​Dear Skinner North Community,
 
Thank you to everyone who participated in our anti-racism and social justice virtual workshops for adults held throughout the summer. In response to your collective desire to impact positive change in our school community, what began as a couple sessions guided by Single Story (our Diversity Integration consultant team) flourished into a collection of 8 sessions altogether (scroll down for details and resources), PLUS a virtual game night in support of black-owned restaurants. Participants on each call were thoughtful and engaged and contributed to vibrant discussions.


Our work is not done. 
 
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. As a Diversity Committee, our goal in this work continues to be supporting parents, caregivers, and other family members in preparing our kids to better understand the world around them and to become members of a diverse, global community.
 
We invite you to help shape the work that we accomplish together. Skinner North is working towards forming a SEED cohort (made up of teachers, staff, parents, and caregivers) for our community. 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 addition to the SEED cohort, the Diversity Committee is re-envisioning this year’s International Festival in virtual form. Volunteers are welcome and encouraged to help plan the event! Finally, we are seeking your help to support our school in making progress on its Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Plan.
 
Let's come together to analyze the type of school community we are cultivating, in regards to race and antiracism, and set growth goals that push beyond a focus on our best intent and, instead, think critically about #whatisyourimpact.
 
Many thanks to all the parents and caregivers who already have reached out to offer their ideas and support. If you would like to be involved in these efforts or have other suggestions, sign up here to join the Diversity Committee (and receive Zoom links for monthly meetings). Mark your calendar for the next Diversity Committee Meeting on Wed, 10/7 at 8:30am. Also, please feel free to contact us at sndiversity@gmail.com.
 
Sincerely,
Your Skinner North Diversity Committee
 
A recap of the Diversity Committee Summer Workshop Series…
 
Session 1: What is Happening?
Together, we processed our thoughts and feelings about what is going on in America as it relates to race and racism.
Facilitators: Single Story, the Diversity Integration Consultants who supported our staff throughout the previous academic year
 
Session 2: How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism
We unpacked how caregivers talk to their children about race and racism and explored best practices to guide future conversation with our children.
Workshop Slides
Additional Resources Compiled by Single Story
Facilitators: Single Story
 
Session 3: White Fragility
We viewed the 1-hour webinar on White Fragility (based on Robin DiAngelo's best-selling book). We unpacked the concept together and processed our thoughts about it.
 
Session 4: Beyond Black & White: Asian-Americans and Racial Justice
We learned about and discussed Asian-American experiences in the United States and the relationship of the Asian-American community to the current movement for racial justice.
Workshop Presentation
Facilitators: Tuyet Le and Esther Hurh
 
Session 5: Interactive Follow Up Workshop: Asian-Americans and Racial Justice
We analyzed Problematic Statements (intersecting with anti-Black racism) and debunked myths heard in Asian-American and other communities.
 
Sessions 6, 7, & 8: Book Club Meetings
We read and discussed Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, a remix by Jason Reynolds of the National Book Award winning book by Ibram X. Kendi. Our Skinner North teachers read the book in a parallel book club, and our upper grade kids will read it this fall in their respective classrooms.

Good afternoon,

The announcement in the Breonna Taylor case came this week which gives rise to a myriad of emotions.  As a school, our goal is to always support our students while they navigate their thoughts, especially in our current climate.  Providing a platform where students are able to express themselves and have constructive conversations is essential towards being productive citizens.
 
As a school, we stand firmly with our students and families of color.  Allowing spaces where everyone can have open and honest conversations about racial injustices and inequalities and be able to share their perspectives is pivotal. 
 
Please know that our quest to create 21st century leaders that are equipped with the necessary tools to be fair and just will happen whether we are remote or in-person and as always we partner with you on this.

  

Please read below for a few updates.


Have a wonderful weekend,
Katie & Derrick

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Student Independence and Privacy - One of our goals is to help students become more and more independent during remote learning while deepening their self-regulation skills.  Teachers are working to support students in this.  We want you to remember you do not have to sit next to your student for the duration of their day.  If you need support, please reach out.  

