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#