We believe in student voice and we want our students to engage in meaningful conversations with their teachers and peers, even when issues are sensitive.
Late last month, 13-year-old Adam Toledo, a student at Gary Elementary School, was shot by Chicago police and his death has shaken our CPS family. The loss of a CPS student and the continuation of violence that occurs toward our BIPOC communities affects us all. We all have the right to be sad, angry, frustrated, tired, confused etc. Please ensure you are allowing yourself time to process and finding ways to have self-care.
To ensure our students have an outlet for their questions and emotions, CPS has developed a collection of professional and mental health resources for our educators to use in their classrooms.
I encourage you to review these materials so you understand how this situation will potentially be discussed at school and to assist you with conversations at home.
On another note, we are looking forward to welcoming more students back on Monday and we were happy to see many of you at our presentation on Wednesday. If your student is returning, please review protocols and procedures with them using the link to our presentation or our Reopening Guide.
Thank you to everyone for your teamwork in supporting our students. Read below for a few updates and reminders.
Have a wonderful day,
Katie and Derrick
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After School Registration Quarter 4 - Please click the link below to access the registration form for Q4 after-school programs. Registration is due on Wednesday, April 21st, acceptance emails will go out on the 23rd, and programs will start on the 26th. All programs will still be held virtually and are free of charge!
Q4 After School Registration Form
Transferring Out - If you are transferring out of the school for the 2021-2022 school year, we appreciate you letting us know in advance as this helps us plan for our upcoming selections processes. Please complete this form if you are transferring out of Skinner North.
Key Reminders For In Person Return -
Technology - Students must use CPS devices at school. If they do not already have a school issued Chromebook they will receive it on their first day back. Their school issued devices should go home and come back every day. Please make sure to charge them.
Daily Health Screener - You must complete a daily health screener for your student. You can access the daily screener at cps.edu/healthscreener or opt into text message reminders (see reopening guide for further directions on this.)
Entry - Entry begins at 8:30. There is signage to assist with social distancing and line up areas. Students must have their screener complete and get a temperature check. Entry doors are as follows:
o Drop off for Kindergarten and First grade (Door 1-West side of building)
o Drop off for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades (Door 2 - Main entrance)
o Drop off for 5th through 8th grades (Door 9 - Recess / playground entrance)
o Bussers will enter through Door 3 (Auditorium)
Pick Up - Students will be dismissed outside on a staggered schedule at the same doors they enter through in the AM.
· Students will start preparing for dismissal at 3:05 p.m.
· Teachers will escort each classroom down for dismissal.
· Kindergarten and 1st will dismiss at Door 1 (west door) at 3:15 p.m.
· 2nd Grade will dismiss at 3:15 p.m. at Door 2 (main entrance)
· 3rd Grade will dismiss at 3:20 p.m. at Door 2
· 4th Grade will dismiss at 3:25 p.m. at Door 2
· 5th Grade will dismiss at 3:15 p.m. at Door 9 (recess entrance)
· 6th Grade will dismiss at 3:20 p.m. at Door 9
· 7th Grade dismiss at 3:25 p.m. at Door 9
· 8th Grade dismiss at 3:30 p.m. at Door 9
*If you do not plan on picking up your student and want them to be released by the teacher on their own, please write a note letting us know this.
4 Days A Week In Person Question - Thank you to everyone who completed our logistics survey. A question in the survey asked about 4 day a week attendance. However, this would be dependent on numbers of students and various factors in a building. Based on our numbers returning and limitations on pod size, we are not able to offer 4 days a week attendance to students except in specific instances (i.e. students of CPS employees as this was a specific agreement between CPS and CTU for return to in person learning). Our goal is to ensure student safety and adhering to the pod structure helps ensure this.