Good afternoon!  We hope everyone's Friday is starting off well.  Please read below for a few updates.  


But first, we need your feedback!  Please complete our 
Skinner North Remote Learning Survey (Reflecting on Quarter 1).  Your opinion is very important to us as we want remote learning to be a positive experience for our students and families.  Please complete this anonymous survey to share your thoughts on the remote learning experience thus far.  The information will help us to further plan and improve our educational practices during remote learning.    PLEASE COMPLETE A SEPARATE FORM FOR EACH STUDENT.


Also, if you are interested in participating in a remote learning focus group to share your experiences so far, there is a question about that in the form or feel free to email Katie (kmagnuson@cps.edu) if you would like to participate.
 
The survey will close on Friday, November 6th.  Thanks in advance for sharing your input.

Have a wonderful day,
Katie and Derrick


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State of the School Presentation Deck - We hosted our State of the School address on Tuesday.  Thank you to everyone who was able to join.  Please see the presentation deck at this link.  The presentation also includes access to various links for further information and resources.  We will send further information about our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan in the near future.  

LSC Election Update - The Local School Council election will be hosted on Report Card Pick Up day (Wed., Nov. 18).  The district will be mailing ballots to parents/guardians, so you can do a mail in vote.  There will also be in person voting from 7AM to 7PM at the school as community members have to vote in person.  Parents/staff can choose to mail in or vote in person.  Please note that parent-teacher meetings will remain virtual.  Teachers will be sending further information as we get closer to the date.  You can find more details about the election here.

SEED Parent and Staff Groups:  Correspondence was sent earlier today from  Dr. Magnuson about SEED groups at Skinner North.  If you are having a problem with the link, please use the following to sign up:  Skinner North SEED.     


Parent University Classes - Please see the attached flier for more information about classes for parents offered by the district.

Network 4 High School Fair - Our network will host a virtual High school fair on November 12 from 4:30-6PM.  Please see attached flier for further details.

ODLSS OCTOBER FAMILY TRAINING- VIRTUAL Advocacy for Parents & Guardians of Students Living with Disabilities : Encouraging Positive Disability Identity & Self-Determination in your child  hosted by the PIS team and presented by the ODLSS Transition team. 

Registration is open and families can register using the links below.  The links have also been included in the attached flyers.   The invitation to attend our training is also open to our ODLSS team members.  To register, click on the link next to the day and time you would like to attend.  

Remember, if you have any parents/guardians who would like to opt in to our email list to receive future mailings, they can do so by emailing our team at:  odlssparentsupport@cps.edu with their name, email address and student's name.  The message we sent below is included with the attached flyers in English and Spanish.

Good morning,


I hope everyone is doing well. The district released the plan for learning for the second quarter. You can access the parent Letter here.  

In short, students in grades K-12 will continue with remote learning.   The goal is to bring back pre-K and students in special education cluster programs.  Neither of these categories apply to our school, so we will continue with remote learning.  I know there may be mixed feelings on this, but am hopeful knowing the plan will ease some of the feelings of uncertainty/worry.  

Please be on the lookout for a family survey that we will send out next week.  This survey will help us in thinking about how remote learning is going and other feedback to help us further plan for the second quarter.  


 As always, thank you for your support, positivity and hard work as we know this is not an easy situation.

To learn more about this plan, our Equity Diversity and Inclusion work, and updates on the school, come to our State of the School address  on  Tuesday, October 20 at 5PM.  Login  via meet.google.com/moh-cxea-sxf, or call in (‪US)‪+1 225-434-0170.  The PIN is 724 471 219#

Have a wonderful day,
Katie & Derrick 

Other Updates:
School Forms:  Remember Family Income Information Forms (attached) are due November 18.  Also remember that medical forms are due.  You can mail, email or drop off at the school.  The FIIF forms must be signed, no electronic signatures can be accepted.  Scanned PDFs are preferred if possible and sending electronically.

LSC Principal's Report - Please see attached for my October Principal's report to the LSC.  

LSC Election Community Representatives - We currently do not have any community members running for our community representatives spots on our LSC for the next term.  As the deadline to run on the ballot has passed, the new LSC will fill the vacancies, so please reach out if you are interested in running.  The eligibility requirements for these 2 positions are that the person must:  

• Reside in the school's attendance area or established voting district (for "multiarea" schools) (see attached for the boundaries); 
• Be seventeen (17) years of age or older;
• Not be an employee of the Board of Education after June 30, 2020 ("employees" include, but are not limited to, all faculty, staff, career and civil service employees, bus attendants, school aides, social center aides and “paid volunteers”); and Important Note Clarifying Board of Education Employment The term “volunteer” is often used loosely throughout the school system. To be accurate, a volunteer is limited to someone who receives no payment for services and is reimbursed only for actual out-of-pocket expenses. Payment for any type of service at the school would result in that volunteer being considered an employee at the school and, therefore, ineligible to serve as an LSC member. The same is true of “service vendors,” “purchase order contractors,” and “consultants.” 14 
• Not be the parent or legal guardian, as defined in Board Rule 6-28, of a child enrolled in the school.

Good afternoon!  Please read below for a few updates.  Remember Monday is Indigenous People's Day and there is no school.  We hope you have a relaxing, holiday weekend.

This holiday was formerly called Columbus Day in CPS, however, this year the name was changed to Indigenous People's Day to honor and show solidarity with Indigenous Peoples.  The following resources can help in supporting conversations and dialogue around this change. 

https://www.teachingchannel.com/blog/un-columbus-day

https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/reconsider-columbus-day

Have a great day,
Derrick and Katie

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEED Parent and Staff Groups:  Correspondence was sent earlier today from  Dr. Magnuson about SEED groups at Skinner North.  If you are having a problem with the link, please use the following to sign up:  Skinner North SEED.   