*Please remember in order to protect student privacy, parents or other individuals should not participate in, observe or record virtual sessions.  

Back to School Nights - Teachers are hosting Back to School Nights next week.  They have/will send further communication of how to login to the session.  Teachers will introduce themselves and review important things to know about the classroom.  See below for days and times events will occur.

Grade                 Teacher Name             Day of Back to School Night /Time
Kinder                 SchultzWednesday              9/30/205:00 PM
Kinder                 MulliganWednesday            9/30/205:00 PM
1st Grade             BergmanWednesday              9/30/207:00 PM
1st Grade             WalshWednesday                 9/30/207:00 PM
2nd Grade          HarringtonTuesday               9/29/205:00 PM
2nd Grade          FosterTuesday                        9/29/205:00 PM
3rd Grade Team    Shakespeare, Ross                Wednesday 9/30/20             5:00
4th Grade TeamCastillo, BorazThursday        10/1/20205:00 PM
5th Grade TeamSheehy, Shah, McCarthy, MaierWednesday              9/30/206:00 PM
6th Grade TeamCox, Maier, Marsden, SofrankoWednesday           9/30/206:30 PM
7/8 TeamMueller, Schroeder, Marine, Ridgway, AnsariWednesday 9/30/20Math/Science 5:00 - 5:30
Literacy/Social Studies 5:30-6:00


Required Health and Medical Forms - Please remember to complete required medical forms for your student and submit by Oct. 15 if possible.  (Forms are available here.)

• Physical - Required for Kindergarten and 6th grade
• Vision - Required for Kindergarten
• Dental - Required for Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grades
• Immunizations (See page 4 of this document for further details)

Local School Council (LSC) Update - We would like to welcome Jackie Gharapour Wernz (parent representative) and Priya Shah (teacher representative) to the LSC.  Jackie was selected last meeting based on a vacancy we had and Priya was selected by staff based on an opening we had. Find out more information about our LSC at http://www.skinnernorth.org/local-school-council-lsc.html.

LSC Elections - The current LSC will serve until December.  The 2020 elections were postponed and are scheduled to occur in November.  Please visit our website http://www.skinnernorth.org/lsc-elections-2020.html for more informaiton about the elections and about running.  If you would like to run and have not submitted your forms yet, please note they are due by 3 PM Oct. 2.  If you are interested in being an election judge see this Flyer.


Diversity Committee Meeting and Update - If you would like to receive communications from the Diversity Committee please use this brief form to sign up.  They usually send out a meeting invite for our monthly meetings plus maybe 2-3 emails a month.  

The form will also ask you about your preferences for our monthly meeting.   The next Diversity Committee meeting for Wednesday, October 7 from 8:30 - 9:30 am.  At the meeting we plan to discuss our goals for the year.  They will send out a meeting invite with the zoom info to those who sign up to our mailing list.  Future meeting times will be determined based on the feedback we get in the form.

SNUG Updates - SNUG (Virtual) Fall Forum regarding HS and AC Application Process:  Wed., October 7, 2020 @ 6:30 pm via Zoom featuring Ms. Jacobson.  

Skinner North Upper Grade (SNUG) now has its own email (SNUGCPS@gmail.com) and calendar.  The SNUG google calendar displays SNUG events and serves as a place for current SN middle school families (5th-8th) to post physical and virtual meetups to aid at keeping students connected. If you would like access to the SNUG calendar, please email your gmail address to SNUGCPS@gmail.com and identify the name and grade of your student.  (If you would also like to be added to the SNUG REMIND APP distribution list, please state so in your email.)  Thereafter, you will be invited to the SNUG google calendar and will have: (a) the ability to invite the SNUG calendar to a meetup (i.e., create a meet up) and (b) access the details of all events on the calendar to find a meet up that suits your family.  If you have already asked for access, please do not resubmit your request. All current requests are being processed. 


