Staff Directory.

Reminder - Pick Up/Drop Off Logistics - Please review this document to find where your student will be lining up at the beginning of the day and where they will be dismissed.    ​Skinner North Update and Back to School Recording

Good Evening!  It has been a great week having our staff back.  We are so excited to see our students on Monday.  We have a few updates/reminders below.  

Have a great day,
Katie

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End of Day Plan (Please complete) - This form helps us ensure that we know where your student should go at dismissal (Bus, Stanton Park, Right At School, or regular dismissal with their class).  This is essential for students who ride the bus and our younger students.  (Historically, some students are signed up for bus, but don't ride initially.)  We want to make sure we know your wishes.  (Please review with your student as well.)  We ask that you complete by 10AM Monday.

Skinner North Welcome Back Livestream (Reminder) - We will be doing a live-streamed presentation tomorrow, Friday at 8AM.  This will include discussion of beginning of year logistics and safety protocols.  Email Katie to get the link.  You can submit your questions by using this form:  https://forms.gle/TSuiYeX3r6i1EP9AA  


Skinner North Staff Directory - Learn more about our team members with our Staff Directory.

Supply Drop Off (Reminder) - Please feel free to drop off your student's school supplies anytime between 8:30 and 3:30 tomorrow or bring them next week.

*Removal from listserv - If you no longer wish to receive our emails, please complete the following form:  https://forms.gle/gA9o28cwbWgs4qog7    

Good morning,

We have been excited to welcome staff back into the building this week.  It is a week of learning and preparing for our students.  We are also happy to have the guidance from CPS regarding reopening.  Please note, we received this yesterday evening and will be hosting a Live-streamed session to review opening logistics with families.  This will be recorded if you are unable to attend.  See information around this and other important information below.  

Have a great day,
Katie
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CPS Reopening Guidance - Last night, CPS sent guidance around the beginning of the year safety protocols.  Please review the guidance.  It is accessible via this link.

Skinner North Welcome Back Livestream - We will be doing a live-streamed presentation on Friday at 8AM.  This will include discussion of beginning of year logistics and safety protocols.  Email Katie if you need the link to access the livestream.   You can submit your questions by using this form:  https://forms.gle/TSuiYeX3r6i1EP9AA

Pick Up/Drop Off Logistics - Please review this document to find where your student will be lining up at the beginning of the day and where they will be dismissed.  

Skinner North Parent Handbook - Please see this link for our parent handbook.  

Supply Drop Off - Please feel free to drop off your student's school supplies anytime between 8:30 and 3:30 tomorrow or Friday. (New students and KDG students can drop off today as well.)

Class Lists - As a reminder, class lists are posted on the front doors of the building.  Emails were sent via Blackboacboardconnect last week.  (The sender listed is SKINNER NORTH CLASSICAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.)  Remember this system only goes to the first contact listed in our student information system.  We use Blackboard for student specific or targeted emails.

Transportation - You should be receiving information regarding transportation this week.  Please call the main office on Friday if you have not received your information.

Food Allergies, Asthma or Other Chronic Medical Conditions - If your student has food allergies, asthma or other chronic medical conditions, they should get a 504 plan.  Please email Danielle Ritchey, our case manager, if you have any questions.

*Removal from listserv - If you no longer wish to receive our emails, please complete the following form:  https://forms.gle/gA9o28cwbWgs4qog7  

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​Good afternoon!  Thank you to everyone who was able to come to the LSC meeting.  I am looking forward to the coming year and grateful for the participation.  Below are a few items that were discussed. 

Have a wonderful day,
Katie
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Park Security Updates - This document details our security measures in place and items we are working on as well.  Please feel free to review.  In addition, there are contacts for the Park, CPD and the alderman's office.  If you are interested in helping promote park safety measures with a group organized by parents, please reach out to me and I will connect you.  


Principal's Report - Contains updates and other information.  Key items to note include school is starting on Monday, August 30th.  Class lists will be posted on the front entrance of the school by Friday, emailed out via Blackboard (goes to primary contact's email address) and accessible via Parent Portal.   In addition, we will send out our beginning of the year logistics survey next week.


Miscellaneous Positions - We also recently received two miscellaneous positions from the district to support re-opening.  If you know of anyone interested, please have them send their resume to me.  (These employees support entry/dismissal, classrooms, lunch/recess and other tasks throughout the school day.)


COVID-19 Safety Measures -  Safety is our number one priority.  We are excited to welcome students back fully this school year and have safety measures in place to support our students and staff.  Some of the safety measures include:

• Universal indoor masking regardless of vaccination status 
• Promotion of vaccinations (All staff are required to be vaccinated.)
• Physical distancing of at least 3 feet when possible 
• Screening testing 
• Ventilation 
• Handwashing and respiratory etiquette 
• Staying home when sick and getting tested 
• Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine 
• Cleaning and disinfection

We will provide further details around school opening in upcoming emails.

Have a wonderful day,
Katie

​Good morning!  Please see this link for Wednesday's 8AM Local School Council Meeting agenda.


