Links: 24-25 Calendar (Spanish Calendar)

• Jan 15         PTO 5:30-6:30pm

• Jan 20         No School - MLK Jr. Day

• Jan 29        CSC Budget Meeting 4-5:30pm (closed to the public)

We hope everyone has a wonderfully enjoyable break! 

The 8th Grade Science team is planning a lab where the students will disassemble old speakers to see how magnets play a role in how they work as part of our magnets unit.  To do this we are in need of old speakers and/or headphones.  If you have any broken/extra sets of speakers or headphones that you don't need and are willing to donate we would really appreciate it.  Please just drop off items in the Skinner main office. Thank you so much for your support! 

DenCoKID is a non-profit advocacy group supporting students in Denver with dyslexia or suspected dyslexia.  We are hosting a virtual community meeting on Thursday January 30th from 7:30pm-8:30pm featuring guest speaker Elizabeth Van Liere, MA CCC-SLP, and members of the Denver Public Schools' special education assessment services team. They will be presenting about 504/IEP accommodations to support kids with dyslexia/reading difficulties and dysgraphia/writing difficulties, as well as assistive technology tools available in the district. They will also touch on how assistive technology can support students as they transition from high school to the workplace and community, making this meeting relevant for families of students of all grade levels. The meeting is free for all. It will be held in English. Please RSVP at www.dencokid.com.

Gear Up and Get Outside! Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside! Winter Ready Tips from the Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) Safe Routes to School Program.

Benefits of getting out in the winter:

• Increased energy

• Decreased stress

• Increased immunity

• Reduced anxiety and depression

• Increased physical activity

• Stronger connection with community

There is no bad weather, only bad gear! Wearing insulated and waterproof winter clothing is essential to stay warm, dry, and safe during winter activities, preventing discomfort, hypothermia, and frostbite.

How to dress warmer for winter!

• Layer up with moisture-wicking base layer, insulating middle layer, and windproof/waterproof outer layer

• Keep extremities warm with a hat, thermal socks, and gloves

• Wear bright, reflective gear for visibility in shorter daylight hours

• Stay dry with waterproof and windproof outerwear

Moving around generates heat. Keep moving! Even when waiting for the bus or at crossing points, to stay warm and comfortable.

Skinner's support staff team is in need of your help! Please check our Amazon wishlist and consider making a donation so we are able to provide to our students in need. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to our community's youth. Please click here and order some items today! Thanks in advance for your generosity.

Several teachers have DonorsChoose projects posted hoping to obtain classroom and project supplies for their students. Please click here to see all of the projects and consider a donation to one ore more projects today! Thank you in advance for your generosity.

CSC: Collaborative School Committee - first Wednesday of every month 4:00-5:30 in the Skinner Library. CSC includes parents, admin, staff meeting to discuss issues, impacts, and solutions for the school

PTO: Parent/Teacher Organization - first Wednesday of every month 5:30-6:30, usually in the Skinner Library (Please check the Skinner calendar to confirm date.)

• Fundraising, teacher appreciation, parent volunteers. 

• Check out Skinner Website PTO for more information. 

The Round 1 SchoolChoice window for the 2025-26 school year opens at 10 a.m. on January 15 and runs through February 18, 2025 at 4 p.m.

The DPS SchoolChoice open enrollment process is for any student who wants or needs to attend a new school for the following school year, typically incoming kinder, sixth- and ninth-grade students. If your student will be a rising 7th or 8th grader and you would like your student to remain at Skinner, you do not need to complete the SchoolChoice process.

To participate in SchoolChoice, families submit one SchoolChoice application per student, on which they rank their top schools in order of preference, up to a limit of 12. DPS then uses a computer algorithm that matches students to schools based on those preferences, as well as school admission priorities and available space. Families need to have an active Parent Portal account to submit a SchoolChoice application.

Hello 8th Grade Families, You have a very important decision to make in the next few weeks, which high school will you choose for your 8th grader? North High is an absolutely outstanding choice and we would like to invite you to learn more about our community of Vikings and why North is the right choice for your family.

North High Prospective Family Information Night:

• Wednesday, January 29, 2025 from 6:30 – 8 pm

Attending a Prospective Family Information Night is a great way to learn all about why North is the right high school choice for your student. Families will have an opportunity to learn more about North High School, meet Principal German Echevarría and other members of our admin team, teachers, and current students and parents. School tours will also be offered. All prospective families are encouraged to attend. No RSVP necessary. We look forward to meeting you!

North High Daytime Tours/Classroom Visit Experiences: North offers daytime school tours including an optional student classroom visit experience for prospective Viking families. Tours are available from October – February most Mondays at 12:30 pm and Tuesdays at 9:40 am. CLICK HERE to sign up for a tour.

Want to see a prior issue of Skinner Family News? Links are posted on the Skinner website, click here to access.