Reminders - 
Family Income Information Form (FIIF) -  Please complete this form and return to the school by Nov. 18 (updated date).  You do not have to list your income, but the form helps inform school funding. 

Attendance Excusal Protocols -   Remember attendance is taken daily for students during remote learning.  To learn more, review our attendance section in our school handbook.  Please note:  to excuse an absence a call to the school (773-534-8500) or a signed excusal note that is mailed/faxed to the school is allowable. (We cannot accept electronic signatures.)  The excuse must be one that is allowable per CPS and ISBE (see handbook for details).

Office Hours - The school is open daily from 8:30-3:30.  Please feel free to call.  Mr. Santillan, our techco, is available to troubleshoot tech issues during the day.

Derrick and Katie will also have virtual office hours on Tuesdays and Fridays from noon to 1.  You can connect via this link:  meet.google.com/tcs-pwur-qgh or join by phone ‪(US) +1 609-429-5796‬ PIN: ‪678 085 736‬#  

  Good afternoon,

Please see attached for Local School Council virtual meeting agenda for Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 5PM.  

We have an open parent representative spot on the council.  If you are interested in running, please reach out to our chair, Conor Sullivan at skinnernorthlsc@gmail.com.  Please see the agenda.
​
Have a great day,
Katie

​Good afternoon!  I hope everyone is doing well.  I have been so inspired this week by the flexibility, creativity and hard work of our students, parents and staff.  There are so many things this school year that are out of the norm, but we are adjusting with patience and kindness towards one another and learning new inventive ways to connect and learn.  


This sense of moving forward even amid challenges goes along well with our hashtag for the year.  Each year we have a theme to help encourage our students and community and create a shared connection.  The 2020-2021 theme is #whatisyourimpact.  We want to encourage our students, staff and community to think about how they can positively impact their own learning, classroom community, school community and the world around them.  Everyone can be a changemaker and we want our students to see this in themselves.  Check out our staff video rolling out this year's hashtag.   

Thanks to Friends of Skinner North, each student will receive a Skinner North #whatisyourimpact t-shirt.  Details on how to pick up are included below.  Shoutout to Zofia, an 8th grader, who created the design!

Please read below for a few updates and reminders.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Katie & Derrick
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Materials Pick, Technology and T-shirt Pick Up- We will continue to have materials pick up times for families.  Teachers may also have materials to assist in student learning for pick up.  This would be communicated directly by the teachers.  All students have a t-shirt waiting for them.  You may pick up a #whatisyourimpact t-shirt during material pick up times, which are from 8:30-3:30 on any school day.  (In addition, some 7/8th graders did not receive the sensory tools (stress ball and tube) provided by FoSN and if you would like a paper copy of the back to school packet, you can pick these up during the pick up times.)  If you are in need of technology, reach out to Mr. Kimbrough directly (dkimbrough@cps.edu).  Please use the front buzzer.  A staff member will come to you as no one but staff is allowed into the building at this time.  Masks are required.

First Week Survey - Please complete this survey and return to the school by Sept. 30.  You do not have to list your income, but the form helps inform school funding.  

Weekly Plan - We posted the first week plans on the remote learning website.  Moving forward teachers will have weekly plans posted directly on their websites.  To access their sites go to http://www.skinnernorth.org/remote-learning-2020-2021.html. (Please note that:  Specials plans are integrated into the homeroom teachers plans.)

Family Income Information Form (FIIF) -  Please complete this form and return to the school by Sept. 30.  You do not have to list your income, but the form helps inform school funding. 

Attendance Excusal Protocols -   Remember attendance is taken daily for students during remote learning.  To learn more, review our attendance section in our school handbook.  Please note:  to excuse an absence a call to the school (773-534-8500) or a signed excusal note that is mailed/faxed to the school is allowable. (We cannot accept electronic signatures.)  The excuse must be one that is allowable per CPS and ISBE (see handbook for details).

