Links: 25-26 Calendar (Calendario 25-26)

• Oct 16        Parent Teacher Conferences 4-8pm (Open House style)

• Oct 22        8th Field Trip to North High Play

• Oct 23        Community Arts Night 5-7pm

• Oct 24        No School for Students - Skinner Only PD Day #1

• Oct 29        Skinner Cares Day

• Oct 30        Students can dress up for Halloween 

• Oct 31        No School for Students - DPS Staff Development Day

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

• Nov 13       Picture Retake Day

• Nov 20       Thanksgiving Lunch for Students & Staff

• Nov 24-28  Thanksgiving Break

Skinner 8th graders will be going to North High School to see the theater production of She Kills Monsters. We will leave Skinner around 9:45 am and return by 1:30 pm. Students will be eating Skinner sack lunches at North after the play, before walking back. Students are welcome to bring their own lunch from home; we will transport all lunches in bins to North. Unfortunately, there is not an opportunity to have a late arrival or an early dismissal from North due to the potential to interrupt the production. If your student needs to leave during that time frame, please arrange to pick them up before we leave for North at 9:45 am.  If students come to Skinner late and miss the departure time, they will spend time on academics in our restorative room. If students have an injury and will not be able to walk, please notify Rebecca_Caldwell@dpsk12.net 720-424-1495 by Oct 20. Field Trips are a privilege and we are grateful for this opportunity to partner with North. We expect all students to represent Skinner with pride and respect.

We want to provide an important update regarding student devices. Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in damaged and lost devices, which is impacting our ability to provide replacements quickly.

• Device Availability: At this time, we are completely out of loaner devices due to the high volume of breakages. If your student’s device is damaged, repairs may take longer than usual.  White waiting for a replacement or repair, we encourage students to communicate directly with their teachers to request paper copies of assignments..

• Increasing Breakage: We have seen a significant rise in cracked screens and other damage. We kindly ask for your support in reminding students to handle their devices with care. Keeping devices in protective cases, avoiding drops, and storing them properly when not in use can help prevent damage.

• Lost Devices & Fees: If your student has lost or damaged their device, a fee must be addressed before a new one can be issued. Please check your email (Title:  DPS Chromebook Damage OR Lost Chromebook Fee) for details as fees are paid through your MySchoolBucks account.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to get all devices back in students; hands as quickly as possible.  Families can also help by reminding students to handle their Chromebook carefully and store them safely.

Skinner Cares Day (October 29, 2025) is an annual event where we take a break from formal academics to focus on our relationships with one another in an attempt to strengthen our connections. This year, our focus is to inspire students to reflect on how they can contribute positively to our school and broader community. We believe that every student has the power to make a difference through kindness, responsibility, and constructive actions. Showing this film supports our goal of beginning this important work together by exploring themes of respect, community, and responsibility.

As part of our commitment to building a strong, supportive school community, Skinner Middle School will be showing the PG-13 movie "One With The Whale" (2023) during our upcoming Skinner Cares Day. This special day is dedicated to coming together as a school to focus on community, responsibility, and the impact our words and actions have on others.

About the Movie: "One With The Whale" is a documentary-style film that follows the story of a community deeply connected to the ocean and the whales within it, which they hunt for food. The film presents the complex relationship between humans and nature, highlighting cultural traditions and the environmental impact of whale hunting. It explores the theme of how social media comments can have both positive and negative impacts on individuals, and the importance of having a curious mindset about different communities. If you want to read more about the movie, here is a review. It is available to rent on Youtube and Amazon Prime, or stream with a PBS Passport.

Rating and Content Advisory: This film is rated PG-13 due to some strong language and disturbing images related to whale hunting practices. We understand that these scenes can be intense for some viewers, and we want you to be fully informed before your child watches the movie.

Opt-Out Information: If you do not wish for your child to watch "One With The Whale," please email or call Maria_Naves@dpsk12.net 720-424-1421 by October 17th. Alternative activities will be provided for students who opt out.

Halloween is just around the corner!  Since students don’t have school on October 31st, we are allowing students to wear costumes on October 30th. See slide-deck for costume guidelines.

Please join the Northside community for Pumpkin Eve! Thursday, Oct. 30, 5:30-6:30 pm at 4895 Osceola St. Denver CO 80212. The 11th Annual Pumpkin Eve carved pumpkin contest will raise money for Skinner Middle School PTO and Centennial Elementary School PTA. Donate $5 for each pre-carved pumpkin you enter. Winners in each category get a cash prize. Vote with your dollars. Hot cider for sale. All for a good cause! Categories include Scariest, Funniest, Most Creative and 12 & Under. Register pumpkins 5:30-6pm. Winners announced at 6:30pm. Please contact dannykatzbc@gmail.com with questions.

Donate your old costumes to children in need! Drop off in the North High or Skinner main office by 10/22! Elevate Initiative is a new North High club focused on supporting different minority communities through community service and volunteer work. Thanks in advance for your donation!

UPchieve is a nonprofit organization that provides free, 24/7 online tutoring and college counseling to middle and high school students in the United States. Their mission is to democratize academic support, ensuring all students have equal opportunities to succeed, regardless of their financial situation. Students can connect with a live, volunteer tutor in under 5 minutes using our website or mobile app. Students should have accounts which they set up previously in Learning Family. Learn more at UPchieve's website.

Coach Doug Busken, North High Girls LAX Head Coach, is exploring starting a middle school girls LAX team right here in our community. If your daughter (grades 5-8) is interested in trying a fast-paced, team- oriented sport - no experience or gear required - we’d love to hear from you. Interested? Please complete the survey to be added to the interest list. Let’s give our girls an opportunity to learn new skills, make friends and have fun!

🚀 Big dreams start at Denver North! 🎭 🎶 ⚽ 🎨 📚
North High = endless opportunities:
✨ 13 AP + 25 college-level classes
✨ 6 Career/Tech pathways
✨ Art, music, theater, sports, clubs & more
✨ A community that’s got your back
✨ Minutes from home. A world of opportunities
👉 Come tour North & see for yourself! tinyurl.com/NorthTours25-26 to sign up 

North High Info Nights 📅 Wed, Nov 5, 2025 & Wed, Jan 14, 2026 🕠 5:30–7:30 pm
Discover why North High is the right school for your family! Meet Principal German Echevarría, staff, coaches, and current students. Tour the school, ask questions, and connect with our community.
👉 All prospective families welcome — no RSVP needed. We can’t wait to meet you! 💜💛

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.  We also have some items listed to re-stock our Skinner loaner closet for students who need a change of clothes in the day. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to our community's youth!

We anticipate having a limited selection of Student Clubs that will be offered during Learning Family Period 7 Advisement. Parents, if you would like to volunteer to sponsor an after-school club, please email Assistant Principal Rachel_Johnson2@dpsk12.net.

Skinner PTO
The Skinner PTO is a community of parents, guardians, and staff working together to support our school and create memorable experiences for our students. You don’t have to commit to attending every monthly meeting — you can jump in on projects that excite you or bring you joy! Whether you love planning, decorating, organizing, or just lending a hand when needed, there’s a place for you. Contact PTO President Frank Coyne at fcoyne7@gmail.com to get involved!

CSC: Collaborative School Committee - first Wednesday of every month 4:00-5:30pm

Meets with parents, admin, staff to discuss issues, impacts, and solutions for the school.

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