Skinner North Update - 5/18

Good afternoon!  We hope everyone is doing well today.  Please read below for a few important updates and reminders.
 
Have a wonderful day,
Katie and Derrick


-----------------------------------------
 
Starry Night Light – this coming Saturday, 7-10pm! – From FOSN

• Drop by for a bit, or stay for a while! Buy your ticket via PayPal here, or send $45 per ticket via Zelle (fosnfundraising@gmail.com) or Venmo (@Shivani-Shah). If using Zelle or Venmo, include "Starry Night Tickets", your email address, and student's homeroom in the memo section
• If you can’t make it, support through a donation: use the payment methods above, but include “Starry Night Donation” in your memo (along with your email address, student name and student homeroom)
• Sign up to volunteer here.

It’s been 3 long years. Let’s rebuild the Skinner North community – for us as parents and staff, and more importantly for our children! Be a part of supporting our school’s mission to develop highly successful and socially-motivated students, in a rigorous academic environment, in a community that promotes collaboration, leadership, and celebrates diversity. And let’s keep Skinner North as the #1 ranked elementary school in Illinois!
 
 
Summer Programming – We are thrilled to be able to offer many FREE  programs at Skinner North this summer! You will find the registration form HERE. Details about each program are listed on the registration form. Please fill out a new form for each program your child is interested in. Pay close attention to the days, times, and program format before submitting registration. This includes our KDG Navigators program for incoming Kindergarten students.  (Our sign up for new student groups (non-KDG) will come out in the upcoming week)
 
Registration forms are due by Friday, May 27th at 5:00pm. Acceptance Emails will be sent to the email provided in the registration form by Wednesday, June 1st. You will only receive an acceptance email if your child gets a spot in the program.
 
Please reach out to Mr. Popowich at jrpopowich@cps.edu with any questions.
 
 
Transferring?  - Please let us know if you are transferring for the next school year. This helps guide our enrollment requests, which is vital to our school budget. If your student(s) are transferring, please take a moment to complete the following:
https://forms.gle/KuxgLhumAzaFqRvd7
 
Spring Scholastic Book Fair - Our Scholastic Book Fair is back in person! It is being held this week, May 16-20. Please be sure to visit the library throughout the week with your students. To avoid crowding and practice social distancing, teachers will be provided with a schedule during which they can explore the Fair in the library. Book Fair previews and information on Scholastic eWallets should have gone home to students earlier this week.
 
Check out the Skinner North Fair page to create an eWallet account, access the Fair online (5/16 - 5/29), and more here:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairsdotcom/fair-finder.html
 
More info on eWallets:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/bookfairs/en/misc/bfc-ewallet.html
 
 
AAPI Heritage Month Highlight - For a story on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and implementation of the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act, Will Jones, ABC7 Chicago's Race and Culture reporter, will be filming at Skinner North on Friday, May 20. He plans to record student performances connected with a series of Filipino American history learning activities we are engaged in and to interview two of our students in 4th and 8th grades. 
 
International Fest - The student performance sign-up response for our Skinner North International Fest (Fri, 6/3 from 4-6pm) Cultural Show has been fantastic so far! Next, please click to pick a specific volunteer task to make the event one to remember for our school community. There are varied options (e.g., decorate indoors or outdoors, direct acts on/off stage, host an activity station, donate prizes) to pitch in before, during, and after the event. Thank you for your support!
 
Interested in being a part of the planning process? Join our Diversity Committee Meeting this Wed, 5/18 @ 4pm via this Zoom link. Reach out to sndiversity@gmail.com with questions or suggestions.
 
New nurse – Nurse Blissitt took a job in a hospital setting and is no longer with the district.  We have a new school nurse.  Her name is Dana Rosales.  Her email is dmrosales1@cps.edu.  She is at Skinner North on Tuesdays. 
​
7/8th Grade Musical – Our 7/8th grade elective musical class has been working hard on their musical this year.  It is a year-long effort that they are excited to perform.  They will have performances at 9:15 on Wednesday, May 25 and at 1PM on Thursday, May.  3-8th grade students will get the opportunity to see the show. 
 
Debate Team Public Forum Tournament - Last Saturday, members of our debate team participated in a new speaking competition called Public Forum.  They are discussing the pros and cons of Universal Basic Income.  Students who participated are: Kaila D., Ash L., Isadora M., Kailen T., Michelle Y., Sophie Y., and Venye Z.  A big thanks to Liam S., from Bell, for joining our team for the day.  
 
Speaker Awards:  Sophie Y. - 3rd, Michelle Y. - 6th, and Kaila D. - 7th
Team Award: Michelle Y./Sophie Y. - 2nd Place
 
Ash L. received an Honorable Mention for the Robin Williams Award.  This award celebrates students for their kindness and good sportsmanship during the competition.  Congratulations!