The meeting is virtual and accessible via the following link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2520679911?pwd=VTI5NTVheE02SWRzRWY5SnZrcmNQZz09   

Have a wonderful day,
Katie

​Hello , Skinner North Community!  I hope everyone is doing well.  We always want to make sure that we are keeping you informed and I am reaching out to share information about an incident that happened near the school over the weekend.  

We learned that there were reports of shots fired near the Stanton Park basketball court area around 3:00AM on Sunday morning.  No staff, students or Skinner North families were present at the time.  There is no relationship of this incident to our school, but there was some damage to a few of our windows at the school, which will be fixed shortly.  

Out of an abundance of caution, we are working with CPD, CPS’ Safety and Security Department, CPS’ Facilities Department, and the Stanton Park team for further follow up on the incident.
 
Please feel free to contact me at the school at 773-534-8500 if you have any questions. 
 
Have a wonderful day,
Katie

Good afternoon!  We hope everyone is doing well and having a happy Monday.  Please read below for a few updates or reminders.

Have a great day,
Katie and Derrick
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Student Health and School Forms Booklet -   If you want to get started on back to school paperwork, you can do so with this booklet.  It includes medical information forms, the Request for Emergency and Health information, the School Messaging Consent Form, the Media Consent and Release, and the Family Income Form.  You can bring the forms when the school year starts or drop off during our office hours (9-2 on weekdays).  (New enrollees - these forms were already provided in your enrollment packets, so you should be set.)


LSC Parent Vacancies - We have two parents who are no longer eligible to be on the LSC as they have moved out of the district.  We are looking for two parents to fill these spots.  The LSC is responsible for three main duties including: approving how school funds and resources are allocated; developing and monitoring the school's Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP); and evaluating and selecting the school's principal.  Terms end July 1, 2022.  Please contact skinnernorthlsc@gmail.com if you are interested in filling the vacancy.

FoSN - Friends of Skinner North is looking for officers.  Find out ways to get involved at https://www.fosn.net/fosn-volunteer-needs.  

Skinner North School Directory - Please email Katie for the Skinner North School Directory.   In an effort to coordinate carpools, play dates, or just to get to know everyone, we have put together the Skinner North Directory. This directory was created using directory submission forms completed by parents.

This directory is divided by grade levels. Click on the desired tab to access information related to families within that grade level. *If you notice your information is incorrect or missing, please complete this form (https://forms.gle/aiSEfHsAZ5MjeK367) and it will be corrected/added in the next edition, which we will send out the first week of school. (We will update progressively, so changes will be reflected on an ongoing basis.)

Carpooling App - This is not endorsed by the school, but we wanted to share a resource for carpooling that one of our parents created and many parents have asked about transportation.  It is called PiggyBack, a youth transportation network. Find out more at www.piggybacknetwork.com or on this flier.

Transportation - Remember a student must live within the bussing boundaries to qualify.  If a student has an active request from past years and there is no change of address or stop location, you do not need to submit a new request.  If you have not applied to transportation previously and would like to, complete the Application for School Bus Service.  Further information can be found at https://www.cps.edu/services-and-supports/transportation-services/.

Parent Volunteers - Each year volunteers who have been previously approved have to be reinstated, but don't have to reapply on the website.  To be reinstated, a current ID needs to be presented to the main office where a copy will be made.  (Level 1 volunteers may have further requirements to renew.)  Please reach out to Gloria Morales, gqmorales@cps.edu if you have questions.  Go to https://www.cps.edu/services-and-supports/parent-engagement/volunteer-programs/ for more information on volunteering.

Message Regarding Sports (5-8) from Mr. Popowich, our Athletics Director - 
Hello families, 

I hope everyone has had a great summer! I know it is flying by! As we move into August,  I wanted to remind families that we WILL be having CPS sports this fall! We are so excited to get these programs back up and running and look forward to a great season!

Please read this email in its entirety then move onto the registration link at the bottom. This email is full of very useful and important information, as well as a call for soccer coaches!

For fall 2021, we will have 5/6 and 7/8 boy's and girl's cross country and 5/6 and 7/8 boy's soccer. Practices for  cross country will be on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:45-4:45 and will start on Wed. Sept. 8th. Practices for soccer will be determined once we find a coach.

CPS sports will be broken up a little differently this year. If we have more athletes than allowed on one team, we will have to break into two and hold tryouts. Team A will practice twice a week and have games on Saturday vs other schools and have a chance to go for conference championships. This team would be composed of the more advanced players, decided on by the tryouts.Team B will practice twice a week, but will have scrimmages vs. themselves (and potentially other schools) during the week. This team will focus more on conditioning and skill development than game play and competition. 

At this time, we are good with coaching for cross country, but are in need of volunteer coaches for boy's soccer. If you have any interest in coaching, please let me know ASAP. You must be able to coach two practices per week, and the matches. Also, you must go through the level I volunteer protocol which includes fingerprints and a TB test. If we are unable to secure volunteer coaches, we will be forced to cancel the season.

If your child will be able to attend both practices per week and the games, please fill out the registration form, HERE. Depending on how many students register, I will let families know if we will move forward with one team per grade band or will have to hold tryouts. 

Again, if you are interested in coaching, please let me know ASAP as the volunteer process tends to take some time and we want to be ready to start ASAP!


Thanks and have a great summer!

Jon