Office Hours - The school is open daily from 8:30-3:30.  Please feel free to call.  Mr. Santillan, our techco, is available to troubleshoot tech issues during the day.

Derrick and Katie will also have virtual office hours on Tuesdays and Fridays from noon to 1.  You can connect via this link:  meet.google.com/tcs-pwur-qgh or join by phone ‪(US) +1 609-429-5796‬ PIN: ‪678 085 736‬#

SNUG Fall Forum - Join us on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:30 for our Skinner North Upper Grade Committee sponsored forum.  It will include a presentation about selective enrollment high school and academic center application processes.  Ms. Jacobson, our school counselor, will be presenting.  Thank you to SNUG for organizing!  Use the following to log into the virtual event.  


Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86837582300?pwd=ME02ZHRyTS9Yc3puNld1VS84ZGM5QT09
Meeting ID: 868 3758 2300
Passcode: Da6Z8c 

Skinner North Question Corner.  We will select and answer questions each month. We encourage you to submit your questions.  We want to create a space where everyone feels comfortable asking questions. 
Note:  When you submit a question, you agree to have your question published and sent to the newsletter listserv (names will not be included).  We will try to respond to all questions submitted, but some may not be answered/published.   If you have an immediate concern or question, please always feel free to email.
Please submit your questions at https://goo.gl/forms/yc3mMfMpT6HDjOUi1.  

Good afternoon,


We are excited to welcome you to the 2020-2021 school year.  It is definitely a unique one as we are starting with remote learning.  This will be a year of flexibility and a year of modeling this for our students.  We will need to continuously think about how we are showing compassion and understanding to one another. As a community, these concepts will make us stronger and best able to support our students both social-emotionally and academically.  


As always we are here if you have any questions.  


Please read below for important updates and information.
Have a wonderful day,
Katie and Derrick
_____________________________________________________________


Preparing for a successful first day of school on Tuesday, September 8 - Make sure to review the this document, which has helpful first day information, and the steps below:

1. Need a device? - If your student needs a device, contact Mr. Kimbrough at dkimbrough@cps.edu.
2. Need internet access? - Families can check their eligibility and explore other affordable internet service options at cps.edu/getconnected. 
3. Need student login or forgot password? - If a student does not have a CPS username and password, please see these account set up instructions or forgot password informational sheet. 
4. Have a question? - Contact the school at 773-534-8500. We will also have a Google Meet available for questions during the first day. Connect to our Google Meet at: meet.google.com/tcs-pwur-qgh or call (‪US‬) ‪+1 609-429-5796 with PIN: ‪678 085 736#‬
5. Remember Attendance will be taken. - Students need to log in to cps.edu/portal with their CPS username and password every day and participate in synchronous sessions. Although we’re learning at home, students’ schedules should mirror a normal school day. 

Skinner North School Handbook - Please review our School Handbook for information around policies, procedures and other details for the 2020-2021 school year.  You can access the handbook at: http://www.skinnernorth.org/uploads/4/1/0/1/41014239/skinner_north_parent_handbook_2020-2021.pdf.  


Skinner North Remote Learning Website - Visit our remote learning website at http://www.skinnernorth.org/remote-learning-2020-2021.html.  This site is an information hub.  You can find general information as well as class/subject specific information and links.  Teachers have websites, which will include weekly plans that are uploaded on Thursday evenings for the coming week.

2020-2021 Skinner North Staff Directory - Get to know our fabulous Skinner North Staff by reviewing our staff directory.  You can access at:  http://www.skinnernorth.org/uploads/4/1/0/1/41014239/skinner_north_staff_directory_2020-2021.pdf.

