Links: 24-25 Calendar (Spanish Calendar)

• Nov 15         Picture Retake Day

• Nov 20 Cosmo's Pizza Fundraiser 3-8 pm

• Nov 21          Thanksgiving Lunch for Students & Staff

• Nov 25-29   Thanksgiving Break 

• Dec 2            Science Fair Family Night 5-7pm

• Dec 3             Science Fair Day

• Dec 4            CSC 4-5:30pm/PTO 5:30-6:30pm 

Skinner would like to welcome you to attend the Science Fair Family Night from 5-7pm on Monday December 2nd. This is your one chance to see all of the projects from all 670 of our students, mingle with friends and other families, rehearse and celebrate our student's hard work and discoveries together. Both gyms and our library will be filled with projects for you to enjoy in this open house style event. Please enter through Skinner's main entrance or the doors on either side of the cafeteria located on the north side of the building near the bike rack and be prepared to be impressed! Here is a video of last year's Science Fair to build some excitement about this incredible school-wide Science Dept. undertaking.

Skinner Community - The online merch store is OPEN! So many awesome options to order. Youth and adult sizes available. Click link and order today! Store closes on Nov 24 with expected delivery to Skinner on Dec. 18.
*Tip - The 4 different design categories links are found at the top of the home page*

Thank you to all Skinner parents, students and staff who attended last week’s Collaborative School Committee meeting! Our conversation around kid-safe streets and Safe Routes to School was enlightening and full of opportunities to engage. If you’d like to be part of our efforts to ensure our students can get to school safely, please check out this presentation by one of parents and safe-streets advocate, Alejandra X. Castañeda, and choose a couple of action items to participate in! Some of us already filled out an Online Hub request for a safer crossing at W41st Ave & Lowell Blvd, as well as along Irving St. Submit (and encourage your student to submit as well) an online 311 report. For more details on how to do that, plus many other ways to support kid-safe streets, check out the presentation mentioned above and/or reach out to Alejandra at axcastaneda@gmail.com.

Please complete the form below to register your student(s) for a free DPS Middle School Basketball Clinic on Saturday, November 23 from 10 am - Noon at George Washington High School. This is for DPS Middle School students ONLY (no high school students or middle school students from non-DPS schools) and open to the first 100 registrants. Please bring your own basketball. Middle school coaches are welcome to attend and should fill out the form as well. Registration must be completed by Wednesday, November 20.

Sign up form: 2024 DPS Middle School Basketball Clinic

JOINT EFFORT BASKETBALL CLINIC for DPS MIDDLE SCHOOL - BOYS AND GIRLS
CLINIC TIME: 10:00AM - 12:00 PM (must bring your own ball)
FREE to all DPS Middle School Students (6th-8th grade)
Check-in beginning at 9:45 AM

Clinic Instructor: Kamau Bailey (Former Denver East Basketball State Champion, Colorado All State Basketball Player, Former Professional Basketball Clinician, Philadelphia 76er's Basketball Camps, CEO, Bailey Basketball Academy)
Sponsored by: East & George Washington Boys Basketball, Denver Public Schools Athletics, Bailey Basketball Academy, Joint Effort Community Sports

Skinner’s amazing Food Services Staff will be serving a delicious Thanksgiving Meal lunch for all students - free - on November 21st.  Roasted Turkey with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Fruit, Green Beans, Dinner Roll, and Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting!  Unfortunately, we do not have room for Skinner parents to join us for lunch.

Join the DPS Substance Use Prevention Team on Nov. 20 at noon for an informative session on how to discuss substance use with your children. This conversation can be daunting, but we are here to help you navigate it. Register here. Spanish interpretation will be available.

Kenzi's Causes will be hosting our Annual Denver Toy Shop on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the National Western Complex. Registration will open on Thursday, December 5th at 9:00 AM via our Facebook page and website. Access English Flyer Here Access Spanish Flyer Here

Creative Writing Club is a space for writers ages 10 and up to work on writing projects, collaborate with other writers, share and receive feedback from other participants, and join in on mini writing games and workshops. Mondays and Wednesdays happen right here in North Denver. Click here for more information.  

$1,000 for eligible DPS middle school students to participate in youth activities! APPLY NOW at mysparkdenver.org and choose from 210+ youth activity providers. Spots available for new participants only. Apply NOW - all funds must be spent by December 31, 2024.

Children’s Grief Awareness Day is held each year on the third Thursday in November. In 2024, it will be marked on November 21. The day reminds us that childhood bereavement is all too common. In the United States, 1 in 12 children will lose a parent or sibling by the time they reach 18 years of age (CBEM). Almost all children—about 90%—will experience the death of a close family member or friend. Grieving children are vastly overlooked both in society at large and in schools. Schools have a critical role to play in the grief journeys of children who have lost a loved one. Educators’ and classmates’ responses to a student’s grief can either serve as a source of support and stability during a difficult time, or as an additional hurdle to overcome. Moreover, grief can have a serious impact on learning for school-age children. Bereavement can lead to decreased academic performance, social withdrawal, and behavioral problems. 

To support our grieving students, we are taking applications for a Grief Group, facilitated by Judi's House staff, a local non profit that specializes in grief counseling.  This 10 week group will be offered at Skinner during the school day at no charge. If your child has suffered a significant loss, recently or in the past, contact Valerie Tomasi, School Social Worker at 720-424-1426 or via email at valerie_tomasi@dpsk12.net to register your child for Grief Group.  

Cosmo's Pizza - Wednesday, November 20, 3-8 pm! Cosmo’s Pizza - Federal Blvd will donate 20% of attributed sales (dine-in, delivery and carry-out) on Wednesday, November 20 from 3-8 pm to Skinner PTO! Please mention “Skinner” when placing your order for us to receive credit. Online order? Add "Skinner" to the "Order Notes" section so we receive credit. http://cosmospizza.com/north-denver/ Remember to order some delicious spicy ranch!

Skinner's support staff team is in need of your help! We have many students who are in need of a snack on a daily basis. Please check our Amazon wishlist and consider making a donation so we are able to sustainably offer healthy snacks to our students in need. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to our community's youth. Please click here and order some items to stock our pantry today! Thanks in advance for your generosity.

Teachers have a whopping 13 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. 

CEC Early College Open House - December 4, 5:30-7:30 pm. https://cecdenver.dpsk12.org/ 

• Choose from 18 dynamic, in-demand career programs - from coding & design to healthcare and business, gain experience and certifications that matter. 

• Earn an Associate's Degree in high school - get ahead, save money and hit the ground running before you even graduate.

• Real-World Industry Experience - get practical skills that will set you up for success.

• Graduate with a rock-solid plan - leave with a clear path to your future, no guesswork needed.

Hello 8th Grade Families, You have a very important decision to make in the next few months, 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. We have two Information Nights coming up, and we offer daytime tours for families as well. 

North High Prospective Family Information Nights:

• Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 6:30 – 8 pm

• 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.