Links: 24-25 Calendar (Spanish Calendar)

• Nov 12 & 13  Drama One Act 6 pm          

• 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 

In the case of a late start due to snow this winter, we will operate on an adjusted schedule. Please click here for the Bell Schedules page on the website.

On Tuesday, November 12, we will be sending home paper copies of our first round of progress reports through your student's Learning Family. We only have four and a half academic weeks of the semester left, so this is a great opportunity to check in on grades and make a plan with teachers to complete missing work and schedule retakes. Progress reports need to be signed and returned to your student's LF teacher by Friday November 15th.

If you have academic questions, feel free to reach out to your child’s specific teacher (Staff Email List). If you have questions or concerns about behavior or attendance, please reach out to administration or support staff. Please note: DPS uses the Federal Attendance Rate, which does NOT differentiate between excused and unexcused absences. Even if a student has an "excused absence" it still counts against their overall attendance percentage. For eligibility purposes (especially 8th Grade Continuation) we do take excused absences into consideration.

Pictures will be sent out through your student’s science classes in the next week. All students will receive a postcard sized calendar with their picture on it and a specific code you can use to order pictures if you did not order before picture day or need to order additional photos. Picture retake day will be November 14th for students who were absent on Picture Day. If students took pictures in the first round and want a retake, please have them bring their original picture packet back on November 14th.

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.

You are invited to the Multilingual Education (MLE) District Advisory Committee (DAC) on Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 5-7 p.m. at Rocky Mountain Prep Westwood. This month, we are hosting a Health and Wellness Night for multilingual families with information on physical and mental health, nutrition services and community supports. Dinner, interpretation and childcare provided. Attendees are encouraged to pre-register here. For more information, visit the MLE website or contact Olga Olivas at 720-423-3058.

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.

We hope you will join us for our two nights of performances of ‘Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion’ - click here for more info and to buy tickets.

Students will have the opportunity to take comprehensive sexual education classes, giving them the information and resources to make healthy decisions and have healthy relationships in their lives. All lessons are age-appropriate, medically accurate, inclusive, and culturally relevant. Classes will occur sometime during the second semester of the school year, and will be taught by your student's science teacher.

The topics we will cover in class will include: Building Healthy Relationships; Consent; Puberty and the Male/Female Reproductive System; Health and Safety (contraception, STDs and STIs)

Please take this survey by November 22nd to express whether or not you’d like your child to receive these classes or to opt them out. If you have any questions please email Samantha_Mendez@dpsk12.net.

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. 

Middle School Mixer:  Light up the Night. Saturday, November 9, 5-7 pm. Regis Jesuit High School *middle school students can register via a Regis Jesuit online admissions account . Contact Alivian with questions at ajorgensen@regisjesuit.com

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.