Updated Skinner North Directory - Please see the following link (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SWk1aGBuUUKGusndNi7U8u4XQ2fUQF0egkgJKVNjIag/edit?usp=sharing) for the second edition of our school directory.  Parents opt to have their information included.  If you need to make edits, submit them at https://forms.gle/njCZXksBJMBmYU3R9.  In addition, for the convenience of parents. we are adding homerooms to the directory.  (We had previously emailed asking families to let us know if they did not want their students homeroom included in the directory.  We will be adding homerooms throughout this week and next. When updated, they will be reflected in the link.)

Supply Pick Up - You may still pick up student supplies, technology or back to school kits at the school.  No one is allowed to enter the building, but between 8:30-3:30 on school days you may buzz at the main door and a staff member will assist you.  Masks must be worn.  If you feel you are missing anything from your back to school bag, please contact Mr. Kimbrough (dkimbrough@cps.edu), he can assist further.

Creating a Calm Down Spot at Home - Students received sensory tools in their back to school bags thanks to FoSN!  We wanted to share two sheets to help support the use of these tools and social-emotional learning:  Coping Skills for Kids and Creating a Calm Down Spot at Home.

Student, Family and Staff Privacy -  Please remember remote learning is a unique situation for our families and students.  Typically, we are not in each other's homes or living situations.  We must respect each other’s privacy as much as possible during remote learning. Learn more about how to best respect and protect one another’s privacy during remote learning here. And as a reminder, our Acceptable Use Policy outlines the district’s rules for staff and students interacting on digital platforms.

Please note: Guests and outside visitors are prohibited from joining virtual classes.

Increasing the number of meal sites across the city - Beginning Tuesday, September 8, the district will have more than 450 meal sites for the 2020–21 school year. Students, parents, or guardians may pick up free meals at the nearest school from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please find the nearest meal distribution site using this map which will be updated this Friday with the latest set of meal sites. If families are unable to visit a meal site in-person, the district will continue to provide free delivery for those who need additional support.

Calendar Update - Schools will be closed on November 3 in observance of Election Day. Classes will now be in session on Veterans Day, November 11. See https://www.cps.edu/globalassets/cps-pages/calendar/sy2020-2021-academic-calendar-english.pdf for the updated CPS school calendar.

GoCPS Application Updates - The district recently released updates for the coming selective enrollment high school and elementary school procedures. (Please note that Winter 2019 refers to Winter scores during the 2019-2020 school year.) Please go to https://go.cps.edu/about-gocps/2020-process-changes to view the changes/updates.

J@School Update - J@School has served as our after care provider in the past.  They are hosting community child care.  If interested in learning more, go to https://jatschool.jccchicago.org/community-child-care/.


SNUG Updates - Skinner North Upper Grade (SNUG) now has its own email (SNUGCPS@gmail.com) and calendar.  The SNUG google calendar will display SNUG events and serve as a place for current SN middle school families (5th-8th) to post physical and virtual meetups to aid at keeping students connected. If you would like access to the SNUG calendar, please email your gmail address to SNUGCPS@gmail.com and identify the name and grade of your student.  (If you would also like to be added to the SNUG REMIND APP distribution list, please state so in your email.)  Thereafter, you will be invited to the SNUG google calendar and will have: (a) the ability to invite the SNUG calendar to a meetup (i.e., create a meet up) and (b) access the details of all events on the calendar to find a meet up that suits your family. 


Because this calendar has the potential to house many events and meet ups, please abide by the following rules when creating a meet up:


a. Title field of the meet up should follow this format: 
  - Grade of student organizer / grades invited / subject of event or meet up.  For example, if my 8th grader wanted to let 8th graders know he will be rollerblading at Humboldt Park, the calendar post should read:  8th /  8th / Rollerblading @ Humboldt Park. 

b. Always use the location field to add a physical address or denote the meeting is virtual.  If the meet up is physical, identify exact location of the meet up in the details field.  For example- in the Humboldt Park example above:  Meet at tennis courts just west of California @ Evergreen.   

c. Always include a start and stop time for the event/meet up.  

d. In the details field share what you would want to know before committing to allow your child to go to a meet up, including but not limited to, name of organizer and phone number.