SNUG Parent Forum Presentation - Thank you to Ms. Jacobson, Holly and the SNUG Committee for putting together such a helpful Fall Forum on the Academic Center and High School Application Process.  Please see attached for the presentation.   Also note that the GoCPS application window opens at 9AM on Monday, October 12.  Find out more at go.cps.edu.


Room Parents Needed - The room parent coordinator is seeking volunteers to serve as room parent for this school year. Room parents work with the homeroom teacher, the administration, and Friends of Skinner North to facilitate communications and volunteer activities throughout the year, and to organize parent-teacher coffees, end-of-year gifts, and teacher appreciation. In this strange year, we will rely on our room parents more than ever to communicate important information to families, and to coordinate class-wide efforts. Please email snroomparent@gmail.com if you're interested.  

Best, 

Derrick

Good afternoon,

Please see attached for Wednesday's Local School Council Meeting Agenda.  The virtual meeting starts at 6:30 and the login/dial in instructions are included on the agenda.

Have a great day,
Katie

​Good afternoon,


A main focus for our school is ensuring we are thinking with an equity mindset to best support all of our students.  This is a community effort.  Students, staff and parents have profound impacts on one another.  Expanding our understanding of ourselves and others is how we build our empathy for one another and build a strong community.  This year we are starting a staff and a parent Seeking Education Equity and Diversity  (SEED) group.   SEED is a peer-led professional development program that creates conversational communities to drive personal, organizational, and societal change toward greater equity and diversity.  (Later in the year, we are creating an equity team and would highly encourage anyone interested in joining to participate in SEED as well.)  Please read below for more information and how to sign up.

Have a great day,
Katie  


--------------------------------------------------------------

What is SEED? 
SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) is a group process of sharing our own stories and listening to the stories of others. For staff and parents, SEED offers us the opportunity to; a) revisit experiences around gender, ethnicity, race, class, and sexual identity that have influenced our perspectives and to; b) become aware of other views and perspectives on a personal, institutional and societal level. 
SEED is about learning how to be an ally to others, both those similar to and different from ourselves. It is about recognizing that inclusion means knowing that we are global citizens who all deserve respect and fairness in our lives, whether or not our particular face or opinion is represented at any given moment. Getting to this point may cause participants some discomfort as we uncover and validate that there are injustices and inequalities, even in our midst. Yet by seeing this and learning to be unafraid we can honestly begin to imagine a wider, more equitable world, the one we want for our children and our students. To move towards such a world is our goal. 
What makes SEED different? 
● SEED believes that each of us is an authority on our own experiences and that cultivating spaces for self-learning and peer-sharing leads to meaningful conversations and change toward equity and diversity. 
● SEED acknowledges each participant’s intersecting identities and the ways these multiple identities are both personal (our own) and political (socially shaped). ● SEED asks us to reflect on and share our own stories of identities and wellness and to consider how they are connected to others, as a necessary prelude to creating more inclusive learning spaces and communities. 
● SEED takes a systemic approach to oppression and privilege, rather than seeing them only in terms of individuals making individual choices. 
● SEED acknowledges that justice work is an ongoing process, professionally and personally, not a one-time exercise or experience. 
● SEED honors and develops participants rather than bringing in outside “experts” to lecture. SEED facilitators guide participants in experiential, interactive exercises and conversations often stimulated by videos and readings. 
● SEED uses methods of intentionally structured group conversation, developed over more than 30 years, to create effective learning environments that include input from all voices.


● SEED work is not about blame, shame, or guilt about one's location in societal systems. It is about deepening awareness of and our sense of responsibility for the existence of these systems. 
● SEED builds agency and capacity for change by asking what the justice is that we need individually, relationally, and systemically, and by committing to enact that change from our positions within our SEED cohorts. 
● SEED is deeply grounded in recognizing the time it takes to self-reflect, to be in authentic conversation, and to design systemic change for justice. SEED seminars put in place an ongoing constructive conversation about sometimes polarizing issues. SEED is therefore not a quick fix for a crisis but makes communities more competent to deal with crises when they do occur. 
● SEED’s storytelling approach can complement other diversity programs by preparing participants to be more aware of their own experiences with privilege and oppression and to listen more effectively to the experiences of others. 
Important information to note: 
● Staff SEED meetings will take place once a month on Tuesdays, 3:45 - 6:15 pm. ● Parent SEED meetings will take place once a month on Wednesdays, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. 
● We will meet virtually using zoom. 
● There is a 3 strikes and you’re out rule, meaning that if you miss more than two sessions you are out. 
We would like to emphasize that by joining SEED, you are making a commitment to the whole group that you will be present (physically, spiritually, and mentally) for every single session, as best you can. 
Sign-up for SEED using the following link: Skinner North SEED Sign-Up 
Staff SEED Dates: 10/27, 12/1, 1/12, 2/9, 3/9, 4/13, 5/11, 6/8 
Parent SEED Dates: 10/28, 12/2, 1/27, 2/10, 3/31, 4/21, 5/12, 6/9 
For more information contact Principal Magnuson at kmagnuson@cps.edu or Assistant Principal Kimbrough at Dkimbrough@cps.edu. You may also visit www.singlestoryinc.com and www.nationalseedproject.org to learn more about Single Story, Inc and SEED.  

​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

----------------------------------------------------------
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#