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:
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.
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:
- Need a device? - If your student needs a device, contact Mr. Kimbrough at dkimbrough@cps.edu.
- Need internet access? - Families can check their eligibility and explore other affordable internet service options at cps.edu/getconnected.
- 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.
- 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#
- 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.
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